With 2018 giving away for 2019, JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENTS, KAYODE ADEOTI and ABIODUN BOLUJOKO chronicle the top stories emanating from Kwara State courts in the outgone year.
JANUARY
AMCON N11bn Debt: Court dismisses case against Olofa
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, last Tuesday dismissed over N11billion debt suit by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) against the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II.
The first class monarch was said to have obtained the loan through his two companies, Zarm Poultry & Feeds Mills Limited and Zarm Stores Limited.
Ex-guber candidate, Sen Ajadi drags lover to court over N.75m scam
Former governorship candidate under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Kwara State, Sen. Sulyman Makanjuola Ajadi dragged his lover, Temitope Abdulazeez to court over alleged fraud.
The Senator claimed his lover, who is a student of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete defrauded him to the tune of N750,000.
FEBRUARY
Kwara South monarchs fight over marble deposit
The Oloreke of Oreke land, Oba Abdulquadri Ahmed Dada, Olukondo II dragged his compatriot, Oloreke of Oreke-Okegbo, Oba Joseph Sunday Olakunle Adefila to Court over the marble deposit in the neighbourhood of the communities.
MARCH
Kwara first lady, FIDA, drag cleric, mother to court for chaining teenager for 2yrs
The Kwara state first lady, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), dragged an Ilorin-based cleric, Wole Ologbon with his wife, Mariam Ologbon to court for allegedly chaining a teenage girl, Funmi Aremu for over two years.
Also docked alongside the suspected culprits by a magistrate court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital is one Tani Arikewe who was said to be the victim’s mother.
APRIL
Drama as judge remands Alanamu, vacates order
There was mild drama as a High Court judge in Ilorin, Mahmud AbdulGafar, ordered the remand of former Chairman of the Kwara State Polytechnic Governing Council, Saadu Koroagba Alanamu but later rescinded the decision.
The Independent Corrupt Practice Commission ICPC), in the charges accused Alanamu of collecting N5m bribe from the Director of Namylas Nigeria Limited, Salman Sulaiman, as a softener for the award of a contract.
Ilorin South boss, 2 others dragged to court over alleged illegal possession of land, intimidation
The Ilorin South Local Government Chairperson, Alhaja Funmilayo Salau was dragged to court by the family of Daudu Amule Omo Ile Egba Shitta Alimi over illegal possession of their family customary piece of land.
The Direct Complaint was filed by Ore-Ofe Chambers on behalf of the representative of the family; Alhaji Bolaji and Alhaji Yakub Olateju. Also joined alongside Salau in the suit, which was signed by S.O Jimoh and Z.O Alhassan were the council Land Officer, Alhaji Moshood Issa and the Ilorin South Local Government.
MAY
KAMWIRE loses millions to 66-yr-old businessman
KAMWIRE Industries were recently duped to the tune of N6million by a 66-year-old businessman, Abdulkadir Danhute from Sokoto State.
Danhute was said to have offered KAMWIRE a dud cheque following business transaction between the duo.
JUNE
Ilorin pastor docked over alleged abduction of female member for 3yrs
The Upper Area Court, sitting in Ilorin the Kwara State capital yesterday docked Pastor Paul Olorunnishola Aremu of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Gbanyaminu, Ita Alamu area for allegedly abducting a female congregation member, one Adenike Funmilayo Awodire for three years.
Ilorin prophet, Eli-Wakuku exhumed 200 human skulls from Muslim Cemetery
A police witness, Peter Ibiyemi testified before the Magistrate court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital that Prophet and founder of St. Moses Orimolade Cherubim and Serafim Church, Gabriel Josaya had exhumed over 200 human heads from Muslim Cemetery at Osere area of the state capital.
Akande emerges Ilorin NBA chairman
A Senior State Counsel with the Ministry of Justice, Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed popularly called ‘MAI’ ‘MAI’ among his colleagues emerged Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch after polling 98 votes to defeat his counterpart, an Associate Professor at the University of Ilorin, , Dr. Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan, who had 62 votes.
Akande succeeded Manzuma Issa, whose two-year tenure came to an end.
Man jailed 34yrs for raping, setting minor ablaze in Offa
For raping and setting ablaze a 15 years old girl (name withheld) in Offa, Offa Local Government area of Kwara State, a High Court sitting in Ilorin, sentenced 23-year-old Mustapha Muritala to 34 years imprisonment.
AUGUST
Man escaped death over ex-commissioner’s alleged false alarm
A former commissioner for Education in Kwara State, Alhaja Aminat Yusuf and two others were dragged to court for raising false alarm, which resulted into a middle-aged man, Abdulazeez Shamsudeen been beaten to stupor by a mob.
Court orders PAPOL, Lekan Alabi’s release
The High Court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, ordered the release of Otunba Lekan Alabi, the Personal Assistant on Political Matters (Kwara South) to Kwara State Governor, Abdufatah Ahmed.
SEPTEMBER
Alleged N300m Scam: 24 Ilorin Micro Finance Bank staff docked
Twenty four (24) marketers of a Microfinance Bank; Prime Trade Investment Nigeria Ltd, were arraigned before a magistrate court in Ilorin, Kwara State, over alleged N300million fraud.
The financial institution through its marketers were said to have deceitfully cajoled their customers to deposit money with the company while expecting 25 per cent interest in return.
Kwara judiciary appoints 35 magistrates
In order to ensure efficiency of service delivery and to bring justice to the door step of the people, the Kwara State Judiciary promoted no fewer than 35 Legal Research Assistants to the bench cadre.
OCTOBER
Offa Banks Robbery: Court begins prosecution of 5 suspects
The suspects arrested in connection with Offa Banks robbery were arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The suspects; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran allegedly conspired with other suspects at large to carry out the attack.
Their arraignment is coming six months after the robbery incident that led to the killings of nine (9) police officers and no fewer than 21 persons in the community.
Alleged killers of Bayo Ajia, Bukola Ajikobi, Yemi Bayero, others sent to prison
The magistrate court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, sent no fewer than six suspected notorious members of Aiye confraternity to prison.
Those remanded on the order of magistrate, Ibrahim Muhammed included Abolaji Saffi a.k.a Ojulari, Suleiman Babatunde, Yusuf Abeeb, Umar Yahaya and others, all of different addresses in the state capital.
NOVEMBER
Offa Banks Robbery: At last, Police succumb to Kwara AG’s request, release case file
Following the release of the case file that contains details of the suspects arrested in connection with Offa Banks robbery that claimed no fewer than 33 lives, including 9 serving police officers, one can undoubtedly say, the waiting game is over and justice will soon prevail over the matter.
The Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Barr. Adebimpe Abdulmumini Jimoh told this medium in an exclusive chat that the suspects’ case file has arrived the state from Abuja where the suspects were initially transferred to, on the order of Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
Fraudsters using Onikijipa’s name to dupe public millions
Fraudsters across the country are using the name of prominent Ilorin-born Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq Onikijipa to dupe members of the public millions of naira.
To put an end to the illicit act, the cleric last Friday approached the Federal High Court, sitting in the state capital to seek redress over the usage of his name for fraud by an arrested suspect, Omoniyi Ajibade Saheed.
Saheed, who was arraigned before Justice N. I Afolabi, was said to have used the personality, name and face of Onikijipa through social media to defraud people both in Nigeria and abroad, millions of naira.
Offa Banks Robbery: Suspects have case to answer – DPP
The Director of the Kwara State Director of the Public Prosecution (DPP) , Barr. Abdulmumini Adebimpe Jimoh has said the five suspects arrested in connection with Offa banks robbery that claimed no fewer than 31 lives including 9 serving police officers, have cases to answer.
He stated this during the arraignment of the accused persons; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran, amidst tight security as prison wardens were all on guard.
Alleged Rituals: Cleric, hospital attendant remanded for trading baby’s placenta
For allegedly trading human placenta for rituals, an Islamic cleric, Ibrahim Salahudeen and one hospital attendant, Suleiman Fatima were ordered to be remanded in Federal Prison yard by a magistrate court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
The matter was brought before Magistrate Muhammed Ndakene and the accused persons were charged for conspiracy to commit the offence of buying, selling or trafficking in human parts and possession of human parts for use as juju contrary to section 9, 1 and 2 of the Kwara State prohibition of dealing in human parts law No. 4 of 2018.
DECEMBER
Balogun-Fulani is authentic Kwara APC Exco, court rules
A Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, recognised the executive committee of the Ishola Balogun-Fulani faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
In a judgement read by Justice T.S. Umar, which lasted for about one and half hours, the court held that the purported dissolution of the executive committee of the APC led by Balogun-Fulani was illegal, null and void.
