The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mohammed Usman

  • Bribe- seeking cop shoots two drivers in Kogi

    A police inspector identified as Mohammed Usman on Tuesday allegedly shot and wounded two drivers in Lokoja, Kogi State over alleged refusal to give bribe.

    The incident was said to have occurred at the Ibro Motor Park, opposite the Lokoja International Market.

    Ibrahim Yakubu, the branch chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said that trouble started when one of their drivers was stopped by a police team at a check point in Zango area on the Lokoja-Okene highway and ordered to offer them bribe.

    According to him, the driver refused and continued on his journey towards Lokoja.

    He however added that the policemen chased after the driver to the Ibro Motor Park.

    According to him: “We were just sitting at the park at about 11am, when we started hearing sporadic gunshots. The next thing, we saw one of our fellow drivers run to the union office.

    “The next thing, we saw two policemen follow him. Our union officials addressed them and they left.

    “The driver said he left his vehicle by the roadside and when we went there, we met a police inspector inside the vehicle.

    “We told him that we are taking the vehicle to the park and he followed us inside. On getting to the union office at the motor park, we told him that we had already settled the matter with the other two policemen.

    “Upon hearing that, he (Inspector Mohammed Usman) became furious and brought out his gun and first shot on the ground. As he continued his sporadic shooting, a bullet hit one of our drivers, Mohammed Attah, on the leg, while another driver, Emmanuel, was hit in the stomach.

    “Following the incident, the other policemen stationed outside drove into the park with their hilux bus, and quickly rescued the inspector and drove out.

    “We then went to B Division Police Station to report the matter and the DPO followed us with the victims to Federal Medical Centre and from there we went to the state police command, to report the matter.

    “The CP has ordered that the policemen involved should be detained until the outcome of victims in the hospital.”

    The spokesman of the Kogi State Police Command, William Aya, who confirmed the incident, explained that the policemen who were on stop-and-search operation stopped the driver, but that he refused, and as a result, they pursued him, on the suspicion that he might be carrying incriminating items.

    He added that the driver got to town near a motor park and abandoned his vehicle by the roadside and ran into the park.

    He said one of the policemen went after him, and that in the process, there was a misunderstanding which led to accidental discharge.

    Aya said that the policemen involved have been detained, while the matter is being investigated by the State CID.

    He added that appropriate sanctions would be taken against those found wanting, at the close of investigation.

  • Jobless friends appear in court for impersonation

    Two friends, who allegedly impersonated police officers to steal a motorcycle valued N200,000, on Tuesday, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused are, Mohammed Usman, 30 and Adamu Mohammed, 30, both of them, who are unemployed, reside at Mushin and Shogunle areas of Lagos State.

    The two men are being tried for conspiracy, impersonation and stealing.

    The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the offences were committed on April 29 at Suberu Close, Shogunle, Lagos.

    Odugbo said that the accused stopped a motorcyclist on his way and showed him fake police identity cards, claiming he was under arrest for taking a one way.

    “The accused told the complainant, Mr Oseni Mohammed, that his motorcycle had been impounded and that he should bring N4,000 to recover it.

    “The complainant begged them to collect N1,000 but they insisted on N4,000 and when they attempted to ride the motorcycle away, the complainant shouted for help,” he said.

    Odugbo added that a passerby helped in apprehending the accused, who were about to run away.

    “The police on patrol met them at the scene and arrested the accused,” he added.

    Odugbo said that the motorcycle is valued N200,000.

    The offences violated Sections 77, 280 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The magistrate, Mrs S. K Matepo, granted the accused to bail of N100,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

    Matepo adjourned the case until May 30 for mention.

  • Judge withdraws from Boko Haram leader’s trial

    Judge withdraws from Boko Haram leader’s trial

    Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from the trial of the alleged leader of a Boko Haram breakaway group, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (aka Ansaru), Mohammed Usman (aka Khalid Albarnawi), his second wife, Halima Haliru and six others.

    The judge announced his withdrawal on Tuesday while ruling on an application filed by six of the eight defendants for him to transfer the case to another judge because he had exhibited element of bias having allegedly changed his earlier position on the matter.

    The Federal Ministry of Justice had earlier this year arraigned the accused persons before Justice Tsoho on an 11-count amended charge relating to terrorism.

    They were accused of taking hostage and murdering nine foreigners, including some British and Italian nationals between 2011 and 2013 in Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and other states in the northern part of the country.

    Following their arraignment, Justice Tsoho ordered their remand in prison.

    But, upon an application by the prosecution, the judge changed his mind and directed that the defendants be kept in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and adjourned for trial.

    When parties got to court on Tuesday, the lead prosecuting counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, said the prosecution was ready to commence trial.

    He told the court that his witnesses were available.

     

  • Two men bag 10 days imprisonment each for causing public disturbance

    Two men bag 10 days imprisonment each for causing public disturbance

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced two men to 10 days imprisonment each for public disturbance.

    The Police arraigned the accused, Bala Haruna and Mohammed Usman, for incitement and causing public disturbance, contrary to section 114 of the penal code.

    The police prosecutor, Insp. Ahmed Ali, told the court that a vigilante group arrested the two men and brought them to the police station on Aug. 12.

    Ali said the two accused were terrorising residents of Paida Community in Niger with long sharp knives on a regular basis.

    The accused pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.

    In her ruling, Magistrate Sa’adatu Gambo, ordered them to pay a fine of N5,000 each or serve 10 days each in prison.

  • NOA inaugurates North-West LG Assembly

    NOA inaugurates North-West LG Assembly

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has inaugurated a Local Government Assembly in the North-West zone of the country, to educate people at the grassroots on the policies and programmes of the government.

    NOA Director-General Garba Abari said at the inauguration ceremony at Kagarko Local Government Secretariat, Kaduna, that the assembly would assist the government to meet the yearnings of rural dwellers.

    Abari explained that the creation of the assembly was in line with the agency’s mandate to enlighten Nigerians on the need to support the government in its efforts toward developing the country.

    According to him, the assembly provides a platform for direct interaction with the people, to enable the government to know the pressing needs of rural dwellers with a view to addressing them.

    Abari said that a similar assembly would soon be inaugurated in the South-West, adding that it is the best channel to achieve a better Nigeria.

    Earlier, Mr. Mohammed Kabir, the Chairman, Kagarko Local Government Area, commended NOA for the laudable initiative and urged the residents to sustain the relative peace in the area.

    In a remark, Mohammed Usman, the Divisional Police Officer, Kagarko Police Station, also assured the residents that efforts were being made to sustain peace in the area.