Marriages conducted by Ikoyi registry not legally binding, court rules

The Lagos high court has ruled that marriages conducted by Federal Registry, Ikoyi is not legally binding.

Chuka Austine Obiozor, a justice, issued a restraining order to the Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages, saying it is unconstitutional for the federal government to perform the duties of the state and local governments.

The judgement delivered on Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16 said marriage registries in the local government and local council development areas of Lagos state are the authentic and legally-binding government divisions established to carry out such functions.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Muslim Folami, the Lagos state commissioner for local government and community affairs, said the judgement will be communicated to all stakeholders, including embassies.

He said the decision of the court is supreme and is legally binding on all and that all marriages conducted and registered in any of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas are valid and in accordance with the marriage act.

According to him, the judgment will put a stop to the perception of superiority of Ikoyi Marriage Registry over the local government registries.

“We are going to use every available platform in the five divisions across the state to sensitize our people and inform them about this latest development; From Epe to Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos Island,” he said.

In his remarks, Deji Sokeye, the president of the marriage registrars in all the local government and local council development areas, said the responsibilities of the LGAs/LCDAs has come back to them by the virtue of the law and as provided for in section 30 (1) of the marriage act and section 7 (5) of the 1999 constitution.

He said the judgement would restore confidence in the certificates already issued and those that will be awarded in future by the registries. - Cable Nigeria

Corruption republic !!! Court refuses order to unfreeze N1.9b linked to Patience Jonathan

The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday refused to discharge an interim order freezing N1.9 billion which was allegedly obtained fraudulently by a businesswoman, Hajiya Bola Shagaya.

Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) validly obtained the order.

Shagaya had urged the court to grant her access to her account, which had been frozen since December 29, 2016.

Through her lawyer, Mr. Napoleon Emeaso-Nwachukwu, she claimed she was not given fair hearing before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court made the freezing order.

She urged Justice Oguntoyinbo to declare the freezing order unconstitutional, null and void “as same violates the applicant’s right to own movable property as guaranteed by Section 44(1)(k) of the I999 Constitution of Nigeria.”

But, EFCC argued that Justice Oguntoyinbo lacked the power to sit as an appellate court over Justice Hassan’s decision, describing Shagaya’s originating summons as an abuse of court processes.

It accused Shagaya of filing the suit “so as to impede the proper dispensation of justice and thus avoiding criminal investigation and possible prosecution.”

The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.9billion was the balance of N3, 305,150,000, which Shagaya allegedly received as “founder fees” on behalf of an organisation “Women for Change” being spearheaded by former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

The EFCC claimed that the N3.3billion was realised through Shagaya’s “fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),” where she allegedly “influenced the fraudulent allocation of Dual Purpose kerosene to Index Petrolube Africa Ltd., with the aid of the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan.”

According to the EFCC, the N3.3billion was paid by Index Petrolube Africa Ltd and its sister company, Autodex Nigeria Ltd.

The two companies, it said, belong to one Honourable Ezeani ThankGod, adding that the reason for the N3.3billion payment was to “fraudulently facilitate Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Ltd.”

The anti-graft agency claimed that out of the N3.3billion, Shagaya had “paid a cumulative sum of N1,212,000,000 to the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, through her account, ‘Women for Change Initiative’ account domiciled in Diamond Bank, to which the former First Lady is the sole signatory.”

It said after paying N1.2billion to Mrs Jonathan, Shagaya kept the balance of N1.9billion for herself by “warehousing” it in her Unity Bank account.

The EFCC said it secured an order by Justice Hassan on December 29, 2016 to freeze the account pending the conclusion of its investigation.

The anti-graft agency said the applicant would “use this honourable court as a shield against criminal investigation and prosecution” if the application was granted.

In her verdict Thursday, Justice Oguntoyinbo faulted Shagaya’s claims she was not given the opportunity to defend herself.

“The interim order was made based on an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC. An ex-parte application has no respondent and the court is not expected to hear from the other party.

“Even when the other party is around, it can only be seen and not heard. Therefore, the failure of Justice Hassan to hear the applicant cannot invalidate the order.

“The granting of the interim order of attachment is not unconstitutional and does not constitute an infringement on the applicant’s rights to own property”, the judge held.

Justice Oguntoyinbo said the applicant failed to controvert EFCC’s claim that she refused to honour invitation.

The judge said Shagaya’s claim that the order was made in perpetuity did not hold water because there was no evidence that the EFCC had concluded its investigation.

“It is erroneous to claim that the interim order has metamorphosed into a permanent one or in perpetuity because it was to last until the conclusion of investigation by the respondent.

“There was no evidence to show that the respondent has stopped investigating the property or has concluded investigation,” Justice Oguntoyibo said.

The judge, therefore, held that Shagaya’s application lacked merit and dismissed it. - The Nation

Terrorism : Houses burnt, four killed as Fulani herdsmen’ invade Melaye’s constituency

Suspected herdsmen have reportedly invaded some communities in Ijumu and Mopa-Amuro local government areas of Kogi state, killing four persons.

Tajudeen Yusuf, a member of the house of representatives, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The local government areas are located within Kogi west, the senatorial district being represented by Dino Melaye.

Yusuf, who is representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu constituency, said the attack on Iluagba and Illai communities occurred on Monday.

He said the “herdsmen numbering about 50” arrived in military uniform and burnt farmlands and houses in the area.

“At around 4:30 am on Monday, there were simultaneous attacks on Tiv people in Iluagba and Illai communities in Ijumu local government area and Mopa-Amuro local government area of Kogi west respectively and people reported that about fifty suspected Fulani herdsmen in military uniform burnt farmlands killed four persons,” he said.

“The men whose weapons were said to include Ak-47 rifles also burnt houses and carted away people’s food supplies.

“In broad daylight, around 2pm on Tuesday 15th May, 2018, two men who were returning from the farm in Agbede Apa, a village along Obaiana-Kabba road encountered these bandits; one of the men fled with injuries while the other one, was killed and his corpse is now at the mortuary of the General Hospital Kabba.”

The lawmaker said many communities in the area now live in fear of another attack, and called on security agencies to intervene in the situation.

William, Aya, spokesman of the Kogi state police command, has not replied TheCable’s inquiries on the attack. - Cable Nigeria

My lover impregnated me, not my husband – Wife tells court

A bread seller, Marian Folarin, on Thursday, told a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan that it was her lover that impregnated her and not her husband, Kayode Folarin.

Marian, the mother of four in her original petition to the court, accused the husband of gross irresponsibility and incompetence in managing the home.

She said, “My lord, hunger, thirst and wretchedness had been the order of the day with me in Kayode’s house in the last 20 years I lived with him.

“Kayode and I earlier had a mutual agreement not to have more than four children and he did everything not to violate that agreement.

“But he had been unable to cater for the children and I, beside the constant beating which I receive
from him.

“I stopped Kayode from having sex with me since 2007 so as not to get pregnant.

“However, as I speak now, I have been impregnated by my lover, Olalade, a mechanic at Gate area of Ibadan.

“I pray this honourable court to order Kayode to stop molesting and harassing me in the neighbourhood because I am no longer interested in the marriage; I have found new love.”

However, the respondent denied all allegations against him, saying he still loves his wife.

He said, “Marian is a pathological liar because I always give her my love and care and people can bear me witness.

“It is only unfortunate that she is being misguided somewhere. My lord, I want to confirm to you that I
impregnated Marian and not any mechanic.

“Marian was three months old pregnant before she left my house.”

Marian’s 14-year-old daughter, in her testimony, told the court that her father was a caring man who did everything possible to satisfy her mother.

She said, “I think my mother is just ungrateful.”

The President of the court, Chief Ademola Odunade, after deliberating on the matter, ordered the court official to take Marian for pregnancy test to ascertain the age of the pregnancy.

He also ordered that the mechanic lover should appear in court, and adjourned the case until May 23 for hearing. - Daily Post

EDO : Police arrest 58-year-old man for defiling minor

The Edo State Government has set up a committee to check the incidence of child defilement in the state, in a renewed effort to strengthen the Child Rights Law to address issues of sexual abuse of children.

Acting Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Assistant to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Government House, Benin City, when the state government handed over a 58 years old man, Mr. Lambert Ighodaro, to the State Police Command for prosecution for allegedly raping a 12 years old girl in Benin City, Edo State capital.

Dr. Oviawe added, “After the case was reported by SUBEB to the Police, Mr. Lambert was apprehended by the Police.”

She said, “This was after SUBEB received report of the incident from the class teacher of the 12 years old girl, who is a pupil in one of the primary schools. She had observed that the girl was always absent from school and contacted the girl’s guardian to find out the cause of her absenteeism.”

“The girl told her class teacher how she was being sexually abused by Mr. Lambert Ighodaro, in his house during school hours since 2017. She alleged that the man gives her money after defiling her,” she added.

The SUBEB boss told journalists that the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, had set up an inter-ministerial committee to develop a framework to curb the incidence of child defilement in the state.

She said the board is concerned about the wellbeing of pupils while in and out of school, noting that structures are being put in place to assist victims of rape overcome stigma, while the perpetrators are not only shamed but prosecuted.

She said, “Teachers who were trained recently in the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo BEST) programme, were trained on ways to identify children who have been abused physically and sexually.”

Oviawe explained that the board was also investigating two other cases of sexual abuse involving an 11 years old girl and another eight years old girl.

“The state government is reviewing existing Child Rights Law to strengthen the law made to combat all forms of abuses against children in the state,” she noted. 

73 year-old man beheaded in Anambra over boundary dispute

A Septuagenarian, identified as Mr Obidiah Nwanegbo Eliaku of Akuzor in idemili North local government area of Anambra State has been found dead in his farmland.

His body was found in his farm without its head.

He was alleged to have been beheaded as a result of a boundary dispute between Akuzor and Oze village in Nkwelle -Ezunaka, in Oyi local government area of the state.

Akuzor village leaders, working on the suspicion that Eliaku may have been murdered as a result of the dispute between them and their neighbours, have petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the state Commissioner of police over the matter.

The petition by their counsel, S.O Chukwukelu called on the police authority to wade in and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

DAILY POST gathered that previously, the state deputy governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, who is the chairman of the state Boundary Adjustment Committee, had settled the matter between the two villages, where he directed the secretary to send letters to the warring parties, which was yet to be done.

The petition was titled, “Urgent need for a written communication to be made to the concerned communities and security agencies over your decision of 18th July, 2017 with respect to the boundary dispute between Akuzor village Nkpor in idemili north LGA and Oze village Nkwelle -Ezunaka in Oyi LGA of Anambra state and also need for the said decision to be Gazetted as a matter of Urgency.”

According to the petition, “It is our clients’ specific instruction that despite the decision aforementioned of the state boundary Committee of 18 July, 2017, between Oze village, Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi LGA and Akuzor village Nkpor in idemili LGA, some miscreants, mischief makers and unscrupulous members of Oze still go about in total disobedience to your lawful order and decision.

“They continue to mislead the general public and security agencies with the previous belated letter which was mistakenly written by the secretary of the Committee to the Communities concerned over the matter.

“We want you to use your good office to caution the people of Oze to desist forthwith from acts that will likely cause breach of peace and threat to security of Anambra state.” - Daily Post

Fulani herdsmen kill five in Benue

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed five farmers at Ukemberagya district, near Anyii, in Logo local government area of Benue State.

Anyii is the country home of former Governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam and was the last Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited before returning to Abuja later on Wednesday.

The Vice President visited the state on a peace mission on Wednesday.

A community leader, Chief Joseph Anawah, told The Nation on phone that the attackers who were armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the settlements in Ukemberagya at 6:30 a.m. and operated for about three hours.

“They moved from one village to another, shot sporadically and razed houses,” he said.

Anawah listed those killed as Bem Torjem, Apedzan Chia and Ikpuku Korya.

The spokesman of the state police command, Moses Yamu, said he has not been briefed on the incident. - The Nation

Naija way !! ‘We’ve been abandoned in Russia’ — Nigerian students lament

Nineteen postgraduate students granted scholarships by the presidential amnesty programme say they have been abandoned.

The students, who are currently in their final year at the People’s Friendship University of Russia, alleged that Paul Boroh, sacked coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme, stopped sending funds to them in June 2016.

President Muhammadu Buhari had sacked Boroh on March 13 and ordered anti-graft agencies to probe the amnesty programme.

Charles Dokubo, a professor, was subsequently appointed to replace him.

In a statement sent to TheCable, Abilo Franz, leader of the beneficiaries of the scholarship,  said a delegation of the students met with Boroh on September 6, 2016 in his Abuja office.

He said some senior staff of the agency, including Asari Udem, head of offshore education, were part of the meeting.

Franz said after hours of “serious deliberations”, Boroh told them to go back and continue with their education, while assuring them of continued sponsorship.

He, however, said a circular was sent to them two months later, asking them to return home.

“We met with the SA (Boroh) and but the SA gave us his final words to go and continue with our studies. Hopefully, we returned to Russia and disclosed the good news to our colleagues,” Franz said in a statement.

“I was in constant contact with the SA by telephone conversation and email for about two months, on the 10th of November 2016 we received a secular from the SA asking us to return home that the Presidential Amnesty office does not have the resources to finance our ambition to further education, barely a week of assuring us by mail that our tuition will be paid.

Boroh

“It was a shock as everyone had spent his saving to make first quarter payment of tuition and we were at the peak of the first semester of the first academic year.”

Franz added that all efforts to reach Boroh, even before he was sacked, proved futile.

He explained that the students had been left to fend for themselves since then, adding that five of them who could not cope with the financial burden had to return home, while one, alleged to have been involved in crime, is in detention.

“From that moment on, we have made several attempts to get through to the SA, through direct email, phone calls, SMS and the Nigerian embassy here in Moscow but all attempts were ignored, we kept pleading because we had expended all what we had to secure our admission,” he said.

“Up till when He was sacked, we were left without any financial support. We have been living without proper medical care, accommodation since August 2016. No fund to finance our final year project.

“We, the abandoned students are appealing to the new SA, Prof Charles Quakers Dokubo (NIIA) to come to our aid.”

One of the returnees was quoted to have said: “I will not be graduating with my colleagues because I can’t pay tuition for the final semester after l have come this far. One of the students is also in detention awaiting court trial for 5 months now.”

Enenimibo-Ofori Briggs, the pioneer president of the students, told TheCable that their plight had been heightened by the scarcity of jobs for foreigners in Russia.

Briggs, who is in his final semester for his master of science (MSc), said they tried to contact Dokubo to no avail.

Asked the fate of the students who have returned to Nigeria, Briggs said “they can start afresh” when they have the fund.

“Some even left their personal money they deposited with the school pending when amnesty will pay,” Briggs said.

“The tuition is between $5000 to $2000 depending on department. We have written several times to the new SA but no response. We don’t have his direct email, writing through the guys in charge of foreign students but no response.

“They are catering for only 3 PhD students in Russia while the remaining 17 MSc students are stranded. Meanwhile, we all left Nigeria the same day to Russia under the same programme.

“Boroh deliberately refused to pay us, he preferred agriculture to education. We haven’t had any engagement with the new SA.”

A spokesman to Boroh declined comments on the issue, saying all complaints should be directed to Dokubo.

When TheCable contacted the amnesty office through some phone numbers on its website, a call representative claimed the delay in the passage of the 2018 appropriation bill is responsible for the withheld funds.

He, however, said the complaints would be forwarded to Dokubo.

“There is a process for the matter to get to him. We will forward the complaint to the management and it will get to the SA eventually,” he said.

“What they told us is that the senate has not approved the budget of 2018 so because of that, we have not received all the money that we received. When they sign the budget, they will be able to have money to send to all these people that have not received their stipend. Some of us workers have not even received our salary here.

“Since the new SA has been here, we have been trying to put our house in order. All the complaints get to the SA.

“There are so many beneficiaries that we have to provide for. They are over 30, 000 that is why there are some delays in some people’s fund.” - Cable Nigeria

Naija demo-craze !! Soldiers storm Port Harcourt police station, arrest DPO over murder of colleague

There was confusion along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, on Thursday morning, as soldiers took over the Rumukpakani Police station, reportedly in response to the killing of their colleague by a policeman.

Punch reports that a group of angry soldiers stormed the Police station and arrested the Divisional Police Officer, DPO.

The murdered soldier, said to be on mufti, was reportedly shot near the Police station by one of the policemen on duty. - Daily Post