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Woman accosts man who defrauded her in court while he was appearing for another case

A dramatic scene unfolded at the Pretoria Magistrates Court when a Free State woman confronted and apprehended a man she accused of defrauding her of R800,000 from her pension money.

 As 60-year-old Thabo Chele stepped off the dock after appearing for a separate fraud case, the woman grabbed him by the arm and demanded her money, declaring, “I have been looking for you, and you thought I would never find you. I want my money.”

Chele was appearing alongside his alleged son, Kingsley Chele, for a fraud case where they are accused of scamming victims out of more than R1.2 million. The two, along with three Home Affairs officials, are facing charges of fraud and corruption. The officials are alleged to have provided Chele, who is accused of posing as a doctor, with a fraudulent ID.

The woman had been searching for Thabo since April last year and traveled 150 kilometers from Daneysville to Pretoria after learning about his court appearance. She had last seen him and another accomplice in April when they convinced her to invest her pension money in a scheme, promising her a R5 million return. In December, she recognized a picture of Thabo in Sowetan after his initial arrest and immediately contacted investigator Colonel Masoding Simon Motolla, whose contact details were in the article.

“As I was sitting in court, I saw him [Thabo] coming in and getting into the witness box, and by that time, Motolla was not yet inside the court as he was stuck in traffic. A few minutes later, I saw him walking in. When the case was postponed, I saw Thabo getting out of the dock, and I grabbed him by my left hand and pulled him outside the court. That’s when I started making a noise that he defrauded me and I asked him for my money back. He just kept quiet. Police came and arrested him,” the woman said.

Authorities allege that Thabo and Kingsley Chele targeted medical workers, persuading them to invest in a non-existent pharmacy business before vanishing with their money. The woman is believed to be their latest victim after being deceived into handing over R800,000 from her pension fund.

She recalled being introduced to Thabo by someone she knew as Moosa, who claimed Thabo was a herbalist. Together, they convinced her to invest in their business, knowing she was nearing retirement. “They knew I was about to retire but they convinced me to take an early retirement, cash out my pension, and give it to them, promising that my investment would grow into R5 million.”

After withdrawing the money, she was invited to an ancestral ceremony in Vereeniging, where Thabo allegedly performed rituals to increase her investment. She claimed that after the ceremony, both men disappeared with her money.

The duty of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to take judicial notice of the record of proceedings of the House of Assembly on the date Amawhule and 26 others defected

By Tonye Clinton Jaja

Hon. J. I. Ekpenkhio v. Hon. Matthew Egbadon (1962-2001)1 Legislative Law Reports of Nigeria (LLRN) pages 307 to 336, the Supreme Court of Nigeria held that: The Court has a duty to take judicial notice of the record of proceedings of the House of Assembly as stipulated under Section 73 of the Evidence Act”.

In accordance with the above named judgment, it is reasonable to expect that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, would consider the words and actions of Amawhule and the 26 Others on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly during the plenary session in December 2023.

According to the Hansard (which is a verbatim report of the proceedings of any legislature), the then Deputy Speaker, Mail, was granted permission by Amawhule to take the floor and then:

“According to a letter signed by Maol and read by Amaewhule, their “defection was necessitated by the division in the PDP, particularly, the tussle around who the National Secretary of the party is”.

This action was followed by public waving of the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by all the 27 Amawhule members, there are photographs and videos to buttress and substantiate this.

Not yet done, at another forum, Amawhule is quoted by the Vanguard newspaper as saying on
December 17, 2023, as follows:

“The factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Martins Chike Amaewhule said the twenty-seven lawmakers decided to defect from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC because of the crisis rocking the state chapter of the PDP.

Amaewhule also said that they left their former party because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing very well with the appointments of Rivers indigenes into various key positions in his government.

The lawmaker stated that the 4-man group led by Rt. Hon Edison Ehie cannot form a quorum and whatever they are doing in the name of the Assembly is null and void.

Speaking during a dedication service and stakeholders meeting of the APC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Sunday, Amaewhule said “We begged Mr President, the former president could not attend to the problems of the State, so we begged Mr President (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) that we have a problem. Look at the east west road. The road leading to Ogoni, the president that is not in our party unlike the previous president. The president gave us his words and said go back home irrespective of your party, I am a detribalized Nigerian, that’s what the president told us.

“We defected in line to the provision of the 1999 Constitution, section 109. We didn’t do anything contrary to the constitution. We have evidence that there is crisis in the PDP. We have every right under the constitution to defect.

According to a letter signed by Maol and read by Amaewhule, their “defection was necessitated by the division in the PDP, particularly, the tussle around who the National Secretary of the party is”.

By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
Executive Director,
Nigerian Law Society (NLS).

Lecturer jailed for life over rape of his student

Photo Credit: Debonair Nestory -www.pexels.com

An Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a part-time lecturer at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Kolawole Muyiwa, to life imprisonment for raping a student.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, who handed down the jail term, held that the prosecution was able to prove the ingredients of defilement against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.

The charge stated that Muyiwa committed the offence on October 11, 2021, at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos State.

When he was arraigned on October 6, 2023, Muyiwa pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses: the victim, a lawyer and vice chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Badagry branch, Caroline Ibe, and the Investigation Police Officer, Olufunke.

While delivering the judgment, Justice Oshodi noted that the convict was a part-time lecturer at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education now Lagos State University of Education.

The judge held that the testimonies of the survivor corroborated those of the lawyer and the IPO.

“The survivor, in her testimony before the court, said, “On October 11, 2021, she arrived early for a departmental meeting scheduled for 10 am. While waiting outside her classroom, the convict approached and requested her to get him food, though she initially declined due to her pending meeting.

“She later followed Muyiwa to get a flask to buy the food. He led her to the office. When they got inside the office, the convict said he no longer wanted the food but needed help to mark some examination scripts.

“She added that Muyiwa went outside, returned, and then locked the passage gate and office door,” Oshodi said.

The victim, in her evidence, also told the court that when electricity was restored, Muyiwa pulled down the window curtain and turned on the light, claiming the sun’s reflection was affecting the office.

She added that Muyiwa asked if she had a boyfriend, to which she said no.

“He suddenly pushed me down the plastic chair I was sitting on. He overpowered me and forcefully removed my trousers. I was menstruating at the time, but he removed my sanitary pad and had forceful sexual intercourse with me.

The survivor said that after he had sex with her, he said ‘What you refused to give me willingly, I have taken it by force.”

Ibe, in her testimony, testified that the survivor contacted her in November 2021, and she then interviewed the survivor.

She also stated that she visited the crime scene and met with the school authority.

However, several documents were tendered and admitted in evidence, including medical reports.

Muyiwa, who is a married man and also a father of three, in his defence, denied raping the survivor.

He testified that on October 11, 2021, when he came to the college to record and submit scripts, he met the survivor who offered to help him carry his bag upon reaching the gate.

The convict told the court that he asked her if she could help record scores, which she agreed. But she informed him that she had a meeting.

Muyiwa also told the court that he asked the survivor for a relationship while inside his office, and she accepted.

He explained that the relationship meant was, “To be together, to talk, relate with one another, but not for a sexual relationship.”

The convict’s counsel, Dr G.O Erenta, in his final written address, had told the court to discharge and acquit Muyiwa as the evidence of the survivor was fictitious and no corroborating evidence was established.

Justice Oshodi, in his judgement, found Muyiwa guilty of the offence of rape.

He held that the survivor gave a detailed account of how the convict raped her even under cross-examination.

“Also, the convict’s admission of asking the survivor for a relationship though he claimed to be a platonic relationship.

“Kolawole Muyiwa, I have found you guilty of rape contrary to Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

“I note that you are a first-time offender with no criminal record, and you are married with three children and also served as a part-time lecturer. However, the gravity of the offence committed cannot be overlooked.

“As a part-time lecturer, you occupied the position of trust and authority which you abused; the victim was a student at the institution where you taught.

“Section 260 of the Criminal Law proscribes life imprisonment punishment for your crime, and that is what I shall give you.

“You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment, and your name shall also be registered as a sex offender in the Lagos State Sex Offender Register,” Oshodi said.

PUNCH

Wike says Supreme Court has ended impunity in Rivers

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hailed the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, which nullified the recent local government elections in Rivers State and upheld the legitimacy of the 27-member Martin Amaewhule-led State Assembly.

Speaking in Abuja after the judgment, Wike declared that the apex court’s decision has effectively ended the reign of impunity in Rivers State.

The former Rivers governor also took a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, accusing them of supporting lawlessness in the state.

According to Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has no choice but to fully comply with the Supreme Court’s verdict, as it represents the final legal authority on the matter.

The ruling marks a major development in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, reinforcing the authority of the Amaewhule-led Assembly while nullifying the controversial local government elections.

Edo man who murdered his wife allegedly attacked her with machete three days to their wedding

Edo man who k!lled his wife allegedly attacked her with machete three days to their wedding

Kelvin Osamede Izekor, who killed his wife, Ugiagbe Success Izekor, in Edo State, allegedly attacked her with a machete three days to their wedding. 

An X user, whose mother has a shop close to the deceased’s own at Oregbemi market in Ikpoba Hill area of Benin City, made the claim on Thursday, February 27.

“This woman’s shop was close to my mum’s. Oregbeni market, ikpoba hill to be precise. It was a sad news for us all. To think he used a machete on her 3 days to their wedding but she still went ahead to marry him! Why? I know not. He’s popularly called kelvo. A monster tru and tru,” she wrote. 

LIB reported that the incident happened at No. 50 Upper Mission extension, Benin City on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

The couple got married on June 29, 2025.  

Edo man who k!lled his wife allegedly attacked her with machete three days to their wedding
Edo man who k!lled his wife allegedly attacked her with machete three days to their wedding

Supreme Court declares Rivers’ LG election invalid, null, void

The Supreme Court on Friday declared as invalid, illegal, null and void, the local government election conducted in Rivers state on October 5 last year and won by the All People’s Party (APP).

The Apex Court held that the election was invalid because all conditions precedent billed to be implemented were jettisoned by the Rivers State Electoral Commission.

Justice Jamilu Tukur who delivered the lead verdict held that the council poll was conducted in gross violations of section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022.

A Federal High court in Abuja on Monday, September 30, 2024, stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the October 5, 2024, local government elections in the state.

The Court had also barred the Inspector General of Police IGP and the Department of the State Service DSS from providing security.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order against INEC while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The suit was argued on behalf of the APC by a team of senior lawyers comprising Joseph Daudu, Sebastine Hon and Ogwu James Onoja, all SANs.

Justice Lifu held that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the October 5 date for the conduct of the poll into the 23 local governments when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with.

Among others, the Judge held that the failure of the Rivers Electoral body violated the provisions of local governments’ election conduct law by not publishing the mandatory 90-day notice before fixing the date.

Justice Peter Lifu also held that the update and revision of the voter register ought to have been concluded before an election date conduct be legally and validity fixed in law.

The Judge therefore ordered INEC not to make the certified voter register available to RSIEC until the law has been fully complied with.

Justice Peter Lifu also barred RSIEC from accepting any voter register from INEC or using it for the purpose of the October 5 local government poll.

[UPDATED] Rivers State House of Assembly Crises: Supreme bars CBN from releasing funds to RVSG

  • Amaehule-led House of Assembly to resume unhindered sitting
  • Cost of N 5m against the Respondents.

The Supreme Court, on Friday, reinstated the judgement that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State.

The apex court in the judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, the Supreme Court also ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and other elected members of the House to forthwith resume sitting, unhindered.

The court faulted the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for vacating the initial order that stopped the release of funds to Rivers State from the consolidated revenue following the failure of Governor Siminalaye Fubara’s refusal to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill of the state before the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It held that contrary to the verdict of the appellate court, the Federal High Court in Abuja had the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the suit the Amaewhule-led 27 lawmakers filed to challenge the continued withdrawal and expenditure of funds belonging to the state without the approval of the State Assembly.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, held that the appellate court misapprehended the core issue in dispute when it pegged it on the consolidated revenue of Rivers State alone.

“This wrong view influenced it to hold that the subject matter was not within the power of the Federal High Court,” the Supreme Court noted, stressing that what was at the center of the case was the refusal of Governor Fubara to obey a subsisting court order mandating him to present the Appropriation Bill to the valid Assembly.

It agreed with the high court that the 27 lawmakers that allegedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, are still valid members of the Rivers Assembly, pending the final determination of their status.

The Supreme Court dismissed Governor Fubara’s claim that given the defection of the lawmakers, he had to invoke the doctrine of necessity by presenting the Appropriation Bill to the only five remaining members of the Assembly.

According to the court, the doctrine of necessity could not be invoked to justify an illegal action.

The Apex court lambasted the governor for engaging in criminal activity of demolishing the House of Assembly with impunity just to prevent 27 legislators in the House of Assembly from sitting to carry out lawful activities. N5 million cost was awarded against him.

Justice Agim ordered that the Clerk and Deputy Clerk who were unlawfully redeployed out of the House of Assembly must be allowed to resume work alongside the House of Assembly workers.

The court held that it was an aberration for Governor Fubara to operate with only 4 out of the 32 House of Assembly members under the guise of baseless fears that he would be impeached.

According to the Justices, Fubara by his unlawful act among others, collapsed the House of Assembly and used his immunity under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to carry out barbaric acts against the rule of law.

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Federal high court, both in Abuja which had earlier declared the acts against the 27 state of House of Assembly members as unlawful and illegal.

The federal high court had held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January last year by Governor Siminalayi Fubara was a Constitutional somersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik who delivered the Federal high court judgment had last year issued an order that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a 4-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the Constitutional provision.

Specifically, the Judge had said that Fubara action in implementing unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.

The judge had therefore restrained CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.

Details later.

Breaking News: Rivers State House of Assembly Crises: Supreme bars CBN from releasing funds to RVSG

  • Amaehule-led House of Assembly to resume unhindered sitting
  • Cost of N 5m against the Respondents.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop the release of funds to the Rivers State government forthwith until a proper House of Assembly is constituted.

On the validity of the members of the house who had defected from the political party that brought them to the house, the Court held that the judgement of the Court of Appeal is final and binding as the Appeal to the Supreme Court on the issue, was withdrawn and dismissed.

The apex court then ordered the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly to resume sitting immediately with all elected members.

More details to follow…

    Senate of The Federal Republic of Nigeria: Beware of the ides of March, and beware the ghost of Monica Lewinsky

    By Tonye Clinton Jaja

    Rumour has it that this whole saga between Senator Natasha and the Senate President about seating arrangements at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is just a smoke screen, a tip of the iceberg.

    “For once gossip may be right” as old King Priam said in the movie “Troy”

    It appears that beneath the surface, “behind the clouds”, the main issue has to do with the affairs and matters arising from “the other room”!!! Or as PMB would pronounce it: “the Oza room”!!!

    Is it just me or does anyone notice that all this Pandora’s box is supposed to be opened during the month of March 2025?

    Senator Natasha is supposed to be “arraigned” before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions during the month of March.

    She is being charged with disorderly conduct, shouting and not obeying the directives of the Senate President during one of the plenary sessions of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    In addition to these charges, there is also the charge of “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits” to attend the plenary sessions of the Senate (although I don’t know whether the Senate Committee will handle this as two different charges namely: pancaking her face as one charge and wearing transparent outfits as another charge).

    On her part, Senator Natasha alleges that the Senate President has committed a more egregious OFFENSE, which she promised to reveal during her appearance before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    Senator Natasha has appealed that arrangements should be made for live broadcast and streaming of her session before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    All this drama is planned for the month of March 2025, which reminds us of the Ides of March!!!

    “The Ides of March is a day in the ancient Roman calendar that corresponds to March 15 on the Gregorian calendar. It is associated with misfortune and doom.

    Significance
    The Ides of March is best known as the day in 44 BCE when Julius Caesar was assassinated.
    The phrase “beware the Ides of March” appears in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. In the play, a soothsayer warns Caesar of the impending assassination.
    The Ides of March is a turning point in Roman history.

    Etymology
    The word “Ides” comes from the Latin word iduare, which means “to divide”.

    In the ancient Roman calendar, the Ides fell on the day of the full moon, which marked the middle of the month of March”.

    It is true that there is no law that prohibits the Senate President (or any other Senator for that matter) from asking out a female colleague or making sexual advances (provided they are above the age of 18 and give their consent), it is perfectly legal, however, is it “appropriate”, is it ethical?

    This is the question that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions may be required to answer.

    Oftentimes, it is not the legality of a matter that makes the headlines because as we know: “the law is an ass” and can be swayed in any direction by those that hold its puppet strings.

    It is the morality, and ethical aspects that may linger in the minds of the Nigerian public.

    This whole matter is starting to resemble the ghost of the Monica Lewinsky Saga.

    “Bill Clinton admitted in a taped grand jury testimony on August 17, 1998, that he had engaged in an “improper physical relationship” with Lewinsky. That evening he gave a nationally televised statement admitting that his relationship with Lewinsky was “not appropriate”.

    Coincidentally, both Monica Lewinsky and Senator Natasha have Eastern European blood flowing through their veins, what is it about these Eastern European women and bringing down the reputation of high and mighty men?!!!!

    Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
    Executive Director,
    Nigerian Law Society (NLS).

    Only Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (NEW) Can Rescue Senator Natasha: As he rescued Joi Nunieh from Godswill Obot Akpabio-GOA”

    By Tonye Clinton Jaja

    At this point, it will be advisable for Senator Natasha to consult NEW, he seems to have the “silver bullet” against GOA.

    It was NEW that recused Dr. Joi Nunieh from the predicament that she found herself when GOA came after her.

    It is reported as follows:

    “‘I SLAPPED AKPABIO FOR SEXUALLY HARASSING ME’

    In July 2020, Joy Nunieh, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), claimed she slapped Akpabio, who was then the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, for sexually assaulting her.

    “Why did he not tell Nigerians that I slapped him in his guest house at Apo? I am the only Ogoni woman, the only Nigerian woman that has slapped him. I slapped him because of his plan B. Since he couldn’t get me to take that money, he thought that he could come up on me ,” while entertaining questions on an Arise TV programme at the time.”

    Notice her choice of words: “…GOA thought he could come up on me”!!

    The interesting thing is that all the people involved are all lawyers!!!

    Grab your popcorn!!!

    It promises to be an interesting drama!!!

    Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
    Executive Director,
    Nigerian Law Society (NLS).

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