TOPGISTPEDIA.

A Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, discharged and acquitted a 15-year-old girl accused of murdering her father’s 51-year-old friend who allegedly tried to rape her. The Chief Magistrate, Adebowale Ojo, struck out the murder charge filed by the police against the Senior Secondary School (SSS), three pupil. The Magistrate said the court had received the DPP’s report and that the report corroborated the facts of the matter as set out in the case file. Ojo said that there were “insufficient facts to establish a prima facie case of murder against the suspect”. However, he discharged and acquitted the suspect. Reacting to the new judgment, the teenager’s parents thanked the Lagos state government and OPD for coming to their rescue with free services. NAN reports that the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti, on March 24, charged the teenager to court alleging that she had stabbed the deceased, Mr. Babatunde Ishola, to death. The

Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, Director-General (DG), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has cautioned Nigerians to desist from justifying rape or get arrested as suspects. Okah-Donli said this while answering questions from newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday. She queried parents for not doing enough to take care of their wards and children, explaining that 90 per cent of rape cases were committed by uncles, fathers and relations. According to her, many careless acts by parents are responsible for rape cases across the country. She, therefore, said that the agency would approach the Ministry of Justice to push for the establishment of special court to try rapists. Okah-Donli also called for life imprisonment instead of capital punishment for convicted rapists, adding that there was need to educate Nigerians, especially neighbours on rape issues. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agency’s toll-free lines to call during distress, esp

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it has secured the conviction of nine internet fraudsters. They were sentenced in Ogun State by two judges of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta. The EFCC, in a statement on Tuesday, said Toheeb Abdulrasheed and Chukwuebuka Isaac Dike were sentenced on Monday by Justice Mohammed Abubakar for their involvement in internet-related fraud. Dike, it was learnt, claimed to be a 100-level Biochemistry student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB); he was sentenced to three months in prison. Also, Abdulrasheed, who bagged four months jail term was said to have claimed to be a graduate of Business Administration from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta. Having pleaded guilty to their respective one-count charge, the EFCC said the judge also ordered that Abdulrasheed restituted the sum of $600 to his victim and to also forfeit his iPhone 6 to the Federal Government. Dike, it was gathered, was or

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband of 72 years, on Wednesday marked his 99th birthday . Philip, whose official title is the Duke of Edinburgh, is expected to celebrate in private, with no public events scheduled. The queen and Philip left London for Windsor Castle in April, as a sensible precaution amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the royal family said. He is the oldest and the longest-serving consort in British history, described by the 94-year-old queen as her `constant strength and guide’. His eldest son, Prince Charles, heir to the throne, wished him a happy birthday via Twitter, as did his grandson, Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Buckingham Palace issued a new photograph of Philip and the queen together, taken at Windsor Castle in 2019. Philip, who is popular with the public, is known for his strong sense of duty. He has attended few engagements with the queen, since announcing his retirement from most public duties in May 2017.

As reported earlier on several news agencies, flamboyant Nigerian big boy, Hushpuppi and his friend, Woodbery were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence and the International Police, last night in Dubai. According to reports, they were picked up on account of money laundering after some cases of fraud was linked to them. They allegedly were part of a Nigerian scam ring who stole $35million COVID-19 Stimulus cash through fraudulent unemployment benefits. Reports say they were implicated by the Secret Service. HushPuppi, Woodberry and others arrested are reportedly on their way to America. Their properties have also been sealed with warrants. It would be recalled that earlier this year, a similar raid by the FBI was made on Hushpuppi’s former friend, Dubai-based Nigerian billionaire Mompha who was also arrested for money laundering.