Crime
Bayelsa Court Sentences State Police Commissioner To Prison Over Land Dispute
A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, to prison for failing to comply with a court order regarding a disputed parcel of land.
The court’s ruling stems from an earlier judgment delivered on November 26, 2016, in suit number YHC/210/2014, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal in suit number CA/PH/170/2018.
The decision favored nine families from the Yenizue-gene Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area over ownership of land in Asam, currently used as the operational base for the state-owned security agency, Operation Doo-Akpo.
READ MORE: Imo High Court Shuts Down Over Fear Of Collapse
The affected families—Fabiri, Ayoko, Aku, Ugbon, Obediah, Sampson, and Boye—have been locked in a legal battle to reclaim their property, which they argue has been unlawfully occupied by security forces.
During a press briefing, the lead counsel for the claimants, Ukunbiriowei Saiyou, confirmed that the committal order was issued by the presiding judge, Honorable Justice R. Ajuwa, on December 27, 2024.
According to Saiyou, the families initiated committal proceedings in 2022 due to the Commissioner of Police’s refusal to obey previous court rulings.
“The police refuse to appear for proceedings nor challenge the various decisions of the court,” he stated.
With the application for committal formally addressed in 2024, the court ruled that the Commissioner be imprisoned for contempt.
Saiyou further called on the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action, warning that failure to comply with the Court of Appeal’s ruling of June 10, 2021, could result in the Commissioner’s arrest.
Since the exit of Saipem, the former occupants of the land, the nine families have consistently been denied possession of their property.
Saiyou emphasized that the continued occupation by the police and Operation Doo-Akpo was unlawful and without the families’ consent, prompting their legal action.
In a joint statement, representatives of the families, Chief Honest Boye Wilson and Hon. Manager Fabiri, expressed their frustration over the prolonged injustice.
They, however, maintained their commitment to peaceful resolution.
“We remain peaceful and law-abiding citizens and will not engage in public demonstrations against either the state government or the police,” they assured.
A Federal High Court in Ikoyi has granted Jude Okoye, the former manager of the defunct music duo P-Square, bail in the sum of N100 million following his arraignment on money laundering charges.
Okoye, who is accused of laundering N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He pleaded not guilty and was initially remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Facility by Justice Alexander Owoeye.
READ ALSO: Psquare Brothers At War Again Over Royalties
During Friday’s hearing, Okoye’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, requested that he be held in EFCC custody instead, but the prosecution, led by Larry Peters Aso, objected, citing concerns that the defendant could flee or interfere with witnesses.
Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Owoeye granted bail on the condition that Okoye provides two sureties, each with landed property in Lagos worth N100 million.
The court must verify the property documents, and Okoye has been restricted from leaving Nigeria without permission.
He will remain in custody until he fulfills the bail conditions. His trial is set to begin on April 14, 2025.
Okoye, known for his role in managing the music careers of his younger brothers, Peter and Paul Okoye of P-Square, was arrested following an EFCC investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old businessman, Alhaji Nuru Isah, for allegedly beating his 24-year-old wife, Wasila Abdullahi, to death during a dispute over meal preparations for Ramadan.
The incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Friday in the Fadamam Mada area, near Government Girls College, Bauchi.
According to a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Ahmed Wakili, the disagreement arose over food ingredients and fruits meant for breaking their fast.
READ ALSO: Sultan Declares March 1 As First Day Of Ramadan
The situation escalated, and Isah allegedly struck Wasila with a cane, causing her to collapse.
“She collapsed and lost consciousness inside their home. Efforts to save her life were futile as she was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH), where medical personnel confirmed her dead,” Wakili stated.
Police have since taken Isah into custody and recovered the cane used in the alleged assault. The victim’s body has been deposited in the mortuary, pending an autopsy.
Reacting to the incident, Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted and justice served.
“This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence. We call on residents to report cases of abuse because violence within the home is a serious crime with grave consequences,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned former Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, alongside his son, Chinedum Orji, and three others before the Abia State High Court over allegations of misappropriating ₦47 billion in public funds.
Also facing trial are: Dr. Philip Nto – Former Abia State Commissioner of Finance, Obioma King – Government contractor and Romas Madu – Former Director of Finance, Abia State
The defendants appeared before Justice Lilian Abai on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, theft, and unlawful conversion of government funds.
READ MORE: Alleged N5.78b Fraud: Ex-Kwara Gov, Ahmed Diverted UBEC Funds-Witness
According to the EFCC, the accused persons allegedly engaged in large-scale financial mismanagement during Orji’s tenure as governor.
The breakdown of the charges includes: ₦22.5 billion misappropriated from security votes between 2011 and 2015, ₦13 billion allegedly diverted from a Diamond Bank loan facility, ₦12 billion reportedly converted from the Paris Club refund, ₦10.5 billion misused from a First Bank loan meant for Abia State and its local councils, and ₦2 billion allegedly stolen from CBN funds meant for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
At the hearing, lead prosecutor Prof. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, presented the charges, and all five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Defense lawyers, including Bode Olanipekun, SAN, Chikaosulu Ojukwu, SAN, K.I. Oleh, Esq., Okey Amechi, SAN, and Isaac Anya, Esq., filed bail applications on behalf of their clients.
The EFCC did not oppose the bail applications but urged the court to impose strict conditions.
After deliberations, Justice Abai granted bail to the defendants and adjourned the trial to June 18 and 19, 2025.
Bill To Abolish HND-BSc Disparity Passes Second Reading
Gas Explosion Kills 16 In Fatal Ogun Auto Crash
Tinubu Appoints Ogunjimi As Nigeria’s New Accountant General
LSHA: How Political Godfathers Shoved Meranda Aside For Obasa
FULL SPEECH: Why I Stepped-Down As Speaker LSHA – Meranda
