Two brothers, Olanrewaju and Kolawole Afuwape, who allegedly stole the N1.3 million a pastor realised as rent for his property, Thursday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Olanrewaju, 44, and Kolawole, 35, were arraigned by the police on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and theft.

Prosecuting Sergeant Tope Adegbie alleged that the defendants committed the offence between 2018 and July 2019 at Alimosho area of Lagos.

Adegbie alleged that the defendants forged a document dated August 18, 2000, through which they stole the N1.3m realised as rent for the 24-rooms and two shops, belonging to the complainant, Pastor Lawrence Idowu.

He said the offence contravened sections 287, 365, 366 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Y.O. Aro-Lambo granted each brother N50,000 bail with one surety in the like sum, among other conditions.

He adjourned till October 17.

Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered parties to a suit challenging the alleged plans by the National Assembly to interfere in the affairs of the Edo State House of Assembly not to take any further steps on the issue pending the determination of the substantive case.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who is sitting as the court’s vacation judge, gave the order for parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, while adjourning the hearing of the substantive suit until August 22, 2019.

Justice Taiwo said the order was intended to prevent parties, particularly the respondents from foisting on the court a fait accompli.

The judge said: “The defendants have been served with court processes. As law makers, they ought to respect the laws made by them, and one of which, flowing from the law, is that when a matter is in court and parties are seized of the matter, all must ensure that the authority of the court is not is not trampled upon.

“Parties should allow the court to reach a decision one way or the other, with respect to the main issue before it. To this end, I shall make an order that the defendants’ counsel file their response to the originating summons within seven days from now, terminating on the 15th of August 2019.

“The plaintiffs shall respond within five days of the service on them of the response of the defendants.

Meanwhile the court will adjourn the hearing of the main mater and all pending applications to the 22nd of August 2019.

“Flowing from my starting point, the defendants and in fact, all parties must maintain status quo ante bellum in order not to foist a fait accompli on the court, pursuant to the accelerated hearing granted by this court in this suit.”

Before the court’s ruling, lawyer to the plaintiffs, Ola Olanipekun (SAN) had expressed fear and noted that there were threats by the respondents to tamper with the subject of the case.

The judge refused to hear the plaintiffs’ motion for interlocutory injunctions, but elected to hear the substantive suit and granted accelerated hearing.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/815/2019 was filed on July 17 by the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Francis Okiye and some others, with which they seek to, among others, to stop the National Assembly from taking over the functions of the state Assembly.

The National Assembly and its Clerk were listed as plaintiffs.

It is the plaintiff’s contention that the National Assembly lacks the powers to assume the functions of a state Assembly that has been validly inaugurated.

The Edo State’s Seventh Assembly was inaugurated on June 17.

The inauguration became controversial as only nine out of the 24 members-elect were in the chamber during inauguration.

The Senate and the House of Representatives separately threatened to take over the Assembly should Governor, Godwin Obaseki failed to issue a fresh proclamation for the assembly’s inauguration.

The Senate proceeded to pass a resolution, giving the governor a week to issue the proclamation letter or risk the takeover of the Assembly by the federal legislators.

When the case earlier came up on July 31, Olanipekun noted that despite being served with court papers in relation to the case, the defendants, the Senate passed a resolution the previous day (July 30, 2019) for the takeover of the assembly if the governor fails to comply with its resolution.

He said the defendants’ lawyers had also, on the previous day, served the plaintiffs a counter affidavit to their motion for interlocutory injunction and written address and also filed a memorandum of conditional appearance.

Olanipekun expressed disappointment that even when the governor had already issued a proclamation, which was duly gazette, members of the Assembly duly  inaugurated, with principal officers elected, while  the house has since been functioning, the National Assembly was threatening to take it over if the governor failed to issue a fresh proclamation.

But the House of Representatives has faulted the ruling restraining the National Assembly and its agents from taking over the Edo Assembly.

Students of the Ekiti State University(EKSU), Ado-Ekiti yesterday took to the street to protest the  alleged harassment and unlawful arrest of their colleagues by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives.

The students barricaded the institution’s entrance gate, thereby affecting academic activities as most of the lecturers and other staff could not access the campus.

They appealed to EFCC Acting Chairman Mr. Ibrahim Magu to order his men to stop harassing innocent students under the guise of being involved  in cybercrime.

The protest, which began at about 8:15a.m. and lasted till 2:30p.m., affected free flow of traffic on the Ado-Ifaki dual carriage way, where the aggrieved students gathered to express their displeasure.

Those travelling outside the state capital and those coming in through the route were affected by the gridlock created by the students. The travelers had to take alternative routes to their respective destinations.

Addressing the students, the Director of Welfare, the institution Students’ Union Government, Temitope Aladejare, described the alleged arrest as illegal and unconstitutional.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned a former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

He pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge.

Justice Chuka Obiozor ordered his remand in EFCC custody until Friday when his bail application will be heard.

The Federal High Court in Abuja High has granted the Department of State Service, DSS, permission to detain publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for 45 days.

The DSS had filed a motion to the court to detain the convener of the proposed #RevolutionNow protest for 90 days, but the court only granted 45 days.

Recall that Sowore was whisked away by members of the DSS at his resident over the weekend for what it termed ‘treasonable’ statement, for describing the proposed protest as a revolution. Mixed reactions have trailed his arrest and that of several other demonstrators.

Abuja—The President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo, OFR today graced the International Labour Organization event to commemorate 2019 ILO Centenary Anniversary celebration which centers on Global youth Employment Forum.

The Unique tripartite structure of the International Labour Organization –ILO gives an equal voice to workers, employers, and governments to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes.

The Centenary anniversary attracted labour and employment stakeholders, captains of Industries, about 250 youths across the globe who were entrepreneurs and representative of social partners to discuss challenges facing youth unemployment and proffer solutions.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria is a specialized court with exclusive jurisdiction in Civil Causes and Matters relating to, connected with or pertaining to the application or interpretation of International Labour Standards.

Declaring the occasion open, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha enjoined delegates to tap in the strides and effort of the Buhari’s administration towards guaranteeing Jobs security and preparing work for the future.

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Willam Alo appreciated the presence of the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Mr. Guy Ryder, and delegates from the Member States and all attendees for participating.

Others personalities who graced the occasion were heads of labour unions and many others.