By Adedapo Adesanya

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday dismissed the application filed by the embattled ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear his case.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 26-count charge against Mr Emefiele for alleged misuse of office, resulting in losses of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

His co-defendant, Mr Henry Omoile, is standing trial on related offences, including unlawful acceptance of gifts from the former CBN chief.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his ruling today, held that the court had jurisdiction to try Mr Emefiele on the charge, citing relevant authorities.

He, therefore, dismissed Emefiele’s application and held that EFCC had established a territorial jurisdiction on counts eight to 26, with various facts in the proof of evidence attached to the case file.

The court, however, struck out counts one to four of the charge which bothered on abuse of office, saying the allocation of foreign exchange without bid, which was the subject of counts one to four was not punishable under the law.

“Allocation of foreign exchange without reason is not defined as an offence in any written law.

“The objection to counts one to four succeeds and is hereby struck out.

“The objection challenging the court’s territorial jurisdiction over count eight to 26 fails, and is hereby dismissed.

“The prosecution has established sufficient territorial nexus in this case,” the judge said.

The judge, thereafter, held that the case should proceed to trial and adjourned until February 24 for continuation of trial.

Mr Emefiele’s Counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), had on December 12 2024, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case in Lagos.

Mr Ojo contended that the alleged offences, including abuse of office, fell outside the territorial reach of the court.

He said the charge violated Section 36(12) of the Constitution, and asserted that the actions Emefiele was accused of, were not legally recognised offences.

He stated that the Lagos State House of Assembly did not have legislative authority over matters on the Exclusive Legislative List.

Mr Ojo, therefore, said Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, under which counts one to four were filed, could not apply extra-territorially to any alleged abuse of office by Emefiele.

The learned silk argued that a court’s territorial jurisdiction referred to the geographical area within which its authority could be exercised.

According to him, outside of that territorial jurisdiction, the court can not act.

He urged the court to strike out counts one to four of the 18 amended information filed on April 4, 2024, on the grounds that the offences occurred outside the court’s jurisdiction.

The EFCC Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), in his counter affidavits, had argued that the court had the authority to hear the case.

Mr Oyedepo argued that the alleged offences were economic and financial in nature, therefore, within the jurisdiction of EFCC.

He also added that the evidence in support of the facts, proved Lagos as the appropriate venue for the trial.

Mr Oyedepo further submitted that the subject matter of the charge fell squarely within the court’s jurisdiction, as the offences were committed within the court’s territorial reach.

He argued that the evidence and witness testimonies pointed to Lagos as the proper location for the trial, adding that the objections raised by Mr Emefiele’s legal team were not substantiated by facts or evidence.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) shut down 619 facilities, including worship centres, hotels, and other establishments, for various environmental infractions in 2024.

The General Manager of LASEPA, Mr Babatunde Ajayi, made this known during a review of the year at an event on Tuesday in the commercial capital.

He said noise pollution accounted for 528 of the closures (85 per cent) as the agency intensified its enforcement of environmental laws.

According to LASEPA GM, the agency conducted a record 352 enforcement operations in 2024, tripling the number carried out the previous year. The operations targeted households, hotels, and worship centres under the Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.

Mr Ajayi, speaking of the achievement of LASEPA in 2024, said these include the launch of the Lagos State Carbon Registry during the Sustainability Summit in September; the installation of 20 additional air quality monitors to bring the total to 43, and the introduction of energy-efficient kilns for bakeries to reduce air pollution in local communities.

He also highlighted improvements in digitalisation, such as revamped laboratory services and streamlined processes for technical reporting and permit issuance.

Mr Ajayi said the agency would double its advocacy for environmental consciousness in 2025 while focusing on stricter enforcement of existing laws.

He revealed plans to intensify action against noise pollution, enforce anti-smoking regulations by designating smoking and non-smoking zones, and advocate proper waste management through authorised disposal bodies.

The LASEPA boss noted that public complaints would be handled more effectively through an expanded complaints centre and digital channels, adding that academic publications and public awareness campaigns would be increased in the current year.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria’s leading electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric Plc, has promised to intensify its fight against vandals, making it one of its core focus for the year.

The energy firm expressed concerns about the rate of vandalism of its installations across the state in the year 2024 which resulted in service disruptions to some of its esteemed customers.

According to Mr Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communications at Ikeja Electric Plc, this concern was expressed during a stakeholder engagement held recently.

The company highlighted that the rise in vandalism of the company’s assets especially in Epe community and its environs is not only alarming but more worrisome is the fact that law-abiding citizens and legitimate customers are being deprived access to reliable power supply with its attendant impact on the socio-economic activities of businesses and livelihoods.

The spokesman referred to an incident at Ikorodu, precisely on Saturday, September 14, 2024, where its Ariel Bundle Cable (ABC), which is an integral part of the newly introduced Intelligence Data Box (IDB) technology solution for pre-paid meters, was vandalised.

The cable was cut and the insulation of the ABC got damaged, while a new service wire was illegally connected to steal electricity into an apartment in Jubilee Estate, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Following a thorough investigation, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested and later arraigned Akintola Monsurat Olayinka and Obigbo Moses (the Defendants) at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on December 11, 2024.

The defendants were charged on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit an offence by unlawfully tampering with, damaging and meddling with an Ariel Bundle Cable, property of Ikeja Electric Plc by cutting it to steal energy and unlawfully tampering, damaging and meddling with Ariel Bundle Cable contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, and the case was adjourned to the 28th of January 2025 for trial.

Mr Okotie appealed passionately to members of the public, community groups, traditional institutions and security operatives to deliberately assist Ikeja Electric in the fight against vandalism and energy theft by exposing their hideouts within their respective communities.

He also promised that the company would intensify its efforts to protect its assets, as the vandals’ unchecked activities will continue to cause unpleasant situations of power outages and disruptions of economic activities within the larger society.

“The need to collaborate and partner with security agencies and other critical stakeholders in stemming this unfortunate tide cannot be overemphasized.

“We are losing a lot of resources to these infractions both in replacing the stolen and damaged items and the revenue that would have accrued if the supply wasn’t interrupted.

“We encourage the use of our independent channels of communications that enables the public to report the activities of these vandals and energy thieves, anywhere without compromising the safety of the whistleblower,” he said, reiterating the organisation’s commitment to effective and efficient service delivery in the New Year 2025.