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Court releases man in Lagos prison after 15 years without trial
Court releases man in Lagos prison after 15 years without trial
In Lagos State, one Kazeen Adeshina has regained his freedom after spending 15 years behind bars without charge or trial.
The release of Adeshina from correctional facility was orddred on Monday by an Ikeja high court.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala gave the order while ruling in a fundamental rights enforcement suit marked No: D/16997MFHR/24 filed by Adeshina’s counsel, Ben Okeke.
Ogala, in her ruling, averred that the arrest and continued detention of Adeshina in the custody of the Medium Correctional Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos without a trial was wrong, unlawful and unjustifiable.
She added that it was a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification Enforcement Act, Cap.10.
“As afore-stated, there is unchallenged fact that this applicant has remained in custody for about 15 years and is yet to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The presumption of innocence enshrined in our constitution remains sacrosanct and it is indeed a travesty of justice for this to occur without administration of criminal justice, no matter where the delay emanates from.
“Counsel to the first respondent has exhibited correspondence to the police to transfer the suspect for arraignment since 2003 which has remained unattended to and it appears that this applicant has fallen through the cracks and thus remained in custody for such years without trial.
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“The presumption of innocence in our constitution remains sacrosanct and it is clear to this court that no good cause has been exhibited necessitating the continued remand of the applicant and therefore this court finds that the applicant is entitled to the declaratory order sought,” she said.
The judge, thereafter, ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the applicant from the custody of the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre.
The applicant’s counsel, Okeke, had filed the suit against the Lagos state attorney-general, the commissioner of police and the Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos state as first to third respondents, respectively.
The applicant had prayed the court for a declaration that the arrest and continued detention of Adeshina in custody without a formal charge or trial was wrongful, illegal, unjustifiable and a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights.
The applicant’s counsel said: “An order directing the immediate and unconditional release of the applicant from the custody of the third respondent, Medium Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Lagos.
“An injunction restraining the respondents, their agents or privies from further breach of the applicants’ fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.
“An order admitting the applicant to bail pending his arraignment in court and for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
“The applicant filed in support of the application, the affidavit of urgency of six paragraphs as well as a supporting affidavit of 15 paragraphs deposed to by Joe Ameh, the Executive Coordinator in the office of Zarephath Aid dated March 8.”
The applicant’s counsel referred the court to the provisions of Section 35 (1) of the Constitution and submitted that it was inferable that whenever a deprivation of right to personal liberty is sought pursuant thereto, such deprivation must satisfy two conditions to satisfy the approval of the constitution.
Court releases man in Lagos prison after 15 years without trial
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Mompha blasts EFCC over N35bn money laundering charges
Mompha blasts EFCC over N35bn money laundering charges
Famous Nigerian businessman, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), as a “useless” and corrupt government agency.
The troubled social media socialite, who is on trial for alleged money laundering, characterized the EFCC as the most ineffective and dishonest organization in Nigeria.
Mompha’s outburst was in response to the EFCC’s recent report that a staggering N35 billion was discovered in his bank account.
A prosecution witness, Idi Musa and an investigator with the EFCC testified in court during the week that the money was found in two bank accounts linked to Mompha.
Recalls that Mompha is charged alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited for money laundering.
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The anti-graft agency had arraigned Mompha on an eight-count charge, including conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, and failure to disclose assets and property, among others.
Mompha’s trial has been ongoing since January 2022, with the recent testimony from the EFCC’s witness shedding new light on the case.
It was reported, “The sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Idi Musa, in the trial of Ismaila Mustapha, (a.k.a Mompha) an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, July 1, 2024, told Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos how the sum of N35bn was found in two bank accounts linked to the defendant.
The Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC had, on January 12, 2022, arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretences and use of property derive from unlawful act.”
Reposting the writeup, Mompha wrote on Instagram: “The most useless and corrupt Nigeria government agency @officialefcc ???.”
Mompha blasts EFCC over N35bn money laundering charges
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NDLEA busts cocaine cartel in Lagos, arrest couple
NDLEA busts cocaine cartel in Lagos, arrest couple
A Nigerian couple, Agbakoba John Mmadu and Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, who allegedly led a high-profile cocaine syndicate based in Lagos, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The couple was apprehended along with an associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, during a raid where significant quantities of cocaine intended for export and local distribution were seized.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, announced in a statement on Sunday that the arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by a special operations unit targeting the notorious drug syndicate.
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The group is known for packaging, distributing, and trafficking cocaine within Nigeria and internationally.
Babafemi said, “The 54-year-old Agbakoba John Mmadu was arrested at Ago palace way, Okota while his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, who doubles as their stash keeper, were nabbed at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, all on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024.
“While seven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 7.652 kilograms were recovered from Mmadu at Ago palace way, not less than one hundred and twenty-two (122) compressed pellets of the same drug weighing 2.42kg were seized from the duo of Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate, bringing the total seizure to 10.1 kilograms valued at over N2.1 billion in street value.”
NDLEA busts cocaine cartel in Lagos, arrest couple
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Osun village head, corps member arrested over illicit drugs
Osun village head, corps member arrested over illicit drugs
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted a head in Osun State, Ige Babatunde and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, for alleged possession of cannabis plants.
Babatunde was arrested by the NDLEA on July 5 with fresh cannabis plants weighing 5kg, according to a statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said that the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, was on Friday, July 5 arrested with fresh cannabis plants that weighed 5kg.
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He revealed that the Corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, was caught with a load which weighed 1.250kg at a Corpers Lodge in Kano State.
According to him, operatives of the agency in Kano on Wednesday, July 3rd arrested Abdulrahman at Corpers Lodge, Sumaila area of the city with 1.250kg of Load.
Osun village head, corps member arrested over illicit drugs
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