Law / Music / News

R. Kelly may be ordered to pay 1 of his victim $300,000

A restitution order by U. S. District Judge Ann Connelly, that was still being finalized, is intended to cover the cost of treatment for the individual’s herpes and psychotherapy.

The victim, who remains anonymous, has accused the singer of giving her the sexually transmitted disease during one of their encounters.

Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison in June, after being convicted on multiple counts of racketeering, relating to bribery and forced labor, by a jury in 2021.

Earlier this month he was also convicted of several child pornography and sex abuse charges in his hometown of Chicago.

The Grammy winner was found guilty on three counts of child pornography and three counts of child enticement.

But the jury acquitted him on a fourth pornography count as well as a conspiracy to obstruct justice charge accusing him of fixing his state child pornography trial in 2008.

He appeared at a hearing at a federal court in Brooklyn via videolink from prison in Chicago.

At his sentencing Kelly was branded “the pied piper of R&B” as he came face to face with several of his victims who detailed his “deplorable and inexplicable” abuse, which took place over decades.

The singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is known for songs including his first number one single Bump N’ Grind and 1996 hit I Believe I Can Fly.

The latter became an inspirational anthem played at school graduations, weddings, in advertisements and elsewhere, including the inauguration of former U.S. president Barack Obama in 2008.

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Law / News

Court refuses Baba Ijesha‘s bail application pending appeal

“The applicant must show special and exceptional circumstances because the term given to him is five years which is to run concurrently.

“There is no evidence that the appeal has been entered and there is no indication before this court that the court will not treat the case expeditiously.

“It is in the view of this court that the applicant has failed to show special circumstances to warrant him bail because he is facing a serious crime.

“In view of this case, I am inclined to refuse the bail application of the applicants pending appeal,” Taiwo held.

NAN reports that the embattled actor is seeking a bail for an appeal for the five years conviction of sexually assaulting a 14-year- old girl.

Baba Ijesha’s counsel, Mr Gabriel Olabiran, had on Aug.10 informed the court of a notice for bail pending appeal has been submitted in pursuant to Section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 51 of the High Court law of Lagos State, administration of criminal justice law.

Olabiran argued that the application admitted the applicant to bail, either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions.

He said the application was brought before the court due to difficulty in getting a date at the Court of Appeal.

The state prosecutor, Mr Yusuf Sule, however, in a counter affidavits dated Aug.18, argued that the defense failed in its address to establish the special circumstances which might grant the convict bail.

“My lord, the defense has failed woefully in addressing the special circumstances which can be used to grant the convict bail.

NAN also reports that the court had on July 14 sentenced the embattled actor to five-years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

The court held that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge of sexual assault of a minor and indecent

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Fraud / Law / News

Instagram influencer, Mompha, declared wanted by EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, a wanted person.

The EFCC made the declaration in a statement backed by a publication on its social media handles on Wednesday.

It called on members of the public with useful information on his whereabouts to contact the anti-graft agency.

“Wanted by the EFCC: Ismaila Mustapha. Anyone with useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the EFCC or the nearest police station,” the brief statement read.

Mompha, alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an eight-count charge bordering on ‘”conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretense and use of property derived from unlawful act.”.

One of the counts reads: “Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large) and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of N5,998,884,653.18 ( Five Billion Nine Hundred and Ninety-eight Million Eight Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-three Naira Eighteen Kobo) with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities to wit: obtaining by false pretense.”

Mompha pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting the commencement of his trial.

He was remanded in the custody of the EFCC, but was later granted bail of N200 million, which he failed to fulfil.

The bail was later reduced to N25 million.

The trial had been stalled since June 16, 2022 due to the absence of the defendant.

On June 10, the EFCC ac­cused him of flouting the court’s order by travel­ling to Dubai with a new international passport.

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State on June 22, 2022 revoked the N200 million bail earlier granted to the suspect and also issued a bench warrant for his arrest due …

Law / News

Why we must clear illegal land dealings — Ogun Attorney General

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), says there is a need to clear all illegal land dealings in the State in order to further pave way for economic development and create a conducive environment for investors to thrive.

He spoke at the inaugural public sitting of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Land Allocation and Documentation.

The event held at the Ministry of Justice Conference room, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The Commissioner stated that facts about land matters would be revealed as Committee members were ready to follow proceedings to get to the root of all petitions, seeking maximum cooperation from parties involved.

In his address, Chairman of the Commission, Justice Solomon Olugbemi (retd.), noted that it was set up with terms of reference, pointing out that the key feature was to unravel illegalities in land transactions, which had prompted it to relate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

Justice Olugbemi said seven petitions would be considered at the inaugural sitting having received 56 petitions from the concerned parties, advising witnesses not to give false evidence and be ready to alter clear statements when called upon. In his remark, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Kameel Abolade urged members of the public to continue to forward their complaints to the Commission, noting that the State Government was ready to suggest ways to curb any identified illegalities in land dealings.…

Awards / Law / Movies / News

Angelina Jolie wanted to subpoena Brad Pitt at the SAG awards and Oscars

With Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie locked in a bitter dispute over their French winery following their divorce.

The actress’ lawyers even.tried serving Pitt with a subpoena during this year’s Screen Actors Guild awards, which were held in February.

With Jolie‘s lawyers unable to serve Pitt so far, reports suggest that a man was hired to ambush Pitt at the awards ceremony, though the attempts were unsuccessful.

According to Page Six, Jolie’s lawyers wanted to make a second attempt at the Oscars, though this time Pitt‘s attorneys would intervene.

Jolie‘s lawyers were apparently trying to subpoena Pitt to hand over records and correspondence relating to the Chateau Miraval winery that the pair had invested in while they were together.

What is Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s fallout over?

Pitt and Jolie invested in a winery while they were still together.

Following their separation, the couple now find themselves in a bitter dispute after Jolie sold her shares in the winery to a subsidiary of the liquor firm Stoli.

Pitt has since claimed that the shares could not be sold without his approval as he had the first right of refusal if Jolie were to sell any part of her stake in the company.…

Entertainment / Law / Movies / News

Black panther star Chadwick Boseman $2.3 Million fortune to be split

The actor unexpectedly succumbed to colon cancer in 2020, due to his unforeseen demise, there was no will left behind to guide the family on how to handle his fortune.

Boseman’s estate was originally valued at $3,881,758, according to court documents, but after the large funeral bill and lawyer fees the amount came down to $2.5 Million plus $157,000 in cash.

The widow, Ledward-Boseman produced documents with an account of all expenses incurred following Boseman’s death, asking to be reimbursed. The funeral costs amounted to around $50,000 including the purchase of a piece of land close to the actor’s resting place at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where his parents will be laid.

The actor’s company, Chadwick Boseman, Inc. allegedly owed a tax fee worth $51,000 and $900,000 was spent on a bond for a probate case. The remaining $2.3 Million will be split between the two parties with $1.15 Million each. It is said that the large sum in legal fees would have been avoided had Boseman drafted up a will. Taylor Simone Ledward and Boseman secretly tied the knot in 2019 three years after he was diagnosed with cancer. They had been together before the actor’s diagnosis. At the time of his death, Boseman had appeared in the Marvel high grossing superhero movie “Black Panther“, Black-American historic films ‘42‘, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom‘, ‘Get On Up‘ and ‘Da 5 Bloods‘.

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Entertainment / Law / Music / News

R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years for racketeering, sex trafficking

The singer was found guilty of one charge of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the transport of “any woman or girl” across state lines for any “immoral purpose,” in September 2021. According to PageSix, it took the jury consisting of seven men and five women nine hours across two days to come up with the verdict.

The prosecutors of the case had asked the judge for a sentence longer than 25 years.

Prosecutors also said he used his celebrity status and wealth to lure women, as well as underage girls and boys, for sex.

The judgment was earlier scheduled for May 5th but was later postponed.

It would be recalled that in 2021, the disgraced singer was found guilty of sexually abusing women, boys and girls for decades.

One of his victims was R&B singer Aaliyah, who Kelly illegally wed in a Chicago hotel room in 1994 when she was 15 years old.

Kelly’s legal team called a handful of ex-Kelly employees and associates to take the stand to discredit allegations the singer sexually abused women, girls and boys.

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Law / News

IPI Nigeria calls for withdrawal of vexatious charges against WikkiTimes Publisher, staff

The International Press Institute Nigeria has faulted the arrest, detention and subsequent arraignment before a Magistrate Court in Bauchi of the Publisher of WikkiTimes online newspaper, Haruna Mohammed, and a Reporter, Idris Kamal, by the police in Bauchi.

The journalists claimed they were physically assaulted while being held by operatives of the Nigeria Police.

A statement by the Secretary of the IPI Nigeria, Ahmed I. Shekarau, condemned the practice of using the police by civilians to harass and intimidate journalists, advising that “anyone who is aggrieved by any news item published by WikkiTimes should seek redress in court instead of using the police or other security agents to harass the journalists”.

The body said further that Nigeria’s legal system has made adequate provisions for protection of reputation. “IPI Nigeria demands the withdrawal and discontinuation of the vexatious charges filed against the two journalists with immediate effect,” the statement said. The body also called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to call the Bauchi State Police Command to order.…

Law / News / politics

Breaking: Supreme Court dismisses Buhari’s request to alter amended Electoral Act

The Supreme Court has struck out the suit by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami seeking to void the provision of Section 84(12) of the amended Electoral Act 2022.

A seven-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Musa Dattijo Mohammed, was unanimous in holding in its ruling Friday that Buhari, having participated in the making of the law by assenting to it, could not turn around to fault its provisions.

The court, which upheld the objections raised by the National Assembly (NASS) and other defendants against the suit, declined to determine it on the merit but declared that the Supreme Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear it and that the suit was an abuse of court process.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, in the lead judgment, held that it was an attack on the democratic principle of Separation of Powers for the President to seek to direct/request the Legislature to make a particular law or alter any law. The jurists held: “The President lacks the power to direct the National Assembly to amend or enact an act that violates the principle of separation of powers. “There is no part of the Constitution that makes the exercise of legislative powers subject to the directive of the President”.…

Football / Foreign / Fraud / Law / News

Ex-footballer Samuel Eto’o pleads guilty to tax fraud to avoid prison

Former Cameroon football star Samuel Eto’o has struck a deal with Spanish prosecutors to avoid going to jail for tax fraud he committed while playing for Barcelona, a court in the city announced Monday.

Eto’o, who played for Barcelona from 2004 to 2009, received a fine and a 22-month suspended sentence but will not serve any time, as is customary in Spain for prison terms of under two years for non-violent crimes.

Reports in Spain claim Eto’o, 41, will pay a fine of 1.8 million euros ($1.9 million).

The record four-time African footballer of the year and Jose Maria Mesalles — his former representative, who for his part was sentenced to 12 months and a fine — must reimburse Spanish tax authorities for the amount defrauded, around 3.9 million euros.

Prosecutors accused Eto’o of failing to declare income from the transfer of image rights between 2006 and 2009.

According to them, Eto’o transferred his image rights to a company based in Hungary which declared his earnings in that country, where the tax rate is one of the “lowest in Europe”.

A second Spanish company declared them in Spain at the corporate tax rate, less than the income tax that should have been paid.

Eto’o was the “real holder of the image rights”, maintained the prosecution, according to whom the transfer was fraudulent and only designed to pay less tax.

Eto’o, who last year was elected head of the Cameroonian football federation, is one of a number of football stars to have a run-in with Spanish tax authorities, following the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.…

Law / Movies / News

Court nullifies NBC’s amended code

The court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday May 26, declared the proposed code illegal, null and void and ‘ultra vires’

According to the court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, the NBC does not have the power to “prohibit exclusivity on and compel sub-licensing of privately acquired rights to television content as such is against the constitution and the copyright act.”

Recall that the controversial amendment was heavily criticized by notable filmmakers and Nollywood influencers.

IrokoTV boss Jason Njoku tweeted: “Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in making exclusivity illegal, compelling sub-licensing of content and regulating price, are effectively turning private enterprise in state property. Interference distorts markets. If implemented, this 100% destroys PayTV in Nigeria.”

The lawsuit nullifying the code was filed by filmmaker Femi Davies who claimed that the Code violates his intellectual property rights.

Davies argued that if allowed, the amendment would destabilize the growth of content making industries and discourage true craft.

The NBC, on the other hand, insisted that the amendment was done in a bid to initiate growth and to protect “local operators, promote creativity and maximize local content via the anti-trust provisions contained in the amendment.”

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Law / News / politics

Falana to Minister of Finance: You lack powers to suspend AGF

Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has told the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, that she lacks the power to suspend the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, over allegations of fraud.

Falana spoke amid allegations Idris was under probe for N80 billion fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He said it was only President Muhammadu Buhari that has such powers to suspend the AGF.

He said: “In exercise of his powers under section 171 of the Constitution, President Buhari appointed Ahmed Idris as the Accountant-General of the Federation on June 25, 2015. Upon the expiration of 4-year tenure, Mr Idris was reappointed as the Accountant-General of the Federation by the President on June 19, 2019. “It is submitted that by the combined effect of section 320 of the Constitution and section 11 of the Interpretation Act, it is the exclusive constitutional responsibility of President Buhari to suspend Mr Idris as the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“Specifically, section 11(1) (b) of the Interpretation Act provides that ‘Where an enactment confers a power to appoint a person either to an office or to exercise any functions, whether for a specified period or not, the power includes the power to remove or suspend him.’

“From the foregoing, it is undoubtedly clear that it is only the President who appointed Mr Idris as the Accountant-General of the Federation and reappointed him to the office that is constitutionally empowered to suspend him or interdict him pending his investigation and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“I believe that the Minister of Finance knows or ought to know that she lacks the power to suspend Mr Idris from duty since did not appoint or reappoint him as the Accountant-General of the Federation.

It is hoped that the Federal Government has not deliberately played into the hands of Mr Idris to provide a legal escape route for him as he may soon challenge his suspension in the National Industrial Court. Since the action of the Minister is illegal …

Law / News / politics

Just In: Osun poll: Court affirms Adeleke as PDP candidate

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State has affirmed Ademola Adeleke as Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the July 16th governorship election in Osun State.

The suit was filed by Prince Dotun Babayemi.

The court consequently affirmed Senator Ademola Adeleke as the validly elected PDP candidate for the poll.

In his judgement which took over one hour, 30 minutes, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel held that the primary election conducted at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, on March 8, 2022, which produced Babayemi was null and void. Details later……

Crime / Law / News

Girl raped by Facebook friend who promised her N3,000, demands N50,000 for her nude photos

A 25-year-old man, Ebenezer Adeshina, has been arrested by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command for rape and blackmailing of a 16-year-old girl (name withheld).

This was disclosed by the spokesman of the Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement he issued on Tuesday.

Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested on May 6, 2022 following a report lodged at Owode Egbado Police Divisional Headquarters by the victim, who reported that she met the suspect on Facebook sometime in 2021 and they have been chatting since then.

She stated further that her phone got spoilt along the line and she couldn’t chat with the suspect again.

But in the month of March this year, the suspect called her and asked why she didn’t chat with him anymore, to which she informed him of her spoilt phone.

The suspect there and then asked her to come to his house to collect the sum of N3,000 for the repair of the phone.

On getting there, the suspect offered her a drink, which she took, unknown to her that the drink has been laced with a sedative drug.

Immediately she took the drink, she became unconscious and the suspect used the opportunity to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her against her wish.

After having sex with her in the state of unconsciousness, the suspect took her nude pictures and started threatening to upload the pictures on social media if she didn’t pay him the sum of N50,000.

Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Owode Egbado Division, CSP Muhammad S. Baba, detailed his detectives to go after the suspect.

He was eventually apprehended and he has confessed to the commission of the crime.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labor Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.…

Drugs / Fraud / Law / News

N22b tramadol: Businessman sues NDLEA, demands N200m, apology

A businessman, Ukatu Afamefuna Mallinson, has filed a fundamental rights suit asking the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to order the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to release him “forthwith” and “unconditionally” or upon such terms as the court may deem fit.

Ukatu is the Managing Director of Mallinson & Partners Ltd, whom the NDLEA alleged imported two containers containing 1,284 cartons of Tramadol worth N22b in 2019 and also claimed was behind a N3b shipment of Tramadol linked to the disgraced police chief, Abba Kyari.

But Ukatu, asides protesting his innocence, also averred that the NDLEA not only failed to arraign him in court, despite there being a Federal High Court within a 40km radius of where he is being held, but had also failed to grant him administrative bail since his arrest on April 13, 2022.

He prayed the court to declare that his arrest by the NDLEA on April 13, at the Murtala Muhammed local Airport Terminal, Ikeja, Lagos, and continued detention in its cell at the NDLEA office at NAHCO Compound, International Airport Road, was “without reasonable cause or upon reasonable suspicion” of a crime,” and violates his fundamental rights. He further prayed for an order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the NDLEA from “re-arresting, further re-detaining, further re-incarcerating” him contrary to his fundamental rights to liberty and freedom as enshrined in Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) among other laws.

The applicant made the prayers in his originating summons in Suit FHC/L/CS/796/2022 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, filed by his counsel Victor Opara, SAN, of Victor Opara’s Chambers.

In the alternative, the businessman prayed for an order admitting him to bail on the most liberal terms pending the conclusion of NDLEA’s investigation and/or his arraignment.

He further sought an order directing the NDLEA to tender a public apology to him for the “unlawful arrest and unlawful detention” to be published in three national newspapers to wit: Punch, The Nation, Vanguard.

The applicant further prayed for an order directing the NDLEA to pay him, …

Fraud / Law / News / politics

Probe: Court orders CCT Chairman to appear before Senate

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to appear before the Senate.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the order was to allow Umar to face his probe over alleged public misconduct.

The judge held that Umar is answerable to the Senate on moral standards and conduct as a public officer administering the law.

Justice Ekwo stated that Umar’s suit seeking to stop his probe by the Senate lacked merit and was consequently dismissed.

The Senate asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by Umar seeking to stop his probe for alleged misconduct.

Umar had initially gone to court to challenge the powers of the Senate to investigate him over an alleged assault he perpetrated against a security guard at the Banex Plaza.

He was alleged to have publicly assaulted one Sargwak, a security guard at the Banex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja, following a disagreement between them over a parking space on the premises.

Details later……

Law / Music / News

Black Sherif sued; investor seeks crucial reliefs from Court

According to reports, Shadrach Agyei Owusu filed this suit against Black Sherif because the artiste has abandoned him after he invested in his career.

Several weeks ago, Black Sherif signed a distribution deal with Empire, an American distribution company and record label.

Days later, concerns came from the camp of his supposed manager, who claimed that the artiste had signed the deal without telling him.

Sources suggest the contract between Black Sherif and this investor requires that the artiste carries out all his activities through the him – Shadrack Agyei Owusu.

As a result of that, he has filed a writ praying the court to grant him about four relieves.

He wants the court to prevent Black Sherif from performing at events that he has not given consent to. In addition, he has requested the court to order all funds accrued from the artiste’s online streams to be preserved.

Shadrach also wants a receiver to be taking the proceeds of all funds that will be accrued from any activity that Black Sherif engages in.

All of this was contained in a writ of summons dated April 11, 2022. Black Sherif and his lawyers are required to respond within 8 days.

This is happening at a time Black Sherif is, arguably, the most sought-after artiste around the world because of the tremendous heights his song ‘Kwaku The Traveller’ has reached.

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Crime / Fraud / Law

Man who defrauded companies of N266m posing as Army General lands in prison

An Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos State on Monday ordered that a man, Bolarinwa Oluwasegun, be remanded for allegedly impersonating a Nigerian Army General and defrauding two companies of N266 million.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ordered that he be remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending hearing in the bail  application.

Justice Taiwo adjourned the case until April 14.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defendant had pleaded not guilty to the 13-count-charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretenses, forgery and possession of document containing false pretenses. Earlier, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission persecution counsel, Abbas Muhammed, urged the court to remand the defendant pending hearing in his bail application.

Muhammed said: “We received a summon for bail dated April 8.

“While we are still within time to respond, we urge the court to remand the defendant, pending our response and hearing in the bail application.”

The EFCC alleged that the defendant falsely presented himself as a General in the Nigerian Army and collected N266,500 million from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited and DE-Rock Marine Resources Limited.

Muhammed also alleged that the defendant with the intent to defraud paraded himself as a General in the Nigerian Army and obtained N247,500 million from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited.

He added: “The defendant obtained the money under false pretext that the money represented part of the amount expended to press and process his upcoming appointment as the Chief Of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, a representation he knew to be false.”

The prosecution also alleged that the defendant obtained N19 million from De-Rock Marine Resource Limited.

Muhammed told the court that the defendant committed the offence in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 in Lagos.

He submitted that the defendant allegedly forged a “Letter Of Appointment As Chief Of Army Staff” dated May 20, 2020 and purportedly said the document emanated from the Presidency.

He also alleged that the defendant forged a Nigerian Army Identity Card with serial number 387140.

The defendant was also alleged to have been in possession …

Entertainment / Law / News

Princess told me to kiss, suck the child’s br*ast – Baba Ijesha tells court

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baba Ijesha made this revelation while being led in evidence by the defence counsel, Dada Awosika (SAN).

Baba Ijesha told the court that the foster mother of the minor, Ms Damilola Adekoya, a comedian also known as Princess, had called and requested him to be part of the movie production.

“On April 19, 2021, Princess sent me a message that she wanted to start a production and she would like me to play the role of a lover boy which I replied ‘okay’.

“She said I was to play the role of a lover boy adding that she wanted to surprise people that I can also play normal roles.

“She said the story is about rape and she wanted to tell the story in another dimension,” he said.

The defence counsel tendered before the court, a printout of WhatsApp message between Princess and the defendant, which was admitted into evidence by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.

The embattled actor said he asked Princess for the movie location but she told him to come over to her house.

“Before I entered, Princess met me at the balcony that the movie production was a Lagos State project, adding that the state wanted her to be the face of ‘anti child molestation.’

“She told me to improvise and create a story by myself. I told her the house was dark when I entered. She said we should rehearse that she would use her phone.

“Princess told me to kiss and suck the breast of the child, adding that the dress the girl was wearing was purposely for the role the girl wanted to play.

“She would leave the room so that the child would not be shy to play out the role.

“All those things we are seeing in that video is just acting. My lord check my record when it comes to acting, I can kill myself and die for acting. She was the one directing and filming my angles,” he said.

Baba

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Crime / Drugs / Law / News

Abba Kyari pleads not guilty to drug trafficking

Suspended DCP Abba Kyari  on Monday pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Kyari told Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, following his arraignment, alongside six others, on allegations bordering on drug trafficking.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while Kyari pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four and eight levelled against him, the other four police officers, who are defendants in the trial, also pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three and four filed against them.

But Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively, pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven preferred against them. Although their names were also mentioned in counts three and four where allegations bordering on conspiracy were leveled against Kyari and others, they were not asked to take a plea on these two counts.

The four members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Shortly after taking their plea, the NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, prayed the court for a trial date for the 1st to 5th defendants

Sunday also urged the court to grant a leave to review the charges against  Umeibe and Ezenwanne who pleaded guilty for the charges against them.

“We hope to file our proof of evidence latest tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.

Kanu Agabi, SAN, who led a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for Kyari and Ubia,  however informed that a bail application had been filed in respect of his clients.

The NDLEA’s lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, who confirmed being served with the bail application, said a counter affidavit had been filed in its opposition.

The NDLEA, in the …