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Judiciary

JUSUN Strike: Oyo Judicial Workers Down Tools

By Web News 6 April 2021 731

In compliance with the directive by the national body of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, today judicial activities have been paralyzed at all court premises in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

Radio Nigeria monitored the situation within Ibadan metropolis observed that Oyo state High Court of Justice, Ring Road, Ibadan, complied with the directives as members of staff locked the main entrance and placed various inscription on the gate such as judiciary autonomy is nonnegotiable, injustice in temple of justice among others.

The situation was not different at the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal, Ibadan.

Speaking on their demands, Chairman, Judiciary staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Oyo state branch who doubles as Oyo state NLC Chairman, Mr Kayode Martins said the financial autonomy will aid the efficiency of the sector in the dispensation of justice.

Similarly, members of the Judiciary staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) enforcing its indefinite nationwide strike, have evicted court staff from the Federal High court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

They sealed some of the offices and pasted notices indicating commencement of the court shutdown.

In a related development, all court activities in Osun state have been grounded following an indefinite industrial action embarked upon by members of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

Addressing the judicial staff, its, Chairman Mr Gbenga Eludire averred that all forms of criminal activities in Nigeria today were as a result of neglect of the judiciary, hence the need for the full implementation of its autonomy.

Adedoyin Shomoye

Judiciary

Oyo #EndSARS Panel Mourns Perm Sec, FRCN Reporter’s Demise, Postpones Sitting

By Web News 6 April 2021 542

The Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and other related matters has expressed sadness over the deaths of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Prince Wasiu Gbadegesin and a Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria reporter covering the proceedings of the Panel, Mr. Sunday Ogunyemi.

The panel condoled with the families of the duo, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo and the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, praying God to grant repose to the souls of the departed.

A notice signed by the Secretary to the Panel, Mr. H.T. Salami, stated that the panel postponed its Tuesday, 6th April, 2021 sitting due to the sudden demise of the duo in separate circumstances.

“The panel commiserates with the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased and pray to Almighty God to rest their souls in peace and give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“As a result of the sudden demise of the duo, the panel suspended its sitting for Tuesday, 6th April, 2021. The sitting will continue on Wednesday and Thursday, 7th and 8th April,” the notice read in part.

Signed

H T. Salami,
Secretary to the panel
April 6th, 2021

Judiciary

Ondo State Judicial Workers Embark on Indefinite Strike

By Web News 6 April 2021 644

Judiciary workers in Ondo state today joined a nationwide indefinite strike to protest the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

Radio Nigeria who monitored the situation in Akure, observed that the State High Court, Appeal Court, Magistrates courts and the Federal High Court in Akure have been shut down by officials of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) led by the state Chairman, Comrade Femi Afolabi.

The strike is to seek financial autonomy of the Judicial arm of government, though the federal government has allowed for financial autonomy, state governments were accused of not granting financial independence to the judiciary in the states.

Reacting to the refusal of states to implement the policy, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), accordingly directed its members across the country to shut down all courts nationwide beginning from today.

In Akure, some lawyers and litigants returned home disappointed as they met gates of the court locked by JUSUN officers while staff of the Federal High Court were forced out of the premises.

Speaking with newsmen, the JUSUN Chairman in Ondo state, Comrade Femi Afolabi said the strike would not be called off until their demands were met by government.

Comrade Afolabi described as successful the first day of the strike, adding that all stakeholders in the judiciary arm were fully in the JUSUN support.

Leke Adegbite

Judiciary

JUSUN Strike: Activities Grounded At Osun Courts

By Web News 6 April 2021 824

All court activities in Osun State have been grounded following an indefinite industrial action embarked on by members of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

The Strike was sanctioned by the National Executive of the union upon expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given to the government on full implementation of judicial autonomy in the country.

Led by its chairman, Mr Gbenga Eludire, the State Executive of the Union was at the Federal High and State High Courts as well as the Industrial Court in Osogbo to effect the Industrial action.

Addressing the judicial staff, Eludire averred that all forms of criminal activities in Nigeria today were as a result of neglect of the judiciary, hence the need for the full implementation of its autonomy.

He stressed that all regular and special courts in the State remain closed as directed by the national executive of the Union just as he urged all members to steer clear work as JUSUN would not take it lying down with any erring members.

The JUSUN chairman noted that state executive of JUSUN has no the right to negotiate with any State government except the national body of the union.

Reacting on the development, Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Femi Akande said the state government was ready to negotiate with the union, saying the Governor places premium on welfare of workers including members of the judiciary.

Mr Akande urged members of the public to bear with the government as efforts to resolve the issue through the national body of the union would be fast tracked.

Wasiu Ajadosu

Judiciary

BREAKING:Oyo State High Court Down Tools

By Web News 6 April 2021 870

Oyo State High Court of Justice under lock in compliance with the directives of the national body, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN

Some of d inscription on d gate

Judiciary

ENDSARS: Oyo Judicial Panel Inspects Damaged Properties at Kannike Ode-ye

By Web News 1 April 2021 642

Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality on Thursday visited Kannike Ode-ye Community Ibadan where residents alleged that some unknown hoodlums vandalised their houses and shops during the last year’s EndSARS protest.

The visit of the panel was sequel to a petition written by the residents of the community who were appealing to the state government to compensate them for their loss.

According to the residents, more than fifty houses and shops were either burnt or burgled.

Among the shops owners was Mr. Adeoye Adejare who said the protesters burnt thirty caskets he was selling.

During the visit, aimed at assessing the level of damage done to the community, members of the Panel discovered that the degree of the damage were up to what some of the residents claimed.

The residents, who were not aware of the visit, were shocked when they were asked to show the property burnt or burgled but some of them failed to defend their claim.

For example, one of them was claiming five million for sewing machine, and some clothes, including workshop.

A woman claimed to be selling Italian shoes, but her shop only contained used shoes and bags.

However, the visit almost turned violent when some residents claimed that they were not carried along when others were writing petitions.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Judiciary

SARS: Father Seeks N50million Compensation for Son’s Killing

By Web News 25 March 2021 612

A sixty six year old man, Kolawole Owoade has cried to the Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality for the award of fifty million naira as general compensation for the loss of his son Adewale Owoade killed by men of Special Anti Robbery Squads in 2006.

Mr. Owoade also said the money would also help him to take care of the mother of the deceased who had been on sick bed since the incident occurred.

Pursuing his petition before the Panel, Mr. Owoade said on November 11, 2006, one of their neighbors called Mr. Lasunkanmi reported to one Morufu Ogundele the recharge card he was selling had been stolen, and the latter reported the case to the Police and mentioned his son Adewale Owoade.

He said they were coming from church on that day when he was approached by the six SARS officers who asked him if he were the father to Adewale.

He said “the SARS left us and went inside without permission to search our house with gun, they scattered everywhere with gun. As some of them were searching our house, we suddenly heard a gunshot from outside which forced us to rush out. “

“When we got out we discovered that those officer had shot Adewale when he trying to leave the compound”. The man explained.

When asked where the boy was shot, Mr. Owoade said the deceased jumped down from upstairs before he was shot and was seen with his intestines outside.

He said the boy was nineteen year old and was a student of a private Polytechnic when he was killed in 2006.

Mr. Owoade said the SARS who blamed themselves for shooting the boy took the deceased to a private hospital where he died a week later.

He also told the panel that since the incident occurred, the deceased mother had not been normal as a result of trauma suffered from the boy’s death.

Mr. Owoade’s counsel, Mr. Diekola Rufai later presented the Death Certificate of the deceased and other relevant document as exhibit, and it was admitted by the Panel.

In his prayer, he sought for relief through the panel for a sum of fifty Million Naira as Indemnity for what the family had lost during the time the deceased was in the hospital.

While closing his Cross Examination, Counsel to Oyo State Police Command, Matthew Ojeah called for adjournment in order to present witness when he opens his defense.

The panel however adjourned the matter to 14th of April 2021 for further hearing.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Judiciary

Missing Car: Oyo Judicial Panel Summons DPO, Two Others

By Web News 25 March 2021 733

Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality has summoned a one-time Divisional Police Officer of Bodija Police Station, Mr. Morufu Odunayo, a police officer at the state Criminal Investigative Department CID Iyaganku, Tunde Ajibade known as Otanna and a guard at Le-Chateau Event Center, Bodija to appear before the panel over missing a missing car at the event Center.

The owner of the car, Kunle Ajayi, had approached the Judicial Panel to complain about the poor treatment he received from the police.

He said his car was parked at the event centre but after his business at the Center, the car went missing.

He told the Panel that a guard at the center directed him to park where he parked his car, expressing surprise that the car got missing.

Ajayi said he approached the Police station at Bodija but nobody attended to him.

The petitioner said he went to state CID, where he met an officer Tunde Ajibade known as Otanna, who collected fifteen thousand naira from from him before allowed him to write a petition.

He said when went back to follow up the petition, the officer threatened that he should not come back.

When the Panel asked him for his prayer, Ajayi requested the panel to order full investigation into the missing car, and to retrieve the fifteen thousand naira Otanna collected from him.

Members of the Panel blamed the Police for their failure to make attempt to find the car.

The Chairman of the panel, Emeritus Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Badejoko Adeniji told Counsel to Police Mr. Mathew Ojeah to produce the two Police officers and also instructed the Panel’s Secretary to write the Management of the event center to appear before the panel with the guard that directed the petitioner to park.

The petition was adjourned till April 14, 2020.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Judiciary

Court Releases Akewugbagold’s Twins Kidnappers

By Web News 24 March 2021 907

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has released the six suspects alleged of kidnapping the twins of the popular Islamic Scholar, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold on the condition that they will promise that nothing will wrong with the man and his family.

Their release was based on appeal of the Islamic Scholar, who is the star witness in the case, to withdraw the case.

Alhaji Akewugbagold explained that he had forgiven the suspects, saying he left them for judgment of God.

Ruling on the appeal, the trial Judge, Justice Moshod Abass said though the court had power to deny the withdrawal, it would serve no purpose as the star witness refused to witness against the suspects.

Justice Abass explained that forcing the Islamic Scholar to witness would amount to waste of time saying such witness would not be credible.

He therefore ordered the release of the suspects saying they should, however, sign undertaking that nothing would wrong with the family before their release.

However, the court session turned emotional as the judge called out the parents of the suspects who could not hold their emotions and burst to tear for the shame their children caused their families.

Justice Abass called on parents to train their children to protect the legacy of their family.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Judiciary

Ogun Court Sentences Six To Prison Over Impersonation

By Web News 23 March 2021 562

Justice Mohammed Abubakar of Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Monday sentenced six youths to prison for impersonation.

The convicts Kareem Babatunde Olamide, Idowu Timothy Tobi, Anifowose Ahmed Adedeji, Alimi Quazeem Folarin, Gabriel Obiseasan Ayobami and Abesin Ayobami Sodeeq were arraigned by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

While Idowu was sentenced to six months imprisonment, Anifowose and Gabriel bagged four months jail term each, Kareem and Abesin got three months imprisonment while Alimi bagged two months.

The judge, however, gave Anifowose and Gabriel an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira each as fine while, Kareem was given an option of N100, 000 One Hundred Thousand Naira fine.

The court also ordered the defendants to restitute their victims.

Alimi is to restitute the total sum of Eleven Million Twenty-six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-four Naira, Twenty-nine kobo to his victims John Castro, Romone Rockitt and Robert Reaman, through the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He will also forfeit one iPhone 12 mobile phone and one black Lexus iS250 to Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of his crime.

Abesin was ordered to restitute his victim the sum of Two Thousand Three Hundred United States Dollars and forfeit one iPhone XS Max and one small Nokia Torchlight phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Similarly, Gabriel is to restitute his victim the sums of Seven Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars and Seven Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand Naira.

He was equally ordered to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria, one Apple MacBook, Hp Laptop, one iPhone X and one Samsung S9.

Idowu is to pay the sums of One Hundred United States Dollars and Twenty Five Euro to his victims.

He will also forfeit a black iPhone XR mobile phone to the Federal Government, while Kareem will forfeit iPhone 7.

Anifowose is to return the sum of Four Hundred United States Dollars to his victims and forfeit one Apple laptop, a Samsung S9 and iPhone 11 Pro Max to the Federal Government.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Judiciary

Akeugbagold Withdraws Case Against Children’s Abductors

By Web News 22 March 2021 853

A popular Islamic cleric, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, has applied to withdraw the case he filed against against the abductors of his twins.
At the resumed hearing of the suit on Monday, Alhaji Akewugbagold told the court that he had forgiven the suspects and wanted the suit to be struck out.

Alhaji Akewugbagold said as an Islamic preacher, He needed to practice forgiveness stressing that he had forgiven the suspects whole heartedly.
The cleric urged the court to ensure the suspects signed an undertaking that nothing untoward would happen to him and his family.

Alhaji Akewugbagold commended the judge for his uprightness and prayed God for his success.

The trial Judge, Justice Mashood Abas, asked the cleric whether he was under duress, he said no but that he took the decision based on his beliefs.
The judge explained that he was not bound by the plea of the victims’ father to strike out the suit and adjourned the case till Wednesday for ruling and ordered the suspects to be remanded at the Correctional centre.

The suspects Muhammed Basir,Oyeleye Opeyemi, Olumide Ajala,Taiwo Ridwon,Rafiu Mutiu and Fatai Akanji were alleged of kidnapping Alhaji Akewugbagold’s twins April last year.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Judiciary

Iskilu: Court Remands OPC Members for Alleged Arson

By Web News 17 March 2021 567

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Ibadan has ordered the remand of three members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in a correctional centre for alleged arson.

The suspects are: Awodele Adedigba, 45; Dauda Kazeem , 38, and Hassan Ramon, 33, with three counts of conspiracy, murder and arson.

The prosecution counsel, Insp. Opeyemi Olagunju told the court that the suspects on March 7, at about eight o clock in the morning at Kajola village, Ayete, allegedly caused the death of a 45-year-old woman.

He said that Awodele, Dauda and Hassan allegedly set the house of the Ibarapa “warlord” Abdullahi Wakili, valued at N5 million on fire.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olaide Hamzat, who did not take the plea of the suspects, for want in jurisdiction, ordered that they be remanded in Abolongo Correctional facility, Oyo town.

The Cheif Magistrate ordered the police to duplicate the case file and send to the office of the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He adjourned the matter untill April 21, for mention.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Judiciary

Police Officer Confined Me To Wheelchair – Ogun Petitioner

By Web News 16 March 2021 640

A petitioner before the Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Extra Judicial Killings Mr. Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, has alleged the Nigeria Police officers as being responsible for his confinement to the wheel chair.
The petitioner while recounting his ordeal before the panel in Abeokuta said he was crippled by a police officer bullet at a checkpoint between Fidiwo and Alapako area of Ogun State while traveling to Ibadan in a public transport.
He said the disaster had forclose his hope of natural insemination.
Mr. Fagbemi stated that he had written to different authorities including the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, after which two police officers were sent to investigate the matter with no result.
He revealed that millions of naira have been spent on medical care.
The Panel Chairman, Justice Solomon Olugbemi while reacting to the petition stated that a letter would be written to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to release Officers in Charge of Legal and X-Squad departments to appear with all necessary documents to give evidence.

Judiciary

Court remands suspected Kidnapper, Wakili, sons, others in Correctional facility

By Web News 16 March 2021 606

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An Iyaganku Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, ordered that alleged notorious Fulani warlord in Ibarapaland, Abdullahi Wakili, 70, be remanded in a correctional facility.

The police charged Wakili alongside his sons Abu, 45; and Samaila, 27; as well as Aliyu Manu, 20; with six counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Idowu, who did not take plea of the suspects for want in jurisdiction, remanded them in Abolongo Correctional facility in Oyo State.

Idowu ordered the police to return the case file to the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution.

He adjourned the matter until May 17, for mention.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that Wakili and his accomplices were arrested by men of the Oodua Peoples Congress in Oyo State.

Punch

Judiciary

Your Petition Is Not Within Our Jurisdiction; Oyo Panel On Police Brutality Tells Petitioner

By Web News 16 March 2021 938

Oyo State Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality has struck out a petition written by one Ayodele Oluwatoyin to retrieve his car auctioned by the Federal Road Safety Commission.

The Panel’s decision followed an oral application by legal Counsel to Federal Road Safety Commission Mr. Oluwatodimu Bamisaye Challenging the jurisdiction of the panel on the petition.

Mr. Bamisaye told the Panel that the subjects of the petition bothered on the administrative action of FRSC

Mr. Bamisaye explained that though the petitioner coined his case as infringement on his rights, the petition was challenging the authority of FRSC to auction the car.

He said the Panel lacked powers to probe constitutional responsibilities of FRSC being a federal government agency.

Responding to the application, Counsel to the Petitioner, Mr. J.B Olaoye described the application as a ploy to mislead the panel urging the panel to dismiss the application on the ground that it was not properly filed.

A member of the panel who read the panel’s ruling on the application, Professor Oluwole Akintayo said though the mandate of the panel was not limited to cases of police brutality, it was important for the panel not to over rate itself by assuming jurisdiction matter outside the area of its competence.

The Panel said the matter presented by the petitioner did not fall within the term of reference of the Panel and struck out the petition.

The panel therefore advised the petitioner to explore other means to seek redress.

Radio Nigeria reported that the petitioner approached the panel to retrieve his car Federal Road Safety Corps impounded and later auctioned months later.