Connect with us

Judiciary

Police rake millions from traffic light offenders

Published

on

By Iorver Mande

The Nigerian police have made millions of naira from traffic light offenders across the country but more mind boggling is the Lagos scenario by the Lagos Rapid Response squad (RRS) patrol team on motor bikes and a host of others.

Be it at their stations or on patrol, it is an act of stealing in a broad day light; at any time a motorist is arrested, passengers are asked to drop and one out of the team will enter the front seat with the driver and negotiation will continue as the other officers drive ahead to a corner where money will be dished out for them to release you.  They don’t carry receipt of any kind for fees paid by traffic offenders contrary to what road safety officers do. May be, they are supported by the superiors to whom they remit returns after a day’s extortion of road users because if not no authority will claim ignorance on this.

It is worrisome and disturbing for one to keep quiet on a canker worm like this. The police role in our society is too pivotal for us to ignore any corrupt practice from it; they raid drug dealers a job done by NDLEA, fake consumables a job done by NAFDAC, they check driving licence an FRSCN job, arrest illegal foreigners an Immigration assignment, arrest illegal imported goods – customs job, check fuel prices a job of PPPRA, the list is endless on how involving the police are and as the most utilized security agency that has ever existed.

When you go to a police station, it is written and pasted that bail is free but for once it has never been free. It is rather the courts that one could ordinarily think that bail cannot be free that ends up making it free, where a court will grant one bail on self recognizance without any other condition attached to it. A police officer will rather tell in plain terms why it is more preferable for you to bribe him than for him to take you and your vehicle to the station.

With the introduction mobile courts by the Lagos state government otherwise known as the Special Offences Court to deal with growing cases of traffic and environmental abuses in the state it is doubtful whether the police will enable it to produced the intended result or frustrate the development by diverting all offenders to pay straight to them because nobody will want his name to be spoilt by being convicted by this court.

At the explosion of population, traffic challenges are increasing and security needs are not just necessary but should be efficient void of malpractices of any kind. The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade confirmed the challenges and said that the end has come to the era of recklessness and impunity on our public roads and highways and regretted that until now unruly road users, who daily cut the lives of innocent citizens short and caused traffic snarl leading to wastage of productive hours on the roads, will no longer go unpunished.

The molestation of road users by the police is an endless tale and the right time to nip in the bud is now that the change mantra is pronounced and widely accepted by Nigerians. It will not be a surprise for one to say that if corruption is addressed in the police command all other sections tied down by the menace will be corrected instantly.

 

Continue Reading

Judiciary

Court remands man for allegedly stealing cold room compressor

Published

on

 A Sharia Court in Kano State on Wednesday ordered that a 25-year-old man, Ahmed Abdulkadir who pleaded guilty to stealing a cold room compressor  unit worth N60,000 be remanded in a correction  centre.

The police charged Abdulkadir, who lives in Fagge Quarters, Kano, with theft.

The Judge, Malam Umar Lawal-Abubaka, adjourned the matter until July 25 for summary trial.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Abdullahi Wada told the court that the complainant, Nura Muhammed who also resides in Fagge Quarters, reported the matter at the Fagge Police Station, Kano, on July 6.

Wada alleged that the defendant, entered into the complainant’s shop and stole the compressor unit.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

Continue Reading

Judiciary

Man,26,docked for alleged theft of armoured cables worth N3.7m

Published

on

A 26-year-old man, Adeniyi Toyosi,  on Wednesday, appeared before an Ota Magistrates ‘Court in Ogun, for breaking into a business premises to steal two transformer armoured cables valued at N3.7 million.
The Police charged the defendant, whose address was not provided, with burglary, stealing and conspiracy.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.O. Adaraloye,told the court that the defendant and others still at large, committed the offences on July 7 at about 12.00 a.m. at No.4 Pavilion Estate, Ilogbo road, Ota in Ogun State.
Adaraloye alleged that the defendant and his accomplices had broken into Makindez Multi Business Ventures to steal two transformer armor cables, three Closed-Circuit Television  and other valuable items valued at N3.7 million.
He further alleged that the company guards caught the defendant and handed over to the police.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9),413 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun,2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Adeyemi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2.5 million with one surety in like sum.
Adeyemi ordered that the surety, who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction should be gainfully employed.
He further ordered that such surety should show evidence of tax payment to Ogun Government as part of the bail conditions.
She adjourned the case until Aug.14 for further hearing.
Continue Reading

Judiciary

Jigawa High Court judges begin annual vacation

Published

on

Jigawa State Chief Judge, Justice Umar M. Sadiq has approved July 10 for the commencement of annual vacation for the State High Court.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Director, Publicity and Protocol Matters, Jigawa State Judiciary, issued to newmen.

The statement said the High Court Judicial staff would resume work on Monday, September 11, 2023.

He said the vacation is under the Provision of Order 45 Rule 5(1) of the Jigawa State High Court Civil Procedure Rules (Subsidiary Legislation) Cap. H-2, laws of Jigawa, 2012.

“Given the above, by the Provision of Jigawa State High Court 2022/2023 Legal Calendar, all High Court Judges shall be on vacation from Monday, 10th July, 2023, to Friday, 8th September, 2023 and resume work on Monday, 11th September, 2023,” he said.

He said that during the vacation period, Justice Mustapha Bello Adamu of High Court No 9 Hadejia would serve as the Vacation Judge and sit at High Court Complex, Dutse.

Continue Reading

Trending