By Patience Yakubu

A Kaduna Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced a 40-year-old man, Michael Timothy,  to two years imprisonnent for N1.8m visa fraud.

Trial Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, sentenced Timothy without option of fine after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Emmanuel stated that the sentence was to run concurrently, adding that it would serve as a deterrent to others.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that Timothy was charged with obtaining money by false pretense.

According to him, Timothy fraudulently obtained the sum of N1.8 million from one Cynthia Cole with the promise of securing a Canadian visa for her.

He said the offence contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

During the trial, the prosecutor called four witnesses who told the court  how the convict committed the offence on Feb. 20. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Idris Abdulrahman

By Ebere Agozie

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, says synergy and collaboration are crucial in reshaping the weak points of the criminal justice system.

Fagbemi said this at the two-day workshop on Criminal Justice Stakeholders on ‘Coordination for Effective Implementation of Sections 29, 33 and 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice ACT, 2015 on Monday in Abuja.

“The purpose of this workshop is to bring about that missing link within our collective aspirations to build a society where justice prevails, regardless of the circumstances.

“Our roles as law judicial officers, prosecutors, enforcement agencies, civil society organizations and indeed citizens are to ensure prompt justice delivery.

“None of us is immune to or insulated from the challenges of our present system, and it is essential to recognise that the transformation of criminal justice system is embedded in our collective efforts.

“We must build a resilient and efficient model, we must learn from the mistakes of others and work together to create a system we can trust, rely on, and be proud of.

He said it is high time stakeholders faced the challenges head-on and optimise the system for the benefit of all.

“It is without doubt that in the landscape of our criminal justice system, we face challenges in the enforcement of some sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 especially sections 29, 33 and 34.

“These prevailing challenges lies basically in the absence of coordinated approach and the making of the requisite sacrifices involved as the need arises to enforce the existing laws and policies.

“We will continue to focus on the coordination for the effective implementation of arrests, prompt delivery of statutory reports on arrests and the crucial monthly visits by magistrates to detention facilities”.

He noted that Section 29 of ACJA, 2015 emphasises the establishment of a database for records of those arrested for proper accountability.

“In this digital age, data is not just information, it is life, and when properly utilised, it becomes a powerful tool in shaping government policies and recognition of patterns.

“Data sharing is crucial, and the lack thereof contributes to the loss of lives every day and some crimes are preventable when data is properly harnessed or shared”.

He said that the implementation of the section in line with the specific details outlined in section 15 of ACJA, 2015 will require the collaboration of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) towards the creation of a robust database for informed decision-making process.

“While it is important to recognize all divisions that has been consistent, till date there are some police stations that do not comply with the provision of sections 29 and 33 of ACJA with regards to the rendering of monthly reports of suspects arrested without warrants.

“We have also noticed a reduction in the monthly visits by the judicial officers to detention facilities”.

He commended the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee and donor partners on the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) and the Court Duty Solicitor Scheme (CDSS).

He noted that the Police duty solicitors are presently stationed in over 15 Police Divisions in the FCT.

“The scheme has continued to monitor compliance with the provisions of ACJA, and ensures that arrested persons are treated with dignity.

“Records have shown that the PDSS has ensured access to justice, right to counsel, legal services and right to fair trial to over 28,000 detainees since inception in February 2022.

“It has in collaboration with the Police Divisions in the FCT, taken the extra efforts to ensure a healthy condition of the cells.

“In addition, the Court Duty Solicitors has continued to offer free preliminary legal services and representation in the courts”.

The Minister assured that his vision is to see a justice system that works for all, irrespective of status.

“To this end, I urge you all to unite in creating a criminal justice system that fears or respects no one except the rule of law.

“We must uphold the minimum standards that accords respect to suspects throughout the administration of criminal justice” he added. (NAN)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Ebere Agozie

Human Rights stakeholders have pledged to address impunity and work towards a Nigeria where everyone is equal before the law.

They made the pledge at the event to commemorate the 75th International Human Rights Day in Abuja.l, on Monday.

The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Commission, Committee Against Torture-Nigeria and the Sterling Law Centre.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr Anthony Ojukwu in joint statement by the stakeholders, asked all to be committed to upholding the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Ojukwu said the event with the theme: ‘Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All’ underscores the fundamental values of dignity, freedom, and justice that form the cornerstone of human rights.

“We acknowledge the challenges within our legal system and commit to ongoing reforms that strengthen the judiciary, enhance access to justice, and combat corruption,”he said.

He said that Nigeria ensuring accountability and the rule of law is the cornerstone of any fair society.

“As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we acknowledge the progress made and recommit ourselves to addressing the pressing human rights issues confronting our nation.

“Dignity is upholding the inherent worth of every individual and the essence of humanity.

“We, therefore, recognise the challenges faced by vulnerable groups, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.

“We pledge to strengthen legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and public awareness campaigns to eradicate discrimination, violence, and injustice”.

He said that freedom was the bedrock of a just society and fostering of a culture of inclusivity and liberty.

“As a nation, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

“We acknowledge the importance of a free and vibrant civil society in fostering democratic principles and national development.

“We condemn all forms of censorship, intimidation, and infringement on these fundamental rights”.

He said the stakeholders would continue to work on critical issues by balancing security concerns with human rights protections as a priority.

“We need to eradicate torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment as the anti-torture act will be vigorously enforced, and awareness campaigns will be intensified to eliminate these heinous practices.

“We will strengthen efforts to eliminate gender-based violence, protect both women and children,” he said.

The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba called for support, cooperation and expertise to ensure that international standards and obligations are complied with.

“I encourage our diligent Law Enforcement Agencies to continue to take measures in combating torture in all their detention centers and uphold human rights standards,”she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Taiye Agbaje
Mr Sunday Akintunde, former Assistant General Manager (AGM), Technical of NICON Insurance Company Limited, has filed a N492 million suit against the company over allegations bordering on backlog of unpaid salaries and other entitlements.
Akintunde, in an amended suit marked: NICN/ABJ/264/2023 filed at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, prayed the court to declare that his former employer was in breach of the terms of the contract of employment with him.
The former staff, who said he had discharged his duties effectively and consistently from the time of his employment till the date of his disengagement on July 13, 2022, averred that his employment termination was unlawful and without any justifiable basis.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Akintunde is the claimant, NICON Insurance Company Limited is the sole defendant in the suit filed by his lawyer, Mr. Noah Ajare.
Akintunde, in a statement of claim, alleged that the insurance company did not pay his six months backlog of salaries before the unlawful termination of his employment.
He also said that the firm was still holding among other things; his terminal benefit, the unremitted pension deducted from his salary for several months, and the mandatory employers contribution to his Pension Fund Account (PFA) for the period of over four years he worked with them.
The claimant said though he was not denying his obligation to pay back the N3, 099,401.88 net debt owed his former employer which NICON Insurance paid on his behalf while he was in its service, he said the organisation too should do a proper accounting of his entitlements and make provisions for all the financial benefits due to him.
He said he was ready to schedule the payment of the net balance if any because he neither usurp on anyone’s right nor take over another person’s property.
He alleged that as soon as his employment was terminated, he was asked to return the N3, 099,401.88 or return his KIA Optima vehicle which NICON Insurance accused him of fraudulently absconded with.
“Not long after that, he received a memo from the Admin Officer and later from the ED Finance and Admin that he should surrender the vehicle documents because it has become NICON Insurance Company’s property,” he said.
The claimant, who averred that the vehicle particulars and change of ownership documents indicated that he was the true owner, insisted he had been using the KIA Optima car before joining the company.
Akintunde alleged that the company had resulted to using the police to threaten and harass him through continuous invitation.
He, therefore, sought an order directing the insurance firm to pay him the sum of N200 million, “being special damages for character assassination, thereby hurting the claimant’s status as a preacher, a church leader and a man of principle holding responsible positions in the corporate settings and the society.”
He also sought an order directing the company to pay him N200 million in damages for alleged wrongly termination of employment and for falsely accusing him “of stealing and converting the defendant’s car as his personal car,” among other reliefs amounting to N492 million.
The suit, which was assigned to Justice R.B. Haastrup, had been fixed for Dec. 18 for hearing.(NAN)(www.nsnnews.ng)
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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Lucy Ogalue

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthen efforts to fight corruption at all levels.

Fagbemi said this at Friday’s High-Level Seminar in Commemoration of the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja.

The minister was represented by the Director of Planning Research and Statistics at the ministry, Victoria Ojogbane.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference’s theme is “UNCAC At 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption”.

“President Bola Tinubu is determined to strengthen the fight against corruption at all levels and ensure prudent utilisation of resources for sustainable economic growth and development.

“In ensuring the above, the eight presidential priorities of the present administration have the Anti-Corruption stance as a key priority.

“This priority seeks to prevent corruption and strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of various Anti-Corruption Agencies,” he said.

Fagbemi said to ensure effective deliverables, his Office had been charged with critical performance indicators which will ensure percentage implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).

He said the indicator would also ensure the coordination of mechanisms involved in the anti-corruption efforts.

He listed some laws enacted to strengthen the fight against corruption, including the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Act 2018.

He said others are the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.

He said Bankers and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 and Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 were part of the Laws.

Fagbemi said the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 were also included.

According to him, the present Administration is committed to continuously deploying Digital Technology to prevent, identify and manage conflicts of interest.

While reiterating other government efforts, the attorney-general commended the efforts of all collaborating to curb corruption in the country.

Earlier, the representative of the U.S. Embassy, Jason Smith, expressed the commitment of the U. S. to support Nigeria in the fight against corruption.

Similarly, the representative of the European Union (EU) Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), Emmanuel Uche, urged unity in the fight against corruption.

He said: “we also need to fight petty corruption at the grassroots level. But in all, there is hope on the horizon.

The Acting Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Murtala Kankia, expressed the bureau’s commitment to continue enlightening the public on the ills of corrupt practices.

Kankia said prevention was the best way to fight corruption, which was part of why the bureau ensured asset declaration for public office holders.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, said collaboration was fundamental if success was to be achieved in the fight against corruption.

Olukoyede was represented by his Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Ephraim Sheyin

Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, has relocated the Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from Lokoja to Abuja.

A statement by Mr David Umar Mike, Secretary of the Tribunal, said that its sittings would now be at the National Judicial Institute on Umar Yar’Adua Way.

It urged litigants to take note of the change in venue.

The statement was silent on the reason behind the relocation, but a top source at the tribunal said the step was necessitated by “security reasons.”

The source said that members of staff of the tribunal had been attacked on several occasions in Loloja.

“Just last Monday, tribunal officials were attacked on the way to the office.

“Armed men just pounced on the officials. They robbed them of everything. They took away all the documents that were in the car.

“Copies of petitions and personal belongings, official receipts, processes like subpoena, official stamps, were all stolen.

“Generally, thugs are frustrating the job and the lives of our officials are at stake, making it difficult to work there,” the source said,” the source said.

NAN reports that the All Progressive Congress won the Nov. 11 off-cycle election, with the Social Democratic Party coming second. (NAN)

Edited by Mufutau Ojo