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Lagos: Court Acquits 15 Year Old Girl Accused Of Killing Father’s Friend Who Attempted Raping Her

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The Lagos magistrates court, sitting in Yaba this morning has freed a 15 years old teenager (name withheld) accused of killing her father`s friend, Babatunde Ishola (M) aged 51 while attempting to rape her based on legal advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution that the case lacked ingredients of murder.

Delivering judgement in the case, the presiding magistrate, Mr. Philip Adebowale Ojo, said the case file after due consideration of facts, it was duly decided that there were insufficient facts to establish a prima facie case of Murder against the suspect contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17, Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State.

According to Mamud Hassan,
Director, Public Affairs,
OPD, the court therefore, ruled that ingredients required to prove the offence of Murder against the suspect were not all present from the facts of this case, also clearly intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to the deceased cannot be established. He said that it is settled law that in a case of Murder, defences raised by evidence, whether specifically put up by the suspect or not, must be properly considered. And further notes that no matter how weak or stupid a defence raised by a suspect may appear, it must be properly considered. Consequently, Mr. Philip Ojo discharged and acquited the suspect of murder charge.

It will be recalled that the teenager who was represented by the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) since inception of the matter, period of detention and investigation at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) and arraignment before Yaba Magistrate Court on a one-count charge of killing Babatund Ishola on March 7,2020 at Nwadolu Street, Aboru in Alimosho local government area of the state, by stabbing him to death with a knife, thereby committing an offence punishable under the Criminal law of Lagos State, Nigeria,2015. She was thereafter remanded at the Correctional Home for Girls, Idi-Araba and case adjourned for legal advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.
Speaking on the matter, the Director, Lagos Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Dr. Babajide Martins expressed satisfaction with the decision of the court to release the girl of murder charge. Martins while appreciating the professionalism, diligence and timely advice of the Director of Public Prosecution on the matter which made it possible for the girl to be released because no prima facie case was established against her. He assured other indigent people being represented in various cases that OPD has been re-organised and re-engineered to deliver first class free legal services in line with the current administration philosophy of better security and governance to all residents irrespective of gender and religion.

The Director therefore appealed to those that have suffered any form of rights denial, abuse and violence to visit any of the office of OPD nearest to them for free legal service. Martins assured members of the public that the office is still attending to the public during the lockdown within the governor`s directive.

In their comment, the parents of the girl, Ojo Taiwo And Funke expressed deep appreciation to the Lagos state government and Office of the Public Defender ( OPD) for coming to their rescue with free legal services. According to them, without such institution established by the Lagos state for indigents, they would have lost hope of getting access to justice considering their low income status in a case of this nature.

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Unity Bank, CashToken Rewards Promo Produces New Millionaire

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A Unity Bank customer, Mr. Amadi Chinmenem Gift Chike, has emerged as the latest winner of One Million Naira in the ongoing Cash Rewards Promo by Unity Bank Plc and CashToken Rewards Africa.

CashToken Rewards Africa is a Cash-Reward-as-a-Service company that rewards customers for their patronage and loyalty.

Mr. Amadi, a customer from Unity Bank’s Aba Road Branch, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, won the cash prize after completing qualifying transactions on Unity Bank’s digital banking channels including Unifi, *7799#, and on his Unity Bank-issued Verve card. Through these transactions, he received CashTokens, which entered him into the weekly national consumer draw, where he was selected as the lucky winner of the N1 million prize.

From left: Chioma Umeh, Unity Bank Branch Manager, Aba Road 1, Port Harcourt; Amadi Chinmenem Gift Chike, the grand prize winner, and Mr. Etop Ukpe, Unity Bank’s Regional Manager, Port Harcourt/Uyo Region presening the N1M check to the winner, recently.

The grand prize winner, Mr. Amadi is the second customer to claim the N1 million grand prize in the rewards promo, which commenced in November 2023. Since the launch, Unity Bank customers have collectively won over N6 million in cash rewards.

Unity Bank and CashToken Rewards promo offers guaranteed instant cash rewards and life-changing opportunities for loyal customers who transact on any of the Bank’s electronic payment platforms, including the Unifi mobile banking application and the *7799# USSD platform. Every card transaction earns customers CashTokens, which qualify them for the weekly national consumer draw, with prizes ranging from N5,000 to N100 million.

Presenting the cheque to the winner in Port Harcourt, Unity Bank’s Regional Manager for Port Harcourt/Uyo Region, Mr. Etop Ikpe, congratulated the winner and reiterated the Bank’s commitment to building a sustainable loyalty platform for customer engagement and satisfaction.

The winner celebrates with the Unity Bank team

He said, “We are happy to see another one of our loyal customers win a substantial cash prize through the Unity Bank and CashToken Rewards Promo. This initiative aligns with our mission to reward customer loyalty while providing a seamless and rewarding banking experience. As we continue to innovate and enhance our digital banking platforms, we are committed to creating more opportunities for our customers to benefit from their relationship with Unity Bank.”

In his reaction, an elated Mr. Amadi said, “This is a reward for my steadfastness. I have been banking with Unity Bank for a long time and I am really happy to win the cash prize. I commend the bank for the initiative and Unity Bank has always come through in keeping their promises both in terms of service delivery and meeting expectations of customers.”

The winner celebrates with the Unity Bank team

Also commenting on the development, Simi Adeoye, Chief Business Development Officer for CashToken Rewards Africa, added: “We are proud to partner with Unity Bank in bringing life-changing opportunities to their customers through our Cash-Reward-as-a-Service model. We aim to make every transaction meaningful by turning regular banking activities into chances for customers to win significant rewards. We congratulate Mr. Amadi on his win, and we look forward to creating more millionaires as the promo continues. Mr. Amadi just like other beneficiaries can easily cash out his win by dialling *6700#, following the prompt and transferring his wins directly to his Unity Bank account.”

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Breaking: Alimosho LG Vice Chairman Gets Appointment Letter To Take Over Office

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The Vice Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson has officially received an appointment letter to take over from the suspended Chairman, Jelili Sulaimon.

The letter, dated 8th October, 2024, was signed by Kikelomo Bolarinwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development.

Titled: ‘Re: Suspension of Mr. Sulaimon Jelili, Chairman, Alimosho Local Government Area Resolution of the House’, the appointment letter read: “I write to refer to the resolution of the House of Assembly in respect of the above
subject which states that Mr. Sulaimon Jelili has been suspended indefinitely from
Office as the Chairman, Alimosho Local Government in accordance with Section 24
(1,2,3,4) of the Local Government Administration Law (Amendment) Law, 2016. (Copy attached for ease of reference).

“In view of the above, you are to assume duty IMMEDIATELY as the Acting Chairman, Alimosho Local Government.”

Recall that the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday suspended Jelili Sulaimon from office following various allegations by the lawmakers.

The lawmakers resolved at the sitting that Johnson should take over the running of the affairs of the council.

The lawmakers further instructed the management of the council, including the manager and treasurer, to recognise Johnson and accord him all the support to make him work effectively.

Meanwhile, four out of the seven councillors in the council have denounced the purported suspension of Johnson by their three colleagues.

In a press release signed by the four councillors including Deputy Leader Mojisola Fabusuyi Ayeni (Ward D), Saheed Adejoke (Ward C), Rasheed Semiu (Ward E), Elizabeth Fashina (Ward F), they commended the House of Assembly for intervening while urging stakeholders’ in the council to go about their activities peacefully.

Read the full statement below:

Illegal Suspension of Hon. Akinpelu Ibrahim Johnson,Vice Chairman Alimosho Local Government

We, the undersigned legislators from Alimosho Local Government, officially dissociate ourselves from the staged managed, and illegal suspension of Mr. Akinpelu Ibrahim Johnson, The Vice Chairman of Alimosho Local Government.

We condemn in totality the purported suspension of the Vice Chairman by minority legislators who acted on instructions of the validly suspended Chairman.

As representatives of our people from different wards in Alimosho, we remain committed to supporting the state and federal government’s efforts to improve the lives and well-being of our people, most especially at the grassroots.

We commend the State House of Assembly for their intervention in the mismanagement of the local government over the years. We urge all stakeholders to remain peaceful as there’s no cause for alarm.

The Renewed Hope (RH) Agenda of our Dear President, H.E Asiwaju Bola Tinubu GCFR, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES + Agenda, deserve every attention and support at this critical stage of our state and nationhood and by extension at the local government.

We would like to emphasize that at no time was the Vice Chairman suspended hence our readiness to support him going forward with the administration of the Local Government.

As a man of the people, we have no doubt in our minds that Hon Akinpelu Johnson will deliver beyond the expectations.

We shall keep the public posted should there be any information of interest to the public.

Signed:

1. Councillor. Mojisola Fabusuyi Ayeni (Ward D), Alimosho LGA, Deputy Leader

2. Councillor Saheed Adejoke (Ward C), Alimosho LGA, Chief Whip

3. Councillor Rasheed Semiu (Ward E), Alimosho LGA, Member.

4. Councillor Elizabeth Fashina (Ward F), Alimosho LGA, member.

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Court Returns Abure As Labour Party National Chairman

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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday returned Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party, LP.

The court declared the 2024 Labour Party national convention held in Nnewi, which re-elected Abure, is valid, stating that the convention was in line with all laid down laws in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh.

According to the statement, Justice Emeka Nwite while delivering the judgement, compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to grant due recognition and all privileges to the Labour Party’s National Working Committee as led by Abure.

JomogNews reports that INEC had announced that it did not recognise Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

The Commission argued that the Abure-led LP leadership was invalid, stating that the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure as chairman violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.

 

 

 

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