EFCC Press Release: EFCC Arraigns Man over Dud Cheques in N120m Fraud:

 

 

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, today July 12, 2013 arraigned one

Chukwuma Paul Chukwuma before Justice Salisu Garba of the FCT High Court, Abuja, on a 14-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheques and obtaining money by false pretence. The accused is alleged to have sometime in 2012, issued various cheques amounting to N120 million which when presented for payment were dishonoured. He is also said to have obtained by false pretence the sum of N8 million from one Dr. Obiora Okonkwo.

 

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Chukwuma Paul Chukwuma on or about 23^rd October, 2012 in Abuja, in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did obtain credit for yourself by means of a post dated Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) cheque No. 334 dated 23 October 2012 issue in favour of Solicon Engineering Limited in the sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50, 000,000.00) only on which when presented for payment within three month was dishonored on the grounds of insufficient funds standing to your credit and thereby committed an offence  contrary to section 1 (1)(b) of the dishonoured cheques (Offences) Act Cap. D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Punishable under Section 1(1) (b) (i) of the same Act.”

 

Chukwuma Paul Chukwuma pleaded not guilty to the charge.   

                        

In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Samuel Okeleke prayed the court to fix a trial date to enable the prosecution prove its case and also urge the court to remand the accused person in prison custody pending the determination of the case.  However, counsel to the accused, Peter Erivwode, prayed the court to admit his client to bail. 

Justice Garba ordered that the accused person be remanded in Kuje prison and adjourned the matter to August 2, 2013 for ruling on the bail application and September 19, 2013 for trail.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

12^th July, 2013

 

EFCC Press Release Money Laundering: Court Convicts Aminu Sule Lamido

Aminu Sule Lamido, the 34-year old son of Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for offences bordering on money laundering was today convicted by Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano, and ordered to forfeit 25 percent of the undeclared sum of $40,000

Aminu was arrested on December 11, 2012 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on his way to Egypt for failure to declare the $50,000 in his possession. He only declared $10,000 to the Nigerian Customs Service.
When he was arraigned before Justice Riman on Monday February 4, 2013, Aminu pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in prison pending hearing of his application for bail.
The charge against the accused reads: “that you Aminu Sule Lamido on or about 11^th day of December, 2012 at the Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash, the sum of $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars Only) from Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt, falsely declare to the Nigerian Customs the sum of $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars Only) instead of the said sum of $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars Only) as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011”.
 At the resumed hearing on February 5, 2013, Justice Riman granted the accused person bail in the sum of N8million and two sureties in like sum.
In the course of trial, which got underway April 19, 2013, the prosecution called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted as exhibits. One of its witnesses, Sanusi Ahmed who is an operative of the EFCC, told the court that the accused person only registered $10,000 in the Nigerian Customs Declaration Form only for a search to reveal that he had $50,000 on him. He identified the Customs Declaration Form when it was shown to him. The document was accepted by court as exhibit 1.
The two witnesses called by the defence are the Chief Press Secretary to the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Kyare and the wife of the accused, Samira Aminu Sule.
At the last adjourned date, July 9, the court reserved ruling for July 12, after the parties had closed their cases and adopted their written addresses.

In convicting the accused person, the trial court held that the defence had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
12^th July, 2013

EFCC Press Release: Securities Scam: Stock-broker Bags 30 Years Imprisonment

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday July 11, 2013 convicted and sentenced one  Ayoola Coker, a 37-year-old stockbroker to 30 years imprisonment for stealing  N17.5 million belonging to his clients.

Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo gave this verdict after Coker  pleaded guilty to the 15- count charge  that borders stealing, issuance of dud cheque, forgery and uttering  preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The judge sentenced him to two years on each count even as he directed that the sentences would run concurrently  from  December 1, 2011.

Justice Onigbanjo, before pronouncing the sentence, took note of the fact that Coker made efforts to restitute the victims, Mr Saheed Gbadamosi and his son, Taiwo.

Coker had transferred the title deed of his landed property at Idimu, Lagos worth N8 million and a car valued N1 million to the victims.

The convict was first  arraigned on June 6, 2011 and pleaded not guilty.

Justice Onigbanjo noted that the voluntary change of plea by  the convict demonstrates sufficient remorse  “to warrant the leniency of the charge.”

The accused had in 2010 fraudulently sold numerous shares worth N17.5 million which were kept in his custody by his clients.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

12^th July 2013

 

 

N1.4 Bn Subsidy Scam: Aninye, Others Challenge Court Jurisdiction

The trio of Helyn Aninye, Chizobam Ben-Okafor and Pon-Specialised Services Limited who are currently being prosecuted before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over their alleged involvement in the petroleum subsidy scam has filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court. The accused persons who are facing an 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence from the Federal Government of Nigeria are alleged to have fraudulently obtained the sum of N1.4 billion through the Petroleum Support Fund.

At the resumed hearing of the matter today, counsel to the accused persons, Norrison I. Quakers, SAN, told the court that he had on Friday July 5, 2013 filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court although the application was not yet in the court record.

 Counsel to EFCC, Steve Odiase, admitted receiving the application late on Friday but was yet to respond to it. Odiase however told the court that he had filed an application for additional proof of evidence and that he has served the new counsel to the accused persons as their former counsel Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, was no longer in the matter.

Quakers told the court that he was withdrawing all applications earlier filed by Agbakoba including that for stay of proceedings.

Justice Goodluck granted leave to the prosecution to file the additional proof of evidence but instructed that it be made tidy for ease of reference during trial.

Although the prosecution counsel told the court that the matter was for trial today, the defence counsel objected to it and applied for an adjournment on the grounds that he needed time to study the case file.

Justice Goodluck adjourned the case to July 23, 2013 for hearing of the motion on notice.

It will be recalled that at the last sitting, the accused persons had sought to quash the matter through Adebola Sobowale who held brief for Olisa Agbakoba. Sobowale engaged the court with series of applications and motions, praying the court not to entertain the charge against the accused. 

Also, on the 30^th of April, 2013, the defence counsel filed a motion praying the court to decline the prosecution leave to prefer charge against the accused persons and to strike out the 18-count charge on the grounds that the charge were incompetent.  On the 13^th of May, 2013, the defendants filed yet another application praying the court for stay of proceedings and to quash the charge against them.

However, Justice Goodluck in her ruling dismissed the applications on the grounds that they were premature.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

EFCC PRESS RELEASE: N46 Billion Fraud: COURT RULES ON AKINGBOLA’S “NO CASE SUBMISSION” JULY 15

 Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos State High sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday,  July 10, 2013 adjourned  for ruling  an application of no case submission brought before it by Dr Erastus Akingbola, former  Managing Director Intercontinental Bank Plc now Access Bank and Bayo Dada of Tropics Finance Limited. The two defendants are standing trial for offences bordering on stealing and obtaining under false pretences.

 

Counsel to Akingbola, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) informed the court that the defence had filed a motion dated July 4, 2013 supported by a 20-page affidavit disposed to by the first defendant before the court. He said  the motion sought to raise two issues. One of the issues, he said, bordered on the jurisdiction  of the Attorney General of Lagos State to entertain a case brought before a Lagos State court by a Federal agency. Olanipekun said the offences for which the first defendant was charged was not an offence that can be tried by a Federal Government of Nigeria agency under the Lagos State Criminal Code . He went further to inform the court that if the Federal Government decided to try a case of stealing before the Lagos State Law, then the charges should be in the name of the  Attorney General of Lagos State and not the Attorney General of the Federation.

 

 

 The second issue challenged the locus standi of the EFCC in instituting the case. In the application, Olanipekun said EFCC had no power within the confines of the law to try such an offence. He asked the court to strike out the entire information contained in the charges against  the first defendant.

 

 

Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) appeared for the second defendant. Osipitan also presented an application via a motion dated July 9,2013. The application sought to also strike out the charges against Dada on the grounds that the proof of evidence did not disclose anything linking him to the offences for which he was charged. 

 

EFCC counsel, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) however opposed the submission. He informed that court that the case started in a sister court under Justice Habeeb Abiru and had reached a concluding stage before Abiru was elevated to the Court of Appeal. He said the prosecution had filed a counter affidavit in which it prayed the court to disregard the applications by the defence counsel because it will amount to a waste of time of the court. He said the matter was adjourned in February for trial to commence not for the defence counsel to come up with applications to quash charges.  He said the same issues had been raised before Abiru and it was stuck out.

 

“The same issues have been raised before Justice Abiru and  at the Court of Appeal. Akingbola vs FRN 2012 NWL; section 211 of the 1999 Constitution which pertains to powers of the Lagos State Attorney General were examined and further pronouncements were made. At page 530 of that report,  section 211 of the Constitution recognises the fact that a criminal proceeding can be constituted not only by an Attorney General of a State but any other authority vested with such prosecutorial powers. Page 532 of the same report , particularly paragraph C – G, the same Court of Appeal came to a conclusion that EFCC has rightly initiated criminal proceedings under a State Law and that only the Attorney General of Lagos State has powers to challenge the powers of the EFCC not an appellant .”

 

 

Ukala went further that “ the impression being created is that the exercise of powers to prosecute in this case is that of delegation. This case has shown that this is not a matter of delegation. EFCC by the Act which created it vested powers in it to institute any criminal matter. A charge of stealing is part of economic crimes. EFCC is acting right and operating within its capacity and being an agency of the Federal Government, it can institute any matter on behalf of the Federal Government. I therefore urge your Lordship to strike out these applications because they lack merits.” he submitted.

 

 

 

After listening to arguments from counsel, Justice Onigbanjo adjourned ruling on Akingbola’s application to July 15,2013 and struck out the  second defendant’s application for abuse of court process.

  

Akingbola and his co-defendant were previously arraigned before Justice Abiru of the Lagos State High Court  in May, 2011 on a 27-count charge bordering on stealing N46billion  depositors’ funds. The case was at the concluding stage when  Abiru was suddenly elevated to the Court of Appeal.  Abiru’s elevation led to the re-arraignment of the duo before Justice Onigbanjo in February, 2013.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

10^th July, 2013

Court Rules On $15m Ibori Bribe September 20

Justice Gabrael Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja will September 20, 2013 deliver judgment on the ownership of the $15million Ibori Bribe which is the subject of legal tussle between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Delta State Government. The Delta State Government is claiming ownership of the money allegedly given by James Ibori, former governor of the state as bribe to stave-off arrest by former chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The EFCC had in July 2012 approached the court through an ex- parte application, requesting for an order forfeiting the Ibori bribe which had been lying in the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria for more than five years to the Federal Government as unclaimed proceed of crime. Following the application, the court on July 24, 2012, ordered the EFCC to publish an interim order of forfeiture in a national newspaper (Thisday Newspaper),  alerting any one with claim to the said money to state such claims within 14 days. Three parties, including the Delta state government indicated interest. While the others have since abandoned their claim to the Ibori bribe, Delta State government continues to pursue its claim.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, July 10, the EFCC closed its case, urging Justice Kolawole to dismiss the claim by the Delta State government to the fifteen million U.S Dollars Ibori bribe and order the final forfeiture of the sum to the Federal Government, in line with provisions of section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

It submitted that the Delta State government’s claim to the bribe lacked merit as the same government had in 2007 instituted an action against the Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation, stating that Ibori should not be investigated and that the state had lost no money from its treasury.

 

“ My Lord, it is too late for the Delta State Attorney General to lay claim to this money because of his action where he instituted a case against the Commission saying the governor should not be investigate”, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN. Counsel to the EFCC stated.

 

Jacob went on to reveal that in paragraph 10 of the affidavit deposed in the said case by the Delta State Attorney General, it was stated that the state Accountant General, after a thorough investigation, had concluded that no money was lost and that they have no complaint of any missing money.

 

The EFCC counsel further averred that  the Commission having unequivocally stated that the money was given as a bribe and that no one has come up to claim ownership, Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences has given the court power to order the final forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government.

 

Money Laundering: EFCC Appeals Discharge of Former Works Minister

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday July 9, 2013 asked the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to set aside the July 4 ruling of Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja discharging Dr. Hassan Muhammed Lawal, former minister of works and  his alleged accomplice, Adesanye Adewale of the 8-count charge of money laundering filed against them by the anti- graft agency.

Justice Bello had discharged the duo based on a no case submission by the accused persons.

 

In the notice of appeal filed before the appellate court, EFCC is seeking a review of the ruling of the lower court on two grounds: One, that the trial judge erred in law and acted without jurisdiction thereby occasioning a gross miscarriage of justice when he failed to deliver the ruling, the subject matter of the appeal, within the period of ninety (90) days prescribed by constitutional provisions; second, that the trial court erred by upholding and granting the 1^st and 2^nd respondents application for a no case submission in spite of the evidential materials, oral and documentary, before the court.

 

According to  Wahab Shittu, counsel to the EFCC, the ruling  was a miscarriage of justice as it was given  two hundred and eight days after EFCC had adopted its final written address on the ‘No Case Submission’ of the defence.

 

He stated that owing to the delay, the trial court has lost touch with the trend of evidence and the demeanour of witnesses and parties to the proceedings.

He added that the prosecution had placed sufficient material before the court to warrant explanation from the 1^st and 2^nd respondents, adding that the evidence presented by the prosecution was neither discredited as a result of cross-examination nor manifestly unreliable in the circumstances to warrant the discharge of the accused.

Furthermore the anti- graft agency holds that it was premature at the stage of trial for the Judge to determine if evidence was sufficient to justify a conviction. 

Finally, EFCC submits that the trial judge erred in holding that the prosecution did not prove that the funds held by the 1^st respondents, and by implication the 2^nd respondent did not proceed from an illegal act. “This means that the trial judge did not direct his mind to the fact that the language of Section 14 and 17 of the Money Laundering Act to wit…. ‘derived directly or indirectly’ envisages the utility value of direct and indirect evidence including circumstantial evidence on the offence alleged against the 1^st and 2^nd respondents, Shittu Declared”

N14.1m Fraud: Court Remands Former NUJ Chairman, Secretary in Prison

Timothy Elerewe and Adegbuyi Ayodele, former chairman and secretary respectively of the Nigerian Union of  Journalists Correspondent Chapel, Abuja, were on Tuesday July 9, 2013 remanded in Kuje prison by Justice Suleiman  Belgore of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja  following their arraignment on a 5-count charge that borders on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission..

 

The duo are alleged to have in 2006 informed their members of a 33.32 hectares of land purportedly allocated to the NUJ Chapel by the Nasarawa State Government. In a bid to secure the land, one hundred and eleven members were alleged to have  each paid the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand naira (N350,000) per plot, totalling N14, 146,000 (fourteen million, one hundred and forty six thousand naira only).

Since then, members of the Chapel alleged that they neither got the land nor had their money refunded to them.

One of the counts read; “That you Timothy Elewere (being former chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists Correspondent Chapel, FCT and Adegbuyi Ayodele (being former Secretary, Nigerian Union of Journalists Correspondent Chapel FCT) between January and December 2008 in Abuja within the Abujaa Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did dishonestly convert the sum of N6,491,000.00 (six million, four hundred and ninety one thousand naira only) being property of Nigerian Union of Journalists Correspondent Chapel, FCT to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 311 and punishable under section 312 of the Penal Code”.

 

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Based on the plea of the accused persons, the prosecuting counsel asked the court to fix a date for trial and also prayed the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the determination of the case.

 

However, counsel to the first accused person, Esther Uzoma made an oral application for bail and pleaded with the court to admit the accused persons to bail.

However, Justice Belgore insisted on a formal application for bail and adjourned proceedings to July 25, 2013,  while remanding the accused person in Kuje Prison.

Money Laundering: Tommorrow is Judgment Day for Aminu Sule Lamido

Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano will on Friday July 12, 2013 deliver judgment in the case of money laundering involving Aminu Sule Lamido, son of Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.

Aminu who was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on December 11, 2012 on his way to Egypt, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for allegedly under declaring the money found on him.

The charge against the accused reads: “that you Aminu Sule Lamido on or about 11^th day of December, 2012 at the Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash, the sum of $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars Only) from Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt, falsely declare to the Nigerian Customs the sum of $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars Only) instead of the said sum of $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars Only) as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011”.

In the course of trial which got underway April 19, 2013, the prosecution called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted as exhibits. One of its witnesses, Sanusi Ahmed who is an operative of the EFCC, told the court that the accused person only registered $10,000 in the Nigerian Customs Declaration Form only for a search to reveal that he had $50,000 on him. He identified the Customs Declaration Form when it was shown to him. The document was accepted by court as exhibit 1.

The two witnesses called by the defence are the Chief Press Secretary to the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Kyare and the wife of the accused, Samira Aminu Sule.

At the resumed hearing on Monday July 8, 2013, the defence counsel, E. O Effiong, SAN and the prosecuting counsel, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad presented their final address. The court adopted their written address and reserved ruling for Friday July 12, 2013.

South-East/South-South Governors Resolve to Tackle Oil Theft

The governors of states in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones on Sunday in Enugu resolved to work together in efforts to tackle the increasing rate of oil theft in the country.

Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra, who is the Chairman of South-East Governors Forum, told newsmen at the end of the governors’ meeting that the two zones also agreed to work together in developing the area’s infrastructure.

``Akwa Ibom and Abia states have reached an understanding to work with the private sector to reconstruct the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road in order to improve economic activities in the two states.

``We (the governors) discussed the issue of oil theft and how we are going to curb it. We also discussed issue of ethnic harmony and how to promote it,’’ he said,

Obi said that the governors commended President Goodluck Jonathan on his achievements, as reflected in his midterm report, saying that the feats demonstrated that his transformation agenda was on course.

He conveyed the continued support the governors for the transformation agenda of the Jonathan-administration.

The meeting was attended by eight of the 11 governors in the two zones.

Those who attended the meeting include Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia, Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River and Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta.

Others are Gov, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi and Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.

However, Gov. Adams Oshiomole of Edo, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Gov. Rotimi Amechi of Rivers did not attend the meeting. 
Source: PSN 

$1.69Million Scam: Ajudua Accuses Judge of Bias

 Trial of Fred Ajudua who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for conspiring with one Charles Ovie to defraud Mr. Remy Cime, a Dutch National of the sum of $1.69m, at a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, suffered a setback on Monday, July 8, 2013 as his new counsel, Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN, filed an interlocutory application for stay of proceedings or for the case to be transferred to another Judge. According to him, the presiding judge, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole was biased towards his client.

The prosecuting counsel, Oluwemimo Ogunde, SAN, immediately told the court that he only received the application on Friday July 5, 2013, and prayed the court to give him seven days to respond to the application.
Before adjourning the case to September 24, 2013, Justice Oyewole expressed displeasure at the delay in the commencement of trial which was slated to commence on Monday as the prosecution showed its readiness to present its witnesses.
It would be recalled that during the last hearing, the court dismissed Ajudua's application for bail and had since been remanded at the Kirikiri prison.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

8^th July, 2013

Why court granted N250mn bail to dismissed police officer accused of killing protester

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Thursday, granted bail to Segun Fabunmi, the dismissed Divisional Police Officer, who allegedly shot a protester during the 2012 fuel subsidy protests.

Mr. Fabunmi, a former Chief Superintendent of Police, is facing a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, and causing grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Daramola, the victim, died on the spot from gunshot injuries.
In addition to the bail bond, Olabisi Akinlade, the trial judge, ruled that Mr. Fabunmi must provide two sureties who must, each, have landed properties in Lagos worth N100 million.
The sureties must be resident in Lagos, possess three years tax clearance payable to the Lagos State government, and one of them must be at the directorate level at either the state or federal service, the judge added.
In delivering her ruling, the judge had dismissed Mr. Fabunmi’s plea that his track records while serving at the Nigeria Police Force be considered in granting him bail.
The judge noted that he had been dismissed from the force.
“The most vital document is the medical report which indicates that he has renal failure,” Mrs. Akinlade said, referring to various documents tendered by the defence to justify their bail request.
“Only the living will appear before the court to face trial,” the judge added.
Mrs. Akinlade fixed July 16 for trial.
Mr. Fabunmi was arraigned on May 15 for allegedly murdering Mr. Daramola, 27, in January 2012.
Four other victims – Chizoba Odoh, 28; Joy Monday, 21; Abubakar Alimi, 41; Samuel Egbujor, 24; – sustained gunshot injuries from the police officer’s AK47 rifle on the same day.
Last month, the quartet were awarded N1 million each by Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile of the Ikeja High Court.
In her judgment, Mrs. Okikiolu-Ighile accused Mr. Fabunmi of “recklessly shooting and inflicting bodily injuries” on the protesters.
“The applicants averred that the second respondent (Mr. Fabunmi), whom they identified as a policeman, took a gun from another policeman and shot at them,” the judge had said.
“This fact was not challenged by the first and second defendant and it is hereby deemed accepted,” she had added.

Source:

How trigger-happy Customs officers murder 30-Year-Old car dealer

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigations into the murder of a 30-year-old car dealer, Uririnke Onojorhoevwo, who was allegedly killed by officials of the Nigerian Customs Service in Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

According to the police, the Delta State indigene was shot to death on June 16, 2013, after being pursued by customs men attached to the Federal Operation Unit.
Some policemen attached to Gowon Police Division, who witnessed the incident, said after the killing, the customs men fled.
A policeman, who craved anonymity, said, “On June 16, around 5am, we saw customs men in a Toyota Hilux van with registration number, CS307A01, chasing a white unregistered Audi Station wagon. The customs men shot the tyre of the vehicle and also shot its driver.
“The driver, who was bleeding profusely, came out of the vehicle and attempted to run. One of the customs men alighted from the Hilux, moved close to the car dealer, and shot him again.
They did not touch the corpse but entered into their vehicle and fled immediately.”
The police source told policemen later recovered the corpse and took it to the station.
When asked if the deceased was a smuggler, the policeman said there was no evidence to prove that he was.
He said, “After the killing, we began preliminary investigation. We thought he was a smuggler but we decided to search the vehicle. We discovered that all the relevant documents were intact including the customs duty.
“We also deduced that the deceased was driving from Idi-Iroko border and was heading towards Lagos.”
Our correspondent learnt that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
A source at the Homicide Department at the SCID, told our correspondent that all attempts to get information from the NCS proved abortive as it did not respond to a letter written to it.
The source said, “We wrote a letter to customs two weeks ago. We even made telephone calls to their administration department, but they have not been forthcoming.”
The elder brother of the deceased, Bakapo Onojorhoevwo, told PUNCH Metro that the deceased sold vehicles for a living.
He said the deceased was based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and was probably heading towards there when he was killed.
He said he was pained that his brother was not married and had no children. He  said the family would like to know what transpired.
He said, “Around 7.30am on that very day, I called my brother’s telephone but a policeman picked it up and told me that my brother was involved in an accident and I should come to Mainland Medical Centre, Yaba. I went there with my younger sister and we were told that my brother had been killed by customs men.
“His corpse is still there and we are waiting for autopsy. My brother has been dealing in cars for the past four years. We do not know what actually happened so we want the customs to explain to us.”
When contacted on the telephone, Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the NCS, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, said investigations were ongoing.
A text message he sent to our correspondent read, “We are on top of the situation. Necessary and appropriate steps will be taken in due course.”
Source:

Naij.com