Crime / News / Transportation

I was shot by terrorists in captivity — Abuja-Kaduna train passenger

One of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers who regained freedom after more than four months in captivity, Sidi Aminu Sharif, has revealed that he was shot by the terrorists while in captivity.

He revealed this when he spoke at the office of Kaduna-based Publisher, Tukur Mamu, who facilitated their release.

Sharif was one of the five freed by the terrorists on Tuesday.

He said: “I am one of the passengers of the train attacked in Kaduna on its way from Abuja.

I could remember how it happened when the train was conveying us to Kaduna.

“As we were sitting on the train, I could remember I praying when we heard a loud sound….

“I was shot on my stomach in captivity.

“A doctor tried to remove it but he could not.

“He used my clothes to manage the blood, which flowed to my knees.

“He used gloves and searched my stomach to pull out the bullet, but couldn’t find.

“He later used scissors, but still couldn’t find any bullet in my stomach.

“Up till now, we didn’t see the bullet.

“I don’t know if it’s still in my stomach.

“I hope now that we are free, I can go to the hospital for x-ray if the bullet can be found.”…

Crime / News / Security

4G Network rearrested by police after jail break in Owo Prison

The Ondo State Police Command has re-arrested one Ikuemelo Tosin, aka 4G Network, a convict, who escaped during the jailbreak in Owo Correctional Centre in March.

The spokesperson of the Command, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Akure.

Odunlami recalled that the convict was arrested and arraigned in court for alleged cultism and murder, and was remanded at Owo Correctional Centre.

He, however, escaped from custody in March during a jail break. The statement by Odunlami said: “Today, 4th of July, 2022 at about 0700hrs, information was received by men of Igbokoda Division in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo.

“That one Ikuemelo Tosin ‘m’, AKA 4G network, a convict, who escaped during Owo Correctional jail break, was in town.

“Immediately, the Divisional Police Officer of the division and his men went after him and was re-arrested in a soak away.”

Odunlami, therefore, said that Tosin would be charged to court immediately.…

Crime / News / Transportation

Police begin investigation on dead body found in Ikeja airport

The Airport Police Command Friday said it had commenced an investigation into the death of a man whose body was found on Runway 18R at the wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Airport Command, DSP Olayinka Ojelade, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the unidentified body might probably be that of one of the hoodlums who usually jump through the airport fence.

“l can confirm that a mangled, unidentified body was found at the International Airport runway on Thursday which was probably hit by taxing aircraft.

“We are still investigating the case of the dead body and once we are through we will communicate to you our findings. “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force yesterday evacuated the corpse from the runway,” he said.

Recall that MMIA was temporarily shut down Thursday, May 19 after the mangled body  was found on Runway 18R of the airport.

FAAN is yet to establish how the corpse got there: whether the now dead man was knocked down by an aircraft taking off or landing on the runway.…

Crime / Fraud / News

N47b Scandal: EFCC detains former NDDC boss, Nsima Ekere

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Nsima Ekere in connection with a probe of N47billion contracts.

The contracts were allegedly awarded between 2017 and 2019.

It was learnt that Ekere got wind of a close up on him by the EFCC and voluntarily reported at the Lagos office of the commission.

A top source in the commission, who spoke in confidence, said: “This commission is investigating alleged diversion of N47billion through registered contractors of NDDC. Some fake contracts were allegedly awarded for diversion purposes.

“Ekere is undergoing interrogation and we have detained him.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “I think he got hints of surveillance on him and voluntarily reported to the EFCC’s office in Lagos.”

The Nation…

Crime / Law / News

Girl raped by Facebook friend who promised her N3,000, demands N50,000 for her nude photos

A 25-year-old man, Ebenezer Adeshina, has been arrested by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command for rape and blackmailing of a 16-year-old girl (name withheld).

This was disclosed by the spokesman of the Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement he issued on Tuesday.

Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested on May 6, 2022 following a report lodged at Owode Egbado Police Divisional Headquarters by the victim, who reported that she met the suspect on Facebook sometime in 2021 and they have been chatting since then.

She stated further that her phone got spoilt along the line and she couldn’t chat with the suspect again.

But in the month of March this year, the suspect called her and asked why she didn’t chat with him anymore, to which she informed him of her spoilt phone.

The suspect there and then asked her to come to his house to collect the sum of N3,000 for the repair of the phone.

On getting there, the suspect offered her a drink, which she took, unknown to her that the drink has been laced with a sedative drug.

Immediately she took the drink, she became unconscious and the suspect used the opportunity to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her against her wish.

After having sex with her in the state of unconsciousness, the suspect took her nude pictures and started threatening to upload the pictures on social media if she didn’t pay him the sum of N50,000.

Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Owode Egbado Division, CSP Muhammad S. Baba, detailed his detectives to go after the suspect.

He was eventually apprehended and he has confessed to the commission of the crime.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labor Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.…

Crime / Entertainment / News

British DJ, Tim Westwood accused of sexual abuse by multiple women

According to the Guardian, the women claim Tim abused his position as a renowned DJ in the music industry to exploit them.

The Guardian indicates that three out of the seven women have accused the DJ of sexual behaviour that is “opportunistic and predatory.”

The other four have alleged that the DJ groped them at events.

These revelations were made public through a joint inquiry by the Guardian and the BBC, focused on the DJ.

The allegations against Tim goes as far back as 1992 and the most recent is in 2017.

One of the women said: “Someone taking advantage of my naivety and lack of confidence isn’t something that I should have to carry with shame.”

The seven women who spoke to the BBC are all black.

The women tell their stories in a BBC Three documentary, Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power, which airs on BBC Three at 21:00 on Tuesday.

According to two of the women, who were aspiring to start a career in the industry, they agreed to meet the DJ in London to discuss music. They accuse the DJ of driving them to a flat and initiating unwanted and unexpected sex. One was 19 at the time, while Westwood was 53.

Another woman, then a member of an R&B group, said she met Tim when she was 17 and the DJ was in his mid-30s. She says the DJ subjected her to unwanted oral sex after agreeing to meet him.

The women who accused him of groping said the DJ touched their bottoms or breasts as they posed for photographs with him at different events where he was performing.

The BBC and the Guardian changed the names of the women, to protect their identities. The media outlets indicated the women do not know each other. Some of them still work in the music industry and fear repercussions, according to the BBC and the Guardian.

Allegations about Westwood’s behavior toward young black women have circulated on social media for some time. In 2020, Westwood issued a

…
Crime / Entertainment / Music / News

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky spotted at dinner for 1st time since rapper’s arrest

Barbadian singer Rihanna has been spotted with her partner A$AP Rocky for the first time since his arrest.

According to PageSix, the couple had dinner at the popular celebrity spot, Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

As usual, Rihanna had her belly bump on full display while also rocking a black bra, black-and-white jacket and sparkly mini shorts.

PageSix said Rihanna and Rocky were at the dinner with family friends for a baby shower.

It would be recalled that Rocky was arrested at the Los Angeles airport on Wednesday, April 20, upon his arrival from the much talked about trip to Rihanna’s home country, Barbados.

According to PageSix, he was taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

The rapper is under investigation by the LAPD for his alleged involvement in a Nov. 6 shooting.

The rapper first ran into trouble with the law in 2019 after he was arrested in Sweden.

He was arrested for his involvement in a public fight with some alleged drug addicts.

In an interview, he described his time in prison as “very difficult and humbling experience.”

He was jailed for a month.

Rocky and his partner Rihanna are expecting their first child together.

…
Crime / Fraud / Law

Man who defrauded companies of N266m posing as Army General lands in prison

An Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos State on Monday ordered that a man, Bolarinwa Oluwasegun, be remanded for allegedly impersonating a Nigerian Army General and defrauding two companies of N266 million.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ordered that he be remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending hearing in the bail  application.

Justice Taiwo adjourned the case until April 14.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defendant had pleaded not guilty to the 13-count-charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretenses, forgery and possession of document containing false pretenses. Earlier, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission persecution counsel, Abbas Muhammed, urged the court to remand the defendant pending hearing in his bail application.

Muhammed said: “We received a summon for bail dated April 8.

“While we are still within time to respond, we urge the court to remand the defendant, pending our response and hearing in the bail application.”

The EFCC alleged that the defendant falsely presented himself as a General in the Nigerian Army and collected N266,500 million from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited and DE-Rock Marine Resources Limited.

Muhammed also alleged that the defendant with the intent to defraud paraded himself as a General in the Nigerian Army and obtained N247,500 million from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited.

He added: “The defendant obtained the money under false pretext that the money represented part of the amount expended to press and process his upcoming appointment as the Chief Of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, a representation he knew to be false.”

The prosecution also alleged that the defendant obtained N19 million from De-Rock Marine Resource Limited.

Muhammed told the court that the defendant committed the offence in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 in Lagos.

He submitted that the defendant allegedly forged a “Letter Of Appointment As Chief Of Army Staff” dated May 20, 2020 and purportedly said the document emanated from the Presidency.

He also alleged that the defendant forged a Nigerian Army Identity Card with serial number 387140.

The defendant was also alleged to have been in possession …

Crime / Gospel / News

Osinachi: CAN petitions IGP, seeks investigation of her husband

The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, over the alleged murder of a gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu, by her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.

The National Chairman of YOWICAN, Belusochukwu Enwere, authored the petition made available to newsmen on Monday.

The petition reads: “We humbly write on behalf of YOWICAN, the umbrella body that coordinates and oversees the affairs of all the Christian Youths in Nigeria, over the sudden death of Osinachi Nwachukwu.

“Prior to her demise, the deceased was a gospel minister, a singer and an artiste. She was a devoted Christian and worshipped at Dunamis International Church, Airport Road, Lugbe, Abuja, and was 42 years old as at the time of her death. “The deceased, Osinachi Nwachukwu was married to Peter Nwachukwu (the prime suspect) who also doubles as her manager, and with whom she had four children, all minors.

“Information reaching us from reliable sources, including friends and close family members, has it that Osinachi Nwachukwu died as a result of injuries owing to domestic violence in the hands of her said husband, Peter Nwachukwu.

“We as well gathered that the act of domestic violence has persisted unabated and has been largely kept away from the Christian fold and the general public before this unfortunate episode that led to her death, owing to the severe injuries she sustained, which mostly affected her vital organs.

“Our prayers: It is in the light of the foregoing that we as leaders and representatives of the Christian youth body, of which Minister Osinachi Nwachukwu was a dedicated member, hereby petitions that you use your good offices to cause an in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate death of this renowned music evangelist in order to ensure justice for late Minister Osinachi Nwachukwu, especially the purported role played by her husband that led to her death in order to ensure that she gets justice, while bringing the perpetrators to book. Thank you Sir, in anticipation of a speedy investigation.”…

Crime / News / Transportation

Bandits: We’ll kill train passengers if FG fails to meet our demands; Records video at Army base + Photo

The bandits who abducted passengers on a Kaduna-bound train last month have threatened to kill them if the Federal Government fails to meet their demands.

In a video released on Wednesday, the armed men said they were not interested in money, adding that the Federal Government knows what they were asking for.

The video, which was less then two minutes, had four of the bandits with one of the abducted passengers: Alwan Hassan, Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture.

One of them, who spoke in Hausa, said the MD was released due to his age and in the spirit of Ramadan. Daily Trust observed that the terrorists, clad in military uniform, made the video at the Forward Operational Base in Polwire, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, which was attacked on Monday.

One of the Armoured Personnel Carriers that was burnt during the attack was used as a background in the video.

The spokesman said: “We are the group that kidnapped passengers on the train few days ago.

“Among them is this man that was pleading with us due to his old age and we felt pity on him due to the month of Ramadan, so, we want to give him back to his family.

“But the government should not misunderstand this, as it is a gesture we made because of the pity we had on him.”

The bandits then asked the MD to make some remarks.

Speaking briefly, Hassan said he was released out of pity.

He said: “I want to witness to everyone that they took pity on me due to my old age.

“I was told to go out but I want to assure everyone that I left huge number of people behind and they are in situation that requires help for them to be released fast.

“I hope that government will meet the head of this group to release as them as soon as possible.”

One of the bandits added: “I want to reiterate that what he said is true.

“Don’t try to try to investigate us immediately …

Crime / News / Transportation

Breaking: 146 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers unreachable –NRC

One hundred and forty-six of the 362 passengers on the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train are unreachable six days after the train was attacked by terrorists.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, made this known in a statement obtained on Monday.

He, however, said the number of safe passengers had risen to 186.

Okhiria said 51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or unreachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end.

He also noted that 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called, responded non-existent.

The NRC boss clarified that 22 persons are reported missing by their relatives and eight persons were confirmed dead.

Part of the statement read, “51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or have not been reachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end. 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called, responded non-existent.

”The statement is aimed at updating Nigerians on the ongoing development regarding the clearing of the incident site (recovery of the rolling stock, repairs of the track) and status of Passengers that were on board the AK9 train of Monday, March 28.

”Of the 362 validated passengers on board the attacked AK9 train service on March 28, 186 persons on the manifest are confirmed to be safe and at their various homes (additional 14 persons confirmed safe today).

“Two coaches (SP 00016 and SP 00017) earlier re-railed have safely been moved to Rigasa Station.

”This brings the total number of recovered Coaches and safely moved to NRC Stations to be seven. Intensive work continues on track repairs. More concrete Sleepers were moved to site while some section of twisted tracks has been straightened.

”We remain grateful to the security agencies for all the support. We are very appreciative of Squadron Commander MOPOL 1 Kaduna’s visit to the accident site today.

”NRC will continue to update the general public of developments to …

Crime / Entertainment / News

Police visits Will Smith’s home after actor slaps Chris Rock

Men of the Los Angeles Police Department have visited the home of American actor Will Smith two days after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars.

Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada’s bald head and got slapped by the ‘Fresh Prince of Belair’ star.

Officers were spotted driving into the gates of the Smiths Calabasas mansion in a marked patrol car at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2022, Splash News reported as they snapped photos of the police vehicle. Los Angeles County Sheriff spokesperson said they got a call that someone was flying a drone around the Smiths’ residence.

“We just sent that unit over there to try to locate the drone and see if there was a paparazzi or what was going on but when the deputies got there, they weren’t able to locate the drone. It had already left the area,” he said.

On Sunday night during the awards, Rock took to the stage where he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada’s bald head.

“Jada, I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” but while the “King Richard” star first laughed about the joke, he immediately turned sour.

Smith walked up to Rock and slapped him. A few seconds later, Rock responded, “Wow, Will Smith just smacked the s–t out of me” before defending what was “just a ‘G.I. Jane’ joke.”

But the Oscar-winning actor was not having it and again screamed, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth.”

“That was the greatest night in the history of television,” Rock remarked.

Smith has since apologized over the altercation.

…
Crime / Transportation

Kaduna train attack: Attackers kidnapped foreigner, killed many – Shehu Sani

A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, said that the terrorists who attacked the passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks abducted a “white man” and killed several others.

He also said the terrorists targeted the Business Class coach of the train.

Terrorists on Monday night bombed the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks and attacked a train filled with passengers.

Subsequently, the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Tuesday also announced the suspension of train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route indefinitely following the attacks. The train attack was coming after terrorists, numbering over 200, on Saturday invaded the Kaduna International Airport located in Igabi Local Government Area in Kaduna State, disrupting operation and killing one security personnel of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

The attack caused panic at the airport and reportedly grounded a Lagos-bound AZMAN aircraft scheduled to take off at 12:30pm.

But Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, through a tweet on his Twitter handle on Tuesday, noted that the attackers targeted the Business Class coach of the train.

He wrote, “I just spoke with a survivor who is a civil servant working with a public Library. She narrated that the terrorists specifically targeted the Business Class coach. They kidnapped some persons including a “white man” & killed those who resisted while she pretended to be dead.”…

Crime / News / Transportation

Breaking: NRC suspends train operation along Kaduna-Abuja rail

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended train operation along Kaduna -Abuja rail till further notice following the terrorist attack on the route between Katari and Rijana.

The NRC made this known through its Twitter handle on Tuesday morning.

NRC said, “Dear passengers, due to unforeseen circumstances, train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route have been temporarily suspended. Further communication would be given in due course.”…

Crime / News / Security

Senate moves to re-amend Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022

The Senate, on Tuesday, moved to re-amend the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022, passed by the chamber on March 9, 2022, last week.

The decision to re-amend the bill followed the consideration of a motion for re-commital sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).

In his presentation, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, relied on Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders 2022 (as amended) to move for the amendment of the bill.

He explained that the re-amendment of the bill became imperative in view of the amendment that was made to Clause 74 which placed the Burden of proof on the investigating Agencies but not on the Defendant as recommended by the Joint Committee in its report. According to him, the amendment runs contrary to the provision of Article 12(7) of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

Article 12(7) of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime provides that, “States Parties may consider the possibility of requiring that an offender demonstrate the lawful origin of alleged proceeds of crime or other property liable to confiscation.”

On the need to amend the Clause 74 of the bill, Abdullahi said, “the implication of the amendment is that civil forfeitures would be a thing of the past in Nigeria as there would not be final forfeitures without a conviction.

“Implying that all property seized are included in the clause, even those that may be incidental to an arrest and may contain evidence needed for investigation of the crime.”

“For example, phones, computers, documents, photographs etc recovered from suspected kidnappers, drug barons, human and child traffickers, cyber criminals, terrorists and the like would also wait for convictions before they can be seized, even in situations where the suspects are at large and the properties can be recovered for the benefit of the victim and Nigerians where applicable.

“Another example of a conundrum, is the “Ikoyi Loot” case, where no one has yet come to claim ownership of the funds and since there are no suspects …

Crime / Drugs / Law / News

Abba Kyari pleads not guilty to drug trafficking

Suspended DCP Abba Kyari  on Monday pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Kyari told Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, following his arraignment, alongside six others, on allegations bordering on drug trafficking.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while Kyari pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four and eight levelled against him, the other four police officers, who are defendants in the trial, also pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three and four filed against them.

But Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively, pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven preferred against them. Although their names were also mentioned in counts three and four where allegations bordering on conspiracy were leveled against Kyari and others, they were not asked to take a plea on these two counts.

The four members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Shortly after taking their plea, the NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, prayed the court for a trial date for the 1st to 5th defendants

Sunday also urged the court to grant a leave to review the charges against  Umeibe and Ezenwanne who pleaded guilty for the charges against them.

“We hope to file our proof of evidence latest tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.

Kanu Agabi, SAN, who led a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for Kyari and Ubia,  however informed that a bail application had been filed in respect of his clients.

The NDLEA’s lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, who confirmed being served with the bail application, said a counter affidavit had been filed in its opposition.

The NDLEA, in the …

Crime

Police Officers nabbed for manhandling youths, bundling one into car boot + Video

Four policemen, led by an Inspector, have been ordered arrested by the Commissioner, Edo State Police Command, Philip Ogbadu, for manhandling some youths in the state.

The spokesman of the Command, Bello Kontongs, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.

This was shortly after the video in which the policemen were seen bundling one of the youths into the boot of a Mercedes Benz went viral.

The incident, which occurred in the PZ area of Benin, the Edo State capital, drew the ire of Nigerians. Kontongs, in the statement titled: “Viral video of unprofessional conduct of policemen,” said: “The attention of the Edo state police command has been drawn to a viral video capturing the unprofessional conducts of its personnel’s at PZ area along Benin-Sepele road, Benin city.

“The team made up of an Inspector and three others who were involved in the unprofessional conduct and incivility against two young men as seen in the viral video, have been identified, arrested and subsequently defaulted.

“The Commissioner of police frowns and unreservedly condemns the act and has ordered a full scale investigation and assuring that the outcome of the investigation would be carried out to the latter and as well communicated to the Public without reservation.

“The CP further assures members of the public of their safety and employs them to make it duty bound to always report unwholesome/ unprofessional conduct of personnel of the command.”

…

Business / Crime / Law / News

Two Bankers withdraw customer’s N47.4m with their own ATMs

A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Maryam Sabo has granted bail on stringent conditions to two bankers: Nuhu Demba and Mohammed Abdullahi Musa, who allegedly conspired and stole the sum of N47,452,055.45 from the account of one Mailafia Mohammed.

The case, being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes, was reported via a petition by the victim and complainant.

The petitioner alleged that on February 6, 2021, he was attacked in his house by armed men who took away his mobile phone.

Mohammed said on February 8, 2021, he reported the incident to the branch of his bank where he maintains a savings account and was advised to continue using his account as nothing would happen. He further alleged that on February 18, 2021, he went to withdraw money and was informed that there was no money in the account.

He subsequently requested for his account statement and discovered that N47,452,055.45 was fraudulently withdrawn from it through the use of Automated Teller Machine cards.

The EFCC said investigation revealed that Musa and Demba stole the said monies from the complainant’s account through ATM and Point of Sale withdrawals.

It said the defendants perpetrated the fraud by using their positions to obtain ATM cards without going through due process and without the knowledge of the account holder.

Upon arraignment on February 10, 2022, they pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned to February 14, 2022 for ruling on the bail application.

Justice Sabo granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N10 million each, out of which a cash sum of N5 million shall be deposited in the court’s registry.

They are also to provide one surety each with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court worth N15 million.

The matter has been adjourned till March 23, 2022 for the commencement of trial.…

Crime / Drugs / Fraud / News

Abba Kyari: Police unravel identities of suspected drug barons, NDLEA collaborators

The Force Headquarters on Monday unraveled the identities of the suspected drug barons who allegedly colluded with Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and four others to ferry illicit drugs into the country.

Abba Kyari and four of his team members were declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Monday.

The suspects had been arrested by the police and handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation. The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement in Abuja that some NDLEA officials were allegedly involved in the drug deal. He said that the police had carried out discreet investigation when it received a request from the NDLEA on February 10.

Adejobi said: “In line with standard administrative procedure of the Force, the Inspector General of Police ordered a high-level, discreet, and in-house investigation into the allegations.

“The interim investigations report revealed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on January 19.

“The suspects were arrested upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.

“The arrest led to the recovery of substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two narcotic couriers.

“The operation which was intelligence-driven, was undertaken by a Unit of the Police Intelligence Response Team.”

Adejobi said the case and the two suspects were subsequently transferred to the NDLEA on January 25.

He said the findings of the in-house investigation ordered by the I-G, Usman Baba, established reasonable grounds for strong suspicion that the IRT officers involved in the operation could have been involved in some underhand and unprofessional dealings.

The Police spokesman said the finding showed that the officers were allegedly involved in official corruption, which compromised ethical standards in their dealings with the suspects and exhibits recovered.

He added: “Beyond this, the Police investigation also established that the international narcotics cartel involved in this case have strong ties with some officers of the National Drug Law …

Crime / Fraud / News

EFCC secures final forfeiture of N3.07b landed properties owned by top military officer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the final forfeiture of 20 landed properties valued at over N3,007,000,000 belonging to a top military officer but controlled through proxies, including late General Aminu Maude, Hon. Hassan Nalaraba and Tanimu Abdullahi Yunusu as well as companies such as Atlasfield Integrated Services Nigeria Limited, Marhaba Events Place, Aflac Plastics and Atlasfield Gas Plant Limited.Marhaba Events Place, Aflac Plastics and Atlasfield Gas Plant Limited.

Justice N. E. Maha of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted the forfeiture Order in a ruling on Monday.

It followed an application by the counsel to the EFCC, Cosmos Ugwu and Musa Isah.

The Court had in May 2020 ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties following an ex parte application by the Commission, alleging that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities. The court, having considered the application vis-a-vis Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, more particularly sub-sections 1 and 3 thereof granted the prayers of the Commission for an interim forfeiture and directed the publication of notices, alerting anyone with interest in the properties to show cause why they should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In the absence of any contestation, the court on Monday ordered the final forfeiture of the properties.

The forfeited properties, situated on lands valued at over N3,007,000,000, are located in different parts of Kano, Katsina, Calabar (Cross River State) and Kaduna.

They included Fuel Stations, Event Centers, Plazas, Block Industries, Truck Assembly Plant, Polythene Production factory and table water factory.

Some of the properties include undeveloped plot located at Rake, Adjacent to Dara Orthopedic Hospital, Kano, valued at N300 million; 117 hectares of land located at Adiabo, Oduapani LG, covered by Certificated of Occupancy No. OD/23/2011 dated 21/2/ 2011 in Calabar, Cross River State, valued at N386 million; Truck Assembly at Ring Road, adjacent to AA Affa Filling Station, Kano, valued at N206 million; and Marhaba Event Centre, Guda Abdulahi Road Farm Centre, Kano valued at N250 …