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London Court Slams 3-Year Jail Term On Nigerian Man For Flogging Son

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An appeal court in London, the United Kingdom, has sentenced a Nigerian man (name withheld) to three years in jail for physically abusing his nine-year-old son.

The offender, 66, initially got away with 22 months imprisonment at the end of his trial at the Crown Court in Woolwich, South-east London, which the government disagreed with.

Following the government’s appeal against the trial court’s sentence, the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales in London raised the punishment to three years jail term.

“The sentence of 22 months imprisonment will be quashed and replaced by a sentence of three years imprisonment,” the Court of Appeal ordered in its judgment delivered on 22 December 2022.

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The trial Crown Court in Woolwich had sentenced the offender to a suspended sentence order, comprising a custodial term of 22 months, suspended for 12 months, with a two-month electronic curfew between 7.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m.

He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to his son, whose name was withheld by the court because of his age, and costs in the sum of £250. A victim surcharge, meaning a fine, was also to apply, although the amount was not disclosed.

The names of all the parties connected to the case and the part of London where the crime was allegedly committed were not given in the court judgment, a copy of which was obtained by Premium Times. The court withheld the names because the case revolves around a child.

The UK government, through the Solicitor General for England and Wales, appealed against the sentence imposed by the Crown Court of Woolwich, describing it as unduly lenient.

It maintained that the trial court, imposing a 22-month custodial sentence, did not consider “any aggravating factors increasing the seriousness of the offence”.

How it happened

The offender was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the United Kingdom in 1990.

At the time of this offence, he lived in London with his wife, his stepdaughter, aged 17, and his two biological children – the victim and his sister. His wife also had two adult sons who did not live with them.

His wife, the victim’s mother, during the lockdown when school children had migrated to online classes, was informed that the victim had not been attending his online school classes for two days. As a result, she barred him from playing computer games and told the father about the development.

On 22 January 2021, she left home to visit her eldest son leaving the victim with his sisters. Their father came home from work to find the victim using the computer.

According to the court documents, the father repeatedly struck him across the back using metal sticks or rods, which he retrieved from a basket next to the television in the living room. He also used his belt repeatedly to strike him on the back, arms and shoulders.

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The nine-year-old son cried very loudly; one of his sisters witnessed the assault, while the other, who was upstairs at the time, heard his cries.

“When the physical assault had come to an end, the offender told E to hold a metal stick above his head and face the garden. He remained in this stress position for some two hours,” the court said.

‘E’, in this case, was the victim.

Two days later, the mother came home to find her son in pain.

“She saw the marks on his body. She confronted the offender, who admitted what he had done at that stage but did not accept that his actions were wrong.”

She took her child to the hospital, where he was found to have multiple horizontal bruises across his back and arms, linear in appearance and consistent with the use of a metal stick-like implement. He also had bruises on his shoulders and his head, as well as cuts to his hands.

The metal sticks used by the offender were provided to the police, and the father was arrested on 25 January 2021.

He said at that stage that he felt very remorseful but, when interviewed, denied assaulting the little boy, his son or any of his children with a stick or belt and denied putting him in a stressed position.

Instead, he blamed his wife. He said she had encouraged the kids to fabricate allegations against him because she was upset with him over citizenship and her family’s entry into this country.

The father was charged and remanded on bail with conditions which included a qualifying (electronically-monitored) curfew.

He pleaded not guilty throughout the pre-trial period, and the trial commenced on 10 June 2021 with cross-examination of the children.

The case was listed for further hearing between 6 and 10 June 2022. The recorded evidence of the children was played to the jury, and the mother gave live evidence.

After the prosecution had closed its case, the mother discovered text messages that her husband, the convict, had sent to her in January 2021 in which he had warned her and the victim not to say anything about what had happened.

On 10 June 2022, he pleaded guilty to cruelty to a person under 16 years old and was sentenced on 12 October 2022 by the Crown Court in Woolwich.

Solicitor General’s argument

The solicitor general’s office, through its lawyer, B. Lloyd, opposed the sentence passed by the trial court.

Although it acknowledged the judge correctly placed the offence in the right category of the relevant sentencing guideline, it insisted that a term significantly longer than 22 months imprisonment was merited.

He pointed out that the trial judge recognised that there was evidence during the trial of assault or general abusive behaviour involving other children in the family but did not count it as an aggravating factor against the offender.

“In short, the downward adjustment to 22 months, taking into account all aggravating and mitigating factors, was simply far too great,” Mr Lloyd had told the Court of Appeal in making a case for a longer sentence. “It did not reflect the overall seriousness of this offence.”

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Defence

But the defence lawyer, N. Carter, justified the sentence imposed by the trial judge.

Ms Carter said the judge followed a considered and balanced approach and that the final sentence that he imposed could not be said to be unduly lenient.

She argued that the offender did not have deliberate disregard for his son’s welfare but instead wanted to instil proper standards in him.

“His offending was not of a sadistic or cruel nature. The victim and his siblings were clearly otherwise well looked after and provided for. All of this, coupled with the offender’s good character, justified the custodial term of 22 months,” she argued.

Court of Appeal’s judgment

In its judgment, the Court of Appeal said the trial Crown Court in Woolwich overlooked “multiple aggravating factors” in imposing its sentence.

“First, and significantly, there was the presence of other children. This was a significant factor in the facts here, given that one eight-year-old sibling was in the room when the offending occurred, and another was in a position to hear the victim’s distress. This was to witness the punishment of one child, instilling fear in others of similar treatment so far as they were concerned,” the three-member panel wrote in their judgment.

According to the court, there was also the failure to seek medical help, and the offender wrongly sought to blame others.

There was also an attempt to conceal his offence through text messages sent to his wife, the court said.

The panel noted that on the face of the Woolwich judge’s sentencing remarks, the judge appears to have been concerned about how to recognise the time spent by the offender on curfew.

“The judge should not have been distracted by that factor, at least at the outset; it was not relevant to the question of determining the correct length of a custodial sentence,” the panel wrote.

Having heard arguments from both sides, the court held that the offence warranted a custodial term of not less than three years, adding that there was no proper basis for the judge to have reached a custodial term outside the range for “Category 2A offending”.

“For all these reasons, and seen in this light, the term that the Judge imposed was not only lenient but unduly so,” it said.

(Premium Times)

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Metro

KFC Shutdown: Gbenga Daniel’s Son Debola Slams Critics

By Gideon Ayeni

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Amidst the controversy surrounding the denial of entry to a KFC outlet in Lagos for a former Ogun State Governor’s son due to his disability, human rights activist Omotayo Williams has ignited a discourse on disability rights.

In a tweet directed at Debola Daniel, son of the former governor, Williams posed probing questions about the initiatives undertaken during his father’s tenure to improve the lives of people living with disabilities.

He also questioned Debola’s personal contributions to support individuals with disabilities and his focus on selflessness versus self-promotion.

See his question below;

Debola Daniel responded emphatically, expressing his disappointment in the accusatory tone of Williams’ inquiry. He defended his commitment to philanthropy, highlighting his discreet contributions to 27 charities monthly, including those focused on children and empowerment for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Debola emphasized his preference for silent altruism over public posturing and criticized Williams for exploiting his personal pain for social media engagements.

See his reply below;


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Nigerians Mourn As Famous Film Producer, Wole Oguntokun, Passes On

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Film producer, Wole Oguntokun has died

In a sad development, Nigerian playwright, producer, director and culture advocate, Wole Oguntokun, has died at the age of 56. 

Oguntokun, who was also a lawyer, died in Canada on Wednesday, March 27.

The news of Oguntokun’s demise was shared by Film director, Kayode Peters in a post accompanied with pictures, via his Instagram page on Thursday afternoon.

See Peters Post below 👇

The post read, “I remember that year. I was just cutting my teeth as a professional theatre director. Your search for a director for your script brought you to the University of Lagos and I was your obvious choice.

“I directed your first-ever performance story ‘Who is Afraid of Wole Soyinka’ at various theatres including The prestigious Muson Centre which was graced by the great @wolesoyinkaofficial himself. Some months later, we started DBN TV’s first comedy series ‘Crossworld Blues’ which you produced and I directed. 

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“You moved to Canada and never stopped encouraging me to follow suit. I lost a friend, a thespian all through and through, a great mind, a writer so gifted, so loved. Nigeria just lost one of her brightest and bravest. Is it a coincidence that you chose to leave on the day the world celebrated World Theatre Day?

 “This hurts so bad Wole. Laspapi, our own ojojo. I will miss you so so much. Thank you for trusting me with your work. A good man is gone. Rest well my friend, my brother Wole Oguntokun @laspapi.”

GWG.ng reports that late Wole Oguntokun, who was born on July 15, 1967, held a position as a board member of Theaturtle, a Canadian theater company.

Before he relocated to Canada, he had created the annual Season of Soyinka, which is entering its 9th season. In each season, the plays of the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, are staged at Terra Kulture in Lagos.

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‘Only God knows The Joy In Our hearts’ – Parents Of Released Kuriga Children Speak After Reuniting With Their Kids

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Parents joyfully celebrate reunion with their released Kuriga Children

The freed school children of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have reunited with their parents three days after their release from captivity.

GWG.ng reports that the children were handed over to their parents by the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Professor Abdulkadir Meyere, on behalf of Governor Uba Sani.

Recall that they were kidnapped from their school by bandits on March 7th, and were rescued in Zamfara State by the military and local authorities two weeks after their abduction.

Presenting the children to their families, the Kaduna State SSG told them that their rescue was made possible through the tireless efforts of the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government.

“I remember vividly when this tragedy occurred, His Excellency the Governor went to Kuriga to assess the situation, sympathize with you, and inform you of the efforts he had made as the Governor of Kaduna State.

“He even declared that these children are his children and worked tirelessly with the Federal Government and security agencies for their safe rescue. By God’s mercy, today the Governor has fulfilled his promise, and the children have been rescued. The Governor ought to be here, but due to his work schedule, he could not make it,” Meyere told the families of the schoolchildren.

The parents of the rescued students were excited and relieved to reunite with their wads after more than two weeks of sleepless nights and anxiety.

They commended the efforts of the Kaduna State Government and the intervention of security agencies in release of their children.

The district head of Kuriga community, Lawal Abdullahi, prayed for the community never to experience such incident again.

“We, the people of Kuriga, did not realize how cherished we were until I met the Governor and the Secretary to the State Government. We pray to the Lord to bless these individuals. Not only in Kuriga but throughout Kaduna State, we hope that an incident of kidnapping students will not repeat itself”.

One of the parents of the abducted children, Idris Abdullahi, thanked Governor Uba Sani for fulfilling his promise to rescue the children when he visited Kuriga community after the kidnapping incident.

“Only God knows the joy in our hearts. We express our gratitude to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala for bestowing this mercy upon us. We have nothing to offer the Executive Governor except prayers and hope.

“We ask God to grant the Governor and his administration strength to enable him to complete his tenure successfully and to elevate him to the next position”

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CNN, Amnesty Put Focus On Erisco Vs Chioma Saga

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Chioma attracts international support against Erisco

Chioma Okoli, who has been embattled by the CEO of Erisco foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, after she made a negative review about his product in September, 2023, has reportedly been attracting support from the international community.

Founder of Erisco, Chief Eric Umeofia is demanding N5 billion over Chioma’s review which he claimed had cost his company severe financial loss. In the alternative, he wants her to spend a long time in jail as retribution for the comment she made against his product. The police have vowed to prosecute Chioma for cybercrime, while Umeofia is separately pressing a N5 billion in damages.

Chioma’s initial comment on Facebook read: “I went to buy tin tomatoes yesterday that I will use to make stew. I didn’t see Gino and Sonia. So, I decided to buy this one. When I opened it, I decided to taste it. Omo! Sugar was just too much. Ha, biko, let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an Ike gwuru situation.”

Her post, accompanied by a photo of an opened can of Nagiko Tomato Mix, sparked varied reactions from commenters, one of whom replied: “Stop spoiling my brother’s product. If (you) don’t like it, use another one than bring it to social media or call the customer service.”

Her response to the reaction was what put her in trouble. She said: “Help me advise your brother to stop ki***ing people with his product, yesterday was my first time of using and it’s pure sugar.”

On Wednesday, The Cable News Network (CNN) beamed its light on Chioma’s case saying: 

“A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.

“Chioma Okoli, a 39-year-old entrepreneur from Lagos, is being prosecuted and sued in civil court for allegedly breaching the country’s cybercrime laws, in a case that has gripped the West African nation and sparked protests by locals who believe she is being persecuted for exercising her right to free speech.”

Nigerian legal and public affairs analyst Kelechukwu Uzoka told CNN that there are limits to the freedom of speech defense.

“No law guarantees absolute freedom,” he said. “While we have our freedom of expression, there are limitations. You can’t defame or malign someone.”

However, he added that “cybercrime is difficult to prove in court. You have to prove actual harm when the post was made. Erisco must prove that the Facebook post (by Okoli) affected its business as at the point it was made.” He noted that in Okoli’s post, she used a word with three asterisks, which could be open to interpretation.

“Harassment and intimidation of Chioma Okoli must end now,” Amnesty International Nigeria said earlier this month, as Nigerians began crowdfunding online to support her legal fees.

Okoli’s case has sparked protests at Erisco’s Lagos facility as many on social media called for a boycott of its products. The company’s founder, Eric Umeofia, refused to budge, however, saying in a recent documentary on Arise Television channel that he won’t drop the lawsuit against Okoli and that he would “rather die than allow someone to tarnish my image I worked 40 years to grow.”

See below some coments from Users on Reddit, a social media platform and online community where users can engage in discussions, share content:

reddorickt said,

“You can also report the obvious fake reviews. A 5- star rating from 5 days ago “This is the best product there is in Nigeria. Kudos to the brains behind this product”

1. The best product in Nigeria is sugary tomato sauce?

2. Specifically compliments the executive team, the people who are launching this lawsuit.

3. “The brains behind…” is similar language to comments from the company itself, acting like there is some profound proprietary new tomato sauce technology they have.

Another one a couple down “Wow! Never knew h clean and efficient Erisco Foods Limited was untiı. visited to buy their products. Their group CEO is an.”

Pierre Dessertenne said, “Literally the worst tomato purée I think they use painted tennis balls instead of tomatoes.”

Said Issak said, “disgusting not good. dont buy, and im not talking about their tomato puree.”

Aleksandr Sofias said, “tried it and hated it, worst food ever.”

YoussoufAMA Official said, “Worst tomato paste in Nigeria don’t buy. And the CEO is a bully.”

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Kitty Cat said, “Pathetic what you’re doing to an innocent person.”

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27-year-old Man Arraigned For Allegedly Raping A 20- year-old Woman

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A 27-year-old man, Olaoluwa Fakayode on Thursday  appeared in an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for allegedly raping a 20-year-old Woman  (name withheld).

Fakayode, whose residential address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit rape and rape.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/why-google-blocked-5-5bn-adverts/

The State Counsel, Ms Abimbola Abolade, thereafter applied for a trial date and for the prosecution to assemble her witnesses.

Abolade told the court that the defendant with his fleeing accomplice, allegedly committed the offences on April 23, 2020, at about 3.00 a.m. on  Cappa in Oshodi, Lagos.

She alleged that the defendant unlawfully had sexual intercourse with the survivor without her consent.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/see-the-pastor-that-charges-n1-7m-to-teach-people-how-to-perform-miracles/

Abolade told the court that the alleged offences contravened Sections 260(1) and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

She pleaded with the court to allow her time to assemble her witnesses and requested for a trial date.

The counsel  urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre until the adjourned date.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/what-i-experienced-in-detention-firstnews-editor-narrates/

Justice Abiola Soladoye, agreed to the prosecution’s request and remanded the defendant in a custodial centre pending the hearing of his bail application.

The Judge adjourned the case until June 10, for commencement of trial.

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20-year-old Labourer Bags 6 Months Imprisonment For Stealing Cell Phones

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A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, has sentenced a 20-year-old site labourer, Shamsudeen Salisu, to six months imprisonment for stealing cell phones.

Salisu, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of theft and escape from lawful custody.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict also begged the court for leniency.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/six-prominent-lawmakers-resigns-from-labour-party/

The Judge, Mr Aliyu Kagarko, however, gave  the convict an option of N20,000 fine and warned him to be a good citizen and of good behaviour, and desist from committing crime after serving his jail term.

He said that the punishment would have been stiffer if the convict had not saved the court the rigours of protracted prosecution.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Anayo Nnamani told the court that the complainant, Lawrence David, of Masaka, Nassarawa State, reported the matter at Asokoro police station on March 21.

Nnamani said that on March 20, the convict went to NAF Valley’ Estate, Asokoro, Abuja, where the complainant was working at a  construction site and dishonestly and smartly made away with his Techno Pomo3 phone, valued at N32,000.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/what-i-experienced-in-detention-firstnews-editor-narrates/

He told the court that the convict stole the complainant’s cell phones along with his Access Bank ATM card which he kept at the back of the phone’s pouch.

He said that the convict dishonestly used the complainant’s sim card to purchase airtime worth N55,700 and sold the phone for N2,000.

Nnamani told the court that the convict snicked out of the police custody and escaped through the fence but was chased and re-arrested.

The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the convict made a confessional statement while the cell phones were recovered  but that he could not give a satisfactory account of the N55,700 airtime

He  said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 173 of the Penal Code.

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Man Jailed 6 Months For Stealing Car Battery

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A Dei-dei Grade I Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced Abdulazeez Ibrahim to six months in prison for stealing a car battery.

The defendant, who was convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty to the said offence, begged the court for leniency.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/what-i-experienced-in-detention-firstnews-editor-narrates/

The Judge, Saminu Suleiman gave Ibrahim an option to pay a fine of N10, 000 and to pay N60, 000 compensation to the complainant, Abiola Adekunle.

Suleiman however warned him to desist from committing crimes and be of good behaviour.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Babajide Olanipekun told the court that Ibrahim forcefully opened the complainant’s car and removed the car battery on March 12.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/six-prominent-lawmakers-resigns-from-labour-party/

Olanipekun said Ibrahim converted the battery to his personal use, adding that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/lis-of-countries-with-the-lowest-salary-incomes/

Section 288 states that whoever commits theft in or from a building, tent or vessel, used as a human dwelling or for the custody of property, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven or with fine or with both.

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What I Experienced In Detention – FirstNews Editor Narrates

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The Editor of FirstNews Online Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, has narrated his ordeal in the detention of the Nigerian military.

Recall gunmen suspected to be military officers had invaded Olatunji’s residence at Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos state, on March 15, and took him away.

Since his abduction, there has been a strong outcry from family members, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) calling on President Bola Tinubu to order his immediate release.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/six-prominent-lawmakers-resigns-from-labour-party/

However, on Thursday morning, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) was said to have released Olatunji after spending two weeks in its custody.

Speaking at a press conference shortly after his release, Olatunji said while in detention, he was interrogated about certain stories that FirstNews had carried.

He added that he was questioned about his stories regarding the Chief of Defence Intelligence and the Chief of Staff to the President.

Olatunji asserted that those behind his detention are part of the government, who are not happy with what FirstNews is doing, and are they bent on punishing him.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/lis-of-countries-with-the-lowest-salary-incomes/

The press briefing was organised by the leaderships of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI).

He said: “At first, they put me in a cell. There I was left with leg and hand cuffs. And at a point, one of the officers came and tightened the right leg and the right hand and I was there growing in pain. And they didn’t loosen it until about two or three days later. And at that time, the whole part of my body was getting node. In fact, up till now, I can still feel the pains.

“While in detention, they were asking me questions about certain stories that FirstNews had carried. They first told me that I was one of those abusing the chief of defence intelligence. They didn’t say much about that.

“Then they also asked a story we carried about the Chief of Staff to the president, and that was a major thing. That’s why I told some people earlier that those behind my arrest are people behind the corridors of power, who are not happy with what FirstNews is doing, and are they bent on taking their own pound of flesh.”


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BREAKING: Binance Executives Drag NSA, EFCC To Court

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Detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has initiated a legal action against the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Gambaryan sued Ribadu and EFCC over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/former-us-vice-presidential-nominee-joe-lieberman-is-dead/

In the originating motion dated and filed March 18 by his lawyer, Olujoke Aliyu, from Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, the Binance executive sought five reliefs before Justice Inyang Ekwo

Also, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance’s Africa regional manager who escaped from lawful custody March 22, filed a separate right enforcement suit before Justice Ekwo.

https://gwg.ng/2024/03/28/breaking-eniola-ajao-strips-bobrisky-of-best-dressed-female-award-names-two-females-as-winners/

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, in the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, had sued the Office of NSA (ONSA) and EFCC as 1st and 2nd respondents.

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