Judiciary
Court dissolves 16-year-old “loveless” marriage
Court dissolves 16-year-old “loveless” marriage
An Upper Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja, has dissolved a 16-year-old marriage between Hajarat Isa and her husband, Muhammed Hassan, for lack of love.
The Judge, Mohammed Wakili dissolved the marriage according to Islamic Law, following Isa’s prayer for divorce on the said ground.
Wakili ordered that the divorce certificate be issued to the plaintiff adding that she would not observe “Iddah” because the couple had not consummated since 2022.
Iddah is a waiting period to be observed for three months before contracting another marriage.
Earlier, the petitioner, a mother of four, had told the court she got married to the respondent under Islamic law in 2008.
She said that she was no longer interested in the marriage and prayed that the court grant her request for a divorce on grounds of lack of love.
The respondent however said that he divorced his wife and remarried her in 2022 which was in his absence because he travelled to his hometown while the marriage was contracted.
“I will grant her a divorce but want her to return all my belongings in her possession.
“She sold my television, a PlayStation I bought for the children and my clothes and shoes.
“We have not consummated the marriage since 2022 and I gave her a shop and capital to start up a business before I travelled. When I got back she sold my gym equipment while I was around,” he said.
The plaintiff said that in 2022, the respondent travelled to his home town for one year and seven months and only sent money once in a while.
“I was the only one taking care of our four children and two more he had with his ex-wife, I sold the said items to take care of our children, I am a private teacher and was paid only N15,000 when he left.
“I later fell very sick and that was when he returned. My younger brother had to come to help me with the children while my older sister took care of me,” she said.
She added that she did not sell his gym equipment but had explained to him that they got stolen and the reason she sold other items was for upkeep.
The respondent however told the court that he believed the plaintiff may have sold the items for upkeep while he was away and forgave her for it.
Crime
Trader bags 9 months jail term for attempted theft
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced a 20-year-old trader, Darwang Chung, to nine months in prison for attempted theft.
Chung, who resides at Gyel in Jos South, pleaded guilty to the one count charge of attempted theft.
The Magistrate, Mr Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos, in his judgement, gave the convict an option of N30,000 fine, or to risk six months in prison and a compensation of N15,000 or another 3 months in prison in default.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Labaran Ahmed, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 6, at the”B” Division Police Station by one Yohanna Dalyop, the complainant.
Ahmed said the convict jumped over the fence into the house of the complainant and was caught.
He said that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code Law.
Judiciary
Alleged Procurement Fraud: Emefiele’s coys got preferential treatment – witness tells court
A prosecution witness, Mr Stephen Gana, on Monday told an Abuja High Court that two companies belonging to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele got preferential treatments in vehicle procurement contracts bidding.
The witness, made this known while testifying in the case of alleged procurement fraud preferred against Emefiele by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Gana who is the Prosecution Witness (PW10), was the former Head of Procurement Department.
The witness led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN confirmed that he was in office when contracts for vehicles contained in Exhibits F4 to F45, were approved.
The witness told the court that Toyota vehicles obtained at the cost of N99,900,000 was acquired by the CBN from April ”1616” Company Ltd through direct procurement .
Referring to Exhibit F5, Gana said two Toyota hilux were obtained at the cost of N23,100,000 each through selective bidding.
He said April 1616 company, was awarded the contract having placed the lowest bid and aligning with the CBN’s in-house estimate of the same sum.
Earlier, the witness had testified that at the CBN, contracts could be awarded through direct procurement or selective bidding.
He added, depending on the guidance of the Director of procurement department who works in team with the Deputy Director, the Head of Procurement(himself) and the procurement officer.
After his testimony, the prosecution counsel prayed the court to grant him an adjournment different from the earlier date of Oct. 22.
“I am appearing in a case filed by Kogi and 15 other states against the EFCC in the Supreme court on Tuesday,” he told the court.
The defence counsel, Matthew Burkaa, however, did not object to the prayer but pointed out that cost of movement was high now and such be considered.
Justice Hamza Muazu then adjourned the matter until Nov 13, for continuation and hearing of the application.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Burkaa, had opposed the prosecution’s amended additional proof of evidence served on them.
Burkaa challenged the process and manifestation of intent to call two witnesses who were not listed earlier.
He said the defence was not challenging the charge but bringing in of new witnesses to testify.
NAN reports that Emefiele was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence, when he served as the apex bank’s boss.
Among the allegations was that the former CBN boss forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (AGF).
He is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies; April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd in suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.
Judiciary
Akinlade faults irregular dressing to court by law students externs
The Convener of the Duty Solicitors Network (DSN), Mr Bayo Akinlade, has urged legal practitioners to collaborate in educating law school externs on the proper dress code for court.
Akinlade spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday regarding dress codes observed by some law school externs on court attachment.
NAN reports that students of Nigerian Law School have commenced their externship or court attachment, which is expected to run through several weeks.
These externships are compulsory for every law student before the bar final examinations.
According to him, some of these externs appear confused and have visibly drifted away from the acceptable mode of dressing provided by legal profession ethics.
Consequently, he called on legal practitioners to make it a duty to guide these externs on the proper dress code to court.
“When some lawyers dress inappropriately to court, I do my best to let them know as it reflects on their level of appreciation for ethics in this noble profession.
“For externs; it is sad to see some male externs wearing waistcoats without jackets or just plain whites with a black tie without jackets.
“The same goes for the female externs who wear a white blouse without a jacket.
“My concerns have been escalated several times to the law school which has consistently reiterated that the externs are required to wear a black jacket during their externship.
“It is unfortunate to still see some externs not properly dressed to court despite instructions from the law school,” he said.
He, therefore, urged senior lawyers, to join hands in leading the young law students on the right path, to preserve the ethics of legal practice.
“I would like to implore lawyers in practice to please correct improper dressings by externs and even colleagues and to ensure that even during chamber attachments, these externs wear the proper combination of attires.
“Until we are permitted or agree to wear our traditional cultural attire to court, the suit remains the standard,” he said.
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