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Appeal Court Frees Ondo Cleric Prophet Sotitobire

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Baby Gold and Prophet Babatunde Alfa
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There was jubilation at the premises of the Court of Appeal in Akure by members of Sotitobire Praising Chapel as the church’s founder, Prophet Babatunde Alfa was set freed two years after he was taken into custody.

Prophet Alfa and five other members of the church were arrested in 2019 over the mysterious disappearance of a 13-month-old boy, Gold Kolawole, from his church.

They were arraigned on two count charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting kidnapping.

Last year, Prophet Alfa and the five church workers were sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one, which bothered on conspiracy to commit felony to with aiding and abetting kidnapping and life imprisonment on count two bothering on aiding and abetting kidnapping contrary to and punishable under the Section 5 of the Ondo State Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Abduction law 2010.

One of the accused persons, Peter Anjorin, was discharged and acquitted for lack of substantial evidence from the prosecution.

Anjorin was accused of destroying evidence contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the criminal code law of Ondo State 2006.

But the appellate Judge, Justice Justice Hammah Barka, held that the circumstantial evidence the lower court based its judgement on was not enough to convict Prophet Sotitobire.

The appellate court also discharged and acquitted one of the church workers, Motunrayo Ogunjobi.

It said there was no iota of evidence against her.

Ondo Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Titiloye Charles, said the State Government would study the judgement before taking action.

He said: “The Court of Appeal has decided this matter. The court has affirmed that the DSS can as a matter of fact investigate any case.

“However, the Court of Appeal has stated that circumstantial evidence upon which was based upon by the lower court is not enough to sustain a conviction of the defendant and has discharged the defendant.

“Our attitude from the state is that we will study the judgment and take a proper step we are supposed to take.”

Counsel to the appellant, Gboyega Awomolo (SAN), who was represented by Akinyemi Omoware, said truth has prevailed over falsehood.

“The Prophet was convicted on conspiracy, aiding and abetting kidnapping. The Court of Appeal has overturned that judgment.

“It was held that the appellant was not found culpable of the alleged offence. He is not guilty as pronounced upon by the trial court.

“One of the defendants who is Motunrayo Ogunjobi has equally been discharged. The court said there is no iota of evidence against her just like the Prophet, that they don’t know about the commission of the offence.

“The basis was that the prosecution has failed in its entirety to prove the element of the alleged offence. The implication of that is that they were convicted wrongly by the lower court. They have been justified by the Court of Appeal.”

Baby Gold went missing on November 10, 2019, after he was dropped at the church’s children’s department by his mother, Mrs. Modupe Kolawole.

The church of Prophet Alfa was razed down after his arrest when rumours filtered in that the corpse of the missing baby was exhumed from the church altar.

Baby Gold has never been found since 2019.

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Judiciary

Woman begs court to grant her husband’s divorce prayer

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A businesswoman, Anthonia Ubong has begged a Customary Court sitting in Jikwoyi, in Abuja Municipal Area Council to grant her husband, Ime’s prayer for divorce on grounds of domestic violence.

Ubong made the application on Monday in her defence in a divorce her petition filed by Ime.

“My husband does not provide food for me. He twisted my ankle when I asked him to give me N100 to buy food when I was eight months pregnant.

“The pain in my ankle did not stop until I delivered my baby.

“He also refused to pay the N60,000 for my surgery to deliver my baby after I went through prolonged labour.

“It was my mum and my sister that paid the bill and cared for me.

“My husband only gave me N4,000,” she alleged.

She also alleged that her husband punched her in the face and dislocated her jaw bone.

The respondent also said that her husband is 11 years older than her and as such never allowed her to say anything in the marriage.

She begged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her the custody of the child of the marriage

The presiding judge, Mrs Thelma Baba, adjourned the matter until Sept. 28 for cross examination.

 

 

(NAN)

 

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Judiciary

12 professors, Falana, Ajulo, 45 others make SAN’s shortlist

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Twelve professors have been shortlisted among the senior lawyers that made the list to be considered for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Some of the shortlisted academic applicants are Prof. John Alewo Agbonika, Prof. Osy Chukwu Chukwunyere Nwebo, Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbule, Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, Prof. Mohammed Lawal Ahmadu, Prof. Nathaniel Ahagbue Inegbedion, Prof. Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Prof. Babatunde Adetunji Oni, Prof. Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu,

Prof. Ganiyu Adeyemi Oke, Prof. Benedicta Lopez Daudu and Prof. Omoniyi Bukola Akinola.

Also on the 69-man shortlist include Funmi, wife of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), Mrs. Folashade Alli, Abiola Oyebanji, Bomo Agbebi and Dr. Kayode Ajulo.

On the list also are Daniel Uruakpa, Felix Offia, Lawrence Falade, Kingsley Obamogie amongst others.

This list was released by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) in Abuja on Thursday, September 14, 2023.

“The LPPC by this notice announced the shortlisting of Applicants who qualified after the Advocates 1st and 2nd Filtration Stages, Academic pre-qualification and Academic 2nd filtration Exercise.

“Also after the Independent Appeals Hearing and Chambers Inspection Exercise, preparatory to the interview stage in the process for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the successful Applicants for the year 2023.

“All qualified shortlisted Applicants are graded under two-category systems by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, namely Advocates and Academic Applicants respectively,” LPPC stated.

SHORTLISTED ADVOCATE APPLICANTS IN ORDER OF SENIORITY AT THE BAR

1 Felix Ota Offia, Esq

2 Lawrence Bankole Falade, Esq

3 Kingsley Osabuohein Obamogie, Esq

4 Folashade Abosede Alli, Esq

5 Abiola Isiaq Oyebanji, Esq

6 Bomo Olakunle Agbebi, Esq

7 Daniel Osinach Uruakpa, Esq

8 Oseloka Godwin Osuigwe, Esq

9 Babatund E Adeoye, Esq

10 Babseyi Sigismund Joseph, Esq

11 Emmanuel Moses Enoidem, Esq

12 Kehinde Olufemi Aina, Esq

13 Ngozi Chido Olehi, Esq

14 Aaron Chileokwu Okoroma, Esq

15 Ibrahim Dalhatu Angulu, Esq

16 Olayiwola Emmanue L Afolabi, Esq

17 Sule Shu’aibu, Esq

18 Abiodun Olanrewaju Olaleru, Esq

19 Alfred Olufemi Atteh, Esq

20 Kazeem Adekunl E Sobaloju, Esq

21 Shehu Wadaabdullahi, Esq

22 Bamidele Ibironke Olawoye,Esq

23 Oluwaseyilayo Akinkunmi Ojo, Esq

24 Funmi Falana, Esq

25 Felix Tamara Udenke Mefa Okorotie, Esq

26 Oluwagbenga Seun Ajayi, Esq

27 Friday Ramses Aku Onoja, Esq

28 John Agada Elachi, Esq

29 Bola Razaq Gold, Esq

30 Paul Kasimanu Wamad Uemene, Esq

31 Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun, Esq

32 Oluwole Aladedoye, Esq

33 Paul Yn Osobhase Abhulimen, Esq

34 Jonathan Taidi Gunu, Esq

35 Tochukwu Jude Onyiuke, Esq

36 Olukayode Abraham Ajulo, Esq

37 Christpher Adapar Umar, Esq

38 Chibueze Ogechi Ogbonna,Esq

39 Yemi Adewale M’sbaudeen Adesina, Esq

40 Omoyemi Lateef Akangbe, Esq

41 Olumide Akin Wale Olujinmi, Esq

42 Musa Adamu Aliyu, Esq

43 Fidelis Chuk Wunonye Mbadugha, Esq

44 Onyemaechi Chkwudi Adiukwu, Esq

45 Ikechukwu Philip Onuoma, Esq

46 Yakubu Philemon, Esq

47 Johnny Ugwugwaye Agim, Esq

48 Aliyu Lemu Ibrahim, Esq

49 Isaiah Bozimo, Esq

50 Prisca Ozoiloesike, Esq

51 Yahaya Dan’asabe Dangana, Esq

52 Adeola Oluwaseun Adedipe, Esq

53 Adedayo Samue Ladedeji, Esq

54 Chikaosolu Ojukwu, Esq

55 Musaahmed Attah, Esq

56 Ayotunde Foluso Ogunleye, Eso

57 Olayemi Badewole, Esq

SHORTLISTED ACADEMIC APPLICANTS IN ORDER OF SENIORITY AT THE BAR

58 Prof. John Alewo Agbonika

59 Prof. Osy Chukwu Chukwunyere Nwebo

60 Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbule

61 Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri

62 Prof. Mohammed Lawal Ahmadu

63 Prof. Nathaniel Ahagbue Inegbedion

64 Prof. Violet Aigbokhaevbo

65 Prof. Babatunde Adetunji Oni

66 Prof. Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu

67 Prof. Ganiyu Adeyemi Oke

68 Prof. Benedicta Lopez Daudu

69 Prof. Omoniyi Bukola Akinola

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Judiciary

FG Moves To Withdraw Firearms Case Against Emefiele, Files Fresh 20 Charges

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Godwin Emefiele
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The Federal Government has applied to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, in an oral application, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application followed the result of further investigations.

However, counsel for Emefiele, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Daudu, opposed the application insisting that that the government must first purge itself of the disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, before its application could be taken.

Justice Oweibo has adjourned till Thursday, August 17, 2023 to rule on the application.

In an interview with journalists after the day’s proceedings, the DPP said a fresh 20 counts has been filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court against the suspended CBN governor.

One of the counts, he said, accused Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.

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