Amazon Web Services Nigeria has challenged the power of the Lagos State Government to regulate and censor films and videos produced within its territory as stipulated in the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State, 2004. Amazon, a subsidiary of Amazon Inc and founder of Prime Video Nigeria, therefore submitted that the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State, 2004 “is not applicable to video and films censorship in the state.” This was revealed in a preliminary objection by the global entertainment giant in a suit filed by the Isale-Eko Descendants Union (IDU), among others. The union had instituted a suit seeking N10 billion…
Author: Kunle Dada
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has filed a six-count charge against its suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari. INEC filed the charges at the high court in Yola, the state capital. It would be recalled that Yunusa-Ari was suspended by INEC amidst controversies during the tightly contested Adamawa State Gubernatorial Election. INEC, in a statement on Thursday, said it took the action after reviewing the case file from the police which established a prima facie case against Yunusa-Ari. The Police had arrested Yunusa-Ari over his actions during Adamawa State governorship election. He was granted administrative…
A 27-year-old labourer, Aminu Shuaibu, was on Thursday docked in a Sharia Court sitting in Kano for allegedly stealing nine packs of rubber toys worth N54,000. The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Abdullahi Wada, told the court that the complainant, Kamilu Muktar, who resides in Darmanawa Quarters, reported the matter at Fagge Police Station, Kano, on July 3. Wada alleged that the defendant entered the complainant’s store through the window and stole nine packets of rubber toys worth N54,000. However, the defendant who resides in kofar Waika Quarters in Kano pleaded not guilty to the charge. The judge, Malam Umar Lawal-Abubakar, admitted…
A visually impaired man, Francis Ugachukwu is to cool his heels in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl, (name withheld). According to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court remanded the defendant, pending hearing and filing of his bail application. Soladoye adjourned the case until October 18 for a hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial. Ugachukwu was arraigned on one count charge of defilement. The state counsel, Abimbola Abolade, posited that the defendant committed an offence sometime in November 2022 on No. 16 Kareem…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have tendered 18 exhibits before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in a bid to escape the disqualification request of the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi, its candidate in the February election. While Tinubu, for the second time in less than 24 hours, presented his records at the Chicago State University to the court, Shetima tendered his letter of withdrawal from the Borno South Senatorial race upon being picked to be Vice presidential candidate. Tinubu and Shetima tendered the exhibits to the court to debunk allegations of non-qualification to stand…
A Jos Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, sentenced a 32-year-old bus conductor, Benjamin Joseph, to three months in a correctional facility for assaulting a police officer. The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced Joseph after he pleaded guilty to the charge. Bokkos, who said the sentence was without an option of fine, noted that the punishment would serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders in the future. Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, had told the court that the case was reported on June 9 at the “C” Division Police Station by the officer in charge of traffic.…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened and closed its defence in the petition by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, announced the closure of the first respondent’s case after the conclusion of the testimony of its sole witness, Dr Lawrence Bayode, a Deputy Director in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of INEC. Before calling on its witness, INEC tendered some documents which were admitted and marked as exhibits. Led in chief by Mahmood, the witness told the court that he worked for INEC…
A 31-year-old man, Peter Ebunola, was on Monday docked in an Ojo Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly assaulting a woman. The police charged the defendant with fighting in public and assault. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Esther Adesulu, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 19, at the Isashi waterside area of Ojo. It was gathered that the defendant assaulted Rashidat Olaitain with a broken bottle during an argument. She said that Olaitan was hospitalised following the assault. The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of sections 54 and…
The National Industrial Court on Monday ordered the Police Service Commission (PSC), to pay retired AIG Mbu Joseph Mbu, the sum of N40 million as general damages. The payment as ordered by justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, was for the unlawful retirement of Mbu before he attained the mandatory age of 60 years. ” I hold that the claimant’s premature retirement through a press release on July 2, 2016 is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect”. The court in addition set aside the purported retirement and declared that the claimant remained an officer of the Nigeria Police Force (…
Gunmen invaded a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Ogun State, killed a pastor and abducted some worshippers. The incident occurred at Abule-Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, this weekend. Commander of the Ogun State So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the incident on Sunday morning. He said his officers rescued the seven church members and killed one of the kidnappers during the operation. In a statement signed by the So-Safe Director of Information and Public Relations, Moruf Yusuf, Ganzallo was quoted as saying that the incident occurred at about 12am on Saturday, July 1. Ganzallo…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government, for the immediate arrest of ex-Niger Delta agitator, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo. The group threatened that should the Federal Government refuse to arrest Asari-Dokubu as it demanded, it would mobilise its members to embark on a nationwide protest across all 36 states of the federation. HURIWA made the threat in a statement on Thursday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko. The group said, “Asari-Dokubo must be arrested by the Department of State Services or any other relevant security agency over his suspected link to the violent…
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has quashed the conviction of former Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Calistus Nwabueze Obi. Delivering judgement yesterday in the Appeal filed by Obi in suit Nos.CA/LAC/CV/917/2019, CA/LAC/CV/917A/2019 and CA/LAC/CV/917B 2019, the Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Ngozi Nwosu-Iheme voided the judgement of Justice Mojisola Olateregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos, delivered on May 23, 2019. The Court of Appeal also discharged and acquitted Obi, Messrs. Global Seal Investments Ltd and Grand Pact Ltd on all eight counts of theft, conversion, fraud and…
The Nigerian Navy has shielded two of its personnel who were involved in the stabbing to death of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abiona Hezekiah, in the Satellite area of Lagos State since December 3, 2022. It was gathered that the navy had refused to hand over two naval ratings, namely; Seaman Nnamani Anointing, and OSMTD Onyekachi Egwin, to the Nigerian police for prosecution, as confirmed by Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, in a release on Saturday. Effiong noted that the naval authorities had been playing hide-and-seek with the case and had refused to take appropriate actions against…
The allegations forgery of West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASCE), and the General Certificate in Education (GCE) levelled against the Governor of Akwa Ibom state continues to generate controversies at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Uyo, the state capital. The Governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has joined the fray. Senator John Akpanudoedehe, who flew the NNPP Governorship flag during the polls, stormed the Tribunal at the weekend, demanding the West African Examination Council (WAEC), to produce the entire results of Lagos state, for effective sorting of the disputed results of Governor Eno, having obtained the…
A Makurdi Upper Area Court in Benue State, on Friday, ordered the remand of one Idris Abdullahi, 39, who allegedly defiled a 15-year-old at gunpoint. The Magistrate, Mrs Dooshima Ikpambese, ordered that the defendant, a resident of 39, Eri St., North Bank, be kept at the Maximum Correctional Centre, Makurdi, pending advice of the state director of public prosecutions. According to the prosecutor, Insp. Veronica Shaagee, the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi, from C Division, North Bank, Makurdi, on June 27. Shaagee told the court that Mr. Clement Gele of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, North…
The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has vowed to appeal a court ruling that ordered the release of ex-Registrar of the Joint Administration and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde. A Federal High Court in Abuja had recently ordered the immediate release of the ex-JAMB boss. Giving the order in a rights enforcement suit filed by Prof Ojerinde, the court also ordered the Commission to pay one million naira cost to the plaintiff for unlawful arrest. The court as well awarded the sum of N200,000 against the ICPC as cost of filing the case by the…
The Ebonyi State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government of Ebonyi State of launching attacks on PDP members who testified as witnesses against the APC before the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja. In a statement by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP in the State, Dr Augustine Nwazunku, the Party alleged that cases of attacks on some PDP Witnesses who testified before the elections Tribunal at Abuja on return to their respective homes, in Ebonyi State by the APC hitmen had been recorded. Some were brutally attacked by…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said the glitch experienced in the upload of the February 25 presidential election in the country should not write off the entire polls held nationwide. INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye stated this in response to the final report on the 2023 general elections submitted by the European Union Election Observation Mission on Monday. He urged Nigerians not to judge the electoral empire as a result of the challenge the commission experienced in the upload of the presidential election. “It is not fair to judge the entire performance of the commission on the basis…
The Federal Government has approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocations to professional bodies and councils effective December 31, 2026. The new directive was disclosed in a letter obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday. It was addressed to the Registrar, Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The letter, marked DG/BDT/GEN. CORR/2016/XII/3067 and dated June 26, 2023, was issued from the Budget office of the federation and signed by the Director General, Akabueze Ben. The letter titled, “Discontinuation of Funding of Professional Bodies and Councils From 2024 Budget, In Line…
Mr Supo Shasore was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Oct. 20, 2022, on four counts charge of money laundering. Meanwhile, he had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum . Shasore served as the Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, during former Gov. Babatunde Fashola’s tenure. At the resumed hearing, Olawale Akoni (SAN), defendant Counsel told the court that the matter for the day was for hearing of their application dated and filed Feb. 17. He, however,…
Hon. Justice Edith Agbakoba of the Abuja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has ordered the Etche Local Government Council to pay 4 former councillors, Honourable Kirian Nwosu and 3 others the sum of N8, 304, 311.07 (Eight Million, Three Hundred and Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Eleven Naira, Seven Kobo) each being their outstanding statutory entitlements under the Rivers State Public and Political Office Holders’ Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefits Law, from April 2004 when they were sworn in as Councilors till May 2007 when their tenure expired, with the sum of N1m as Cost within 30 days.…
An Enugu State High Court has granted a perpetual injunction restraining the police from arresting the General Overseer of City of Jesus International Ministry, Enugu, Pastor Christopher Orji. Pastor Orji was accused by a former member of the Church, Dr. Adaeze Anyaegbunam of swindling her of over N29 million. Anyaegbunam had petitioned against Pastor Orji to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of police, AIG, claiming that she donated over N29 million to the church in various forms and wanted the money returned to her, a decision the pastor rejected. Due to frequent police harassment, Pastor Orji approached the…
Butcher beaten to death in Sokoto for alleged blasphemy A butcher identified as Usman Buda has been killed in Sokoto over alleged blasphemous comment against the Holy Prophet. It was gathered that the butcher allegedly made the comment during an argument with another trader. It was also gathered that the incident happened at the Sokoto main Abattoir around 8am on Sunday. “Our leaders made a fruitless attempt to save him but they could not contain the crowd. They initially rescued him and hid him before they were overpowered.” “He was beaten to death by his fellow butchers. His corpse…
No fewer than 50 people have been killed and over 170 houses burnt in renewed onslaught on residents of Izombe in Oguta, Imo State, in the last two weeks. National President Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Igboayaka O Igboayaka, disclosed this at a press briefing in Owerri, the state capital, this weekend. He said Izombe and other neighbouring communities such as Agwa, Ejemkwuru, Awa, Akabuo, Mgbele and Ogbaku have been recording incessant security challenges due to the nefarious activities of criminal elements with a code name ‘Umuoma’ (Good children). In the text of the briefing he jointly signed with the Secretary…
The newly appointed Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has appointed Major General A.B Ibrahim, as the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP). The appointment was sequel to the gap created by the retirement of some officers as a result of the appointment of new service chiefs by President Bola Tinubu on June 19. According to the report, Lagbaja, has also approved the appointment of New General Officers Commanding (GOCs), for some of the divisions of the Nigerian army and commandant for the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Major General Alabi is now appointed under the new arrangement,…
Rwang Tengwong, National Publicity Secretary of Berom Youth Movement (BYM), confirmed on Saturday that three miners were shot dead on Friday at a site around Tanjol in Jol community of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday. He further confirmed that other miners and farmers around have fled the area. According to Tengwong, the incident occurred at about 11 a.m. He added that two other persons were injured. The publicity secretary who described the attack as one of too many, called on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts towards the safety of lives and property in…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar on Friday tendered what they called academic records and personal particulars of President Bola Tinubu before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). Atiku and the PDP, who are challenging Tinubu’s victory in the last presidential election, tendered the documents through one of their subpoenaed witnesses, Mike Enahoro-Ebah, who claimed to be a lawyer and human rights activist. Enahoro-Ebah was led by petitioners’ lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) to adopt his written deposition, filed on June 20 and in where he referred to the documents. The witness said he got the documents with the…
Bauchi State High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Mukhtar has restrained the election of the State Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalist NUJ Bauchi State Council scheduled to hold on 24th June 2023. In a suit filed by Abdulwahab Muhammad leading 2 others, Garba Kabiru Abubakar and Fatima Danjuma Idris against Umar Sa’idu, Bulak Apsa, Ishola Michael Adeyemi, Haruna Yusuf, Adamu Gabi, Aliyu Sambo, Firdausi Ibrahim Bakondi and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), they are seeking for an order of the court to restrain the members of Credentials Committee from conducting the election pending the hearing of…
Internet fraudster to clean EFCC premises for 3 days An FCT High Court on Thursday ordered Okwo Mark to clean the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for three days for internet fraud. Mark was docked by the EFCC for pretending to be Stella Coleman, an American citizen, working as an FBI agent. He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency. Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, also sentenced Mark to three months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N50,000. The judge ordered Mark to clean the EFCC office from 8 a.m. to…
The Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ordered Governor Peter Mbah to appear before it tomorrow, Friday. It was gathered that the order was sequel to an application made by the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, through its counsel, Barr Alex Amujiogo. Candidate of the PRP, Elder Christopher Agu is in court seeking to upturn the declaration of Barr Peter Mbah as the winner of the March 18 governorship election conducted in the State. He is also claiming that Mbah was not qualified to contest the election, having allegedly forged National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, discharge certificate, among other issues.…
