Metro

Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Rape

Published

2 months ago

May 6, 2025

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old man, Abdulhameed Ahmed, to life imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl, which later resulted in pregnancy.

The convict was brought before the court by the police in the case marked FCT/HC/CR/506/2023, filed on 23 July 2023, on a one-count charge bordering on rape.

First arraigned on 31 January 2024, the convict was accused of luring 15-year-old Bilkisu Haruna to his room under the guise of gifting her a mobile phone and having sexual intercourse with her against her will.

By this, the prosecution said, the convict had committed an offence contrary to Section 31(1) of the Child’s Rights Act Cap 50 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, punishable under Section 31(2) of the same law.

During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses, including the victim, Bilkisu Haruna, her father, Haruna Ardo, and the investigating police officer, Inspector Lorine Osunde.

Ahmed, on his part, testified for himself alongside two other witnesses, Yusuf Abdulganiyu and Khadija Ismaila.

Delivering judgment in the case, Justice Oriji said it was the duty of the court to interpret and apply the provisions of Section 31 of the Child’s Rights Act under which the defendant was charged.

According to him, by virtue of the provisions of Section 31(1) of the Child’s Rights Act, the elements of rape which the prosecution is required to prove beyond reasonable doubt are that the defendant had sexual intercourse with Bilkisu Haruna and that the victim was a child at the time of the alleged offence.

The court noted that evidence shows Ahmed had sex with the victim four times between 2022 and 2023, as stated in his statement to the police tendered as an exhibit in court.

It added that the victim’s father, Haruna Ardo, testified that she was born in 2007, with her birth certificate showing she was born on 15 November 2007, meaning she was less than 15 years old in 2022 when the defendant first had sex with her.

In view of this, the court held that the prosecution had been able to prove the elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Oriji further held that the convict had neither married Bilkisu nor had sex with her after marriage, adding that there was no evidence before the court to show that it is proper or permissible under Islamic law for a man to have sex with a child or minor before marriage.

According to the judge, the convict’s statement to the police that he did not know Bilkisu was a minor or 15 years old was unavailing, as Section 31(3) of the Child’s Rights Act stipulates that where a person is charged with an offence under the section, it is immaterial that the “offender believed the person to be of or above the age of eighteen years”.

“The court holds that the considered view of Section 1 of the said Act cannot be a basis to reach a decision that the defendant is not guilty of the offence, which has been proved by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt.

“All said and in conclusion, the decision of the court is that the defendant, Abdulhameed Ahmed, is guilty of the offence of rape under Section 31(1) of the Child’s Rights Act,” the judge held.

After listening to the convict’s lawyer’s allocutus as well as interventions from other lawyers present in court, Justice Oriji subsequently sentenced Ahmed to life imprisonment.

Metro

Woman Dies After Falling Into 170-ft Well

Published

1 hour ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

A woman has died after falling into a 170-foot well at a construction site in Ijegun, Lagos.

Her body was recovered by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service after a prolonged multi-agency operation.

The agency said it received a distress call around 7:34 pm on June 30, about the incident at Abuba Anthony Street, near Obalagbe Bus Stop, close to Fadeko International Hotel.

According to a statement by the Fire Service’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Maria Fadairo, on Friday, emergency responders from the Ejigbo Fire Station arrived to find that a female adult had fallen into a deep well located at the front of a one-storey building still under construction.

The structure reportedly consists of six two-bedroom flats on a fenced 648-square-metre plot.

According to The PUNCH, due to the complexity of the situation, a multi-agency operation was launched. After days of coordinated efforts, the woman’s body was recovered on Thursday (July 10).

“The victim was recovered dead and handed over to officials of SEHMU, while the Lagos State Ambulance Service stood by as the Nigeria Police observed proceedings,” the statement said.

The Director of the state Fire Service, Margaret Adeseye, expressed her condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasised the importance of safety at construction sites, noting that “a 170-foot uncovered well is a severe hazard that must never be left unsecured.”

Further investigations will be handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, according to the statement.

Metro

Bank Fraud: Court Orders Forfeiture Of Cash, Properties

Published

1 hour ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the final forfeiture of two properties, several cars and cash to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to a statement posted on the official X account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday, the Judge gave the order, following a motion on notice filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, through its lawyer, H. U. Kofarnaisa.

In an affidavit deposed by the investigating officer of the EFCC, Sulaiman Muhammad told the court that the commission received a petition from a first-generation bank which complained of a monumental fraud allegedly committed on the account of some of its customers, which totalled N1,403,343,400.

The statement said, “The properties are one unit of a three-bedroom bungalow in Abuja; No. 8, Grace Crescent, Efab Queens Estate, Gwarimpa FCT, Abuja; one Mercedes Benz C300; one gray-coloured BMW 3 Series SUV, and one Black coloured Range Rover 2012.

“Others are three Toyota Hilux of 2008, 2010 and 2014 models; one black coloured BMW SURXI 2016 and two Range Rover vehicles. Other items forfeited included a cash sum of N326,400,000 and another $480,000.

“Justice Osiagor had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties and also ordered the publication of the said order in a national newspaper for any interested parties to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Moving the application for the final forfeiture on Friday, Kofarnaisa told the court that the application was supported by an affidavit from Muhammad.

In the affidavit, Muhammad stated that the bank subsequently submitted an addendum to the petition dated July 24, 2023, wherein the total sum of N2,007,000,000 was fraudulently stolen from the customers of the bank.

According to him, the bank discovered that some customers’ accounts were debited in a manner other than the pattern familiar to the bank, which led to an internal investigation by the audit unit of the bank.

He further stated that the investigation revealed that Atus Homes Limited fraudulently received a total sum of N681,200,000 from 126 customers’ accounts in different tranches.

“An investigation also revealed that Fav Oil and Gas Limited fraudulently received a cumulative sum of N1,388,000,000 from 429 customers’ accounts in different tranches.

“That the total sum of N887,478,600.00 of the sum fraudulently stolen was transferred to various accounts in other banks. Kofarnaisa, thereafter, submitted that the said accounts warehousing the funds sought to be forfeited received inflows reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and are not proceeds of any legitimate business venture.

“She also told the court that the mastermind of this fraudulent crime had been charged before a Federal High Court and that ‘trial is ongoing.’ After listening to the EFCC counsel, Justice Osiagor held that he found merit in the argument of the applicant and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the statement added.

(PUNCH)

Metro

Court Orders Lagos LG To Vacate Deeper Life Church Land

Published

1 hour ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

A Lagos High Court has ordered Surulere Local Government and its representatives to vacate a parcel of land belonging to the Deeper Life Bible Church, following the demolition of the church’s building and failed compensation negotiations.

Delivering ruling on the matter on Thursday, Justice E.O Ashade, also restrained the council from undertaking any development on the disputed land, just as he directed that members of the church should be given unfettered access to use the property for worship and other religious activities.

Justice Ashade further ordered the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, to provide protection for the church and its members to prevent further interference and break down of law and order.

The church had accused Lagos State agencies, including Lagos State Building Control Agency, and officials of Surulere Local Government area of demolishing its building located at 36, Aina Street, Lawanson, Surulere.

It also accused the government of flouting a court order that restrained it from carrying out the demolition pending court decision.

“Since 2007, we have worshipped and served the community from this location. However, in January 2024, the Surulere Local Government notified us of plans to remove our building. This occurred despite an ongoing court case concerning the matter,” the Parish Pastor, Israel Adeagbo, said.

Our correspondent gathered that two days after demolishing the church, the government commenced the construction of shops on the land.

The ruling came following the failed peaceful settlement of the disputed land by the parties after the intervention of police and Christian Association of Nigeria.

The church accused the local government of undermining the settlement process by offering N10m compensation without adequate valuation of the land, demolished building and other lost property.

Speaking on the court’s ruling, counsel to the church, Taiwo Kupolati, SAN, disclosed that the decision followed a breakdown in attempts to reach an amicable resolution.

“A letter was delivered to the counsel to the church offering N10m as full and final compensation for both the demolished church building and the entire land.

“We responded immediately, requesting that a fair settlement should be based on a joint valuation by the local government’s valuer and the church’s valuer, and possibly the provision of an alternative land within the same community. But there was no response”, Kupolati said.

According to him, the refusal of the local government to further engage in the settlement process and its recent application for an extension of time to file a defence in court demonstrated that the council was no longer committed to resolving the dispute amicably.

“Now, settlement has completely broken down. Despite the peaceful way we approached them, they (local government) repaid us with silence and disregard. The local government, has proofed that they are no longer interested in a settlement, filed a statement of defence and an application for extension of time,” he said.

Kupolati added that the court’s ruling was a response to the church’s plea for justice and protection.

“We want to get back our land and seek sufficient compensation for the unlawful demolition of our church building.

“The court granted our prayers and now has restrained the local government from further interfering with our operations. Deeper Life Bible Church now has control of the land until the final determination of this case,” he added.

The court, however, noted that both parties were still free to pursue further dialogue, but warned against any violation of its order.