Woman in Court for poisoning her 7-Months-Old Baby

A mother, Mrs. Terdoo Aleva, today appeared before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates' Court for allegedly killing her own seven months old daughter.

The 42-year-old house wife was charged with culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 222 of the Penal Code.

The Police prosecuting officer, Insp. Hyacinth Gbakor, told the court that the woman's husband, Mr. Terhemen Aleva of Ako-Yawe Street, Gboko in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, reported the matter on Aug. 19th, at the Gboko Police Station.

 He said that the complainant had accused his wife of feeding the deceased with a liquid substance locally called novan or otapiapia, which he claimed she bought at N20.

According to the prosecution, the baby died instantly and the the woman had in the course of investigation confessed to the crime.

The prosecutor also told the court that the accused had also confessed to the police that she terminated the baby's life because she wanted to return to her former husband with whom she had three children.

 Reports gathered, was that, the woman's plea was not taken but the Chief Magistrate, Cecilia Bakare ordered that she be remanded at the Federal Prison, Makurdi and adjourned the case to Sept. 27th for more hearing.

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Court orders hospital to pay unlawfully dismissed HIV positive staff N7 million

A Lagos State High Court has awarded the sum of N7 million in favour of an HIV-infected woman, Mrs. Georgina Ahamefule, against a Lagos-based hospital, Imperial Medical Centre (IMC) and its Chief Medical Director, Dr. Alex Molokwu.

 

The judgment is coming 12 years after it was first filed on behalf of Mrs. Ahamefule by a non-governmental organisation, Social Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC).SERAC had filed the suit on the 14^th of July, 2000 to contest the termination of Georgina Ahamefule’s employment as an auxiliary nurse by the Imperial Medical Centre and Dr. Molokwu on the grounds of her HIV status.

In her Statement of Claim, the applicant said she joined the IMC as an auxiliary nurse in 1989. She got pregnant in 1995 and developed boils on her skin. She consequently sought the medical attention of her employer Dr. Molokwu, who carried out medical examinations and diagnostic tests without disclosing the nature of the tests to her.

The doctor further referred Georgina for further testing to one Dr. Okanny at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital with a note in a sealed envelope.Dr. Okanny himself carried out the tests without disclosing the nature of same to Mrs Ahamefule. She was however subsequently informed of her status while the IMC headed by Dr. Molokwu, promptly terminated her appointment.

She said she lost her pregnancy to miscarriage as a result of the trauma she underwent

The applicant claimed that she was never given any form of counseling before and after the tests and diagnoses were carried out on her as required by medical ethics.This prompted her to seek the help of SERAC which filed the case on her behalf asking for a cumulative damages of N8 million for violation of her rights.

In the novel judgment, Justice Yetunde Idowu held “I hereby declare as follows: that the purported termination of the Plaintiff’s employment is illegal, unlawful and actuated by malice and extreme bad faith.

“That the Defendants’ action in denying the plaintiff medical care on grounds of her HIV status constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to health guaranteed under Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap. 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic and Social and Cultural Rights”

The judge then went ahead to award Mrs Ahamefule N5 million damages for wrongful termination and N2 million damages as compensation for unlawful conduct of HIV testing without the plaintiff’s informed consent and for the defendants’ negligence”.

This happens to be the first case on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to be judicially determined in Nigeria.

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N5bn fraud: Court dismisses charges against Akingbola

Lagos- A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday dismissed the criminal charges filed against the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank ( now Access Bank), Dr Erastus Akingbola, for lack of diligent prosecution.

The EFCC had on Dec. 31, 2010 arraigned Akingbola on a 22-count amended charge of misuse of depositors’ fund, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N5 billion.

In his ruling, Justice Charles Archibong held that the prosecution counsel, comprising five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, were incompetent in the prosecution of the charges against the accused.

“I direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to disband, sack and de-brief the present prosecuting team and their various respective firms for abuse of court process.

“They are a drain on the public purse,’’ he said.

Archibong said the prosecution had chosen to pursue a campaign to “scandalise’’ the court, saying “this amounts to serious and professional incompetence in prosecuting the accused.

“The counsel shall not be given any further audience in relation to the charges against the accused either by me or any other judge of the Federal High Court.

“I hereby dismiss the charges amended or otherwise on the grounds of incompetence. I discharge the accused person accordingly,’’ he ruled.

Earlier, prosecution counsel, Mr Godwin Obla (SAN), had asked for a short adjournment to enable the lead counsel, Mr Ben Ukala (SAN), to be physically present in court to prosecute the matter.

He told the court that the prosecution also wanted further stay of proceedings to enable them to compile documents at the Appeal Court to challenge the refusal of the judge to disqualify himself from hearing the case.

Counsel to the defendant, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), however, objected to an adjournment and urged the court to dismiss the charges against his client. (NAN)

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Breaking News: Justice Salami sues Jonathan

Justice Ayo Salami

Justice Ayo Salami the embattled President of the Apeal Court of Nigeria, who’s sack and replacement was approved by the President Goodluck Jonathan, has taken the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to court over the sack and replacement.

The suspended President of the Court of Appeal, prayed a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to invoke its original jurisdiction and declare the appointment of an acting President of the Court of Appeal, by President Goodluck Jonathan, illegal and unconstitutional.

More details soon

Source:vanguardngr

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