All posts by toluwanimi adeeko

Crime

By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Dec. 27, 2019 (NAN) The Police on Friday, arraigned three applicants, Jerry Haruna, Jeremiah James and Pam James, in a Kabusa Grade I Area Court, Abuja for allegedly attacking a police patrol team.

The defendants of no fixed addresses are facing a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, extortion, causing grievous hurt and mischief.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mahmud Lawal, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Dec. 11.

Lawal said that a team of policemen from the Kabusa Division, while on patrol in Waru Village in Kabusa at about 8.00p.m, were attacked by the defendants.

The prosecutor said during the attack, the defendants destroyed two walkie-talkies valued at N70, 000 and also damaged the police patrol vehicle’s windscreen estimated at N20,000.

He said the Inspector that led the team, Iliya Yadayi, was injured on the forehead and left hand during the attack.

Lawal told the court that during the course of investigation, the defendants confessed to the crime.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 76, 291, 241 and 327 of the Penal Code.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Judge, Aliyu Kagarko, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with one surety each in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must be a responsible citizen who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Kagarko adjourned the case until Jan. 31, for trial. (NAN)

ATA/IKU/DUA

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Dada Ahmed

Witness
By Toluwanimi Adeeko
Abuja, Dec. 12, 2019 (NAN) )A prosecution witness, CSP Umar Babangida, on Thursday told an FCT High Court that contrary to the claims of Grace Taiga, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation did not receive a copy of the Gas Supply and processing Agreement allowing P&ID to operate in Nigeria.

Babangida, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the lead investigator of the alleged fraudulent activities of the P&ID, made this known while testifying in the case.

The investigation was over the alleged involvement of the former Director of Legal Services,  Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Grace Taiga, in the P&ID scandal.

At the resumed hearing, Babangida, informed the court that based on the claims made by Taiga that she forwarded the GSPA to the Ministry of Justice, he wrote a letter to the minister in-charge of the ministry.

”After the defendant stated that she forwarded the draft GSPA to the Ministry of Justice, we wrote a letter to the Honorable Minister in charge of the Ministry, requesting evidence of receipt of the GSPA and asked the minister to send a copy of the draft agreement.

“We received a response from the Ministry of Justice, signed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, informing us that after a thorough search of their archive, there was no evidence that such document was received from the Ministry of Petroleum.

“He also stated unequivocally that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice did not play any role and was not aware of the drafted agreement from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources,” Babangida said.

He also informed the court that after receiving such letter, the former Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice between the year 2008 and 2015 was invited.

” In respect of the letter from the office of the AGF, we contacted and invited one Mr. Abdullahi Yola, he was the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice between the year 2008 and 2015.

” We interacted and interviewed him over the GSPA.

” He confirmed that throughout his tenure in office, the GSPA was never brought to him for vetting.

“He further stated that according to the regulation of the Ministry, agreements by legal officers at ministries, departments and agencies above N50 million must be forwarded to the office of the AGF for vetting and a project of that nature ought to have been forwarded but that wasn’t done” he said.

The witness also informed the court that during investigation, it was discovered that an associate company of Petroleum and Industrial Development made several payments into the Zenith Bank account of the defendant.

“During investigation, it was discovered that one of P&ID’s associate company, Industrial Consultant International, paid 10,000 dollars into the account of the defendant domiciled in Zenith Bank.

“In 2018, the same Industrial Consultant International paid another 10,000 dollars into the defendant’s Zenith Bank account.

” Another associate company called Eastwide Trading limited, paid 1,000 dollars into the defendant’s account.

“The only payment made to that domiciliary account were from these two associates.

” Also from the investigation of her naira account, it showed that she received N194, 210 on 27 March, 2019 from Industrial Consultant International.

” Also on 28. March, 2019, another sum of N194, 230 was received from the Industrial Consultant International.

” Further investigation showed that those payments were made in Euros, 500 Euros each.

“The defendant also wrote a letter to the Branch Manager of Zenith Bank requesting that the Euros be converted to naira and paid into her naira account,” he said.

Babangida said an email was sent from Brendan Cahill to Taiga, thanking her for being a good friend to Cahill and Michael Quinn and also asking her to present the email in the bank to enable her to access 21,000 dollars sent to her.

He said the defendant admitted to knowing both Cahill and Quinn and that the money they sent to her was to help with her medical bills.

After the testimony, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi adjourned the case until Jan. 31, 2020 for further hearing.

Taiga is standing trial for allegedly facilitating the controversial contract and securing gratification to the tune of over 20, 000 dollars while she served at the ministry in 2010.

She pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. (NAN)
ATA/JCE
=======

Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

Tailor

by Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Nov . 20, 2019 (NAN) A tailor, Collins Nnochiri,44, on Wednesday appeared in a Karmo Grade I Area Court for allegedly beating up a businessman.

The police charged Nnochiri with three counts of assault, criminal intimidation and mischief.

The prosecution counsel, Ijeoma Ukhagha, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on Nov. 2 in Jabi.

She told the court that the complaint was lodged by a businessman, Benjamin Udueje, who lives in  Jabi.

She alleged that the defendant went to the complainant’s place of business, attacked him and tore his shirt valued at N5, 000.

The prosecution also alleged that he defendant threatened to kill the complainant.

During police investigation, he said, the defendant could not reasonably explain his actions.

Ukhagha said the offence contravened the provisions of  sections 397, 265 and 327 of the Penal Code law.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The judge, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000.

Maiwada then adjourned the case until Nov. 27 for trial.  (NAN)

ATA/SH

======

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Remand

By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Nov. 19, 2019 (NAN) A Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered  a  55-year-old agent,  Alhassan Lamaran, who illegally sold a parcel of land belonging to a businessman, be remanded in a correctional facility, pending bail application hearing.

The police charged Lamaran with being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be stolen.

The Judge, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service in Keffi and adjourned the case until Nov. 27.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Ijeoma Ukagha, alleged that the defendant committed the offence on Aug. 2013.

Ukagha  informed the court that the complainant, Benjamin Ochai, who resides in Maitama, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police station.

She said the complainant reported that sometime in 2009, he gave another friend, Abraham Sule, who is now at large,  his CofO to be used as collateral  to enable him  secure a loan from the bank

The prosecution added that the documents Sule  returned, turned out to be fake.

Ukagha also said that in April 2019, he also discovered that one Aliyu Mustapha, who claimed to have bought the from one Suleiman Musa for N10 million, had trespassed on the land.

She told the court that while interrogating Musa, he told the police that he bought the land from the defendant, who also gave him the original CofO.

Ukagha said the offence contravened the provisions of  Sections 317  of the Penal Code law.

After the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty. (NAN)

ATA/SH

=======

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Remand

By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Nov. 14, 2019 (NAN) A Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja on Thursday ordered that an applicant, Mohammed Kolochi, who pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of sunglasses valued at N105, 000, be remanded in Keffi Correctional facility, pending sentencing.

The judge, Inuwa Maiwada, gave the order after Kolochi , pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal trespass and theft.

Maiwada adjourned the matter until  Nov. 19 for sentencing.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that Kolochi broke into ”House of Lunethes”, a shop in Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja on Oct. 24 and stole a pair of sunglasses valued at N105, 000.

Ukagha said during investigation, the police found a footage from the CCTV in the shop and identified Kolochi.

The prosecutor said that the chief security officer attached to the mall, Usman Prince, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station.

She told the court that during interrogation, Kolochi he confessed to the crime.

Ukagha said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 248 and 288 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

ATA/DEB/SH

==========

edited by Debo Oshundun/Sadiya Hamza

Sentence

By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Nov. 14, 2019 (NAN)A Karmo Grade I Area Court on Thursday sentenced a 35-year-old mechanic, Moses Azzam, to two years in prison for dangerous driving and injuring a man who was sleeping on a bench.

The Judge, Inuwa Maiwada, sentenced Azzam, after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving, driving without a licence  and causing grievous hurt.

Maiwada, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N100, 000.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Ijeoma Ukagha, informed the court that the accident happened by Nov. 5 at Dape Village, Mechanic site along Karmo Road.

Ukagha told the court that the convict, drove a Lexus Saloon car with registration number EPE 847 CV, in a reckless manner that endangered other road users.

She told the court that while driving recklessly, Azzam, rammed Omotosho Victor, who was lying on a bench.

The prosecutor informed the court that as a result of the accident, Omotosho sustained life threatening injuries.

The offence, she added, contravened the provisions of sections 22 and 10(1) of the Road Traffic Law.

The convict, while taking his plea, pleaded guilt and begged the court for leniency.(NAN)

ATA/SH

======

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Order

By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Nov. 13 2019 (NAN) A Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja on Wednesday ordered that a labourer, Abdullahi Suleman, be released from the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The judge, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, gave the order at the resumed hearing after receiving a letter from a complainant, Amos John, saying he had forgiven Suleiman.

John sent a letter asking the court to pardon the defendant ,

The police charged Suleiman with one count of grievous hurt contrary to the provisions of Section 245 of the Penal code law.,

The Prosecution Counsel, Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Sept. 27.

Ukagha informed the court that the complainant reported the matter at the Lifecamp Police station.

She said the complainant reported that Suleman attacked his younger brother, Ibrahim Bitrus.

The prosecution said that the defendant hit Bitrus in the abdomen and also hit him hard in the groin.

Ukagha also said Bitrus was still receiving treatment in the Wuse General Hospital.

She further told the court that during police investigation, the defendant confessed to committing the crime.(NAN)

ATA/SH

======

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Witness

By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Nov. 6, 2019 (NAN)A principal witness, CSP Umar Babangida,  on Wednesday alleged that Grace Taiga, a former director, Legal Services in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources,  played a major role in the fraudulent gas supply agrrement between the Federal Government and Petroleum and Industrial Development (P&ID).

Testifying in an FCT High Court in Abuja, Babangida, informed the court that he led the team that investigated the alleged  fraudulent activities of the P&ID.

”We opened an investigation as a result of a petition forwarded from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to the Acting Chairman of EFCC in July 2015.

”The team wrote a letter of investigation to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources requesting the Ministry to provide the Gas Supply and processing Agreement dated Jan. 11, 2010.

“We also asked them to provide the MOU dated July 22, 2009 which was signed between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and P&ID.

“Upon analysing the two documents, we observed that the MOU was signed by P&ID Nig Ltd while the Gas Supply and Production agreement was signed by P&ID Ltd, a company registered in the British Virgin Island,” he said..

He said that the then minister of Petroleum Resources, Deiziani Allison-Madueke signed for the ministry of Petroleum Resources while the defendant witnessed for the ministry.

”On the strength of this response, we then wrote a letter to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, to confirm if the Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) was forwarded to he commission form the Ministry to enable the Federal Executive Council make a decision.

“ICRC replied that the GSPA was not forwarded to the commission and the Federal Executive Council had not deliberated on it.

“ Based on their reply, we wrote a letter to the office of the Secretary General, to confirm if the GSPA was forwarded to them for the Federal Executive Council to deliberate on.

“The office of the Secretary General replied that it did not get to them. As a result of this we then wrote to the Bureau of Public Procurement to confirm the role they played.

“Their response was that after going through their archive and records, they discovered that the Bureau wasn’t contacted in any way and as such wasn’t involved in the agreement.” he said

The witness also explained that a list of members of the technical team, which Taiga was on, was provided by the ministry.

Babangida said the defendant voluntarily made a statement in the absence of her lawyer.

The witness said that Taiga confirmed that the drafted agreement was forwarded to the office of the AGF for vetting which was part of her duty as the director of legal services.

After the testimony, Mr Ola Olaonipekun, SAN, counsel for the defence prayed the court for an  adjournment on the grounds of the defendant’s failing health.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi adjourned the case until Dec. 12 for further hearing.

The EFCC accused Taiga facilitating the controversial contract and securing gratification to the tune of over 20, 000 dollars while she served at the ministry in 2010.

She pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. (NAN)

ATA/SH

=======

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Remand
By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Nov. 4, 2019 (NAN) A Kabusa Grade I Area Court, Abuja on Monday ordered that an applicant, Frank Ughakpoteni, who allegedly impersonated a soldier, be remanded in a correctional centre, pending his bail application.

The police charged Ughakpoteni with impersonation, theft, and being in possession of things reasonably suspected to be stolen.

The Judge, Aliyu Kagarko, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Keffi Correctional facility until Nov. 6 when the bail application will be heard.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Mahmud Lawal, told the court that the defendant broke into the shop of the complainant, Ahmed Alkali, who lives in Kuruduma, Abuja on Sept. 16.

Lawal said that the complainant reported the matter at the Asokoro police station.

He alleged that Ughakpoteni broke into the complainant’s shop and stole a generator alternator.

Lawal further told the court that during investigation, the police uncovered the defendant’s hideout in a bush, on Mogadishu Barracks road.

He also told the court that the police found uniforms belonging Nigerian Army and airforce, passports, WAEC certificates and ARM cards belonging to different people.

Lawal said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 132, 288, 319(a), 306 and 183 of the Penal Code law.

After the charge was read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.(NAN)
ATA/AWA/SH

==========
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa/Sadiya Hamza

Crime

By Toluwanimi Adeeko

Abuja, Oct. 30, 2019 (NAN)The police on Tuesday arraigned a security guard, Matthew Okoh, in a Kabusa Grade I Area Court, Abuja for allegedly being in possession of cannabis.

The police charged Okoh with two counts of unlawful possession of Marijuana and constituting a public nuisance.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mahmud Lawal, told the court the defendant committed the offence on Sept. 25.

Lawal informed the court that policemen from the MOPOL 60 Auchi, while on a Stop and Search operation at Area I roundabout, arrested the defendant on Sept. 25, at about 10 p.m.

The prosecution counsel also told the court that during the course of investigation, the defendant was unable to give satisfactory account of how he got the cannabis.

The defendant however was alleged to have admitted to consuming the cannabis.

Lawal said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 198 and 319 ”A” of the Penal Code law.

After the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

The Judge, Aliyu Kagarko, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N20,000 each with one surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must be a responsible citizen who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Kagarko then adjourned the case until Nov. 11 for trial.(NAN)

ATA/SH

======

edited by Sadiya Hamza