Category Archives: Criminal Case

Criminal Case

Police to summon Lagos monarch over audio threatening voters.

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The Police Command in Lagos has communicated its intention to question a traditional ruler over a viral audio threatening and intimidating prospective voters resident in a community in Eti-Osa area of the state.

The Command spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to newsmen on Saturday.

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Hundeyin said: “The traditional ruler, a Baale, is to be invited for questioning. Intimidating voters will not be allowed.

“Everyone should feel free to vote the candidate of his or her choice,” Hundeyin said.

A recorded audio of a meeting allegedly held on Monday at the instance of the traditional ruler had gone viral.

In the 11 minutes and 34 seconds listened to by Ripples Nigeria, the Speakers, alleged to be the traditional ruler and one other person requested the residents and those doing business in the area to vote for APC in the forthcoming elections.

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The alleged traditional ruler, wanted to know how many persons at the meeting had their PVCs and only about 20 answered in the affirmative, out of about 60 persons said to be in attendance.

“If we take the number of people here, we will not be less than 60, but only 20 have PVCs; what is happening to the rest?

“We are ready to fight; yes, I am not hiding it; I have narrated everything to you. In Nigeria, there is Lagos; in Lagos, there is Eti-Osa; within Eti-Osa, we have Igbara community and by the grace of God in Igbara today, we can take our decision.

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“The people that will be friends with us, that will do business with us are those with PVCs and are willing to vote for our party. Nothing short of that,” the said traditional ruler said in the audio.

“You want to vote for other political parties? Not here! Elections have been coming and going, we have never done this before”, he added.

Another voice in the audio strongly instructed people to take photos shots of their ballot papers confirming their votes for APC in the forthcoming elections

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Criminal Case

Police arraign two for alleged rail tracks theft in Benue.

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Police in Benue on Friday arraigned two persons, Usman Aliyu and Monday Mbah, at the Makurdi Upper Area Court 2B for allegedly destroying and stealing railway tracks in the state.

The duo were arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, willful destruction of public property and theft.

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The Police prosecutor, Insp. Rachael Mchiave, told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Igumale, Ado local government area of the state to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) Makurdi, via a letter No. AR:3100 BNS AD/VOL.1/40 and dated January 24, 2023.

She said the police received reports that some youths in Utonkon area of the state were vandalising and stealing railway tracks in the area.

The prosecutor said: “A team of policemen led by Innocent Ekere rushed to the scene and arrested some suspects with 355 pieces of railway iron recovered from them.

”They were all later arraigned before the Upper Area Court II, Makurdi.

READ ALSO: Four injured in Benue herdsmen attack

“Aliyu and Mbah who were hitherto at large were later arrested while others were still at large.”

The offence, according to her, contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 288 of the Panel Code Law, 2004 and Section 1(3) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Dooshima Ikpambese, ordered the defendants to be remanded in the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre, Makurdi.

She, thereafter, adjourned the case till February 17 for further mention

Criminal Case

Court bars Rivers Govt, Police, DSS from arresting members of Atiku Campaign.

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A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an order restraining the Rivers State Government, led by Governor Nyesom Wike; the Department of State Services, DSS; and the Nigeria Police Force, NPF; from arresting and intimidating members of the Atiku Campaign Council in the State.

Justice A.T Ibrahim issued the order against the DSS and the police following a motion ex parte filed by leaders of the Rivers State Atiku/Okowa Campaign Council.

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The Council Spokesperson, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, on Wednesday, noted that Atiku Abubakar’s supporters are now protected by the court order after some of them were arraigned on Tuesday before a Magistrate Court, Premium Times reported.

Over 20 of those arraigned were reportedly remanded in prison. And the case was adjourned to the 22nd of March for a hearing of bail application.

The applicants in the suit are former National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; Chairman of the Council, Senator Lee Maeba; Former Transportation Minister and Director General of the Council, Dr. Abiye Sekibo; Senator Thompson George Sekibo, and Celestine Omehia (derecognised former Governor).

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Others are: Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Austin Opara; Member House of Representatives, Chinyere Igwe; immediate past Commissioner for Water Resources, Tamuno Sisi Gogo Jaja; and Spokesman of the Council, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa; among others.

Justice Ibrahim ordered the government and other respondents to maintain the status quo until the determination of the suit.

Recall with 𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 that Nwibubasa had recently accused the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, of using security operatives to arrest 35 supporters of Atiku during a meeting in Port Harcourt

Politics Today, terrorism

Zamfara APC challenges ex-Deputy Gov, Aliyu to expose bandits’ locations.

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The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reacted to the claim by the former Deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, that he has discovered 16 wards where elections will not hold.

In a press statement issued by the State APC Publicity Secretary, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party challenged the former Deputy Governor to mention the bandits’ locations in the state.

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“APC and the state government want to immensely thank the lawyer politician for this good information that will help in ensuring the disbandment of the criminals wherever they may be in our dear state.

“As has always been the plea of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle for all well meaning Zamfara State citizens to join hands with his administration in sacking all terror groups and enclaves from the state.

“We also wish to urgently implore security agencies in the state to immediately invite Barrister Mahdi, who had visited such wards, to help with more details of his findings to save the state and its good citizens.

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‘We have always been saying that members of the opposition PDP know some, if not all, of the bandits in the state; this will certainly be an opportunity for the PDP to use such knowledge positively by divulging information that will help the state.

“The PDP and the former Deputy Governor, in particular, owe it as a duty to the state to immediately give details on this matter.

“It must, however, be noted that banditry and other heinous crimes have significantly been decimated in Zamfara State and other parts of the North West through the sustained efforts of the federal and state governments,” the statement read.

Criminal Case

Vision 4 TV owner and 27 others arrested for murder of journalist.

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The Cameroonian security agents have arrested the owner of Douala-based Vision 4 TV, Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, and 27 others including senior police officers in connection with the murder of a journalist, Martinez Zogo, in the Central African country.

Zogo was abducted and killed by unknown persons last month.

The mutilated body of the radio host was found on January 22 in Yaounde, five days after he was abducted near a police station in the country’s capital.

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The President of the Cameroon Journalists Trade Union, Marion Obam, told journalists at a press conference in Douala on Wednesday that Belinga was arrested at his home alongside one of his personal security detail.

He said: “On Monday, police arrested and detained seven more people, including media mogul, Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, who was arrested at his Yaounde home.

READ ALSO: 11 die in Cameroon plane crash

“Since the killings of Zogo and Bebe, several other journalists in Cameroon say they have received death threats.

“Nobody would want to be killed. When journalists are moving, they feel that the worst can come to them.

“We even have some families who are already beginning to advise that their children should not engage in journalism because it could invite agony to their lives.

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“Many journalists are waiting to see the Cameroonian government bring to book those who have brought this kind of agony to the media in Cameroon.”

Criminal Case

NIS arrests illegal aliens, seized 6,216 PVCs, ID cards ahead of 2023 elections.

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested scores of illegal immigrants from neighbouring nations and seized 6,216 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) and the Nigerian national identity cards during a recent operation in the country.

The Controller-General of the NIS, Isah Jere, who disclosed this during a retreat for top management staff of the service on Wednesday in Abuja, said the operation was aimed at stopping the migrants from participating in this month’s elections.

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He said: “The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has seized 6,216 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) from some migrants in 21 border states across the country.”

The NIS chief added that 3,823 national identity cards and 2,393 voter cards unlawfully possessed by migrants were also confiscated by the operatives.

“The vital documents were intercepted in Nasarawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Yobe, Kwara, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Zamfara, Jigawa, Edo, Bauchi, Niger, and three other states.

“The cards were seized in ongoing operations to ensure that migrants from neighbouring countries did not participate in the forthcoming general elections,” Jere added.

He revealed those arrested by the operatives had since been returned to their countries in line with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement

Criminal Case

Money Laundering: EFCC arraigns Yahaya Bello’s wife, nephew.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Rashida, wife of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged money laundering.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the development in a statement in Abuja, said the governor’s wife was arraigned alongside her husband’s nephew, Ali Bello, and three other persons on an 18-count charge of money laundering and criminal misappropriation of funds.

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Mrs. Bello is, however, said to be at large.

The commission alleged that the defendants conspired to misappropriate N3,081,804,654 belonging to the Kogi State government. Watch Video Here

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court to pick a date for the commencement of the trial.

The defence counsel, Ahmed Raji, asked the court to grant his clients’ bail in the most liberal terms.

READ ALSO: 2023: APC campaign dismisses report on Yahaya Bello’s withdrawal from team

Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered that the defendants be remanded in the correctional centre pending the ruling on their bail application and adjourned the matter till February 13. Watch Video Here

This is not the first time the Kogi State government will be in the spotlight with the EFCC.

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The two parties were involved in a hugely-publicized spat in 2022 over the arraignment of the governor’s nephew for alleged N10 billion fraud.

The government in a statement issued at the time by the state’s Commissioner for Information, and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, accused the commission of a witch-hunt and bias against the Bello administration in the state.

The commissioner insisted that EFCC was determined to embarrass the government in order to save its face after the investigation into a N20 billion bailout found in Sterling Bank in 2021 met a brick wall

Criminal Case

Court orders NDLEA to respond to Abba Kyari’s bail application within 48 hours.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been ordered by a Federal High Court in Abuja to respond to a bail plea made by Abba Kyari, a suspended deputy commissioner of police who is being detained by the anti-drug organization over his alleged involvement in a 25 kg cocaine sale.

After being turned over to the NDLEA by the Abuja police due to on-going drug crime allegations, Kyari, a former head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), filed a lawsuit to get his freedom back.

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NDLEA’s attorney, Mike Kassa, told Justice Inyang Ekwo, at the hearing on Tuesday that the organization had not received notice of Mr. Kyari’s pending bail application.

The judge temporarily halted the proceedings so that Cynthia Ikenna, the applicant’s attorney, may provide a copy of the court document to Mr. Kassa.

When the case continued, Joseph Sunday, the director of legal services for the NDLEA, made an appearance and requested a postponement so that his office could react to the troubled Kyari’s bail plea.

Mr. Ekwo then ruled that “lawyers to parties in the suit to put their house in order” and placed the hearing on the bail motion on hold until February 28.

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Last Monday, Mr. Kyari’s attorney, Cynthia Ikenna, asked the judge to grant her client’s request for bail while claiming health-related reasons in an ex-parte application. But before setting the case for hearing yesterday, Mr. Ekwo instructed the attorney to serve the NDLEA with the pending request.

READ ALSO: NDLEA intercepts consignments of cocaine, heroin, others at Lagos airport

The hearing was put on hold, nevertheless, since the court paperwork was not properly served on the anti-drug agency.

On February 14, 2022, the NDLEA announced that the police officer was wanted for allegedly assisting in drug trafficking and collaborating with a drug cartel. The NDLEA later confirmed that the officer, Kyari, was in its custody.

The former commander of the police intelligence section was charged by the US authorities with internet fraud a few months prior to the NDLEA’s announcement.

Following the pronouncement, the police made the announcement that Mr. Kyari and four other members of the police intelligence response team had been taken into custody. But Mr. Kyari refuted the claim that he was affiliated with a global drug gang in an affidavit supporting the ex-parte plea for release

Criminal Case

FBI Indicts Nigerian Of Stealing US University’s $1.4M.

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A Nigerian national identified as Kolawole Erinle has been arraigned for allegedly defrauding Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in the United States to the tune of $1.4m.

An agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr Ayotunde Solademi, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, told an Ikeja Special Offences Court how Kolawole Erinle allegedly defrauded Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences by spoofing, a form of cybercrime attack that targets businesses using forged sender addresses.

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Solademi, led in examination in chief by the EFCC counsel, Temitope Banjo, told the court that KCUMB underwent a major construction project with a construction company called J.E.Dunn in Kansas City sometime in 2019 and the university made a wired transfer of approximately $1.41m to an account that it believed belonged to J. E. Dunn.

He said, “On March 27, 2019, J.E. Dunn contacted KCUMB asking about the payment for the pending invoices and KCUMB replied that the payment has been made.

“On March 28, 2019, Dunn confirmed that they did not receive payment.

“It was later found out by both parties that somebody changed the wire transfer details for Dunn using a fake email domain jedunn.org whereas the real domain name for the construction company is jedunn.com.

“After this, the case was reported to the FBI and an investigation carried out showed that the email account of Dunn’s Chief Financial Officer was spoofed.”

He said the wire transfer of $1.41m made by KCUMB entered into a Bank of America account with an account number ending with 6843 on March 5 2019.

He added, “On that same day, somebody accessed that account and wired $850,000 to a Diamond Bank account (now Access Bank) ending with 4471.

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“The next day, which was March 6, 2019, somebody still accessed the same Bank of America account and wired $560,000 to the same Diamond Bank account in Nigeria.”

He added that after all the findings, the FBI sent a petition to the EFCC for further investigation.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge adjourned the case until Friday, Feb. 10, for continuation of the trial

Criminal Case

Anambra: UNIZIK lecturer killed by Gunmen.

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A lecturer with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, has been killed by unknown gunmen.

Prof. Anthony Eze of the Faculty of Education was shot dead in the early hours of Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

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𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 gathered that the assailants stormed the deceased’s residence in Awka with a Toyota Corolla car and shot him at close range.

A resident of the area said the deceased attempted to flee on sighting the assailants whoushed and shot him repeatedly in his chest.

”We were here this morning when the man was driving out of his house and suddenly a Toyota Corolla saloon car pulled towards the entrance of his house” the source said.

”When he tried to drive back they followed him and shot him, emptying about four bullets into his chest. As soon as they executed their plot, they fled to an unknown destination while we ran for our lives.”

He said the deceased was rushed to the General Hospital Amaku where he was confirmed dead by the doctor.

Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, UNIZIK, Chika Ene, who confirmed the incident said she was yet to receive full details

Criminal Case

Court remands Lagos lecturer for alleged incest.

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A lecturer at the Lagos State University of Technology (LASPOTECH) has been held in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old daughter.

The lecturer (names withheld), who is suspected of having carnal knowledge of the child since 2018, was arraigned last Friday before Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi on a two-count allegation of defilement and sexual assault by penetration.

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According to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), the lecturer was detained after a report from a Mandated Reporter that he was having illicit sexual intercourse with his biological daughter.

The survivor’s mother also said that her husband stopped being intimate with her in 2018 and that any attempts to discuss it ended in his physically abusing her. It was also discovered that the most recent abuse occurred on December 30th, 2022.

Magistrate Osunsanmi did not hear his plea and instead ordered his remand in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The case was adjourned until March 6, 2023

Criminal Case

Court jails 51-yo landlord five years For storing 372.6kg hemp.

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A shop owner, Saheed Ojomu, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos for allowing his tenant to use his shop to store Indian hemp.

The 51-year-old Ojomu, whose property housing shops are located on Osho Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State, was given the jail term by Justice Daniel Osiagor after he made a U-turn of his earlier not guilty plea in 2017.

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He was arrested with 372.6kg of the banned substance found in one of his shops on March 31, 2017, by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

During his arrest and arraignment, he claimed that the banned weed belonged to one of his tenants named Sakiru (now at large) and pleaded not guilty to the charges made against him by NDLEA.

The charge against him reads in part: “That you, Saheed Ojomu, male adult, 46 years old, on or about the 31st day of March, 2017, at No 1, Osho Street, Island, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being occupier and manager of a shop at No 1, Osho Street, Lagos Island, unlawfully permitted same to be used by one Sakiru (now at large) for the purpose of storing and dealing in 372.6kg of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

In the course of his trial, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered exhibits which were admitted by the court.

However, at the resumed trial of the suspect on Wednesday, his counsel, Mrs Vivienne Ekwegh, informed the court that her client had decided to change his plea and her position was confirmed by the prosecutor, Mrs N. J. Mamza.

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With the new development, Justice Osiagor asked that the plea be retaken and facts of the charge reviewed by the prosecutor.

Upon reviewing the facts of the charge, the prosecutor, Mrs Mamza, urged the court to convict and sentence the accused in accordance with the relevant laws that he was charged with.

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But counsel to the convict, Mrs Ekwegh, described her client as a victim of circumstance as he was unaware that his tenant warehoused the banned weed in his property.

She, therefore, urged the court to award an option of fine in lieu of custodial sentence.

Justice Osiagor sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of N300,000. In addition to the monetary fine, the judge ordered the convict to perform three weeks of non-custodial community service

Criminal Case

Man arraigned over AC theft.

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An electrician, Ibrahim Hamisu, was arraigned on Monday before a Kado area court in Abuja for allegedly stealing five units of air conditioner valued at N1.2 million.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that the defendant, along with one Danjuma Rody, currently at large, formed a common intention and unlawfully entered a house on December 26, 28 and 29, 2022, and stole three units of Samsung and two units of Royal split air conditioners.

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He said during police investigation, the defendant confessed to have sold the items to one Salisu Nasiru and every attempt to recover the items had proved abortive.

The Judge, Muhammed Wakili, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N800,000 and a surety in like sum and adjourned to March 15.

Criminal Case

Osun: Amotekun nabs three looters at construction sites.

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The Osun State Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig Gen Bashir Adewinmbi (Rtd), has said that three suspects who specialise in looting at construction sites have been arrested by his men.

Adewinmbi told journalists in Osogbo on Monday that the suspects were arrested in Iragbiji in Boripe LGA.

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He said, “Two of the suspects were caught and arrested on Friday afternoon while removing aluminium glass window frames at a construction site on Egbeda-Iragbiji Road in Iragbiji.

“The third person was later arrested in the early hours of Saturday at his house in Iragbiji based on the confession of his gang members.”

The Amotekun commander added that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to involvement in stealing building materials from construction sites for a long time.

He further said that, “They added that they have robbed many construction sites and houses in Iragbiji town and its environs.”

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The commander said the three suspects had been transferred to the police

Criminal Case

EFCC arrests Abuja bank manager for hoarding new N29mn.

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The Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, on Monday, arrested a senior bank official in Abuja.

The staff is the Operations Manager of “a leading commercial bank” in the Central Area, according to EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.

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The manager refused to load the Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, despite having N29million of the redesigned naira notes in the branch’s vaults.

Uwujaren said before he was whisked away for further questioning, the operatives ordered the loading of all the ATMs.

The EFCC also ensured payment across the counter to the delight of the customers who had spent hours on queues without getting the new notes.

The anti-corruption agency stated that the latest discovery indicates “a sabotage of the government’s monetary policy by some banks”.

Uwujaren disclosed that operatives covered more than five bank branches today in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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The operation was in continuation of the surveillance and visit to banks across the country to access their vaults and verify whether they are deliberately refusing to dispense cash.

The EFCC said it would continue the raid until normalcy is restored to the banking system, urging Nigerians finding it difficult to access funds at any bank and suspects foul play to contact the commission.

Earlier on Monday, financial institutions denied hoarding the new naira notes, saying they cannot be a clog in the wheel of efforts of the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN

Criminal Case

Fidelity bank MD and Secretary sentenced to Prison.

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Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank has been sentenced to six weeks in prison.

A chief magistrate’s court in Ogba, Lagos sentenced Onyeali-Ikpe on Monday for disobeying a court order.

According to FIJ, the court, presided over by Magistrate Lateef Owolabi, extended the same sentence to Ezinwa Unuigboje, the bank’s secretary, after finding both guilty of disobeying a garnishee order of court restraining the bank from allowing a judgment debtor access to his account.

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Owolabi had on December 6, 2022, issued the garnishee order for 17 banks to not grant Enabulele Ozaze, a judgement debtor, access to his bank accounts until he paid a judgement debt of N2.8 million.

Ozaze was on October 13, 2022, ordered to refund one Jibrin Ahmed the sum of N2.8 million. This sum was money Ahmed had earlier paid to Ozaze for the purchase of a Toyota Corolla car.

Two months after Ozaze failed to refund, Owolabi ordered 16 banks to not allow him transact on any account.

On January 25, 2023, Ahmed told the court, via an affidavit, that Fidelity Bank had flouted the garnishee order.

He showed the court how Ozaze had been withdrawing funds from his account. He claimed that Ozaze had N3,165,759.05k in his account with Fidelity Bank as of January 12, 2023, when the garnishee order was served.

Three days after the order was served, Ozaze withdrew N725,547.80k from the account. The following day, he transferred another N251,305.90 out of the bank.

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On January 17, Obianuju Nwosu, Zenith Bank’s legal officer, confirmed they received the garnishee order on December 22, 2022, and apologised to the court for the transactions on the account.

On January 18, the court ordered that the managing director and the bank’s secretary to appear before it to explain why they should not be sentenced to prison.

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Both were absent on Monday. Owolabi ordered their immediate remand and instructed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to effect their arrest

Criminal Case, terrorism

Herdsmen kill 6 farmers and traders in Ondo.

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No fewer than six farmers and traders have been killed by Fulani herdsmen at Arimogija and Molege communities in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo state.

Narrating the ordeal, a community leader, Mr. Owolafe Folorunsho said the recent attack was triggered by effort by farmers to repel the continued wanton destruction of their crops by the herdsmen.

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According to him, the herdsmen ambushed and attacked some traders who were returning to the town from Akure and killed all the occupants of the vehicle before setting the vehicle ablaze and taking their money and belongings.

Many houses, cars and motorcycles were burnt during the attack while the families of the victims killed some cows in retariation.

“The herders have continued to invade our farmlands at night, harvest our crops to feed their Cows & in many occasions, they will come during the day, forced us to uproot the Cassava by ourselves at gunpoint, command us to cut them into pieces to feed their cows,” he said.

“In order not to take laws into our hands, we reported this act of economic sabotage to the appropriate authority who took prompt action to chase them out of the farming areas only for the Fulanis to come back and attacked us with AK-47, Pump Action, Axes & Cutlasses and killed our people at night”.

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A first-class traditional ruler in the area, the Onimoru of Imoru, Oba Rotimi Obamuwagun, who confirmed the invasion and attack on the people of the communities lamented over the atrocities and criminal activities of the herdsmen in the area.

The monarch disclosed that over four hectares of cassava farmland belonging to one of his subjects were destroyed by the herdsmen, saying the farm was financed through bank loan from a commercial bank.

He stated that the herdsmen, who always armed themselves with sophisticated weapons are becoming more daring by visiting homes and dragging the farmers to the farm, ordering them to uproot cassava for their cows.

He noted that apart from their cows being fed with cassava, the armed herdsmen have also embarked on harvesting other farm products to feed themselves.

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Corroborating, Oba Obamuwagun, the Odibiado of Ijagba, Oba Andrew Ikioya Ilevare, said the bandits have now resulted in harvesting plantains and bringing them to market to sell.

The traditional rulers, however, called on the state government to draft more Amotekun officials to the area and queried the rationale behind herdsmen carrying sophisticated weapons.

Speaking on the development, the spokesperson of the state police command, Funmi Odunlami, said men of the command have been deployed to the area, assuring that the criminals would soon be arrested

Criminal Case

Sonia Ekweremadu loses bid to be excused from her parent’s trial.

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Sonia Ekweremadu, the 25-year-old daughter of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has lost her bid to be excused from her parent’s trials n in the UK.

Justice Johnson at the Old Bailey denied Sonia’s request to not stand trial with her father and mother on ‘conspiracy to harvest organs’ allegations.

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Sonia was docked with her mother, Beatrice. Ike Ekweremadu, on the other hand, watched the events through video conference.

He sat motionless as the court concluded that Sonia was not unfit to face a “criminal trial spanning seven weeks,” as her defense attorney, Femi Oni, had claimed.

Sonia’s counsel and the Crown prosecutor utilized expert witness testimony and report to back up their claims in court.

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After the application for a stay of proceedings was denied on the grounds that she is medically and psychologically unfit due to her ongoing thrice-weekly dialysis, both sides of the bench led their expert witnesses in testimony via video link, beginning with the Manchester-based professor that Oni had lined up.
The professor also relied on the report of a consultant psychiatrist.

Dr. Andrews served as Dr. Davies’ expert witness. Though he acknowledged having no direct consultation with Sonia, he indicated that if the court’s meeting times were altered to afternoons to suit her treatment days, she would be capable of standing trial. In his evidence, Andrew informed the court that “residual dialysis symptoms do not make it difficult to attend trial.

After hearing from the barristers and their expert witnesses, including their reports, and acknowledging that the treatment is taxing her and that she has had to withdraw from her Masters degree program as a result of her diagnosis, the judge stated that it is not confirmed that her recovery or clinical care would suffer if she were to stand trial.

Criminal Case, terrorism

Cattle rustling: Sani Bello to compensate six herdsmen.

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Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has disclosed plans to compensate herdsmen who lost livestock to cattle rustlers in the state.

The governor stated this at the festival organized by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association of Nigeria at the Aliyu Ndayoko Memorial Stadium, Bida, Bida Local Government Area of the state.

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Gov. Bello represented by Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, revealed that six pastoralists who were victims of cattle rustling will be identified and compensated.

He explained that the six beneficiaries, two from each of the three senatorial zones, would be given 10 cattle each as compensation from the government.

According to him: “The gesture [shows] the willingness of government in providing initiatives aimed at fostering peace as well as nurture harmonious relationship among the citizenry.”

The governor also revealed that his administration has reactivated the Bobi Grazing Reserve and other reserves in the state to reduce conflicts between farmers and herders.

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He noted: “The reserves, apart from being a pragmatic and sustainable solution to farmers-herders clashes, will also generate employment opportunities.”

Bello further expressed optimism that the festival would bring harmony and foster cordial relationships among people of different backgrounds.

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar in his remarks underscored the need for peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers while calling on them to always be law-abiding citizens.

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The royal father said: “The importance of peaceful coexistence among the citizenry to the development of the society could not be over-emphasized.”

Also, the National President of Miyetti Allah, Alh. Bello Bodejo who spoke through Alh. Gidado Idris called for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state, saying: “Unity of purpose would help to achieve the much-desired economic prosperity.”

The Director General, Nomadic Affairs and Conflict Resolution in the state, Ardo Abdullahi Adamu Babayo, in his speech said the Fulani cultural festival would be a turning point in the inter-ethnic relationship not only in Bida Emirate but the state at large

Criminal Case

Police arrest suspects for alleged possession, trade of counterfeit N1000 notes.

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Police Operatives serving in Igbo-Eze South Division of Enugu State Command, have arrested two suspects for allegedly possessing suspected counterfeit one hundred and eighty (180) pieces of the newly redesigned one thousand naira (N1,000) notes.

On Thursday, February 2, officers arrested one Joseph Chinenye aged 39, and Onyeka Kenneth Ezeja aged 29, both male and respectively of Iheakpu-Awka in Igbo-Eze South LGA and Onicha Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North LGA for carrying counterfeit notes.

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According to a statement issued by the state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, preliminary investigation shows that the notes, which are in three separate batches, bear the same serial numbers of A/34:282656, A/46:578759, and 8/93:852942; while the suspects claimed to have obtained the counterfeited Naira notes from an unidentified woman in Benin, Edo State.

“They confessed to attempting to sell the notes to a POS operator, who rejected them, before the Operatives arrested them at a Filling Station in Ibagwa-Aka community of Igbo-Eze LGA, where they used the notes to purchase petrol. The duo will be arraigned in court upon consolidation and conclusion of an investigation into the case by the State CID Enugu,” Ndukwe said

He stated that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, has reaffirmed the Police’s determination to apprehend and prosecute criminal elements intent on committing such acts of economic sabotage.

As a result, he advised everyone to join the Police in their pursuit, while remaining watchful and aware of who or how they get and conduct transactions using Naira notes, particularly fresh ones

Criminal Case

Man sets wife ablaze for washing his clothes instead of preparing his food.

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A 46-year-old man identified as Hassan Azeez has been arrested by the Ogun state Police Command, for allegedly setting his wife ablaze.

According to a statement issued by SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, spokesperson for the state police command, the suspect was apprehended after the victim’s father reported to Ibogun divisional headquarters that on October 22, 2022, his daughter, Olayinka Hassan, was set ablaze by her husband over a minor disagreement and that the victim, a mother of one, was rushed to a hospital in Ibadan.

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He said;

“Upon the report, the DPO Ibogun division, CSP Samuel Oladele quickly mobilized his men and moved to the scene. But before getting there, the suspect had escaped. Since then, the police operatives have been on his trail until 22nd of January when he was eventually apprehended.
On interrogation, the suspect who claimed to have ran away to Benin Republic confessed to the commission of the crime but blamed it on the devil.
According to him, he asked the victim to prepare food for him but instead of the victim to prepare his food, she was busy washing clothes. He stated further that he got annoyed because he was hungry and the annoyance made him to pour petrol on her and set her on fire. When asked whose clothes the woman was washing, he confessed that it was his clothes.”

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The suspect has been sent to the state Criminal Investigation Department’s Homicide Section for additional investigation and probable prosecution

Criminal Case

Gunmen attack police facility in Anambra, kill one, burn building.

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Gunmen at about 11 pm on Thursday attacked a police facility used by Anti-Cult operatives in Obosi community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 gathered that the men killed one police officer and burnt down a building in the formation, using petrol bomb.

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying that a huge deployment of operatives were sent to the area immediately the command got information about the attack.

The state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said: “Our men were moved there immediately, and they were able to combat the gunmen, and also recovered some improvised explosive devises (IED), which have not been used.

“Our men stood their ground and were able to ward off the attackers.

“The men came in their numbers, using three vehicles. One Toyota Highlander, one Toyota Sienna and a Corolla car.

“Because of the deployment, the attackers were not able to do harm to the level that they expected. They had to flee.

“Meanwhile, we lost one police operative in the attack. He was hit by a bullet from the attackers. Also, because of the petrol bomb used by the attackers, one of the buildings in the formation was affected by fire.

“As I speak to you, there is massive police operation going on in the area now, and we are calling on members of the public to trust us with information. People should come forth with information that can help us apprehend these culprits, and we promise that every information given to us will be treated with a high level of confidentiality.”

Criminal Case

N4.6bn Fraud: EFCC cleared me after 21-day detention – Obanikoro.

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According to a report by The Nation, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday heard the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) exonerated a former Minister of State for Defence Misiliu Obanikoro of complicity in an alleged financial crime involving former Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, after detaining him for 21 days.

Obanikoro made the claim in his testimony in the EFCC’s ongoing trial of Fayose for alleged N4.6 billion fraud.

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According to him, the sum of N2.2 billion was budgeted for 2014, Ekiti State governorship election of Fayose from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness said the funds came from the NSA’s impress account to a firm, Silver Maclamaran Nigeria Limited.

He said: “I was invited by EFCC in 2016 and I came in from the United States of America but was incarcerated for 21 days, even when there is a presumption of innocence in law when an allegation like this arises.

“Yes, a letter of complaint was written from the office of the National Security Adviser but I believe that it was written out of ignorance because after all the investigations, common sense prevailed and I was exonerated.”

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Under cross-examination by Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness distanced himself from the operation of Silver Maclamaran, the company account that was used to warehouse the N2.2bn.

Olalekan also questioned him on what he knows about a Committee for fundraising towards the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election.

“Yes, I was the chairman of the Committee and a lot of funds were contributed even up to the national level of our party,” Obanikoro said.

When asked if he could remember the name of any member of the funds raising committee, he said “I can remember T. K. Aluko and Lateef Agbaje.”

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When also asked if he was a signatory to the accounts of Silver Maclamaran Nigeria Limited which received the funds from the office of NSA, he said no, adding that the signatory to the firm’s account was Olalekan Olalere

Justice Aneke adjourned further trial till March 20 and 21.

According to the charge, Fayose and Abiodun Agbele on June 17, 2014 illegally took possession of N1.2 billion to fund his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti.

Fayose also allegedly received a cash payment of $ 5 million (about N1.8 billion) from Obanikoro without going through any financial institution.

He is also charged with unlawfully retaining N300 million in a bank account and illegally taking control of about N622 million.

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The EFCC alleged that the former governor reasonably ought to know that the money was part of the crime proceeds.

It also alleged that the defendants procured De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd. to illegally retain N851 million.

It claimed that Fayose used about N1.6 billion in crime proceeds to acquire property in Lagos and Abuja.

The commission also charged Fayose with using N200 million in crime proceeds to acquire a property in Abuja in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji.

Fayose pleaded not guilty and is out on bail

Criminal Case

Protests as Ekweremadu, wife appear in UK court.

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The human trafficking case against a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, resumed in a London court on Tuesday.

However, anti- and pro-Ekweremadu protests were staged in front of the court ahead of the proceedings.

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AFP reported that before court proceedings, there was a gathering of protesters, some of whom were in support of the lawmaker while others were against him.

The lawmaker was in June 2022 arrested alongside his wife at Heathrow Airport in London on the allegation that they flew a young man from Nigeria to the UK to harvest his organ.

The allegation added that the organ was meant for Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia, who is currently hospitalised with a kidney-related illness.

Some Nigerians had in October 2022 protested in Abuja against the continued detention of the lawmaker who has now spent 223 days in the custody of UK authorities.

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Protesters, once again, gathered at the court on Tuesday to either support the embattled lawmaker or protest his continued detention in UK custody.

“I mean, this case is unbelievable,” one protester, Citizen Gbola, was quoted by AFP as saying.


“Where else in the world would you have a deputy senate president, who is still a serving senator, he’s still getting his regular wage?”

According to Daily Mail, Sonia couldn’t make it to court on Tuesday but sought permission with a psychological report by her team claiming she was not fit to stand trial.

She had pleaded not guilty to the allegation of trafficking a homeless man into the UK to harvest his organs for herself, when she appeared in court on November 7, 2022.

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The young man, who levelled the allegation against the Ekweremadus, told Staines Police Station that he was made to undergo some medical tests, none of which he consented to.

A 50-year-old medical doctor from South London, Obinna Obeta, was also arrested in connection to the allegation.

During proceedings at the Old Bailey court, Ekweremadu who wore a grey tracksuit top only said “Yes, miss” when asked to confirm his name.

Seated beside the lawmaker in the dock and dressed in black was his wife who was granted bail in July 2022 while her husband was said to be a flight risk.

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IGP, others to face contempt charge over disobedience to Abuja High Court order.

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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba and three of his officers are to face contempt charges before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over their continued disobedience and disregard to the lawful order of the Court.

A High Court of the FCT judiciary had on December 14, 2022, restrained the IGP and his officers from taking any action against a litigant, Abubakar Umar Shagari pending the resolution of issues brought before the court.

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The order of the Court is in respect of a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/3407/2022 instituted by Abubakar Umar Shagari against the Inspector General of Police and three others.

However, in flagrant disobedience and disregard to the order of the Court, the respondents, especially, the staff of the DCP Ayuba Usman of the IGP Special Tactical Squad invaded the residence of the said Abubakar Umar Shagari in Sokoto on January 23, 2023.

During the unlawful invasion, the respondents ransacked the entire building and arrested the aged mother, two wives and two children of the plaintiff and had since hauled them into unlawful custody.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Blessing Anazodo who issued the threat to file contempt charges against the respondents asked them to conduct their statutory functions within the ambit of the law.

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The lawyer pleaded with the IGP and his officers to obey the court order and release the aged mother, two wives and two children of the plaintiff forthwith or be ready to face contempt proceedings.

She also indicated enforcement of monetary damages against the respondents jointly and severally unless they respect the order of the Court in the matter