Care assistant who stole almost €20,000 from woman (86) jailed

A nursing home care assistant who stole almost €20,000 from the bank account of an elderly resident has been jailed.

Carol Cullen (47) had been given two cheques by the 86 year old woman, with whom she had become friendly, before forging further cheques and stealing a total of €19,900 from her account.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Cullen, a mother of four, was not living a lavish lifestyle and the money had been used on household expenditure.

Cullen of Edenmore Gardens, Coolock, Dublin pleaded guilty to four counts of theft from the woman and four counts of forgery of cheques on dates between August 2014 and 2015.
She has no previous convictions and has not come to further garda attention.

The court heard Cullen had co-operated with gardaí and made admissions after they began investigating the thefts. She expressed remorse during garda interview.

Judge Karen O'Connor said it had been a significant breech of trust in circumstances where the victim was a vulnerable elderly woman in residential care who had been kind to Cullen. She noted it had involved multiple offending and had been motivated by personal gain.

She noted Cullen's husband had a history of alcohol addiction and that Cullen was now living on social welfare as she had been unable to get further care work due to the need for garda vetting.

Judge O'Connor said she was taking into account factors including that Cullen had a young family and would suffer a loss reputation. She noted Cullen was not living a lavish lifestyle.

She said she had sympathy with Cullen but noted many people in society had difficult financial circumstances in the last few years. She said she had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence.
Judge O'Connor imposed a two year sentence and suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions including that Cullen should engage with financial support services. She ordered Cullen to undergo 12 months probation supervision on release.

Keith Spencer BL, defending, said Cullen was not in a financial position to make redress and would have to borrow money which would put the family into debt.

Mr Spencer said Ms Cullen did not spend the money on anything lavish but instead used it to pay off bills and buy things for her four children. - Independent.ie

Feeling unwanted and unwelcome, African migrants hit by new tax in Israel

Nine years ago, Teklit Michael fled Eritrea to avoid military conscription, survived a perilous journey across the Sinai peninsula and sought asylum in Israel.

The 29-year-old Eritrean community organizer now works as a cook at a restaurant in south Tel Aviv -- alone, without family and in legal limbo, awaiting a response to his asylum request.
Since May, Michael's life has faced another challenge with new tax rules that force his employer to put part of his salary in a fund which he can access only if he leaves Israel.

He believes the aim of the new legislation, which applies only to African migrants and asylum seekers, is clear.
"They want us to leave the country," said Michael, who left his homeland rather than serve in an army accused by human rights groups of treating conscripts brutally and forcing them to serve indefinitely. "They want to break our spirit."

The Interior Ministry says the new rules are intended to benefit the migrants and asylum seekers, whom the government refers to as illegal infiltrators.
"(It provides) a sum of money that the person will have when he leaves," said Sabine Haddad, a spokeswoman for the ministry's population, immigration and border authority.

Since its creation in 1948, Israel has been a haven for Jews fleeing persecution. But for nearly a decade, it has struggled to deal with tens of thousands of non-Jewish Africans who entered the country illegally, seeking asylum or work.
Many have lived for years in Israel and spent time in a desert holding center waiting for their asylum requests to be considered, allowed by the government to have jobs even though their temporary visas do not give them the right to work.

Israel has granted asylum to fewer than 1 percent of those who have applied and has a years-long backlog of applicants.

"CALCULATED PLAN"

Under the new law, employers must deduct 20 percent of the wages of Eritrean and Sudanese employees who entered Israel illegally from Egypt and have temporary visas.
The sum is then deposited in a fund, alongside an employer-paid tax of 16 percent, and remains there until the worker leaves Israel.

It is too early to know what effect the new law is having on asylum seekers or their employers, and how many migrants will decide to leave because of it. The government says it will take several months to know the full impact.
Businesses that rely on migrant labor say costs will rise, and rights groups say Israel is not abiding by its international legal obligations. The government denies this but the Hotline for Refugees and Migrant Workers, an Israeli non-governmental organization, is challenging the law in Israel's High Court.

"(It's) a very calculated plan to make sure that people understand they are not welcome," said Ruvi Ziegler, associate professor in international refugee law at the University of Reading and a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute.
Large numbers of Africans, the vast majority from Eritrea and Sudan, began entering Israel illegally from Egypt in the mid-2000S. Many said they fled war and persecution as well as economic hardship but Israel treats them as economic migrants.

By 2013, Israel had mostly completed a high-security fence along the 245-km (150-mile) border, all but halting the influx. By then, an estimated 55,000 people had entered the country, according to Interior Ministry figures.

Several thousand have left since then. Some received asylum in countries such as Canada and others accepted an Israeli offer to go to a third country in Africa -- usually Rwanda or Uganda -- in exchange for money, though refugee advocacy groups say the plight of many of these migrants has since worsened.

Many of those who remain have learnt Hebrew and fill jobs in restaurants, hotels and other services which aid groups say most Israelis do not want to do.

"A CANCER"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the migrants' presence a threat to Israel's social fabric and Jewish identity and some of his supporters have referred to it as "a cancer".
Some Africans have been beaten up by Israeli youths, and a Darfuri man was killed in one such assault last year.

Aid workers say that since the new law was implemented, there has been an increase in reports of asylum seekers being fired from jobs because of the tax.
No government figures are available on this, but the aid workers say some migrants are recording only some of the hours they work, and are being paid on the side for the rest, to reduce the taxes paid by both the employer and employee.

Lemlem, an Eritrean who declined to give her full name, said she had lost her job in a clothes store in Tel Aviv because her employer did not want to pay the increased tax.

Lemlem, 29, has a six-year-old daughter and her husband is unemployed. She does not know how she will pay her 1,800-shekel ($515) monthly rent.
"Eritrean people are scared," she said.
Employers are having problems budgeting for the new tax and signing up employees for the fund because of technical difficulties, said Shai Berman, general manager of the Israeli Restaurant Association.

The government has denied the association's request for more time to process payments for May, and a promised reduction of the tax has not yet been approved, Berman said.
"It's a mess," he said. "We have a big problem."
Some employers say that, in the meantime, they may have to raise salaries to help asylum seekers get by.

"It's not only for the asylum seeker -- for us in the restaurants it's going to be very, very hard," said Ido Breier, manager of a Tel Aviv branch of Pasta Basta restaurant chain.
($1 = 3.4919 shekels) - Reuters

Liverpool should splash the cash for Keita, urges Hamann

Naby Keita would be worth every penny of a £70million transfer fee if Liverpool decided to make the RB Leipzig midfielder the club's record signing.

That is the view of former Anfield favourite Dietmar Hamann, who believes the Guinea international would readily justify such a vast sum.
Keita has been strongly tipped for a move to Merseyside, with Jurgen Klopp said to be a keen admirer of the 22-year-old, and Hamann urged the Reds to take the plunge ahead of their return to the Champions League.

"Would £70million put me off buying Keita? No," the German told the Liverpool Echo.
"Just getting through the play-off round and into the group stage of the Champions League would pay off a big chunk of that fee.
"With Keita on board, Liverpool would have an even better chance of getting through.
"You can question the fees being mentioned for the likes of [Virgil] van Dijk and Keita, but if you want the top players you have to pay the going rate.

"It's no good saying the market value is £30million because you aren't going to get someone like that for that fee.
"If Liverpool had to pay £60million or £70million to get Keita it wouldn't worry me. You are buying a top player for years to come."
Klopp has already secured the services of Mohamed Salah from Roma. - Goal

Gooners shouldn't worry about Lacazette's high penalty tally

Whenever Arsenal target a player, their weaknesses seem to be all anyone can talk about. For current target Alexandre Lacazette, it’s his reputation as ‘a penalty merchant’. Of his 37 goals in the 2016/17 season, 11 were from the spot. That may be concerning at first glance for Arsenal supporters, but there’s a reason why it’s not all bad.

In the current squad, Arsenal do not have a reliable penalty taker. The club only won nine penalty kicks last season, and just six were converted. That’s a 67% success rate. Lacazette, on the other hand, had an 80% success rate from the spot. Having a stable presence from the spot will take pressure off the rest of the squad and let fans breathe a little easier. Additionally, having him be the penalty taker will prevent star players like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez from spiralling into an extended run of horrific form when they miss a penalty.

Lacazette scored 10 of his penalties in Ligue 1, meaning his league tally of 28 goals gets brought down to 18 goals from open play, which is still a respectable mark. The 10 league penalties also show that he’s able to draw fouls in the box, which is something Arsenal do not do well at the moment. If he can get contact in the box to get awarded penalties in Ligue 1, then there’s a great chance he can do the same in the Premier League, which is known as one of the most physical leagues in the world.

Furthermore, Arsenal fans shouldn’t worry about the French forward’s high penalty tally because he didn’t have the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez supplying him with chances. While Nabil Fekir, Mathieu Valbuena, and Corentin Tolisso are good playmakers, they’re nowhere near the caliber of Ozil and Sanchez. Lacazette’s pace will complement Ozil’s passing ability perfectly, so the centre forward should see more chances on the red side of north London than he did in Lyon.

Alexis Sanchez spent a lot of time as a centre-forward last season, and it paid off as he scored 30 goals in all competitions. That stellar season from the Chilean proves that Arsenal are better with a quick player up top rather than a target man like Olivier Giroud.

Signing Lacazette will let Sanchez move back to the wing where he is more comfortable and is able to be on the ball for longer periods of time. With Lacazette in the middle, Arsenal will have the pacy presence that can spread a defence without having to sacrifice Alexis’ ability to dominate a game by terrorizing defenders from the wing.

With the right supply, Lacazette will increase his tally from open play. The fact that he can be relied upon to put away PKs is what makes him an even more attractive signing for the Arsenal. If Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis can sign up the Frenchman and extend the contracts of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, then Arsenal will have one of the quickest, most incisive attacks that the Premier League has ever seen. - Read Sport

 

Venus Williams tears up and leaves interview room after question about fatal road accident

A tearful Venus Williams walked out of her post-match Wimbledon media conference on Monday following a question regarding her involvement in a fatal road accident.

Williams' vehicle collided with a car carrying 78-year-old man Jerome Barson in Palm Beach, Florida on June 9. Barson was hospitalised and subsequently died from injuries sustained in the crash.

A police report alleged the seven-time grand slam champion was at fault for the incident, though she was not issued with any citations or traffic violations. There was also no evidence she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or distracted by an electronic device.

Williams expressed her condolences to Barson's family in a statement on Facebook last week.

The subject was broached following the 37-year-old's 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 first-round victory over Elise Mertens at Wimbledon, prompting her to leave the room in tears.

"There are really no words to describe, like, how devastating and - yeah. I'm completely speechless. It's just - yeah, I mean, I'm just," Williams trailed off before a moderator stepped in and invited her to take a minute outside.

Williams did return to the interview room to answer further questions on unrelated matters.
She will face Wang Qiang in the second round. -Omnisport 

Atletico interested in Costa

Atletico Madrid are interested in re-signing Chelsea striker Diego Costa this summer, Sky  sources understand.

The Spanish international has been told by Antonio Conte he does not feature in his plans for Chelsea next season and is looking for a new club.
Atletico are keen to sign a striker and have shifted their intentions to Costa with Arsenal looking set to complete the signing of Alexandre Lacazette "within the next day or two", according to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.

Lacazette had agreed to join Atletico this summer but that move fell through when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the Spanish club's appeal against their transfer ban last month.
If Costa does re-join Atletico, he would not be permitted to play in any competitive games until January, when the club's transfer ban is lifted.

However, sources indicate Costa is willing to sit on the sidelines in order to facilitate the transfer.

Sad ! How Jollof rice killed five family members

Five members of a family died after a meal in Umuokpara Umanu, Obollo community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Vanguard reports.
The deceased are: Vitalis Nwosu; his wife, Obianuju; and their three children’ Chinonso, Chinasa and Odimnobi

The newspaper gathered that Mrs Obianuju Nwosu served the family jollof rice, which she prepared for dinner, and not long after, they started experiencing stomach ache, stooling and vomiting.
A villager recounted the incident: “The children were the initial complainants and their parents quickly moved them to a nearby private hospital (names withheld). Every effort made to save them failed as they died one after the other.”
According to reports from the community, Mr. and Mrs. Nwosu later came down with the same symptoms and were rushed to a hospital in Owerri, but they also died.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited at Adam Mortuary, Ugiri.
Reacting to the incident, the deceased’s first son, Chukwuemeka Nwosu, told newsmen that he was not at home when the incident occurred.
While urging the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident, Chukwuemeka also said that he suspected foul play.

He alleged that his parents and siblings must have been poisoned by a relation over a protracted family matter.
Although the traditional ruler of Amaukwu autonomous community, Eze Akwagbulem G. Anayochukwu, was not at home when he visited his palace, a man close to the palace confirmed the incident.

He also confirmed that the royal father had visited the Police and the family.

Man sentenced to death for armed robbery

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a man, Aanu Adu, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Justice Segun Ogunyemi in his judgment on Monday held that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt based on evidence before the court

The judge also sentenced Adu to two years each on two counts of malicious damage of property in the offence committed in Ilawe-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area on October 28, 2015.
Adu was charged with criminal armed robbery contrary to Section 402(2) of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol 1 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
He was also found guilty of malicious damage of property contrary to Section 451 of the same laws

The convict was alleged to have robbed one Adeleye Funmilayo of N650,000 belonging to one Ogunniyi Titilayo and maliciously damaged a digital camera belonging to one Adeyemi Idowu..

Titilayo testified before the court that Adu brought out a gun and threatened to kill her when she went to his house to press for the
release of the N650,000 cash the convict and one unnamed chief forcefully collected from Funmilayo.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Gbemiga Adaramola appeared for the state while the Adu was represented in court by his counsel,
Bunmi Olugbade.

Titilayo told the court that the case was reported at Ilawe Police Station while she took photographs of her banana destroyed by Adu.
Eight witnesses were called in the course of the trial while exhibits like cutlass, cable wire, brown bag containing the cash, money wrapper, used MTN cards, search warrant, carcass of the damaged camera tendered. - Daily Post

Father shoots son dead after mistaking him for intruder

A father shot his son dead after mistaking him for an intruder inside his home.

Huner, 59, reportedly told the dispatcher his son had been shot about six times.
Investigators said the person who was shot was later pronounced dead.
The Douglas County Coroner's Office is yet to formally identify the body.

Police were called to Frank Leo Huner Jr’s home in Douglas County, Colorado, on Saturday night after he called 911 to say he’d shot a person.
But he realised moments later the man he’d shot was his adult son.
"RP [Reporting party] is saying he shot someone who came into his house. Now [he’s] saying it’s his son, and he's dead," the dispatcher said during the call, according to broadcaster WTOL.

The man was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder, but officials with the sheriff’s office say that could change as they continue to investigate

Liverpool defender Wisdom joins Derby

Derby County have completed the signing of Andre Wisdom from Liverpool in a deal reportedly worth £4.5million, with the defender penning a four-year contract.

The Championship side confirmed last month they had struck a deal with the Reds and agreed personal terms with the player.
And Derby sealed a deal for Wisdom on Monday after he successfully completed a medical, the 24-year-old following Curtis Davies to become the club's second signing of the close-season.

Wisdom made 38 appearances on loan with Derby in 2013-14 and also had temporary spells with West Brom and Norwich City before spending last season with Red Bull Salzburg.
"I knew I was going to leave Liverpool and it was just a case of when and where to," Wisdom told Derby's website.

"Even though I had time remaining on my contract it was about finding the right fit.
"Everyone knows that I love Derby so I think this is a great time to make this move."
He added: "To be honest, Derby does feel like home. When I was here before we had a great season and we were unlucky at the end not to go up, but aside from the play-off final everything clicked and we all enjoyed it.

"I feel that I played the best season of my professional career here before. Even after I left Derby and went elsewhere, I don't think I was playing the kind of football that I was during that loan spell.

"It's good to be back and I hope I can replicate what I did before this time around."
Wisdom made 14 Premier League appearances for Liverpool between 2012 and 2013, before his loan stints began.

Everton keen to swoop for Leicester man

Everton have been by far the most proactive top flight club in the summer transfer window so far, and it doesn’t look like they’re willing to stop there.

The Toffees have already confirmed the signings of Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Sandro Ramirez, Henry Onyekuru, and are also poised to land Michael Keane and Cuco Martina.
Now, they’re being linked with a move to sign Demarai Gray from Leicester City.

According to a report from the Daily Mail today, the Toffees are one of many clubs considering a summer swoop for the England Under-21 international.
Everton have significantly bolstered their squad ahead of the upcoming season but do have a shortage in quality wingers, so the links to Gray undoubtedly make sense.

However, if Ronald Koeman is to bring the promising wide man to Goodison Park this summer, he may need to offer the full extent of his release clause at Leicester, which stands at £22m. - Read Sport

Leicester to battle West Brom for Championship goalkeeper

West Brom were cited with interest in Reading goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi yesterday, and they have once again been linked with a move.

According to the Mirror, the Baggies are considering a swoop for the experienced shot stopper, but will be faced with competition from Leicester City in their pursuit of the Oman international.
Al-Habsi enjoyed a considerably successful season with Reading in the Championship last term, helping them to a play-off final.

The Foxes and the Baggies both appear to be keen on recruiting the Royal’s goalkeeper purely for backup reasons, given that neither side’s respective goalkeeping depth is convincing.
However, it’s likely that Al-Habsi would be keen to play in the top flight again only if he is guaranteed first-team football – which he currently has under Jaap Stam at Reading.

The veteran ‘keeper is stated to have offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia, so potential suitors may need to act fast. - Read Sport

Temple of corruption : Agbele, Fayose’s Ally; Court Chides Ozekhome over Delay

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Monday, July 3, 2017 berated Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over “attempt to frustrate” the corruption trial process of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Agbele is standing trial alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro (who was arraigned in absentia), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye on 11-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion.
The money was said to be part of N4.7billion allegedly transferred from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by the sons of Obanikoro.

At the last sitting, May 24, 2017 the court ordered Ozekhome, who through an oral application, indicated his intention to withdraw appearance for the second defendant, Sylvan McNamara, to file and serve an application of notice of withdrawal within three days and endorse a copy to all the parties in the proceeding.

At the resumed hearing today, Ozekhome was absent in court but was represented by a counsel, Godwin Iyinbor, who informed the court that they were yet to serve the process “because of difficulties”.

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, kicked saying, “this is a calculated attempt by the learned silk to frustrate the trial process and it should be discouraged”.

Describing the development as “unhealthy”, Shittu said that the EFCC had been bringing its witnesses to court at great cost.

The matter could still not proceed as Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the third defendant, had written to the court that he would be attending an interview for the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria slated for Monday and Tuesday at the Supreme Court and sought for an adjournment.

However, the court in granting Ojo’s application frowned at the attitude of Ozekhome and ordered service of the process before the next adjourned date of October 12 and 13, 2017. - EFCC
 

Corruption republic : N29bn Fraud; Court Admits More Evidence Against Nyako

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on July 3, 2017, admitted in evidence documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, who is standing trial on a 37-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29billion.

One of the documents which were tendered through the twelfth prosecution witness, Caroline Utsaha, showed that a total of N80million deposit was made in a day in the name of Blue Opal Limited; one of the companies allegedly used by the former governor to siphon the state funds.

The documents tendered and admitted in evidence include:
Letter dated July 21, 2014, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name - Blue Opal Limited - Exhibit H1.
Letter dated August 15, 2014, captioned "Re-Investigation Activities", with the account name - Opal Corporate Limited - Exhibit H2.
Letter dated February 26, 2015, captioned "Re-Investigation Activities", with the account name - Crust Energy Limited, and was admitted as Exhibit H3.

Utsaha, a relationship manager with the First Bank, while being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, stated that:
“In 2014, the EFCC wrote our Bank, requesting for details of the accounts packages and statements of accounts of three accounts. The accounts were: Blue Opal Limited, Opal Corporate Limited and Crust Energy Limited.
“I got all they requested and did a forwarding letter to the Commission and also did an identification letter, indicating that the statements and all the documents are from First Bank”.
When asked to look at Exhibit H1 and tell the court about the transactions therein, the witness said, "The entries here are series of deposits of Zenith bank cheque”.

She went on: “On March 29, 2012, there were eight deposits of Zenith bank cheque of N10million each. The deposits were done on the same day”.
Thereafter, Justice Abang adjourned to July 4, 2017 for the continuation of hearing.
Nyako is being prosecuted alongside his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba.

Other companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of the funds are – Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

Corruption zone : Oronsaye’s N2bn Fraud Trial; Court Overrules Afe, Admits Statements

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja on July 3, 2017 overruled objections by Osarenkhoe Afe, to the admissibility of his statements made to the EFCC, and admitted them in evidence as Exhibits 1 and 1a.

Afe, managing director of Federick Hamilton Global Services Limited is standing trial along with Stephen Oronsaye, a former Head of Service to the Federation, for a N2billion fraud case. They are facing an amended 35-count charge bordering on “stealing and obtaining money by false pretence”.
Afe had through his counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, objected to the admissibility of the statements, arguing that they were obtained from his client through “oppression”, thus necessitating the commencement of a trial-within-trial.

In proving its case that the statements were made voluntarily by Afe, the prosecution led by O.A. Atolagbe, called three witnesses – operatives on the EFCC’s Pension Task Force, who testified that the statements were made by him, and that “he was not coerced” into making them.
The ruling, which lasted about an hour, brings to an end the trial-within-trial, which began on June 21, 2016. The trial judge gave the verdict in his ruling “after consciously and deliberately weighing the evidence presented to the court by the prosecution and defence”.

The statements are confessional ones made by Afe to the EFCC on February 24, 2011 and March 16, 2011 in the course of investigating five companies – Hamilton Global Services Limited; Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited – alleged to have been used to perpetrate the fraud.

“The second defendant was in a good state of mind, when he made the statements,” the judge held, noting that if indeed, he was coerced into making the statements as claimed; he never took any steps, like writing “a letter of protest” and asking “the court to order the EFCC to produce the statement he was coerced to write”.
The trial judge further held that “if in the course of proceedings, there are new developments, which put the statement in great doubt; this court has the power to expunge it, as it is easier to do that, and I don’t have power to remove evidence that has already been objected”.

Justice Kolawole, thereafter, admitted the statements exhibits in the criminal trial, and adjourned to October 12, 2017 for “continuation of judicial trial of the defendants”.
Earlier in the proceedings, the trial judge granted a motion brought by Oronsaye’s counsel, Barth Ogar, asking the court to release his client’s international passport, in order for him to travel abroad for medicals.

The trial judge ruled that: “Ogar must in the next 48 hours file a personal undertaking that the defendant shall return his passport on or before September 30 for purposes of his further trial.”

Court Remands Surety for Failure to Produce Suspect'

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 3, 2017, arraigned one Adewole Lukman Olaniyan before Justice O. H. Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on one-count charge bordering on making false statement to public officer contrary to Section 96 (a) Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

Olaniyan stood as a surety for one Segun Akintayo on January 12, 2016 at the EFCC office and had promised to always produce the suspect whenever he is needed by the anti-graft agency. However, the defendant failed to produce the suspect.

The charge reads:
“Adewole Lukman Olaniyan on or about the 12th January, 2016 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intention to causing Remedy Yange Sulvanus, a public officer employed as an Operative in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) release one Segun Akintayo on bail to you, falsely informed the officer to use his lawful authority to release the said Segun Akintayo on bail to you; an action he would not have taken if he had not relied on your undertaking”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, George Chia-Yakua asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defence counsel, Oyeyemi Obokun told the court that he has filed a fundamental human right application with suit No ID5133 which court dismissed, on the grounds that it was not filed before the court and it had nothing to do with the arraignment of defendant.

Justice Oshodi ordered the remand of the defendant in the Kirikiri maximum prison, Apapa, Lagos and adjourned to October 26, 2017 for trial. - EFCC

Republic of corruption : Court Fines Patience Jonathan, Dismisses Suit Against EFCC

Justice S. Seidu of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, July 3, 2017 imposed a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) on former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, for withdrawing a suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Jonathan had in February 2017 instituted a suit against the EFCC in which she was seeking an order of the court for the "enforcement of her fundamental rights to own property, fair hearing, human dignity, private and family life and freedom from discrimination".

The plaintiff through her counsel, I. A. Adedipe, SAN, had prayed the court to restrain the EFCC from infringing on her right.

Counsel to the EFCC, Kayode Oni, faulted Jonathan on her prayers before the court, arguing that her suit was "an abuse of court process".

At the resumed hearing of the matter today, Sammie Somiari who represented Patience, addressed the court on a notice of discontinuance of the suit, saying that he had "an instruction" of his client to discontinue the matter.

He said that an application had been filed before the court to that effect.

In response, Oni submitted that Patience had a right of discontinue the case, but pressed for a charge of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) as costs of filing processes in response to the suit.

Justice Seidu struck out the suit and awarded cost against the plaintiff. - EFCC