Court
Donald Trump will lose special Twitter protections when Joe Biden takes office
U.S. President Donald Trump will be subject to the same Twitter rules as any other user when President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20, the social media company confirmed this week. Twitter places “public interest” notices on some rule-breaking tweets from “world leaders” that would otherwise be removed. Such tweets from political candidates and elected or government officials are instead hidden by a warning and Twitter takes actions to restrict their reach. But the company said this treatment does not apply to former office holders. “This policy framework applies to current world leaders and candidates for office, and not private citizens when they no longer hold these positions,” a Twitter spokesman said in a statement. It has added multiple warnings and labels to tweets from the...
#RevolutionNow: Appeal court strikes out Omoyele Sowore’s appeal
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Wednesday, struck out the notice of appeal that convener of the 2019 #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, filed to challenge his bail conditions. Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the last general election and publisher of an online news outlet, Sahara Reporters, is facing treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Though he was initially arraigned alongside his co-defendant Olawole Bakare (A.K.A. Mandate) on September 30, 2019, on a seven-count charge that bordered on conspiracy, money laundering, cyber-stalking and for allegedly insulting President Muhammadu Buhari, the prosecution subsequently reduced the charge to two counts. Meanw...
Nigerian judge throws out case against 47 men for homosexuality
A court in Lagos throws out a case against men charged with public displays of affection with members of the same sex. A judge in a Nigerian court has thrown out a case against 47 men charged with public displays of affection with members of the same sex, ending what had widely been seen as a test of the country’s laws banning homosexual relationships. The Nigerian law banning gay marriage, punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and same-sex “amorous relationships”, prompted an international outcry when it came into force under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014. The men were arrested in a police raid on a Lagos hotel in the city’s Egbeda district in 2018. Police said the men were being initiated into a gay club, but the defendants said they were attending a birthday party. Prosec...
Police arraign ex-lawmaker, ex-governor’s aide, three others for ‘arson’
File Photo A former House of Assembly member, Dayo Akinleye; Afolabi Ariyo, a former aide of Ex-Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, and three others, on Tuesday, appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate Court for the criminal act of deliberately setting property ablaze during the #EndSars protest in the state Others also arraigned were, James David, Ajimoko Busola and Oyin Filani. The Police Prosecutor, Mr Johnson Okunade, told the court that the defendants committed the Offence on Oct. 20 at Ado-Ekiti. He explained that the defendants also set ablaze three trucks conveying cement, saying that the value of the damages was yet unknown. According to Okunade, the offence was punishable Under Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. Counsel to the defendant...
Judge advises man to pray for his ‘problem daughter’ to change
A Grade I Area Court Judge asked a 65-year-old man, Samuel Maduakar, to forgive and pray for his “problem daughter” Ifeoma to change. The police charged Ifeoma, 27, with criminal intimidation, assault and mischief on Feb.19. The police alleged that she attacked her father and threatened to poison him. The judge, Muhammad Adamu, said:”you have to continue to pray to God to change her. “You must accept the defendant’s apology when she apologises”. Adamu also told the defendant to respect her father. “To whom much is given, much is expected. “Your parents have done their best for you. You appreciate them and respect them,” he said. Adamu adjourned the matter until Nov.23 for report of settlement. Earlier, Maduakar, told the court that he was not well represented by Ifeoma. The defendant’s fat...
House of Rep member arraigned over ‘N1.6 million bribe’
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged a member of the House of Representatives, Oghuma Egwakhide, for allegedly collecting N1.6 million as bribe from three contractors. In a statement on Thursday, the commission said Mr Egwakhide was charged on a four-count before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi. The commission accused Mr Egwakhide, who represents Etsako East/West/Central Federal Constituency, Edo State, of collecting kickbacks from contractors handling school projects in his constituency. The ICPC said investigations revealed that Mr Egwakhide, demanded 10 per cent kickbacks from the N16.5 million contract for the construction of one block of three classrooms at Fugar Mixed Secondary Sc...
#EndSARS: SERAP condemns shooting of protesters at Lekki toll gate
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned “reports that security agents are shooting at #EndSARS peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll gate, Lagos. This must stop immediately.” SERAP said: “Under the Nigerian constitution, 1999 [as amended] and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party, the authorities are obligated to respect and protect the right to life and security of the person, the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly of everyone, including peaceful protesters.” “We call on the Nigeria authorities to order a prompt, independent and impartial inquiry into the reports of shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll gate by security agents, identify suspected perpetrators and ensure that they are brought to j...
ICPC uncovers N5.17 billion fraud in education, agric ministries
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has uncovered diversion of part of the N2.67 billion payments made to some Federal Colleges for school feeding during lockdown. The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who stated this at the 2nd National Summit on Diminishing Corruption with the theme: “Together Against Corruption and Launch of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy”, said preliminary investigation had indicated that part of the N2.67billion was diverted to private accounts. The event, presided over President Muhammadu Buhari, was held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. The ICPC boss said: “We observed that transfer to sub-Treasury Single Account was to prevent disbursement from being monitored. ...
Bayelsa election: Governor Diri, INEC ask appeal court to reverse tribunal’s judgment
Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State on Thursday in Abuja asked the Court of Appeal to reverse the decision of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the November 16, 2019 governorship poll in the state. Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have also approached the appellate court asking it to reverse the tribunal’s judgement. In their separate appeals, the appellants prayed the court to uphold that the conduct of the governorship election and its outcome which produced Mr Diri as governor complied with relevant laws. Arguing on behalf of Mr Diri, his counsel, Chris Uche, (SAN), told the court that the case of the first respondent (Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party (ANDP)) was statute barred as ...
EFCC docks polytechnic lecturer for N27 million fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today docked for fraud Pius Ugochukwu Ezeokafor, a former Director of Physical Planning, and now Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State. Ezeokafor, who is an architect faces a three count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and gratification to the tune of N27 million. He is facing trial before Justice O. A Ezeoke of the State High Court sitting in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. One of the charges read,”that you, Arc. Pius Ugochukwu Ezeokafor sometime between the year 2011 and 2012 at Oko, Aguata Local Government Area within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit felony to wit: with intent to defraud, obtained by false pretense ...
ECOWAS Court set to resume from extended vacation on October 7
The ECOWAS Court will be resuming its activities on Oct. 7, after its three months vacation. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the media office of the justices. The court will deliver judgment in nine cases filed against eight some member states. It added that the cases were also filed against Nigeria’s Cross River State and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and listed in the latest course list released by the Registry of the Court for the period Sept. 25 to Oct. 28. According to the court, among those listed for judgment is a case filed by Counsellor Kabineh Muhammad Ja’neh, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia against the government. “The former Justice is challenging his removal from office on the grounds that i...
South West NULGE disowns former secretary over inauguration of caretaker committee
File Photo The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) weekend disowned a retired Deputy National secretary of the Union, Comrade Rasaki Lawal, for putting in place a caretaker committee. It expressed worries over Lawal alleged activities to create unnecessary leadership crisis in the Union even after his retirement. This was contained in a communiqué issued by the Southwest leaders of the union at a meeting attended by the six Presidents in the zone in Akure. In a Communiqué signed by the leaders, the Zone explained that despite the hands of brotherhood extended to Rasaq Lawal, he never rescinded on his anti-union actions of allegedly creating rancour within the rank and file of the union in the zone and throughout the country in general The Southwest Leaders, therefore, enjoi...
