The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Car dealer allegedly dupes trader of N1.3m

    A Lagos-based businessman, Alhaji Isiaka Ahmed, has allegedly defrauded a trader, Sodeeq Lamidi of a sum of N1.3 million in a failed car sale.

    According to a petition sent to the Zone 2 Police Command, Lamidi said he paid Ahmed the money for the delivery of a Toyota Sienna car, but the car dealer had refused to give him the car or refund his money.

    In the petition,’’ Complaint of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence against Alhaji Ahmed Isiaka and others’’, reads in part: ‘’ I agreed and discussed with Alhaji Ahmed that I want to buy a vehicle and he said I should pay a sum of N1.6 million being the amount for the price of the two Toyota Sienna bus at the rate of N800, 000 each.

    ‘’The amount was paid into his account at First Bank on November 23, 2016. After the payment, Alhaji Ahmed started giving  excuses, ranging from exchange rates problem, importation problems and clearing problems, which resulted into the total sum of N2,750,000 (Two million and seven hundred and fifty thousand naira transferred from my account into his account with First Bank of Nigeria, at various times.’’

    He claimed that Ahmed also collected a sum of N200,000 cash, bringing the total to N2,950,000.

    Sodeeq said Alhaji Ahmed later delivered one of the vehicles after so much pressure adding that he has refused to deliver the second vehicle to date.

    It was learnt that Alhaji Ahmed made an undertaking to refund N1.3 million to Sodeeq early this year, but he has also refused to honour his promise.

    A copy of the undertaking dated March 7, 2018, obtained by our reporter, reads in part: ‘’ I Alhaji Isiaka Ahmed , do make this undertaking  and promised to pay Mr Sodeeq Lamidi a total sum of N1.3 million only  on April 30, 2018, being the money I  am owing him for a Sienna Toyota bus; the money he gave me for the said bus  and I failed to deliver(the vehicle),. If I s do not comply by this undertaking, the law should take its course. The undertaking is made freely and voluntarily by me.’’

    Contacted, Alhaji Ahmed, explained that he had recently paid part of the debt.

    He said that his partner overseas caused the delay in delivering the vehicle to Sodeeq, adding that he has since fallen  out with the unnamed partner.

    ‘’ I have never defrauded anyone in my life. Sodeeq is just like a son to me and what happened between us was a failed transaction. He was introduced to me by my son in law when he needed the vehicles. Subsequently, I gave him one of the vehicles when my partner abroad sent it to me with a promise that the second vehicle would also be delivered before too long. Unfortunately, my partner failed to send the vehicle to me even after I had transferred the money to his account.

    ‘’I explained the delay in delivering the second vehicle to Sodeeq, but he brought some soldiers to me and threatened to deal with me and forcibly collect his money. I was afraid that he might resort to more violent means to attack me, hence, I reported the matter to Area D Police Command, Mushin, and I subsequently made an undertaking at Zone 2 Police Command, Lagos.

    ‘’ I have since paid a sum of N500,000 to him through policemen at Zone 2 Command, so the balance of what I am owing him is N800,000. I am troubled that the transaction is causing me sleepless night, because I can’t just figure out why my partner behaved the way he did by not sending the second vehicle to me which has resulted in this embarrassment.’’

  • 34 years after retirement, ex-soldier turns porter in Lagos sawmill over unpaid gratuity

    Thirty four years after he was discharged from the Nigeria Army, Ekong Effong Okon’s life has taken a turn for the worse over unpaid gratuity.

    The 65-year-old ex-soldier was enlisted into the Army in the early 70s (63 NA/420881) and retired in in 1984 at the Command workshop of the Nigeria Army, Yaba, Lagos State.

    He told The Nation that his futile effort at getting his gratuity and pension has made his life nightmarish.

    ‘’I was discharged from the Nigeria Army in 1984, without pension. Since then I have been living from hand to mouth working as a porter here in Oko Baba Sawmill, Ebute Metta, Lagos,” he said.

    Okon, who is a native of Calabar, Cross River State, said his wife has since left him for his hometown with his children after  life became unbearable for her.

    ‘’ I tried to do some odd jobs but they just didn’t add up. I was living from hand to mouth and I could not take care of my wife and children. It was in the middle of this that my wife  decided to relocate to my hometown with my children, many years ago. I have since not set my eyes on them since their relocation.

    ‘’Please help me beg the Army authorities to pay me my pension and gratuity. There was a time they carried out verification of ex-soldiers, but I did not have the money to transport myself to Abuja for the exercise.’’

    Okon, who cut a pitiable sight during the encounter with our reporter is homeless and sleeps in one of the makeshift office in the sawmill.

    He added: ‘’    I don’t want to be a burden to others. I used to live in a rented apartment in town until I couldn’t afford to pay rent, hence, I started squatting in this wooden structure.

    ‘’ I have lost contact with my wife and children. I don’t even have their contact, much more a mobile telephone that I can use to call them, but I know that one day I would see my wife and children again.’’

    Contacted, the Military Pension Board in an email sent to The Nation, asked Okon to visit its office in Abuja with relevant documents and lodge complaint.

    The email reads:‘’ Thanks for your (enquiries). Please direct the person to come Military Pensions Board, Abuja, with his relevant documents and make formal complaint  in respect of his case. He can ask for the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the board.’’

  • Traders lament dirty environment

    Traders at Awolowo Market, Mushin, Lagos State, yesterday lamented the dirty environment of the market.

    They  condemned what they termed as ‘lack of proper refuse disposal in the market.

    One of the traders, Samuel Ogundipo, attributed the major cause of the dirty market environment to ineffectual waste management company.

    He said:“The market is not  highly populated , and there are many uncompleted buildings in the market. Wanderers have seen Awolowo market as a place where they can sleep, eat and mess up there. We have hired-cleaners who clean and sweep the market surroundings, but the wanderers we have in the market would mess up everywhere after it has been cleaned”.

    Samuel urged the state and local government to find a lasting solution to the unhygienic condition of some parts of the market.

    Another trader, who does not want his name in print blamed her colleagues at the market for the dirty environment.

    She said: “The dirty condition of this market is as a result of the fact that we are the ones who dump refuse on the road every morning after sweeping our stalls. It’s not really our fault because we don’t have any other choice than to dump them between the main roads. The agencies who are supposed to pack the dirt don’t come at the right time and we can’t keep those huge refuse with us”.

  • 28-yr-old in court over alleged N2.5m theft

    A woman, Elizabeth Inko-Dokubo has been arraigned before a Rivers State Magistrate Court Sitting in Port Harcourt, the State Capital for allegedly stealing the sum of N2.5 million, from a telecommunication company “Qtel Multi Communication Limited”.

    The 28-year-old who is a former  staff of the company allegedly converted the sum into her personal use while working with the firm.

    The Prosecutor, Inspector Wilson Isaiah told the court that the suspect committed the crime at No. 110 Ogbunabali Road Port Harcourt between March 2015 and July 2015.

    Isaiah said the offence breached section 390 (9) of the criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State Nigeria.

    The suspect pleaded not-guilty to the single count charge of stealing levelled against her and was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 only, with one surety in like sum.

    Her legal representation had earlier urged the court to grant her bail,  submitting that the charge against her was bailable .

    The presiding magistrate, Solaris Andrew-Jaja later adjourned the case till October 30, for hearing.

  • Police parade former legislator, 15 others over ritual killings, sale of male and female organs

    Sixteen men, including a former legislator and a vigilance group commander  alleged to be  involved in  kidnapping, ritual murder and sale of the human private organs in  Kogi State were yesterday  paraded by the police in Abuja.

    Police spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood,said  male and female organs, including that of a police inspector were  harvested and sold by the syndicate whose ages range between 19 and 45 years.

    The gang,according to   Moshood,was  working under the instructions or request of  a wealthy businessman, Alhaji Shaibu Adamu alias Aye-Marina (43 years).

    A manhunt is underway to arrest patrons of the group.

    The police sid the arrested men have confessed to the killings and removal of body parts of several people.

    However, Alhaji Shaibu Adamu and Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali, a former Kogi state legislator vociferously disowned the gang’s leader who claimed to have been liaising with them, adding that they are doing legitimate businesses with credible business partners including the first son of a former governor of Kogi State.

    Aside from six identified victims including the late Inspector Abdul Alfa who was axed from behind and his police rifle snatched, most of the human organs sale syndicate’s victims cannot be properly identified, even after helpful confession from the criminal suspects.

    Names of the suspects who are indigenes of Ankpa local government in Kogi state as given by the police include: Honourable Abdulahi Ibrahim Ali, alias Halims (35);his driver, Alhaji Abdullahi Zakari (35); a businessman, Alhaji Shaibu Adamu alias Aye-Marina (43); Akwu Audu (21); Sale Adama (45); Musa Abdulahi (32);Yakubu Yahaya (30); Adama Shagari (30); Baba Isah (23); Isaac Alfa (19); Idoko Benjamin (20);and Yakubu Hamidu (39) alleged to be the gang leader while also working as  vigilance group commander in Ankpa Local Government.

    Four other suspects who hail from neighbouring Ofu local are Ubile Attah (21); Julius Alhassan (30); Shehu Haliru alias Fedeco (25); and Abdullahi Tijani (27).

    Exhibits allegedly recovered from them are one pump action gun, two locally fabricated single barrel guns and three short axes.

    According to the police spokesman, the rampant cases of missing persons,  killing of innocent people and the removal of their private parts for ritual purposes in Ankpa town and environs made the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris to direct the IGP Strike Force attached to Operation Absolute Sanity to investigate all such cases, arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

    “In the course of investigation , it was discovered that this gang – from information and intelligence gathered from public spirited individuals and other residents- were responsible for kidnapping, gruesome murder, and ritual killings of innocent people in Kogi State, travellers passing through Kogi State and strangers coming into towns in the area were mostly victims.

    ”Yakubu Hamidu (39 years old Gang Leader and  a Vigilante Commander of Ankpa), and  his vigilante guards are the hit-men responsible for the killings of several victims and removing their organs, mostly male and female organs including other body parts such as the head, kidney, and other vital body organs and selling them to personalities within and outside the state for rituals.

    “During interrogations, the Gang Leader, Yakubu Hamidu and his members now in Police custody confessed to the crime and admitted that they were sponsored and working for Abdulahi Ibrahim Ali alias Halims and Alhaji Shaibu Adamu alias Aye- Marina whom they handed over the body parts to, after killing their victims and severing their body organs and collecting huge sums of money ; Aye-Marina’s driver known as Zakaru receives the body parts from Yakubu Hamidu.

    ” Abdulahi Ibrahim Ali a.k.a Halims who has volunteered statement to the investigators is now in Police custody and is suspected to have used the proceeds of crime to build and own so many properties including big hotels and several filling stations in Kogi State while Alhaji  Shaibu Adamu a.k.a Aye Marina, without any known profession or any known means of livelihood was suspected also to have built ,and owns mansions and four filling stations in Ankpa, Kogi State and another four at Onyangede in Benue State with the proceeds of the crime.

    “Yakubu Hamidu, Julius Alhasan, Shehu Haliru, Ubile Attah and Akwu Audu have confessed to the gruesome killing of Inspector Abdul Alfa attached to Ejule Police outpost in Ofu Local Government on 28 th  November, 2017 and carted away the Police rifle in his possession.

    “All the suspects have made voluntary statements to the Police Investigation Team and have confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the recent kidnapping, gruesome murder and ritual killing attacks on innocent residents and the killing of a Police Inspector, Inspr. Abdul Alfa, attached to Ejule Police Outpost, in Kogi State.

    “Investigation is being concluded and efforts being intensified to arrest other suspects who include prominent personalities linked to the crime but still at large; they will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation .

     

  • NDLEA arraigns 2 over possession of 76kg psychotropic substance

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) yesterday, arraigned Taibat Bello (female) and Idris Alhassan at the  Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice John Tsoho for  possession of 76 kilogrammes of ephedrine.

    Both defendants pleaded not guilty to possessing the substance which is said to be psychotropic.

    The two-count amended charge read in part: “that you, Taibat Bello, female, on or about May 9, at Ekeson Motors, Utako, within the jurisdiction of this court, had in your possession 51kg of Ephedrine a psychotropic substance.

    “(You) thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20(1) (e) and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) of the NDLEA Act.

    “That you, Bello, Idris Alhassan, and one man known as Uncle B,  now at large, on or about May 9, at Madalla within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired to conceal 25kg of Ephedrine.

    “This was by moving same from a restaurant owned by you, Bello in Madalla to a tailoring shop to prevent detection and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14 of NDLEA Act.”

    Following the “not guilty” plea entered by the defendants, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Mike Kassa asked the court for a date to assemble witnesses and commence trial.

    Counsel to one of the defendants, Mr D.A. Ariyoosu, prayed the court to allow the defendants continue to enjoy the bail they were granted by Justice B.O. Quadri when they were arraigned before him during vacation.

    Justice Tsoho, in a short ruling granted the request of the defence and adjourned the matter until Jan. 14, 2019.

  • Group seeks ends to death penalty

    A Lagos-based human rights group, Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP), yesterday urged the federal and state governments  to put an end to death penalty in the country.

    In statement signed by its Senior Legal Officer, Pamela Okoroigwe, to commemorate the 16th World Day against the Use of the Death Penalty with the theme “Living conditions on death row”, LEDAP asked government at all levels to put an end to the use of the death penalty.

    It said that in the meantime,government  should  “urgently introduce moratorium on sentencing and execution, and improve the conditions of detentions of death row inmates.”

    It recalled how it has “consistently campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty by providing direct free legal assistance to death row inmates, supporting legislative enactment on moratorium, conducting public poll survey on the use of death penalty and the inhumane living conditions of death row inmates.

    The statement added: ‘’Our findings revealed that death row prisoners are subjected to two distinct punishments: the death sentence itself and the prolonged years of living in inhumane conditions that include poor health care, overcrowding, poor feeding and poor medical attention. “Prisoners on death-row live in a state of constant uncertainty over their possible date of execution. For some death-row prisoners, the anxiety results in a sharp deterioration in their mental and emotional well- being. This manifested in the case of Olatunji Olaide, who was exonerated by the Court of Appeal after spending 24 years on death row. Olatunji died shortly after his release from prison due to his terrible ill health and untreated eye condition from prolonged detention.

    ‘’LEDAP is particularly worried that the appalling prison conditions have serious damaging effects on the mental and physical health of the inmates. These conditions further infringe on their rights, particularly right to human dignity and freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. LEDAP believes that the human rights of death row inmates should be protected at all times. The dignity of the human person must be preserved, both within and outside the prison walls.’’

  • Anambra flood: IDPs camps record 17 births in 3weeks

    No fewer than 17 child births were recorded at various  Holding Centres provided by the Anambra State Government for people displaced by floodwaters over the last three weeks.

    Health Commissioner  Joe Akabuike, announced this while receiving a team of medical doctors from Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State Chapter, who were on medical outreach at Aguleri and Atani Holding Centres.

    He said of two of the six women were delivered of their babies through Caesarean Section (CS) at the Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC), Atani.

    Akabuike added that government had installed adequate measures to care for pregnant women and others at various centres.

    Also speaking, the State Hospital Administrator, Dr Richmond Achugbu, during a confirmatory visit to the centres and medical facility, said 11 nursing mothers were quartered at Central School Odekpe holding centre.

    He added that they all had Spontaneous Vatex Delivery (SVD), noting, that they and their babies were doing fine.

    According to Achugbu, pregnant women at the holding centres with health challenges are receiving Medicare at Comprehensive Health Centre, Atani.

    He added that a team of medical personnel had been assigned to offer assistance in different areas of needs at the centres.

     

  • Pipeline explosion kills 19

    Charred bodies littered Umuaduru  and Umuimo both in  Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State yesterday after an abandoned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) pipeline exploded unexpectedly,burning people along its path.

    The State commander  of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),Mr.Benito Eze, confirmed 19 people dead in the incident.

    Eze said 16 persons, including one woman, died in the explosion that occurred around 2.47 a.m at Umuaduru.

    He also said that three others died in a separate fire incident  that occurred at about 3 a.m in a private residence at Umuimo.

    He described the incident as unfortunate.

    He said that the Umuaduru incident happened when some youths in the area were scooping petroleum products from vandalised pipelines.

    He said: “I learnt that they were scooping petroleum products when a spark occurred, leading to an explosion that left 16 natives dead.”

    Eze further said that the fire at Umuimo happened when a woman, identified as a food vendor, got up at about 3 a.m. to start cooking for the day’s business.

    “I gathered that the family stored petrol in the house and that it caught fire when the woman wanted to set up fire for cooking.

    “The fire razed the whole house but the woman and her husband did not die but managed to escape with burns,” he said.

    The civil defence boss said that the couple had been taken to a hospital for medical attention.

    It was also gathered that  that three military personnel were among the deceased.

    Eze, however, declined confirmation, saying that “investigations are still ongoing to ascertain whether they were among or not.”

    He said that the command had deployed its personnel to cordon off the scene to forestall more casualties.

    The fire was later put out by men of the state fire service.

    Chief Thomas Onyekwere, the Traditional Prime Minister of Umueze autonomous community, said that the community was mourning their loved ones who died in the fire.

    Eye witnesses said   some members of the community who were able to identify their relations  evacuated their bodies  before the arrival of security agencies at the scene.

    At Umuimo, a source told our reporter that over six persons died in the community.

    Some of the injured victims were taken to an undisclosed hospital where they are currently receiving medical attention.

    Some of the injured persons reportedly died later.

    A pipeline guard who gave his name as Chuks Benson Uzoije said of the incident:”Yesterday, when we were on duty at about  8pm, we got information that there was leakage on the line.

    “All the surveillance personnel gathered and started calling the people that are in-charge from Port Harcourt to Kaduna.

    “They told us that government is not doing anything with the old line; that the attention of government is on the new line.

    “Instead of pumping through the line which they maintain, they now pumped through the abandoned line and there was leakage everywhere.

    The pipeline eventually caught fire.It didn’t spare anything around including my house. Nothing was brought out of the house. The only thing that came out of the house is this cloth, rain boot and apron that I wore to work .Nothing else was saved.

    “Property worth millions of naira were consumed in the inferno. My tenant and his family sustained various degrees of burnt.

    “We tried all we could to ensure that no one took the advantage to go in and scoop fuel, but how we ended up having this damage is what I can’t explain. The Fire Service personnel came, but by the time they arrived, the deed had already been done.”

    A resident of the area  who does not want his name in print called for an inquiry into the incident.

    He said:  “information came yesterday at about 3pm that there would  be pumping of fuel through   the old pipeline.

    “The people were fully informed that there would  be fuel passage through the pipe. That was why a lot of people who got the information went into the market to purchase empty jerry cans and by midnight they set out to various points where they had already marked to scoop fuel from.

    “If you look round, you will see that they all came with plastic materials and wheelbarrows which they would  use to take the fuel back to their various houses. They are aware of the dangers of using iron materials around the pipeline, that was why they prepared ahead of time to come with torch and other materials.

    “I was not there, but someone who was lucky to have escaped from the inferno told people that the explosion was due to the heat from the machines that the soldiers came with.”

     

  • Police arrest ATM fraudster, recover 12 stolen ATM cards

    The Enugu State Police Command yesterday announced its arrest of an alleged Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraudster said to be operating at banks in Enugu.

    Found in possession of Obinna Okafor, according to the police ,were  12 ATM cards owned by different  individuals.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspect was caught red-handed on Wednesday by police operatives of the New Haven Division.

    “The suspect was nabbed by police operatives on duty at the ATM point of the Ebeano branch of an old generation bank, following an alarm raised by a female victim,” Amaraizu said.

    “The victim alleged a fraudulent and smart exchange of her ATM card with a fake one by the suspect.

    “After securing the pin number of the card, he attempted to escape, but the victim raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of police operatives on duty.

    “The officers moved in swiftly and arrested the suspect,’’ he said.

    According to him, the suspect is now helping police operatives in their investigations.

    The police spokesman advised the public to be watchful and avoid situations whereby they would be tricked into revealing their ATM pin numbers, especially to strangers.