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Court Orders Popular Cleric Daddy Hezekiah To Pay Bank Manager N10m For Human Rights Abuse

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, 10th June 2024, ordered popular Anambra Cleric and founder of Living Christ Mission, Rev Onokogu Hezekiah, (a.k.a Daddy Hezekiah) to pay Polaris Bank Manger, Dr Hezekiah Duru the sum of N10 million for unlawful arrest and detention.

The cleric, Daddy Hezekiah, had written a petition against the Applicant, Dr Duru on an alleged financial misappropriation and breach of trust, which resulted in his arrest and detention under police custody.

However, Justice D. Okorowo faulted the action of Daddy Hezekiah and the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and A.C.P. Asuquo (Officer in Charge of S.I.U of the I.G.P Office), through which the arrest and detention was carried out.

Justice Okorowo in his ruling, held that the Respondent’s action was a denial of the applicant’s fundamental human right because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was already investigating the allegation.

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In the FHC/ABJ/CS/3/2024 suit, Justice D. Okorowo also faulted the warrant order obtained from the Nasarawa State Magistrate Court.

The Court judgment by Justice Okorowo in favour of the Applicant, Dr. Duru, holds as follows:

(1) A declaration is made that the arrest, detention and purported investigation of the Applicant from the 11th day of December 2023 till 29th day of December 2023 by the Respondents on the petition of the 1st Respondent on an allegation of financial misappropriation/embezzlement/cheating/breach of trust already being investigated is an infringement of the Applicant’s right to personal liberty, fair hearing, right to dignity of his person as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 and African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

(2) A declaration is made that the order/warrant for the detention of the Applicant obtained by the Respondents from the Nasarawa State Magistrate Courts is unlawful, an abuse of powers, an abuse of judicial process, and an infringement of the Applicant’s right to a fair hearing, and personal liberty.

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(3) An Order is made directing the release of the Applicant, Amb. Dr. Hezekiah Chinenye Duru forthwith from Police custody.

(4) An Order of injunction is made restraining the Nigerian police and its officers from arresting, detaining or further violating or doing anything capable of undermining, threatening, or interfering with the fundamental rights of the Applicant, His Excellency Amb. Dr. Hezekiah Chinenye Duru.

(5) An award of 10 Million Naira Damages jointly and severally against Rev Onukogu and the Nigerian police, the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police, and ACP Asuqou (the officer in Charge of the Special Investigation Unit of the IGP office).

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Mahama’s inauguration: Ghanaian police IG controls traffic

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Being a typically busy day in Accra, due to the inauguration of the President-Elect, John Dramani Mahama, and his vice, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the traffic situation especially around the Independence Square is expected to be challenging.

And, although he had already deployed many police personnel to the grounds of the inauguration to ensure security, law, and order, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, was forced at a point to help in the work itself.

In images shared by Daily Graphic on Facebook, the IGP was captured directing traffic at a certain part of the city.

This is believed to have happened as he headed to the Black Star Square to join other invited guests and dignitaries for the inauguration of John Mahama as the president of Ghana.

“The IGP stepped out of his car en route to the inauguration grounds to direct traffic,” the caption of the post on Facebook said.

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The momentous and historic occasion has drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally.

It is expected to be attended by 21 Heads of State, alongside three vice presidents, four ministers, and 24 envoys.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Information, the swearing-in ceremony will also feature a number of dignitaries from across the world, including 21 Heads of State from Africa and beyond.

Other dignitaries from across all sectors of the economy, including foreign leaders and security service personnel are also in attendance.

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Source: www.ghanaweb.com

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ICPC drags El-rufai’s ex-Chief of Staff to court over alleged money laundering

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged former Chief of Staff, to former Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, to the Federal High Court.

Saidu who was also a one-time Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State during the El Rufai’s administration, was charged along with    one Ibrahim Muktar, ‘’a public officer in the employment of Ministry of Finance,’’ on Tuesday.

According to charge No FHC/KD/IC/2025,  the defendants are being accused of a two-count charges of Money Laundering, contrary to earlier claim that Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu had  been exonerated of all charges after 10 months of investigation.

The court document stated that sometime in March 2022 or thereabouts, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, who at that time Commissioner of Finance, ‘’did accept cash payment of the sum of N155,000,000.00 from one Ibrahim Muktar exceeding the amount authorised by law, which sum you received in cash through proxy to wit: Muazu Abdu, your Special Assistant and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section2(a) and punishable under the Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’’

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The ICPC  also alleged that in the same March 2022 or thereabouts, Bashir Saidu ‘’indirectly took control of the sum of N155, 000,000.00 received in cash for and on behalf of you by one Muazu Abdul from Ibrahim Muktar, which fund you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: corruption and you hereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’’

Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 states that ‘’any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection(2) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than four years but not more than fourteen years or a fine not less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime or both.’’

The charge  which was signed by the Assistant Chief Legal Officer of ICPC, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, was filed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Holden in Kaduna.

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Enugu State Government System Hacked, Over N1 Billion Stolen — Police reveals

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Police authorities on Tuesday, revealed how a cyber criminal hacked into the system of the Enugu State Government and stole the whooping sum of N1,097,700,300 from its coffers.

The police said it took the swift intervention of the operatives of its departments, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), to trace the hacker and recover the stolen money.

The spokesman of the Force, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja during a press briefing, gave the name of the suspected hacker as Onuma Osita.

The police image maker told newsmen that the hacker had already been taken into custody while the funds estimated to be $754,977 had been recovered and returned to the state government purse.

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Adejobi said, “NPF-NCCC investigated a report by the Enugu State Government against one Onuma Osita who defrauded the Enugu State Government of over N1bn in a procurement fraud.

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