Justice – Prime Pointers

Alleged money laundering: Court adjourns Ali Bello, co-defendants’ trial until Sept. 24

June 24, 2024June 24, 2024 admin

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of Ali Bello and his co-defendants until Sept. 24 for trial continuation. Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the matter after defence counsel, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, concluded the cross-examination of the EFCC’s 2nd prosecution witness (PW2), Olomotane Egoro, and was re-examined by the anti-graft agency’s lawyer, Abbas Mohammed. Justice Egwuatu, who discharged Egoro, an Access Bank Complaint Officer, from the witness box, adjourned the matter until Sept. 24 and Sept. 26 for trial. It will be recalled that the…

Court to deliver ruling in Yahaya Bello’s application to vacate arrest warrant May 10

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024 admin

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, fixed May 10 for ruling on an application by former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, seeking an order of setting aside the April 17 arrest warrant issued against him. Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, adopted their processes and presented their arguments in the motion. Justice Nwite had, April 17, issued an arrest warrant to EFCC for Bello’s arrest. The order was…

After 3 years, police release corpses of Free-Zakzaky protesters in batches

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 admin

Following the media reports about the Islamic Movement’s plan to continue with contempt of court proceedings against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of National Hospital, the Nigerian Police Force has begun to release the corpses in batches after three years. It would be recalled that on Monday, the Islamic group, also known as the Shiites, said it had applied for an order for committal of IGP and the CMD to prison for their alleged refusal to obey an Abuja Federal High…

Islamic Movement sues IGP, others over alleged killings of members, demands N400m damages

September 29, 2022September 29, 2022 admin

The Islamic Movement has sued the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and five others over allegations bordering on the extra-judicial killing of Ashura mourners in Zaria, Kaduna State. In the suit number marked: FHC/KD/CS/135/2022, the Islamic group demanded a N200 million damages for each of the two members; Muhsin Badamasi and Zaharaddeen Lawal, alleged to have been killed. Aliyu Badamasi, on behalf of the group, sued the IGP, AIG Zone 7, CP Kaduna State, AC Surajo Fana, Area Commandant Zaria; Ibrahim Zubairu, DPO of Sabon Gari and Kasim Muhammad, DPO Zaria…

Alleged fraud: Again, judge’s absence stalls arraignment of Dana Air MD, others

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 admin

The absence of Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday again stalled the planned arraignment of the Managing Director (MD), Dana Air, Hathiramani Jacky Ranesh, on allegations bordering on fraud.Mr Ranesh was earlier scheduled for an arraignment on Oct. 13, 2021, but Justice Egwuatu was not in court.Today, the case was listed as number one on the cause list.Although counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Moshood A., and lawyer to the defendant, Ade Adedeji, SAN, were in court, the judge’s absence hindered the proceeding.Besides,…

Virtual court sittings: a new dawn, panacea for speedy justice delivery – Lawyers, litigants

January 4, 2022January 4, 2022 admin

As the judiciary system in Nigeria breaks into a new dawn in its practice through the introduction of virtual court sittings. Some Legal practitioners say that the laudable initiative will ensure quick dispensation of justice.Speaking on the development, Mr Abdulwahab Daudu, SAN, said that the virtual court sitting was introduced as part of efforts to ensure justice after long months of lockdown and the need for social distancing as a result of the Covid-19.“If not for the introduction of the virtual court sitting, a lot of people will still be…

Federal High Court holds valedictory court session for late Justice Abdu-Kafarati

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021 admin

The Federal High Court (FHC), on Monday, held a posthumous valedictory court session in honour of its former Chief Judge, Late Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, in Abuja.The Chief Judge of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, in his address, described the late Kafarati as “a revered gentleman, a great family man; very humane, articulate, peaceful and quiet by nature.”According to Tsoho, he was humility personified, but courageous and stood firm, as circumstances demanded.He said the news of Kafarati’s untimely death came to him, the judges and members of staff of the court as…

You can’t restructure Nigeria without justice, equity – group replies Fayemi

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021 admin

Alphonsus Nweze An Igbo socio- political group, Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) has said that there can be no successful restructuring of NIgeria without justice, equity, and fairness to all constituent groups.The group in a statement signed by its leader Dede Uzor A Uzor was reacting to a lecture delivered recently by the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, where he canvassed that restructuring is the solution to Nigeria’s political imbroglio, not secession.Fayemi in his postulation made reference to Somalia and Southern Sudan as countries which got independence but they…

FG prays court to dismiss Nnamdi Kanu’s motion over lawyers’ boycott of proceeding

November 11, 2021November 11, 2021 admin

The Federal Government has urged a Federal High Court, Abuja, to dismiss pending application of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, following his counsel’s walkout of Wednesday’s sitting. Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Abubakar, prayed Justice Binta Nyako, after Kanu’s legal team staged a walkout shortly before the matter commenced. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AGF had, on Oct. 21, rearraigned Kanu on a seven-count charge as against the five counts he was previously answering to, bordering…

Court commits Abdulrasheed Maina to 8 years imprisonment

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021 admin

The long drawn court battle between Abdulrasheed Maina, Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT) and EFCC over pension fraud seem to have finally come to an end as a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, convicted and sentenced him to 8 years imprisonment. Justice Okon Abang, in his judgment, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proven the essential ingredients of all the 12 counts preferred against Maina beyond reasonable doubt in the money laundering suit. Delivering the judgment, the judge sentenced the ex-pension boss to…