Category: Crime Diary

The police in Kano at the weekend arraigned a 28-year-old man, Auwal Ma’aruf, at a Magistrates’ Court for allegedly receiving stolen property.

The defendant, who lives at Rimin Auzunawa Quarters, Kano, is standing trial on a charge of receiving stolen property.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yusuf Sale told the court that Usman Nasir of Tudun Yola Quarters, Kano, reported the case at Rijiyar Zaki Police Division on August 13.

Read Also: ‘Evangelist’ beaten to pulp for allegedly stealing phones

Sale said on August 7, at about 10:30am, the defendant bought a Plasma TV set valued at N80,000  from one Abubakar.

He said Khalifa and Abba all of Tudun Yola Quarters, Kano, who were arrested and had confessed to have trespassed and stolen the said TV set, later sold it to the defendant.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Section 319 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Senior Magistrate, Aminu Fagge, ordered the remand of the defendant in prison custody and adjourned the case till August 29 for mention.

The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested Mr. Oluwomise Modupe for allegedly involving in the trafficking of Folashade Ogunfamuyide to Oman.

Parading the suspect at the headquarters of the NIS in Akure, the state Commander of the NIS, Mrs. Eunice Aboyade-Yebovi, said the victim was innocently sold into slavery by the suspect.

She said: “We arrested this trafficker. From our findings, we understand that he has been in the business for some time. He sent victims abroad to an Arabian country to some of his collaborators. They used the victims as ‘slaves’ and he made money from the business.

Read Also: Human trafficking: 20,000 Edo, Delta girls in Mali, says NAPTIP

“When this particular case was reported to us, we went into action and through our intelligence gathering, we traced the victim to Oman and we arranged how she would return from the Arabian country to Nigeria.”

The commander said the suspect had been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for investigation and prosecution.

She said: “We have been sensitising our people to let them know that the victims were being sold to slavery. Some of them are assaulted sexually and also face all sorts of maltreatment in the foreign land.”

The suspect, Modupe, who admitted that he ran an agency for getting job, denied the allegation of being a human trafficker.

He claimed that he assisted the victim to get a housemaid job in Oman.

Said he: “The victim came to me to help her get a job abroad and I told her the type of job available. She agreed to do it. I didn’t lure her into it.”

The pastor of Jesus Miracle Church, 16, Ado-Odo Road, Afan, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Jeremiah Ehindero, has confessed that he stole a N1.2million Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) because his congregation’s tithes and offerings were not enough to pay off a N650,000 bank loan.

Ehindero, 41, blamed the devil for his action.

The Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) at Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island, Lagos State alleged that Ehindero stole the Toyota Highlander SUV from a car dealer and sold it at Ore in Ondo State for N600,000.

The police said they also have in their custody, Ehindero’s suspected accomplices: Lateef Oyetunde, who allegedly purchased the SUV from the pastor, Jamiu Abiodun, 35, and Lukman Moyoyesa, who both allegedly introduced Ehindero to the buyer.

Read Also: Pastor, two men held for alleged rape

“I decided to steal the SUV to sell and use the proceeds to repay the N650,000 loan I borrowed from a microfinance bank in Lagos.

“I borrowed N650,000 from a microfinance bank to renovate my church, with the hope to recover the investment from tithes and offerings, but I was surprised that for three months, no money was realised to repay the loan.

“When the pressure from the microfinance bank became unbearable for me, the devil told me to steal a vehicle from the car dealer to sell and use the proceeds to repay the loan. I regret my action,” Ehindero allegedly told the police.

But Oyetunde denied being aware that the SUV was a stolen vehicle.

He said: “If I had known that the pastor stole the SUV, I would not have purchased it.”

The police alleged that Ehindero visited a car sales outlet at Sango-Ota, belonging to one Jamiu. He introduced himself as a cleric and requested for a Toyota Highlander SUV to be used for evangelism.

After the parties agreed a price of N1.2million for the SUV, the dealer allowed him to test drive the vehicle within the area. But the pastor got into the car and drove off, never to return.

According to the police, Ehindero switched off his phone, removed the SUV’s number plate marked ‘LND 816 CK’ and sped off to Ore, where he sold the vehicle to a spare parts dealer for N600,000.

After waiting for 24 hours, the dealer reported the case to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCP) in charge of FSARS, Lagos, Mr. Kola Okunola Kamaldeen.

Following investigation, the SUV was tracked to Ondo State and recovered. The buyer and Ehindero’s suspected accomplices were also arrested on the scene, the police said, while the pastor was traced to his home in Sango-Ota.

A police source said the suspects would be arraigned after investigation.

Eight suspected new initiates of the One Million Boys Cult were at the weekend arrested by the police in Lagos.

The suspects, comprising six men and two women, were arrested at 15, Alado Street, Shibiri, Lagos where they were being initiated into the cult by Yusuf Abu, 20.

According to a statement by spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), those arrested were Sunday Gabriel, 20, Rilwan Dauda, 18, Mohammed Sikiru, 23, Oladimeji Abayomi, 18, Rasheed Alabi, 20, Habeeb Idowu, 18, Olaiya Bisola, 18 and Hazzan Hawawu.

He said a team of policemen led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ilemba Hausa Kazeem Abonde, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), raided the venue and recovered weapons and charms.

Read Also: Police arraign three suspected cultists in Lagos

“Three sharp cutlasses, a fetish calabash with dangerous juju and weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from them. The suspects were charged to court and remanded in prison custody,” Elkana said.

Policemen attached to Mushin Police Station on Friday night intercepted suspected armed robbers alleged to have operated on a Honda motorcycle with registration number AKM300VJ at Ogunmokun Street, Mushin, Lagos.

“The gang mostly operates on a motorcycle for easy access to escape routes after operation. The gang was responsible for series of robberies reported in the area with the same mode of operation.

“They take advantage of traffic situations and dispossess unsuspecting people of their valuables such as phones, laptops, bags and money. The rider refused to stop and was given a hot chase.

“The leader of the gang, Taofeek Abayomi Oladiran, 26, was arrested, while others escaped through different directions into crowded areas along Akala, Idi-oro.

“The motorcycle was recovered. One bag containing a locally-made pistol, an expended cartridge, 11 live cartridges and a jacket decorated with charms were recovered from them. The suspects at large are identified as Afeez, Michael and Tolu.

“Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have taken over the case and have launched a manhunt for the three fleeing suspects.

Investigation is ongoing,” said Elkana yesterday.

The police in Ogun State have discovered the decomposing body of a farm worker, who was allegedly killed by his boss over allegation of stealing levelled against the deceased.

The family of Ismaila Mukaila is calling on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged murder.

The Nation gathered that the boy was allegedly murdered on August 11 on a farm on Adejunrin Road, Owode Egba area of Abeokuta and his remains were kept in a sitting position on a branch of a mango tree on the farm.

Read Also: Police parade inspector’s killers, 116 criminals in Kano

The boy, who is said to be a farm worker, was allegedly killed by the owner of the farm.

A member of the bereaved family, who craved anonymity, alleged that the owner of the farm told Ismaila to see him on the farm on August 11, but the boy did not return home. After a search was carried out, his decomposing body was found on August 15 on top of a mango tree on the farm.

It was learnt that the bicycle the boy rode to the farm before his mysterious death was also found at the entrance to the farm.

Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident. He said the matter is being investigated.

Oyeyemi said some suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder.

Kano State Police Command has arrested 216 suspected criminals, allegedly involved in robbery, kidnapping, car snatching, currency counterfeiting and drug dealings.

The Police Commissioner in Kano, Alhaji Iliyasu Ahmed who paraded the suspects on Friday, said the suspects were arrested within the Sallah period.

The commissioner said the arrest was made mostly by personnel of Operation Puff Adder.

Ahmed said nine of the suspects were arrested over armed robbery and 16 for kidnapping.

He said that two kidnapped victims were rescued by the police.

The commissioner added that 34 thugs locally known as ‘Yandaba’, were also arrested in various locations with dangerous weapons during the Sallah period.

Read Also: EFCC arrests 29 suspected Cyber Criminals in Ibadan

According to him, 51 other suspects were arrested at different criminal hideouts where large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp and other intoxicating substances were recovered.

“This is in addition to tracking one suspect at his hideout in Warawa Local Government Area after allegedly stabbing one other person to death,” he said.

He added that the command had also swooped on five suspected fraudsters and high profile scammers on land matters and that N400,000 and four motor vehicles were recovered from them.

According to Ahmed, another five suspects were also arrested for counterfeiting local and foreign currencies.

He however stated that operation Puff Adder which was recording tremendous success would be sustained throughout the state, until all non repentant criminals were arrested and brought to justice.

The commissioner commended law abiding members of the general public for their cooperation during the just concluded Sallah festivities which ended peacefully.

Three persons kidnapped on the eve of Sallah celebration at Ode Omi, a community in Ijebu Waterside Area of Ogun East senatorial district, which shares boundary with Lagos have been rescued unhurt by the police.

The victims are Adamson Bamidele, Adam Jelili and Sanni Azeez.

Police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi,  said the victims were rescued unhurt on Friday.

The rescue operation, according to Oyeyemi was led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Bashir Makama.

Read Also: Boy, 15, stages own kidnap

He said: ‘’The operation which was personally led by CP Bashir Makama made use of police helicopter for aerial surveillance of the creek where the hoodlums were tracked to, and when the heat was too much on them, they were left with no other option than to release their captives. ‘’

Oyeyemi also disclosed that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the case, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.

He said that CP Makama had ordered the anti-kidnapping team and other tactical squads in the command to bring the hoodlums to book.

He added: ‘’The victims have since been reunited with their families.’’

A group, Independent Public Service Watch (IPSW), has called for the resignation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita following the allegation of N3billion fraud leveled against her.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Executive Secretary, Mr Okpanachi Jacob, the group vowed to commence nationwide protest against her if she fails to resign within 72 hours.

It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating Oyo-Ita over alleged N3billion contract scam, abuse of duty tour allowance, money laundering, among others.

The group said it would henceforth take legal action against the likes of Oyo-Ita to ensure that public servants facing corruption trial vacate their seats pending the outcome of their investigation.

“As stakeholders in the Nigeria project, we shall henceforth go all out including seeking legal means to ensure that public servants facing corruption trial vacate their seats pending the outcome.

Read Also: Why SPIP chair, Obono-Obla was suspended, by FG

“We hereby issue a 72- hour ultimatum to Mrs Oyo-Ita to resign from office barring which we shall massively mobilise our civil society partners to picket wherever Oyo-Ita is.”

Jacob stressed that Oyo-Ita ought to have resigned her position pending the outcome of investigation, as all efforts to reform the civil service would amount to nothing if she remained in office with the level of the allegation against her.

He wondered why public servants facing investigation for corruption in the country still find it convenient to remain in office.

“It is worrisome and unacceptable that the Head of Civil Service of the Federation that is central to the fight against corruption is involved in corrupt practices.

“There is no way the service can be reformed when its head is enmeshed with series of allegations of corruption.

“More painful is the fact that a single Nigerian and a woman of Oyo-Ita’s calibre who by all means looks very pious, will be in custody of such mind numbing sum of money in the midst of the abject poverty faced by civil servants and Nigerians in general.

“Preliminary findings by the anti-corruption agency confirmed that about N3billion has been traced to the Head of Service which came in through proxy companies.

“Also, about N600million has been traced to the account of one of her key aides who has been unable to give any justifiable explanation for it,” Jacob said.

The police in Enugu State have arraigned the traditional ruler of Obeagu Ugwuaji, Awkunanaw Autonomous Community of the state, Igwe Christopher Nyia for alleged attempted kidnapping among other charges.

It will be recalled that members of Obeagu Ugwuaji Awkunanaw Autonomous Community had earlier trooped out en mass in solidarity with their monarch.

Nyia, 60, was arraigned before an Enugu South Magistrates Court presided over by Mr A. P. C. Amalu on four count charges allegedly committed with others at large in November, 2014.

He was said to have conspired to commit misdemeanor to wit: malicious damage/unlawful detention, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Sect. 517 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nyia was said to have willfully and unlawfully destroyed the house of one Hillary Okoye valued at N1.6 million and committed an offence punishable under sect. 451 of the same law.

He was said to have also unlawfully detained one Chinaza Agah against her will and, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Sect. 365 of the Criminal Code Act.

The last charge was that the monarch attempted to kidnap one Chinaza Agah and, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Sect. 86 (1) of the Criminal Code Act.

When the charges were read, the monarch pleaded not guilty and elected for summary trial.

The defense counsel, Prof. Osita Ogbu applied for the quashing of the charges against his client on grounds that the case had earlier been heard and dismissed by an Enugu Magistrates Court in 2016.

Ogbu said the case was dismissed due to lack of diligent prosecution.

The counsel, who tendered the certified copies of the proceedings, said it was surprising that the prosecution would bring up the matter again.

Read Also: Kidnapped college provost regains freedom in Benue – Police

The defense counsel also said the laws on the basis of which his client was arraigned, did not apply to Enugu State.

He said the law was a creation of the National Assembly adding that the body had no constitutional powers to make laws for an offence applicable to Enugu state.

Ogbu said that criminalisation was a residual matter under the 1999 Constitution and amended except in treasonable felony.

He said his client was charged under the criminal code applicable in Abuja, adding that Enugu State had its own Criminal Procedure Law.

“The powers to enact general criminal laws are incidental which is not applicable here. These offences are under the legislative powers of the state assembly,” he said.

He said that under Sect. 36 (12) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, “a person could only be brought to the court for an offence prescribed by a valid law.

“We urge the court to quash the charges and discharge the accused person as he is not charged under any valid law,” he said.

Ogbu however, applied for the bail of his client should the court find no valid reason to quash the charges.

He said that the monarch was conscientiously attending court proceedings even when the prosecution was not attending prior to the initial dismissal of the case in 2016.

However, the prosecution counsel, Mr D. T. Abi opposed the bail application on the grounds that the allegations were heinous.

Abi however, told the court that the case was not dismissed on its merits but on technical grounds.

He said that under the circumstance, the police have the powers to re-arrest and bring the accused back to the court.

He said the charges were applicable to the state as the NASS had the powers to make laws for good governance of all parts of the country.

Abi prayed the court to discountenance the submissions of the defense counsel and deny bail.

However, Amalu granted the accused bail for N1 million and one surety in like sum.

The matter was adjourned until Sept. 2 for hearing.