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Contempt: Court grants EFCC’s Motion For Stay Of Proceedings

Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Court of Appeal in Abuja has granted an ex-parte motion for a stay of proceedings filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the contempt proceedings commenced by the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The former governor had filed the contempt of court charge against the chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede, who was summoned to appear before the Kogi State High Court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying the orders of the court.

In a ruling, the court of appeal granted the EFCC’s application to serve the processes in the appeal by substituted means on the former governor.

The court consequently adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to May 20, 2024.

The EFCC chairman had appealed the ruling of the trial court which summoned him, and sought a stay of the proceeding of the court.

According to the Kogi High Court, the EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out “Some acts upon which the EFCC have been restrained” by the court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive originating motion.

Delivering a ruling, Justice Jamil of the Kogi High Court ordered that “The said act was carried out by the EFCC in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act that same act of the respondent amounts to contempt.

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Lagos Govt shuts church, six establishments for noise pollution

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has shut a church and six other establishments for noise pollution in Surulere and Orile lganmu areas of the State.

LASEPA, in a statement on its X handle said it conducted a comprehensive enforcement operation aimed at curbing noise pollution and other environmental violations in the Surulere and Orile lganmu areas of Lagos State.

It said despite repeated warnings and abatement notices issued in the past, numerous establishments, persisted in contravening LASEPA’s directives.

The body added that consequently, these non-compliant establishments had been temporarily shut down to ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations.

The tweet read: “Today, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) conducted a comprehensive enforcement operation aimed at curbing noise pollution and other environmental violations in the Surulere and Orile lganmu areas of Lagos State.

“Despite repeated warnings and abatement notices issued in the past, numerous establishments, persisted in contravening LASEPA’s directives. Consequently, these non-compliant establishments have been temporarily shut down to ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations.

“Among the affected establishments include Red Pepper Bites Limited, Lacibo Restaurant & Lounge, Lakeem Suites, Krusty Butter Bakery & Pastries, Addie, Revelated Christian Ministry, and Don Nelson Resort & Suites.”

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Many trapped as one-storey building collapses in Minna

Several people have been trapped as a one-storey building collapsed in Minna, the Niger State capital.

The building which is located in Sabon Gari area of Minna collapsed on Friday, May 17, 2024.

Emergency officials who raced to the scene succeeded in rescuing seven persons who are receiving treatment at the Minna General Hospital.

At the time of filing this report, the manual evacuation of the debris has commenced, and the authorities said machines would be mobilised quickly so that those suspected to be trapped could be rescued.

The immediate cause of the building collapse is not yet known as of the time of this report.

The Director, Information and Special Duties of Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Hussaini Ibrahim, who was at the scene of the incident said the rescue operation is ongoing.

Also, the General Manager of the Niger State Urban Development Board, Bako Ismail, said the building was illegally converted to a story building, claiming that the board has made repeated attempts to stop the property owner from the illegal conversion

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Court sentences man to 5 years imprisonment for trafficking

A 44-year-old man, Mohammed Usman, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for trafficking two persons from Kano to Libya.

The convict was prosecuted by the National Agency For the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

NAPTIP in a statement on Thursday, May 16, 2024, said Usman was found guilty on two counts preferred against him by the agency.

“Mohammed Usman from Walalambe, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for each count, *without the option of fine*, for procuring the illegal entry of two individuals from Kano to Libya. This is a violation of the Trafficking In Persons Act 2015 and is punishable under Section 26(1). Justice is served!,” the statement read.