Crime
Court adjourns trial of ex-NHIS boss
A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, adjourned until May 15 and May 16 the continuation of the trial of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Oluwafemi Thomas.
Thomas is standing trial alongside a Bureaux de Change operator, Kabiru Sidi, on four counts bordering on $2.2 million money laundering.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and were first arraigned in 2016, before Justice Saliu Saidu.
They had each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.
The case was, however, reassigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji after Saidu was transferred from the Lagos division of the court.
The trial has since commenced in the suit and the defence had opened its case and still giving evidence in court
When the case was called on Monday, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, appeared for the prosecution while Mr O. Gbolahan appeared for the first defendant.
The second defendant, however, informed the court of the absence of his counsel on the grounds of ill health
On his part, the prosecutor expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, adding that he had come in from Abuja last week hoping to take this case.
He, however, said that in the circumstance, he would accept an adjournment.
While noting that the second defendant was entitled to be represented by a counsel, the court also noted that the defendant had narrated to the court his efforts to secure a counsel.
The court consequently, adjourned the case until May 15 and 16 and urged the defendant to ensure he is present in court with his counsel on the next date.
It was gathered that the charge against the defendants has been amended several times, with the defendants taking fresh pleas on each amendment.
They were re-arraigned on March 6, 2019.
The prosecution closed its case in January 2020 after calling six witnesses and tendering 26 exhibits.
The defence on their part filed a no-case submission arguing that the prosecution had not made out any prima facie case against them to warrant them to open their defence.
Meanwhile, the no-case submission filed by the defence failed, as Justice Faji on March 13, 2020, dismissed their application and ordered the defence to open its case
An appeal against the ruling of the trial court also failed at the appellate court which delivered judgement on September 30, 2021.
The defence was thus asked to open its case, which is now ongoing.
In the amended charge numbered FHC/L/457C/2015, the EFCC alleged that the first defendant and his wife who is said to be at large, had on July 3, 2015, conspired to move out of the court’s jurisdiction, the sum of $2.19 million said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The defendant was said to have procured the assistance of one Bamidele Ibitoye to help move the money, which was the proceeds of his alleged unlawful enrichment as a public servant without going through a financial institution.
Crime
JUST IN: Bandits kill three, kidnap 120 villagers in Zamfara community
No fewer than three persons have been reportedly killed and over 120 others abducted as notorious bandits attacked Goran Namaye community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to a resident in the area, who gave his name as Abubakar Muhammad, the terrorists invaded the town at about 1:17 am on Thursday, operating from house to house.
He further stated that the kidnapped persons were mainly women and men, adding that the terrorists also killed three people during their operation.
“The whereabouts of many members of the community could not be traced, and it is very clear that we lost three of our men to the tragic operation,” he added.
Speaking further, Muhammad pointed out that the bandits came in large numbers, on motorcycles with sophisticated weapons, and surrounded the community as the people were running helter-skelter to save their lives.
“They took us unaware as the whole people were running helter-skelter without direction, and they started house-to-house operations and chased our people, mainly women, into the forest.”
As of the time of filing this report, the security agencies in the state have not made any official statement regarding the incident.
Crime
Man, 37, arrested for tampering with corpse in Ibadan
Man, 37, arrested for tampering with corpse in Ibada. The Police in Ibadan on Wednesday arraigned one Sulaiman Ikudaisi, 37, who allegedly tampered with a corpse.
Ikudaisi, whose address was not provided, is charged with tampering with corpse but he pleaded not guilty before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court.
The prosecutor, Insp Toyin Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 11 at 3.00 p.m. at Muslim Cemetery, Ibadan.
Ibrahim alleged that the defendant removed some bones from the corpse, in contravention of Section 242(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Kausarat Ayofe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case until July 16 for hearing.
Crime
Spare parts dealer reveals threats to life
The Leader Igbo Association of Spare Part Dealer Association at Ladipo Market, Jiakpo Solomon Akachukwu, has said his life and that of his family has been under constant threat for a reason yet to be known to him.
He explained that he has received several calls and messages of which he has been warned to leave Lagos State and relocate to the village. He added that some of his properties including his car windscreen and other household items were damaged by those threatening his life.
According to him, my wife and little baby who is under 2years cannot go out without security. So I took this step to inform the authorities concerned that I was told to leave the market and the state if I love my life.
Jiakpo however appealed to the security agency, to please come to his aid, as his life and that of his family are no longer safe.
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