By Edith Nwapi

Justice Nwosu-Iheme of an FCT High Court Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja on Monday sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.

Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased (his wife) on April 8, 2022.

The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.

Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge.

The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.

In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.

The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.

The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.

Shortly before sentencing, the defendant’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus, pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.

Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.

The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment on Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Aisha Gambo

A Shari’a Court sitting at Rigasa, Kaduna on Tuesday ordered the remand of a female spectator whose phone rang during court proceedings.

The Judge, Malam Muhammad Adamu, said she would be charged for obstructing court proceedings.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the spectator’s phone rang during proceedings and she resisted submitting her phone to the court official, when asked to do so.

She said that it was her first time in court adding that she just wanted to experience the court proceedings.

In spite of her plea, the woman, whose name was not provided, was remanded and her phone seized.

She kept saying “I didn’t know how the court operates; this is my first time in court.”

NAN reports that a sign stating that phones should be switched off was placed on the wall outside and inside the court premises.

Also, a court clerk had announced that phones should be switched off or be put on silence before the court proceedings began. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidi Opara

By Aderonke Ojediran

The Lagos State Government has unveiled the state’s newly constructed Commercial Court of the High Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court located at Tapa, Lagos Island, will serve as institutional tool for enforcing physical and regulatory responsibility to the state and citizens.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the unveiling, described the new court as a game changer with cutting edge technology where economic barriers and business disputes would be addressed for economic growth.

Sanwo-Olu said the court would bring a new era in speedy dispensation of justice within months.

“I will like to applaud the Lagos State Attorney General SAN, Lawal Pedro, and the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, for constantly working toward improving the quality of our judicial system.

“Our judicial system is unrivalled in terms of the quality of the brains as a result of our painstaking selection process, which has stood us out and we take pride in this.

“This initiative is laudable and I commend your tenacity. With the latest technology, I believe hearing and judgment will be swift,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Pedro, said the state government would continue to use the judiciary as a tool for economic growth in Lagos through the rule of law.

Pedro said the Lagos State revenue court would entertain matters on recovery of tax, levies, land use charges and prosecution of tax related issues.

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Alogba, said the edifice would be used for the administration of justice. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Ebere Agozie

The Committee for the Review, Update and Consolidation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria has reviewed 737 laws.

Mr Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, the Chairman of the committee, made this known at the second retreat of the committee in Abuja.

He also said the committee was currently working on 697 laws while 40 others were still pending.

Fapohunda, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti, said the retreat was organised to afford the 46-member committee to review, update and consolidate all the outdated laws in the country.

“We have 14 working groups and we are here to discuss the challenges that we faced and proffer solutions.

“We also plan to work diligently to ensure that we submit the draft to the Attorney General by September 2025’’.

The learned silk said that the recognition of the importance of the assignment spurred members to be on the same page.

“Our approach has been inclusive and consultative with the intention to engage the Nigeria Bar Association and other stakeholders.

“We are open and available for engagement, and we are on course to deliver timely and meet the expectations of Nigerians,” he said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his remarks expressed gratitude to the committee for their selfless service and sacrifice.

Fagbemi said that the second retreat was a strategic consolidation of the nation’s law reform efforts.

“The call to be part of this assignment will inevitably and positively affect the lives of individuals, government, businesses as well as citizens of this nation.

“This committee’s works is our collective efforts to modernise, consolidate, and harmonise Nigeria’s body of federal statutes’’.

Earlier in a goodwill message, the representative of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), Mr Toyin Badejogbon called for support for the review process, saying legislative development updates will enhance access to law.

“Our courts, research institutes, law reforms commission, citizens all need the law to engage meaningfully,”

“RoLAC is working to strengthen the application of law and curb corruption and we work at the federal level and with some states.

“It is reforming the criminal justice system ensuring women, children and people with disabilities have access to justice.

“It also works at improving the performance of anti-corruption agencies and how they work together enhancing the voice of Nigerians in curbing corruption,” he said.

NAN reports that the committee was inaugurated in October 2024 to review, update and consolidate all the outdated laws in the country

NAN reports that the terms of reference of the committee include to coordinate the collection, collation and compilation of LFN up to 2024 and work with relevant government agencies in harmonising the LFN up to 2024.

Others are to cross check, edit and proof-read all the legislations to be collected and to identify all legislations not included in the 2004 edition of the LFN and update same.

The committee is also expected to identify outdated or redundant laws in the current LFN that need repeal and merge laws addressing related matters to eliminate redundancy. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza