Author: The Nation

The Magistrate Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, has remanded suspected killers of Mr. Kehinde and Mrs. Bukola Fatinoye, and their son, in prison for 60 days.

They were brought before the court on an 11-count charge of murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, arson, stealing, escape from a lawful authority, among others.

The suspected killers – Adekanbi Lekan, Odetola Ahmed and Adeniyi Waheed – were remanded at the Oba Correctional Centre, while their accomplices – Fadairo Temitope and Adekanbi Adenike – were remanded at the Ibara Correctional Center.

Suspected buyers of the coupl’s vehicle – Owolaja Anuoluwapo and Usman Azeez – were also remanded at the Oba prison for 60 days.

Magistrate Esther Idowu remanded the suspects pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Although the accused persons were not allowed to take their pleas because of the nature of the case, an application for remand was however moved by Oluwatosin Jackson, the applicant’s counsel.

• Kidnapper to pay extra N50m damages

The Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island has ordered billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to refund 233,000 Euros ransom he collected from one of his victims, Chief Donatus Dunu.

Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi also ordered Evans to pay N50 million as general damages in favour of the claimant.

Evans abducted Duru, CEO of Maydon Pharmaceutical Company, on February 14, 2017. Duru escaped from captivity, but not before Evans obtained 233,000 euros from him.

Consequently, Duru filed a suit demanding the return of the 223,000 euros and N50 million as damages.

In his testimony before the court, he narrated that Evans ordered him to instruct his brothers, Anselm Duru and Innocent Duru, to pay the ransom. He said despite Evans receiving the money, he did not release him but he had to escaped by himself.

Anselm corroborated his brother in his witness statement on oath sworn to on May 1, 2022.

His evidence was that a day after the kidnap, Duru instructed him to pay his abductors N100 million for his release. The abductors later demanded £1 million, he added.

According to Anslem, his relation, one Uchenna Okagwu, delivered the 233,000 Euros to the abductors.

Evans, in his defense however, contended that the strength of the claimant’s case was predicated majorly upon criminal trial against him and others. He also said the only evidence before the court as to the payment of the 233,000 Euros, and to whom, if any, it was paid to, was the evidence of Okagwu who allegedly delivered the money to the abductors.

He added that in the criminal trial, Okagwu testified that he dropped the said sum on the ground and fled and did not see anybody or delivered the money to anyone. Evans also argued that Okagwu’s evidence, which was the only direct one, must pass the test of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

The defendant also submitted that the judgment delivered by Justice O.H. Oshodi on February 25, 2022, is now subject of an Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

But Justice Ogunjobi, who dismissed his reasoning, found that the defendant, among others, gave inconsistent evidence. He said having watched Evans’ demeanor while giving evidence, he concluded that Evans was not a witness of truth, and his evidence could not be trusted.

Justice Ogunjobi held: “It is settled in law that no witness who gives materially inconsistent evidence on oath is entitled to the honour of being accorded any credibility and such does not deserve to be treated as a truthful witness. Besides, adducing conflicting pieces of evidence on oath, I have watched the defendant’s demeanour and came to the conclusion that he is not a witness of truth. I do not believe his evidence. I accept the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence of the claimant and his witnesses. The evidence supports the reliefs sought by the claimant.

“Consequently, the claimant is entitled to be paid, repaid or recover from the defendant 233,000 Euros ransom coercively paid to the defendant when he was kidnapped in 2017. N50 million is also awarded as general damages in favour of the claimant against the defendant.

“Post judgment interest is awarded on the 233,000 Euros at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from judgment, i.e. February 14, 2023, until final liquidation. The adjudged sums – 233,000 Euros and N50 million –should be paid or recovered from the defendant’s assets. This is the judgment of the court.”

The court however refused claims for pre-judgment interest of 40 per cent per annum on the 233,000 Euros.

• Two arrested

Nine persons died in a valentine day cult war in Ikata, Upata Kingdom, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, the police said yesterday.

A community source said the war was a supremacy fight between members loyal to two factional leaders in Greenland cult group, simply identified as VIP and Ebuka. The source said the war caused panic in the community as residents and businesses closed suddenly and ran for safety.

Police spokesperson Iringe-Koko, who confirmed this, said it was a supremacy battle between two cult groups. According to her, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada and the Joint Task Force (JTF) visited the area and destroyed the cult camp.

She said two persons have been arrested in connection to the cult war, adding that investigation was ongoing to arrest fleeing members of the gang.

Gunmen on Tuesday killed a mentally-unstable woman in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, while attempting to kidnap a driver.

An eyewitness said the incident happened about 9pm Our Lady’s bus-stop on the old Onitsha/Awka/Enugu road. According to him, about seven gunmen stormed the area in two exotic cars and three motorcycles and blocked their target’s vehicle.

“The man scaled the drainage with his car but an electric pole prevented him from moving forward. He however abandoned the car and fled while the gunmen shot at his him. The bullet hit a mentally-unstable woman and she died instantly.”

The Nation gathered that policemen took the body to the morgue.

Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga however said the case was yet to be reported at the command. “There is no such report before me please,” he said.

• Police: investigation has begun

A young lady, identified as Promise Ekong, from Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, has been reported dead. She was said to have died on February 8.

It was gathered that Promise, who completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) three months ago, died in Stanzel Hotel on 5th Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

The hotel’s management said Promise drowned in their swimming pool, but her family is suggesting foul play.

Spokesperson of the FCT Command Josephine Adeh said the case was reported at the Gwarimpa Divisional Police headquarters by one Abang Paul, a male resident of SNCO 1 Lungi Barracks Abuja.

Adeh said: “On February 8, 2023, about 5:35pm, the Gwarimpa Divisional Police Headquarters received a report from one Abang Paul, a male resident of SNCO 1 Lungi Barracks, Abuja, that one Yakubu Mohammed, a male lodger at Stanzel Hotel, Gwarimpa, called earlier to inform him that his sister, Promise Ekong, a female resident of 21 Corner shop, first avenue, Gwarimpa, reported to have been swimming in the hotel’s pool, was noticed to have suddenly stopped moving. 

“Upon receipt of the information, a team of Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) visited the scene and Ekong was rushed to the hospital where she was confirmed dead. The body has since been deposited at the mortuary and investigation into situations surrounding the incident has begun. Developments will be subsequently communicated.”

The police yesterday arraigned a 22-year-old businessman, Abdulrazak Lawal, at a Kado Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly swindling a commercial sex worker of her mobile phones worth N266,000.

Lawal was charged with cheating and theft.

Prosecution Counsel Stanley Nwafoaku said the complainant, Ms Charity Joseph of Jabi Masalachi, on January 30, reported the matter at Life Camp Police Station. According to her, about midnight of January 25, Lawal approached Charity for her services. They negotiated for N10,000 for the night at White House hotel, Jabi daki-biyu, but the defendant allegedly stole Charity’s IPhone valued at N266,000.

Nwafoaku told the court that Lawal did not pay the N10,000 as agreed, saying during police investigation, he was arrested and all efforts to recover the phone were unsuccessful.

He added that Lawal admitted to have sold the phone for N35,000 to one Abba who absconded to Katsina State. The offence contravenes Sections 322 and 288 of the Penal Code Law.

Lawal however pleaded not guilty to the charge and his lawyer, Charity Nwosu, made a bail application for him in the most liberal terms.

Nwafoaku did not object to the bail application. Justice Muhammed Wakili admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N150,000 and one surety in like sum. He also ordered that the surety must provide a BVN print out, recent passport photograph and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar. He then adjourned the matter till March 1 for hearing.