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Tag: Court

Portable Arraigned, Remanded Over Assault, Theft Charges In Ogun

Wale busari02 mins

Nigerian singer Portable has been arraigned and remanded at a federal high court in Ota, Ogun State, over multiple criminal charges. He appeared in court on Monday facing a nine-count charge that includes assault, theft, resisting arrest, and causing harm. The allegations relate to an incident on New Year’s Day at his Odogwu Bar in Iyana Ilogbo, where prosecutors claim he attacked his estranged partner, Ashabi Simple, several police officers, and other individuals. The police also allege that Portable stole a Mercedes‑Benz E300 worth around N12 million, registered to Ileyemi Damilola. Two of Ashabi Simple’s siblings testified in court, though she was absent. In addition, the singer is accused of obstructing and assaulting W/Inspector Ogungbe Olayemi while she was performing her official duties. Portable’s bail request was denied because the police officer allegedly assaulted was not present to testify. He has been remanded in custody and will return to court on January 19 for another bail hearing.

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Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of 57 Properties Linked To Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to the Federal Government. The order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the assets, valued at billions of naira, include luxury residential and commercial properties across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order was obtained on Wednesday, a day after the ruling. In his judgment, Justice Nwite declared: “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule One below, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.” The judge directed that the order be published in a national newspaper to allow any interested party 14 days to contest the forfeiture before a final order is issued. The matter was adjourned to January 27 for a compliance report. The properties include high-value assets such as: Luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, currently valued at nearly N6 billion. Two-winged large storey building at Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels), purchased for N7 billion. Five-storey Meethaq Hotel in Jabi District, Abuja, valued at N8.4 billion after completion. Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama, with 15 rooms, valued at N12.95 billion after rehabilitation. Various commercial shops, warehouses, bungalows, and plots of land in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi acquired between 2016 and 2024, with individual values ranging from N40 million to over N12 billion. Residential estates and multiple housing units in Birnin Kebbi, Abuja, and Kaduna, purchased between 2018 and 2023. Justice Nwite emphasized that the properties are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities” and placed them under interim forfeiture while investigations continue. The ruling represents a significant move by the EFCC to recover assets suspected to have been obtained through illegal means.

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Court Grants ₦500 Million Bail To Abubakar Malami, Wife, And Son With Strict Conditions

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail of ₦500 million each to former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, his wife, and their son, setting strict conditions for their release. The court ordered that the sureties must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, and Gwarinpa, with the property documents verified by the deputy chief registrar. In addition, the sureties are required to swear an affidavit of means. Malami was also directed to deposit his travel documents with the court and is barred from leaving the country without obtaining prior permission from the court.

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Paris Court Sentences Ten for Online Harassment of Brigitte Macron

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A Paris court has sentenced ten people for online harassment targeting Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, after they spread false and abusive claims about her personal life and identity. The group, consisting of eight men and two women, was found to have deliberately posted degrading and insulting content on social media. Their posts included conspiracy theories about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality, as well as critical remarks about the age difference between her and the president. The court ruled that the actions were intended to cause harm. Most of the convicted received suspended prison sentences of up to eight months, along with penalties such as mandatory educational programs and temporary suspensions of their social media accounts. One defendant was taken into custody immediately after failing to appear in court. Some of the harassment reflected earlier claims by internet personalities Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy, who previously alleged that Brigitte Macron did not exist and was in fact the president’s brother living under a false identity. Although they were convicted of slander in 2024, an appeals court later overturned the verdict, ruling that claims about a gender transition do not automatically constitute an attack on someone’s honour. The Macrons have since appealed the decision to France’s highest court. Brigitte Macron’s lawyer, Jean Ennochi, said the most important part of the ruling lies in the preventive measures, including educational programs and account suspensions. During the trial, her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified that the sustained online abuse had affected her mother’s health and daily life, and even led to teasing of her grandchildren at school. She explained that Brigitte Macron had become constantly aware of how her appearance and actions could be targeted by conspiracy theorists.

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Court Denies Bail To Bauchi Finance Commissioner In $9.7 Million Terrorism Financing Case

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the bail application of Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and his co-defendants, who face allegations of financing terrorism totaling $9.7 million. Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Monday, said the charges posed a serious threat to national security and public safety. He noted that terrorism-related offenses undermine social order, and granting bail before trial could endanger the public. While acknowledging the constitutional presumption of innocence under Section 36(5), the judge emphasized that the provision is “not absolute” and that factors such as the nature of the offense, available evidence, and potential severity of punishment must guide bail decisions. “I have carefully considered the affidavit evidence, the statements of prosecution witnesses, including Dan Lawan Abdulmumuni, and the grave threat this case poses to national security and public safety. The prosecution has successfully raised a reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility,” Justice Nwite said. “In view of these factors, the bail application is refused, and the case will proceed on an accelerated schedule.” The trial was adjourned to January 13 for commencement. Adamu and his co-defendants — Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed — were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after their arraignment on a 10-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 31, 2025. All the accused pleaded not guilty. The charges allege that between January and May 2024, the defendants conspired to provide $2,300,000 to Bello Bodejo and his associates, purportedly with approvals from Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. Two other accused in the case, former Bauchi Accountant-General Sirajo Jaja and Samaila Irmiya Liman, remain at large. In a separate money-laundering case, Adamu was recently granted bail of N500 million with two sureties of the same amount. The court ordered that the sureties be verified landowners in Abuja’s Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa districts.

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Appeal Court Affirms Death Sentence For Hanifa Abubakar’s Killer

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The Court of Appeal in Kano has upheld the death sentence handed to Abdulmalik Tanko for the killing of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar. Delivering judgment, Justice A. R. Muhammad dismissed Tanko’s appeal and confirmed the decision of the Kano State High Court, which sentenced him to death by hanging. The appellate court ruled that the trial court followed due process and properly evaluated the evidence presented during the trial. Justice Muhammad said the arguments raised by the appellant were unconvincing, noting that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court found no basis to set aside or interfere with the earlier judgment. The judge also advised relevant authorities to ensure the sentence is carried out once the convict has exhausted all legal options available to him. Hanifa was abducted in December 2021 by Tanko, the proprietor of Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, where she was enrolled as a pupil. After demanding a ₦6 million ransom from her family, Tanko later poisoned the child with rat poison, leading to her death. The incident triggered nationwide outrage, particularly because of Hanifa’s young age and the betrayal of trust, as the crime was committed by the owner of the school responsible for her care. Tanko was arraigned on January 24, 2022, alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril, on charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and culpable homicide. On July 28, 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death by hanging, while Fatima Jibril was handed a two-year prison term.

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Court Orders Remand of Abubakar Malami, Son and Wife, Pending Bail Hearing

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application. Justice Emeka Nwite also directed that Malami’s co-defendants—his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe—be held in custody alongside him. The ruling followed arguments from the defence team, led by Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the prosecution, represented by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN). Malami and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission alleges that they conspired to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira. The charges reportedly cover multiple years and involve the use of corporate entities and bank accounts to launder funds, holding cash as collateral for loans, and acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and other locations. The EFCC further claims that some of the alleged offences took place while Malami was serving as Attorney-General, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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Federal High Court Permanently Forfeits Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Housing Estate Lands To FG

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of two plots of land originally intended for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government, following findings of alleged financial mismanagement in the stalled project. Justice Mohammed Umar handed down the ruling after upholding an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), directing that the forfeited properties be transferred to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to benefit Nigerians. The court also instructed the ICPC to supervise the completion of the abandoned housing estate in collaboration with the FMBN, ensuring that the 962 planned housing units are delivered to end users. The properties involved include Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 122,015.80 square metres and valued at N1.94 billion, and Plot No. 4 in the same district, measuring around 157,198.30 square metres and valued at N3.34 billion. Justice Umar stated that the lands were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and must be recovered in the public interest. “The ICPC shall facilitate the handover of the forfeited properties to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity,” he said. The judge directed the ICPC and FMBN to form an implementation committee to oversee the completion of the housing project and ensure its allocation to Nigerians, particularly low-income earners. According to the ICPC, the housing estate was approved in 2012 under the National Housing Fund Scheme during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. It was intended to provide 962 affordable housing units. An affidavit by ICPC investigator Iliya Marcus stated that FMBN engaged Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited to execute the project and secured a $65 million loan facility from Ecobank. Investigations revealed that the bank released N3.78 billion to the developer in November 2012 and later disbursed the full project amount of $65 million (over N14 billion at the time) without any houses being constructed. The developer reportedly lacked proper registration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, a requirement for such projects, and the project collapsed. The ICPC also noted intelligence suggesting that the developers were attempting to sell the land secretly to unsuspecting members of the public, prompting the commission to approach the court to secure the assets. Justice Umar had previously granted interim forfeiture of the lands on July 9, pending the outcome of the substantive case. Notices were also published in national newspapers to give interested parties the chance to object. At the final hearing, ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court that the project, which was meant to honor former President Jonathan, remained abandoned despite full payment to the developer. He added that the land’s value had risen to over N200 billion and that the promoters, including some foreign nationals, had fled the country. The defence counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), did not oppose the forfeiture. Justice Umar, in granting the final order, described the release of the full project funds without any progress as a serious abuse of public trust. He ruled that the forfeiture was necessary to protect public assets and ensure the housing project is completed for Nigerians.

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