CRIME 12 arrested in Katsina en route Europe
EFCC re-arraigns senior lawyer over N3m fraud
Seven girls using hijab to disguise themselves and evade arrest were among the 12 persons intercepted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Katsina on their way to Europe.
This brings the total number of persons apprehended by the NIS to 40 in the last four months as they tried to cross various legal and illegal routes to Agadez in Niger Republic en route Libya then Europe.
While parading the rescued victims, the Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Mohammed Yaro Rabiu, said the hijab was a decoy intended to camouflage and get easy passage at the border.
“All the rescued victims are A senior lawyer, Ahmed Mai-aji has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before Justice Haruna Yusuf Mshelia of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri for alleged dishonestly selling a plot of land at Pompamari commercial Light Industrial Layout, Borno State.
His re-arraignment followed an application by his counsel S.M Konto, seeking an order declining jurisdiction to hear and determine the charge on the ground of bias or likelihood of bias by Justice Fadawu Umar.
In his ruling on May 16, 2017, Justice Umar said, “The issue of bias arises as a result of judicial rulings delivered by Nigerians from Edo State and will be handed over to NAPTIP for further action,” he said.
The victims are Dennis Igbobo, Elvis Osas, Earnest Ugiagbe, Bright John, Lucky Iyare, Gift Osagie, Godday Ruth, Ovioma Gift, Otoboh Fabour, Believe James, Endurance Idemadia and Marian Josiah.
Some of the victims told Daily Trust that they were pushed by this Honourable court on the grounds of the application brought by the defence counsel for lack of jurisdiction by the EFCC to initiate any criminal matter before this court and the refusal of bail”.
“The Registrar of the court should return the case file to the Chief Judge of the State and I hereby decline this jurisdiction from hearing the case. The accused should be further remanded in the prison custody.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. Counsel to the prosecution Khalid Sanusi applied for a trial date to enable the prosecution bring all its witnesses in the case.
Counsel to the accused, Konto told the court about a pending application for bail, brought pursuant to Section 36(5) of the hardship and the search for better opportunities.
John, 30 years, a footballer said he intended to go to Europe to search for a professional football club.
For Favour, 27, the eldest daughter in a family of 6 and a graduate of Mass Communication, said lack of jobs prompted her to seek for other options abroad. 1999 constitution as amended and Section 340(1) & (2) of the Criminal Procedure Codes under the inherent powers of this Honourable court.
“On June 8, 2017 the Prosecution filed a counter affidavit in opposing the bail application of the accused person, which contains 14 paragraphs with three exhibits and we rely on all the said paragraphs, particularly 4 to 14”, Sanusi said.
He urged the court to order accelerated hearing on the matter and discountenance the submission of the defense counsel seeking the bail of the accused person.
Justice Mshelia adjourned the case to June 21, for trial and ordered the accused person to be further remanded in the prison custody. He will rule on the bail application today.