Category: Crime Diary

Oziegbe Okoeki

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police Olusegun Odumosu has directed the state Environmental and Special Offences Agency to clamp down on all violators of the state environmental laws, especially those impeding the free flow of traffic across the state.

In obedience to the directive, the enforcement team  Agency at the weekend, cleared the entire Ikeja GRA, Mopol 20 Barracks and surroundings of the Lagos Police Command of illegal traders, Vulcanizers, illegal beer parlours, block moulders, Okada riders, abandoned/accident vehicles and illegal tricycle operators.

Chairman of the Agency, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) in a statement, said that the directive became imperative as a way of cleansing the environment and ensuring the free flow of traffic for all road users.

Read Also: We’re on top of traffic situation — LASG

He stressed that the directive also empowered the Agency to clear all illegal traders, abandoned vehicles, roadside mechanics, miscreants, Okada and other activities constituting environmental nuisance across the state.

Egbeyemi noted that with many ongoing road rehabilitation projects across the state, there was an urgent need to create a free flow of traffic for motorists by clearing all obstructions on Lagos roads.

The Chairman, therefore, urged all illegal traders, roadside mechanics, Iron benders and owners of abandoned vehicles particularly those around Police Stations to vacate them immediately as anyone caught during the enforcement would be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.

According to him “The directive is to be jointly carried out with Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps”, adding that areas to be covered during the enforcement, operations include Igando, Ikorodu, Ajah, Mile 2, Obalende, Oyingbo, Dopemu, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Ojota, Idimu, Yaba, Ikate-Elegushi, Apple Junction (Festac), Bogije area and Mushin”

He commended the new Commissioner of Police on his directive to all Divisional Police Officers to support the Agency’s clampdown on illegal commercial motorcycle operators, especially those plying restricted routes including highways and bridges across the State.

Egbeyemi, however, enjoined members of the public to support the Agency by providing useful security information about criminal activities around them to security agencies through the Lagos State free Emergency Toll Lines 112 & 767.

Our Reporter

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a 62-year-old man, Nurudeen Aremu, to nine years in jail for trafficking in cocaine.

Aremu was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on three counts bordering on conspiracy and drug trafficking.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aremu was first arraigned on March 7 and he pleaded not guilty.

However, he changed his plea on November 14, and was subsequently re-arraigned where he pleaded guilty.

Following his guilty plea, the court adjourned the case for a review of the facts.

Read Also: Man arrested for ‘cocaine possession’

On November 15, the Prosecution counsel, Juliana Iroabuchi, tendered nine exhibits which were all admitted.

Iroabuchi urged the court to sentence Aremu based on the evidence adduced by prosecution.

Justice Maureen Onyetenu found Aremu guilty of the offences, and sentenced him to four years imprisonment on count one, three years’ imprisonment on count two and two year’s jail term on count three.

The judge ordered that the terms shall run concurrently.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel said that Aremu committed the offences on December 27, 2018.

She said that he was arrested at the Gate C, Departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, during an outward clearance of passengers on board an Ethiopian Airline flight to India.

Iroabuchi said that Aremu concealed 2.66kg of cocaine in a brown travelling bag.

Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

A young man simply identified as Gabriel Chimaeze is now cooling off his heels in the custody of the Abia State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) after he reportedly stabbed his brother to death.

The incident, our reporter noted it occurred at No. 204 Ikot Ekpene road located at Ehere, Ogbor Hill axis of Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

Sources told our reporter that the incident happened in the early hours of Monday while the brothers were contesting the ownership of an MP3 Media Music player.

The suspect and victim; identified as Kelechi Onyekachi both 21 years old, were apprentices and indigenes of Ibeme community in Obingwa Local Government of the state.

Read Also: Man sentenced to death for killing brother in Lagos

It was gathered that the suspect, Chimaeze had approached the victim, Onyekachi with the claim that the Media Music Player (MP3) the latter had was his and wanted to take it from the deceased.

Onyekachi who lived in the same house with Chimaeze was said to have resisted the suspect’s move which resulted in fisticuffs.

During the fight, the suspect, a mechanic apprentice was reported to have stabbed the deceased said to be the only son of his parents, in the stomach with a knife he reportedly got in the room when he felt that the deceased had overpowered him.

The deceased, a welding apprentice, was said to have collapsed immediately and died on the way to the hospital.

Report has it that the suspect was immediately arrested by policemen from Azuka Police Division where he is presently being detained.

Our Reporter

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded two unemployed men, who allegedly robbed three persons of cell phones and money at gunpoint.

The defendants, Adedayo Jayeoba and Wasiu Oyedele, both aged 27, reside at Agege, Lagos State.

They are facing charges of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The court did not take the defendant’s plea as the Chief Magistrate, Mrs J. A. Adegun, said that she needed advice of the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Read Also: Robbery suspect arrested in Katsina

Adegun ordered that the defendants should be kept at the Kirikiri Prisons pending the DPP’sadvice.

The Prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on September 2, at 14, Alhaji Ota St., Mushin, Lagos State.

Ogu said that the defendants, armed with a gun, robbed Mrs Funmi Owotoke, Mrs Yemisi Adeola andMrs Seun Badru of a Tecno phone, three Samsung phones and two Nokia phones, all valued at N353,000.

“They also carted away a wedding ring, a gold neck-lace, a wristwatch and N50,000 and 800 US dollars (about N289,200),” he said.

Ogu said that the defendants were arrested following a tip off.

Onimisi Alao, Yola

One of six members of a suspected kidnap syndicate has recounted how the group kidnapped a businessman Abubakar Bashar.

The “syndicate member” Bello Abdullahi said they abducted the man by using information provided by the boy who herds his cows.

Abdullahi spoke to newsmen on Monday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital,  where he is being detained by the  police.

The Command had, in a separate interaction with newsmen, confirmed that the professor with the Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH) Yola who was kidnapped last Thursday, has been released.

The 20-year-old Abdullahi who is one of two confessed kidnappers of Abubakar Bashar, currently in police custody as the other four are yet to be arrested, said, “I am Bello Abdullahi from Yobe State. It is true I am one of the syndicate who abducted Abubakar Bashar of Jimeta Market.

Read Also: Kidnapped Kaduna lecturers escape from kidnappers’ den

“We were six in number. Our leader in the group told me that we were given N20 million as ransom for the release of AD Bashar. They gave me N450,000 as my share. I bought 10 cows in my village in Yobe.

“We got information on how to get AD Bashar from the boy who herds his cow for him.”

The Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Sulaiman Nguroje, who spoke further on the arrest of Bello Abdullahi and one other as well as the release of MAUTECH Professor Felix Ilesanmi, said, “The Adamawa State Command has recently been facing security challenges. In view of that, the commissioner of police summoned divisional police officers and we were able to interact and to design operational strategies on how to do away with crime.

“In the course of the efforts, we were able to arrest some kidnappers who have been terrorizing the command. Most recently, they conspired and kidnapped a prominent businessman in this state known as AD Bashar.

“The intelligence department of this command has really been working and we were able to arrest two, leaving four at large, and we are trying extra hard to see how we can track them down.

“Also, because of the serious efforts we have been making, the kidnappers of the professor who was recently kidnapped, released him. The kidnappers are on the run but the command is doing everything humanly possible to round them up.

“It is because the kidnappers knew we were after them that they released the professor. They became afraid and abandoned him.”

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Two domestic workers, who allegedly stole a Cuban diamond jewellery, a Frank Muller and Rolex wristwatches worth N243 million belonging to their employer, have been arrested.

Alex Obinyan, 39, a cleaner and Ayuba Samson, 29, a car washer, were nabbed on Wednesday in Borno State after fleeing their master’s Lekki, Lagos residence.

They were arrested after selling the Cuban diamond chain and Frank Muller wristwatch for N6 million and N4 million in Lagos and Abuja.

Police declined to give the name of their employer, who The Nation learnt, is a popular celebrity with vast investments in Lekki, Lagos.

Obinyan was said to have spent eight years working and living with the celebrity in Lekki before the incident.

Read Also: Gardner arraigned for allegedly stealing wrappers

His colleague, Samson started working at the celebrity’s residence two months ago after returning from Chibok, his home town. They were on N80,000 and N50,000 monthly salaries.

The suspects, who were captured on the Closed Circuit (CCTV) leaving the celebrity’s residence, have confessed to stealing the Cuban Diamond Chain valued at N54 million, a Frank Moller Wristwatch worth N140 million and a Rolex wristwatch worth N49 million.

According to Obinyan, they sold the Cuban Diamond Chain at Eti-Osa, Lagos for N6 million while the Frank Moller watch was sold in Abuja for N4 million.

RRS quoted him as saying: “I have been working with him (celebrity) in Lekki for over eight years. I am used to moving those valuables around the house wherever I found them in his car. I have never thought of stealing them.

“When Samson came and he saw me with the gold chain laced with diamonds, he convinced me that we could make a fortune from stealing them. He was not with us before. Within two months of his stay, we planned to steal these things.

“Oga was in the sitting room. We stole the chain along with a Frank Moller wristwatch and a Rolex wristwatch. Before escaping, we already got a buyer for the chain. We sold the Cuban Diamond chain at Eti-Osa for N6 million.

“The following day, we escaped to Abuja where we bought a Toyota Corolla. We sold the Frank Moller watch in Abuja for N4 million to raise more money for our escape to Borno State, where we intended to start new lives and businesses”.

Obinyan in his letter to the celebrity informing him of his departure reads in parts, “…I know you will be shock why I write to you but the truth is that due to some quite observation I have come to a notice that you are not a person that someone can rely on. I have been patient enough to see if you can help me but you keep on promising me up to now there is no avale.

“To cut the story short, I have decided to stop working for you, and I’m sorry to mention that but you have to bear with me. I have gone for good, because I cannot continue to work for a person that doesn’t care about me and doesn’t value me for the rest of my life”.

RRS said the suspects were arrested in Maiduguri. Also arrested were the buyers of the items.

RRS Commander Olatunji Disu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) urged Lagosians to always do a background check of all their workers before employing them.

By Adebisi Onanuga

An Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos, on Wednesday sentenced a man, Rasaq Abatan, to a one-week community service for stealing a phone valued at N40,000.

Magistrate A. A Runsewe, sentenced him after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of stealing brought against him by the Police.

The court, however, discharged one Ismaila Kuranga, who was arraigned alongside the convict for the same offence.

Read Also: I’m the only thief in my family, suspect tells court

The duo, of no fixed address were arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the police.

Prosecuting Inspector Jimoh Joseph told the court that they committed the offence on November 1 at about 2 pm, at Onikan area of Lagos.

Joseph said they stole one Infinix Hot 6 mobile phone valued at N40,000, the property of one Adelusi Ademola.

While Kuranga pleaded not guilty, Abatan pleaded guilty to the offence of stealing brought against him.

While reviewing the facts of the case, Inspector Joseph said that Kuranga hit the complainant during an accident and his phone fell.

He said that while Kuranga was trying to escape from the scene of the incident, Abatan stole the phone.

Magistrate Runsewe discharged and acquitted Kuranga of the offence of stealing.

She sentenced Abatan to one week of community service without an option of fine.

By Our Reporter

Two domestic workers, a gateman and housekeeper, were on Wednesday brought before a Kubwa Magistrates ‘ Court in Abuja charged with stealing valuables worth N13 million belonging to their employer.

The defendants, Thomas Loson, who resides at Tungan Wakili dei-dei, Abuja, and Amina Augustine of Third Ave. Gwarimpa Estate also in Abuja, are facing two counts of alleged joint act and stealing.

However, the two domestic staff pleaded not guilty to each of the charges.

Read Also: Man arraigned for N14.5m ‘theft’

Police Prosecutor, ASP Peter Ejike, told the court that the defendants on Nov. 3, conspired and unlawfully stole a box of jewellery, Samsung Galaxy phone and other valuable items valued at N13 million property of Mrs Victoria Edeh.

According to Ejike, the complainant, Mrs Victoria Edeh who resides at No. 24, Third Ave. Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja, reported the theft at the Police Area Command, Life camp, Abuja.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code.

The Magistrate, Mrs Muinat Oyekan admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each with one reasonable surety each in like sum.

Muinat ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case until Dec. 4 for continuation of hearing.

By Our Reporter

The police on Wednesday arraigned a 19-year-old gardner, ThankGod Ezekiel in a Karu Senior Magistrates Court for allegedly stealing 96 pieces of his employer’s wrappers worth N360,000.

Ezekiel, who lives in Karu, Abuja, is charged with criminal breach of trust and theft by servant, offence he denied committing.

The Prosecutor ,Vincent Osuji,  told the court that the complainant, Mrs Halima Bawa, reported the matter at the Karu Police Station on Oct. 22.

Read Also: Guards on trial for ‘stealing’ Keke Marwa

He said the complainant alleged that the defendant who was employed as a gardner , stole her 96 pieces of wrappers, valued at N360,000.

Osuji added that during police investigation, the defendant confessed to committing the crime and all efforts made to recover the stolen wrappers failed,

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 314 and 289 of the Penal Code.

The Judge, Mariam Yusuf, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Yusuf who ordered that the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and a civil servant not below GL08 and adjourned the case until Nov. 18 for hearing.

By Justina Asishana, Minna

A 13-man kidnap gang has been busted in Niger State. Arrested with the suspects was a man who told reporters that his business with the gang was to pray for their success before they launched out on their kidnap operations.

“When they come, they give me money and I pray that they should be successful in their operation,” Mallam Halilu Umar said. “I do not go out for operations with them. I do not know why I am arrested for praying for people. I only pray for them to be successful in their business. What is wrong with that?”

The state police command which arrested the suspects, said they had been terrorising Kaduna and Katsina states.

Police said the suspects were intercepted at Dikko Junction in Tafa Local Government Area of the state when they were allegedly planning to carry out an operation in the state.

Read Also: Police arrest 2 suspected kidnappers in Kebbi

Parading the suspects in Minna, the state capital, command’s spokesman DSP Muhammad Abubakar said six of them were arrested at Dikko Junction while further investigation led to the arrest of four others in Kaduna and three others in Mariga Local Government Area of the state adding that the contractor who handles the negotiation is currently at large.

He said the suspects “confessed that they were called by one Hassan Kabiru from Kastina State that they should meet at Dikko Junction to perfect planS for kidnapping operations in Niger State. They also confessed to receiving between N600,000 to N800,000 from their victims.”

Mallam Umar said he has been praying for the “syndicate” for the three years..

The PPRO said the case is still under investigation, adding that they would be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.

The 13 kidnap suspects refused to speak to journalists.