Four murder suspects test positive for COVID-19 in Bauchi

   Four of the five suspects standing trial for the alleged murder of Sunday Joshua, a security guard at the New Trafford Hotels and Suites in Bauchi State have tested positive for COVID-19.

The arraignment of the five accused, which include the Managing Director of the hotel, Innocent Ejeh, at the Chief Magistrate Court 7, Yelwa, on Wednesday, was stalled following a letter written to the court that four accused persons, Abdul-Rasheed Shuaibu, Jacob Joshua, Joshua Ibrahim and Timothy Yunusa, were confirmed positive.

Innocent Ejeh and the four others are standing trial for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in accordance with sections 96 and 221 of the Penal Code laws. The trial Magistrate, Safiya Salihu, read the letter from the state Correctional Centre dated June 11th, 2020. According to him, the four accused were confirmed positive for coronavirus by the National Center for Disease Control(NCDC) in the state.

   He adjourned the case to July 14 for further mentioning and arraignment as requested by the prosecution Police Officer, Sergeant Ayuba who pleaded for adjustment. The Prosecution Officer told the court that the accused persons could not be in court due to the reasons stated in the letter from the Correctional centre in Bauchi.

THE NATION

Court remands two cousins over alleged rape and murder of Maersk MD’s wife in Lagos

   

   33-year-old Olamilekan Oke and 27-year-old Akande Adeyinka have been remanded in prison custody by a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, over the alleged rape and murder of 44-year-old Bernadette, the Hungarian wife of Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo, the managing director of Maersk Nig. Ltd. The cousins were arraigned before Justice Modupe Nico-Clay on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, unlawful assault, robbery, armed robbery, and rape. 

   The Lagos state prosecuting counsel Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who led the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, told the court that the defendants conspired to commit the alleged offences around 7:30pm on December 8, at flat 7A, No 1, Lugard Avenue Ikoyi Lagos.

 

Onigbanjo said; 

“Olamileka (Goke ) Oke, on December 8, 2019, at about 7: 30pm, unlawfully had sexual intercourse with one Bernadetta Tohouo-Tohouo aged 44”.

   They were also accused of attempting to kill Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo by stabbing him severally on the neck, head and back with a knife and dagger. The suspects reportedly proceeded to rob the couple of several properties which included foreign currencies in different denominations, two iPhones, two bottles of wine, two wedding rings, and one engagement ring.

    The technician and printer pleaded not guilty to the offence which contravenes Sections 233, 230, 173, 299, 297 (2) (a) 411, of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015. Justice Nico-Clay subsequently adjourned the case till June 30 for commencement of trial. 

 

Two dead, 220 buildings destroyed after downpour in Mokwa

 

   Two people have been confirmed dead, three injured and over 220 buildings destroyed during a heavy wind and rainfall in Mokwa local government area of Niger state. Properties worth N135.5 million were destroyed with over 780 people affected.

Among the buildings affected include a police station, the State Security Service(SSS) office, and Government Girl Secondary School where classes collapsed. Others were Government Science College where classes and staff quarters were affected amongst other buildings.

Zimbabwe increases fuel price by 150 per cent

 

  Zimbabwe on Wednesday announced a 150 per cent rise in the price of fuel following the launch of a forex auction system which eroded the value of the local currency.

The price of a litre of diesel jumped 152 per cent to ZW$62.77 ($1.12) from ZW$24.93 while petrol shot up 147 per cent to ZW$71.62, the country’s Energy Regulatory Authority said in a notice. The central bank re-introduced forex auctioning on Tuesday, the first in 16 years after a long battle to stabilise its currency and fight hyperinflation.

The auction saw the local currency losing more than half of its value from 1:25 to 1:57 to the greenback by the end of trading. Zimbabwe has been facing fuel shortages since October 2018. The scarcity prompted President Emmerson Mnangagwa to increase the price of fuel by 150 per cent in January 2019, sparking countrywide demonstrations.

At least 17 people were killed and scores injured after soldiers deployed to quell the strike opened fire on protesters. The government said at the time the prices were lower than in other countries in the region, and that some foreigners were buying fuel in bulk in Zimbabwe for resale in neighbouring countries.

Despite the price increase which was aimed at ending shortages, the scarcity persisted with motorists sometimes spending nights in queues for fuel pumps, stretching for kilometres. After years in international isolation, Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a downturn for more than a decade.

  Mnangagwa, who took over from long-time leader Robert Mugabe at the back of a military coup in 2017, pledged to mend the economy but things have only got worse with shops running short of basic commodities like bank notes, sugar and the staple cornmeal.

Ghana President Calls Buhari, Apologises Over Demolition Of Nigerian Mission

  

 

 

    President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana has called President Muhammadu Buhari Over the demolition of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.

  In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Akufo-Addo expressed his sincere apology over the unfortunate incident that has sparked reactions from the Nigerian government. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu.

The Ghana leader assured President Buhari that he has directed a full investigation into the matter, assuring that justice will be served. Meanwhile, some suspects linked to the demolition have been arrested and will be arraigned in court.

CHANNELS

Court Strikes Out Suit Seeking To Bar Obaseki From Participating In Edo PDP Primary

     The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has struck out the suit filed by Mr Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama stopping Governor Godwin Obaseki from participating in Thursday’s PDP governorship primaries, in Edo State.

  A counsel to the plaintiff, D. C. Denwigwe, (SAN) had in an oral application during resumption of the hearing on Wednesday, informed the court that the parties in the suit had resolved the matter. He said their clients have settled and have directed their counsels to withdraw the case.

He also apologised to the court for the inconveniences and urged that the matter be struck-out based on the oral prayers. Emmanuel Enoidem, Counsel for the 1st defendant, Uche Secondus and 3rd to the 7th defendant, counsel for the 2nd defendant, Higher King and Counsel for the 8th and 9th defendants, Alex Ejesiema, SAN also concurred to the motion.

  However, the presiding Judge, Justice E. O. Obile, struck out the matter follow the submission of the counsels. Addressing newsmen Emmanuel Enoidem who is also the National Legal Adviser of the PDP said they agreed that the party must be united.

  Alex Ejesiema (SAN), Governor Godwin Obaseki’s lawyer on his part, said they were prepared for it. He also noted that there is no more obstruction for Governor Obaseki and therefore, he can contest. Mr Ogbeide-ihama had filed a suit in the court asking it to prevent any member of the party that has purchased forms but not screened within the time stipulated to contest the PDP primary.

  Subsequently, the court on Tuesday, granted the request for an accelerated hearing of the suit but before the hearing on the application today, Ogbeide-Ihama’s counsel requested that the court stood down the case for some time, to allow for an out-of-court settlement.