Judge Declines Application to Bar Journalists from Covering Court Proceedings

An application seeking an Ikeja High Court of Lagos State to stop Journalists from covering and reporting an ongoing case relating to an alleged attempt to forcefully take over a land belonging to a renowned medical doctor and international consultant, Dr Ojo Ademola Oluwatosin, in Lagos has been rejected by the court.

The trial Judge, Justice Akinkunmi Idowu, who declined the plea by the Defendant Counsel, Mr Kehinde Akerele, who had urged the court to caution the Claimant from using the media in publishing the court’s proceedings, noted that the court derives no such power to restrain the media from covering the court proceedings, more particularly if the report is correct and according to what happened before the court. 

The Judge ruled that Journalists have the constitutional duty, to report whatever goes on in an open court.

Claimant Counsel, Dr Adekunle Ojo, SAN, denied using the media to publish the court’s proceedings.

Respondents in the Suit No. LD/15415LMW/24 filed by the Claimant are: Starmark Finance Company Limited, Stephen Ajibade-Abisuga, Tunji Solaja, and Engineer Peter Omotosho.

The Claimant is praying the court to restrain the Defendants from usurping the right of ownership of the Claimant, over a land located in Lekki, Lagos.

The Judge adjourned the matter until May 20, for the continuation of the hearing. 

​  

  • Related Posts

    BREAKING: Nigerian Police Move To Arraign 22-Year-Old Student Arrested In Ogun Over Mother’s Debt Without Family’s Knowledge

    Boniface, a student of Miva University, was arrested on Saturday, April 26, 2025, by two armed officers in plain clothes led by ASP John Agbaji. The officers had initially surrounded…

    Alleged Money Laundering: EFCC Arrests Businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu

    Alleged Money Laundering: EFCC Arrests Businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu

    Alex Enumah in Abuja 

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a renowned businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.

    Achimugu, according to her lawyers, was arrested around 5 a.m, on Tuesday, shortly after she voluntarily arrived Nigeria from London.

    Her arrival was sequel to an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which had ordered her to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to respond to allegations related to an ongoing investigation.

    The anti-graft agency had declared the businesswoman wanted over alleged money laundering and fraud.

    However, her lawyer had informed the court that she would visit the EFCC today in connection with its ongoing investigation into an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, in a short ruling on Monday, ordered Achimugu to present herself to the commission in respect of a case of money laundering involving her.

    Justice Ekwo had also directed that Achimugu must be present before his court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to continue proceedings in the matter.

    The judge gave the directive while delivering ruling in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, filed by Achimugu against several law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the EFCC, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    However, EFCC through its lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), informed the court that Achimugu was under investigation for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption and possession of property reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.

    Achimugu had initially honoured the commission’s invitation on February 12, 2024, during which she made a written statement and was subsequently granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba.

    But, she was said to have failed to report back as agreed, choosing instead to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the commission.

    In the counter affidavit filed against the businesswoman’s suit, the anti-graft agency disclosed that Achimugu, in her statement, explained that the inflow of N8.71 billion into her corporate bank accounts is an “investment fund” for the acquisition of an oil block.

    She claimed the funds were transferred to the Federal Government’s account through her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited, referencing documentation from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

    However, further investigations, according to the commission, showed that Achimugu’s company actually acquired two oil blocks, Shallow Water PPL 3007 and Deep Offshore PPL 302-DO at the cost of $25.3 million.

    The lawyer added that investigations further revealed that the payments were allegedly made in cash via bureau de change operators and that the ultimate sources of the funds could not be traced to any legitimate business income or partnerships.

    The commission also alleged that the acquisition process was fraught with corruption.

    The anti-graft agency described Achimugu’s current suit as a calculated attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigation, despite a previous court decision in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/451/2024 dismissing her claim of fundamental rights violations.

    Following the dismissal of the earlier suit, the EFCC continued its investigation by dispatching inquiry letters to various banks and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Land Authorities, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to gather more evidence.

    ​  

    Alex Enumah in Abuja  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a renowned businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu. Achimugu, according to her lawyers, was arrested around 5

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Business & Economy

    Nigerian Breweries Plc appoints Uzo Odenigbo as Corporate Affairs Director 

    Unilever reports increased sales in food, personal care, and other products, achieves Q1 profit of N10.7 billion 

    CAC gives 6-week notice for unregistered businesses to register or face jail case 

    How Senator Hope Uzodinma is Building Africa’s Next Silicon Valley 

    Budget-Friendly Dubai Locations for Nigerian Off-Plan Property Investors 

    C-One Ventures acquires Nigerian fintech, Bankly  

    Australia to hike student visa fees to A$2,000 in 2025 amid migration reform push 

    Connecting Canada and Africa through fintech: Dr. Segun Aina breaks down CAFS 2025 

    All-Share Index steadies above 106,000, gains 0.35%, GTCO and ACCESSCORP lead trading value 

    Naira holds resilient British pound below N2,200/£ at unofficial market

    52 New Dangote Petroleum Trainee Engineers complete training programme 

    BREAKING: Aradel posts record Q1 profits as crude oil sales surge 

    Startup Act: NITDA inaugurates Consultative Forum to drive innovation and policy development 

    Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ hits N269.9 million, dominates Nigerian Box Office in 9 days 

    Nigeria’s non-oil exports hit $1.791bn in Q1 2025, up 24.75% – NEPC 

    BREAKING: EFCC ‘arrests’ Aisha Achimugu upon arrival at Abuja Airport – Lawyer 

    Beyond Compliance: The transparency deficit in Nigerian corporate disclosures

    OmniRetail secures $20 million to expand operations across West Africa 

    EFCC to sue suspects linked to $86,500, 305,150 Riyals intercepted at Kano Airport 

    NLNG introduces $1,300 business grants for Rivers youths under new VIBES program 

    Philippines launches digital nomad visa to attract remote workers 

    Seplat reports mega Q1 profits as crude oil production triples  

    Google opens applications for Software Engineering Apprenticeship in Paris 

    Mark Carney’s Liberals win Canadian election amid nationalist wave – CTV News

    REA signs agreement with 9 energy firms to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians

    Over 22,000 Benefit from Seplat/NNPC JV Eye Care Initiative 

    SURCON Inducts 433 Newly Qualified Surveyors

    Dangote Distributes Bags of Rice to Underprivileged in Taraba, Jigawa 

    PenCom Engages NERC on Regulatory Collaboration

    FIRST E&P Marks 100th Crude Oil Cargo Lifting, Export

    OPEC Mulls Another Oil Output Raise for June

    Prescription drug boom shoots Fidson’s quarterly profit 213% higher

    Prescription drug boom shoots Fidson’s quarterly profit 213% higher

    FIRS directs banks to close unauthorised tax collection accounts 

    Seplat’s acquisition of ExxonMobil’s onshore business helps lift quarterly profit to N35 billion

    Seplat’s acquisition of ExxonMobil’s onshore business helps lift quarterly profit to N35 billion

    NRC to resume Warri-Itakpe Train Services on April 30, operate six days weekly from May 1 

    Aisha Achimugu to visit EFCC over its investigation, Lawyer tells Court