Absence of judge stalls ruling on legality of Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps.
The absence of Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, on Monday stalled ruling on the legality of the controversial Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps.
Taiwo had fixed Feb. 21 to determine whether the academy was constitutionally recognised, following a suit it had brought before the court.
The corps had filed a Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court against one Mrs Yemisi Kefas and the Inspector-General of Police.
The suit was brought before the court by Commodore Allen Edema on behalf the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps.
Edema and 95 others had on Feb. 2, 2010 approached the court to enforce an order against their forceful eviction by policemen from their office at No. 6 Force Road, Onikan, Lagos.
They alleged that Kefas, the Lagos Liaison Officer to the Secretary to the Federal Government, had violated their fundamental rights as enshrined under Sections 34, 35, 36, 40 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge had on April 13, 2010, given an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their officers from threatening the claimants and a mandatory order compelling Kefas to unseal the said premises.
Kefas, according to the claimants, has failed to heed this order prompting a fresh suit compelling her to do so or be slammed with contempt charges.
However, at the hearing of the matter on Dec. 16, 2010, Taiwo had set aside her earlier ruling based on a counter-affidavit submitted by the respondents counsel, Ngozi Kanu.
The judge held that the allegations made by the respondent in the affidavit that the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps and its promoters were operating illegally needed to be determined by the court.
She said the claimants needed to prove to the court with evidence that they were operating legally before the substantive suit could be heard.
Kefas, in her affidavit, is alleging that the organisation is operating illegally as it is not recognised by any law or registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
She further alleged that it had no relationship with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency.
No reason was given for Taiwo’s absence but the court fixed March 10 for ruling on the matter.
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The absence of Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, on Monday stalled ruling on the legality of the controversial Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps.
Taiwo had fixed Feb. 21 to determine whether the academy was constitutionally recognised, following a suit it had brought before the court.
The corps had filed a Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court against one Mrs Yemisi Kefas and the Inspector-General of Police.
The suit was brought before the court by Commodore Allen Edema on behalf the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps.
Edema and 95 others had on Feb. 2, 2010 approached the court to enforce an order against their forceful eviction by policemen from their office at No. 6 Force Road, Onikan, Lagos.
They alleged that Kefas, the Lagos Liaison Officer to the Secretary to the Federal Government, had violated their fundamental rights as enshrined under Sections 34, 35, 36, 40 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge had on April 13, 2010, given an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their officers from threatening the claimants and a mandatory order compelling Kefas to unseal the said premises.
Kefas, according to the claimants, has failed to heed this order prompting a fresh suit compelling her to do so or be slammed with contempt charges.
However, at the hearing of the matter on Dec. 16, 2010, Taiwo had set aside her earlier ruling based on a counter-affidavit submitted by the respondents counsel, Ngozi Kanu.
The judge held that the allegations made by the respondent in the affidavit that the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps and its promoters were operating illegally needed to be determined by the court.
She said the claimants needed to prove to the court with evidence that they were operating legally before the substantive suit could be heard.
Kefas, in her affidavit, is alleging that the organisation is operating illegally as it is not recognised by any law or registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
She further alleged that it had no relationship with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency.
No reason was given for Taiwo’s absence but the court fixed March 10 for ruling on the matter.
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Businesswoman charged with stealing N875,000.
The Police in Lagos on Monday arraigned a 57-year-old businesswoman, Kehinde Fadipe, for allegedly stealing N875,000.
The defendant, who is standing trial before a Somolu Magistrates Court, Lagos, is charged with stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
The prosecutor, Insp. A. Adegoke, told the court that Fadipe had on Feb. 11, at No. 40/42 Popoola St., Somolu, obtained goods worth N875,000 from Bimdos Nigeria Ltd by false pretence.
According to the prosecutor, the accused obtained 100 cans of various beverages, including Guinness stout, Malta Guinness and Smirnoff valued at N875, 000 belonging to Bimdos Nigeria Ltd.
He said the offence contravened Sections 390 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.
Fadipe pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, B.O. Osunsanmi, refused to grant Fadipe bail following the prosecutor’s allegation that she had previously been arraigned for a similar offence.
Osunsanmi consequently remanded her in prison custody and adjourned the case till Feb. 23 for further hearing.
The Police in Lagos on Monday arraigned a 57-year-old businesswoman, Kehinde Fadipe, for allegedly stealing N875,000.
The defendant, who is standing trial before a Somolu Magistrates Court, Lagos, is charged with stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
The prosecutor, Insp. A. Adegoke, told the court that Fadipe had on Feb. 11, at No. 40/42 Popoola St., Somolu, obtained goods worth N875,000 from Bimdos Nigeria Ltd by false pretence.
According to the prosecutor, the accused obtained 100 cans of various beverages, including Guinness stout, Malta Guinness and Smirnoff valued at N875, 000 belonging to Bimdos Nigeria Ltd.
He said the offence contravened Sections 390 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.
Fadipe pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, B.O. Osunsanmi, refused to grant Fadipe bail following the prosecutor’s allegation that she had previously been arraigned for a similar offence.
Osunsanmi consequently remanded her in prison custody and adjourned the case till Feb. 23 for further hearing.
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3 docked over alleged N8m fraud
The police in Lagos on Monday arraigned three men for allegedly stealing N8 million from a client under the pretext of assisting him to import telecommunications equipment.
Collins Obi, 25; Maxwell Nkocha, 27 and Williams Akpomoyemo, 52; are standing trial before an Igbosere Magistrates Court, Lagos.
The three men are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Sunday Udoh, alleged that the accused and others still at large sometime in August, 2010, obtained N8 million from one Mr Amunike Chukwuebuka in Lagos.
Udoh explained that the accused disappeared after collecting the money without supplying the items until they were arrested by the police.
He said the offence contravened Sections 390, 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.
The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, A.F. Botoku, granted each of the accused N5 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
Botoku adjourned the case till March 2 for further hearing.
The police in Lagos on Monday arraigned three men for allegedly stealing N8 million from a client under the pretext of assisting him to import telecommunications equipment.
Collins Obi, 25; Maxwell Nkocha, 27 and Williams Akpomoyemo, 52; are standing trial before an Igbosere Magistrates Court, Lagos.
The three men are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Sunday Udoh, alleged that the accused and others still at large sometime in August, 2010, obtained N8 million from one Mr Amunike Chukwuebuka in Lagos.
Udoh explained that the accused disappeared after collecting the money without supplying the items until they were arrested by the police.
He said the offence contravened Sections 390, 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.
The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, A.F. Botoku, granted each of the accused N5 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
Botoku adjourned the case till March 2 for further hearing.
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Employee faces certificate forgery charge
An employee of AIICO Insurance Company Plc, Adetunji Abiodun, was on Monday in Lagos arraigned for allegedly forging a Yaba College of Technology OND and HND certificates.
Abiodun, 41, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery at an Igbosere Magistrates Court.
The prosecution said the accused and others still at large had on Aug. 1, 2010 forged a Yaba College of Technology Ordinary and Higher National Diploma Certificates.
Cpl. Bassey Sunday told the court that the accused also forged a notification of result on the institution’s letterhead dated March 4, 1988.
Sunday said the offence contravened Sections 56 and 467 of the Criminal Code, laws of Lagos State.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to a bail in the sum of N150,000.
The Magistrate, C.J. Momodu, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum, who should produce eight years tax clearance.
She adjourned the case till March 2 for further hearing.
An employee of AIICO Insurance Company Plc, Adetunji Abiodun, was on Monday in Lagos arraigned for allegedly forging a Yaba College of Technology OND and HND certificates.
Abiodun, 41, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery at an Igbosere Magistrates Court.
The prosecution said the accused and others still at large had on Aug. 1, 2010 forged a Yaba College of Technology Ordinary and Higher National Diploma Certificates.
Cpl. Bassey Sunday told the court that the accused also forged a notification of result on the institution’s letterhead dated March 4, 1988.
Sunday said the offence contravened Sections 56 and 467 of the Criminal Code, laws of Lagos State.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to a bail in the sum of N150,000.
The Magistrate, C.J. Momodu, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum, who should produce eight years tax clearance.
She adjourned the case till March 2 for further hearing.
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