34 lawyers defend Deborah’s suspected killers, court remands suspects in prison – Newstrends
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34 lawyers defend Deborah’s suspected killers, court remands suspects in prison

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3 years ago

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A Magistrates’ Court in Sokoto has remanded two suspects arrested in connection with the killing of a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Deborah Samuel, for alleged blasphemy.

The police arraigned the two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunchi, also students of the college, on Monday with the defence team raising 34 lawyers for the suspects.

A mob of Muslim extremists comprising colleagues and co-students of the deceased, lynched Ms Samuel over alleged blasphemy, sparking nationwide outrage by Nigerians.

The Police First Information Report said both suspects were arraigned as a result of the mob action, which led to Deborah’s lynching.

Both suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them following their arraignment.

The prosecutor, Inspector Khalil Musa, asked the court for another date to enable the police to complete its investigation.

Khalil Musa told the court that an investigation was in progress as Deborah’s corpse was still in a morgue at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

However, leading a team of 34 lawyers, the defence counsel, Professor Mansur Ibrahim, who did not oppose the application, pleaded with the court to grant the defendants bail.

Ibrahim cited sections 157, 161(a,f) and 164 of the administration of criminal justice law of Sokoto state, as well as 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The court, however, adjourned the ruling on the application to a later date which would be communicated to the lawyers.

It directed the defendants to be remanded at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Before she was lynched, Deborah, a 200-Level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was accused of denigrating Islam on a school WhatsApp chat platform set up by her course mates.

A violent protest by Islamic extremists followed the arrest of suspects linked to the lynching of Deborah as the protesters demanded their release.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto has to impose a 24-hour curfew on the state metropolis on Saturday, relaxing the curfew on Monday to dusk to dawn.

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Court slams life jail on Abuja man for raping 7-year-old girl

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2 mins ago

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November 16, 2024

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Court slams life jail on Abuja man for raping 7-year-old girl

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has secured the conviction of one Laminu Ahmed, 36, for the rape of a seven-year-old girl.

Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court 14 in a judgment delivered on Thursday sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The Minister’s media aide, Kamarudeen Ogundele, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The trial judge held that the prosecutor from the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice headed by Yewande Awopetu successfully proved the case.

The convict had on 3rd January 2023 asked the victim (name withheld) to bring him a plate of food from the food her mother was selling at the Zuba Fruit Market, Abuja and lured her to follow him with the food to a public bathroom in the market.

He locked the door as soon as she entered and proceeded to sexually abuse and rape her by forcefully kissing her, inserting his fore finger into her vagina and then penis and raped her.

He clamped his hands over her mouth when she attempted to scream and threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone. Nevertheless, the little girl was brave enough to tell her mother about the rape on her return. The mother had gone out to attend a friend’s naming ceremony when the incident occurred.

She and the father had immediately reported the matter to the local vigilante who arrested the defendant and handed him over to the Police.

The defendant confessed to the crime at the Police Station in Zuba and at the FCT Command where the matter was later transferred.

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The defendant was charged to court by Prosecution Counsel from the SGBV Response Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice (representing the AGF), on an eight count charge for the offences of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and sexual abuse under the Child Rights Act; Rape, Intimidation and Infliction of bodily injury under the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015; and Criminal force under the Penal Code.

However, the defendant upon arraignment in June 2023 pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.

The prosecution opened its case against the defendant, called witness and tendered evidences including the defendant’s confessional statement and confessional video, medical report and report of investigation as well as the statements of the victim and her mother to the police as proof of investigation.

Despite Laminu’s futile attempts to deny making the confessional statement and his claim that he was forced to confess, the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against him and he was convicted and sentenced for the heinous crime he committed against the seven years old survivor.

Awopetu described it as a win for the Justice Sector particularly the SGBV Response Unit in conjunction with the Gender Unit of the FCT Police Command and the FCT Judiciary, in their fight against the scourge of sexual violence in our society.

“It is also a warning to would be perpetrators that the long arm of the law will definitely catch up with them. A key lesson for parents in this case is never to leave their kids untended in a public place.

“Laminu Ahmed’s name will be included in the Sexual Offender’s Register as is required by law,” she said.

 

Court slams life jail on Abuja man for raping 7-year-old girl

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‘I was scared he was going to hurt me,’ Jake Paul reacts after beating Mike Tyson

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November 16, 2024

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‘I was scared he was going to hurt me,’ Jake Paul reacts after beating Mike Tyson

American Youtuber Jake Paul has admitted that he was scared during his fight with boxing legend Mike Tyson on Saturday.

Paul secured a hard-fought victory over Tyson at AT&T Stadium by unanimous decision after a thrilling eight-round of fights.

“It was tough, like I expected it to be,” Paul said, his voice filled with both relief and respect.

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“He’s exactly what I thought—one of the greatest to ever do it. He’s an icon and a legend.”

The fight, which took place in front of a packed crowd of 80,000 fans, saw Paul land 78 punches compared to Tyson’s 18, with the younger boxer throwing 278 punches to Tyson’s 97.

On not going for the knock-out win, Jake Paul added: “I was scared he was going to hurt me. I was trying to hurt him.”

 

‘I was scared he was going to hurt me,’ Jake Paul reacts after beating Mike Tyson

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$6bn fraud: Judge scolds Agunloye’s counsel over delay tactics

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23 hours ago

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November 15, 2024

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Former Power and Steel Minister Olu Agunloye

$6bn fraud: Judge scolds Agunloye’s counsel over delay tactics

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, Apo, Abuja On Thursday, chastised Adeola Adedipe, SAN, counsel to former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, for using delay tactics to slow the pace of the former minister’s prosecution. 

Agunloye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on seven counts of official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract worth $6 billion.

During Thursday’s hearings, the court observed that the defence counsel has been in the habit of making excuses based on Agunloye’s health and age, as well as filing various motions, ensuring that little progress has been achieved in the trial.

Addressing the defence counsel, Justice Onwuegbuzie stated that “My principle of justice is that of no delay. The other time you brought the issue of amicus curiae and wasted the time of the court. You should also know that in my court I don’t read processes.

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“If you need time to serve processes, it must reach me on time, and your colleague must also be duly aware in time. There must be mutual respect. Do not come and serve processes in court; I don’t take that in my court,” he said.

Prosecuting Counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, informed the court at the start of proceedings that the business of the day was the adoption of the prosecution’s application for the amendment of the charge, which was filed on October 30, 2024, to which the defence responded with a counter-affidavit and a request for an adjournment to allow the prosecution to study the affidavit.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case until November 28, 2024, to rule on the adoption of the application.

 

$6bn fraud: Judge scolds Agunloye’s counsel over delay tactics

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