The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Man faces theft charge

    A man, Sylvester Sunday, who allegedly stole a television set and a stabilizer worth N82,000 from a shop on the pretext of buying items there, appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, at the weekend.

    Sunday, 21, who lives at Kayode Alabi Street, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and burglary.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Inspector Michael Unah said the defendant committed the offences at Haruna Street, off College Road in Ijaiye.

    He alleged that the defendant entered the shop of the complainant, Linus Nwaigwe, and stole a TV set and a stabilizer worth N82,000.

    Unah alleged that the defendant committed the offences when he went to the complaint’s shop to buy some items.

    Read Also: Uber driver charged with theft of N12m church equipment

    “Nwaigwe said when the defendant gave him money, he discovered that he did not have change, so he decided to ask around.

    “By the time the complainant returned to his shop, he noticed that the defendant had carried away his television set and a stabiliser.

    “Nwaigwe said he immediately dashed out of his shop; he saw the defendant going away with the items he had stolen from his store,” the prosecutor said.

    He said the complainant raised the alarm, which led to the arrest of the defendant by some of the people in the area.

    He said the defendant was handed over to the police, who brought him to court after they had completed their investigations.

    He adjourned the case August 28.

  • ‘Nabbed suspected kidnapper of toddlers is a specialist’  

    Suspected kidnapper, Ruth Okoronkwo, who was arrested by the Army’s 20 Model Battalion at Serti in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State and handed over to the police for further investigation, is a specialist in the trade, it was learnt.

    Ruth, 37, was apprehended at a checkpoint at Sabon Gida, along Jalingo-Wukari Road. She was nabbed among a three-man gang who allegedly abducted two toddlers aged one and two.

    One of the children hails from Adamawa State, while the other is from Iware in Taraba State, the Army said.

    The parade of the suspected kidnappers came after Governor Darius Ishaku last month signed into law, an anti-kidnapping Act prescribing death penalty for offenders.

    When Lt. Col. Musa Adamu paraded the three suspects at the weekend, before handing them to the Police Headquarters in Jalingo, Ruth confessed the crime, but claimed she was a novice in the act.

    She said she has been recruited to kidnap infants for a fee.

    “This is my first time of doing something like this. I was promised N50,000 if I could assist kidnap some children. I will not do it again if I am freed,” she said.

    Read Also: Ogun to demolish houses harbouring kidnappers

    The Nation investigation, however, reveals that Ruth was once arrested and jailed at the Makurdi Prisons and it was not long that she was released on bail.

    The suspect also told the Army she was a “businesswoman from Abia State,” but it was learnt that she is a resident of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

    “Ruth is Igbo, but was born and brought up at Iorkyaa-Ako Street in Makurdi.

    “She was slim while growing up until now that she is making money from kidnapping of children that she has become plumped,” our source who is her neighbour in Makurdi told The Nation.

    It was learnt that the Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with Lagos registration number in which she was intercepted by the Army, was acquired from the proceeds made from abduction of infants.

    Ruth was nabbed with a man she claimed was her brother and one other Emmanuel Kelechi she identified as her driver. But The Nation gathered the two were all her accomplices.

    Our source added that Kelechi had been her driver for a long time.

    Sources from the Makurdi Prisons, on condition of anonymity, revealed that Ruth  and Kelechi were once arrested (together) at Aliede in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State.

    “During her arrest at Aliede, she was with that her driver, and like a coincidence, with two kids,” said our source.

    It was gathered that Ruth had spent over a year in the Makurdi Prisons before she was bailed.

    It was gathered that she uses sweeties like biscuits to lure her victims.

    Schools, churches, mosques, wedding grounds, markets, etc are said to be areas she trails her victims.

  • Housekeeper, others charged with stealing

    A housekeeper and two other men, who allegedly stole jewellery worth N1.5 billion belonging to a businesswoman, at the weekend appeared at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates Court in Lagos.

    The police charged Nnenna Anari, 25, Babalola Olaitan, 41 and Bashiru Yahaya, 32, with four counts of conspiracy, stealing, burglary and receiving stolen goods.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Peter Nwangwu said the defendants committed the offence on May 26 at Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Read Also: Court remands 23-yr-old man in prison for stealing biscuits

    He alleged that the housekeeper, Anari, conspired with the two other defendants and stole diamond and gold jewellery worth N1.5 billion belonging to Mrs. Catherine Ifejike.

    Nwangwu also alleged that the third defendant (Yahaya), who knew that the items were stolen, agreed to keep them.

    The offence, he said, contravened sections 287, 307, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Y. O. Aje-Afunwa admitted them to N10 million bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.

    Aje-Afunwa adjourned hearing in the case till August 29.

  • 35 suspected cultists held

    Thirty-five suspected cultists were apprehended at the weekend in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    The raids were conducted by operatives of the Nigeria Police and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).

    It was gathered that the suspects were nabbed around 1am on Friday at an initiation venue following intelligence report that cultists and land grabbers had invaded Otta-Ikosi.

    Read Also: Two suspects nabbed over death of 15 cultists during supremacy battle

    The Nation gathered that policemen from Agbowa Division and LNSC officials stormed the hideout and arrested the suspects, who were celebrating and allegedly initiating new members.

    Besides the 35, it was learnt that five suspected members of the gang, who fled, were arrested while trying to board a vehicle to Ikorodu around 7:50am the same day.

  • Police arrest three highway ‘robbers’

    The police in Ogun State have arrested three suspected highway robbers alleged to have terrorised Odogbolu/Ijebu-Ode Expressway.

    Johnson Afokolu, Victor Michael and Jacob Usang were arrested last Saturday morning by a police patrol team that saw them allegedly taking position to attack early travellers.

    The suspects were said to have attempted to flee when they sighted the policemen, but were chased and apprehended.

    Read Also: RRS arrests suspected traffic robbers

    It was gathered that a toy gun, a knife, phones, substances suspected to be marijuana, military accoutrements and torches were recovered from them.

    “They confessed to have been responsible for most armed robberies in the area and that other members of the gang usually joined them on special operations,” said police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP).

    He said Police Commissioner Bashir Makama has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for discreet investigation, while manhunt for their accomplices has begun.

  • RRS arrests vehicles ‘brain-box thieves’

    Operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested two suspects who allegedly specialised in stealing brain boxes from vehicles.

    The suspects, Sodiq Musa, 28, and Saidu Atiku, 34, were arrested at 27, Awolowo Way in Ikeja with three Toyota brain boxes. Their accomplice, Ridwan Adamu, fled with another suspect, the police said yesterday.

    According to the police, Musa claimed that he could remove a brain box from a vehicle within four minutes.

    The Political Science graduate, the police said, confessed to have relocated to Lagos in 2017 in search of better life.

    “I worked in Lagos as a barbeque man in various hotels and event centres before I met Ridwan, who introduced me to brain box theft. He taught me all the antics and styles.

    “We use ‘magic stone’ that is vehicle spark plug to break vehicles’ windows without attracting attention. It takes two minutes to loosen a Toyota Hiace bus brain box and it takes four minutes to loosen a Toyota Hilux brain box.

    Read Also: Unemployed accused of stealing motorcycles

    “The spark plug reduces the noise and effects quick break of any vehicle window. We tie the plug in a handkerchief if we have many vehicles to work on.

    “We specialise in stealing Toyota brain boxes because they fetch good money in the market. The demand for them is higher than any other brand. For example, we sell a Toyota Hiace brain box for N40,000, while that of Toyota Hilux goes for N20,000.

    “Ridwan connects with the buyers of the brain boxes, who he claims are from popular spare-part markets in Lagos. We always meet the buyers outside the market where we exchange our loots for cash.

    “They usually pay in cash and will never spend more than two minutes as we already have an understanding on the prices. Ridwan gives me 40 per cent of whatever we make from the sale of our loot. He never tells me where our next operation will be because he feels he is my boss.

    “Our target areas are usually night clubs where people come with different types of vehicles. We strike between 1am and 2am when most of the clubbers would have started enjoying themselves,” Musa told detectives.

    He confessed that Atiku, a guard with a company on Awolowo Way, Ikeja was the one who invited them to vandalise vehicles belonging to the company he worked for, which were parked on the street.

    He said they arrived the venue around 1am, broke into two Toyota Hiaces and Hiluxes belonging to the company and stole the brain boxes before another guard working for a nearby firm raised the alarm and they were nabbed.

    According to him, “Atiku, who was supposed to be on night duty for his company, slept beside the vandalised vehicles and pretended as though nothing was wrong until the other guard raised the alarm.”

    The suspect also confessed to have stolen two boxes at a popular night club at Lekki, Lagos Island, another at Ogunlana Drive in Surulere and Allen Avenue in Ikeja.

    Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has directed the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    He advised night clubbers to ensure they park their vehicles in safe areas.

  • Ekere, cleric warn church against politics

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State Nsima Ekere and Rev. Effiong Isangedighi have decried the meddling of Christian leaders in politics.

    They spoke at the weekend during the funeral of Apostle Patrick Jerome, the Prelate of the Christ Believers (Evangelical) Mission.

    Ekere urged Christian leaders to concentrate on propagating the gospel and refrain from partisan politics.

    He said: “My appeal to all of us, especially the church, is that we should emulate this man of God and go back to the old ways of God. Most importantly, the church should please leave politics out of church. In the memory of our Apostle Jerome, our Christian fathers should concentrate on the teachings of the gospel of salvation and Christ-like life.

    Read Also: Churches must do more than preaching, says cleric

    “I believe if Christian leaders do that, we will have the peace we want in this state and the country. My prayer is that God will heal the church and bring the peace we need.”

    He eulogised the late Apostle as a great man of God who always insisted on one’s personal relationship with God.

    Rev. Isangedighi, in his sermon titled “Stop playing the fool,” lamented that “some Christians and Church leaders have abandoned what God asked us to do and are now doing what God has asked us not to do.”

    He condemned politicians who kill and kidnap for rituals to achieve their ambitions, even as he lamented that “politicians have joined to destroy the church.”

  • Monarch debunks bloodbath in community

    The traditional ruler of Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Ben Emeka, has debunked the allegation of bloodbath in his community as misleading and false.

    The monarch was reacting to reports that some of his subjects were killed and others injured in a fracas involving him and the community’s President-General.

    He warned perpetrators of the report to desist from it, saying his community was peaceful. According to Igwe Emeka, what transpired was a minor land dispute which had been handled peacefully. He, therefore, sought an amicable resolution between the parties involved.

    Read Also: Community leader, wife, others kidnapped in Enugu

    He said: “When I read that there was bloodbath in Umueri, I began to wonder which bloodbath they were talking about. Whose blood was being shed because there was nothing like that.

    “Two villages – Iruagu and Umudiana – were locked in a land dispute, which didn’t warrant killing, and somebody went ahead to maliciously write that there was bloodbath in Umueri and three people were feared killed. I want to categorically state that nobody was killed and there was no bloodbath in Umueri. It is a mere land dispute which is also a subject of court litigation. It is already in the Anambra State High Court, Otuocha Division”

    “So, I use this opportunity to plead with these faceless social media writers to leave Umueri alone and leave Igwe Umueri alone. There is no problem in Umueri. The little crisis that we had which is a land dispute between Iruagu Umuatuolu and Umudiana is being managed.”

  • Support Lagos’s growth, Ihedioha urges Imo indigenes

    Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has urged Imo state indigenes in Lagos State to support Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu to deliver his campaign promises to the people.

    The governor made the call at the weekend through the Imo Liaison Officer in Lagos, Anthony Abili. He also shared his thoughts on the planned rebuild Imo Agenda.

    The governor reiterated his commitment to giving the people a new lease of life, saying the last 90 days of his administration has witnessed remarkable growth on socio- infrastructure and security to reinstate the confidence of investors.

    Read Also: Okorocha to Ihedioha: Don’t take Imo backward

    He said: “Lagos has continued to be a home to all, and we are here to help our people in ensuring peaceful coexistence and unwavering support to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who has continued the giant development stride to make the state habitable for all.

    “We are ready to create a database of Imo indigenes in Lagos to ease the dividend of democracy. Plans are underway for business seminars which will provide Imo indigenes with opportunities to sit with the governor on their economic blue print and potential business investment in the state…”

  • Kalabari billionaire Lulu-Briggs’ puts assets in Trust

    Seven months after his death, the Will and Last Testament of a billionaire Kalabari high chief, Benson Lulu-Briggs, has been read despite opposition by some family members.

    The late Lulu-Briggs, chairman of oil exploration and production company Moni Pulo Limited, died last December 27 on a trip to Ghana.

    His senior son, Dumo, a chief, politician and oil mogul who chairs Platform Petroleum, had alleged that the deceased’s wife Seinye had questions to answer about the 88-year-old philanthropist’s death.

    It was learnt that despite opposition from Dumo and his siblings Senibo and Sofiri, the Will was read on July 26.

    A source said the High Chief left most of his assets in a trust to be managed on behalf of his children and their offspring.

    Former Cross River State GovernorDonald Duke is said to be named as one of the four trustees.

    The deceased was said to have left substantial wealth to Seinye.

    Read Also: ‘Banks should not invest in public assets’

    It was learnt that the late High Chief did not accommodate any of his three elder sons in the Will, but stated that they should be taken care of.

    The Will was to be read in April because the High Chief’s lawyers were reportedly aware that it contained his funeral wishes.

    However, Dumo secured an ex-parte order from a High Court in Umoku, Rivers State, barring the reading. The order was later set aside.

    It was learnt that in the Will, the late statesman expressed a wish to be given a Christian burial and specified that his wife be involved.

    Before his death, High Chief Lulu-Briggs lived with and managed increasingly debilitating Parkinson’s disease for close to two decades.

    Following his death, there were disagreements in the family, with allegations of harassment, extortion and fraud.

    The Amanayabo of Kalabari, King J.T. Princewill Amachree, was said to have waded into the internal crisis.

    The police is said to be investigating Lulu-Briggs’ death.

    Policemen from Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Abuja were said to have invaded Moni Pulo Limited in Port Harcourt on June 3, spending several hours.

    After Lulu-Briggs’ death, seven chiefs from Oruwari Briggs House of Abonnema, Rivers State, claimed in an advertorial that the late High Chief was missing, despite earlier announcing his death.

    An autopsy was carried out at the Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana on July 19, but Dumo and his brothers reportedly objected to the procedure and requested that another autopsy be carried out.

    It was learnt that Ghanaian authorities rejected the request.

    A source said the late Lulu-Briggs made it clear in the will that he considers the settlement payments made to Dumo in 2003 and Senibo and Sofiri in 2004 as their inheritance.

    “Now that it has been read, we hope the family can come together, close ranks and show respect to their greatly loved and admired patriarch – the most successful Ijaw man ever in history – by burying him with the simple dignity he has personally requested in his Will,” the source said.