The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CRIME

  • How 19-yr-old robbed, stabbed Assemblies of God Pastor

    The FCT Police Command has arrested one Isaac Agbo, 19-year old for allegedly robbing and stabbing a pastor of Assemblies of God church.

    The suspect who was in company of his friend allegedly went to the residence of the Pastor John Jonathan in Karmajiji area of Abuja and robbed him.

    The suspect who met resistance when they got to the pastor’s house stabbed the pastor with a knife and fled his house.

    According to Police, the pastor was stabbed at his back and is currently recovering at an undisclosed hospital.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, CP Bala Ciroma said recent measures put in place by the Command has led to smashing of notorious criminal syndicates, arrest of hardened criminals, recovery of dangerous weapons and other exhibits.

    The CP who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Salisu Gyadi said 84 other suspects were arrested for various crimes.

    The Command also recovered 25 vehicles of different make from a gang of nine, various phones, locally fabricated rifle, knives, cutlasses, daggers, hammers, axe and other dangerous weapons.

    23 packs of solution used as intoxicant, 43 bottles of different cough syrups containing codeine, hundreds of Exol tablet, hundreds of Dizapam tablets were also recovered.

    Speaking on how Agbo was arrested, the CP said: “On the 8th February 2019, at about 2030 hours, a report was received of a robbery in progress at the residence of one Pastor John in Karmajiji, Abuja. Police operatives moved to the scene and met the pastor in a pool of his blood while a locally made pistol and dagger was left behind by the robbers while they were escaping.

    “In the course of trailing the robbers, One Isaac Agbo aged 19 of Games Village, Abuja was arrested and he confessed to the crime. In his confession, he said that when they got to the house of the Pastor, they were able to enter but met resistance. In the process, they stabbed him at his back and ran when alarm was raised.”

    The CP said Agbo’s accomplice, one Ibrahim is currently at large but effort is being intensified to arrest him.

    The Command also arrested a gang of four suspected armed robbers who specialise in snatching cars and receiving stolen cars.

    The suspects; Ibrahim Abubakar, Usman Bala, Abubakar Sani, and Murtala Mohammed specialize in stealing and snatching cars from shopping malls.

    On how they were arrested, the CP said: “They had an accident around Federal Secretariat in Abuja after snatching a car and tried to escape Police who were on hot pursuit. Upon the arrest of the suspects, they confessed having previously stolen a Honda Accord EOD at shopping mall in central area, a Mercedes Benz at Jinifa Plaza also at Central Area, a Mercedes Benz ML at Next Cash and Carry and three Toyota Camry pencil light models.

    Read Also: NAF strikes bandits in Zamfara, destroys 8 camps, kills scores

    “According to the suspects, they use a knife or gun to dispossess their victims of their cars and search their victims collecting all valuables before leaving. The suspects also disclosed their receivers as Murtala Mohammed and one Danjuma who is at large. The receivers sell the cars somewhere in Kebbi State and usually forge new papers for the vehicles.”

    The Police said efforts are being intensified to arrest Danjuma and recover all the stolen vehicles.

    Ciroma also noted that it has keyed into the Operation Puff Adder recently launched by the Inspector-Gnerel of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, adding that extra personnel have been deployed to Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Kuje areas with to check the activities of criminals within the FCT.

  • Hairdresser stabs friend with broken bottle over cassava flakes

    For allegedly stabbing her friend for not allowing her to taste cassava flakes, a 35-year-old hairdresser, Anita Samuel, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on a charge of assault.

    The defendant, a resident of No. 22 Osho St., Ikorodu, Lagos, was arraigned on a count charge but she pleaded not guilty.

    According to the prosecutor, ASP Akeem Raji, the defendant stabbed one Miss Ediomo Linus with a broken bottle on the forehead following a disagreement over Linus’s refusal to allow her to taste cassava flakes.

    Raji told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 12 at noon at No.15 Ogunsefunmi St., Ikeja.

    He said that the defendant told the complainant to let her have a taste of cassava flakes she was eating but she refused.

    “The following day, the complainant greeted the defendant but she did not return the gesture.

    “This led to an argument which made the defendant to lock the door and hit her with a broken bottle on the head,” he said.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Layinka, granted the defendant N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    Layinka ruled that the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that assault contravenes Section 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised) and attracts three years’ imprisonment.

    The case has been adjourned until April 25 for substantive hearing.

  • Insecurity: Police deepen strategy, launch new operation against bandits – IGP

    Mr Muhammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police, has said that the police had taken steps to deepen its strategy of combating crime and criminals across the country.

    He reiterated that the force would not relent in its efforts to redirect attention to renewed approach against criminal attacks by bandits on innocent Nigerians.

    Adamu said, the force will match step by step against every criminal act” we will close every attempt by swiftly taming criminals. Wherever they move to, they will find us tactically and combatant difficult to perpetrate their acts”, he vowed.

    Adamu who on Tuesday night addressed officers and men of the Sokoto command of the force, gave his words of assurance with passion and commitment to ensuring the use of strategic intelligence machinery to combat insecurity especially in parts of northwest also said the police was actively and battle ready to deplete crime rate in the country.

    ” We are strengthening our logistics capacity with adequate support for our personnel”, he said.

    He urged police operatives to be awake to their role in tackling security problems to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens.

    To this end, the IGP disclosed that the force had demonstrated its commitment through the launch of its newly introduced “Operation Puff Addar”, adding ” we have commenced action in Abuja, Katsina and Zamfara. Our next place of launch is Sokoto”, he disclosed.

    According to Adamu who was in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state earlier in the day before visiting Sokoto,” it is duty bound on all police to brace up to the task of doing what is best, taught and needed at curbing crime. Note that the public is watching kinly”, he stressed.

    Read Also: IGP visits Zamfara, charges Policemen to be offensive

    He noted that there were enormous challenges which informed his decision to tour formations and commands to get first-hand information in order to profer solutions in earnest.

    The IGP also assured of welfare of the police, explaining that the problems of underpayments and related challenges especially those associated with TSA, IPIS among others would be tackled speedily.

    ” Efforts are being made as we are working assiduously in synergy with the office of the Accountant General and CBN to ensure every personnel is captured as appropriate”, he stressed.

  • UPDATED: 14 doctors on trial for alleged misconducts

    The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has arraigned fourteen medical doctors for various allegations of misconduct.

    Fourteen medical doctors are facing trials at the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal. The Tribunal has equal jurisdictions with the regular High Court.

    The doctors are facing charges of alleged professional misconduct.

    It is the first session of the tribunal.

    The MDCN is the regulatory body of all medical and alternative medicine practitioners in the country, with mandate to discipline any erring practitioners whose actions or in-actions fall short of the medical professional ethics.

    Read Also: Health workers to Buhari: Don’t appoint only doctors as Ministers of Health

    The doctors took turn to take their pleads in the first session of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal under the new Board of the MDCN.

    Hearing on the various misconducts will commence fully Tuesday.

    There are nine doctors standing trial from the Asaba Medical Centre, Delta state. The doctors are: Sunday Abiodun Ogafe Ojenuwah, Godwin Chukwuma Maduakor, Oyefara Babatunde, Okoye Pascal Nnamdi, Anunnobi Chijioke Ralu, Adigba Ese Onodjohwoyovwe, Ogwu Robinson Onyekachukwu, Dr. Henry, Okoye Chukwuka and Iyiola Akeem Adewale.

    They are to defend themselves on charges of grouse conduct of negligence in the management of a pregnant patient, Mrs. Rita Uche Ogbuego. They all pleaded not guilty when the case charge was read to them individually.

    The attempt by the prosecuting counsel to lump up the case as one rather than individual cases was however objected to by the counsel to Dr. Maduakor. Who noted that their charges were different and so they should be treated on individual basis.

    In the case of  Dr. Nwikwu Mezie Vitalis he was charged for leaving his clinic open for service without any trained hand to man it in his absence leading to death of a patient who came in for treatment in his absence. He pleaded not guilty when the case charge was read to him.

    Other Medical doctors standing trial are Shehu Abdullahi Muhammed and Umar Nasiru Ibrahim.

  • UPDATED: Seven killed in Ondo bank robbery

    Armed bandits on Mondays killed seven persons in Ido-Ani, Ose local government area of Ondo state during a siege on the only commercial bank at Isewa quarters in the ancient community.

    The robbery operation was said to have started around 2.00 pm and lasted for about one hour without any resistance.

    At the end of the attack, five bank officials, a Vice Principal who was a customer and a police man reportedly fell to the bullets of the hoodlums who carted away undisclosed huge amount of money.

    The robbers, it was learnt, drove a Sports Utility Vehicle to the

    bank and went straight to the banking hall after using dynamites to blew off the security doors.

    Sources said attempts were made to alert soldiers at Isua Akoko Military check point and police men from the vicinity but the robbers carried out their operation successfully before their arrival.

    Also, it was learnt that a victim allegedly shot on the stomach was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo.

    Others said to be on danger list were on admission at Ido-Ani General Hospital.

    Sources hinted that one of bandits was however unlucky as he was caught by a vigilant soldier and thrown into police custody.

    Read Also: Rainstorm again wreaks havoc in Ondo communities

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who confirmed the incident, said he could not give details of the incident as at press time.

    Balogun of Ido-Ani, Chief Olatunji Oshati(Maxima) described the incident as too shocking.

    He symphatised with the families of the deceased, urging appropriate authorities to beef up security in Ido-Ani and his environs.

    Former Supervisor in Ose local government council, Hon. Isaac Obiniran, lamented he alerted security agents immediately the hoodlums invaded the town but the response was not timely.

  • Man impersonates Adeboye, Olukoya, T.B. Joshua to defraud Nigerians

    The police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned a 27-year-old businessman, Yusuf Atanda, charged with impersonating Pastor Enoch Adeboye and two other church general overseers to defraud members of the public.

    According to the police, Atanda created fake facebook accounts of Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor D.K. Olukoya of Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministry, and Pastor T.B. Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations to dupe people.

    The defendant, who resides at Okokomaiko, Lagos, is being tried for cyber crime before Magistrate M.O Tanimola in Ikeja.

    Atanda, however, denied committing the offence, and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Tanimola said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Aondohemba Koti, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence in October 2018 at Okokomaiko.

    Read Also: Adeboye’s secretary, Pastor Olorunnimbe dies at 60

    He added that the defendant used the names of the three general overseers on the internet without their consents.

    “Atanda created a fake facebook account of Pastor E.A Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor D.K Olukoya of Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministry and Pastor T.B Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations.

    “He posed as the pastors and sent electronic messages to the public to deposit either N1, 000 or N2, 000 into a bank account to get N3, 000 or N5, 000, respectively, in four days.

    “If they pay and it is four days, he will block the persons’ numbers so they would not be able to reach him anymore.

    “Upon receipt of a written petition from one of the complainant’s legal counsel, the police swung into action, and the defendant was tracked and arrested.

    “The amount of money the defendant got from over 100 members of the public was yet to be ascertained,” the prosecutor said.

    The alleged offence violates Section 20 (1) of Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, Law of Federation, 2015.

    The case was adjourned until April 17 for mention.

  • Police apprehend suspected killers of Kolade Johnson

    The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday said it has apprehended suspected killers of Kolade Johnson.

    Johnson was shot dead by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Squad at Mangoro area of Lagos State.

    The police via Twitter identified the suspects as Inspector Olalekan Ogunyemi and Sergeant Godwin Orji both attached to the Anti-Cultism Squad.

    The statement reads “The men suspected to have carried out the shooting of Kolade Johnson have been apprehended and subjected to internal disciplinary procedures. The CP has revealed their names as (1) Insp Ogunyemi Olalekan and (2) Sgt Godwin Orji attached to Anti Cultism Squad.”

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, on Tuesday, also paid a condolence visit to the family of late Kolade Johnson.

    Photos of his visit were posted on the verified Twitter handle of the Nigeria police, @PoliceNG.

  • Court gives Evans last chance to get a lawyer

    An Ikeja High Court on Friday gave suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans till May 10 to get a counsel to defend the criminal charges against him.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo told Evans, whose case has suffered three adjournments following his failure to secure legal representation, that he had only three options.

    Evans could defend himself, get a new counsel or the court would appoint a legal aid counsel for him, the court said.

    The judge gave the warning following the third consecutive absence of Evans’ lawyer, Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaoku.

    Ajanaoku, who skipped the last proceedings over issues of unpaid legal fees, had earlier informed the court, through a letter, that Evans’ family was yet to perfect their brief, in terms of financial commitment.

    Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Ikenna Emeka, 29, Chiemeka Arinze, 39, Udeme Frank Upong, 43, on a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to kidnap and selling of firearms.

    At the commencement of Friday’s proceedings, Chief State Prosecution Counsel, Adebayo Haroun, prayed the court to invoke Section 233 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) which empowers the court to appoint a counsel for the defendant.

    Haroun said: “Where the defendant fails to secure legal representation, the court has the discretion to order the legal aid counsel to provide a representation for the first defendant, Evans.

    “This is the third adjournment taken at the instance of the first defendant. So, we urge Your Lordship to invoke Section 233 of the ACJL if the defendant fails to provide a counsel on the next adjournment.”

    The prosecutor also informed the court that his witness, a police officer, Inspector Idowu Haruna, attached to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), was present to resume his evidence.

    Read Also: Court gives Evans last chance to get a lawyer

    Responding, Justice Taiwo warned Evans of the consequences of his failure to get a new counsel.

    Justice Taiwo said, “I have told you (referring to Evans) the options; defend yourself, get a new counsel or I’ll appoint a legal aid counsel for you.

    “This case is not just for you, there are other defendants involved. Therefore, the liberty of the second, third, and fourth defendants, who also demand justice, is also at stake. And justice delayed is justice denied.

    “In the circumstances, I’ll adjourn this matter till May 10 and the first defendant must provide a counsel.

    “However, in the absence of the counsel for the first defendant, on the next adjourned date, this court will invoke Section 233 (3) of the ACJL and order the representation of the legal aid counsel for him,” the judge said.

  • Court sentences man to 12 years in prison for kidnapping women in Ekiti

    An Ado-Ekiti High Court on Friday sentenced an unemployed man, Olumide Ogunrinde to 12 years in prison for kidnapping.

    Justice Cornelius Akintayo sentenced the convict after the court had listened to to the arguments and submission of both prosecution and defence counsel.

    The court however, dismissed the convict of murder and armed robbery.

    Ogunrinde is charged with 11 counts of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Read Also: Court dismisses suit challenging Adamawa gov’ship election

    According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred between May 3, 2015 and May 15, 2015 at Epere Ekiti, Ido Ekiti, Ipere Ekiti, Ado Ekiti, Eyio Ekiti etc.

    The victims who testified in court, alleged that they were kidnapped on Ido-Ilogbo Ekiti road and taken to an unknown place.

    To prove his case, the Prosecutor, Mr Idowu Adelusi called five witnesses while the defence called for witnesses.

  • Man kidnapped on his wedding day in Nasarawa

    The last two weeks have witnessed serial kidnappings and murder in Nasarawa state, especially in Nasarawa local government, as one Kamilu Dalhatu of Bursery Department of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa was kidnapped alongside three of his friends on his wedding day.

    They were kidnapped on Saturday, 16th March, 2019 on their way to Nasarawa from Udege-Mbeki having attended the wedding ceremony. They were later released after their families paid an undisclosed amount to the abductors as ransom.

    In a related development, Alhaji Jibrin M. Usman, the Managing Director, Nasarawa Micro Finance Bank, also in Nasarawa local government was kidnapped at his Marmara residence on Sunday, 24th March, 2019. He, like others, was released after payment of an undisclosed amount to his abductors.

    A newly wedded man by the name Shuaibu Owuna was reportedly murdered in cold blood by unknown gunmen on his way to Nasarawa from Onda. He was said to have wedded last Saturday, 23rd March, 2019 at Onda, his community.

    Similarly, gunmen on Wednesday attacked vehicles along the busy AkwangaAkwanga-Akwanga-Keffi expressway kidnapping four women in the process.

    Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Nasarawa State, Suleiman Abubakar’s wife, Yahanasu Abubakar, was among those kidnapped.

    Suleiman told newsmen that the incident happened around 7:00 p.m. along Gudi-Garaku road in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

    He further disclosed that negotiations for the release of the women was ongoing as the kidnappers have demanded for N5 million ransom.