The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • ‘Why I became a stolen car receiver’

    A Lagos-based auto spare parts dealer arrested for allegedly receiving stolen cars has claimed  that he took to the crime in order to make quick money.

    The suspect, Onyekachi Ona Walter, 37, who operates at Mgbuka section of Ladipo auto parts market in Lagos, was arrested for allegedly receiving, buying and dismembering a stolen vehicle worth N6 million, but which he bought for N500,000.

    He was arrested by  operatives of the Inspector General of police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Lagos annex, for buying and ‘butchering’ a stolen vehicle , a Mercedes ML 350 SUV Sports Utility Vehicle  from a driver, Edwin Anthony, 27.

    Walter,27 years old,from Oba town, in Nsukka in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State said: “I am married to one wife and  God blessed us with six children. I have a West Africa Examination Coumcil (WAEC) Ordinary Level certificate but I could not further education owning to the unexpected death of my father.

    ‘’To fend for  my family, I became an apprentice to a motor spare parts dealer in Trinity Market, Olodi Apapa Lagos. When I finished my apprenticeship my master settled me with N25,000  and I  started  my own business in 1999.

    ‘’I deal in engine and its parts alone and I usually buy ‘tokunbo’(imported second hand) cars and jeep engines. See, I used to be rough with traders who deal on stolen auto parts. I used to go to Ladipo market to buy engines then. Believe me, at about 2010, when my shop collapsed, life became tough for me.

    ‘’I was not be able to meet up with my responsibility especially my marriage, school fees payment of my six children and that of the children of my married sisters including feeding, house rent, hospital bills, clothing just to mention a few. This made me to relocate to Mgbuka in Ladipo market where I heard how many frustrated traders survived.

    ‘’I did not go to Mgbuka with the mind that I would be dealing in stolen butchered vehicles rather I wanted to be close to the butchers to be able to buy cheap parts and get reasonable gains. I am telling you the truth because, when I started this Mgbuka business, I used to do genuine business because for any vehicle that will go for butchering, the seller must show us the original documents of the vehicle including proof of ownership before we buy and butcher. I am a very honest trader before I met this thief, Anthony Edwin.

    ‘’Initially, he told me that his name was Idowu, but now, what I am hearing now is that his name is Edwin, he is a bad thief. When he told me that his name was Idowu I believed him, because he looked quiet and innocent that time not knowing that he is a wolf in sheep clothing.

    ‘’That fateful day, he told me that he had a Mercedes car to sell and that I should follow him to Obalende. When we got there he asked me to wait for him at a bus stop. When he surfaced with the vehicle he told me to pay N6 million; I laughed and priced N200,000 and he refused. I ended up paying him N500,000.

    Onyekachi also said in his confession that Anthony lied to him when he wanted him to buy the stolen jeep. He said: “ Anthony lied to me. He told me that his master, Okubote was an internet fraudster and that he went into hiding when police started looking for him. He told me not to worry about the vehicle documents because he had been driving the vehicle without documents and nothing happened.

    ‘’He said he had the express authority of his master to sell the vehicle and that no law enforcement agent would disturb him in any part of Nigeria and beyond. He said his boss instructed him to sell the vehicle any amount that would be enough to offset one bill before he comes back.

    ‘’I took the vehicle to my house at Ikorodu pending the day I would take it to Ladipo market for ‘butchering’. Unfortunately the IRT operatives stormed my house and got me arrested, recovered the vehicle which had since been handed over to the owner.’’

    In his confession, Anthony said: “The victim, Tayo Okubote, a retired Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation,( NNPC) staff, is my master. He resides at no. 4 Ogbunike Street, Lekki, Lagos. He employed me to be his private driver through an agent.

    ‘’I am from Swali, Bayelsa State. I live in Ikorodu and I got my Ordinary Level certificate from Ikorodu Senior Secondary School. I became a private driver to this man in  January, 2019  through an agent. He placed me on a monthly salary of N45,000  without any form of allowance. He gave me free accommodation in his house. We were like father and son and discussed freely together.

    ‘’One day, he asked me what he could do for me as we played and joked together. He said if were a graduate he would have secured job for me in NNPC. He does not feed me every day and he was the one who suggested that I live close to him because my house is in Ikorodu.

  • Groom-to-be dies on eve of wedding

    A cruel fate has shattered the wedding dream of a young man, Yahaya Abdul, after he was found dead on the eve of his marriage.

    Abdul was until his sudden death on May 2,2019, an automobile technician at Omeda area of Anyigba, Kogi State.

    According to a sibling of the deceased, Baba Hassan Yussuf, who mourned his brother on his Facebook wall, Abdul’s wedding  was to take place on Friday May 3.

    The lady was said to have fainted when she received the tragic news of Abdul’s death.

    Read Also: Couple die after attending wedding in Aba

    Mourning the deceased on Facebook, a sympathizser identified simply as Hamza Last Born wrote:’’Hmmmmmm World of yanga yanga. Someone who is having a matrimonial celebration today found dead in Omedo my area.

    ‘’Today is his wedding and he is no more . May his  soul rest in perfect peace.What a painful loss to Omedo.’’

     

  • Road traffic crashes claim 36 lives in Edo, Delta, Anambra

    No fewer than 36 persons were reported dead in road traffic crashes in Edo, Delta and Anambra between January and March this year, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    Mr Kehinde Adeleye, FRSC Commanding Officer for the Zone 5 comprising the three states, said yesterday  Benin that the figure was against the 34 deaths recorded within the same period in 2018.

    Adeleye spoke at the second quarter zonal retreat for commanding officers, zonal heads of departments and units.

    Read Also: Insecurity: No sacred cows in Anambra – Obiano

    He said that within the same period, 57 road crashes were recorded against 47 in 2018, while 170 persons were involved against the 173 recorded in 2018 in the same period.

    He stressed that the retreat was a capacity building programme targeted at commanding officers in the zone in view of the increase in road crashes and fatalities in the first quarter.

    He said it was, therefore, necessary to put heads together and come up with new initiatives to ensure that the major goal and objective of the “Decade of Action on Road Safety” was achieved.

    He explained that the FRSC had less than one year to achieve the basic objectives of the Decade of Action on Road Safety, adding, “there was the need for personnel in the zone to work hard and smart to achieve the goals.”

    Mr Ben Anafa, FRSC Corps Commandant, Monitoring and Evaluation, delivered a paper titled “An Overview of Assessment Criteria for 2019 as Aligned with 2019 FRSC corporate strategy Goals”.

  • Edo pastor denies sending assassins to kill fellow pastor

    A popular clergyman in Edo State and founder of the Land of Solution Prophetic Mission Ýnternational, Prophet Emeka Onu, has denied sending assassins to kill one Pastor Isaac Abraham of the Building Faith Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry.

    One Oseni Ogbiti, in a video that has gone viral claims Prophet Onu sent him to kill Pastor Abraham.

    Onu who spoke to reporters in Jattu, Estako West Local Government area of Edo State described the allegation as a tissue of lies and calculated attempt to bring down his growing ministry.

    Prophet Onu admitted that Ogbite is a member of his church but denied sending him to kill Pastor Abraham.

    Onu said he was still in shock that his image had been dented.

    He said his mission was to win souls for God and not to kill other people or destroy lives.

    He said: “How can I send assassins to somebody I can handle personally? I was not contacted to state my side before the news went viral and in traditional media.

    “Of what I saw on the video, the man mentioned my name to save his life. In the video, I saw him saying a lot of things that did not make sense; he spoke under duress because he was almost been nailed in the head.

    “I do not know Abraham nor do we have anything to fight over; what is probably happening is an attempt to tarnish my image, it was a setup.

    “I personally went to see the police on the matter without any invitation, to lodge complaint on it because I must see to the end of this matter.’’

    Ogbite, who alleged in the video that Onu sent him to assassinate Abraham, denied going there to kill anybody.

    He said he only went to see Abraham to tell him to stop denigrating Prophet Onu.

    Ogbite stated that he mentioned Prophet Onu’s name when the mob wanted to kill him even though he went there with a soldier friend who is also a member of the church.

    ”When I told my friend that I was going to warn Abraham for running down my prophet at every given opportunity, my friend said it would not be right for me to go alone, that he would go with me.

    “When we got to the church and asked to see the pastor, we were told by his Personal Assistant that he was not around. I actually started to explain our mission to see him when my friend said I should allow him to do the talking.

    “It was after I told them about my mission they started beating me. They tied me up with a rope and forced me to drink urine. They attempted to drive a nail into my skull. I was under duress when I mentioned the name of Apostle Emeka to save my life.”

  • EFCC arraigns fashion designer over alleged cybercrime

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office has arraigned one Oluwarore Omotomiwa Timileyin (a.k.a Stephen Kimble, Eldred Lola) on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, obtaining under false pretence and possession of fake documents.

    Oluwarore, who claimed to be a fashion designer, is standing trial before Justice P.I Ajoku of the Federal High Court 1, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The accused reportedly used different false representations online to defraud unsuspecting victims to the tune of thousands of United States Dollars.

    One of the charges reads, “That you Oluwarore Omotomiwa Timileyin (a.k.a Stephen Kimble, a.k.a Eldered Lola) sometime in March, 2019, at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, had in your possession, documents in your Google Account with email stephenkimble876@gmail.com containing false pretence and financial thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 6 and 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

    Some of the charges, according to the charge sheet, are contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section (1) (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act No. 14 of 2006.

    Oluwarore, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    Following the prosecution counsel’s prayer for a trial date on account of the accused person’s ‘not guilty’ plea, the court adjourned to May 27, 2019 for trial, and ordered that defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his case.

  • NSCDC intercepts suspected Indian hemp valued at N72m in Lagos

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) command in Lagos State, yesterday, announced the interception of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp valued at about N72 million.

    The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Tajudeen Balogun, told reporters in Lagos that  the drugs were intercepted by operatives of the Marine Unit of the command, in Badagry.

    He said the operation was carried out around 2 a.m., on Thursday, during a routine patrol.

    Balogun said, that 20 bags, each containing 80 neatly packed weeds in a boat were intercepted at Topo Badagry, adding that two occupants of the boat jumped into the water and escaped.

    He said the command, in collaboration with other security agencies in Badagry were on the trail of the suspected peddlers of the drug.

    Balogun said that they were also investigating where the substances came from and their destination.

    “We intercepted 20 bags, each bag contained 80 small packs valued at about N45, 000 per pack.

    “We are investigating whether the suspects were bringing them to Nigeria or taking them out to neighbouring country.

    “I commend my men for this feat. If these substances had entered Nigerian states, they can increase crime of all sorts.

    “We are reaching out to agencies in charge of drugs before they will be destroyed.

    “We will not just release the weeds to any agency; we will ensure that these weeds are destroyed.

    “There are syndicates in this business; we are on their trail,” Balogun said.

  • ‘Why I forgave my daughter’s rapist’

    Ibrahim Mohammed, father of a rape victim, has explained why he forgave the man who raped his nine- year-old daughter.

    The suspect, Abdullahi Bala, aged 33,  pleaded not guilty to the offence when he was arraigned.

    He was said to have committed the offence by having unlawful carnal knowledge with the victim on February 8th and 9th, 2019 at Aduwawa Quarters in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

    The victim told the Edo Family Court that she was raped twice.

    Ibrahim said he opted to leave vengeance to God because he is a man of peace.

    He vowed that his daughter would be given the best education.

    Presiding magistrate, D.I Adamaigbo, cautioned the accused person to stop lying by insisting he did not sleep with the victim.

    Adamaigbo warned Abdullahi to desist from the act.

  • Naira Marley, four others arrested for alleged internet fraud—EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes  Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it arrested and quizzed two fast-rising Nigerian musicians – Afeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley),  Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael (aka Zlatan)  and three others over alleged Internet fraud.

    It said the suspects volunteered useful information.

    The commission however said it had secured a six-month jail term for Uchenna Samuel Nwosu (a.ka. Jackson Mendez), for defrauding an American.

    The EFCC made the clarifications in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade against the backdrop of the arrest of the five suspects.

    The statement said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, arrested two fast-rising Nigerian musicians – Afeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley) and Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael (aka Zlatan), in connection with alleged case of internet fraud and money laundering. Intelligence report had also linked them to cybercrime offences.

    “They were arrested along with: Tiamiyu Abdulrahman Kayode, Adewunmi Adeyanju Moses and Abubakar Musa.

    “Their arrest followed an early morning raid on Friday, May 10, 2019 at 9, Gbangbola Street, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos.

    “At the point of arrest, the commission found and recovered a number of items, including laptops, from the suspects.

    “They have so far volunteered useful information about their involvement in the alleged criminal activities, even as investigations continue.”

    Meanwhile, the EFCC said  it had secured a six-month jail term for Uchenna Samuel Nwosu (a.ka. Jackson Mendez) for defrauding an American.

    A separate statement said: “Justice I. M Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced Uchenna Samuel Nwosu (a.ka. Jackson Mendez) to six months imprisonment for internet fraud, impersonation and obtaining the sum of $500 (Five Hundred American Dollars) from an American, Carmen Alvarez, under false pretence.

    Nwosu was arraigned  by the  Economic And Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC,  Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office on  April 11,   2019  on three-count charges bordering on internet fraud, impersonation and obtaining under false pretences  contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and  punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

    One of the counts  was:  “That you UCHENMNA SAMUEL NWOSU  (alias Jackson Mendez) on or about February 2019, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession (your email address: jacksonmendez180@gmail.com)  documents containing false pretence which you knew or ought to know contains false pretence and thereby committed an offence or an attempt to commit an offence contrary to section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

    “Nwosu originally pleaded “not guilty” to the charges but later changed his plea to “guilty”.

    “Based on his changed plea, Prosecuting counsel, Barrister Samuel Chime prayed the court to convict him accordingly.

    Justice Sani convicted and sentenced him to six months imprisonment on each of the three – count charges. The sentence however runs concurrently.

    “The court also ordered Nwosu to restitute the $500 he collected from his victim. Also, the court ruled that a laptop, Lenovo T410, recovered from him should be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Nwosu’s journey to prison began when he was arrested along Liberty Drive, Woji, Port Harcourt, for his involvement in online dating scam. Specifically, he impersonated an American soldier in Syria to defraud Carmen Alvarez, an American lady of $500, being a part-payment of $2,350 he requested from her in an online chat.”

  • Money laundering: Court vacates bench warrant for Akwa Ibom commissioners

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday vacated a bench warrant issued for two Akwa Ibom State commissioners and other officials.

    Justice Rilwan Aikawa had on March 1 ordered the arrest of Commissioner for Finance Nsikan Nkan and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Uwemedimo Nwoko.

    He also ordered the arrest of Akwa Ibom Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah and an account officer Margaret Thompson Ukpe.

    The bench warrant followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which said they were “at large”.

    They were named in a charge against Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), who was accused of laundering N1.4billion state funds.

    But the officials, through their counsel Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed a March 4 application asking that the bench warrant be set aside.

    He argued the court had no jurisdiction over his clients as no charge was yet to be filed against them by the EFCC as they were not named as defendants.

    He noted that in February 2017, Akwa-Ibom government sued the EFCC at a Federal High Court in Uyo over the harassment of its officials by the anti-graft agency.

    Ozekhome alleged that despite a subsisting order asking the anti-graft agency to cease all action pending the conclusion of the case, the officials are still being harassed by the EFCC.

    “The Attorney-General of Akwa-Ibom was the one personally conducting the Uyo case. The court later asked parties to stay all action pending the conclusion of the case.

    Read Also: Teenager in court over alleged phone theft

    “Initially the order was obeyed by the EFCC, but it later summersaulted and commenced a new waive of harassment of the officials.

    “The Attorney-General later went physically to the Abuja office of the EFCC to lodge complaints but when nothing changed, contempt proceedings were commenced against EFCC,” Ozekhome said.

    The SAN faulted EFCC for asking for his clients’ arrest when there was no record that they ignored lawful summons.

    While urging the court to vacate the bench warrant, Ozekhome undertook to ensure that the officials were available to answer to any charge that may be filed against them.

    Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo said in view of Ozekhome’s undertaking, he would not oppose the application.

    Justice Aikawa consequently vacated the arrest warrant.

    Arguments on another motion by Governor Emmanuel Udom challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the case was taken.

    Udom’s lawyer Dr. Charles Mekwunye said EFCC was wrong to name the governor in the charge since he still enjoys immunity as enshrined in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

  • Man remanded for beating wife to death over sex

    An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State yesterday remanded one 31-year-old Godspower Johnson accused of beating his wife to death during a fight over sex.

    Chief Magistrate O.O. Olatunji, ordered that Godspower be kept at the Ikoyi Prison, Lagos, for the next 30 days pending advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the case.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Oladele Adebayo,had  told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 21, at 5.30p.m., at No. 28, Adekoye St., Igbo-Elerin, Ishashi.

    He alleged that Johnson beat his wife, Deborah, aged 31, to death during a fight.

    “The defendant wanted to make love to his wife, he inserted his two fingers into her private part which didn’t go down well with the deceased. A fight  ensued leading the defendant to beat up his wife,” he said.

    The prosecutor said that murder contravened the provisions of Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Section 223 stipulates death sentence for the offence.

    Olatunji adjourned the case until June 7 for mention.