metro
Usifo Ataga: Illegible statements, inaudible audio stall Chidinma’s trial
The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, who allegedly murdered Super TV’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ataga, before a Lagos State High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square TBS, was Tuesday, stalled due to illegible statements served on the defence counsel.
The defence counsel told the court that the statements contained in the proof of evidence served on them were all illegible and that the audio interviews of the defendants were also inaudible.
They stated that the defendants had a right to clearer statements and audible video interviews as it would enable them prepare their defence adequately.
In a short ruling Justice Yetunde Adesanya, directed the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, to provide clearer statements and audible copies of the interviews to all the defence counsel before the end of the day.
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Earlier, the DPP, Mrs Addyinka Adeyemi, announced her appearance for the prosecution, while Mr Onwuka Egbu, Mr Babatunde Busari and Mr A.O. Ogunsanya appeared for the first to third defendants, respectively.
Adeyemi told the court that she had two witnesses in court and was ready to commence trial, but Egwu informed the court that he had a pending application before the court that was ripe for hearing.
He said that in his application he was praying for more legible statements, as the ones contained in the proof of evidence the prosecution served him were illegible.
Counsel to the second defendant, Busari, also aligned himself with the submission of the first defence counsel and further complained that the video recordings of the interviews were not served on him.
The counsel to the third defendant, Ogunsanya, from the Office of the Public Defender OPD, told the court that the video interviews of the defendants that were served on him were not audible.
He aligned with previous submissions that the statements he was served were also not clear.
The defence counsel submitted that they needed all these documents to enable them prepare for the trial adequately.
Adeyemi told the court that she would send soft copies of all the proof of evidence to each defence counsel email before the end of the day.
The charges, accused
The three defendants were arraigned on October 12, on a nine-count charge preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
The Lagos State government accused them of allegedly murdering the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Micheal Usifo Ataga.
In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves and murdered Ataga on June 15, by stabbing him several times with a knife on his neck and chest.
The incident took place at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Chidinma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri are facing the first seven counts on the charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
While the third defendant, who is the first defendant’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count charge of stealing iPhone 7, phone, belonging to the late Ataga.
The duo were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.
They were also alleged to have forged a bank account statement of one Mary from June 1, an international passport and a driver’s license in Chidinma’s name.
In count eight, Chidinma was accused of stealing two mobiles, one laptop and ATM cards belonging to the late Usifo Ataga, from which N380,000 was subsequently withdrawn.
It was also alleged that on June 22, Chidinma’s sister, Chioma, was found in possession of a stolen phone, property of the late Usifo Ataga.
Meanwhile, Adesanya adjourned the matter to November, 11, 15, 16, 17, 26 and 30 for trial.
Vanguard
metro
Minister inspects Independence Bridge in Lagos after reopening
Minister inspects Independence Bridge in Lagos after reopening
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has visited the Independence Bridge in Lagos on Thursday after ordering its immediate reopening.
The minister on Wednesday ordered the reopening of the bridge shut for repair work on Wednesday following the massive gridlock that stretched from Lekki through Victoria Island to Falomo Bridge and beyond.
However, the commencement of repairs on Wednesday caused major traffic with Lagos residents spending hours on the road.
The minister’s visit, it was learnt, was to assess the rehabilitation and how to restructure the work in a way to cause minimal disruption to movement of people using the bridge and alternative roads.
A statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Orji Uchenna Orji, in Abuja on Thursday, confirmed the minister’s arrival in Lagos for the visit.
“Less than 24 hours after the sad traffic experience on the Independence Bridge in Lagos, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON, has arrived in Lagos to assess the situation with a view to providing immediate and permanent intervention,” the statement read.
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, had earlier confirmed the reopening of the bridge.
She expressed the Ministry of Works’ regret for the inconvenience caused to the motoring public by the closure and appealed for their understanding and cooperation
She had said, “Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure palliative works are carried out on the already opened bridge to make it motorable .
“The ministry hereby express regret for the inconvenience caused to the motoring public by the closure and appealed for their understanding and cooperation.”
metro
Man stabs friend over woman in FCT council
Man stabs friend over woman in FCT council
A 27-year -old man, Rabiu Suleiman, has reportedly stabbed and inflicted serious injuries on his friend, Yunusa Muazu, during a fight over a woman at Tipper garage area of Gwagwalada in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
A resident of the area, who simply gave his name as Sanusi, said the incident occurred on Tuesday night after a fight broke out at a viewing centre at Unguwar Dodo area of the town.
He said Suleiman had accused his friend, Muazu of dating his friend, Jamila Yakubu, who he intends to marry.
He said trouble started when Jamila left Suleiman’s house on Tuesday around 8:34 pm, only for him to meet her with his friend, Muazu, discussing at a viewing centre, where he had gone to watch football.
He said Suleiman, upon sighting his woman with his friend, angrily walked straight to them and slapped him, a situation, which resulted in a fight between them.
He said in the process, Suleiman allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed his friend in the back, which attracted the attention of people at the viewing centre.
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According to him, some people at the centre, who tried to separate them, were overpowered, not until when some vigilantes rushed to the scene and arrested Suleiman.
He said his friend, who was lying on the floor in a pool of his blood, was rushed to a nearby hospital.
He said the lady quietly left the scene when the fight broke out.
A member of the vigilante, Salihu Bala, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect had been arrested and handed over to security personnel in the area.
He said the vigilantes were making efforts to trace the woman’s location and arrest her.
He said, “The vigilantes even went to the family house of the girl on Wednesday morning but could not find her but we are still trailing her movement to ensure she is arrested.”
Bala said the injured victim was recuperating at the hospital, alleging that the victim and his friend were into drugs.
The spokeswoman of the FCT police command, SP Josephine Adeh, did not respond to the calls and text messages sent to her on the incident.
Man stabs friend over woman in FCT council
metro
South African court acquits Nigerian pastor of rape after 8 years in jail
South African court acquits Nigerian pastor of rape after 8 years in jail
A High Court in the Eastern Cape division of South Africa has acquitted Timothy Omotoso, a Nigerian televangelist, accused of raping young women in his church.
Omotoso and his two co-defendants were arraigned on a 32-count charge bordering on rape and human trafficking.
News24 reported that Omotoso would be deported to Nigeria immediately after the judgment.
The co-defendants are Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho.
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Several young women had accused the pastor of luring them into his home in Umhlanga, a town in South Africa, where he allegedly molested them.
In April 2017, the Nigerian pastor was arrested shortly after he landed at an airport in South Africa.
He is the senior pastor of the Jesus Dominion International based in Durban, South Africa. He is also the founder of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach and Ancient of Day Broadcasting Network
According to News24, Irma Schoeman, the trial judge, yesterday, ruled that the state prosecutor did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The Nigerian pastor had been in South African prison since his arrest in 2017.
South African court acquits Nigerian pastor of rape after 8 years in jail
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