Connect with us
...

News

How Court Freed, Acquitted Suspected Killers Of College Student, Deborah Samuel

Published

on

How Court Freed, Acquitted Suspected Killers Of College Student, Deborah Samuel After Police Prosecutors Absconded From Trial

Court documents have revealed how the suspected killers of Deborah Emmanuel, a College of Education student, were freed after the Nigerian police prosecutors failed to show up in court.

On May 12, 2023, Emmanuel, a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was attacked by a mob and set ablaze over comments purportedly considered to be an insult to Prophet Mohammed.

Few days after, a Magistrate Court sitting in Sokoto State remanded the two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci arrested in connection with her murder.

During the court proceedings, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the murder of the deceased.

They were subsequently discharged and acquitted by the court.

READ ALSO: Deborah Samuel: Don’t Overlook Atiku, Tambuwal’s Action In 2023, Group Warns

In a five-page court judgement, delivered on January 30, 2023 in the Chief Magistrate Court I Gutwa, Sokoto seen by SaharaReporters, Chief Magistrate Shuaibu Ahmad, Esq set the suspects free due to the absence of the police prosecution during series of hearings.

The charges against them, criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbance, should have carried a maximum of two-year jail term upon conviction.

The court judgement read: “On the 20/10/2022 this case started denovo due to the transfer and change of the former Chief Magistrate Fatima Hassan. And when the F.I.R was re-read and re-explained to each of the defendants. Each of the defendants denied the contents of the F.I.R as untrue. The prosecution then told and informed this court that the investigations into the case have been completed and they are ready for the hearing of the case. The case was adjourned to 3/11/2022 for hearing.

“On the 3/11/2022 the case came up for hearing. The defendants were present and the prosecution was also present. The prosecution applied for the case to be adjourned to another date because they were not able to serve their witnesses in this case. Without any objection from the Defense Counsel the matter was adjourned to 10/11/2022 for hearing. On the 28/11/2022 the case came up for hearing. The defendants were present in the court. But due to the absence of the prosecution, the case was adjourned to 8/12/2022 for hearing.

READ ALSO: Deborah: Knocks As Atiku Condemns German-based Nigerian’s Murder

“On the 8/12/2022, the prosecution was also not in court for the hearing of this case. So the case was adjourned to 29/12/2022 for hearing. On the 29/12/2022 the defendants were present in court. But due to the absence of the prosecution the case could not go on. Learned Counsel to the defendants Mr. M.B Abdallah, Esq applied for the case to be struck out under S.350(1) of ACJL of Sokoto State 2019 due to the absence of the prosecution. But the court refused the application and adjourned this case to today 30/1/2023 for hearing at the instance of the prosecution.

“Today, 30/1/2023, the defendants and their counsel are present in court. But the prosecution is absent, he is absent without any genuine reason. Due to the absence of the prosecution, Learned Counsel to the defendants applied that this case be struck out.

“From the conduct of the prosecution in this case, it seems to be very clear to this court that the prosecutions have no any evidence against the defendants. And any/or are no longer interested in seriously prosecuting this case.

“In the light of the above, it would be unjust to further adjourn this case at the instance of the prosecution when they have been given several adjournments to call their witnesses but could not call any. In the interest of justice and in accordance with the law, I hereby grant the application of the Learned Counsel to defendants to strike out this case for lack of evidence and lack of diligent prosecution.”

READ ALSO: Nobody Prosecuted For Deborah’s Murder, Ex-NERC Boss Laments

Nigerians have recently raised queries about Emmanuel’s murder seeing how the police swiftly arrested Afro musician Seun Kuti, who assaulted a police officer last week.

To douse criticisms, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesman for Nigeria Police, on Thursday, gave an update claiming the police had charged the killers to a “magistrate court.”

Adejobi then added if anyone wanted to know more about the case, they should approach the court.

He however kept from the public that although the police arraigned the suspects before the court, they failed to properly prosecute the matter, and the suspects were released on this ground.

FIJ

News

GMOs: HOMEF Trains Gelegele Farmers, Urges Them To Embrace Agroecology

Published

on

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has advised farmers in Gelegele and Nigeria at large to embrace agroecology in their farming activities, saying it is the viable solution to Nigeria’s food crisis.

This is just as the ecological think thank and advocacy organisation urged government at levels to support farmers to embrace agroecology rather than GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisms.

INFO DAILY reports that agroecology is a system of farming that focuses on restoring soil health, improving nutritional diversity and ensuring food sovereignty, while GMO are plants, animals or microorganisms that have had their gentic material manipulated either by introducing genes from a related or unrelated species or by editing the organism within itself.

Speaking at a one-training on agroecology for farmers at Gelegele community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Programmes Director, HOMEF, Joyce Brown, emphasised the need for the farmers to embrace agroecology, saying the use of GMOs poses threat to the environment and human health.

READ ALSO: HOMEF Trains Women On Climate Change Adaptation

She said: “The use of chemical pesticides poses risks to the environment, human health, and the economy. More than 50 per cent of registered pesticides in Nigeria are Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPS). Over 40% of the registered active pesticides in Nigeria are already banned in the EU and other countries of the World.

Practical session if the training at Gelegele community on April, 29,2024.

“Many of these HHPs registered and used in Nigeria have been proven to be linked to chronic health diseases such as cancer, kidney diseases, reproductive complications, endocrine disruption – hormonal challenges, skin diseases, organ failures, etc., as well as biodiversity and environmental destruction.”

According to her, most farmers, consumers, extension workers are not aware of the various hazards associated with the pesticide-active ingredients in the products they use, adding that this is the more reason HOMEF decided to take the responsibility of training and enlightening farmers.

Mrs Brown, while noting that agroecology will help Nigeria achieve food sovereignty if embraced, added: “Food sovereignty refers to a situation where all people at all times have access to healthy and nutritious food. Food sovereignty ensures that beyond food security – food is safe, food producers have the right to what they produce and how.”

READ ALSO: NABDA, NACGRAB Merger Dangerous For Nigeria’s Biosafety, HOMEF Warns

On his part, one of the trainers of the farmers and farm manager, Be The Help Foundation, Abuja, Chukwu Agozirim, said agroecology is a modern system farming which, according to him, help to eradicate poverty by increase in food production and making the environment safe for humans

He said Gelegele was selected due to the fact that the soil is contaminated as an oil producing community, adding “so the main purpose is to train and enlighten them on how they can go about their normal food production in spite of the contamination of their soil.”

He added: “We are bringing farming back to the olden days how our great-grandfathers were farming.”

Responding on behalf of other farmers, Mr Emmanuel Obi, while describing the training as an eye opener, promised to adapt the new method of farming.

The programme climaxed with a practical session of the training where the farmers were showed how they can use locally sourced materials to grow their farm produce.

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

News

[JUST IN] Akpata: UNIBEN Suspends Students’ Union

Published

on

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has suspended Students’ Union of the institution.

INFO DAILY reports that the suspension of the Students’ Union may not be unconnected with the incident that happened at the University’s Senior
Staff Club on Friday 12h April, 2024.

In the said incident, students of the university led by the Students’ Union president were said to have invaded an interactive session by staff of the university with the Edo State governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, Olumide Akpata and in the process demanded a halt of the event, claiming that they (Students’ Union) were not informed of the event.

READ ALSO: Students Attack LP Guber Candidate At UNIBEN, Akpata Fingers Govt Official

The students were said to have behaved unruly at the event and in the process rough handled many of the stuff including a member of the Academic Staff of the Universities (ASUU), who was reportedly beaten merciless and eventually landed in the hospital.

Following the incident, management of the university was said to have set a panel to investigate the incident with a view to unraveling the truth.

Consequently, in a statement signed by A.A. Bobola, Registrar of the university and made available to newsman in Benin on Monday April 29, 2024, said, “after due consideration of the Report by the Management, the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the University’s Students Union.”

READ ALSO: UNIBEN ASUU Threatens To Boycott Resumption Date Over Violent Attack On Member

The statement partly reads: “The suspension which is indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from today, Monday 29h April, 2024.

“Accordingly, all Officers of the Students’ Union are to handover all properties of the Union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs not later 4.00pm on Tuesday 30 April, 2024.

“In the interim, a Caretaker Committee composed of representatives of Faculties, Schools and Institutes has been approved to coordinate students’ activities during the period of
suspension.

“The above directive of the Vice Chancellor is hereby communicated for the attention of
the University Community and compliance of the erstwhile Union Officers as appropriate.”

 

Continue Reading

News

Ooni: Suspended Benin Palace Functionaries Banished

Published

on

Photo: file copy

Six Oba of Benin palace functionaries have been ostracized.

The palace functionaries were said to have engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin Custom and tradition.

The banished palace functionaries are Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries — Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame.

READ ALSO: Oba Of Benin Suspends Six Officials For Posing As Palace Emissaries To Ooni Of Ife

They had falsely claimed to be emissaries of the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare Il, Oba of Benin in the palace of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II), where they rendered a “disjointed account of the link between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife at Ooni of Ife’s Palace in Osun State recently.”

A statement signed by Mr. Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin on Monday April 29, 2024, said they admitted before a committee led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin that they erred against Benin Customs.

READ ALSO: Tragedy In Ekiti As Man Stabs Wife To Death Over Infidelity

The Uwangue of Benin, who described their action as a deliberate attempt to rubbish Benin Kingdom, pronounced the suspension of the Palace functionaries.

Consequently, they were also stripped off of Benin Royal beads, recognition as palace functionaries and their traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors.

The suspended palace functionaries were also barred from parading themselves as Benin palace functionaries and stopped from participating in any traditional rites in Benin.

They were thereafter escorted out of the Palace by Chiefs, including Ewaise (traditional seers) with occipital horns invoked ancestral spirits to bear witness.

 

Continue Reading

Trending