Connect with us

News

Behave yourself, Court Warns Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer for Unprofessional Conduct

Published

on

255 Views


The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has continued with Justice James Omotosho sounding a note of warning against Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the defence team and others that are in the habit of posting live stream and Court documents on the social media.

‎This comes on a day that the defense team continued with the cross examination of the government’s second witness, code named BBB in the ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

‎The day’s proceedings began with lead counsel for the defence, Kanu Agabi, informing the Court of a letter by the lead counsel for the prosecution, Adegboyega Awomolo dated 14 May about illegal live streaming of court proceedings.

‎He recommended that phones be banned from the courtroom. He laments the action of Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the defense team who posts misleading information on social media. He says the case is too serious for anyone to trivialise in the manner that it’s being done.

‎In his intervention, Justice James Omotosho said he granted an accelerated hearing of the case in the interest of all parties, particularly for Nnamdi Kanu who has been in custody for too long.

‎The judge charged all parties in the case to act professionally to ensure progress. He further warned Aloy Ejimakor to stop such conduct that may warrant the disbarring of a lawyer.

‎Justice Omotosho therefore charged all parties in the case to avoid acts that amount to misconduct and watch what they post on social media.

‎The actual case continued with the cross examination of Mr BBB (a personnel of the DSS) by Paul Erokoro who conducted proceedings on behalf of the defence.

‎On whether the DSS can be influenced by politicians or ministers, the witness stated that the Agency is under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). He also clarified that the Attorney General does not teleguide the operations of the DSS.

‎Asked on the mode of intelligence gathering by the DSS, the witness noted that the sources are many, including human, social media, among others.

‎BBB further says owing to their mode of training, DSS operatives have the capacity to get information where necessary.

‎Probed further, the witness said he was told by Nnamdi Kanu that he was ‘kidnapped’ from Kenya and returned to Nigeria in 2021. On allegations that the DSS carried out the act, Mr BBB stated that the agency lacks the powers to effect arrest beyond Nigeria’s borders.

‎The witness therefore restated that Kanu, via his Radio Biafra broadcasts, incited violence, including during the ENDSARS protests in 2020. The witness adds that the defendant expressed readiness to make Biafra possible, by all means, including war.

‎Mr BBB stressed that the inciting comments made by the IPOB leader led to the burning of a police station in Ebonyi State, a Lagos State High Court, and the cargo shed of the Murtala Mohammed Airport.

‎The witness said the casualties from the inciting comments made by Kanu include an army couple killed and beheaded in Orlu by persons believed to be members of the ESN the military wing of IPOB. Another was a retired judge, Stephen Nnaji.

‎At some point during cross examination, Paul Erokoro, sought adjournment, informing the Court that there is a video clip that the defense seeks to tender. He asked for some time to make that possible.

‎Meanwhile, the Court admitted as evidence, certified true copies of judgments of three fundamental rights enforcement lawsuits instituted by Nnamdi Kanu.

These are those of the Abia State High Court of 19 January 2022, Federal High Court, Umuahia division delivered on 26 October, 2022 and another by the High Court of Enugu State, delivered on 26th October 2023.

‎Justice James Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case till Thursday 22 May for the conclusion of the cross examination of the second prosecution witness.

News

Akran of Badagry is dead, aged 89

The demise of the monarch marks the end of his 48-year reign on the throne, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Lagos State.

Published

on

By

10 Views

Photo: Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi

The traditional ruler of the Badagry local government area in Lagos State, the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi, is dead, aged 89.

The demise of the monarch marks the end of his 48-year reign on the throne, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Lagos State.

According to the palace, the Akran was pronounced dead by medical experts, after a brief illness, and the traditional rites for his burial have gradually commenced.

Residents of Badagry, who are currently mourning the loss of their revered monarch, described his death as a heavy blow, noting that the town has lost not just a king but a father figure whose wisdom, counsel and presence brought reassurance in moments of uncertainty.

Continue Reading

News

Osun sues UBA, officials to court over illegal LG accounts

They were specifically accused of allowing the opening, operation and maintenance of accounts for each of the local government councils “by unknown private individuals as signatories…

Published

on

By

25 Views

• Map of Osun State

The Osun State Government has instituted a criminal case against United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) and four of its top officials over alleged illegal opening of local government accounts.

Tribune newspaper reported that the Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has fixed January 30 for the hearing of the case, marked Charge No: MOS/601c/2025.

The defendants in the suit are: the UBA Plc, its Group Managing Director, Mr Oliver Alawuba, the Company Secretary and Group Legal Adviser, Mr Billy Odum and the Deputy Managing Director, Mr Chukwuma Nweke.

In the charge sheet, the government filed the 31-count charge against the bank and its officials, with each count relating to alleged infractions involving opening of bank accounts for the state’s 30 local government councils.

In count one, the prosecution alleged that the defendants, on or about December 9, 2025, and on subsequent days, at UBA’S Osun State branch office located in the Olonkoro area of Osogbo, conspired to commit a felony by opening, operating and maintaining what it described as illegal Osun State Local Government Council accounts.

The alleged offence, the charge stated, occurred within the Osogbo Magisterial District and is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

They were specifically accused of allowing the opening, operation and maintenance of accounts for each of the local government councils “by unknown private individuals as signatories” after the Local Government Service Commission had introduced to the defendants, Directors of Administration and General Services and Directors of Finance of all the local governments as signatories to the councils’ statutory accounts “and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2 and 3 (1) and (2), and punishable under Section 5(1) and (2) of Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Law, 2025.”

Continue Reading

News

Umahi: We’re not tolling Third Mainland Bridge

Umahi affirmed this during inauguration of the N40 billion Closed Circuit Television Camera Centre on the Third Mainland Bridge, the previous day.

Published

on

By

21 Views

• Third Mainland Bridge

The Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi has confirmed that the Federal Government has no plan to toll the rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Umahi affirmed this during inauguration of the N40 billion Closed Circuit Television Camera Centre on the Third Mainland Bridge, the previous day.

He said : “We will not engage construction on this bridge because it will entail static load on the bridge.

“It is also within the town, so it will introduce many bottlenecks; that is why we are not tolling this bridge,” he said.

Umahi said that security would be handled by the police, noting that the 11-kilometre bridge would have a five-minute response time.

Continue Reading

Trending