The Nation Newspaper

Tag: arrest

  • Benue commission threatens to arrest defaulters

    The Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Enquiry sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has threatened to arrest any individual who fails to respond to its summon for appearance.

    It issued the threat during its sitting at the weekend.

    More revelations have emerged from the public hearings of the probe commission.

    The Chairman, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Prof. Philip Ahire, said over N700million was spent on the 2012 local government elections.

    He admitted that the schedule for last year’s council poll was not approved as expected, but N20 million was later released in January for the postponed elections.

    The commission directed the BSIEC chairman to return on October 15 to tender the financial transactions in the conduct of past elections and provide receipts and payment vouchers.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Tertsea Ikyaabo, said the N97.7million generated from the sale of shops at the Makurdi International Market was lodged in a Diamond Bank Makurdi account in the name of Benue Integrated Market Development Company Ltd (BEMICO), managed by Mr. Sam Tor.

    He said N83million was withdrawn two days to the expiration of the administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam, leaving a balance of N14 million, stressing that no worker of the ministry was a signatory to the BEMICO account.

    According to him, on May 28, a company, Blessed Day International, withdrew N14 million, while Msughter Demekpe withdrew N20 million, and on May 29, Real World Integrated withdrew N29million and Robbing Minds – Solomon withdrew N19.8million, leaving a balance of only N14 million.

    Mr. Ikyaabo said the BEMICO account managed by Tor had two directors, who were signatory to its accounts, namely – Mr. Alex Adum, a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice and Mr. Austin Ode.

    He tendered other relevant documents as requested by the commission, alleging that the Suswam administration sold Benue shares in Benue Breweries Ltd, BBL and Agro Millers Makurdi.

    The Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Mrs. Bridget Sheidu, tendered the relevant documents requested by the commission, including expenditure and retirement of N72million, which a worker of BIPC, Mr. Terese Apenkasev, withdrew for the furnishing of BIPC Guest House and Events Centre in North Bank, Makurdi. The documents were duly admitted in evidence.

    The BIPC MD also tendered the voucher and receipt of N80million, which the management of the company gave one of its workers, Mr. John Tyokegh; a document Mrs. Sheidu said was used in buying a generator for the state Guest House in Kaduna.

  • Police arrest 69 suspected rustlers

    The Kano State Police Command said yesterday that it had arrested 69 cattle rustlers and other robbers in the last one month.

    Police Commissioner Muhammad Katsina, who spoke when he visited Gidan-Kare village in Sumaila Local Government, said residents deserted the village following attacks by bandits.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police commissioner was in the village to assess the security situation and map out strategies to rid the area of the menace.

    Katsina said of the number arrested, 46 suspects were among the most wanted bandits, while the remaining 23 suspects were arrested for cattle rustling.

    According to him, the police also recovered 20 goats and sheep, 31 rifles and pistols, 240 cartridges of ammunition and 68 cattle of which 30 had been returned to their owners.

    Katsina said the police  apprehended a notorious leader of a robbery gang popularly called Datti Rodi at Gani village.

    “The leader has about 200 members who have been terrorising the community,” he said.

    Katsina said the suspects were cooperating with the police in their investigations and that they would soon be arraigned.

    The police chief attributed the successes within one month to the resilience of his men and the onslaught on the hoodlums.

    He advised those who fled their villages following the activities of bandits to return, as the command had put in place measures to ensure safety.

    Katsina said the command would soon deploy more policemen in the villages to enhance security.

  • Police set to arrest Saraki

    Police set to arrest Saraki

    …await tribunal’s order

    •Judge rejects lawyer’s assurance to produce Senate President later
    •Adjourns to Monday for his arraignment

    The police yesterday declared that they were awaiting orders to effect the arrest of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

    The Senate President was billed to be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja yesterday, but he failed to turn up, relying on an injunction he purportedly secured from a federal high court.

    The development angered the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal, which promptly ordered that the police or other relevant security agencies should produce the Senate President before it on Monday.

    The Senate President is being accused for false and improper declaration of the assets he allegedly acquired during his tenure as governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

    Reacting to The Nation’s enquiry yesterday, Force Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, said the police would arrest Saraki as soon as they got the necessary directive from the tribunal.

    “We are going to promptly arrest the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and produce him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday.

    “Since it is a bench warrant issued by a competent court, the order will be carried out without delay. But we don’t want to pre-empt anything,” Kolawole said.

    The tribunal gave the orders while ruling on arguments by prosecution lawyer, Muslim Hassan (of the Federal Ministry of Justice) and defence lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN).

    The tribunal refused an assurance by one of Saraki’s lawyers, Joseph Daudu (SAN) that he will produce Saraki before the tribunal on the next adjourned date, insisting that it was inappropriate for the tribunal to reverse itself, having ordered Saraki’s arrest.

    Hassan had, at the commencement of proceedings yesterday, noted that Saraki was absent in court despite being served with summons in relation to the 13-count charge filed against him for allegedly violating the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCB/T) Act.

    Hassan consequently urged the tribunal to direct the issuance of a bench warrant to allow the production of Saraki before the tribunal. In the alternative, he urged the tribunal to stand the case down for some time to allow Saraki’s lawyer prevail on him to appear.

    Magaji countered Hassan’s position and urged the court to discountenance his (Hassan’s) application on the ground that he lacked the locus standi to file the charge and that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

    Citing Section 24(2) of the CCB/T Act, Magaji argued that it was only the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) or any official of his office he authorised that could legitimately initiate such criminal proceedings.

    He contended that since there was no AGF yet, no official of the office of the AGF could legitimately initiate proceedings against anyone.

    Magaji also argued that his client’s presence was unnecessary at this stage because he was currently challenging the competence of the charge and the tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

    He equally drew the tribunal’s attention to the case his client filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja and the order it made asking the respondents, including the CCT, to show why they should not be restrained from proceeding with the case.

    Responding, Hassan argued that the powers granted the IGP under Section 174 of the Constitution was not absolute. He cited several decided cases by the Supreme Court to support his position that without a substantive AGF, officials of the office and the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF) could legitimately initiate proceedings against any accused person.

    He also cited the provisions of Sections 2 and 4 of the Law Officers Act, Cap L8 Laws of the Federation to support his argument that in the absence of the AGF, the SGF could act on his behalf.

    On the implication of the order made by the Federal High Court, Hassan argued that since the tribunal was not an inferior one but a tribunal of record created by the Constitution with coordinate jurisdiction with the High Court, it cannot be given directive by any High Court.

    “The Federal High Court has no supervisory justification over this tribunal. Appeal from this tribunal goes to the Court of Appeal. This tribunal and the Federal High Court are courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” Hassan said.

    He argued that even where a court has granted a restraining order, the tribunal is not obligated to stay proceedings.

    He urged the tribunal to compel Saraki’s attendance to answer to the charge pending against him.

    Daudu, who later took over from Magaji, appealed to the tribunal to be cautious about the way it handles the case in view of its political implication.

    Ruling later, the tribunal upheld Hassan’s arguments, holding that the absence of a substantive AGF did not render the charge incompetent.

    The tribunal also held that the Federal High Court, which has coordinate jurisdiction with it, cannot direct the way its proceedings are conducted.

    The tribunal noted that Saraki, being a high ranking public officer, ought to conduct himself in civilised manner by respecting the court.

    Justice Umar said: “With regard to the issue of the non-appearance of the respondent, it should be noted that the charge in this proceedings was filed on the 14th of September 2015 and was served and received by the Special Adviser on Legal matters to the Senate President, who signed the processes on the 16th of September 2015.

    “It is also noted that the respondent, in response to the summons of this tribunal, filed a memorandum of conditional appearance dated and filed on the 17th of September 2015. With its response, the respondent/defendant cannot deny knowledge of these proceedings.

    “On the issue of the court order concerning the sitting of this tribunal, it is our opinion that this tribunal is established as a constitutional body under Section 1(1) of the First Schedule, Part 1 of the Constitution.

    “The tribunal is vested with specific powers with regard to the enforcement of probity and accountability in public service.”

    He noted that the tribunal ranks equal with the Federal High Court and that appeal lies from it to the Court of Appeal.

    “Courts of equal jurisdiction are not bound by the decisions of each other. Therefore, a superior court of record cannot issue an order prohibiting or restraining the proceedings of another court of record.

    The court cannot grant injunction restraining proceedings of a court of equal jurisdiction

    “This tribunal has called on the defendant to appear before it and stand trial. The defendant cannot claim ignorance of these proceedings, having been duly notified.

    “The defendant, as a top ranking public officer of this country, is expected to respect the constitutional provisions, which he has sworn to defend, and at the same time, knowing the obvious implication of breaking the law in this country.

    “In view of this, this tribunal shall continue with these proceedings, and accordingly, in view of the non-appearance of the defendant, this tribunal orders that Inspector General of Police or the relevant security agencies to produce the defendant before this tribunal.

    “In view of this order, the tribunal orders that bench warrant be issued against the defendant,” Justice Umar said.

    The tribunal consequently adjourned to Monday (September 21) for Saraki’s arraignment.

  • ICPC arrests lawyer for defrauding FG

    ICPC arrests lawyer for defrauding FG

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it arrested a lawyer, Mr Adeola Adeyanju, for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N928 million.

    The commission made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos in its recent in-house news bulletin.

    The bulletin said that the suspect allegedly forged the payment mandate of the Ministry of Environment.

    The commission, according to the bulletin, alleged that the suspect moved the said amount from First City Monument Bank where the money had been domiciled with his Zenith Bank’s personal account.

    “On the same day the money hit his account, he again moved it to a Bureau de Change’s account where the money was converted and paid to him in dollars,’’ it said.

    It said the suspect’s counsel, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), had earlier sought for the enforcement of his client’s fundamental human rights from an Abuja High Court with an application for bail award of N100 million as damages.

    Ikpeazu, according to the anti-graft bulletin, claimed that the detention of his client was a violation of his human rights, stressing that the suspect was suffering from a strangulated hernia.

    The bulletin said the commission’s counsel, Mr Osuobeni Akpors, who opposed the bail application, noted that the suspect had allegedly been a serial offender and that if granted bail, might abscond.

    Akpors further stated that the suspect had earlier been allegedly convicted in another High Court in a suit number FCT/CR/14/04, stressing that he had shown no sign of repentance.

    “Based on the facts before the trial judge, the suspect was denied bail,’’ the commission added.

  • Police arrest nine robbery suspects in FCT

    Police arrest nine robbery suspects in FCT

    The Police Command in FCT has arrested nine `one chance’ robbery suspects, who disguised as cab operators to rob unsuspecting passengers of their valuables in the FCT and its environs.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, in Abuja on Friday.

    The statement stated that the arrest was as a result of the renewed effort of the command to rid the territory of hoodlums.

    It stated that it arrested some handbag snatchers who were currently in the custody of the police undergoing investigation.

    The suspects, it stated, had made confessional statements and the Commissioner of Police in FCT, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, had ordered their arraignment in court as soon as investigations were concluded.

    It also stated that the command had busted a notorious armed robbery syndicate and recovered arms and ammunition from them.

    [ad id=”403656″]“The gallant operatives of the command have successfully busted a notorious armed robbery syndicate that was operating at Zenco Garden Estate Lugbe.

    “This feat was achieved during a gun duel between the syndicate and police personnel while responding to a distress call that the gang was carrying out a major robbery operation at the Estate,’’ it said.

    The statement added that Inalegwu commended the police personnel for the gallantry and resilience, and enjoined other personnel of the command to follow suit.

    It stated that the police recovered one pump action gun with four live cartridges, one giant iron bar, assorted mobile handsets and one giant iron cutter, among others.

    The statement further said that the police also recovered 26 bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp after a joint raid by the Joint Task Force at `Bakasi’, Apo round about.

    It stated that the suspect arrested and substance recovered during the raid would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, FCT Command, for further investigation and prosecution.

  • Court awards N12m against EFCC for illegal arrest of firm’s manager

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday awarded N12 million against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the illegal arrest and detention of the Administrative Manager of  Rana Prestige Nigeria Industries Limited, Mr Adewale Adeniyi.

    Adeniyi had sought N30 million as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the violation of his rights, as well as N10 million as cost of the suit.

    His arrest followed a petition to EFCC by Mrs Rachadatou Abdou, who co-owns the company.

    Ruling on his fundamental rights enforcement application yesterday, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the commission violated the applicant’s rights.

    “There is no evidence that there was a preliminary investigation into allegations against him before the arrest,” the judge said.

    Besides, he said Adeniyi was arrested without a warrant, which makes it illegal.

    “No order of court authorising the arrest was exhibited before the court. The respondents acted irrationally without following due process,” the judge held.

    Justice Yusuna said before arresting and detaining anyone, there must be preliminary investigation into the allegations against them.

    He said the applicant was not charged to court prior to his detention.

    Justice Yunusa said security agencies must exercise restraint at all times and must not be “intoxicated” by the enormous powers they possess.

    He held that the applicant deserved to be paid damages because of the trauma he was subjected to in detention.

    The judge awarded N10 million against EFCC, which must also pay N2 million, and N5 million against Mrs Abdou.

    During the hearing, Mrs Abdou’s lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said Adeniyi’s claim that Mrs Abdou instigated his arrest was not backed by any evidence.

    “The applicant has not attached any documents in support of his application,” he said.

    Besides, he said his client’s petition to EFCC alleging massive fraud, forgery and diversion of funds did not name Adeniyi in it.

    EFCC’s counsel Iyabo Daramola said the commission was only carrying out its constitutional duties.

    “The action of the first respondent was statutorily conducted and we urge the court to so hold,” she said.

    In her counter-affidavit, Mrs Abdou said she and the company’s Director Mr Gnanhoue Nazaire, jointly established Rana Prestige and were the only directors.

    She said she was fraudulently cut off as a director as money was withdrawn from the company’s accounts without her consent although she was a signatory to them.

    “It was in the cause of this fraudulent act perpetrated against me that I wrote a petition against Mr Nazaire to the EFCC through my lawyer,” she said.

    According to her, she allowed the commission to carry out its investigation and never intervened in any way nor instigated EFCC to perform its duties.

    Justice Yunusa will, on August 20 and 24, rule on pending fundamental rights’ applications by Rana Prestige, Hair Prestige Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, Prestige Hair Fashion Nigeria Limited, Nazaire (trading under Rana Seasoning Ventures) and its General Manager Modest Senou against the EFCC, Mrs Alice Bulus and Mrs Abdou.

    Hair Prestige, Prestige Hair Fashion, Nazaire and Senou sought N180 million as damages for the violation of their rights, while Rana Prestige and Nazaire asked for N100 million damages and N10 million as cost.

    Among others, they prayed for an order that the company should be opened and the embargo on the company’s accounts lifted.

     

  • Police arrest ‘robbery kingpin’

    An alleged armed robbery kingpin, Bolaji Oyekanmi has been arrested by officers of the Lagos State Police Command.

    Foreign currencies were recovered from his hideout.

    Police detectives attached to Ilupeju Police Station led by Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), swooped on the kingpin whose gang specialises in attacking bullion vans.

    It was learnt that the kingpin was nabbed after his gang successfully robbed a bullion van conveying cash.

    According to a police source, $118,000 and £50,000 totalling  N177, 246, 000 were allegedly recovered from a native doctor’s residence at Mushin, which served as the gang’s hideout.

    The foreign currencies which were said to have belonged to the Bankers Warehouse had been returned to the owners.

    Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said the suspect is under interrogation.

  • Police arrest kidnappers of Kogi judge

    Police arrest kidnappers of Kogi judge

    The Kogi State Police Command Thursday said that it has killed one Aliyu Isa, a.K.a Osama, the leader of a notorious criminal gang that kidnapped a state High Judge, Justice Samuel Obayomi recently and arrested other members of the gang.

    He said the late Osama was one of those that escaped from the Koto-Karfe Prison, during a jail break last year.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi made this known while parading 13 suspected criminals at the Command Headquarters in Lokoja.

    He explained that Osama, who died during exchange of fire with the police, was out on a vengeance mission and recruited other gang members to carry out the elimination of his targets.

    He said some of Osama’s target included a petrol marketer, he worked with and the judge.

    He said that the deceased suspect and his gang members attacked the independent petrol marketer and his workers at a filling station, killed the manager and another staff, and died in the ensuing cross-fire between the police and members of the gang.

    The CP said that the Barretta pistol found on him belonged to the late orderly (Cpl. Usman Isah) of the Judge who was kidnapped.

    The police boss added that late Osama was one of those that escaped from jail, where he was serving 10 and 15 years respectively.

    He said, “The deceased manager of the filing station and the corporal, before he was assigned to the Judge were key witness and Investigation Police Officer respectively in the case that led to imprisonment of the late suspect”.

    He added that the Judge who was kidnapped on May 25 and released June 27, presided over the suspect’s case.

    Also paraded was one Bolaji Agbaje Williams, who claimed he was employed as security guard at the cave where the High Court Judge was kept for over three weeks.

    Williams who confessed that he joined the gang recently and was detailed to watch over the victim, claimed he hails from Ijebu Ode in Ogun State.

    Also paraded was a gang comprising of Fulani herdsmen who specialized in kidnapping of fellow herdsmen.

    The suspects, Idris Mohammed Jafaru, Shehu Haruna and Yunusa Ahmadu confessed to haven made over N1.5 million from criminal activities.

    The CP said that all the suspects would be charged to court immediately.

  • Police arrest 22 in Bariga raid

    The police arrested 22 persons and recovered some dangerous weapons from them during a raid of a dark spot in Somolu, Bariga, Lagos.

    The raid followed complaints by residents that the Bollar area of Oke-Alo in Gbagada “is a notorious spot for robbery, rape and bandits hide-out”

    Six of the suspects have been arraigned before a Yaba Magistrates court in Lagos. The police alleged in charge A/27/2015 that Solomon David Okon and five others conspired with others at large to steal N65, 000 from a woman and also assaulted her.

    The defendants were said to have unlawfully assembled to carry out criminal activities, offences punishable with terms of imprisonment under contrary to Sections 409 of Lagos State Criminal Law.

    The traditional ruler of Gbagada, Oba Gbolahan Timson and residents commended the police for flushing out the suspected criminals and for bringing sanity and security back to the area.

    He confirmed that the bollar dumping site had been taken over by “Armed Robbers, cultists and rapists’’ and named some of the alleged criminals are souk, Babsilgonia, Hammed of Idi-aba and among others.

    He called on police to intensity their raid on the dump site and other notorious dark spots in the area.

  • Fayose instigated my arrest, says Iyaloja

    Fayose instigated my arrest, says Iyaloja

    The Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti, Chief Waye Oso was yesterday detained at the police headquarters in controversial circumstances.

    The market leader who spoke on telephone from police detention at about 8.30pm claimed that she was detained on the orders of Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Mrs. Oso said she was told to produce over N93 million purportedly raked in from the shops allocated to market women by the Kayode Fayemi administration.

    According to her, she did not collect any money from the Fayemi administration on the land and the shops allocated. She wondered where the Fayose government ‘manufactured’ the N93 million figure from.

    The Iyaloja said she was picked up at her residence in Ekute, Ado Ekiti by about 40 policemen who laid a siege to her house.

    Mrs. Oso said she knows nothing about the N93 million claims by the government and she never embezzled any money.

    She recalled that Fayose arrested and detained her twice during his first term in office and the bus donated to the market women was forcibly taken away from her on the streets.

    She said: “It was Fayemi that approached Oodua Investment to give us the land at Textile area to open up the place as an alternative market when he (Fayemi) said he wanted to demolish the main market but the market women advised him against such and he agreed.

    “Fayemi facilitated the arrangement with Oodua Group and promised to give the documents to me (Iyaloja) and work was ongoing before the governorship election which he lost.

    “Oodua agreed and we pay N3,000 per shop yearly but Fayose’s government came and asked us to be  paying N10,000 per square metre.

    “After fire gutted the main market (Oja Oba), Fayose promised to demolish it and build a new one and order that we move to the Awedele (Textile) market. We contributed money and was working on the place when government agents ordered us to stop work and obtain form.

    “We were shocked as to what forms to obtain again on a land Fayemi gave to us free of charge.

    “I want you to remember that he (Fayose) arrested and detained me two times during his last administration and the bus donated to our association by Governor Adebayo was taken away on the streets.

    “It is very shocking that I am being humiliated like this because I have never heard of any part of Yoruba land where an Iyaloja is given this unfair treatment and I have contacted my lawyer, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi on the development”.

    But Governor Fayose, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi denied the allegation. He said: “The issue had nothing to do with the governor; it was the police that arrested her for alleged fraud. The Commissioner of Police should be called to respond to her allegation.

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi could not be reached for comments as he did not pick his calls.