The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Worker arraigned for ‘raping’ hawker

    AN Ikeja Sexual and Domestic Violence Offences Court on Thursday heard how a construction worker, Emmanuel John, allegedly raped a 39-year-old woman in an uncompleted building.

    A police sergeant, Olakunle Orebe told the court that John allegedly raped the woman, who was hawking beans and yam (also known as ewa agoyin), on June 20, 2017 at No 14 Akins Addo Road, Ajah.

    Orebe, attached to the Gender Unit at the Ikeja police command, said that the victim, a Togolese, was alleged raped by John and his friend, one Obinna (now at large), at about 11:45 am on that fateful day.

    The 34-year-old construction worker, who has been in prison custody since 2017, is standing trial on a lone count charge of rape before Justice Sybil Nwaka.

    Led in evidence by the State prosecuting counsel, B.T. Boye,  Sgt. Orebe said that the defendant and the case file was transferred to him from Langbasa Police Station, Ajah on June 23, 2017.

    Orebe told the court he visited the crime scene and also interviewed the survivor.

    Read Also: My wife brings her lover into our bedroom for sex, man tells court

    “The survivor told me that she was hawking her usual food items when one man (Obinna) came and called her, on the pretence of buying beans and yam.

    “The victim narrated that the defendant asked her to come and sell to his friend, John,(the defendant), who was already waiting inside the uncompleted building.

    “She said that she quickly followed behind him to the uncompleted building and met his friend. But instead of requesting for food, they ordered her to remove her clothes. The defendant forcefully removed her clothes, held her hands while his friend had sexual intercourse with her.

    “The victim told me that the defendant thereafter took turns with his friend, Obinna, to rape her.”

    During cross examination by the defence counsel, Akinyemi Adetunyi, the police officer said that the defendant made a confessional statement at the station admitting that he had sexual intercourse with the victim.

    In his confessional statement, John stated that he had sexual intercourse with the woman on an agreement of paying her N500.

    Justice Nwaka adjourned the matter till October 9.

     

     

     

  • Lawyer’s N1.4m fraud trial resumes Oct 2

    A LAGOS Magistrates Court has fixed October 2 to resume the trial of a lawyer, Moses John Jackson, charged with stealing N1.4 million from a 77-year-old journalist, Mr Segun Adenuga.

    Jackson was arrested by the State Criminal, Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCID), Yaba, Lagos, following a May 23 petition by Adenuga, a 50-year sports journalism veteran.

    In the petition, Adenuga said he had known Jackson for 22 years.

    It reads: “When my mother died on August 12, 1995, she left a building which I had to supervise for the family at 19, Ramonu Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos.

    “At that time, I invited lawyer Moses Jackson to start collecting rents from the tenants on monthly and yearly basis since 2002.”

    Jackson, Adenuga alleged, collected N600,000 but did not remit it to him.

    Speaking further, he said, “When the family decided to sell the house, I approached Jackson and he told me we had to obtain a Letter of Administration before we could put the house on sale.

    “I gave Jackson the sum of N280,000 to add to the money already collected as rents from the tenants to procure the Letter of Administration which he told me was almost N900,000.”

    According to him, Jackson got a buyer, Faith and Works Ministry Church, which bought the house at N7.5million.

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    He added: “I offered Jackson the sum of N500,000 again from the proceeds of the sales as his commission. However, a negligible few of my family members kicked against the shares given them and sued me to court. I have since refunded the sum of N7,500,000 back to the Church since October 4, 2016, but Jackson has failed to refund the money he collected from me, knowing full well that he did not obtain the letter of Administration, which the money was meant for In 2009.”

    The SCID arraigned Jackson on November 23, 2018, on a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Raman Inuegbe told the court that Jackson committed the offence between 2002 and December 9, 2009 at No 19, Ramonu Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos.

    Inuegbe alleged the lawyer, “with intent to defraud, did obtain from Segun A. Adenuga the sum of N1.4m under the pretence that you will procure a letter of administration for the sales of his late mother’s property, a representation you knew to be false.”

    The court also heard that “On the same date, time and place, Jackson did steal the sum of N1.4m property of Segun A. Adenuga.”

    According to the prosecutor, the offences infringed Sections 287(9)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e) and 314(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Jackson pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognizance.

  • 12 suspected oil ‘thieves’ arrested in Uyo

    THE Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has arrested 12 suspects, seized 50 drums of illegal Automated Gas Oil (AGO or diesel) and 486 bags of smuggled rice from them.

    The new Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Peter Yilme, who said the arrests were made within two days of his assumption of office, noted that the navy is determined to end smuggling on the waterways and warned smugglers to desist from the illegal activity.

    Speaking in Ibaka during the handover of the items to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Yilme said that if the smugglers don’t desist, the navy will persist in arresting them.

    Yilme who was represented by Lieutenant  Commander Kareem Yusuf, Base Operations Officer, FOB, said the arrests were made in three operations involving five suspects each with 209 and 277 bags of 50kg rice, and two suspects with 50 drums of illegal AGO.

    “On behalf of the flag officer commanding the Eastern Naval Command, I hand over 486 bags  bags of smuggled rice and 10 suspects to the Nigeria Customs Service. I also hand over two suspects and 50 drums of AGO to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,” he stated.

    Receiving the 10 suspects and 486 bags of rice from the Nigerian Navy, Deputy Superintendent of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alabi, Adedokun commended the Navy for the cooperation existing between them.

    James Essien, Divisional Officer, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in charge of Mbo local government area who received the 50 drums of AGO and two suspects from the Navy commended them for their efforts in combating smuggling.

    He said, “On behalf of the State Commandant, Nigeria  Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom State Command, Commandant Adeyinka Fasiu, I hereby take over the two suspects and 50 drums of 300 litres of AGO from the Nigerian Navy.

    “We commend the Navy for collaborating with us and making sure that the illegality in the waterways are checkmated. We will do all the necessary things to make sure that the culprits are brought to book,” he said.

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    One of the suspects, Bright Okon, a fisherman who had lived in Bakassi for about 20 years but from Udung Uko Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom, said he was only a passenger on the boat when it was arrested by the Nigerian Navy.

    He stated that he was not  involved in the smuggling but was on his way to Oron to visit his wife and new born baby.

    Another suspect, Ini Asuquo, the driver of one of the boats said he was paid N20,000 by the owner of the rice, one Mr Samuel to bring the rice from Cameroon to Nigeria.

    He said it was the first time he was carrying rice to Nigeria, adding that he was not aware that smuggling the contraband rice was wrong.

  • Enugu trains vigilance groups

    THE Enugu State government in collaboration with security agencies has started training neighbourhood watch personnel with a view to scaling up security in the state.

    The training programme, which will last for seven days, is taking place at the local council headquarters of Oji River Local Government Area.

    According to the Deputy Commander, Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch, Ernest Ifeme, the exercise is at the instance of Enugu State government, in line with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s drive to ensure adequate security across the state.

    Speaking at the training venue, Ifeme informed that the training is for the 400 selected from the 20 wards of Oji River Council Area.

    “We are undergoing a 7-day training here to equip us with updated skills on how to function effectively in protecting lives and property of our respective communities, in partnership with the Police and other security agencies.

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    “The police, SSS and Civil Defense officers are here and we hear that the army will be here, as well, on a later date. This training phase covers all the 20 wards in Oji River LGA, with 20 neighbourhood men drawn from each ward, totaling 400 of us,” he said.

    On his part, the Deputy Transport Officer (DTO) in charge of Oji River, DSP Okonkwo, told journalists that the training was aimed at inculcating modern security skills and practices in the trainees.

     

     

  • Youth Council to Bobrisky: renounce LGBT or leave Nigeria

    THE National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)  have  advised controversial transgender personality, Idris Olarenwaju, aka ‘Bobrisky’, to stop promoting  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) lifestyle or vacate Nigeria.

    The youths issued the warning on Wednesday when members of NYCN protested against LGBTs at the headquarters of the NCAC in Abuja.

    The youth in large numbers, carrying placards bearing different inscriptions, said they had declared Bobrisky persona non grata because he was a negative influence on Nigerian youths.

    Comrade Akoshile Muktar, the Vice-President of NYCN (North Central), said Nigerian youths were against the activities of Bobrisky and urged NCAC as the custodian of Nigerian culture and values to make a declaration on the matter.

    Muktar said: “Bobrisky should as a matter of safety and urgency leave the country if he must continue in his LGBT acts as it is alien to the culture and traditions of Nigeria.

    “NYCN describes the ‘Bobrisky brand’ as ungodly, unhealthy and disgusting and completely against our moral, cultural and spiritual values.

    Read Also: Inside the ‘risky’ life of Bobrisky

    “We, therefore, declare Bobrisky as persona non grata, as he is a man and not a woman.

    “Nigeria is not a place for LGBT and we shall fight to the end, as we call on the IGP and the Director-General of the DSS to use their good offices and men to stop Bobrisky.

    Muktar said the group had also protested to the National Assembly, DSS and Police headquarters.

    “We will not rest until Bobrisky is arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

    Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director-General of NCAC, who received the youths, commended them for taking the bold step against the Bobrisky-led LGBT group.

    He noted that the council under his watch was already fighting against Bobrisky and his transgender antics, describing him as ‘bad influence and harmful to Nigeria’s culture and morals.’

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ekiti varsity student ‘kills’ boyfriend over hair money

    A 300-level student of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Bukola Odeyemi has allegedly stabbed and killed her lover, John Iju at their Treasure Base Hostel, Iworoko-Ekiti.

    The suspect, a 20-year-old student in the Department of Biology Education, allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death after the suspect had demanded a sum N2,500 from the deceased to plait  her hair, which the victim could not provide.

    The incident occurred at about 10pm on Monday, causing panic in the hostel area.

    An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, wondered why a girl would kill her boyfriend over money to plait hair.

    He said the refusal of the boyfriend to give her N2,500 to plait her hair culminated into a hot argument, which infuriated the lady and they started fighting .

    “During the fight, the deceased had the upper hand and the lady seeing a sharp knife on the tray, immediately brought it out and stabbed the deceased in the chest.

    “The deceased who could not survive the deep cut fell on the floor with blood oozing out of his chest. The people around there cried for help but that could not help. The man died on the spot.”

    The deceased’s friends were said have rushed to the police station at Iworoko to incident the case.

    The deceased’s cry for help was said to have attracted residents to the scene. They reported the incident to police station at Iworoko.

    Read Also: Assailants hack commercial motorcyclist to death in Ekiti

    Ekiti police spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu who confirmed the incident, said the suspect has been arrested and now being detained at the criminal and Investigative Department of the police headquarters.

    Ikechukwu explained that investigation has begun into  the matter and the suspect will be charged to court once investigation is concluded.

    He said, “It is so unfortunate somebody stabbing her boyfriend just because of 2,500 for hairdo.

    “Parents should be careful to always look out for their wards to know what they are doing in higher institution. Sometimes parents should pay surprise visits to their wards to know where they stay and monitor their activities.”

  • Lagos to crack down on land grabbers

    The Lagos State government has assured residents of Ayobo of its determination to tackle activities of land grabbers in the area.

    The assurance was given in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday signed by the Coordinator, Lagos State Special Task on Land Grabbers (LSSTF/LG) Owolabi Arole.

    Some residents of Ayobo and other communities in the area had staged a demonstration to protest against activities of land grabbers allegedly led by one Moruf Owonla aka Kaka who have been allegedly terrorising their communities.

    Arole, in the statement, assured them that government has already started investigating the incident.

    He said government, through the Special Task Force on Land Grabbers, is committed to reducing to the barest minimum, the activities of persons who use force and intimidation to dispossess or prevent any person or entity from acquiring legitimate interest and possession of property acquired.

    Arole advised persons and communities whose land is forcibly taken by land grabbers to formally file their complaints in writing to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

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    The statement further stated: “We receive with serious concern, the land grabbing reports levelled against certain persons in Ayobo area and we have since commenced Investigation into the allegations.

    “We would like to assure affected residents of the area that the Lagos State Property Protection law of 2015 would take its full course in this regard.

    “Although, the Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers has not received any formal reports from the affected communities, the Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers in conjunction with the Lands Bureau and Directorate of Public Prosecutions will look into the matter and ensure appropriate actions will be taken.

    “We therefore use this medium to call on representatives of the affected communities in Ayobo and all residents of the State, that in the event of any illegal dispossession or attempt to dispossess them of the rightful possession of their land, a formal complaint in writing should be made to the Honorable Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice”, the statement added.

  • Obasanjo’s son to court: I haven’t served my wife divorce papers

    OLUJONWO Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday told an Ikeja High Court that he had not been able to serve divorce papers on his estranged wife, Temitope.

    Olujonwo and Temitope, daughter of a frontline lotto magnate, Sir Kessington Adebutu alias “Baba Ijebu” were absent when the matter came up in court before Justice Bisi Akinlade.

    Olujonwo’s counsel, Olayinka Kujembola, told the court that they have made series of attempts to serve Temitope in Abeokuta to no avail.

    Kujembola said the court sheriff who visited her Ikoyi, Lagos residence complained of tight security  around the place, making it impossible to serve her.

    The trial judge expressed her displeasure that the petitioner has not been able to serve his wife,  Temitope.

    Justice Akinlade noted that the divorce suit has been popular in the media since it started about five months ago, adding that efforts should have been made to serve Temitope in Ogun where she works and resides.

    The judge declined to grant the applicant’s request for an order of substituted service in Lagos.

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    “The respondent stays in Ogun State. Why do you want me to grant an order for substituted service for Lagos where she does not stay?.

    Justice Akinlade  opted to adjourn the case the second time to enable the bailiff serve Temitope directly.

    She adjourned the case until October 2 for hearing of pending applications.

    During the last proceedings held May 23, Olujonwo’s counsel, Ms Omo Omofoma had told the court that several attempts were made to serve Temitope by Olujonwo to no avail.

    Olujonwo and Temitope had a grand wedding  between May 11 and 13, 2017 but which crashed few months after.

    Prior to their wedding, Olujonwo’s mother, Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo had filed a suit at Ikeja High Court seeking the postponement of the wedding.

    The then trial judge, Justice Lateefa Okunnu dismissed the suit on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it in view  of the fact that Olujonwo was then 33, and an adult.

     

  •  Two brothers arraigned for ‘duping’ PFN boss

    TWO brothers, Avan Smart, 61, and Avan Jerry, 29, have been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate Court for allegedly duping President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Rev. Felix Omobude, the sum of N3m.

    The two brothers were arraigned on a seven-count charge bothering on forgery, stealing and obtaining under false pretence.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Police Prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, informed the court that the suspects committed the offence on May 31st and June 24, 2019 at the headquarters of the New Convenant Church, Benin City.

    ASP Agbonifo said the suspects presented themselves as contractors to the Edo State Government and bid to construct road within the Light House Polytechnic, owned by Rev. Omobude.

    Agbonifo said the suspects presented forged documents of an unregistered company to Rev Omobude.

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    He said they collected the sum of N3m under false pretences.

    It was gathered that the brothers were arrested following a petition to the State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar.

    Presiding Magistrate, I A Osayande granted the accused bail to the sum of N200,000 each and a surety in like sum.

    Osayande adjourned the case to September 26, 2019.

  • Oil vandals getting more sophisticated

    CRUDE oil vandals in the Niger Delta are said to be upgrading their tactics in order to remain a step ahead of security agencies, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has said.

    Disclosing this at a media workshop on Pipelines Right of Way held in Ekpan, Uvwie council area of Delta State, the company noted that the effects of these illegal activities on Nigeria’s economy, as well as the environment, call for collaboration among stakeholders.

    General Manager, Igo Weli announced that the company now has in place high definition aerial cameras to facilitate detection, quick response to crude oil mishaps and track  vandals across its assets in the region.

    Weli who was represented at the event, said, “The thieves are getting more ingenious in their theft menace each day. Some just go and cut our pipelines into pieces just to sell the steel without looking at the consequences to their lives in case of an explosion or spill to the environment.

    “They have devised all manner of methods just to steal the oil. Sometimes they just bring in a large vessel and connect it directly to the pipeline and siphon crude from it.”

    Read Also: Lagos to wage war against pipeline vandals

    He added that the high definition air “cameras are attached to specialised helicopters which carry out daily overflight on our facilities. This measure has improved the surveillance of our joint venture assets.”

    Emphasising that the loss of a barrel of crude is a loss to the nation, he explained that 55 percent of the business goes as revenue to the federal government to provide Nigeria’s needs.

    He also pointed out that the Niger Delta states are “dependent,” on the 13 percent derivation from the petroleum industry, hence the effect of sabotaging oil installations will trickle down to the grassroots.