Category: Crime Diary

Members of a syndicate who specialised in vandalising electricity equipment such as cables, transformers and others have been arrested.

Residents said the suspects were the cause of the blackout in the area.

Sources said they were arrested at Ejidu camp, Irun in Akoko Northwest Local Government by the community vigilance group.

According to an Irun Akoko community leader, who is also the Chairman, Irun Divisional Police Community Committee (PCRC), Femi Oloketuyi, the suspects were five, who came to Ejidu at night.

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Luck, however, ran against them when the vigilantes saw a ray of light around the transformer, which led to the arrest of two of them, while three others escaped.

Oloketuyi said the transformer had been removed by the vandals before they were caught.

The two arrested suspects, Togo, 30, and Ibrahim, 23, both Igbira indigenes from Okene in Kogi State, confessed to the Divisional Police Officer for Irun-Akoko, Superintendent of Police (SP) Gbenga Ogunleye, of their involvement in the theft.

The DPO said investigation was on to apprehend those at large.

The Adamawa/Taraba Zonal Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized rare but outlawed items as well as more widely traded but contraband items across the two states.

The seized items include elephant tusks and bufallo horns, which the authorities abhor because of strict laws over the indicated animals.

The Adamawa/Taraba Zonal Controller of Customs, Comptroller Karmadeen Olumoh, who disclosed the seizures to reporters at the zonal headquarters of the service in Yola yesterday, said the command had also so far in the year seized 2,527 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 12 vehicles, 22 motorcycles and 240 bales of second hand clothes.

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“The most recent is the seizure of 52 drums of petroleum product, with each drum containing 230 litres, totalling 11,960 litres,” the zonal controller said.

He said the command had done better so far this year than the corresponding period for last year in revenue generation despite its challenges, adding that between January and July it generated N105,945,138.44.

“This figure represents 44.66% increase over the corresponding period of the previous year,” Olumoh said, adding that the revenue target for the seven months of the year under review is N86.72 million.

He said his command achieved this despite a challenge of inadequate manpower and bad roads across the two states constituting the command, as well as low trade between Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Inadequate number of officers to patrol the vast borderline of the command remains a major obstacle, considering that the command boasts of the most expansive in the country comprising Adamawa and Taraba states,” the zonal controller said, noting, however, that an ongoing recruitment into the Customs Service “will go a long way in boosting the staff strength of the command.”

The Kwara State Police Command yesterday arraigned a second- class monarch from Odo-Owa, Oke-Ero Local Government, Oba Joshua Adeyemi Adimula, for alleged trespass to land and threat to life.

In the case number MCIA/374/2019, the cleric in charge of St Thomas Catholic Church, Odo-Owa, Rev Pius Obikwelu, accused the monarch of trespassing into the church’s parcel of land in the community.

In the police First Information Report (FIR), dated February 25, “the case was transferred from the Area Commander, Omu-Aran, in Irepodun Local

Government to the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Ilorin for discreet investigation.”

The Catholic reverend father in a petition dated November 20, 2018 reported that Oba Adimula “trespassed into his church parcel of land situated beside St Thomas Catholic Primary School, Odo-Owa and placed an object suspected to be juju on the land. In the process, the monarch also threatened that evil would befall anybody who dared to remove the object.

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“Investigation conducted by the state CIID Ilorin revealed that you Oba Adimula who ought to be a promoter of peace within your domain criminally trespassed into the complainant’s land.”

Hearing of the case slated for commencement yesterday could not hold, because the prosecution counsel, Nasir Yusuf, got the case file at 8:30am of the same day.

Mr. Yusuf told the court that “ordinarily the case is slated for hearing today, but I got the case file this morning. Upon perusal, I discovered that it will not be appropriate to continue with the hearing based on my discussion with my senior learned colleague. We are, therefore, applying for another date for hearing.”

Presiding Chief Magistrate A. M. Ibrahim adjourned the case till September 24 for commencement of hearing.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a 33-year-old driver, Nureni Kazeem, at the Kirikiri Prisons for alleged robbery and illegal possession of firearm.

Kazeem, a resident at Meiran, Lagos, is facing charges bordering on conspiracy, robbery and possession of a pistol illegally before Magistrate S. K. Matepo.

She did not take his plea.

The magistrate ordered that he be remanded in prison pending the receipt of legal advice from the state Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Prosecuting Sergeant Innocent Odugbo had told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the offences on February 13 at Meiran, Lagos.

According to him, Kazeem unlawfully had in his possession a pistol with which he robbed Olufemi Essenyi of his Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) valued at N3million and two phones worth N300,000,  totalling N3.3million.

He said the complainant came down from his SUV to open his gate when the defendant and others swooped on him.

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He alleged that they pointed a gun at him, ordered him to surrender his car key and phones and threatened to shoot him if he refused to comply.

Kazeem said the defendant and his accomplices forcefully collected the complainant’s car, phones and drove away.

He said the complainant lodged a complaint at the police station, which led to the arrest of the defendant after investigation by the police.

The case was adjourned till September 19.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a developer, Alabi Tesleem Idowu, who allegedly defrauded 251 prospective accommodation seekers of over N65 million.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the order following Idowu’s arrangement on a 251-count charge of obtaining under false pretence.

The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos, alleged that the defendant perpetrated the fraud between January and June.

He allegedly obtained money from 251 accommodation seekers for a room self-contained and a room and parlour self-contained apartments in a renovated building at Karimu Street, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos.

Among those allegedly scammed by the developer and the sum received from them, according to the prosecutor, are: Mohammed Akeem, N400,000.00; Philip Obinna, N320,000.00; Folorunsho Ridwan N835,000.00; Mrs. Owodunni Dorcas Adetutu, N240,000.00; Abdulraham Hamed, N170.000.00; Folakemi Amosun, N220,000.00; Theresa Amazi, N175, 000.00; Samson Emmanuel, N195, 000.00; Salau Wasiu, N180,000.00; Khadyat Sanusi, N140,000.00; Ishola Matthew,  N240,000.00.

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Others are: Michael Bashoru, N150.000.00; Akinshola Samuel, N100, 000.00; Olaleye Bisola, N260.000.00; Emmanuel Agbakwuru, N270, 000.00; Ayedun Oluwatobi, N200,000.00 and several others.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, contravened sections 1(2) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Agwu prayed the court to remand him in prison custody pending the filing, hearing and determination of his bail application.

He said the defendant had been in police custody since he was arrested, following a court order obtained to prevent him from truncating police investigation of the alleged scam.

But the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Jilji Jinrin, opposed him.

Jinrin told the court that he was just served with the charge and that he needed a short adjournment to file his client’s bail application.

In a bench ruling, Justice Oweibo remanded Idowu in prison custody, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

He adjourned till September 3, for hearing of the bail application.

The Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Muktar Lawal, has paraded 21 suspected oil thieves arrested across the state.

He said a barge, two trucks and two buses used to convey the stolen crude oil and illegally-refined petroleum products had been impounded.

Lawal spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt while parading the suspects before reporters and displaying the seized items.

He reiterated his commitment to ensure the protection of the critical national assets in the state.

Said he: “On August 17, at 0400hrs, the anti-vandal patrol team of NSCDC, Rivers State Command, arrested six suspects and two open-bodied trucks, belonging to Dangote Company, along Eleme Refinery Road, Port Harcourt. The trucks were loaded with a product suspected to be illegally-refined AGO (diesel), concealed in unquantifiable polythene bags, hidden beneath bags of salt.

“On August 18, at 0100HRS, a J5 bus, loaded with suspected AGO, concealed in 30 50-litre jerry cans, was also impounded along Abonema Wharf Road, Port Harcourt. Nobody was arrested, as the suspects fled on sighting the anti-vandal team.

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“Also on August 18, at 0210hrs,  three suspects and a Sienna bus, with registration number BDG 906 FB, fully loaded with product suspected to be illegally-refined AGO, concealed in nylon bags, were also arrested along UTC Junction, Port Harcourt.

“At 1400hrs on August 18, a barge with six compartments, four filled with suspected crude oil, was seized at a creek within Deutsch Island, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. The barge is currently at the NSCDC Jetty in Ogbogoro-Port Harcourt.”

Lawal said in view of the strong synergy developed between the NSCDC and other security agencies in Rivers in fighting oil theft in the state, 11 suspects were handed over to the Corps by Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) and the Nigerian Army, on the grounds of illegal dealing in oil business in Rivers.

Rivers commandant of NSCDC added that the arrested suspects were currently being interrogated.

He said they would be charged to court for possible prosecution, as soon as the investigations were concluded.

Anambra State Police Commissioner John Abang on Monday denied releasing a market leader, Emeka Agummadu, on the orders of Governor Willie Obiano as being alleged.

Agummadu, aka Baby Awka, is one of the market leaders in the state arrested alongside three others for alleged sponsorship of cult related killings.

He was, however, released by the police 24 hours later, allegedly on Obiano’s order.

Answering questions from reporters yesterday, Abang debunked the allegation that the command released the market leader following the intervention of the governor.

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He also refuted payment of N15million by the suspect to secure his bail, just as he denied knowledge of his membership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The police boss said: “Why will the governor ask me to release him when it is a bailable offence that doesn’t need money to secure?

“Fifteen million Naira is a lot of money and nobody paid any money for his release.

“I don’t know him as an APGA member but a suspected cultist. He has made statement to the police and we’re still investigating.”

He said the suspects would be arraigned after investigation.

A 25-year-old welder, Sesan Olaloye, was yesterday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with stealing machines valued at N12 million.

Olaloye, a resident of Ojokoro, Lagos, however, pleaded innocent to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against him.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ezekiel Ayorinde said the defendant committed the offences last month at Ojokoro, Lagos.

He alleged that the defendant and others at large stole the machines, belonging to Mrs. Modinat Eketunde, at night.

Read Also: Woman arraigned over alleged N22.9b received from ex-NSA Dasuki

“The defendant and others stole four colour printing machines, two side sealing machines, two folding machines and one sliding machine, all valued at N12 million.

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“Weeks later, the defendant came again to steal more machines, but luck was against him as he was apprehended by neighbours, while his accomplices escaped.

“He was handed over to the police,” the prosecutor told the court.

The alleged offences contravene sections 287(5) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi granted the defendant N1 million bail with two sureties as part of the bail condition.

She said the sureties should be employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case continues on September 30.

A woman identified as Mrs. Nike Olowo was on Monday assaulted by thugs allegedly sent by the new owner of her house, to evict her.

The incident occurred at 1, Owokoniran Street, off Liasu Road, Council in Ikotun area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the woman had requested to be given two weeks so that she could get another accommodation and move out, but the new owner would have none of it.

A neighbour alleged that the thugs tried to remove the door, which she resisted and they descended on her.

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“It happened this morning (Monday). The thugs were sent by the man who bought the house to evict her. They did not give any prior notice. The landlord sold the house and the new owner just showed up and asked them to vacate the premises.

“She pleaded for two weeks so that she could get another place and move out, but was denied that opportunity.

“The thugs showed up with a directive to evict her by force and they pulled her door, which she resisted. They then beat her up and almost blinded her,” the source said.

The Nation learnt that the woman reported the case at Idimu Police Division and one of the suspects was arrested, while the others fled.