The trial of a popular auto dealer, Ikechukwu Ogbonna, alias IVD, the husband of late Abimbola Ogbonna, who died at Lekki, in a fire incidence has been fixed for March 30, before a Lagos State High Court, in Ikeja.

Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay adjourned to this date for commencement of trial after the defendant was arraigned on Monday.

At his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of involuntary manslaughter, brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

The defendant was aledged to have committed an offence contrary to Section 229 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Addressing the court, State Counsel, Adeshola Bello, informed the court that the defendant is for arraignment.

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The court registrar read the charge to the defendant, which he pleaded not guilty.

The State Counsel, Adeshola also informed the judge, that there is a mix up in the date of which the aledged offence was committed. We have on record 10th October but the date was 12th October.”

She urged for the indulgence of the court to make an amendment, which the court granted her permission.

The defence counsel, Mr.Victor Ogunde, SAN, sought bail for the defendant.

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While seeking bail for the defendant, the judge asked why he was bringing a bail application despite the fact that the defendant was on bail since March 1.

The defence counsel replied that the suit against his client was with a different number.

Justice Nicole-Clay thereafter adjourned till March 30, May 24 and 25, 2023.

Recall that the media went agog with the news of late Mrs. Abimbola Ogbonna said to have died as a result of the fire incident that occurred in the couple’s home on the 12th day of October 2022, since then the internet has been publishing different versions of the stories leading to Abimbola’s death mostly as painted by the husband Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbonna.

The trial of Hilton Hotel owner, Dr Rahman Adedoyin, and his six workers being prosecuted over the alleged murder of Obafemi Awolowo University student, Timothy Adegoke, has suffered set back as their defence counsel failed to file final written address on time.

Justice Oyebola Ojo, had adjourned till March 16 for adoption of final address by parties.

It was learnt that the counsel to the defendant failed to file their final written addresses on time, which also prevented the prosecution counsel from filing a response to enable the court proceed.

A source told journalists that the court could not seat because prosecution counsel could not respond to the addresses filed by defendants in the matter.

“The court could not sit because the defence counsel could not file their written addresses on time, hence prosecution counsel could not respond. So there are no addresses before the court to warrant it to seat for parties to adopt,” the source said.

Prosecution counsel, Fatima Adesina, who had always represented Femi Falana, SAN, in court, said the parties had agreed to meet and address the court on April 27.

The law has caught up with an intercontinental wanted Nigerian lady, Joy Jeff on the list for her role as a ringleader of an international prostitution syndicate, as she was arrested and extradited back to Rome, by Italian authorities in Abuja

Joy, has been on the run since 2010, when she was found guilty of criminal conspiracy, enslavement, human trafficking, and living off the earnings of prostitution by Italy court.

She bolted in 2010 after she was convicted in absentia and handed a 13-year prison term.

The police added in a statement that the fugitive was a prominent member of the Nigerian mafia and one of the few women on Italy’s most-wanted list.

A 2020 agreement between Italy and Nigeria made her extradition easier. On June 4, 2022, she was detained in Nigeria under an international warrant.

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Italian investigators in the eastern city of Ancona said Jeff played a leading role in trafficking women to Italy, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands, where they were forced into prostitution by violence and threats. She has been convicted in her absence.

Video released by the Italian police showed the woman being flown from the Nigerian capital Abuja to Ciampino Airport in Rome where she was taken away in a wheelchair by police.

“The criminal is one of the few women included in the list of 100 dangerous fugitives drawn up by the integrated joint group for the search for fugitives of the Central Directorate of the Criminal Police,” the Italian police stated.

This extradition represents the first provision under the extradition treaty between Italy and Nigeria, signed in 2020, and was possible thanks to the joint work of the Nigerian judiciary, the Italian ambassador in Nigeria and the Italian Ministry of Justice.

“Following an investigation by officials of the International Police Cooperation Service (SCIP) in the African country and the issuance of a red notice in 2010, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian intelligence service, managed to track down and arrest the woman on June 4, 2022, thanks also to the collaboration between the Italian immigration expert in Nigeria and the local police forces.”