Category: Featured

The special offences court unit of the Lagos state high court has admitted another evidence submitted by Comedian Princess against Baba Ijesha, Nollywood actor.

Baba Ijesha is being tried on a six-count charge which includes sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault.

On Monday, Princess appeared as one of the witnesses against the 48-year-old actor.

During the cross-examination of her account by Babatunde Ogala, counsel to Baba Ijesha, on Tuesday, the actress submitted a copy of her written statement at the police station when she reported the matter.

Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge, thereafter admitted the statement as another piece of evidence in the trial.

The court had earlier admitted footage of closed-circuit television (CCTV) submitted by Princess as evidence against Baba Ijesha on Monday.

The development comes as the court also directed Princess to produce an original version of the CCTV footage she submitted to the defence counsel.

During the trial, Ogala had argued that the copy of the footage made available to his team was not the original one.

According to him, the copy submitted by Princess was the one she recorded from the original version of the CCTV footage.

But Olayinka Adeyemi, the state director of public prosecution (DPP), had opposed the gesture, adding that there was no need for such a request.

Reacting, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge, asked the prosecution team to present the original CCTV hard drive to the defence team for examination.

The three-day trial started on Monday and will continue till Wednesday.

Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) on Monday issued a 3 -Day Removal Notice to all owners of makeshift structures, shanties, kiosks and vehicles at Maroko and Lekki Coastal Road, Lekki, Lagos.

The Chairman of Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who led his team to the points of the issuance of the removal notices, noted that the order became necessary to facilitate the road construction along the coastal road which serves as an alternative route to the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The road, which leads to Lekki Free Zone, has been dotted by illegal structures, shanties, abandoned vehicles, containers and trading activities.

According to Jejeloye, “the stretch of road has been taken over by mechanics, block makers, bamboo and wood sellers, shanties and other illegal occupiers, which are going to hamper road construction work in the area.”

He stated that on expiration of the Removal Notice on Thursday, officials of the agency would remove all structures, shanties, abandoned vehicles and materials in the area.

He noted that the removal of shanties and criminal hideout in Marwa Waterside area would help reduce traffic robberies and criminal activities on Lekki/Ajah Corridor, particularly around Jakande Roundabout.

The Chairman, while addressing the occupants of the area in clusters before pasting the notices, implored them to heed the State Government’s Removal Order as anyone found on the road at the expiration of the notice would be made to face justice.

It would be recalled that Lagos State Government in December, 2019 removed all illegal structures on the Lekki Coastal Road to pave way for its construction.

The Benin Republic government has slammed fresh charges against the wanted Yoruba nation agitator, Mr Sunday Igboho.

Ibrahim Salami, one of Sunday Igboho’s Lawyer told BBC Yoruba that the legal team was expecting extradition charges from the Nigerian government against the activist.

Salami said Igboho was further remanded to allow police to conduct a thorough investigation into the charges, which included illegal migration, dubious connivance with immigration officers and an attempt to cause civil unrest.

“First, the judge wanted to know how Sunday Igboho entered into the Benin Republic through an illegal means. They also want to investigate how Sunday Igboho conspired with others to enter Benin Republic through wrong means.

“They also want to know how long he has been in Benin Republic and his plans in the country. They also raised a charge on whether he wants to come and cause unrest or social disturbance in Benin Republic,” the lawyer said in an interview with BBC Yoruba.

The Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos has granted bail to 47 Yoruba Nation Protesters except Tajudeen Bakare whose bail was revoked on allegation of murder of a sachet water hawker, Jumoke Oyeleke, who allegedly killed by a stray bullet during the protest.

Maxwell Adeleye, Communications Manager, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide disclosed it in a release issued on Monday, July 26.

He said, “The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has charged the 48 Yoruba Nation Protesters arrested on Saturday 3rd July, 2021 in Ojota, Lagos before a Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba.

They were charged for Unlawful Assembly, Unlawful Society and Conducts likely to cause breach of Public Peace.

However, one of the arrested protesters, Tajudeen Bakare (the popular Ogboni Chief) was charged by the Police for the murder of a Satchet Water Hawker, Jumoke Oyeleke, killed by a stray bullet during the protest.

The bail granted to all the Protesters was upheld by the Court but that of Bakare was revoked. The Court refers Bakare’s case to the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP) for further advise.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Saturday, said he was not aware of the withdrawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the local government election in the State.

The Governor, who disclosed this on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at the Ita-Osanyin, ward 3, unit 2 in Iperu in Ikenne Local Government Area of the State, said the PDP’s faction boycotted the election to save its face from defeat.

The Chairman of the Hon Ladi Adebutu’s faction of the PDP, Sikirulai Ogundele, had on Thursday said the party would not be participating in the election following the judgment of the Ogun State High Court.

But another faction led by Leke Shittu insisted they would participate in the council election.

Abiodun mocked the PDP’s faction for withdrawing from the election, saying “you cannot be boycotting a process that you are not even a participant in.”

He said the electoral body had done the “right thing” by recognising the legitimate faction of the party and ensuring a level playing field for all the parties participating in the election.

Abiodun added, “I’m not aware of any party boycotting this election. I hear of a purported or supposed boycott and spoke to our team to find out exactly what was going on.

“What apparently has happened is that one or two parties are fictionalised and I believe that the legitimate factions of these other parties were duly recognised by OGSIEC and what I was made to understand was that the party that was not recognised headed to the court and the case was in court until I believe on Thursday.

“From what I understand, the court dismissed the suit that was challenging the OGSIEC accepting the other faction and following that, I think perhaps, to save face the faction that lost out now decided to boycott.

“You cannot be boycotting a process that you are not even a participant in. So, I didn’t understand that, but really I’m not a lawyer and I’m not speaking for OGSIEC.

“I’m not speaking on behalf of any party. I can only speak on behalf of my party and my administration.

“I believe OGSIEC has done everything within their power, within their mandate to be very transparent and to ensure that the playing field is as level as it should be for every single party that expressed a desire to be part of this election.”

Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has sued the Federal Government over the invasion of his house and is demanding ₦500 billion as damages.

Igboho filed a notice of application, through his lawyer, Yomi Alliyu, to enforce his fundamental human rights, pursuant to Sections 33-46 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and relevant articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

ODUDUWA NEWS obtained a copy of the application which was filed on July 22 before the Ibadan Division of the Oyo State High Court.

Apart from the Attorney General of the Federation, the State Security Service and the Director SSS, Oyo State were also listed as respondents.

Igboho is asking the court to among other things declare that the July 1, invasion of his house, Igboho villa in the Soka area of Ibadan is a violation of the fundamental right to privacy.

He’s also seeking an order of the court directing the respondents to return all the items seized from the house. He lists the items to include, N2m cash, one thousand Euros, travel documents including international passports belonging to him and his family members, gold jewelry and wristwatches, 2 mobile phones and other items yet unknown but which were allegedly carted away by the SSS.

Igboho also asked the court to order the respondents to jointly pay him the sum ₦500m as special damages for the damage done to his house and his car and another ₦500bn as exemplary and aggravated damages for beaching his fundamental rights with the malicious invasion of his house as well as an order directing the Federal Government and the other respondents to tender a public apology in two national dailies.

This comes a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to produce the 12 aides of Igboho, who have been in their custody since July 2.

The aides to Igboho who were arrested at his residence are expected to be in court on Thursday, 29th July and their case is expected to proceed regardless of the annual court vacation slated to begin on the 26th of July.

The suspects had earlier sued the DSS before the Federal High Court Abuja, on grounds that their fundamental human rights had been infringed.

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday said that South-West leaders are working behind the scenes to ensure the release of Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho.

It would be recalled that Igboho was arrested in Cotonou, the capital of Benin Republic last Monday, while he was about to board a plane to Germany, and is currently facing trial in Benin Court over extradition to Nigeria.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the remark while answering questions from newsmen shortly after casting his vote at Ikoyi polling unit, during the local government elections into 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The governor, who spoke, while responding to a question regarding what the South-West governors and leaders were doing to ensure the release of Igboho, Sanwo-Olu, said he was aware prominent people of the region were working behind the scenes for his release notwithstanding the difficult time prevailing at the moment.

He, however, said the governors would not be able to come to the public to announce what they were doing on Igboho’s matter.

“These are very difficult times for all of us. I can assure you that people are working behind the scenes.

“At occasions like this, it’s not by how many Press people you call,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has come out to vote their preferred candidates I’m ongoing Local Government elections.

The governor while talking to newsmen said, “today, I voted in the ongoing Local Government Elections in our state. I urge every eligible voter in Lagos to go out and excercise their franchise to elect leaders of their choice that will run the affairs of the government at the grassroots.

“The government has provided all the security arrangements to ensure people can excercise their democratic rights without any fear in a peaceful and orderly manner. As a government, we have confidence in the ability of the State Independent Electoral Commission to deliver a credible, free and fair election.

“A progressive and inclusive governance at the Local Government level starts with Lagosians coming out to vote for those who will run the affairs of our 20 Local Governments Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

“Polling stations are open till 3pm according to LASIEC, I encourage those who have not voted yet to go out and vote”.