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Tag: Murder suspect

  • I mistakenly strangled my girlfriend, says murder suspect

    A murder suspect, Kelechukwu Chukwuanugo, yesterday told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that he mistakenly strangled his girlfriend, Lizzy Nzewi, during a struggle for her phone.

    Chukwuanugo, 37, in tears, told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that he loved Lizzy and had no intention of killing her.

    The defendant spoke while opening his defence to a one-count charge of murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

    Prosecuting counsel Yusuf Sule said Chukwuanugo strangled Lizzy with a wrapper about 2pm on July 19, 2014, at Plot 34, Green Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

    He said the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty, following which he was remanded in prison custody.

    During trial, the court heard that Chukwuanugo fled and was arrested at the border between Ghana and Cote D’Ivore by police operatives from Nigeria and the International Police (INTERPOL) while fleeing with the deceased’s Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    The state called five witnesses, following which it closed its case.

    At the resumption of hearing yesterday, Chukwuanugo was led in evidence by his counsel, C. J. Jiakponna.

    The defendant narrated how he met Lizzy, a divorcee mother of four, in Ghana sometime in 2012 and how they became lovers.

    He said: “I met Lizzy in Ghana, where I was working with a company that dealt in fairly-used clothes.

    “She bought goods and we exchanged contacts. That was how we became lovers.”

    Chukwuanugo said they became so close that he could even play with her children.

    He said Lizzy helped him to obtain international passport and a driver’s licence, which both bore a name similar to hers, to make it look like they were husband and wife.

    Read also: ‘Why I pound yam at Mama Afrika Restaurant, Newark’

    The defendant told the court that he once took Lizzy to his village, saying they attended clubs together.

    “On the day of the incident, the deceased went out and stayed out till midnight and did not answer my calls.

    “She came back drunk, playing music loudly in her car. I took her and her belongings inside the house.

    “I told her to take her bathe because she smelled badly. As she went inside the bathroom, I called her phone to check if it was actually on silence, but the phone rang out.

    “She came out to answer the call, but found out that I was the one calling.

    “After some time, the phone rang again, a man’s picture showed. I picked it and the man said: ‘Baby are you home?’

    “She came out, tried to snatch the phone from me. We started quarrelling and struggling with the phone.

    “She held my manhood so hard and I tried to free myself. Then I held her neck.

    “The wine on the table, which I was drinking, poured on the floor. We slipped and fell. I saw that I was bleeding, so I entered the bathroom to clean up.

    “When I came out, she was still lying on the floor, motionless. I shifted her and saw that she was already foaming in the mouth.

    “I didn’t know what to do. So, I took the car’s key and an ATM card and ran away,” he said.

    Chukwuanugo said when he was arrested, he was taken to hospital for treatment.

    His lawyer, Jiakponna, made an application to the court to allow him subpoena (summon) the hospital to come and testify.

    He also asked the court to allow him apply to the police to produce the defendant’s international passport, drivers’ licence and the ATM card seized from the defendant.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned till May 10 for further hearing.

     

  • Ekiti murder suspect: I killed monarch to claim his throne

    …Suspected cultists, robbers paraded by Police

    A murder suspect, Omoniyi Ademola, has revealed that he killed a traditional ruler in Ekiti State, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin to take over his throne.

    Ademola stabbed Oba Ogunsakin, the Onise of Odo Oro in Ikole Local Government Area to death with a knife on Monday.

    Eighty-year-old Oba Ogunsakin, who was enthroned in 1986, was stabbed to death in his palace on Monday after chairing a meeting of his council of chiefs in the palace.

    The suspect thrust the knife into the monarch’s chest with the victim giving up the ghost before reaching the hospital.

    Read Also:Police arrest murder suspect in Delta

    He fled to Ado-Ekiti after committing the regicide but was arrested at Ajowa Market in Dallimore area of the city around 4.30 pm same day.

    Speaking while being paraded alongside suspects arrested for various crimes at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Ademola, who is in his 40s, said he committed the regicide to claim his “right.”

    Ademola, who spoke correct English and never showed any sign of insanity, was said to belong to another royal family in the community.

    He claimed that his family had nominated him to take over from the late king whom he said was serving as a hindrance.

    The suspect said: “The crown didn’t belong to Oba Ogunsakin because the town last year declared vacancy because of the death of our Oba.

    “They said our Oba was dead and my family nominated me to take over only for him to resurface again and said he remained the Oba.

    “Last year December, my family nominated me and since then I have been trying to take over. That day when I got to the palace, it was the late Oba that first attacked me and I attacked him back which led to his death.”

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bello Ahmed, had earlier addressed a press conference on the recent breakthroughs recorded by the command in arresting the suspects.

    The police chief dismissed claims in some quarters that the suspect is mentally unstable.

    Ahmed said: “I am not a medical expert to know who is mentally unstable or not.

    “But the fact remains that, how could a lunatic committed murder and ran over 100 kilometers from the scene of the incident?

    “So, common sense dictates that he must have known what he was doing to have run from that town to Ado Ekiti.”

    Answering question on the killing of former Commissioner on the board of the Federal Character Commission, Mr. Bunmi Ojo on August 10, the CP said the command was making progress with some arrests made.

    He added: “We are on the trail of the killers, we have reached advanced stage. Some suspects had been arrested and they are helping the police.

    “Efforts are being intensified and we shall feed the public with the right information when we are ready to charge them to court.”

    Also paraded were 25 other suspects, who were arrested for cultism and other murder cases, including a man, Toyin Ajakaye, who allegedly hanged a commercial motorcyclist in his farm in Agbado Ekiti on Wednesday.

    Ahmed  added that the 16 suspects arrested for allegedly belonging to ‘Aye’ and ‘Eye’ confraternities have confessed their memberships of the secret cults, saying they will be charged to court soon.

    He revealed that weapons like: one cut-to-size gun, one cartridge, criminal charms, Toyota Camry Car with Registration number FKJ 912 DEK, one kitchen knife and one cutlass were recovered from the suspected cultists.

    Ahmed revealed that four armed robbery gang: Idowu Oluwole, Ganiyu Rasak, Ojo Ayomide and Asimile Efra were arrested for stealing a Bajaj motorcycle from one victim in Ado Ekiti.

    The police boss the command will continue to intensify efforts to ensure that criminals have no hidden place in the state.

  • Police arrest murder suspect in Delta

    A 45-year-old man, Unamaka Nwani, suspected to have murdered his siblings with a machete and a dagger, has been arrested, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The police reportedly arrested Unamaka Nwani who was said to have fled after killing his siblings.

    But it was not clear last night if he turned himself in to the police or was arrested in a manhunt.

    The suspect allegedly murdered Kingsley and Nwayor, said to be his brothers, during a football match in their matriarch’s home in Asaba, the Delta State capital, at the weekend.

    They just returned from a church thanksgiving service to mark her safe return from a medical trip to Canada when the incident happened.

    The matriarch, who is a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service, owns a chain of businesses which her (deceased second son) managed.

    A source told The Nation that an argument ensued after the television channel was changed from football match to a soap opera.

    According to the source, the trouble started when the assailant objected, demanding the channel is returned to the football channel.

    It was learnt that an argument ensued resulting to a scuffle which turned fatal.

    It was learnt that the oldest of the deceased was 42 years and a father of four who managed a major filling station in Asaba.

    The youngest was said to have just married.

    The Nation gathered that the assailant escaped to an unknown place.

    When our reporter visited the filling station, it was under lock and key.

    But a source close to the family attributed the incident to “a fight” over family property among the brothers.

    The source added: “Ever since their father died, the brothers have been fighting over property, especially the filling station.

    “Kingsley has been the one running it and their mum loves the two younger brothers and favours them more than the older one.

    “So, when the older brother noticed that he was losing out, he killed both of them with a knife by cutting their necks. Kingsley died immediately while the other brother was taken to the hospital, where he also died.”

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the arrest yesterday.

  • Police arrest murder suspect in Enugu

    Enugu State Police Command has arrested a fleeing murder suspect, Chigozie Ugwu, after he allegedly stabbed Nwoye Arua to death at Amegu-Ejona village in Orba community of Udenu Local Government.

    Spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said in a statement in Enugu that the suspect was caught by the operatives of Udenu Division following a manhunt.

    He said the incident occurred on March 11 about 10:30 pm, after which the suspect ran away.

    “It was gathered that on that fateful day, Chigozie Ugwu allegedly stabbed his victim, Nwoye Arua, about 35 years, with a knife over a yet-to-be established reason and escaped.

    “It was further learnt that following the report, a manhunt against the fleeing suspect was launched by police operatives, having taken the victim to Nwosai Foundation Hospital,’’ Amaraizu said.

    He said the suspect was arrested the following day and the victim was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

    The spokesman said the body had been taken to mortuary.

    He said the suspect was helping operatives of the Homicide Section of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department in their investigations.

     

  • Police arrest murder suspect

    Enugu State Police Command has arrested a fleeing murder suspect, Chigozie Ugwu, after he allegedly stabbed Nwoye Arua to death at Amegu-Ejona village in Orba community of Udenu Local Government.

    Spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said in a statement in Enugu that the suspect was caught by the operatives of Udenu Division following a manhunt.

    He said the incident occurred on March 11 about 10:30 pm, after which the suspect ran away.

    “It was gathered that on that fateful day, Chigozie Ugwu allegedly stabbed his victim, Nwoye Arua, about 35 years, with a knife over a yet-to-be established reason and escaped.

    “It was further learnt that following the report, a manhunt against the fleeing suspect was launched by police operatives, having taken the victim to Nwosai Foundation Hospital,’’ Amaraizu said.

    He said the suspect was arrested the following day and the victim was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

    The spokesman said the body had been taken to mortuary.

    He said the suspect was helping operatives of the Homicide Section of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department in their investigations.

     

  • Court remands murder suspect

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court has ordered that a 25-year-old man, Muhammed Nura, be remanded in Ikoyi prison for alleged murder.

    Nura, who hails from Kaduna State, was arrested by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba for allegedly killing a 23-year-old man, Kwatri Dalikwada.

     It was said the defendant had use a wood plank to hit the deceased on his head, which caused his death at Adamawa Village, FESTAC, Lagos.

     The defendant, it was gathered said that he gave the deceased his Nokia phone to keep. But when the defendant later asked for his phone, the deceased could not provide the Nokia phone.

     Thereafter, the defendant who got angry was said to have called a neighbour named Babalele (now at large) to join him to torture the deceased. The defendant and Babalele were said to have used a cable wire to beat the deceased.

    Not satisfy, the defendant use a plank to hit Dalikwada.

    The deceased was immediately rushed to the hospital after the incident but later died around 11pm on  August 3.

    Nura’s plea was not taken.

    Prosecuting Inspector Cousin Adams asked the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending legal advice from Director of Public Prosecution.

    Magistrate H.O. Omisore ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from DPP.

    Omisore adjourned the matter till October 6.

  • Manhunt begins for murder suspect

    Manhunt begins for murder suspect

    The police have launched a manhunt for a security guard who allegedly killed a 50-year-old woman, Mabel Okafor.

    It was gathered that the guard became a suspect following his disappearance after the woman’s death, as well as the inability of detectives to find the deceased phone.

    The woman, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator was found dead at her Close 9 house J68B, Victoria Garden City (VGC) residence with knife wounds on her stomach.

    The deceased was a lone occupant of her mansion, but had other tenants at her Boys Quarters (BQ) as well as the security man, now at large.

    According to a police source, the woman was found dead in her room with some of her valuables carted away.

    “She was found dead in her room stabbed in her own pool of blood. Some of her money, jewelries and all her phones were missing, while the gate was locked against her. No evidence to trace the killers. We heard that her security man from Niger Republic is at large. And he’s currently the prime suspect,” said the source.

    According to a security guard in the neighbourhood, most rich women in VGC stay alone, making them easy targets to criminal-minded persons.

    He described the woman as strict and reserved, adding that domestic helps were not allowed to idle around with their colleagues in the estate.

    He said: “The VGC Security patrolmen always arrest security men or Abokis found outside peoples’ buildings. The authority doesn’t want to see three or more men discussing outside the building.

    “They want all of us to stay at home 24-hours, which is not possible. Sometimes, we come out to take fresh air but when caught, the person will bail himself with N40,000 unless his boss is around to pay.”

  • I only stole from ambassador’s home, says murder suspect

    I only stole from ambassador’s home, says murder suspect

    Abubakar Yau, the suspected killer of Ambassador Sunday Yusuf, has said he only stole N200,000 from the deceased.

    Yau spoke in Abuja during his interrogation by the police.

    The self-confessed “common scavenger” said he stole the money from the late ambassador’s house in Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja.

    The suspect said he had nothing to do with the man’s death.

    Ambassador Yusuf was killed in his home on June 13.

    Explaining how the police arrested Yau, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner Mohammad Mustafa said the breakthrough was the result of dedication, resilience and determination of police officers.

    Mustafa said: “The command has recorded another feat in its fight against crime with the arrest of the principal suspect in the murder of the former Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, the late Ambassador Sunday Samuel Yusuf.

    “The principal suspect, Abubakar Yau, was arrested at Daki Biyu after a discreet investigation. Some items belonging to the deceased were also found in his custody. The suspect has made useful confession that will lead to the arrest of his cohorts who are currently at large.”

    But Yau said: “I went to his house around 2 a.m with the intention to steal. There was nobody in the house when I got there. When I got to his living room, I went round the house and discovered that nobody was around except him.

    “The man saw me and decided to go and hide. I told the man that he should open the door of his room or I would break the door and enter. The man was afraid; he went behind the window to hide. As I broke into the room, I went to look for the man where he was hiding. I saw him hiding behind the window. I told him that if he did not want to die, he should leave the place because I was not after his life. I asked him to give me his hand because he was holding a pipe. He thought the pipe was strong but he later fell and died.

    “I only get N200,000 from the house. I didn’t know the man before I went there. It was stealing that led me to the house. I am a scavenger and I steal sometimes. I did not know if someone was in the house. All I wanted to do was steal.”

    Yau said he felt bad about the ambassador’s death.

    Mustafa said investigation would continue into the matter.

    He said the suspect would be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation.

  • Group tells police to produce murder suspect

    Group tells police to produce murder suspect

    A rights group, Human Rights Concern (HRC) yesterday protested against what it called the police failure to arrest a murder suspect, Mr Aiyenogun Babatunde, as directed by a Lagos High Court last October 13.

    Babatunde, Lagos State Chairman of Tricycle Owners and Drivers Association (TODA), was alleged to have caused the death of Ademola Yusuf.

    The deceased was said to have been stabbed to death on June 4, 2014 at Boundary in Ajegunle, Lagos.

    According to HRC National Co-ordinator Comrade Declan Ihekaire, report of the preliminary investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Panti, Yaba, found Babatunde culpable.

    Babatunde, he said, was charged to court on the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    Ihekaire, who spoke with reporters, said Babatunde was released by the police and has not been produced again to face trial.

    “The non-appearance of the suspect in court had led to the issuance of a bench warrant dated October 13, 2015 by Justice Adedayo Akintoye of Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

    “Ever since the bench warrant was issued, the suspect has refused to appear in court but only engaged the services of a lawyer who only comes to court to give excuses why his client was not available.

    “We want the court to find out who in the first place ordered the release of Babatunde from police custody before the DPP’s advice on the matter.”

    “When the case came up for hearing last Monday, Babatunde was not in court. He sent his lawyer. We don’t know why a suspect being tried for a capital offence should ignore court order?” he asked.

     

  • Murder suspect goes to prison

    A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ebute Metta has ordered that a 19 –year- old murder suspect, Ibrahim Ogunkoya aka ‘National’, be remanded in prison custody.

    Ibrahim, a native of Ijebu Ode, who resides at Block 336, Flat 4 Jakande Estate, Lekki was said to have stabbed his 18- year- old friend, Eniola Toyin, with a kitchen knife on his left armpit during a scuffle.

    The defendant, it was learnt, is a footballer and plays in the same team as Eniola.

    They were said to have engaged in a fight on March 10, 2015 at Emirate Club, Small Kuramo along Lekki Beach Road, Lekki during which Ibrahim stabbed Eniola to death at about 7pm.

    Ibrahim was said to have fled from the scene but was later   apprehended and subsequently charged to court.

    His plea was not taken

    The police prosecutor, Agoi Gbemileke, filed an application that the defendant be remanded in prison pending legal advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP.

    The presiding magistrate, O.O.A Fowowe Erusiafe, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from DPP’s office.

    The case was adjourned till October 19.