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Tag: Murder

  • Three policemen, prophet held over alleged murder

    Three policemen, prophet held over alleged murder

    The death of a 20-year old man after an alleged torture by the police has landed three policemen and a prophet in trouble. JUDE ISIGUZO reports.

    Three policemen attached to the ‘B’ Division Akure of the Ondo State Police Command and a popular prophet are currently been detained for the alleged murder of  Mohammed Oluwatobi Badmus (20).

    The deceased was the only son of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a popular hotelier, Raheem Afolayemi Badmus.

    Young Badmus was allegedly tortured to death by policemen on the orders of Prophet Bisi Adedugbagbe of the Celestial Church of God, who alleged that the deceased stole a phone belonging to a member of his church.

    Late Badmus was allegedly dragged to the police station by the prophet on the allegation of breaking and stealing at his church.

    The family is also alleging that the police are demanding for a sum of N150,000 (one hundred and fifty thousand naira) to carry out an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death, a responsibility they claim ought to be borne by either the state our the suspects.

    But the police are saying that since the family was alleging that their men killed the deceased, it was their responsibility to provide the funds for the autopsy to ascertain their claim.

    The family had alleged that Adedugbagbe had ordered the policemen led by  one Corporal Adesola Awodeyi to torture late Badmus to confess to stealing a phone from his church.

    It was gathered that Awodeyi and the other two policemen beat and tear gassed Badmus until he collapsed and became unconscious.

    A family source said: “Once he became unconscious, the policemen at the station then hurriedly wanted him released to his family because they suspected he could die.

    “Corporal Awodeyi and Prophet Bisi should be held responsible for the death of Badmus. He was tear-gassed at close range, after he had been beaten mercilessly at a mini-detention room in the station. The beating and torture with tear gas was to coerce Badmus to confess to stealing the phone.

    “He refused to confess to the crime because he did not do it and he was battered as a result. Some of the other officers at the police station heard the scream of the boy. They advised Corporal Awodeyi and the other two officers to take it easy with the boy, but they refused.

    “The prophet was present during the torture, but he showed no compassion for the boy. All he wanted was for the boy to confess to the crime of stealing a phone. He was urging the corporal to keep pummeling Badmus. The prophet was bragging that he would deal with Badmus unless he confessed and returned the phone he allegedly stole”.

    A police source said “We have no legal record of the boy in our station now because they didn’t even ask him to write a statement. The statement should have been the first thing, but Corporal Awodeyo forgot to initiate that. Already he has put himself into trouble for that.

    “We can’t deny the fact that he was brought here. He was actually here but we have no legal record backing up his presence.”

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the station had asked for Badmus’ statement as soon as he received a petition on his torture but none was produced.

    Bakare Asani, a lawyer representing the Badmus family, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, accused the police officers at the ‘B’ Division police station, Akure, of murdering Badmus.

    The petition alleged that the deceased sustained internal injuries as a result of the gruesome torture by the police.

    A medical report issued by a hospital said Badmus suffered serious internal injuries. The report added that the victim had inhaled a chemical that caused serious bodily damage.

    “The boy was brought in here and he was breathing through the help of an oxygen mask and we attended to him immediately after they had collected a card,” said a staff at the hospital. He added that the deceased “had inhaled a heavy dose of the substance which had already damaged his brain and caused serious disorder in his system before he died.”

    Father of the deceased Raheem Badmus said: “My son was hale and hearty before his untimely death. He came home to break the Ramadan fast with me during the week at my residence. I even spoke to him concerning some unholy behaviours of his during the fasting period and promised to deal with him, before he ran away from the house to his uncle’s place in Okuta Elerinla Estate.

    “He was filled with life and expectations when we broke the fast together. Certainly, death was not one of the tasks of my only son, not even cheap death from the supposed law enforcement agents who tortured him with large dose of chemical substance, which he inhaled and later passed out.

    “So -me of my friends that called him over the unfortunate incident found it difficult to break the news to me and it was later I was told what transpired on the day.

    “The elder sister Oluwaseun told me that she was in the house when she was called by one of our neighbors who asked her to come to Danjuma Street where she was told that they wanted to see her because her brother (Tobi) had stolen a smart phone in a prophet’s church.

    “Truly, they discovered such type of phone was in Tobi’s possession and they inquired how he managed to get the phone since he was never at the church.”

    He added that Tobi was taken to the police station along with his uncle, Sola, and was tortured before being released, but that he died some hours later.

    Oluwaseun, the late Badmus sister who was with him when the police came for him confirmed his arrest and torture at the police station. She said: “I was at home when some people close to prophet Bisi called me, that my younger brother, Tobi, had stolen a smart phone from his church. It was surprising, and I told him my brother can’t do such a thing. Immediately I called my mum’s uncle (brother Sola) where Tobi was staying to inquire about the allegation and if he saw any phone with Tobi and he confirmed he saw a phone with him and had already collected the phone”.

    She explained that she told the clergyman that his uncle had confirmed finding such a phone with late Badmus and that she had called him on his phone to meet her at the prophet’s church.

    She said that though the late Badmus agreed to meet with her at the church, the prophet was impatient and advised that they go and meet him wherever he was.

    “On getting to Tobi’s place, it was argument all through between the two, with claims that the phone doesn’t belong to the prophet. The prophet now told us that he had already informed the police at B division Oke Aro about the matter. It was at that point, Tobi suggested we move down to the Police station, where he believed the matter would be resolved”.

    She further stated that three police officers, led by a corporal with the name tag ‘Adesola Awodeyo’ held

    several talks with the prophet at the front of the Police station before they arrested her late brother.

    When they were dragging him away, she said she heard use of the term, ‘Baptismal Room,’ and believed that was where he was tutored.

    “Close to an hour later, the prophet and the cohort (Policemen) with whom he carried out the plot came

    out with my brother with his face swollen, vision blurred  and his eyes balls reddish and bulging and couldn’t compose himself while he can’t also stand on his legs”.

    She alleged that instead of the policemen to take him back inside the station, he was handed over to them with directions that they go home, adding that they drove back home in the prophet’s vehicle amidst argument and anger over the maltreatment in the station.

    She said when the prophet dropped them and departed, her brother’s condition worsened. He was crying, vomiting and holding his stomach and complaining of a headache.

    “I picked my phone and called prophet Bisi who pleaded we take him (Tobi) to the hospital and that he

    would join us there,” she said.

    He was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital Akure, but that he could not be attended to because of

    the ongoing strike of doctors, and later to Liberty Hospital in Oluwatuyi quarters also in Akure, where doctors directed them to their family hospital.

    At Hope Land Hospital, Lafe junction in Akure, where Badmus died, a nurse who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “The boy was brought in here and he was breathing through the help of

    oxygen and we attended to him immediately after they had collected a card. Report with us showed that he had inhaled a heavy dose of chemical substance which has already damaged his brain and caused a serious disorder in his body system before he died”.

    Days after Tobi’s death, Oluwaseun said the police, in an effort to cover up the case called her to come over to the station to write a statement for the deceased because they had forgotten to get him to write one, but that she declined.

    Spokesperson to the Ondo State Command, Oluwole Ogodo confirmed the incident. He said the deceased was brought to the station for stealing and that he confessed to it, adding that it was because he refused to return the other items that he took from the church that he was brought to the station.

    The spokesperson said from investigation, the deceased was released by the police around 10am and developed ill health around 6pm. He said if he had indeed been tortured as his family was claiming there was no way he could have survived up till that time.

    Ogodo said the three policemen and prophet linked to the murder of Badmus have been arrested and they are been detained, pending investigation.

    On the issue of autopsy, he said it is the family’s responsibility to pay as they are the ones alleging and therefore should be able to go to any extent to prove it.

  • Police hunt man over lover’s murder

    The police in Delta State said yesterday that they were trailing a middle-aged man for allegedly killing his 25-year-old lover, Augustina Edika.

    The suspect, identified as Tomson, allegedly killed his girlfriend on Sunday at Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Police spokesperson Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect stabbed the lady with a knife in the heart before hitting her head with a pestle.

    The suspect reportedly locked the deceased inside the one room apartment and ran away.

    Sources said the lovers quarrelled the previous night and the issue was settled before they went to bed.

    They said about 5am the next day there was a noise from the lovers’ apartment which aroused neighbours.

    The Nation learnt that before they could force the door open, the lady died and she was found in a pool of blood.

    Kalu said the matter was reported at the Obiaruku Police Station, adding that the parents of the deceased have been contacted, while efforts have been intensified to arrest the suspect.

  • Six nabbed for alleged kidnap, murder of council boss

    Six nabbed for alleged kidnap, murder of council boss

    Six persons have been arrested by the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), Ebonyi State Command, for alleged kidnap, murder and armed robbery.

    They were accused of allegedly abducting and killing the former coordinator of Okposi Development Centre, Mr. Ihebunandu Okorie, in March.

    The DSSS Director, Mr. L.B. Baba, parading the suspects at the weekend, said they abducted the council boss on March 16 at the Presbyterian Church, Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government.

    He said after contacting the family and demanding N50million ransom, which they later reduced to N5million before collecting N500,000, the suspects killed the council boss in Nguzu Edda forest.

    Baba gave their names as Ebere (32), Odichimma (30), Chukwudi (32), Amos (23), Peter (30) and Adamu. He withheld their surnames, saying some of them also engaged in drug pushing (cocaine).

    Items recovered from the gang included three AK 47 rifles, 16 magazines loaded with 437, Honda IV Tech car with Lagos State registration number FST 254 AE and Ash colour Toyota Picnic with Lagos State number plate JJJ 777 PU.

    The DSSS chief said one of the suspects, Ebere from Edda in Ebonyi State, was arrested in Abia State when he wanted to collect the ransom, adding that he owned two AK47 rifles and was a notorious cocaine dealer, Odichimma from Abia State was arrested in Asaba, Delta State in April. He is said to own one AK 47 rifle.

    Baba said Chukwudi from Umuozo Abia State was arrested in April at Promise Hotel, Lagos where he fled to after the kidnap of the late Okorie, while Amos, from the same town with the deceased in Ebonyi State, brought the business and involved other suspects. He was arrested at Ajegunle in Lagos State.

    Baba said Peter from Enugu Ukwu in Anambra State, a panel beater who built a compartment under the Toyota Picnic van used by the gang for the movement of arms and ammunition, bulk cash and cocaine, was arrested this month, while Adamu from Kogi State contacted one of the suspects, demanding AK47 rifle to rob a company in Port Harcourt.

    The DSSS boss said the suspects also participated in other kidnaps and armed robberies, including the abduction of an 80-year-old woman in Ilesha, Osun State in December last year, during which a N28.6 million ransom was paid before the victim was released, adding that they stole over N5 million from a bank in February.

  • Undergraduate arrested for alleged murder of 87 year-old father

    Undergraduate arrested for alleged murder of 87 year-old father

    The Abia state police command has paraded, among others, a 27 year old undergraduate of Madonna University, Chijioke Ezebuiro, for allegedly killing his 87 year old father, Dr Emmanuel Ezebuiro.

    Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna, who paraded the suspect alongside other cultists and robbers, said that Chijioke Ezebuiro  is the prime suspect as he was the only person in the house at the time of his late father’s death.

    Ogbonna said that the death occurred on June 30, 2014 at the deceased home at Umuoriehi, Isingwu in Umuahia North local government area and was reported to the police by one Ezebuiro Chimezie of the same address who said the deceased had been bed ridden for some years.

    He said that on the fateful day he (Chimezie) had left him in the house to drop his children in school and that when he came back, he met the deceased on the ground in his own pool of blood and quickly called the deceased personal doctor who confirmed him dead.

    The PPRO said that the complainant had told the police that when he left the house to drop his children, the suspect, Chijioke Ezebuiro, his younger brother, was the only one in the house when the incident occurred, adding that the suspect had threatened his father’s life a
    number of times.

  • Man, 36, freed of murder

    An Ikeja High Court has freed a 36-year-old motorcycle repairer, Saliu Abara, of the murder of Abdul Salami.

    Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo  freed him listening to the submissions of the prosecution led by Mr. O. Oke and his defence counterpart led by Mr. Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem.

    The Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), through its counsel, Adetola-Kazeem, filed a fundamental human rights suit, claiming N50million on behalf of the defendant after five years in prison without trial.

    Consequent upon the suit, the Lagos State government proceeded to charge the defendant to court for the alleged murder of Salami.

    The state alleged that the defendant, on February 18, 2007 murdered Salami at 69, Boyle Street, Ajangbadi, Lagos.

    The offence was said to be contrary to Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C. 17 Volume 2, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

    After two years of trial, the court discharged and acquited Salami on the ground that he killed his victim in self defence.

    Justice Onigbanjo held that whatever he did that caused the death of Salami was in self dfefence.

    “In this case, I am prepared, in view of the foregoing and circumstances of this case, to give the defendant benefit of the doubt and hold that whatever he did against the deceased leading to the deceased’s death on the day in question was done in self defence”.

    To reinforce his judgement on the matter, Justice Onigbanjo cited a case, Henry Nwokearu versus the State 2013 LPELR Supreme Court 227/2011, decided by the Supreme Court of Nigeria that was predicated on self defence.

    He said the apex court explained the defence of self defence as follows: “It is quite clear that self defence is a special plea where a man admits that he did delivered the blows; he says they were delivered because the other man attacked him first and if there is no cruel excess, or anything of that type, then it becomes exculpation”.

    “In that wise and bearing in mind the established fact of the fracas between the defendant and the deceased over money owed to the defendant by the deceased, which unfortunately led to the deceased’s death on the day in question, I think the  defendant is entitled to the defence of self defence, pursuant to the provisions of Sections  285, 286, 287 of the Criminal Code and thus to an acquital of the offence of murder as charged.

    “From the foregoing facts and observations, I think that the court has a duty in the circumstances to avail the defendant the benefit of any defence  available to him under the law even such is not urged on the court by the defence,” the trial judge held.

    Referring to the account of event that led to the death of the deceased as related by the defence and not disputed by the prosecution, Justice Onigbanjo held that his observation of the matter showed that the defendant’s resultant attitude “are not consistent with the mindset of a person setting out with the intention of killing or causing grievous bodily harm to someone else, but rather more consistent with the defendant’s narration of events leading to a scuffle over money …which unfortunately led to the death of the deceased”.

    Justice Onigbanjo also held that the position of the prosecution in the matter became weaker because there was no forensic or medical evidence of the cause of death of the deceased thereby leaving the court with no option than to give the defendant the benefit of doubt as to what actually happened inside the room of the deceased that eventually led to his death.

    Although he held that the deceased died as a result of direct or indirect consequence of the defendant’s act, he said the defendant has not been proved to have intended the death of the deceased.

  • Two human rights lawyers shot dead in Delta

    Legal practitioners in Delta state have been thrown into mourning following the gruesome assassination of two lawyers on Thursday.
    Renowned lawyer and human rights activist Mr Horrace Egbon Dafiogho and his junior colleague, identified as Sam Ekwajor, were shot dead along Ughelli – Ozoro road on Thursday.
    It was gathered that the duo were on their way to Ozoro, where they are defending suspects in a high profile kidnap case involving a prominent politician in the state, when they were killed.
    Although the circumstance surrounding the killing was yet unclear, it was gathered that the incident has led to shock and panic among legal practitioners in the state.
    The National Coordinator, Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, told our reporter he was stupefied by the development.
    He said, “It was last night that I just heard the news and it is very surprising to me. Why would anybody kill a lawyer and an activist who spends his time defending the less privileged in the society?”
    Our reporter gathered that prior to his death on Thursday the legal practitioner had raised the alarm over threat on his life.
    One his colleagues told our reporter, “He even told the judge hearing one of his cases that his life was being threatened.”

     

     

  • Police corporal kills self, wife, five others

    Police corporal kills self, wife, five others

    Tragedy! Or  call it killings resulting from a maniacal spell, and you won’t be far from the truth. It was like a scene cut from an action movie. Neither the residents of Akingbala – Eleweran  area of Ogun State nor victims  saw it coming.

    It was all confusion and shock at the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran yesterday  as one its officer, Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, ran amok, shot dead his wife, Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, killed five other persons and injuring three others gravely before killing himself  with his own riffle.

    As if acting on what looked liked a well thought out plan, Ogunbiyi who had just did a night shift last night, rather than return his official AK – 47 riffle to the police armoury, headed home with it.

    And on getting home around 7:05am, he laid an ambush against his wife, a police corporal attached to Obantoko Divisional Police Headquarters, and upon sighting his wife who had dressed up in police uniform preparatory to go to work, he shot her dead, sparing his two kids who were already dressed up for school.

    And a commercial motorcycle operator identified as Kunle who had just come to pick  Ogunbiyi’s wife and kids,  was also shot dead by him right in front of the compound.

    Not done, even as residents panicked, hollered and scampered to safety, Ogunbiyi dashed  to the home of a family of five hosting his wife and two children and stormed into  the six-room uncompleted building where in a Commando style, sprayed  the landlady called Iya Basira gales of bullets while still on her mat sleeping. She died instantly in a pool of her blood.

    The landlady’s two sons, Taofeek, a Senior Secondary School two student of Nawar-u-Deen Grammar School, Obantoko and his elder brother, Sikiru,  were also not spared of Ogunbiyi’s murderous wrath. They too were shot dead by him.

    Basira and her two-year-old daughter, Jesutofunmi, also suffered similar fate  as they fell to bullets of Ogunbiyi’s AK – 47 riffle.

    When the dust finally settled, eight persons, including the attacker; Ogunbiyi, lay dead according to a witness but the police said six persons were dead even the house remained deserted as at yesterday.

    Three lucky survivors who sustained gunshot injuries during the savage attack, were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba for treatment while the remains of the dead were taken to the morgue of the state hospital, Ijaiye, a witness said.

    According to the witness, corporal Ogunbiyi had in the past warned Iya Basira several times to desist from further accommodating his wife and children whenever they have misunderstanding but the landlady was said to have taken the police man’s warnings with levity.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who described the incident as “unfortunate,” said the officer who carried the shooting to death of the affected persons this morning, has been having “domestic conflicts” with his wife.
    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP) said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, had ordered a forensic investigation into the incident.

    Adejobi said: “the Ogun State Police Command has deemed it necessary to react to the killing of six persons by a police Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi attached to the Ogun State Police Command.

    Adejobi said: “the unfortunate incident occurred this morning Thursday 27th March, 2014 at 0758hrs when the said corporal, who had been having domestic conflicts with his wife, shot and killed six persons, with his rifle, including his wife, Woman Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, the landlady in the house, a two-year-old baby girl and two males and one female, while another three persons sustained injuries and receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta. The said corporal, having killed these persons, shot himself dead immediately.

    “The Commissioner of Police Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye has described the incident as unfortunate; and has visited the scene with other senior police officers in the command to assess the situation and sympathize with the relations of the deceased and members of the Akingbala Ifelodun Estate, Eleweran Area, Abeokuta, where the incident took place.

    “The Command has therefore commenced thorough forensic investigation into the killing and promised to make sure justice is done in the matter.

    “The commissioner of police however appeals to the general public to perceive the incident as one of the unfortunate social mishaps and not to judge the police with the incident, as the police is committed to protection of lives and property and will not tolerate any act capable of trampling on fundamental human rights of the citizens of Ogun State.”

  • Kidnappers kill ex-Ebonyi council boss

    The Former Coordinator of Okposi Development Center, Hon Ihebunandu Okorie has been reportedly killed by his abductors in a forest located in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Hon Okorie according to a source close to the family who pleaded anonymity said that the former Coordinator’s body was found laying in the pool of his own blood in the forest today.
    He was abducted inside the premises of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Obioha Okposi by unknown gunmen at about 1 pm on the 16th of March 2014 after attending a church service in the area.

    When contacted, the State Police spokesman, ASP Chris Anyanwu who confirmed the incident said that the command would brief the press on the details of the incident tomorrow.

  • Man allegedly kills lover for ritual in Oyo

    Police in Ojongbodu division in the Oyo-West Local Government Area of Oyo State is investigating circumstances surrounding mysterious death of a woman at a guest house in Oyo town.

    The deceased was said to have been invited by her man friend to a popular guest house around seven oclock in the evening where both of them booked for a room where they lodged in.

    But to the surprise of guest house workers located at Jaremily area along Ilora road, neither the man nor his woman friend could be found inside their room.

    After a search, the lifeless body of the woman was said to have been found inside the bathroom while water was showering on her head.

    The matter was immediately reported to the police who arrested the owner of the guest house while investigation lasted.

    During investigation, residence of the deceased man friend,  who was said to be at large when the incident happened was contacted at  Winners area where the matrimonial wife was said to have told the police detectives that her  husband travelled  out of the town and would spend few days before returning.

    Suspicious of the statement, the police were said to have arrested both the wife and children and taken them to their station pending the appearance of the husband.

    The accused whose name could not be ascertained as at press time had surrendered self to the police.

    It was alleged that he ran away to one of his relations, a military personnel in Ibadan, who advised him to go  back home and report  himself to the police.

    THE NATION further gathered that examination conducted on the corpse showed that hair in the deceased’s  armpit and vagina  had been removed.

    Though the Divisional Police Officer was not available for comment, but a reliable police officer  hinted that the matter will soon be referred to Homicide section at Iyaganku in Ibadan, the state capital.

     

     

  • Absence of defence counsel stalls trial of murder suspect

    Absence of defence counsel stalls trial of murder suspect

    FOLLOWING the absence of counsel to the accused, a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, adjourned further hearing in the trial of a suspect, Adeola Agbarin, who was accused of killing his girlfriend, Martha Farinmade, till March 18.

    The presiding judge, Justice Lawal Akapo, shifted hearing in the matter in order to allow for the appearance of the lawyer to the accused.

    Agbarin was said to have accused the deceased of infidelity on January 6, 2012, after sighting her in company of a man said to be her acquaintance. To convince Agbarin that she was still faithful to him, the 34-year-old deceased was said to have visited him at his residence on No 32, Awoyokun Street, Mushin, which is a short distance from her residence.

    The duo launched into a hot argument following which the accused allegedly dealt several blows on the deceased. The battered deceased fashion designer gave up the ghost shortly after, while the suspect was said to have taken her body in a wheel barrow covered with refuse in the wee hours of January 7, 2012 and dumped it in a gutter close to the residence of the deceased. He was said to have hurriedly left without taking his wheel barrow along, not knowing that he had been sighted by some residents.

    Speaking with our correspondent shortly after the case was adjourned, the septuagenarian mother of the deceased, Mrs. Elizabeth Farinmade, who was also present in court, said: “My daughter cannot die in vain. I have a strong belief in our justice system and I have no doubt that justice would be done in this matter. However long it takes to conclude the trial, we shall get justice”.