Samsung stops production of ‘flaming’ Galaxy Note 7

ITRealms:

The South Korean Information and Communication Technology (ICT) giant, Samsung Electronics, has finally put a stop on the production of its high-end Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, following incidences of devices catching fire, reports ITRealms.

Initially, ITRealms gathered that Samsung had stopped selling Galaxy Note 7 since the flaming of its battery, across the globe.

But on Monday, Samsung Electronics announced its stopping the production of Galaxy Note 7 permanently, probably to manage the damage caused by the fire-catching device.

ITRealms recalls that mid-September, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) had issued a seven-day ultimatum to Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited with headquarters in Lagos, to recall its Galaxy Note 7 from the Nigerian market.

CPC also had warned Nigerians to stop using the particular Galaxy Note 7.

The Council also directed that Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited should furnish it with other measures the company had taken to safeguard the safety and interest of Nigerian consumers.

The Director-General of CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said in line with international best practices, the company should immediately issue a recall notice giving Nigerian consumers adequate information on the procedure for recall and the appropriate compensation being offered.

“While awaiting the response of Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited in order to determine the number of affected consumers in Nigeria, there is an urgent need to avert whatever dangers that may be associated with the use of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in Nigeria,” she said.

Atoki had explained that Samsung announced in the United States that consumers with Samsung Galaxy Note 7 could check whether or not their phones are affected and eligible for recall by entering the IMEI or serial number of their phone in a space provided on Samsung website, www.samsung.com/us/note/recall/ insisting that Nigerian consumers could avail themselves of that facility.

She further advised Nigerian consumers who might have purchased the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to stop using the phone forthwith as an interim measure to guide against the effect of explosion.

Stressing that the company should ensure that affected consumers either get a free replacement from Samsung, or a refund of their money, where necessary.

The Council, in a letter to the company dated September 14, 2016, signed by its Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said in part “The attention of the Council has been drawn to media reports indicating that the lithium-ion batteries for Samsung Galaxy Note 7 are prone to catching fire.

“The said faulty batteries have reportedly caused the phone to explode in 35 separate incidents, sometimes bursting into flames, damaging property and leaking dangerous chemicals” CPC warned.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Abia Governorship Crisis: Justice Ahuchaogu stops Uche Ogah's swearing-in

ITRealms:

A High Court of Abia State presided over by Justice Ahuchaogu, has stopped the Chief Judge of Abia State, President of the Customary Court of Appeal and any other judiciary officer, from swearing-in Mr. Uche Oga as governor, reports ITRealms.

The order made Thursday reads: "Upon this motion ex-parte pursuant to section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice, after hearing O.O Nkume, counsel to the applicant.

"It is  ordered that an order of injunction is hereby made restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with  section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.

"It is further ordered that the 3rd defendant (chief judge of Abia State) or any other judge of the court or any judiciary officer are hereby restricted from swearing-in the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.

"It is also ordered that this order is hereby made to last for 10 days from today. The returnable date is fixed for the 8th day of July, 2016.

"Furthermore, the condition attached to this order is that the enrolled order must be served along with the motion on notice on respondents, else he order automatically lapses on 8th July, 2016."

Also, in a motion of ex-parte order the court also restricted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to Oga.

The order reads: "an order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.

"An order of injunction restraining the 3rd defendant (Chief Judge of Abia State) or any other judge of the court, or any judiciary officer from swearing in the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice."

Meanwhile, the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has advised Abians to remain calm and law abiding, stressing that he is still their Governor.

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EFCC v. Oronsaye: Judge stops witness over chart explanation

ITRealms:

The presiding Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole at the Federal High Court, Abuja, has stopped witness from using chart to offer explanation at the ongoing case between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) versus Nigeria’s former Head of Service, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe, and three others, reports ITRealms.

Ruling in favour of the defence team against an attempt by the Commission’s first prosecution witness (Pw1), Rouqayya Ibrahim to use a chart to give her evidence, the judge said, the witness, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who came as the Commission’s first Prosecution Witness on the request to use a Chart in the Court to explain the findings of the EFCC in the course of investigation of the alleged fraud in Pension payments in Nigeria.

Opposing the request, lead Counsel to Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the chart, as displayed, having photographs of the accused persons will not allow for fair trial.

“The chart, having photographs of the accused persons will be prejudicial and will not allow for fair trial. When I saw the chart, I thought it was a document earlier frontloaded to us, but we just noticed that we received it here in Court. If it is a document they intend to use, they should serve it on us properly,” he said.

Adding his voice, Counsel to the second and third defendants, Mr. Oluwole Aladoyele described the practise as strange to his team, arguing that it does not conform to the provisions of the Evidence Act, relying on Section 239 of the Act.

He urged the Court to disallow what he described as a strange procedure, further describing the information on the chart as the personal opinion of the prosecution witness.

Canvassing in favour of the use of the Chart, Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Adebisi Adeniye argued that the opposition to the Chart was misconceived.

“I submit that the opposition to the usage of the chat is misconceived. It is not a situation where we hope to tender the document in evidence. What the witness has said is that she has a chat with which she can demonstrate the investigation she carried out and her findings. Even under the evidence Act, this witness can refresh her memory.”

In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole upheld the arguments of the two defence counsels, disallowing the use of the demonstration chart.

‘‘If the chart will not be tendered as an exhibit, of what use is it? If I merely have to listen to the PW1’s explanations, of what use is it when the judgement will be written? If the use of the chart is merely to demonstrate how the fraud was perpetrated and not tendered as an exhibit, it will not be useful in judgement. I agree with the view of the counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants that the chart will be prejudicial. PW1 has not shown any sign of one with loss of memory. She appears to be clever and clearheaded. It is also important that the defendants are accorded fair hearing and fair trial. It is either the Chart is tendered as an exhibit or is out rightly discarded. My decision is to disallow this, which the PW1 introduced by herself without guidance by the prosecution Counsel. The Chart is disallowed from being demonstrated to the Court.”

Similarly, an attempt made by the same prosecution Counsel to pray the Court to accept a Statement made by the second defendant as an exhibit was also blocked by the defence Counsel, who argued that the said statement made in the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was written under duress. He made a case for a ‘trial-within- trial’, a prayer that was granted by the presiding Judge.

‘‘I object to the admissibility of this document. It was made through oppression, using the exact words of the Evidence Act. I am particular about the statements made on the 24th of February, 2011 and 16th of March, 2011. They were made through oppression, as he was threatened, induced and harassed to make the statements and we intend to demonstrate this if my lord graciously orders trial within trial to demonstrate to you that these documents are inadmissible. He was bundled,‘‘ he stressed.

Delivering his ruling on the admissibility of the document, presiding Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole said ‘‘In view of the objection raised by the second and third defence Counsel, and relying on sections 28 and 29 o*f the Evidence Act, we will take a mini procedure, a trial within trial."

The matter was adjourned to 21st of June, 2016 for the ordered mini procedure.

It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission dragged Nigeria’s former head of Service, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye and four others before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court, Abuja over an amended 35-count charge bordering on alleged corruption.

Others charged by the Commission are: Cluster Logistics Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited. Osarenkhoe Afe is the managing director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited.

Meanwhile, many well-meaning Nigerians have cautioned the Federal Government over what they described as the persecution of Nigeria’s former Head of Service by the EFCC, further describing it as a show of ingratitude to one who introduced reforms to the country’s Civil Service and exposed corruption in the system.

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