Tag: trial

13Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

#Endsars: Court Stops Trial Of Davido, Adeyanju, Yesufu, 47 Others

An FCT High Court in Kubwa, Abuja, has granted an application for stay of proceedings in a case between controversial lawyer Kenechukwu Okeke and 50 prominent Nigerians accused of championing the historic #EndSARS protests last year. Justice Bello Kawu in his ruling on Wednesday, granted the prayers of the applicants who had, among other things, sought an order of the court restraining the Nigeria Police Force, and the Abuja police commissioner from arresting or taking further steps against them on the matter. This followed an application filed by one of the counsels to the applicants, Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr. Mr. Okeke, the controversial Abuja-based lawyer had last November filed a criminal complaint against rights activists Deji Adeyanju and Aisha Yesufu, as well as popular s...

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7Jan By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

Sport

Benzema to face trial for alleged involvement in attempted blackmail case

  Real Madrid forward Benzema is accused of paying individuals to extort money from Mathieu Valbuena by threatening to make the video public in 2015. The 33-year-old French striker argues that a police officer used dishonest methods to draw him into the affair. He has not played for his country since it came to light. French prosecutors announced Benzema would face trial on Thursday, reported the AFP News Agency. AFP also quoted Benzema's lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, as saying he was not surprised the matter was going to trial, but that the decision was "as absurd as it was predictable". Benzema has scored 261 goals for Real since joining the Spanish side in 2009. He and Valbuena were international team-mates at the time of the affair and were in the France squad fo...

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26Nov By BobbyNo Comments

News

Court to begin Nnamdi Kanu’s trial in absentia

The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu will begin on Thursday November 26 as scheduled by the Federal High Court in Abuja.   Ahead of the court sitting in which five prosecution witnesses have been lined up to testify against Nnamdi Kanu, copies of the hearing notice were served on the prosecution team in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.   Recall that Justice Binta Nyako had since March 28, 2019, revoked the bail granted the IPOB leader, ordered his arrest, and directed that his trial on charges of a treasonable felony would proceed in his absence; but the court had not had any sitting on the case since then.

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25Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial In Absentia Begins, MASSOB Defends Abaribe

The Federal High Court in Abuja has slated November 26 for the commencement of the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, with five prosecution witnesses lined up to testify against him, The PUNCH has learnt. Our correspondent on Tuesday saw the hearing notice issued on November 24 for the Thursday’s proceedings. Copies of the hearing notice were served on the prosecution team in the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor. Justice Binta Nyako had since March 28, 2019, revoked the bail granted the IPOB leader, ordered his arrest and directed that his trial on charges of treasonable felony would proceed in his absence; but the court had not had any sitting on the case since then. The judge, acting on a...

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7Oct By dthataNo Comments

Crime

Hushpuppi’s Trial Suspended Till March 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trial of Ramon Abbas, the Nigerian Instagram celebrity facing wire fraud charges in the U.S., has been moved to 2021. According to the chambers orders of Judge Otis Wright released September 23, the jury trial will continue by 9:00 a.m. on May 4, 2021. Across the globe, the respiratory disease has been contracted by over 35 million people and has killed more than 1 million persons. Apart from the economic challenges the pandemic has posed as a result of lockdown and some restrictions, it has affected judicial processes globally. In June, the 37-year-old Mr Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi, who is known for flaunting his opulent lifestyle on social media, was arrested in Dubai by some special operatives including the Emerati police officers and ...

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13Jul By BobbyNo Comments

News

Ten Nigerian Pirates Charged with Hijacking Chinese Ship

10 suspected Nigerian pirates have been charged with hijacking a Chinese fishing vessel, FV Hai Lu Feng II in international waters off Cote D’Ivoire. The suspects who were arraigned on Monday July 13 by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), were identified as Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi and Bright Agbedeyi. Prosecution counsel Laraban Magaji said the incident which occurred in May this year, violated Section 3 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019 and was punishment under Section 2 of the same Act. Magaji said; “While armed with weapons, committed an illegal act of violence against the crew on board FV Hai Lu Feng II belonging t...

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9Jul By BobbyNo Comments

News

Trial of Cosmetics Surgeon, Dr Anu Stalled Due to Judge’s Absence

The trial of controversial cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Anuoluwapo Adepoju, at the Federal High Court in Lagos today July 9, was stalled due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Liman. Dr Anu who owns Med Contour, was dragged before the court by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC over the death of one of her clients, shunning summons by the agency to appear and produce certain documents among other offenses. She appeared before the court for the first time last Friday, July 3 on a five-count charge. Counsel to FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, said it received complaints against Dr. Anu from one Marlene Oluwakemi, Taiwo Temilade, and Vivian Onwuzuligbo that Dr. Anu's services “are unsafe for consumers,” and that she made “false, misleading and decept...

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20Jun By BobbyNo Comments

News

Court Acquits Man Accused of Defiling Neighbours’ 9-year-old Daughter

A man accused of defiling his neighbour's 9-year-old daughter has been discharged and acquitted by a Lagos High Court. Niyi Oyelami, who was accused 5 years ago of defiling his neighbours’ 9-year-old daughter, was discharged and acquitted by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere. The court found Oyelami not guilty of the offence of defilement after five years of trial. While delivering judgement in a virtual court proceeding, Justice Ipaye acquitted the defendant on the grounds that the prosecution was unable to prove its case beyond every reasonable doubt. The Judge said that the testimony of the two prosecution witnesses failed to establish that the accused person actually committed the offence. She said, "Niyi Oyelami, you are hereby disch...

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18Jun By BobbyNo Comments

News

FG Okays Clinical Trial of new COVID-19 Drug, Dexamethasone

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has announced that it will allow clinicians to add dexamethasone, the life saving drug recently discovered by a team of researchers from the United Kingdom, to their treatment regimen for trial. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who made the announcement during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Thursday June 18, said dexamethasone is not a "drug you should be using but a medicine that the doctor is to use." Osagie said;   “I did mention that there is a medicine that we are going to ask our clinicians to try. It is not a medicine that you should be using but a medicine that the doctor is to use. “Luckily this medicine is not new and it is well-known to be used for other purposes as a ...

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11Jun By dthataNo Comments

News

Taraba Killings: Confessions Of Killer Soldiers Shielded From Trial By Malami

The curious decision of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN), to drop charges against 10 soldiers in the case involving an alleged Taraba State kidnapping kingpin, Bala Hamisu, could be described as a brazen attempt to make a mockery of the nation’s criminal justice system. Hamisu, popularly known as Wadume, had in his statement identified his accomplices, including 10 soldiers and two policemen. They are Captain Tijjani Balarabe; Staff Sgt. David Isaiah; Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon and Corporal Markus Michael. Others are L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, and Private Ebele Emmanuel, ASP Aondona Iorbee, and one Ahmad Suleiman (aka...

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29May By BobbyNo Comments

News

Court Discharges Senator Ademola Adeleke over Charges of Examination Malpractice

Senator Ademola Adeleke has been discharged by a federal high court in Abuja over charges of examination malpractice. Ademola Adeleke, who was a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state and a former senator representing Osun west was arraigned on October 31, 2019, on a four-count charge alongside Sikiru Adeleke, his brother, Aregbesola Mufutau, principal of the school, Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo, the registrar, and Dare Olutope, a teacher. The Adeleke brothers were accused of impersonating , both registering as students of Ojo-Aro community grammar school, Ojo-Aro, Osun state to enable them to sit for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017, while the other defendants were accused of aiding commission of the allege...

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26May By dthataNo Comments

Crime

Parrot Who “Heard Victim’s Last Words” To Give Evidence At Trial Of Two Men Who Allegedly Raped And Murdered Her

A 46-year-old Argentine woman, Elizabeth Toledo was raped and murdered in the city of San Fernando in December 2018. Her body was found naked on a mattress on the floor in an apartment in Buenos Aires, next to her parrot. As part of the evidence filed in the case last week, police recorded a statement from a police officer who said he heard the Toledo parrot shortly after the killing saying no, Por favour, soltame!” (“No, please, let me go”), Clarin reports. The police believe the parrot was repeating its owner’s last words as she was allegedly beaten and raped by two housemates. The officer had been standing guard outside the murder scene when he heard what sounded like a woman screaming inside. He looked inside the apartment – but only found Toledo’s naked and bruised body ...

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25May By BobbyNo Comments

Sport

Ex-Roma star, Joseph Bouasse tragically passes away at 21

Former Roma youngster Joseph Bouasse Perfection has tragically passed away at the age of just 21 after suffering a heart attack last night. The Cameroonian represented the Serie A side's prestigious academy following a successful trial in 2016. While he never played for the first-team, he did train alongside the likes of Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti in Rome. According to ESPN's Andrew Cesare, Bouasse's incredible trial success at Roma came after being left on his own at a train station by a trafficker, who had promised him a new life as a professional footballer. He made his professional debut for Serie B side Vicenza while on loan from Roma in 2017. Prior to his passing, he represented Universitatea Cluj in Romania, having signed for them in February. Bouasse arr...

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22May By BobbyNo Comments

News

Republic of Benin Businessman, Jean Codo, Dies in Kirikiri Prison

Jean Codo, a Republic of Benin businessman who was standing trial for an alleged €29m fraud, has died in Kirikiri prison, Lagos. Codo, who owns Transport and Port Management System Limited, slumped and died in the prison on Thursday morning May 21. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Codo and his company, TPMS, were arraigned in court by the EFCC on a seven-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of €29,000,000.00 (Twenty-Nine Million Euros), a property of the Federal Government of Nigeria. One of the counts reads: “That you, Jean Codo and TPMS Transport and Port Management Systems Limited, sometime in 2010 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired to commit felony, to wit: stealing of about €29,000,000.00 (Twenty-Nine Million E...

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20May By BobbyNo Comments

News

Policeman Dismissed in Ebonyi State for Defiling a 14-year-old Girl

A policeman has been dismissed in Ebonyi state after going through an orderly room trial for defiling a 14 year-old girl. Ebonyi state Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Okorie Christopher Onyekachi who commended the state's police command for not shielding the policeman, said they are working hard to ensure that the former security operative who is in his 30s is prosecuted.   Onyekachi said;   “One police officer has been sacked after undergoing an orderly room trial and we are also moving for his court trial but he has gone through police orderly room trial; police internal disciplinary action which led to his dismissal. We are now moving for his trial in the court. He was accused of defiling a minor, the child is about 14 years while...

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16May By BobbyNo Comments

Celebs

R. Kelly’s Third Attempt To Be Released From Prison Denied

A judge has denied R. Kelly‘s third request for an early release from jail while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing young girls. In his third attempt, the disgraced singer claimed he was at high risk of coronavirus because he is prediabetic. US District Judge Ann Donnelly, however, is not convinced that prediabetes presents a “compelling reason for the defendant’s release.”. In her decision on Friday, Judge Donnelly wrote: “I do not agree that a diagnosis of prediabetes presents a compelling reason for the defendant’s release. While the CDC has identified diabetes as a risk factor for COVID-19, the same is not true for prediabetes, a condition that affects nearly one in three American adults.” She said prison doctors were working ‘with him to implement lifestyle changes...

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13May By BobbyNo Comments

News

Man who Raped 4-year-old Khloe at her Parents Home in Abuja is Sentenced to 14 Years in Jail

The man who raped a 4-year-old girl in Abuja, prompting the hashtag #JusticeForKhloe, was sentenced to 14 years in prison today May 13th. The story of Khloe and how she was raped through the vagina and anus was made to go viral when actress Rita Dominic took to Instagram to write about it. She narrated how Idris Ebiloma, who was 28 at the time, raped little Khloe, who was 4 years and 3 months old. The incident happened on the 31st of August 2016. According to Ms Dominic's report shared on Instagram in July 2019, Idris was working as a cook for the victim's parents in their home in Asokoro, Abuja, when he assaulted the child. She added that when the victim's mother reported the incident to the police, she was "compelled to drop charges against the boy." However, the mother r...

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8May By BobbyNo Comments

News

Supreme Court Nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu’s Conviction

The Supreme Court has nullified the judgment which convicted former Abia state governor and serving senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Ude Udeogo, the former Director of Finance and Accounts during Kalu's administration. Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Ude Udeogo were arrested and jailed for diverting N7.6 billion belonging to the state government during their time in office. Justice Idris Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos on December 12, 2019, sentenced Kalu to 12 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of N7.1bn fraud charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Udeogo was also sentenced to 10 years. Displeased with the judgement of the Federal High Court, Kalu and Udeogu filed an appeal to challenge their sentencing at the S...

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24Apr By dthataNo Comments

Health, News

Coronavirus: UK Injects First Patients In Vaccine Trial

The first human trial in Europe of a coronavirus vaccine has begun in Oxford. Two volunteers were injected, the first of more than 800 people recruited for the study. Half will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and half a control vaccine which protects against meningitis but not coronavirus. The design of the trial means volunteers will not know which vaccine they are getting, though doctors will. Elisa Granato, one of the two who received the jab, told the BBC: "I'm a scientist, so I wanted to try to support the scientific process wherever I can." The vaccine was developed in under three months by a team at Oxford University. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, led the pre-clinical research. "Personally I have a high degree of confidence ...

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21Apr By dthataNo Comments

Politics

President Buhari Canvasses Speedy Trial Of Court Cases And Decongestion Of Custodial Centres

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for urgent measures towards the speedy trial of cases and decongestion of custodial centres in the country in view of Covid-19 pandemic. In a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the President drew His Lordship’s attention to the recent call by the United Nations on all countries “to consciously reduce the population of prison inmates since physical distancing and self-isolation in such conditions are practically impossible.” According to President Buhari, “From available records, the inmates population at various custodial centres across the country presently stands at about 74,127 out of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs). “Most of these custodial centres are presently housing inmates b...

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6Apr By BobbyNo Comments

Sport

Chelsea rival Man Utd, Arsenal for Stoke teen Nathan Collins

Chelsea have joined the interest in Stoke City teenager Nathan Collins. The Sun says the London club have shown strong interest in the Ireland Under-21 centre-half. The 18-year-old is regarded in England as one of the hottest properties outside the Premier League. Manchester United were tracking his progress last season after he made his first-team debut when still aged only 17. But with United deciding against an immediate move, Collins signed a new deal intended to keep him at Stoke until 2024. He has further enhanced his reputation this term, making another nine appearances in the Championship to bring his overall total to 12 and his long-term contract has not warded off suitors. United are once more on his trail while Arsenal have also had him watched but Chelsea are tho...

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20Mar By BobbyNo Comments

News

India Hangs Four Men Over 2012 Delhi Bus Gang Rape and Murder

India has executed the four men who were convicted of the brutal gang rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in Delhi in 2012. The men, Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh had been found guilty in a 2013 trial and sentenced to death by hanging, but their execution had been postponed multiple times due to appeals. According to BBC UK, the four were hanged at dawn on Friday March 20th in the capital’s high-security Tihar prison with hundreds gathered outside the prison gates, shouting “death to rapists”. “It took seven years but justice was delivered,” said Delhi chief minister Arwind Kejriwal. It was the first time in five years that capital punishment has been carried out in India. The victim, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student who the Indian p...

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11Mar By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

Entertainment

Harvey Weinstein gets 23-year prison sentence

After dozens of women came forward to share stories of alleged sexual assault at the hands of one of Hollywood’s most powerful figures, Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday. In what could amount to a life sentence, New York State Supreme Court Justice James Burke handed Weinstein a 20-year term for committing a criminal sex act against Mimi Haley, a former production assistant, and a three-year term for raping Jessica Mann, an aspiring actress. Weinstein must serve the terms consecutively. Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting the two women after a dramatic, weeks-long trial in Lower Manhattan. The Miramax co-founder has denied all wrongdoing and plans to appeal. Before he was sentenced, Weinstein told Burke the enormous amount of attention ...

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5Mar By BobbyNo Comments

News

Transgender man Demands Right to be Described to as The Father of his Child and not Mother

A transgender man who has given birth wants to be described to as the father of his child and not the mother as written in the child's birth certificate. Freddy McConnell, who is a multimedia journalist at The Guardian, says being referred to as a mother was psychologically scarring. Back in September, a judge ruled against him, after a High Court trial in London, but he has launched an appeal with three appeal judges now considering the case. At the September ruling, Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the Family Division of the High Court and most senior family court judge in England and Wales, ruled against Mr. McConnell. He concluded that people who had given birth were legally mothers, regardless of their gender, and said there was a 'material difference between a per...

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5Mar By BobbyNo Comments

News

Police Arrest Inspector for allegedly Killing Civilian in Edo

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said it has arrested a police inspector, who allegedly shot a civilian, Richard Odia (pictured) to death in Benin in February. Spokesman of the command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, who disclosed this in a statement, said the state Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, had directed an immediate orderly room trial of the inspector. He explained that the police inspector was serving in Delta Command where he was attached to the Department of Operations and was on special duty to 301 Construction Company, Asaba. The command’s spokesman said the policeman was on escort duty from Asaba to Benin when he shot and killed the deceased on Feb. 11 at about 7:00 p.m. The police personnel, shot and seriously wounded the deceased with an AK-47 rifle a...

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4Mar By BobbyNo Comments

News

EFCC Re-arraigns Mompha for Alleged N32.9bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today Wednesday March 4th, re-arraigned Ismaila Mustapha (aka Mompha), before Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for alleged N32.9billion fraud. Mompha was first arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Ventures on November 25th 2019 on a 14-count charge bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. At the resumed hearing of his case today, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court of a second amended charge against Mompha and urged the court to allow a fresh plea by the defendant. The amended 22 count charges was read over to the defendant and he pleaded not guilty. After his plea, ...

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1Mar By dthataNo Comments

Health

Coronavirus: Bill Gates Says Vaccine Could Be Ready For Large-scale Trial By June

Bill Gates, global health advocate and world’s richest man for 18 years, says novel coronavirus vaccine could be ready for large-scale trials by June 2020. Gates, who is the co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also added that this virus has started to behave like a once-in-a-century pathogen. In a paper written for the New England Journal of Medicine, Gates said leaders have two equally important responsibilities: solve the immediate problem and keep it from happening again. “The COVID-19 pandemic is an excellent case in point. The world needs to save lives now while also improving the way we respond to outbreaks in general. The first point is more pressing, but the second has crucial long-term consequences,” Gates wrote. “The long-term challenge—improving our ab...

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28Feb By BobbyNo Comments

News

Second EFCC Witness Submits 30 Page Long Report of what he Found in Naira Marley’s Phone in Cyber Fraud Trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called in its second witness to testify against Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley, during the continuation of the singer's cyber fraud trial on Thursday February 27. Recall that Naira Marley is facing an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit cards and fraud. Testifying in court, EFCC's second witness Mr Anosike Augustine who is a mobile forensic expert with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recalled how he analysed the contents of an iPhone 11 allegedly retrieved from Naira Marley during investigation. He told Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos that he produced a report of his findings after extracting and analyzing the evidence recovered from...

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21Feb By dthataNo Comments

Crime

$500m Bribe: Nigerian Oil Mogul, Aliyu Abubakar Faces Trial In Italy

Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, chairman of AA Oil: now wanted in Italy for trial for being the conduit of a $500m bribe by ENI and Shell An Italian judge has ordered a Nigerian businessman, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar to stand trial for alleged international corruption relating to a Nigeria oil graft case involving Eni and Shell, a judicial source and his lawyer said on Wednesday. Milan prosecutors allege that Abubakar, a reclusive billionaire and chairman of AA Oil, played a central role in one of the oil industry’s biggest scandals in years, handing out more than $500 million in cash to powerful Nigerian government officials. The money is alleged to come out of the $1.3 billion licence fee paid by Eni and Shell for access to the OPL-245 offshore oilfield located in the southern Niger Delt...

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20Feb By BobbyNo Comments

News

Rare video Emerges of Mexican drug Lord El Chapo Receiving Haircut Inside high Security Prison Cell

A rare video has emerged showing Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman inside a  Maximum security prison cell discussing with someone who appears to be a prison official as he's being processed into the prison before he has his beard shaved by a prison official. The  eleven-minute video released Tuesday night and obtained by news site Latinus,  appears to offer rare footage of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, who is now under lock and key for life at a top-security U.S. prison.It should be remembered that El Chapo, as he is fondly called, was arrested in 2016 after multiple failed attempts by Mexican authorities to arrest him. He escaped from prison in Mexico on two occasions, one by using an underground tunnel. Guzman was extradited in 2017 to the United States, wh...

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9Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

SERAP Drags FG, Cross River To ECOWAS Court Over Agba Jalingo’s Trial

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the government of Nigeria and Cross River state government of governor Ben Ayade to ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja “over the prolonged, arbitrary detention; unfair prosecution; persecution, and sham trial of journalist Agba Jalingo.” Jalingo, who is the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, was arrested on August 22 over a report alleging that Mr Ayade diverted N500 million belonging to the state. In the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/10/2020 filed last week at the ECOWAS Court, SERAP is arguing that: “The sole objective of the government of Nigeria and the Cross River state government of governor Ben Ayade is to perpetually keep Agba Jalingo in arbitrary detention and to silence him simply for expressing critical views and ...

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8Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

What Donald Trump’s Impeachment Trial Could Teach Nigeria – Oke Umurhohwo

After a long wait, the jury has come out with a verdict– President Donald Trump would not be removed from office. This brings to end months of nightmares for Trump who faced a major onslaught to boot him out of office. Lucky for him, his Republican-dominated Senate acquitted him on all charges leveled against him and wrote-off his impeachment by the Democrats dominated House of Representatives. For three weeks, the US Senate entertained fierce arguments from House of Representatives managers and Trump’s counsels on what turned out to become a divisive issue in that country politics. The Democrats are adamant that Trump “abused office and obstructed Congress” from its legitimate duty and threw its numerical advantage at the House of Representatives to impeach him from office. But ...

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5Feb By BobbyNo Comments

News

Ondo Pastor Remains In Prison As Case Is Transferred To High Court On Case Of Missing Child

The missing child case involving the founder of the Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Akure, Ondo State capital, Alfa Samuel Babatunde, has been transferred from the magistrates’ court to the state High Court. Babatunde, together with six other defendants have been standing trial over the missing of a one-year-old boy, Gold Kolawole, in his church. Kolawole was allegedly abducted during a Sunday service of the church by an unknown person in November last year and his whereabouts remained unknown until now. Consequently, the pastor and other defendants were arrested and arraigned before a magistrate court by the men of the state security service on six counts. They were later remanded in prison custody by the court. At the last hearing, the matter was adjourned till Wednesday, Feb...

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1Feb By BobbyNo Comments

Politics

Republicans Looking Happy while Democrats Look Dejected as Senate Trial Ends without Witnesses

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnel alongside his Republican senate colleagues were seen on Friday night looking joyful while the Senate Democrats looked dejected after senators voted 51-49 to not call witnesses on Friday. The narrow vote came after Republican senators said they did not need to hear more evidence, and pressed toward acquitting President Trump next week. Donald Trump's impeachment trial at the senate will now surely end next week Wednesday just after Trump delivers his State of the Union speech to congress on Tuesday. Two Republicans, Mitt Romney and Susan Collins, joined Democrats in their push for witnesses – but it was not enough as Republicans had majority votes of 51 and voted against calling witnesses while 49 other senators (majority Democrats) voted in fa...

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23Jan By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

Entertainment

R. Kelly to stand trial in September for sex attack on hairdresser

Cook County prosecutors said Wednesday they intend to take embattled R&B singer R. Kelly to trial first on their only indictment involving an accuser who was an adult at the time of the alleged attack. The decision comes as a bit of a surprise since the other three Cook County indictments facing Kelly involve women who were underage at the time. One of those cases involves four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a more serious charge than the aggravated criminal sexual abuse counts he otherwise faces. Kelly did not appear at the brief hearing Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building due to a medical issue, his attorney, Steven Greenberg, said in court. He is being held without bond in a federal jail in downtown Chicago. Prosecutors said they would go to t...

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21Jan By dthataNo Comments

News

Trump Impeachment Trial To Get Underway Today In US Senate

The Senate trial of President Donald Trump is due to get underway in earnest at 1 pm (1800 GMT) on Tuesday, only the third impeachment trial of a president in U.S. history. The 100 members of the upper chamber will gather for what is likely to be the first full day of proceedings in the case. Last week, senators and the chief justice were sworn in. Since then, the Democratic Party lawmakers who will head the prosecution, known as the House managers, have filed their legal brief and Trump’s defence team has done the same. The president is accused firstly of having abused the power of his office to pressure Ukraine into announcing an investigation of his domestic political rival, Joe Biden, in order to potentially help Trump’s re-election campaign. The second article of im...

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16Jan By BobbyNo Comments

News

Mompha Hid N32.9b Transactions from Government for 25 Months – EFCC

At the resumed trial of Dubai-based Nigerian man Ismaila Mustapha a.k.a Mompha on Wednesday January 15, it was alleged that he hid N32.9billion transactions from the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) for 25 months. EFCC accused the defendant of procuring Ismalob Global Investment Ltd. and retaining in its account, an aggregate sum of N32.9 billion between 2015 and 2018 between December 14, 2015 and January 25, 2018. Prosecution witness and an official of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML),  Mr. Matthew Enu-Obun told Justice Mohammad Liman that they had no record of the transaction as it was hidden and not reported. According to the EFCC, Mompha who is not a financial institution or an authorised foreign exchange dealer, negotiated for...

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16Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Governors Hijacking LG Funds Will Face Trial – Presidency

The Presidency yesterday said governors hijacking funds meant for their local government would face trial immediately after leaving office. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, according to a statement by his spokesman, Edet Etuk, gave the warning yesterday while featuring on the Federal Radio Corporation Network Service programme, “Issues of the Moment” . Enang charged the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation to monitor the spending of allocation of funds to the states. “Let the governors know that they would be made to stand trial in accordance to the extant law when their immunity is eventually lifted,” Enang said. He said most of the local government secretariats had been take...

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13Jan By BobbyNo Comments

News

Australian Police Offer $1Million Reward for Information about Murder of 3-year-old British girl Who Died 50 Years ago

Australian police have announced $1 million reward for information about the murder of a toddler who was killed 50 years ago. Cheryl Grimmer was 3 years old when she was kidnapped 50 years ago on January 12, 1970, outside an amenities block at Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong, NSW. She had been spending the day with her mother and three brothers when she was kidnapped. According to Mail Online, a man who had confessed to the crime had been due to face trial last year but a key piece of evidence was ruled inadmissible by the Supreme Court. Now, the NSW Police homicide squad have announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The heartbroken family are hopeful the reward will bring a close to the case as they wish know wh...

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12Jan By BobbyNo Comments

News

Suspected Port Harcourt Serial Killer, Gracious David-West identifies 7 victims in Mortuary

Gracious David West, the suspected Port Harcourt serial killer has reportedly identified 7 of his victims out the 19 people he allegedly killed before being arrested. A statement presented in court during his trial on Friday January 10 by IPO Sergeant Ogbomudia Timi Engbokuru, revealed that the suspect affirmed the visit aimed at identifying his alleged victims. It was further gathered that the statement David West admitted to, were made at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad Office , Police Headquarters and Elekahia Police Station. The suspected serial killer who was arrested on September 19, subsequently took the Police to all the hotels rooms where he killed the women on September 20. The trial before Justice Adolphus Enebeli and Justice Mark Chukwu is expected to continue la...

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8Jan By BobbyNo Comments

News

Mompha’s Trial Resumes January 15th On Alleged 22bn Fraud

Federal High Court in Lagos today fixed January 15th 2020 for the resumed trial of Internet sensation, Ismaila Mustapha aka Mompha. Recall that Mompha was arrested by EFCC operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja on October 19th and was arraigned before the court on November 25th on a 14 count-charge bordering on Money Laundering and suspected internet fraud. He was arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment. The EFCC alleged that Mompha used Ismalob Global Investment, owned by him, to retain the aggregate sum of N18.05billion between 2015 and 2019. He was also alleged to have aided his company to retain N14.9 billion between 2015 and 2017, while not complying with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Ministry of Trades and Investment financial tran...

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4Jan By dthataNo Comments

Crime

“I Have A Law Degree And Will Represent Myself During Trial” – Captain America Actress, Mollie Fitzgerald Who Stabbed Her Mother To Death Says

Captain America actress, Mollie Fitzgerald, who was charged with stabbing her mother to death, has said that she will represent herself during her trial since she has a law degree.   The 38-year-old made the declaration on Thursday, as she appeared in court for the first time since she was charged over the death of her mom, Patricia 'Tee' Fitzgerald, 68.   Mollie, who appeared by video in Johnson County District Court, told the judge that she has a law degree from the University of Houston, meaning she is capable of representing herself in future court proceedings.   The actress was taken into custody on New Year day just 11 days after authorities found her mother inside an Olathe, Kansas, residence with an apparent stab wound. She was pronounced dead a...

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3Jan By BobbyNo Comments

News

Acting EFCC’s Chairman Reacted to Fayose Dancing with White Woman

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has reacted to a video of former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose dancing  with a white woman after being granted permission by the federal high court  to travel abroad for  medical treatment. Special assistant on media and publicity to Mr Magu, Tony Amokeodo told Premium Times that they won't be reacting to the video on grounds of the anti-graft agency only prosecuting the former governor and not persecuting him. He stated that they can only wait till Fayose returns on the next adjourned date for the continuation of his trial over an alleged N2.2 billion fraud. ”We are not going to react to that video (on) the grounds that the EFCC is prosecuting him, not persecuting him. ”Beside...

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26Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

I Am Ready To Continue With My Trial – Dasuki

A former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), has explained the reason behind his decision to stop attending court sessions during his prolonged illegal detention. Dasuki, who spoke in an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, monitored in Abuja, on Wednesday, called for justice and truth. The ex-NSA said with his release, he was ready to face trial. He also said he had no problem with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). The ex-NSA, who was arrested for alleged illegal possession of firearms and money laundering in December 2015, was released on Tuesday. No fewer than five courts granted him bails, but the Federal Government ignored the court orders. For instance, On September 1, 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who was ...

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13Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Sowore: AGF Malami Orders DSS To Hands-Off Trial, Takes Over Case-file

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has ordered the Department of State Service, DSS, to hands-off the prosecution of detained pro-democracy activist and convener of RevolutionNow Protest, Omoyele Sowore. The AGF, in a statement that was made available to newsmen by his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, on Friday, said he directed the security agency to forward the case file in respect of charge pending against Sowore before the Federal High Court in Abuja, to his office. Malami further directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to immediately take over the prosecution of all charges against Sowore, in line with the provisions of Sections 150(1) and 174 (1) (a-c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He said the Federal Government was...

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11Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Falana Replies Presidency, FG Should Stop Subjecting Sowore To Media Trial

When Mr. Omoyele Sowore was arrested on August 2, 2019 the State Security Service (SSS) accused him of engaging in terrorist activities. On the basis of the allegation the SSS obtained an order from the Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court to detain Sowore for 45 days in order to investigate his alleged terrorist activities. But at the end of the investigation he was not linked with terrorism in any material particular. Hence, he was not charged with any offence under the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011, (as amended). The SSS also claimed in a sworn affidavit that Sowore had travelled to Dubai to collect millions of dollars to overthrow the Buhari administration. But when the SSS later found that Sowore has never travelled to Dubai or any part of the United Arab E...

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6Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Omoyele Sowore Has Been Rearrested By DSS

DSS finally re-arrests Omoyele Sowore after chasing judge out of the courtroom with gun. He has been taken to the headquarters of the DSS. Operatives of the Department of State Services on Friday morning disrupted the ongoing trial of activists Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare, attempting to rearrest the two men, who were only released from its detention on Thursday evening. The DSS operatives also chased away the presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu while also brutalising a journalist with a popular television station. There is currently an ongoing standoff inside the court premises as the DSS operatives are refusing to allow Sowore and his lawyers come out of the place.

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4Dec By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

Crime

Russian sisters who killed their father for sexually abusing them, to face trial

In spite of an outcry, Russian investigators on Tuesday December 3 announced that two out of the three sisters who killed their father after years of allegedly being subjected to sexual abuse will be facing murder charges. Krestina, Angelina and Maria Khachaturyan were 19, 18 and 17 when they killed their father Mikhail with pepper spray, a knife and a hammer while he was sleeping in July 2018, after years of allegedly being subjected to physical and sexual assault. Though more than 364,000 people signed a petition earlier this year demanding the three women be fully acquitted of any crime, the Russian Investigative Committee which handles major crimes said it had completed its investigation and recommended that two of the sisters be tried for premeditated murder which carries a ja...

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31Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

‘Nnamdi Kanu Will Return To Nigeria To Face Trial If His Safety Is Guaranteed’ – Lawyer

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he was ready to face trial if his safety would be guaranteed by the court. Kanu told the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, through his counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor. Ejiofor told the court that the application to restore the IPOB leader’s bail so that he could face his trial was filed on April 1. “We have an application for bail filed on April 1, 2019, the application was served on the prosecution and it is ripped for hearing. “We urge the court to restore his bail on the ground that the court will guarantee his safety when he comes back to the country to continue his trial,” he said. On his part, counsel to the Federal Government, Labaran Shuaibu, who told...

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30Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

Nigeria To Run 5G Technology Trial For 3 Months – NCC

The Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC, on Monday said that the trial of 5G, the fifth generation network technology, would be on trial for three months in the country before actual approval and rollout. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said this on the sideline of the Mobile and Disruptive Technology, MoDITECH, Forum 2019 in Lagos. The theme of the forum is ‘The Power of Digital Services”. Mr Danbatta said that the trial of the 5G technology would enable the commission to see the key attributes it attained before approval. The executive vice chairman, represented by Engr Banko Wakil, a Director at NCCHe, said 5G was like a proof of concept to be carried out by operators with the existing frequency and spectrum. He said that as usual, the proof o...

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