The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mohammed Audu

  • Suspects in Dino Melaye gun case escape from police custody

    Police in Lokoja said on Wednesday that the two suspects that named Sen. Dino Melaye as the supplier of guns to them had escaped from custody.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ali Janga, disclosed this at a press conference in Lokoja.

    Janga said that the two suspects, Kabiru Seidu alias Osama and Nuhu Salisu alias Small, escaped at about 3:21 a.m. at the A Police Division in Lokoja where they were being kept in lawful custody.

    According to him, four other suspects escaped along with Seidu and Salisu, bringing the total number of fleeing suspects to six.

    He said both Seidu and Salisu escaped on Wednesday when they were supposed to be arraigned before a Lokoja Federal High Court alongside Melaye and Mr Mohammed Audu who was also named by the suspects as their sponsor.

    The commissioner identified Aliyu Isa , Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed as four other suspects that escaped from custody.

    He said that 13 policemen comprising five operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and eight conventional policemen on duty when the incident happened had been detained for interrogation.

    “The 13 police officers who were on duty when the incident occurred were defaulted and detained for interrogation,” he said.

    Janga also stated that the names of the six fleeing suspects and that of Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu had been sent for watch listing by the Interpol for immediate arrest anywhere they are found.

    He appealed to residents to assist the police with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects by reporting to the nearest police station.

    The police enjoined members of the public to go about their lawful businesses as the command was in full control of the situation and determined to provide adequate security for lives and property.

     

  • Police may declare Melaye, Mohammed Audu wanted

    The police threatened yesterday to declare Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed Audu wanted should they refuse to comply with an order of the court.

    Melaye and Audu are expected to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja on March 28, 2018 to answer to the criminal charges against them.

    The police also said the duo’s refusal to appear will make them seek a Warrant of Arrest for them and declare them wanted throughout the country and on INTERPOL platform.

    Force Spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, said in a statement yesterday that a suspect,  Kabiru Saidu  a.k.a Osama had confessed to the Police investigative team that Senator Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 for him to share with his boys.

    The confession prompted the police to invite the senator for questioning but the police said Melaye and Audu have refused to honour their invitation despite several attempts.

    Moshood said: “Working on actionable intelligence, the Kogi State Police Command personnel and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested two suspects, Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama “31 YRS” From Dekina LGA but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang) and Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small  “25 YRS” (a member of the gang), after a gun battle with the Police team that lasted for some hours on the 19th January, 2018 at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    “During investigation, they confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of several kidnappings and armed robbery, murder and other violent crimes in different parts of Kogi State for which they have been on the wanted list of the Police for more than two years now.

    “The gang leader KABIRU SAIDU revealed that he and his gang have been working as a political thug for one Alh. Mohammed Audu a politician in the state and that Alh. Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road, Abuja inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s car in the month of December, 2017.

    “Saidu further confessed to the Police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum ofN430,000.00 to share with his boys.

    “The Police conducted investigation into the criminal indictment against Sen. Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu and discovered that the two (2) of them have case to answer.

    “The two suspects namely; KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA and NUHU SALISU a.k.a SMALL were paraded at the Kogi State Command Headquarters, Lokoja on 19th March, 2018.”

    The statement further reads: “It will be recalled that consequent on the confession of criminal offences indicting Senator Dino Melaye by the principal suspect KABIRU SAIDU  a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS”, The Nigeria Police Force, sent a letter of investigation activities/invitation dated 2nd March, 2018 addressed to the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria informing and requesting him to release Senator Dino Melaye to report to Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th March, 2018 to answer  to criminal offences of Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of  Prohibited Firearms levelled against him, this is to enable the Police Investigation Team carryout a discreet and thorough investigation into the case. But Senator Dino Melaye refused to honour the Police invitation.

    “Based on evidence gathered so far in the matter, a case of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms was filed by the Nigeria Police Force at Federal High Court Lokoja on 16th March, 2018 against the two principal suspects; Kabiru Saidu  a.k.a Osama, Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small; Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed Audu. But Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed Audu refused to appear in court on Tuesday, 20th March, 2018 when the trial was supposed to commence.

     

     

     

  • Police may declare Melaye wanted over criminal charges

    The Nigeria Police Force said on Saturday it may declare the Senator representing Kogi West in the upper legislative chamber, Dino Melaye and Alhaji Mohammed Audu wanted if they refuse to comply with the court’s order.

    Melaye and Audu are expected to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja, on March 28 to answer criminal charges against them.

    The police also said the duo refusal to appear in court would force it obtain warrant of arrest for their arrest or declare them wanted throughout the country and on INTERPOL platform.

    The Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, disclosed these in a statement in Abuja.

    A political thug, Kabiru Saidu  a.k.a Osama, had confessed to the police investigative team that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 for him to share with his boys.

    The confession led the police to invite Melaye for questioning but the police said the senator and Audu have refused to honour its invitation despite several attempts to make them to before the force investigating team.

    Giving update of the investigation, Moshood said the indictment of both politicians has led the Force to invite them for questioning.

    He said: “Working on actionable intelligence, the Kogi State Police Command personnel and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested two suspects – Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama, 31, From Dekina local government area of Kogi State but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang) and Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small, 25, (a member of the gang), after a gun battle with the police team that lasted for some hours on the 19th January, 2018 at Ogojueje in Dekina LGA.

    “During investigation, they confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of several kidnappings and armed robbery, murder and other violent crimes in different parts of Kogi State for which they have been on the wanted list of the police for more than two years now.

    “The gang leader Kabiru Saidu revealed that he and his gang had been working as a political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu, a politician in the state and that Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport Road, Abuja, inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in December 2017.

    “Saidu further confessed to the police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

    “The police conducted investigation into the criminal indictments against Melaye and Mohammed Audu and discovered that two of them have case to answer.”

     

     

  • World Bank: Two civil servants bag 105years for fraud

    World Bank: Two civil servants bag 105years for fraud

    An FCT High Court sitting in Jabi on Monday sentenced two civil servants, Mohammed Audu and Yusuf Ayodeji, to 105 years imprisonment, for fraudulent activities while handling a World Bank project.

    The convicts who were Procurement Officers in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in July 2016.

    Audu was docked on a 10-count charge while Ayodeji faced a five-count charge, both bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and awarding contracts to companies in which they had interests, among others.

    The convicts were brought pursuant to Section 26 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act 2000, punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

    They were in charge of a World Bank project known as Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), an economic reform governance project.

    The judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, in his judgment, sentenced Audu to seven years imprisonment on each of the 10-count charges, amounting to 70 years.

    Halilu also sentenced Ayodeji to seven years each on each of the five-counts charge amounting to 35 years imprisonment.

    According to him, the convicts took advantage of their positions as procurement officers to perpetrate the criminal acts at the World Bank project.

  • Police arraign Audu’s son

    The police on Thursday arraigned Mohammed Audu, the eldest son of former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu.

    The ex-governor’s son was arraigned for alleged armed robbery and attempted culpable homicide, among others, following a complaint by an uncle, Prince Yahaya Audu.

    Mohammed, who was arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court II, Lokoja, was arrested on Wednesday night by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Kogi State police command.

    He was charged for criminal conspiracy, causing grievous hurt, mischief, armed robbery and attempted culpable homicide, contrary to sections 97(1), 248, 327, 298 and 229 of the Penal Code Law.

    The prosecuting police officer, Gabriel Otowu, told the court that the late politician’s son allegedly committed the offence on August 30 in the family house at Ogbonicha, Ofu local government area of the state.

  • Kogi East nominates Audu’s son as APC guber candidate

    Kogi East nominates Audu’s son as APC guber candidate

    Leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kogi East Senatorial District has nominated Mr Mohammed, 43, first son of Late Prince Abubakar Audu, to replace him as the party’s governorship candidate.

    The leaders, stakeholders and delegates who made this known in Lokoja on Thursday after a marathon meeting, said they arrived at the decision after due consultations .

    Their spokesman, Mr Daniel Isah, the Vice Chairman of APC in Kogi East, said they have resolved and are determined to back Mohammed to replace his father if the National Working Committee orders fresh primaries.

    Isah thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission and the national leadership of the party for the opportunity given to them to find a replacement for Audu who died on Nov. 23 at Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government.

    He appealed to the national leadership of the party to give their decision utmost consideration and approval in the overall interest of the party and the state.

    Present at the meeting were Alhaji Lincho Ocheje, Hon. Hassan Omale, Hon. Benjamin Ikhani, and Sen. Emmanuel Dangana, among others.

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