Tag: Judiciary - Page 17 - African News Today

Baba Ijesha to Arraigned in Court Today Over Alleged Molestation

16Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Movies and Films, News, Nigeria

Baba Ijesha to Arraigned in Court Today Over Alleged Molestation

Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, better known as Baba Ijesha, is set to be arraigned at the Magistrate Court 1 in Yaba on Wednesday, 16th June 2021. He was arrested by the police for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl, the ward of actress/comedienne, Princess. The Lagos Police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi while announcing his arrest in a statement alleged that the actor had been sexually assaulting the teenager since she was seven. The statement reads, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Olarenwaju James ‘male’ 48, aka Baba Ijesha, popular Nollywood actor for defiling a minor. Read Also: Court Jails Lagos Senior Pastor Over N128million Fraud “The case of defilement was reported on 19th April 2021 by one Princess Adekola Adekanya ‘female’ at Sabo Police ...

Twitter Ban: ECOWAS Court Issues FG 30 Days Ultimatum

16Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Communication, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Twitter Ban: ECOWAS Court Issues FG 30 Days Ultimatum

Following the ban of Twitter by the Federal government of Nigeria, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has issued the government 30 days to file defence in a lawsuit instigated by a human rights lawyer, Ihensekhien Samuel, challenging the ban. Samuel had in a suit filed on behalf of the President of One Love Foundation, Patrick Eholor challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for suspending the microblogging platform, Twitter, indefinity. The counsel had on June 8, 2021, sued FG before the ECOWAS court in Abuja demanding a declaration for the reversal of the suspension and the actions of the Nigerian government in arbitrarily enforcing the banning of Twitter usage. Read Also: Court Jails Lagos Senior Pastor Over N128million Fraud Consequently, the court in a no...

Security: Every Nigerian has a Role to Play – Buhari

27May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Security: Every Nigerian has a Role to Play – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that every Nigerian has an active role to play to ensure the safety of the country, irrespective of their status. This was contained in his speech at the opening ceremony of a four-day special summit on national security convened by the House of Representatives in Abuja on Wednesday. The President lauded the green chamber organising the forum to allow stakeholders to brainstorm on issues affecting the country and the way forward at this critical time. Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, said security had become a major concern at global, regional and national levels. He said, "Addressing them (security challenges) effectively to restore peace and security remains the responsibility of ...

Appeal Court Dismisses EFCC’s Seizure of Professional Fees Ozekhome Received from Former Ekiti Governor

25May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Appeal Court Dismisses EFCC’s Seizure of Professional Fees Ozekhome Received from Former Ekiti Governor

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division, has voided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s seizure of Mike Ezekhome’s professional fees obtained from the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The anti-graft agency had frozen the money for 120 days through a temporary ex parte order, alleging that the N75 million paid to Ozekhome was a product of unlawful activity, SaharaReporters reports. The EFCC adduced that money was paid to the counsel by the then incumbent Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who was under the agency's investigation. In its ruling, the court held that: "a legal practitioner is entitled to his fees for professional services and such fees cannot be rightly labelled as proceeds of crime”. It also held, "further, it is not a requirement...

Ogunlala not my Legal Representative – Baba Ijesha

23May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Movies and Films, News, Nigeria

Ogunlala not my Legal Representative – Baba Ijesha

Nollywood actor, Olarewaju James otherwise known as Baba Ijesha, has disowned former Chairman of Ikeja Branch of Nigerian Bar Association, Adeshina Ogunlala, as his counsel. This was contained in a disclaimer issued on Saturday by the actor through his lawyer, Kayode Olabisan, noting that he never hired Ogunlala as his lawyer, News Agency of Nigeria reports. He said, “I wish to state categorically and emphatically that I have never briefed the lawyer nor instructed him to act on my behalf in any way, or manner howsoever and whatsoever. “He (Ogunlana) is not my lawyer, and whatever you heard or hear from him concerning my lawyers, the police or court case does not represent the true position. “He has been acting without my knowledge or consent.” Recall that the actor has been...

Judiciary Staff Continues Strike Despite CJN’s Plea

20May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Judiciary, Labour, News, Nigeria

Judiciary Staff Continues Strike Despite CJN’s Plea

The striking members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JOSUN, have reiterated commitment to its ongoing strike action despite the plea by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, for them to suspend the strike. Their decision was conveyed in a statement issued by the National Deputy President, Emmanuel Abioye, and the General Secretary, Isaiah Adetola, after its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had on Tuesday met with the CJN in a bid to finding solutions to the lingering industrial action. Muhammad thereafter beckoned on the union to call off the strike. However, the union while commending the intervention of the CJN, the minister, and others vowed to continue with the strike. ...

Supreme Court upholds INEC’s de-registration of Political Parties

8May

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Supreme Court upholds INEC’s de-registration of Political Parties

The Supreme Court has upheld the 2020 decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-register some political parties for failing to win any election during the 2019 general elections. In a judgment on Friday, the Supreme Court held among others, that INEC acted in accordance with relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act. The Supreme Court upheld an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which affirmed the earlier decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja on the issue. The judgment delivered during the court’s virtual session on Friday by a five-man panel, led by Justice Mary Odili, was on an appeal filed by National Unity Party (NUP) and others. The lead judgement of the court was read on Friday by Justice Adamu Jauro. Th...

SERAP Chides NBC, Issues 48 Hours Ultimatum Over ChannelsTV Suspension

27Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, Judiciary, Nigeria

SERAP Chides NBC, Issues 48 Hours Ultimatum Over ChannelsTV Suspension

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has issued a 48 hours ultimatum to the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to reverse what it described as the unconstitutional and illegal suspension and a fine of N5 million on Channels Television or face a lawsuit. Reports say the Acting Director-General of the Commission, Professor Armstrong Idachaba, in a letter to the Managing Director of Channels Television, referred to Channels 7pm live broadcast programme of Sunday, 25th April 2021, in which it indicted the TV station of interviewing a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) allegedly without "caution or reprimand." Reacting to the suspension, SERAP, in a statement issued by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said: "The suspension of Channels Tele...

Ondo Election Tribunal to Deliver Verdict on Guber Poll Today

20Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Elections, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Ondo Election Tribunal to Deliver Verdict on Guber Poll Today

The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure is set to rule on the October 20, Ondo State governorship poll today. The verdict o the petition filed by Mr Eyitayo Jedege of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the winner of the election, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressive Congress, APC, was initially billed to take place on Wednesday 21, 2021 but was rescheduled for today. Reports say the tribunal will utilise the electronic method to deliver the judgement due to the ongoing strike action by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, who are demanding financial autonomy for the judicial arm of government, Punch reports. The secretary of the tribunal in a notice to the concerned parties in the case on Monday evening says today’s tribunal judgement would ...

Lawyers Protest Over Financial Autonomy for Judiciary

20Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Judiciary, Labour, News, Nigeria

Lawyers Protest Over Financial Autonomy for Judiciary

The Bwari and Gwagwalada chapter of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has backed the calls for judicial financial autonomy in Nigeria. The lawyer expressed their support during a solidarity rally with the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, which have been on strike for two weeks. Ihensekhien Samuel, the leader of the team, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors to accelerate action in the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary. He said, "It is a symbolic exercise to give teeth to their strike, which began on April 6. JUSUN cause is right, in fact, unimpeachable as it is in line with laid down extant laws of the 2014 Federal High Court judgment for the independence of the judiciary." The protesters were blocke...