Crime:

Customs Officer Rapes & Videotapes Badoo Friend In Lagos

2017-04-12T01:13:00.000-07:00

A Customs officer , identified simply as Samuel, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping and videotaping the nudity of his female friend.

It was gathered that 29-year -old Samuel always threatened to post the clip on the social media whenever he demanded to have sex with her and she refused .

]PUNCH Metro learnt that the duo had met on an online dating platform , Badoo, and after establishing a mutual friendship, the Customs man invited her to his house in the Ogba area of Lagos.

Sometime in March 2017, the 26-year - old woman was said to have visited Samuel and after entertaining her , he reportedly made love advances to her , which she allegedly rejected.

Samuel was said to have left her in the apartment , locked the door from outside and went out.

A police source disclosed to our correspondent that Samuel returned home seven hours later when the woman had almost become unconscious , raped her and took a video of her unclothedness .

It was learnt that the case was reported to policemen who arrested the suspect on Sunday .

The source said , “ The suspect is a Customs officer . He and the victim met on Badoo and he asked her to visit him . She honoured the invitation , unknown to her that he had a hidden agenda .

“ He shut her inside and went out. The woman said she called for help to no avail . He returned home seven hours after and met her semi -conscious. Probably, he had put sedatives into a drink he used to entertain her.

“ He removed her clothes , raped her and videoed her unclothedness . Thereafter, whenever he called her to come to his house and she refused , he would threaten to put the video on the social media and out of fear, she would yield to his request .

“ At a point, she declined an invitation to his house and dared him . He sent the video to her relative to show that he meant his threat . The relative and the victim later reported the case to the police, leading to his arrest. ”

Our correspondent learnt that the suspect had been transferred to the Sexual and Domestic Violence Unit of the command headquarters in Ikeja for further investigation.

In a briefing on Wednesday at the headquarters , the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the incident.

The CP , however , did not disclose the full name and other details of the suspect , saying that the public would be properly briefed after the conclusion of investigations .

He said , “ The Customs officer has been arrested for the offence and he is being investigated. We assure members of the public that the case will not be swept under the carpet."

Uber Driver Strangled To Death In Lagos

2017-04-12T00:03:00.001-07:00

The Lagos state police command have arrested two men, Osaro Egbomrewen and Michael Eyeoekpe, in connection with the death of an Uber driver , Innevosa Emmanuel, who was strangled to death at the Ogba area of the state recently.

Parading the suspects before newsmen today, the state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said the suspects had posed as passengers and ordered for a taxi using the Uber application.

The deceased had arrived their location in Ikeja and was instructed to take them to their destination at Ogba, Oke-Ira.

During their trip, the suspects and one other who is currently at large, suddenly ordered the driver to make a U-turn and take them to Oremeji Street, Obawole area of Ogba, where he was strangled with a belt and his
KIA RIO salon car marked KTU 594DM vehicle was taken away.

The suspects had planned to sell off the car to an unsuspecting buyer. However the police began to trail them and tracked the vehicle after a complain was laid of a missing Uber driver and his car.

One of the suspects who narrated how they carried out the act said

“I and Michael met at Ogba where I went to drink and we became friends. I told him how difficult things were for me that I needed to relocate to Benin to start all over again. It was at this point that Michael told me about a deal that could fetch me some money that we could get a car and then sell it to his boss. Michael then told me about one Alex (Emmanuel) who had a vehicle and we agreed to meet the following day.

Since then we had been meeting and discussing how to buy the vehicle. On the fateful day the Uber driver came, I was with Michael in his office and his friend Destiny was with him but I don’t know if he discussed the vehicle deal with Destiny. Around 9:30p.m, we called the Uber driver to come and pick us at Tantalizer eatery at Ogba. I and Destiny were inside the vehicle with the driver, but Michael was outside while I was holding the belt. Immediately I put the belt across the driver’s neck, Destiny dragged the belt and we strangled him.

When we were satisfied that he was dead, we took his corpse to Oremeji Street and dumped him in front of a church around 10:30 p.m., without anybody noticing us. After killing the driver, we took the vehicle to Michael’s boss to sell it. The buyer then inquired from us where we got the vehicle from and Michael told him that we killed the owner. The buyer then said we should take the car away and Michael said we should take it to his house and park it outside, before taking it to another buyer in Benin. Later we were tracked to Benin, arrested and brought back to Lagos”.

The state Commissioner of Police said they would soon be charged to court.

Kidnappers In Police Uniform Arrested In Front Of Edo Politician's House (Photos)

2017-04-10T03:45:00.001-07:00

Here are photos of suspected kidnappers arrested on Friday evening at Ibillo in Akoko Edo LGA in front of
the immediate past Local Government Chairman house, Hon.Folorusho Akerejola . The suspected kidnappers arrived at the house armed with AK 47 riffles, Police uniform and a fake police Hilux van.

Police arraign man for allegedly burning another man’s N3.5m jeep

2016-12-01T00:03:00.001-08:00

The police on Wednesday arraigned a 22-year-old man, Joseph Okwuese, before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State for allegedly setting fire on a Honda Acura jeep belonging to another man.
The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a count charge of wilfully and unlawfully setting fire on a Honda Acura jeep.
The prosecutor, Idowu Ogunleye, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 23 at about 8pm at Arankange Iberekodo area in Abeokuta.
Ogunleye said the accused willingly set fire on one Honda Acura jeep with registration number EKY 106 CH valued at N3.5 million, property of one Vincent Ajah.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 443(A) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
The Magistrate, Fatimat Ojelade, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two surties.
Ojelade ordered that the sureties must be civil servants on Grade Level 8 or above with the Ogun State Civil Service Commission.
She also said that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and also show evidence of two-year tax payment to the Ogun Government.
She adjourned the case till January 17, 2017.

NSCDC arrests fake currency printer, five area boys in Sokoto

2016-11-25T01:29:00.001-08:00

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Sokoto State have arrested one Collins Nzewewe for alleged printing of fake currencies.
The Commandant of the corps in the state, Abdullahi Dutsin-ma, presented the suspect to newsmen on Thursday in Sokoto.
Dutsin-ma said that the command arrested the suspect following a tip off.
The 42-year-old Nzewewe and father of seven, confessed to newsmen that he was lured into the illegal
business by a Nigerien National, called Abdulaziz.
Dutsin-ma also said that the command had arrested five hoodlums who were stabbing people that crossed their path.
Dutsin-ma said: “Before their arrest, the ‘area boys’ had stabbed no less than 4 persons who are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals within the metropolis.
“So, the issue of Area Boys in Sokoto if not properly checked, could portend great danger in the near future, especially within the metropolis.”

Women lawyers to probe rape cases at IDPs camps

2016-11-25T01:06:00.001-08:00

Women lawyers, operating under the aegis, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), have vowed to probe rape cases among women and children at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country.
They said they would work in collaboration with police and other security agents in order to bring identified culprits to book to serve as deterrent to other criminally minded people.
Its National President who also doubles as the African Regional Vice President of the association, Mrs. Laraba Shuaibu, in a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, said the women lawyers would provide obnoxious services in form of free legal services to the rape victims to enable them get deserved justice.
The press conference was anchored on the coming of the African Regional Congress of the federation scheduled to hold in Abuja between November 26 and 29.
Mrs. Shuaibu further condemned the action of the suspected rapist adding that it is unfair and unfortunate for
the criminally minded people to take advantage of the vulnerable women at the camps.
She said: “It is disheartening that women and children are being raped in IDP camps. We are visiting IDP camps in Abuja to see the level of this serious crime. We have championed the campaign against rape. They are vulnerable and to be so abused it is so unfortunate.
“We are going on a fact-finding mission in the IDPs camps. When we get the fact in the Abuja IDPs camps, we will be able to work in collaboration with our members in the North-east and that will guide us in the next step to take.”
On the Regional Congress, scheduled to begin this weekend, she said women lawyers on the African continent were expected in Abuja to participate.
She added that eminent Nigerians, including the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Miriam Aluma Murktah, were also expected to attend.

Man docked for allegedly stabbing neighbour on manhood

2016-11-25T00:41:00.002-08:00

A 32-year-old man, Obed Fwoms, was on Thursday arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stabbing his neighbour with a knife on his manhood.
Fwoms, a resident of Awori in Dopemu, Agege, Ikeja, is standing trial on a charge of wounding and similar acts.
The prosecutor, Nwosu George, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 17 at his residence.
George said that the accused unlawfully assaulted one Emeka Ofoke by stabbing him with a knife on his manhood.
George said: “Ofoke said that he was coming from work when he saw other tenants in the compound gathering around Fwoms.
“The complainant said he asked one of his neighbours what had happened and he was told that Fwoms damaged the ceiling of the house to connect electricity supply without informing others.
“Ofoke, who confronted the accused on what he had done, told him it was only a thief that would damage the ceiling of the house without informing other tenants.
“He said the accused, who was annoyed about the statement, brought out a knife from his pocket and
stabbed his manhood with it.
“The complainant said he was quickly rushed to the hospital by his neighbours who were at the scene of the incident.
“The case was reported to the police and the accused was arrested for further questioning.’’
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 244 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 244 prescribes a three-year jail term for wounding and similar acts.
Magistrate M.O Osinbajo granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties.
The magistrate said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Further hearing in the case was fixed for December 19.

Okowa sacks aide for defrauding Dogara of N250,000

2016-11-24T02:36:00.001-08:00

Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has sacked his Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Mr. Temple Mudi, for allegedly defrauding the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, of N250,000.
The Speaker, it was gathered in Government House, Asaba, yesterday was allegedly defrauded by Okowa’s sacked aide when he visited the Big Heart state for a public function.
Temple was said to have privately approached the Speaker and told him that ‘one of his convoy vehicles hit his Hilux van when he previously visited the state and that he spent N250, 000 to fix it back.’
A top government functionary at the Government House, Asaba yesterday said the Speaker was immediately moved with pity after Temple’s tale, even as he expressed concern and agreeably refunded the money.

“At a second thought, the Speaker decided to discuss the matter with a member, representing Ika Federal Constituency, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, who in-turn tabled the matter before Governor Okowa, before the case assumed a new dimension”, the government official disclosed.
Apparently miffed, the governor, however, summoned the Director of Protocol (Government House), Mr. Victor Eboigbe, with a view to unearthing what actually transpired between the Speaker and the former aide.
“His Excellency, the Governor,was pissed off by the fraudulent character of Mr. Temple, who swindled a distinguished visitor to the state of N250, 000.
His Excellency has directed his D.O.P (Director of Protocol) to relieve him of his appointment,” the source further disclosed.

NSCDC parades suspected fake soldiers terrorizing citizens in Ekiti

2016-11-19T00:20:00.002-08:00

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), Ekiti state command, has paraded four suspected fake soldiers including a serving soldier, who all allegedly engage in terrorising, molesting and extorting citizens of the state.
While the men were being paraded on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, commandant of the Ekiti corps, Donatus Ikemefuna, explained: “The suspects were apprehended by its intelligence unit after months of being on their trail.

“Bashiru Saheed, Ojo Bankole, Olagunju Sola and Oluyemi Olayemi are the four suspected fake soldiers apprehended by men of the NSCDC Ekiti state command, impersonating the Nigerian military”.
Furthermore, he stated that “one of the suspects, Oluyemi Olayemi, who is said to be a serving officer from Maiduguri but is currently on a study leave, supplies his cohorts military uniforms to carry out nefarious activities”.
While the suspects are expected to be charged to court, including the self-acclaimed solider, they however denied molesting or harassing anyone.

Policeman arrested for killing colleague during clash with cultists in Calabar

2016-11-15T00:55:00.001-08:00

The Cross River State police command has disclosed that it has arrested a policeman, Corporal Kingsley Iyeke, over the alleged killing of his colleague, Inspector Edet Archibong, during a gun duel between the police and suspected cultists in Calabar.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, made the announcement in Calabar yesterday when he briefed journalists on the feat recorded so far by the police.
The commissioner said Iyeke was arrested following a tip-off after some secret cult members mentioned him as one of their member.
He said the cult members who mentioned the policeman were arrested in their hideout after they had been traced by the police.
The commissioner said during interrogation, one of the suspected cultists mentioned Iyeke as their member “and that he was the one that shot the police inspector during the clash”.
Continuing, the commissioner said: “Majority of the suspects have been arrested. Our front line interrogation
shows that one of our personnel, Corporal Kingsley Iyeke, was one of the cultists.
“After interrogating one of the arrested cultists, he confessed that Iyeke was their member and that he was the one that shot the inspector.
“During our trial, we found out that truly he was their member. We have dismissed him and he will face the full wrath of the law.”
Responding to questions from journalists, Iyeke, 35, from Rivers, attached to the Marine Police base in Calabar, denied being a member of any cult group.
He said he was only a victim of set-up by the cult members who wanted him out of their way at all cost.
The commissioner also disclosed that it rescued a 16-year-old SS3 students of St Banabas Nusery, Primary and Secondary school, Doramola, Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said the student, Kinsley Akom, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on the November 7 and taken to Calabar by his abductors where he was rescued.
Ozi-Obeh said the boy was kidnapped on his way to school in Ibadan and abandoned by his captors along Bible College Way, State Housing Estate, Calabar.
Ozi-Obeh said the victim boarded a taxi to school and all of a sudden, he became unconscious only to find himself in a container van where he met other children numbering more than fifteen with their legs and hands tied.
The Commissioner said Agom is in stable condition and that his parents have been contacted over his rescue.
He said discreet investigations are ongoing by the Anti- Kidnapping section of the criminal investigations and intelligence department, state headquarters, Calabar to unravel the mystery.

Ex-Diamond Bank staff, other get N20m bail in $1m fraud case

2016-11-15T00:31:00.003-08:00

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Monday, admitted the one Sada Adamu and Babatunde Faro, an employee of Diamond Bank Plc to bail on a 4-count of money laundering preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Arraigned on Friday, November 11, 2016, Adamu was alleged to have made cash payment of $1 million being an amount exceeding the stipulated N5 million threshold payable cash by an individual according to law, to Faro. The offence is a breach of Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (2) (b) of the same Act.
Moving the bail application today, W. Y. Maman and W. T. Iorshe representing Adamu and Faro respectively, prayed the court to grant the accused persons bail on liberal terms adding that they would
always be available for trial.
However, Ugwuebulam stated that the offences border on money laundering and other financial transactions without licenses. He urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously.
In his ruling, Justice Dimgba admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum. The money is to be forfeited to the Federal Government in the event the defendants abscond. The sureties, who must be civil servants must not below GL 13 and must own properties in the FCT or in the satellite towns in Lagos. The defendants must also deposit their travel documents with the court registrar.
Meanwhile, the defendants are to be remanded in Kuje prison custody until their bail terms are met while the case has been adjourned to January 23 and 24, 2017 for hearing.

Police nab another burglary kingpin in Enugu

2016-11-08T04:25:00.000-08:00

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested another alleged burglary kingpin, Ibrahim Saad, 26, within three days of nabbing a burglary kingpin in Enugu.
The command’s spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday.
Amaraizu said the police recovered a ladder, hammer and digger from the suspect.
He said the suspect was arrested by police operative in Golf Estate GRA, Enugu, by 2:30 a.m. on Monday when he was scaling the fence of a resident.
“The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police through its operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) through a distress call received from the inhabitants of Golf Estate
GRA, Enugu, nabbed a suspect identified as Ibrahim Saad, 26.
“Ibrahim, who claimed to hail from Balewa Locla Government Area of Adamawa State, with other gang members have been terrorising residents of the estate.
“The suspect was allegedly nabbed by the operatives at about 2.30 a.m. as he was about breaking into a house at Golf Estate, Enugu, having gained entrance with his ladder and other dangerous implements,’’ he said.
Amaraizu said that the suspect was now helping the police in its investigations “in relation to his nefarious activities with other fleeing members of the gang’’.
NAN recalls that there have been complaints of burglary in some remote and less populated areas of Enugu Township in recent time.

Police arraign 3 Catholic catechists for alleged possession of firearms

2016-11-07T01:58:00.002-08:00

Three catechists of the Roman Catholic Church were on Thursday arraigned at an Ogidi High Court, Anambra State, presided over by Justice Arinze Akabuo, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms.
A suspected accomplice, Solomon Igboji (the fourth accused), was reported to be on the run.
The three arraigned were Daniel Nwoye, Agbo Peter and Patrick Ajuluchukwu.
Other charges preferred against them in Suit No. HID/41C/2016 included forceful entry and unlawful damages.
The prosecution said their offences were contrary to Section 115 of the Criminal Code.
It was gathered that their case had to do with an attack involving an 80-year-old widow, Mrs.
Juliana Onuorah, and Lady Patricia Onuorah.
The counsel for the respondents, C.J. Asiegbu, raised a motion against the arraignment of the suspects; but Mrs. Nwanegbo Ezeaputa from the office of the Attorney General of the state raised an objection and described the motion as incompetent.
Arguing further, Asiegbu said Ezeaputa’s objection should be in writing as required by law, contending that her oral objection was not what was required in law in the circumstance.
He said, “She cannot spring such a surprise on us; the counsel should file a counter-motion if she is objecting to our motion.”
Justice Akabuo adjourned the matter till November 17, 2016 for the hearing of the bail applications of the suspects.

17 policemen arrested for taking bribes in Lagos

2016-11-02T03:09:00.003-07:00

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 17 policemen for acts of misconduct, including taking bribes.
It was learnt that the policemen, who were arrested between October 6 and 28, 2016, were undergoing an orderly room trial.
This is just as 26 armed robbery suspects and 18 suspected kidnappers were also rounded up by the police during the same period.
A source said that some of the arrested policemen risked dismissal, while others could be demoted.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the arrest, adding that residents of the state should not hesitate to report erring officers to the command.
He said, “A total number of 17 policemen were arrested in different areas of the state for misconduct. The necessary disciplinary measures are being taken against them.
“The command is alive to its responsibilities. We have zero tolerance for crime. Also, a total of 26 armed robbery suspects and 18 suspected kidnappers were arrested by the command. We recovered two AK-47 rifles, 14 locally-made pistols and 193 live cartridges from them.
“In the different police operations, 17 vehicles were recovered from criminal elements, while 11 mobile phones were also recovered.”

Police nab Ghanaian for renting out gun abandoned by robbers

2016-11-02T03:06:00.002-07:00

A 22-year-old Ghanaian, John Kojo, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly supplying a locally-made pistol to a suspected robber in the Morogbo, Badagry area of the state.
It was learnt that Kojo was arrested on Saturday when a robbery suspect, Banhusa Abujuny, identified the Ghanaian as the owner of the gun he (Abujuny) allegedly used for robbery.
It was gathered that the duo was being detained by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.
The police said the gun was “stolen from another robbery gang.”
It was learnt that on Friday, October 7, some armed robbers came to Kojo’s area in Morogbo and unleashed terror on the residents.
It was gathered that some residents put distress calls across to the police, while some vigilance group members mobilised against the robbers.
It was learnt that as the robbers fled, they abandoned the pistol, while Kojo, who was reportedly
around the scene, picked and hid the weapon.
According to the police, Kojo later gave the gun to Abujuny to rob.
Kojo, however, said that he hid the gun abandoned by the robbers, adding that he was afraid to turn it in to the police.
The Ghanaian said he was not aware that his friend, Abujuny, took the gun from his house.
He said, “I got the gun after the robbers, who attacked Oko Afo, fled. The robbers came to our area and were moving from house to house. Some residents confronted them and they fled. I was one of those who chased the robbers.
“As they fled, they left one of the guns by the roadside and I picked it. I brought the gun home and hid it. I did not give the weapon to the police because I was afraid. I did not show the gun to anyone.
“Abujuny is my friend. He did not tell me that he had taken the gun. I was at home last week Saturday when SARS officers came and arrested me.”
Abujuny, who said he had not robbed with the gun, stated that he was arrested during a street fight in the Alaba Market, Ojo.
He said, “I had yet to rob with the gun. There was a fight in the Alaba Market on Friday and I threatened someone with the gun.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

EFCC uncovers Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia wired N18m to foreign account

2016-11-01T16:05:00.003-07:00

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered yet another bogus financial transaction by Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia after investigations showed she wired N18 million into a foreign account.
Investigation showed that the Commission stumbled on N18 million wired to a foreign account from the justice domiciliary account for the purchase of a property in the United Kingdom.
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogbobia is among the six judges being investigated by the Commission for alleged corruption alongside some senior lawyers.
The other five judges include Justice Nasiru Mohammed Yunusa, Justice Hydlezira A. Nganjiwa, Justice Uwani Abba Aji, Justice Agbadu Jamus Fishim and Justice Musa H. Kuriya.

According to EFCC sources, justice Ajumogobia owned up to the money but claimed it was a loan obtained privately from a family friend.
“The ‘family friend’, who is a Chairman of an Oil and Gas Company from where the funds emanated, has been invited by the Commission for questioning. So far, he had told operatives that the money was an assistance he rendered to her.
“Inquiry into the loan facility as claimed by both of them showed no formal agreement or documentation as to how and when the repayment would be made.”
The EFCC sources also said the oil and gas company chairman, whose name was not given is presently telling the Commission the extent of his relationship and involvement with the funds which was wired into the judge’s personal account sometime in 2012 while she was aready a sitting judge of the Federal High Court.

Police kill two members of gang who shot five Benue residents

2016-10-22T04:40:00.000-07:00

The Benue State Police Command said its operatives on Thursday engaged in a gun duel with members of a gang that killed five residents of the state in an attack on Tuesday.
An 85-year-old woman was also shot dead during the attack in Tor Donga in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
Three of the victims of the Tuesday attack were shot dead when the gang stormed a bar around 9pm on motorcycles while the two other victims including the elderly woman were killed in their homes.
Spokesperson for the command, Mr. Moses Yamu, said investigation so far had not revealed whether the victims were targets or random victims of a ploy to create mayhem in the state by a notorious leader of the gang, Terwase Akwaza, AKA Ghana.
Yamu, an assistant superintendent of police, said the police suspected the attack was a response
to an earlier raid by the police which yielded a haul of weapons used by the gang.
He said, “There has been a clampdown on criminals in recent times. This is why Akwaza was declared wanted because his gang had been terrorising the Katsina-Ala area. On Tuesday, October 18, based on information we got, our men stormed his hideout.
“In the raid, our men recovered a power bike used by the gang leader, 164 explosives, two empty rocket casings, two AK47 magazines, two sacks of Indian hemp, 10 mobile phones, one Dane gun, five live cartridges and 20 5.62mm special ammunition.”
Yamu said the gang members carried out the bar attack in the evening of the police raid.
“We got information about the attack and our men set out in search of them on Wednesday night to Thursday. We cordoned off the area and it was while they were trying to escape that our men engaged them in a gun duel. They returned fire and two of them got injured but before we could get them to the hospital, they died. We recovered two military type rifles with the magazines and rounds of ammunition,” Yamu said.

NAFDAC raids Aba market, seizes expired drugs

2016-10-22T04:37:00.004-07:00

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has conducted a raid on shops in Aba, Abia State, and seized cartons of expired amino acid drugs whose expiry dates had been re-validated by the dealers.
A statement by NAFDAC’s spokesperson, Mr. Anslem Okonkwor, said the raid was coordinated by the Abia State office of the agency as part of a nationwide enforcement operation to rid markets of fake and counterfeit regulated products.
Chief Regulatory Officer of the agency in the state, Mr. Olisa Okeke, who led the operation, said the red coloured drug named “Amino-fit”, containing 10 tablets in each sachet and with batch number B00313D, was manufactured in April 2013 with March 2016 as its expiry date.
He noted that the dealers decided to clean the original expiry date and write a new date on the pack after the drug had expired so that they could continue selling it.

He said, “Some days ago,we got a tip-off that some persons were re-writing (re validating) expiry dates on amino-acid drug “Amino Fit” and we went to investigate it at 21, Abagana Street, Aba.
“Our aim was to find and mop up the re-validated drugs. When we got there,we met a lady who operates a hair salon in the building.
“While speaking to the lady, a young man suspiciously answered the question posed to the lady from an opening behind a locked gate.”
Okeke said that the team then forced the door of the shop open and found the re-validated products inside stacked in a corner.
According to him, the suspects escaped through the fence into another compound behind the building.
He, however, said that 14 cartons of the re-validated expired pharmaceutical products were confiscated while a search for the culprits involved in the business continued.
He revealed that the premises had been sealed pending the time the culprits or the owner of the property would come to give account of what happened in the building, adding that the screen-printing equipment that the suspects were using to re-validate the products were also recovered during the operation.
The NAFDAC boss in the state therefore advised the public to take careful look at drugs before purchase to avoid buying potentially dangerous expired products.
“Buyers of food and drug products around us now have to be extra-careful because unless you are very careful, and look very carefully, you will not see that they changed the expiry date,” he said.

Police arrest 3 suspects for defiling 12-year-old

2016-10-22T04:35:00.002-07:00

The Abia State Police Command has arrested and paraded three suspects, who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl in Arochukwu Local Council Area of the state.
The suspects, who are 35-year-old Chima Ochiabuto, Immaculate Ogbonnaya (25), and Uche Nwaokoro (20) allegedly, defiled the minor at different occasions.
It was learnt that the incident was reported to the police after the girl got missing for two days and later returned to her guardian identified only as Oluchi.
The victim was said to be looking pale when she was returned to Oluchi.
According Oluchi, “I sent my younger sibling on an errand, but she absconded only to resurface after two days. When I asked her of her whereabouts, she didn’t say anything reasonable.
So, I alerted the youths in the community and in the process of questioning her, she told us that she was with some men who raped her and also said the other two had raped her in the past.”

The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeleye Oyabade, confirmed that the hoodlums, who had taken their turn to defile the minor, were, were arrested following the alarm raised by the guardian.
Oyebade pointed out that the rape case was confirmed at Arochukwu General Hospital where the victim was admitted.
He said the suspects had confessed to the crime and would be arraigned in court.
While two of the suspects, Ochiabuto and Ogbonnaya, denied defiling the young girl, Nwaokoro confessed that it was the devil that led him into the ugly act.
Nwaokoro said, “It started one day when the girl’s aunty sent her to our house to call another girl named Chizoba for her sometime in the month of August.
“It was while she was waiting for Chizoba that the devil led me to touch her. Please I am sorry; it is the devil.”
Ochiabuto, however, claimed to have rescued the rape victim one night when her guardian sent her out of the house.
According to him, “I found this girl wandering around the village one night in the month of June. So, I asked what her problem was and she told me that the aunty sent her away for misbehaving.
“She spent only one night in my house, although I was tempted to touch her, but I didn’t do anything with her.”

N4.7bn probe: Obanikoro to remain in EFCC custody

2016-10-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

The former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, is to remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission throughout the weekend, according to report.
Obanikoro is being detained by the anti-graft agency in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged disbursement of N4.7bn.
A top operative of the commission said in Abuja, on Friday, that operatives handling Obanikoro’s case had yet to conclude their interrogation, which was why he would remain in the custody for the continuation of the probe on Monday.
According to the source, the EFCC is looking into details of the case involving the former minister and other key actors of the immediate past administration.
It was further learnt that the commission could be probing other transactions involving the
minister.
The source said, “The man is still being interrogated; the operatives interrogating him have not concluded their job.
“I know that he is still with the commission as we are talking now. He is not likely to be released this weekend.”
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Obanikoro was still in the commission’s facility on Friday.
The former minister arrived the country from his base in the United States to respond to an invitation by the commission. His invitation was in connection with the payment of N4.75bn to Sylva McNamara, a company in which he is said to have substantial interest.
Obanikoro told his interrogators that Sylva McNamara received N4.685bn out of which N3.880bn was paid to the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and Senator Iyiola Omisore.
He had told his interrogators that he transferred N1.7bn to Omisore who was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Osun State while Fayose got N2.3bn.
He was also said to have told the commission that the sum of N1.3bn was received by one Abiodun Agbele, on behalf of Fayose.

N22.8bn fraud: Ex-Air Force chief, others’ trial resumes Monday

2016-10-22T04:30:00.001-07:00

A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till Monday the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), and 10 others, who are being prosecuted for an alleged fraud of N22.8bn.
Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the case on Friday to enable the first prosecution witness, Mojeed Olatunji, to produce his passport as requested by the defence counsel during cross-examination.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Amosu on June 29, 2016 alongside two other officers of the Nigerian Air Force – Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga.
The trio were arraigned alongside eight companies, namely: Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, and Fonds and Pricey Limited.
The 26 counts pressed against the accused by the EFCC border on conspiracy, stealing and
money laundering.
Among other things, the EFCC accused them of conspiring among themselves on March 5, 2014 to convert N21.5bn belonging to the Nigerian Air Force to their personal use.
In one instance, the defendants were accused of indirectly converting a sum of N3.6bn belonging to the NAF to their own.
In another instance, the EFCC alleged that Amosu and the others stole N323,319,283 from the accounts of the NAF between March 21, 2014 and March 12, 2015 to purchase for themselves a property situated at 1, River Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
The alleged act, the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, said, is a violation of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012. But the accused had pleaded not guilty.
Amosu, Adigun and Olugbenga were subsequently admitted to bail by Justice Mohammed Idris in the sum of N500m each with two sureties in like sum.
In a bid to prove its case, however, the EFCC opened its sitting on Thursday by calling its first witness, Olatunji, a Compliance Officer with Skye Bank Plc.
The witness told the court that the Nigerian Air Force had an account numbered 1750013097 with Skye Bank, which had as its signatories as of January 28, 2014, Air Comdr J.B. Adigun, Air Comdr O.O. Gbadebo and Group Captain B.O.G. Ifeobu.
He told the court that the trio of Adigun, Gbadebo and Ifeobu were the ones who had the mandate on the account and on whose instruction monies were withdrawn from the account.
Armed with the statement of the said NAF’s account with Skye Bank, Olatunji took the court through a number of inflows and outflow of cash transactions carried out on the account.
For example, he told Justice Idris how a sum of N2,409,367,700 was credited into the account on September 11, 2014 and how this was followed by a debit transactions of N959,750,201, 893,295,605 and N556,321,894 four, seven and 13 days after respectively.

FG set for trial of S’Court Justices, 7 others

2016-10-22T04:28:00.002-07:00

The Federal Government is set for the prosecution of two Supreme Court Justices and seven other judges in spite of the memos written by three of them to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.
The charges against the judges were ready at press time, following the conclusion of investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started probing the accounts of six judges of the Federal High Court who are undergoing interrogation.
The anti-graft commission has allegedly discovered payment of bribe sums/financial assistance into the accounts of two of the six judges.
Investigation revealed that the DSS has gathered tons of evidence against the judges.
Those under investigation are two Supreme Court judges namely Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro; the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice
Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya, who was picked up in Sokoto; Justice Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High Court); the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court; Justice Muazu Pindiga (Gombe State High Court); Justice Bashir Sukola and Justice Ladan Manir from the Kaduna State High Court.
Of the nine judges, the NJC has recommended sanctions for Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya; the erstwhile Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; and Justice Kabiru Auta.
A source said: “The Federal Government is going ahead with the trial of the nine judges. The charges and evidence against them are ready. I can tell you that the DSS has conducted diligent investigation.
“Even if you look at the list, only three out of the nine judges have joined issues with some people. But these issues have nothing to do with the overwhelming evidence against them.”
The source added: “The trial will enable Nigerians to know how the sting operations were conducted, the findings of DSS and the charges.
“If a judge alleges that DSS operatives planted money in his residence, did they also lodge cash in his account(s)?”
NBA demands justice
It was further learnt that snippets of the findings were presented to the executives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) with the bar deciding that justice must run its full course.
The bar has also asked that the judges being probed should step aside.
“This investigation was tight and it is in the public interest for the trial to begin as soon as possible,” the source said.
The six judges of the Federal High Court who were interrogated during the week and whose accounts are being scrutinised by the EFCC are Justices Mohammed Nasir Yunusa; Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa; Musa Haruna Kurya; Agbadu James Fishim; Uwani Abba Aji; and Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
A source in the anti-graft agency said: “We are looking into the accounts of all the judges so far quizzed by our team, based on petitions and preliminary investigations.
“It is too early to disclose our findings. But the affected judges have made statements in line with the law.”
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had in February sanctioned Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for misconduct on the bench.
The Council also barred her from elevation to the Court of Appeal or taking any judicial appointment.
A statement by the Acting Director of Information of NJC, Mr. Soji Oye said: “The NJC, under the chairmanship of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, at its meeting on February 24 and 25, 2016 decided to warn Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and put her on the “watch-list” of the council for the next four years.
“The judge will also not be considered for any elevation to the Court of Appeal or any ad hoc judicial appointment till her retirement from the Bench.
“The decision was sequel to the petition written against her by Victoria Ayeni, alleging misconduct and injustice on the part of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia for failing to deliver judgment in Suit No FHC/AB/CS/31/2011, a pre-election matter between Victoria A. A. Ayeni and Olusola Sonuga and two Ors.
“She was also alleged to have adjourned the pre-election matter severally until the termination of the life span of the Ogun State House of Assembly. The decision of the Council on Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is with immediate effect.”
Two of the six judges were alleged to have received over N2.75 million bribe from two senior lawyers Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Joseph Nwobike (SAN).
The EFCC had on March 9, 2016 arraigned Tarfa and Nwobike before Lagos High Court on allegations of bribery and offering gratification to a public official.
“Nwobike and Tarfa are facing criminal prosecution for allegedly offering gratification to Federal High Court judges to restrain them from exercising the duties of their office.
“Subsequent investigation revealed that the two Judges allegedly received sums of money from the two senior lawyers severally.”
Judge apologises to convict
Meanwhile, a judge of the Federal High Court was alleged to have sneaked into Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory to apologise to an inmate for wrongful conviction.
A reliable source said: “The judge disguised and went to the prison yard on September 13. The convict was jailed for being in possession of cocaine.
“But the Federal High Court judge met with the convict and expressed regrets for wrongful conviction.
“He said he knew that the convict was a victim of a set up and his conscience was troubling him.
“He offered to assist the convict in whatever manner to make his stay in prison comfortable.
“But security agencies have picked up the visit of the judge and they have started investigating it.”

Suspected kidnappers kill businessman after N500, 000 ransom

2016-10-22T04:26:00.002-07:00

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have allegedly murdered an Owerri-based businessman, Amaechi Ahanonu, after collecting N500, 000 as ransom from his family.
The suspected kidnappers had on Monday morning, stormed the Ahanonu’s house in Amato Orogwe in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State and whisked him away.
It was learnt that the gunmen, who were armed, arrived the residence of the businessman and abducted him after shooting sporadically into the air.
It was learnt that the kidnap victim was relaxing with his family members as of the time he was taken away.

The gunmen, it was gathered, later established contacts with the family of the victim and demanded N10m as ransom.
His family, however, could only raise N500, 000 before the abductors allegedly murdered him.
The amount provided by his family was said to have provoked his abductors, who allegedly killed him and dropped his corpse on a bush path along Ndegwu/Orogwe Road in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.
“We found his lifeless body this morning (Friday) along Ndegwu/Orogwe Road, but this was after the family had taken the sum of N500, 000 to the Okuku forest where they held him hostage. This is very absurd,” he said.
When contacted for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Andrew Enwerem, didn’t answer calls and didn’t respond to the text message sent to his mobile phone as of the time of filing this report.

Ebonyi: NDLEA arrests 98 drug suspects, as court convicts 37

2016-10-22T04:05:00.002-07:00

No fewer than 98 persons have been arrested by the National Drug law Enforcement Agency in Ebonyi State for their alleged involvement in illicit drugs consumption and trafficking between January 2016 and now.
The NDLEA said 37 of the suspects had also been prosecuted and jailed by competent courts, while others were still under investigation.
The state commander of the agency, Mr. Ralph Igwenagu, during a press briefing in Ntezi, Ishielu
Local Government Area of the state, said, “Thirty-seven suspects have been successfully convicted and sent to prison. Others are in various stages of prosecution.
“Most of the suspects are men but there are few cases where women are involved; we are determined to rid the state of illicit drug consumption.”
The NDLEA boss said that the agency seized 1,500Kg of drugs in 2015, adding that the seizure in 2016 was far lesser than that.
He said, “The incidences of drug abuse are in the decline in the state due to enlightenment by the agency on the dangers associated with drugs.
“The agency will not relent in its effort to combat dealers of fake drugs in the state. It is a risk for anybody to indulge in illicit drugs, and our efforts over the years are yielding positive results.”

Police parade 18 for armed robbery in Adamawa

2016-10-22T04:02:00.003-07:00

The Adamawa State Police Command has said it is fulfilling its promise to keep the state safe by arresting 18 armed robbery suspects in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, stated this while parading the suspects at the command headquarters recently. He said the arrests were made between October 8 and 12, 2016, while they were carrying out their operations.
He said the police had identified all the notorious black spots in the state and that his officers and men were being posted to the areas on a 24-hour operation.
He said, “You would recall that on my assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, I pledged that my ultimate vision would be to ensure that Adamawa State is safe and secured. It is on this premise that the command re-strategised its operations by
putting in place measures to confront all crimes in the state head-on.
“I am pleased to inform you that the measures put in place have started yielding positive results. These undesirable elements that have hitherto robbed people of their valuables unchallenged, particularly along Numan/Lafiya, Numan/Ngurore and Ngurore/Mayo-Belwa Roads are now faced with superior firepower, and this has led to the arrest of seven armed robbers along the identified roads. The others fled. This occurred on October 8 and 9, 2016.
“In the same vein, on October 12, 2016, the same gang of armed robbers that has been terrorising travellers along Ngurore Mayo Inne Road, was also intercepted while carrying out an operation. Four suspects were arrested while others escaped with bullet wounds. The suspects are Adamu Saidu, Muhammadu Anaruwa, Mohammed Sani and Hassan Danmmanu, all of Nyibango village.”
The suspects were paraded along with some recovered items, including three rifles, one locally made pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, one laptop computer and a tablet. Others are three handsets, two sharp cutlasses, two knives, 12 scrap handsets, two big sticks and N343,500.