The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Murder

  • Aluu killing: 13 suspects charged with conspiracy, murder

    Aluu killing: 13 suspects charged with conspiracy, murder

    The Rivers police command on Wednesday arraigned 13 suspects before a Port Harcourt Magistrates’ Court, charged with conspiracy and murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that suspects were arraigned on a five-count charge of murder, felony, conspiracy, lynching, and burning.

    Prosecuting police Adiari Idafi told the court, presided over by Magistrate Emma Woke, that the accused on October 5, allegedly murdered Chiadika Lordson, Ugonna Kelechi Obusor, Mike Lloyd Toku and Tekena Elkanah.

    Idafi named the accused as Hassan Welewa, (59), Lawal Segun (28), Lucky Orji (43), Cynthia Chinwo (24), and Ekpe Daniel (30).

    Others are George Nwadei (20), Gabriel Oche (33), Ozioma Abajuo (23), Chigozie Evans Samuel (22), Endurance Edet (27) and Endurance Okoghiroh (24).

    Also arraigned were David Chinasa Ugbaje (30) and Ikechukwu Louis Amadi, alias Kapoon (32).

    Idafi stated that the offence was punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Laws of River State, Nigeria, 1999, and Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. III laws of Rivers State, Nigeria, 1999.

    The accused were asked by the court if they understood the charges and they consented, but no pleas were taken.

    The magistrate ordered that the accused be remained in police custody for further investigation, and adjourned the case till December 20, for further hearing.

     

  • Cynthia: court adjourns for consolidation, new charges added

    Cynthia: court adjourns for consolidation, new charges added

    A Yaba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, on Wednesday adjourned hearing on the case of seven suspects charged with  the murder of  Cynthia Osokogo, following request of consolidation by the police.

    Police prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agu at the resumed hearing notified the court of the state’s intention to consolidate the charges since they were cause of the same transaction.

    Agu said the new charge sheet which could not be read as a result of the absence of five of the defendants in prison custody, contained 11 charges.

    The primary suspects, Okwumo Nwabufo, 33, and Ezike Olisaeloka, 23 were charged along with the pharmacists, Orji Osita, 32 and Maduakor Chkwunonso, 25 on eight counts of conspiracy, rape, murder, administration of obnoxious substance, stealing and assault on August 27.

    Another suspect, Gideon Okechukwu who was said to be the driver that drove the primary suspects out of the hotel was brought before the court on September 26 on the same charges.

    Also brought before the court on September 26, were Ezike Ifechukwu, 22, and Ezeaka Chinonso, 27, on two counts of conspiracy and receiving Cynthia’s stolen phone under 409 and 326(1)(2).

    Ifechukwu, who is the brother of one of the primary suspects and Ezeaka were admitted to bail in N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum each after which they met their bail conditions and were present in court, but the other five who were remanded in prison were not in court on Wednesday.

    The prosecutor who prayed the court to issue a reproduction warrant mandating the prison authorities to provide the suspects at the next adjourned date, said it was necessary for the new charge to be read to them.

    He told the court that the accused to be joined are those who were discovered and arrested for been in possession of cynthia’s phone suspected to have been sold to them.

    He said the charge is being consolidated so that the matter can be heard before a court.

    Agu noted that although the charges will be in a singular sheet, the defendants will answer to the cases they were held for.

    “Those charged with receiving stolen phones will answer to their charge but because this is a cause of the same transaction, they will be charged on the same sheet”, Agu stated.

  • Murder in Gbagada

    While we are still on the issue of promising Nigerians cut down in their prime, it is sad to report of a great tragedy that occurred in the Gbagada suburbs of Lagos last weekend. It was murder most foul. Like all freshly wedded people, Ugochukwu Ozuah looked forward to a life of bliss and prosperity with Joan, his fetching bride. With the home front firmly secured, his head must have been humming with a million brilliant ideas about the future. But this was not to be. The young man was cut down in a hail of bullets.

    His family insist that the police are the culprits. The police are insisting that the dastardly act was carried out by still unknown assailants, possibly armed robbers. Somebody must be lying. What is clear is that Ugochukwu did not kill himself. He did not commit suicide. Or perhaps he did by being born in the wrong country at the wrong time. When he was asked whether he had a conception of hell, Wole Soyinka famously retorted that having lived in Nigeria for over seventy years, he had a fair idea of what hell is like.

    But we deceive and make a big fool of ourselves if we think the rest of the world is not aware of what goes on in Nigeria. Contrary to days of yore when savagery and barbarity could be hidden, we now live in an open global village. Even before snooper received a plaintive report of the crime the following morning from one of Nigeria’s top female lawyers whose son was one of the groomsmen at the wedding, the internet, Facebook, Twitter and other global fora of enhanced social communication were already awash with report of the murder in all its chilling and horrendous details.

    This is one heinous murder too many, and it must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. All those who have children of marrying age must rise as one to demand justice. In Latin America, they ended up with Mothers of the Disappeared. In Nigeria, Mothers of the Murdered (MOM) should rise as a group. As usual, the police have begun to muddy the water. They declared promptly and peremptorily that the poor chap was a victim of armed robbers. Then they resorted to the familiar Kayode Soyinka Syndrome by fingering a near victim as a principal suspect. This will not wash.

    It is just as well that the energetic, enterprising and proactive new Inspector General of police is reported to have requested for the file. Readers of this column will notice that we are always reluctant to damn the police. This is the first time in five and a half years that we are coming down hard on our police force. This is because we feel for the plight of an under-manned, under-paid and under-motivated police force. But there can be no denying that the Nigerian multi-ethnic underclass has sent its most homicidal and pathological elements to the force. These are the trigger-happy scoundrels and criminals in uniform. Nigeria will know no peace until they are de-coupled.

    Until the debate about state police is resolved one way or the other, the I-G has his work cut out for him. The list of victims of police elimination is long and lengthy, and so is the trail of proper justice. A few years back, Bayo Awosika, the son in law of the revered columnist, Allah De, was murdered in gruesome circumstances at a Police Check point in Lekki Phase 1. Nothing has been heard of the case. Mr Abubakar must be told that enough is enough.

  • Murder in a bachelor’s pad

    Murder in a bachelor’s pad

    It was supposed to be a short visit, but it turned out to be a journey of no return. That day, the late Wunmi Adebayo of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, left her Mobalufon Hostel to visit an acquaintance in the nearby Golden Estate. She had visited the estate several times and had become a well-known face there. But something unusual happened during her last visit. She did not return home alive. Her friends did not know anything until her body was found. Where was she killed? Was it in her acquaintance’s home? Who killed her? Her acquaintance or robbers? These are the puzzles the police are expected to unravel in their investigation.

    When the news of her death broke, there was confusion because of the stories of how it happened.

    A version had it that she was on her way back when she was attacked by robbers, who wanted to rape her but her refusal prompted them to shoot her in the face. Another had it that she was attacked by ritualists.

    Last Saturday, there was a twist to the story. It was gathered that she was allegedly killed by her acquaintance. According to a source, who is close to the bereaved family, the police have discovered that Wunmi was killed when she found her acquaintance and his gang with a gun.

    The source said the police have arrested the suspect, who is being remanded at the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

    “But it didn’t end there. The family decided to investigate the death of their daughter; they invoked Wunmi’s spirit to kill whoever was responsible for her death. This is Ijebu, and I believe this is not new to you because the traditional procedure is a common practice in many parts of Nigeria, particularly when the circumstance surrounding the death of a person is suspicious,” the source told our correspondent on phone.

    The source added: “Perhaps, after being continuously tormented by the (Wunmi’s) spirit, the suspect confessed to the murder this morning (last Saturday). He said Wunmi came to his house unannounced. When she entered, she met him and his friends drinking and making merry with guns on the table. On seeing this, Wunmi was shocked, scared and tried to run but was prevented.

    “She was then forced at gun point not to try to go away from the building. She was beaten by the assailants who attempted to gang-rape her. When she resisted, she was then shot in order not to reveal what she saw in the boyfriend’s apartment. The suspect then shot himself to fake the story that Wunmi was killed by ‘robbers’ as he ‘saw her off.’ Since Wunmi is no more to tell her story, the suspect thought he would get away with the murder and that no one would discover what actually transpired.”

    But, the Commands Public Relations Officer (PRO) Muyiwa Adejobi, denied that the suspect had confessed to the killing. Responding to our correspondent’s text, Adejobi said: “The suspect has been interrogated but it is not true that he has confessed to the crime. It is just a rumour being spread on Blackberry; so disregard it. Investigation is still in progress.”

    TASUED’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Gbenga Omilola told our correspondent on phone, that the late Wunmi was a student of the institution, adding that the incident had not been reported to the school management officially.

    “We cannot comment further on the crime because the incident did not happen on our campus. More so, the family members of the murdered student have not come to lodge any complaint. Even if they come, we can not do much because this is a criminal case that should be handled by the police.”

    He said the suspected killers are not students of the university.

    A close friend of Wunmi, who also spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on the condition of anonymity, said: “Wunmi believed the guy was a Yahoo-yahoo guy, but he is actually an…If she’d known this, I am sure she would not have dated the guy.”

    Esther Ajayi, a fellow student, described the incident as unfortunate. She advised female students to be wary of boys, who spend money heavily. She said: “I will tell my fellow students not to be madly in love with money. We must all learn from this incident. It is better we wait for God’s time than to follow boys who spend…money about. May the soul of Wunmi rest in peace.”

    Olayemi Ayeni, another student, said: “All that glitters is not gold, after all. This is another lesson for Nigerian undergraduates.

  • Police / sss quarrel over probe of Oyerinde’s murder

    The recent controversy between the Nigeria Police and the SSS in the investigation of the murder of Mr Oyerinde, the former principal private secretary of the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole, is unfortunate and uncalled for and has given rise to this write up.
    The two sister organisations are creation of statutes whose duties and/or functions are clearly stated in the enabling laws establishing them. By way of historical recapitulation, before 1976 internal security in Nigeria was the sole responsibility of the “E” Department of the Nigeria Police Force. The “E” Department was also known as the Special Branch of the Nigeria Police Force.
    But on the 24th day of March, 1976 the then Federal Military Government under General Olusegun Obasanjo promulgated Decree No.16 of 1976 establishing the Nigerian Security Organisation – the N.S.O – with responsibility for all aspects of security in Nigeria – within and without. With the advent of that decree the Nigeria Police Force was divested of all responsibility concerning internal security.
    Then in 1986, the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida promulgated the National Security Agencies Decree No.19 of 1986. That decree scrapped or disbanded the former Nigerian Security Organisation- the NSO – and in its place created three separate security agencies each charged with responsibility for specific aspect of security. That decree is now known as the National Security Agencies Act Chapter N74 Laws of the Federation 2004.
    Under this Act, there are three bodies or agencies charged with responsibility for various aspects of national security. They are as follows:-
    • The Defence Intelligence Agency
    • The National Intelligence Agency and
    • The State Security Service (SSS)
    See Section 1 of the Act.
    Their functions are as follows:-
    The Defence Intelligence Agency
    a. The prevention and detection of crime of a military nature against the security of Nigeria.
    b. The protection and preservation of all military classified matters concerning the security of Nigeria both within and outside Nigeria.
    c. Such other responsibilities affecting defence intelligence of a military nature both within and outside Nigeria, as the President or the Chief of Defence Staff, as the case may be, may deem necessary. See Section 2 (1) of the Act.

    The National Intelligence Agency
    a. The general maintenance of security of Nigeria outside Nigeria, concerning matters that are not related to military issues, and
    b. Such other responsibilities affecting national intelligence outside Nigeria as the National Defence Council or the President, as the case may be, may deem necessary. See Section 2(2) of the Act.

    The State Security Service
    a. The prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against the internal security of Nigeria.
    b. The protection and preservation of all non-military classified matters concerning the internal security of Nigeria and
    c. Such other responsibilities affecting internal security within Nigeria as the National Assembly or the President, as the case may be, may deem necessary. See Section 2(3) of the Act.
    Of particular significance also is the provision of Sub-section (4) of Section 2 of the Act which states as follows:-
    “(4)-The provisions of sub-section (1), (2) and (3) of this section shall have effect notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, or any matter therein mentioned”
    From the above Section 2(3) of the Act it is crystal clear that the main function of the SSS is the Internal Security of the country by intelligence gathering.
    Although the National Security Agencies Act Cap N74 Laws of the Federation 2004 did not define the phrase “Internal Security”; the Blacks Law Dictionary 5th Edition at page 732 defined “Internal Security” as follows:
    “Internal Security. That branch of law and government (e.g. CIA, FBI) dealing with measures to protect the country from subversive activities.”
    The question that arises from the above definition of the phrase “Internal Security” is whether the offence of “murder” being investigated by both the SSS and the Police qualifies as “Subversive Activity.”
    It is submitted with respect that going by the definition of the phrase “Subversive Activities” the common crime of the offence of “murder” does not qualify as one. See the definition of the term by the Blacks Law Dictionary 5th edition at page 1282 as follows:-
    “Subversive Activities- acts directed toward the overthrow of the government including treason, sedition and sabotage”.
    From the foregoing provisions of the National Security Agencies Act Cap N74 Laws of the Federation 2004 and from the Black Laws Dictionary definition of “Internal Security”, it is very clear that the functions of the SSS is solely targeted at internal security of Nigeria and not the investigation of common crime like murder, no matter how heinous the common crime may be. Under the Nigerian laws that function belongs to another statutory body – the Nigeria Police Force – as will be seenanon.
    Section 214 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides as follows:-
    “214(2) (b) – the members of the Nigeria Police Force shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred upon them by law”
    Alsoby virtue of Section 4 of the Police Act Cap P19 Laws of the Federation 2004 the general duties of the Police can be stated as follows:-
    “Section (4) – The Police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by, or under the authority of, this or any other Act.”
    It is submitted, with respect, that reading and construing Section 2(3) of the National Securities Agencies Act Cap N74 Laws of the Federation 2004 which stipulates the functions of the SSS and Section 214(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 4 of the Police Act Cap P19 Laws of the Federation 2004 which stated in eloquent terms the duties of the Nigeria Police Force, it is hugely doubtful whether such ordinary crime as “murder” or even “assassination” can be said to fall within the purview of the functions of the SSS.
    It is submitted with respect and without fear of contradiction that the murder of Mr. OlaitanOyerinde the former principal private secretary (PPS) to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole cannot by any stretch of the imagination be said to amount to an act bordering on internal security. It is purely a simple case of “murder” which should be handled by the Nigeria Police Force on the authority of Section 4 of the Police Act which assigns to the police the duty of prevention and detection of crime. The SSS could be described in this matter as a meddlesome interloper!!
    In the days of yore the SSS never struggled for recognition nor sought public attention neither were the officers seen parading suspects before klieg lights.
    Secret agents worldwide, like officers and men of the SSS, are known to operate covertly and discretely shunning publicity, but operating incognito.
    Under Section 2(3) of the National Security Agencies Act Cap N74 it is the responsibility of the SSS to feed the police and other sister services with the result of their covet operation for necessary action.
    The SSS should allow the IGP and the Police to do their job andconcentrate on issues like the Boko Haram and other internal security challenges and not engage in murder investigation.
    What Nigeriansexpect from the SSS and the Nigeria Police Force is absolute co-operation in the discharge of their duties, not unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry.
    Each agency should confine itself to the duties assigned to it by the constitution andthe enabling laws.
    God bless Nigeria!!
    Dated the 7th day of September, 2012

    The recent controversy be
    tween the Nigeria Police and
    the SSS in the investigation of the murder of Mr Oyerinde, the former principal private secretary of the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole, is unfortunate and uncalled for and has given rise to this write up.
    The two sister organisations are creation of statutes whose duties and/or functions are clearly stated in the enabling laws establishing them. By way of historical recapitulation, before 1976 internal security in Nigeria was the sole responsibility of the “E” Department of the Nigeria Police Force. The “E” Department was also known as the Special Branch of the Nigeria Police Force.
    But on the 24th day of March, 1976 the then Federal Military Government under General Olusegun Obasanjo promulgated Decree No.16 of 1976 establishing the Nigerian Security Organisation – the N.S.O – with responsibility for all aspects of security in Nigeria – within and without. With the advent of that decree the Nigeria Police Force was divested of all responsibility concerning internal security.
    Then in 1986, the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida promulgated the National Security Agencies Decree No.19 of 1986. That decree scrapped or disbanded the former Nigerian Security Organisation- the NSO – and in its place created three separate security agencies each charged with responsibility for specific aspect of security. That decree is now known as the National Security Agencies Act Chapter N74 Laws of the Federation 2004.
    Under this Act, there are three bodies or agencies charged with responsibility for various aspects of national security. They are as follows:-
    • The Defence Intelligence Agency
    • The National Intelligence Agency and
    • The State Security Service (SSS)
    See Section 1 of the Act.
    Their functions are as follows:-
    The Defence Intelligence Agency
    a. The prevention and detection of crime of a military nature against the security of Nigeria.
    b. The protection and preservation of all military classified matters concerning the security of Nigeria both within and outside Nigeria.
    c. Such other responsibilities affecting defence intelligence of a military nature both within and outside Nigeria, as the President or the Chief of Defence Staff, as the case may be, may deem necessary. See Section 2 (1) of the Act.

    The National Intelligence Agency
    a. The general maintenance of security of Nigeria outside Nigeria, concerning matters that are not related to military issues, and
    b. Such other responsibilities affecting national intelligence outside Nigeria as the National Defence Council or the President, as the case may be, may deem necessary. See Section 2(2) of the Act.

    The State Security Service
    a. The prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against the internal security of Nigeria.
    b. The protection and preservation of all non-military classified matters concerning the internal security of Nigeria and
    c. Such other responsibilities affecting internal security within Nigeria as the National Assembly or the President, as the case may be, may deem necessary. See Section 2(3) of the Act.
    Of particular significance also is the provision of Sub-section (4) of Section 2 of the Act which states as follows:-
    “(4)-The provisions of sub-section (1), (2) and (3) of this section shall have effect notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, or any matter therein mentioned”
    From the above Section 2(3) of the Act it is crystal clear that the main function of the SSS is the Internal Security of the country by intelligence gathering.
    Although the National Security Agencies Act Cap N74 Laws of the Federation 2004 did not define the phrase “Internal Security”; the Blacks Law Dictionary 5th Edition at page 732 defined “Internal Security” as follows:
    “Internal Security. That branch of law and government (e.g. CIA, FBI) dealing with measures to protect the country from subversive activities.”
    The question that arises from the above definition of the phrase “Internal Security” is whether the offence of “murder” being investigated by both the SSS and the Police qualifies as “Subversive Activity.”
    It is submitted with respect that going by the definition of the phrase “Subversive Activities” the common crime of the offence of “murder” does not qualify as one. See the definition of the term by the Blacks Law Dictionary 5th edition at page 1282 as follows:-
    “Subversive Activities- acts directed toward the overthrow of the government including treason, sedition and sabotage”.
    From the foregoing provisions of the National Security Agencies Act Cap N74 Laws of the Federation 2004 and from the Black Laws Dictionary definition of “Internal Security”, it is very clear that the functions of the SSS is solely targeted at internal security of Nigeria and not the investigation of common crime like murder, no matter how heinous the common crime may be. Under the Nigerian laws that function belongs to another statutory body – the Nigeria Police Force – as will be seenanon.
    Section 214 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides as follows:-
    “214(2) (b) – the members of the Nigeria Police Force shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred upon them by law”
    Alsoby virtue of Section 4 of the Police Act Cap P19 Laws of the Federation 2004 the general duties of the Police can be stated as follows:-
    “Section (4) – The Police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by, or under the authority of, this or any other Act.”
    It is submitted, with respect, that reading and construing Section 2(3) of the National Securities Agencies Act Cap N74 Laws of the Federation 2004 which stipulates the functions of the SSS and Section 214(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 4 of the Police Act Cap P19 Laws of the Federation 2004 which stated in eloquent terms the duties of the Nigeria Police Force, it is hugely doubtful whether such ordinary crime as “murder” or even “assassination” can be said to fall within the purview of the functions of the SSS.
    It is submitted with respect and without fear of contradiction that the murder of Mr. OlaitanOyerinde the former principal private secretary (PPS) to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole cannot by any stretch of the imagination be said to amount to an act bordering on internal security. It is purely a simple case of “murder” which should be handled by the Nigeria Police Force on the authority of Section 4 of the Police Act which assigns to the police the duty of prevention and detection of crime. The SSS could be described in this matter as a meddlesome interloper!!
    In the days of yore the SSS never struggled for recognition nor sought public attention neither were the officers seen parading suspects before klieg lights.
    Secret agents worldwide, like officers and men of the SSS, are known to operate covertly and discretely shunning publicity, but operating incognito.
    Under Section 2(3) of the National Security Agencies Act Cap N74 it is the responsibility of the SSS to feed the police and other sister services with the result of their covet operation for necessary action.
    The SSS should allow the IGP and the Police to do their job andconcentrate on issues like the Boko Haram and other internal security challenges and not engage in murder investigation.
    What Nigeriansexpect from the SSS and the Nigeria Police Force is absolute co-operation in the discharge of their duties, not unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry.
    Each agency should confine itself to the duties assigned to it by the constitution andthe enabling laws.
    God bless Nigeria!!
    Dated the 7th day of September, 2012