Tag: Court

Court Nullifies Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary, Orders Fresh Poll

A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary conducted ahead of the 2026 election and ordered the party to hold a fresh primary.

Justice Babs Kuewumi, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, upheld allegations of irregularities raised by one of the aspirants, Prince Funso Ayeni, against the conduct of the exercise.

Ayeni had approached the court, alleging that the approved delegate list was manipulated on the day of the primary, a development he said undermined transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.

In its judgment, the court held that there was a gross abuse of process and a clear violation of the PDP’s electoral guidelines, adding that the breaches were inconsistent with the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Reacting to the ruling, the PDP South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sanya Atofarati, said the party would explore all legal options, including an appeal, describing the judgment as not final.

Atofarati expressed confidence in the party’s legal team and insisted that the ruling would not disrupt preparations for the June 20, 2026 governorship election.

He said the PDP had already inaugurated its campaign committee and commenced grassroots mobilisation across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State in support of its candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede.

According to him, the primary election was free and fair and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the court case as part of a wider plot against the party.

Atofarati maintained that the PDP remains focused and undistracted, stressing that mobilisation efforts are ongoing from the unit and ward levels to all parts of the state.

13/01/2026
Lil Nas X Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges in LA

American rapper and singer Lil Nas X has pleaded not guilty to felony charges following his arrest in Los Angeles last month after he was seen walking nearly naked in public.

The 26-year-old artist, born Montero Hill, did not appear in court on September 15, where his lawyers entered the plea on his behalf. Judge Shellie Samuels told the court that the rapper is currently receiving treatment outside California, without disclosing details.

“We’re not going to get specific about where he is,” Samuels said. “It’s private, nobody needs to know where he is, but he is in treatment.”

The judge upheld his $75,000 bail and modified his release terms to allow him to remain out of state. His next hearing has been scheduled for November 18.

Outside the courthouse, defense attorney Drew Findling declined to elaborate on the nature of the treatment but emphasized it was in the rapper’s best interest. “We’re doing what is best for Montero from a personal and professional standpoint, but most importantly for his well-being,” he said.

Lil Nas X was arrested in Studio City on August 21 after being filmed walking in his underwear and cowboy boots. Authorities allege he resisted arrest and attacked officers, leading to four felony charges filed on August 25.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the unusual circumstances of his arrest and its timing, following his earlier revelation that he was recovering from partial facial paralysis.

As the November hearing approaches, focus remains on both his legal proceedings and his ongoing treatment, with fans and industry observers closely monitoring developments.

16/09/2025
Court Evicts Comedian Ali Baba From Victoria Island Property

Veteran Nigerian comedian, Ali Baba, has been evicted from his Victoria Island property in Lagos, following a court order.

The eviction, which also affected his company, XQZMOI TV, was carried out after a writ of possession signed by the Federal High Court on August 15, 2025.

The property, originally sold to Ali Baba by the federal government through the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for N220 million in 2021, became the subject of a prolonged legal battle.

AMCON had claimed ownership of the building, insisting it was sold to recover debts allegedly owed by Harold Expansion Industries Nigeria Limited.

However, in a ruling on July 31, 2025, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa dismissed AMCON’s case, holding that the agency failed to provide evidence of the alleged debt. The court ordered the property’s return to its original owner and awarded N500 million in damages against AMCON.

Reports indicate that Ali Baba’s liability arose from the timing of his purchase, as the comedian bought the property while the case was still pending in court despite an existing preservation order.

08/09/2025
Lagos banker jailed for N31m property fraud, forgery

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced mortgage banker Sulaiman Olayiwola Gbajabiamila for defrauding a client of N31 million in a property deal and forging a Sterling Bank manager’s cheque.

Justice I. O. Ijelu delivered the judgment on Monday, August 25, 2025, following Gbajabiamila’s trial on a seven-count charge of stealing, obtaining by false pretences, forgery, use of false documents, and retention of proceeds of crime. The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in September 2023.

According to the EFCC, the case began when Gbajabiamila, introduced through an estate agent, collected N31 million from a petitioner, Lateef Adeyemo, for a two-bedroom apartment in Iponri, Lagos. The property was never delivered, and investigations revealed the funds were diverted for personal use.

One of the charges alleged that Gbajabiamila, in 2021, dishonestly converted Adeyemo’s N31 million to his own use. Another accused him of forging a Sterling Bank manager’s cheque worth N10 million in favour of STB Building Society Limited.

During the trial, Gbajabiamila pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Abdulhamid L. Tukur presented two witnesses and tendered documents admitted as evidence, while defence counsel T. E. Gbado urged the court to show leniency, describing the defendant as a first-time offender who was remorseful.

In sentencing, Justice Ijelu handed Gbajabiamila five years’ imprisonment on the count of stealing, with an option of a N1 million fine; seven years for obtaining by false pretences; two years each for three counts of forgery, with an option of N1 million fine on each; two years for using false documents, with an option of a N200,000 fine; and four years for retention of proceeds of crime, with an option of a N500,000 fine.

26/08/2025
Akwa Ibom Court Sentences Man to Death for Killing Brother

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced 29-year-old Akaninyene Thomas Okpon to death by hanging for the murder of his elder brother, Friday Thomas Enyenokpon.

The incident occurred on April 8, 2018, in Ikot Abasi Asutan, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. Akaninyene, along with his late brother Ime Thomas Okpon, ambushed and killed their sibling, accusing him of witchcraft and blaming him for their misfortunes.

The court heard that the brothers attacked the victim in a bush known locally as “Usung Atan,” where he had gone to check his hunting traps. They killed him with machetes, beheaded him, and buried the head separately—an act that deeply shocked the local community.

Ime Okpon, co-accused in the case, died in custody before the trial concluded.

Delivering judgment in case number HU/5C/2019, Justice Okon Okon ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The verdict was based on the defendant’s confessional statement and supporting evidence.

The court noted that Akaninyene, a primary school dropout and father of three, had previously threatened to kill his brother and other family members. He later led police to the crime scene, where the body was recovered.

Justice Okon declared, “The sentence of the Court upon you, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”

The court also ordered that the murder weapons—two machetes used in the attack and marked as Exhibits 1–1A—be forfeited to the state.

The case has drawn public attention in Akwa Ibom, highlighting the dangers of superstition-fueled violence within families.

10/07/2025
Court slams blogger Linda Ikeji N30m damages

Popular blogger, Linda Ikeji has been ordered to pay N30 million as general damage to the Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa for libelous publication by the Delta High Court in Effurun on Monday.

The NBM and three others slammed a N1 billion lawsuit against Ikeji, for defamation and libel.

The lawsuit had the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa, Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa and Mayor Onyebueke as the claimants.

Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman who delivered the judgement, also awarded N300,000 being cost of litigations against the Nigerian blogger.

The court also ordered Ikeji to place a publication in her blog and national dailies retracting the libelous publication complained about.

Furthermore, the judge ordered Ikeji to restrain from making further damaging publications against the Claimants and members of the NBM of Africa.

In her judgment, Justice Daibo-Harriman clearly described the words, dreaded cultist group, black axe, criminal organisation and others as used by the defendant in her libelous publication as all defamatory.

The blogger in her publication of Oct. 19, 2021, allegedly referred to NBM of Africa as dreaded cult group, black axe, criminal organisation and other names.

Consequently, the claimants prayed the court for an award of N1 billion only and an unreserved apology to be published in her blog and two national newspapers and among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant was not present in court neither was she represented.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the court’s proceedings, lead counsel to the claimants, Mr Kelvin Agbroko said that it was a well-deserved judgment.

“This will serve as lesson to bloggers that it is not every item you published. It is good to verify information before making a publication.

“NBM of Africa is a legal organisation duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The publication made by the defendant against my client has been cleared that is was a damaging publication.

“NBM is good to go, we are going to take all necessary steps to enforce the terms of the judgement against her.

“It was an erudite judgment that is all-encompassing and will be difficult to fault,” Agbroko said.

Also responding to the judgement the President of NBM of Africa, Mr Ese Kakor said that the case had been on for about two years.

He said that the judgment was a warning to bloggers and other members of the public not to call people or organisations names that were not ascribed to them in a bid to blackmail or defame their characters.

“What Ikeji did was just to sell in a bid to defame the character of NBM of Africa, it is very wrong.

“I advised other bloggers not to follow same steps as they may also face similar litigation.

“Do not try and defame people’s character. NBM has nothing to do with cultism, black axe. It is not a criminal organisation but a registered organisation,” he said.

Kakor, however, advised the public to be law-abiding and do things within the ambits of the law. (NAN)

29/04/2024
Court rejects Kwara Gov. aide’s requests, grants two journalists bail

The Kwara State Chief Magistrate Court has rejected the application made by the Kwara State Government to order the arrest of National Pilot Newspaper reporter Ahmed Ajikobi by the Nigeria Police for investigation.

The Governor’s aide, Mr. Michael Fafoluyi, has filed a petition against Ajikobi and the medium, accusing them of publishing reports about Governor Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq which are allegedly defamatory and malicious.

Ajikobi was, however, docked along with the medium’s Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Alhaji Billy Adedamola, who stormed the court with other veteran journalists to represent the National Pilot Newspaper, which was sued under the registered name of ‘Mandate International Publication.’

Ajikobi and Adedamola were dragged before Chief Magistrate Shade Lawal for alleged offences including Criminal Conspiracy, Defamation, Inciting Public Disturbance, Injurious Falsehood, Cyber Stalking, among others.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, Barrister S.O., in his application, prayed the court to refer the matter to the police for investigation.

The Magistrate frowned at the development, berating the prosecution for insisting that the court must order the police to take over the case that is already before him.

He said the prosecution should have taken the defendants to the police for investigation before the court’s arraignment.

The defense counsel, Barrister Owoniseola Micheal, reacted to the issue of the defendants’ bail, urging the court to discountenance the submission of his colleague seeking their remand in the Correctional facility.

He premised his argument on the basis that the defendants have reliable sureties who will stand for them, stressing further that the matter is not a capital offence, even as he urged the court to exercise its discretionary power in favour of the defendants.

Magistrate Lawal, in his short ruling, admitted the defendants to bail each in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), while the suit was adjourned to the 11th of next month.

It will be recalled that allegations against the National Pilot Newspaper were alluded to in the online and hardcopy publication of the National Pilot Newspaper, Vol. 34, No. 38 of Sunday, 15 May 2023, on the front page and page 2, with online publication at www.thenationalpilot.ng titled “Kwara Gov. Siblings Battle Over New Cabinet List, Other Appointments – Abdul Razaq keeping people guessing over cabinet dissolution.

Another publication in question was on the 16th of October 2023, with the caption: “Exclusive: Public Officials Cry Foul As Kwara Govt Allegedly Returns Multi-million Naira Defective Vehicles Purchased for Top Functionaries to Motor Dealer,” with a mixed photograph of His Excellency, Mallam Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq and a vehicle image uploaded on the www.thenationalpilot.ng aforesaid newspaper website.

13/02/2024
Court remands man for sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded a 34- year-old man, Ezekiel Bassey, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

Bassey, a visual artist, who resides at 12, Ajasa Street, Onikan, Lagos, is charged with sexual assault.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, did not take the plea of Bassey.

Osunsanmi ordered that he shoud be remanded until March 25, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem told the court that the offence was committed on Oct. 30, 2023.

Akeem said that Bassey lured the 15- year-old girl to his house, molested and took a video of her.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015

12/02/2024
Two detained Kwara journalists get bail

A magistrate court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday granted bail to The Informant247’s Editor-in-chief; Salihu Ayatullahi and Managing Director; Adisa-Jaji Azeez.

The two senior staff of the investigative medium were docked following a petition by the Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Engr Abdul Jimoh Muhammed

The defendants were dragged before Magistrate Monisola Kamson on Wednesday on the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and injurious falsehood contrary to sections 27(1) B, 24(1)(B) of the cybercrime (prohibition and prevention) act, 2015 and section 393 of the penal code.

The Informant247 had earlier reported how both journalists had honored the police invitation at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 over a petition that originated from the Rector.

Ayatullahi and Adisa-Jaji were later detained at the police headquarters in Ilorin and subsequently charged to court on Wednesday to face trial.

At the resumed proceedings, counsel to the defendants, Barrister Abdulkadir Jimoh Edun, urged the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms premising his reasons on the fact that they honoured police invitation when they were called and detained from the moment.

The prosecutor, Abdullah Sanni, reminded the court of the motion exparte attached to the defendant’s charges, claiming that granting them bail may jeopardize police effort towards arresting other defendants whom they claimed are at large.

Magistrate Monisola Kamson, who presided over the matter however granted the defendants bail in two hundred and fifty thousand naira and two sureties each in which they must be resident within the court jurisdiction while the matter was adjourned till the 13th of this month.

Meanwhile, the chief editor and managing editor of The Informant247 had earlier approached the Federal High Court seeking protection of their fundamental human rights to press freedom and liberty.

An advance copy of the process marked as Case No. FHC/IL/C5/14/2024 has been served on the Nigerian Police, Kwara State Command.

The Commissioner of Police Kwara State, CP Victor Olaiya, OC in Charge of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Section, and Rector of Kwara State Polytechnics Ilorin have been joined as first, second, and third respondents respectively in the mentioned case.

The arraignment of the two journalists was in connection with an investigative story published by The Informant247 medium on February 2, 2024, on the Kwara Polytechnic Rector Engr. Abdul Jimoh made false claims about the institution’s financial status and commissioned shoddy and uncompleted projects.

07/02/2024
No court order stopping labour from peaceful protest– NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has told the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, that there is no order, be it interim, interlocutory or perpetual, from either the National Industrial Court or any other court restraining Nigerian workers from participating in peaceful rallies convened by it.

It also reminded the Federal Government, through the Solicitor-General, that there is a subsisting judgement that the right to demonstrate and protest on matters of public concern was in the public interest, which individuals must possess and exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act was done.

The Labour Centre stated these via a letter from Falana chambers to the Permanent Secretary/Solicitor-General, with the title ”Re-NLC in contempt of court,” signed by Sam Ogala Esq.

The letter is coming on the heels of organised labour’s proposed protest for Wednesday, August 2, over the removal of subsidy on petrol, its attendant hardship on Nigerians and the inability of the government to roll out palliatives to cushion the harsh effect of the stoppage of subsidy payment.

The letter read: “In your reaction to the decision of Nigerian workers to participate in peaceful rallies to protest the worsening economic crisis in the country, you were reported to have accused the leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress of treating the order of the National Industrial Court with contempt.

“Contrary to your unwarranted allegation, the Nigeria Labour Congress does not intend to disobey the ex parte order of the National Industrial Court to the effect that ‘The defendants/Respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice, dated June 5, 2023.’

“You will agree with us that the National Industrial Court or any other court has not granted an order of interim, interlocutory or perpetual injunction restraining Nigerian workers from participating in peaceful rallies convened by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“Since the constitutional right of Nigerian workers to protest peacefully cannot by any stretch of imagination be classified as an industrial action or strike of any nature, you ought not to have threatened our client with contempt of court.

“It is pertinent to draw your attention to the case of Inspector-General of Police v All Nigeria Peoples Party (2008) 12 WRN 65 where the court upheld the fundamental right of Nigerians to protest without police permit. In the leading judgment of the court, Justice Adekeye said as follows:

“The right to demonstrate and the right to protest on matters of public concern are rights which are in the public interest and that which individuals must possess, and which they should exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act is done.

“If as speculated by law enforcement agents that breach of the peace would occur, our criminal code has made adequate provisions for sanctions against breakdown of law and order so that the requirement of permit as a conditionality to holding meetings and rallies can no longer be justified in a democratic society.

”Finally, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are part of democratic rights of every citizen of the republic; our legislature must guard these rights jealously as they are part of the foundation upon which the government itself rests.

“Having advised the Nigeria Labour Congress and its allies to conduct the rallies peacefully, you may wish to advise the Nigeria Police Force to comply with section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020, which states that ‘where a person or organization notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilize personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or procession.”

31/07/2023