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Five to die by hanging for killing Navy officer, two others in Kogi

Published

1 month ago

October 11, 2024

Five to die by hanging for killing Navy officer, two others in Kogi

In Kogi State, five accused persons will die by hanging for killing three people amid tussle for the ascension to a traditional seat.

They were convicted and sentenced by a Kogi State High Court sitting at Ankpa, Ankpa LGA for the killing one Chief Sylvester Sule, a retired Navy officer, his brother Owoicho Sule and one other person.

The presiding judge, Justice Seidu Hussaini, found the convicts guilty of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97(1), 337 and 221 of the Kogi State Penal Code.

A perennial feud between two ruling family houses in Akwu community in Akpa local government over the right to produce the village head snowballed into a violent clash on January 29th, 2020.

In the ensuing full-blown melee, three people were killed, about 22 houses set ablaze and five vehicles burnt in the community.

After a protracted struggle to occupy the vacant stool for years, the then Ata Igala coronated one of the contenders to the throne, Sylvester Muhammedu Sule, on December 29, 2019 at his palace in Idah.

A month after, violence broke out in the community leading to the destruction of lives, including the beaded chief’s and two others, and properties.

The trial of the accused persons started in 2020, went through three different judges before the fourth judge, Justice Seidu Husseini, finally delivered judgement on October 7, 2024.

Justice Hussaini said in his ruling that the five accused persons – Aliyu Amadu Makolo, Yakubu Idaji, Danjuma Yusuf, Mohammed Yusuf and Muhammed Rilwanu (Dikadi) – were found guilty in a violent attack that led to the death of three people and destruction of properties in the community.

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The prosecution counsel, M. A. Abaji, averred during the proceedings that on January 29, 2020, the accused men, armed with various weapons, including matchetes and locally made guns, invaded the Aku community, and set properties on fire.

In the process, Abaji added, the accused men hacked Chief Sylvester Muhammedu Sule, his elder brother, Mr Owoicho Sule Onuh and one other person to death in the community.

The prosecution counsel added that the lifeless body of one of the victims, Owoicho Sule, was thereafter dismembered, tied in a sack and dumped in a well.

In his final written address, Barrister Abaji submitted that the defendants’ pleas of not guilty were only a mere denial.

He averred that the defendants utterly failed to raise a defence as to the commission of all the offenses established against them, rather, dwelt on mere denials and technicalities which he claimed were not material or fatal to the case under prosecution.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty as the charges when the case came up for hearing.

Their counsel, Isaac Ekpa, in his final written addresses, said the prosecution had not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt to warrant the conviction of the defendants.

In his ruling on Monday, Justice Seidu said the prosecution had proved its case beyond all reasonable doubts, noting that “denying the commission of offense did not amount to not committing it.”

The trial judge added that the burden of proof rested on the defense counsel which he failed to achieve in the case.

“I have full satisfaction with the evidence adduced by the prosecution. The prosecution has presented its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The five defendants (1,2,3,4,6) have been found guilty of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire and culpable homicide punishable with death, contrary to sections 97(1) , 337 and 221 of the Kogi State penal code, and therefore sentences them to death by hanging,” he said.

Meanwhile, Justice Seidu has discharged and acquitted the two other accused persons in the case – Yakubu Ikoja and Abdulmumuni Sale, the 5th and 7th respondents – for the inability of the plaintiff’s counsel to prove his case against them beyond doubt.

The prosecution counsel said efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects said to be on the run.

He said David Adoyi Abah, Tahir Abdul, Solomon Odawn Ogbo, Jibrin Okpanachi, Farouk Okpanachi and Francis Bala Abonny, who were at large, would be arrested and made to face the law.

Five to die by hanging for killing Navy officer, two others in Kogi

Related Topics:‘die’hanging Kogi Navy

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

Published

10 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Trends Admin

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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Emefiele printed new naira notes different from what Buhari approved – Ex-CBN official

Published

11 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Trends Admin

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele

Emefiele printed new naira notes different from what Buhari approved – Ex-CBN official

The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

A former CBN Deputy Governor, Kingsley Obiora, who served in the policy department, testified that the newly printed naira notes issued during Emefiele’s tenure deviated from the approval granted by then-President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his testimony before Justice Maryann Anenih via Zoom, Obiora disclosed, “the approval by then President Muhammadu Buhari was different from what was eventually produced,” according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Obiora, responding to evidence presented by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, explained that he noticed discrepancies when comparing the naira notes in circulation with the President’s original directive.

During his seven-year tenure at the CBN, Obiora served on the Committee of Governors (COG), which he described as a body comprising “the governor, four deputy governors, and the director of corporate services.” He clarified, “The governor is the Chairman of the Committee, and during my tenure as Deputy Governor, Emefiele was our Chairman.” Obiora said the Committee met every Wednesday to address significant policy matters.

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Obiora recalled the initial introduction of the redesign plan during an event marking the one-year anniversary of the e-naira in Lagos on October 25, 2022. “The governor called all four deputy governors into a huddle and informed us of the plan to redesign the currency,” he said, expressing immediate concerns, as he felt “the event itself may not be the appropriate place to announce such a major policy.” He advised that the policy undergo further scrutiny before any public announcement.

Despite his reservations, Obiora noted that Emefiele proceeded with the plan, formally presenting it to the COG on October 26, 2022. “The governor mentioned that we had already had the president’s approval for the policy,” he stated, adding, “The deputy governor in charge of currency operations presented a memo, and it was discussed, deliberated upon.” Following this, a press conference was held to announce the redesign.

Obiora explained that the CBN Board was formally briefed on the naira redesign months later, in mid-December 2022. He said, “The policy was discussed at the board level mid-December. The board did not sit as day-to-day management but instead gave policy directions.” Obiora clarified that “the board’s involvement in the policy was limited to endorsing the COG’s prior decision, not initiating it.”

During cross-examination, defense counsel Olalekan Ojo, SAN, questioned Obiora about the timing of the board’s formal involvement. Ojo suggested that the December meeting “conforms with the naira notes currently in circulation,” to which Obiora responded, “Yes, sir.” He noted there had been no indication or directive from former President Buhari challenging the redesign.

Reflecting on past experiences with currency design, Obiora mentioned that while he was with the bank during the introduction of a redesigned N100 note in 2014, he was not directly involved in its development.

After delivering his testimony, Justice Anenih discharged Obiora and adjourned the case to December 4, 2024, and January 21, 2025, for further proceedings.

Emefiele printed new naira notes different from what Buhari approved – Ex-CBN official

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Train attack: ECOWAS court dismisses SERAP suit against FG

Published

11 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Trends Admin

Train attack: ECOWAS court dismisses SERAP suit against FG

The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court) has rejected a suit filed by a group of Nigerian activists, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over an attack by bandits on an Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022.

The court held that it lacks jurisdiction over the case because relevant ingredients that could qualify it to be entertained as a public interest litigation were missing.

SERAP filed the case after bandits attacked the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train in 2022.

In the attack, armed assailants bombed the train carrying over 970 passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line near Rigasa in Kaduna.

The attack led to numerous fatalities, injuries, and abductions.

SERAP, by its case, sought to hold the government of Nigeria accountable for alleged human rights violations in relation to the terrorist attack.

The organisation claimed, among others, that the attack was the result of the state’s inability to provide tight security for the passengers.

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SERAP argued that Nigeria’s alleged lack of measures to avert the attack violated the rights of passengers to life, security, and dignity.

It prayed for a N50 million compensation for each of the passengers and their families.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the regional court declared the suit inadmissible due to lack of victim status required for public interest litigation.

A statement by the court said the judgment was delivered by Justice Dupe Atoki.

It added: “The court recognised its jurisdiction to hear the case as it involved potential human rights violations within a member-state, in accordance with Article 9(4) of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol.

“However, the court found the claim inadmissible on grounds that it failed to meet the victim status requirement essential for litigation under Article 10(d) of the same Protocol.

“In its findings, the court said that SERAP claimed to be acting in public interest, citing previous incidents of terrorism in the region, including attacks on educational institutions and transportation services.

“However, the court determined that the case did not meet the criteria for a public interest action, or actio popularis, which requires that the alleged violations affect a large, indeterminate segment of the public or the general public itself.

“The Court highlighted that: The victims of the March 28 attack were identifiable individuals rather than an indeterminate public group, making the claim unsuitable as a public interest litigation.

“The reliefs sought, including specific monetary compensation, were directed at the identifiable victims of the attack rather than the public at large.

“Members of the three-member panel of the court were Honourable Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves(presiding judge), Honorable Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma (panel member), and Honorable Justice Dupe Atoki (judge rapporteur).”