Tag: Police

Justice Peter Kekemeke of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja, has taken a swipe at both the police and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) over the manner they sought to withdraw a matter before him.

Kekemeke held  that the AGF and the police ought to have followed the proper procedure in withdrawing the case.

The judge was ruling in the criminal charge brought against the Managing Director/Chief Executive Office of Ibadan-based ICT firm, Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited, Benjamin Joseph, charged with one-count  of giving false information to the police.

The police alleged that Joseph filed a petition alleging that some persons and companies, including Chief S.O Igbokwe; Princess Kama; Mrs Folashade Oyebode; Pirovics Engineering Service Ltd and Zinoc, among others, committed identity theft, impersonation and criminal conversion of N170million against his company.

According to the prosecution, the defendant further alleged that the persons and companies involved conspired and forged his signature.

At the resumed hearing of the case , the prosecuting counsel, Audu Garuba, told the court that though matter was slated for cross-examination of the defendant, the matter would no longer go on.

He told the court that there was a new development as the prosecution was served with an originating summons on a matter pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court to entertain the case.

According to Garuba, the summons further urged the court to withdraw any criminal charges against the defendant as directed by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Responding,  counsel for the defendant, Abdulkareem Musa said the defence was not aware of any pending case.

Musa added that what the defence was aware of was the directive given by the AGF that any criminal charge against the defendant should be strike out and therefore, urged the court to strike out the case.

After listening to both sides, Justice Kekemeke held that the proper procedure must be followed if parties want to withdraw the case before the court.

The judge further held that parties can discontinue a case before judgment, adding, however, that proper procedure must be followed in doing that, unlike the present scenario wherein the court is just hearing of letter which were not directed to it.

“The letters from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to the police is not directed to this court; it is to the Inspector General of Police. The police instituted this case, they should ordinarily obey the directive of the Attorney-General.

“The second letter, addressed to the Registrar of this court has just be filed at the Federal High Court; it indicates that an action has just been filed at the Federal High Court.

Read Also: Police rescue kidnap victims chained in Katsina Forest

“It (Federal High Court) is a court of co-ordinate jurisdiction. This court is not subjugated to the Federal High Court. If the police will obey the instruction and make an application to withdraw the case, the court will of course strike out the case.

“Similarly, if the Attorney-General comes to this court personally or by an official to take over prosecution and withdraw the matter, this court will oblige and strike same out.

“This court is an impartial body and  will equally standby until both parties are ready. Since the prosecution seems not ready to go on, I shall thereby grant an adjournment,” he held.

He adjourned the case until June 20 for continuation of defence.

(NAN)

Police in Katsina State have rescued five persons suspected to have been kidnapped while travelling from Abuja to Zamfara.

Police spokesman, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the rescue when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina on Tuesday.

He said a police patrol team rescued the victims on Monday from Katsina Forest in Kankara Local Government Area where they were chained.

“The rescued victims were travelling from Abuja to Zamfara on March 9 when they were kidnapped at Kushere village in Zamfara.

Read Also: Police tighten noose on “one chance” syndicate in Calabar

“The victims were taken to Katsina Forest and chained, but were eventually rescued by our operatives,’’ he said.

He added the rescued victims were responding to medical treatment as efforts were being made to reunite them with their families.

Sadiq-Aliyu assured that the assailants would still be arrested.

(NAN)

Residents of Owube Kingdom in Ahoada West Local Government Area on Monday trooped out to celebrate the killing of  Izuma David Odiereke, aka Solution, a notorious cult leader terrorising the area.

 A statement by the Police Public Relation frees Officer (PPRO), SP. Grace Iringe-Koko, said Solution had long been on the wanted list of the police.

The kingpin met his end in a gun battle with law enforcement officers in a forest within the Local Government Area around 4am.

A lot at the Ahoada Area Command, where Odiereke’s body was brought, Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the command declared him wanted in 2016 following many killings attributes to him.

He said: “We have been under attack from him and his cult group for some time. The command declared him wanted in 2016 due to numerous killings attributed to him. He is a serial killer, and his criminal activities have rendered his clan deserted.”

“The reign of terror perpetrated by Odiereke, came to an end when the command led a successful operation to his camp at Api forest, situated between Odiereke Ubie and Joinkarama 4 in Ahoada West LGA. Despite his attempts to evade capture, the command maintained relentless pursuit, eventually leading to his neutralization.”

Disu listed over 10 individuals killed by Odiereke’s Greenland Cult during his reign of terror, including the notable paramount ruler, Sampson, who fell victim to the gangster on February 2, 2024.

He commended the officers of the Ahoada Area Command and Division for their dedication and urged them to remain steadfast in their commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region.

Disu also expressed gratitude to the local community for their cooperation, providing crucial intelligence and credible information to aid law enforcement efforts.

Read Also: Police arrest fake Soldier for armed robbery, extortion in Kaduna

In a show of solidarity, members of the Ahoada West community gathered to express their appreciation for the Rivers State Police Command’s efforts in restoring peace.

 Ben Eke, Chairman of Ahoada East LGA, expressed his satisfaction, saying the fear would reduce criminality in the area

He said: “Even though he is from Ahoada West and was neutralized there, the ripple effects of reduced criminality will benefit my LGA.”

Paramount Ruler Seji Erbenezer of Owube community, Odiereke’s hometown, said the community had been relieved following his death.

He said:  “The community is relieved. This young man has been a terror, engaging in serial killings, kidnappings, and notorious cult activities.”

The statement said the  Rivers State Police Command remained committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

Pix of crowd that came out to celebrate the end of notorious Solution

The Kaduna state police command has arrested a fake soldier involved in armed robbery and extortion in the state.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, ASP Mansir Hassan, Ya’u Ja’afar, the primary suspect, was apprehended by alert officers from the Millennium City Police Division after receiving a report from a citizen.

The PPRO said: “The arrest culminated from a harrowing encounter on the 16th of March, 2024, where Ja’afar and his accomplices, still at large, wielded a shocking pistol to rob Abdulrashid Musa. The assailants fled with cash amounting to twenty-five thousand five hundred Naira and numerous mobile phones.

Read Also: Police recruitment: PSC shifts medical screening for applicants

“Prompt action by the surveillance team led to Ja’afar’s arrest, and a subsequent search of his residence yielded incriminating evidence, including army camouflage and a pistol. Commissioner Ali Audu Dabigi commended the dedication of the operatives and assured the public of the police command’s commitment to safety and security.

“The arrest of Ya’u Ja’afar serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice by the Kaduna State Police Command under the dynamic leadership of CP Ali Audu Dabigi, as they continue to strive towards a safer and more secure environment for all.”

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has rescheduled the medical screening/examination for candidates for recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force, from April 2 to April 16.

The rescheduled date, PSC said, is due to the ongoing Muslim Ramadan fast and Christian Lenten season.

The screening is expected to last for two weeks and will signal conclusion of the exercise. 

The exercises, PSC said, are expected to be held in the 17 Zonal Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force and in Kaduna, Yobe and Zamfara States which have been accorded special considerations because of the security challenges in those states.

According to a statement on Monday by the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, candidates from these states are to do the screening and practical tests in their states of origin. 

Ani said: “Due to the ongoing Muslim Ramadan fast and the Christian lenten period, the date for the medical screening/examination for candidates for Police recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force has been rescheduled to commence on Tuesday, April 16th 2024 to allow for the conclusion of these religious obligations.  

“Specialist applicants who participated in the physical and credentials screening but were not involved in the JAMB conducted Computer based tests will also be subjected to practical tests and medical screening during the period.

“Police Colleges situated in States hosting the Zonal Command Headquarters will also provide venues for the exercises. The Police Recruitment Board will contact shortlisted candidates with detailed information on where and when they are expected to arrive at the venues of their screening. 

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“Successful candidates from the medical screening will proceed to Police Colleges for their mandatory training”.

The Chairman of the PSC and National Coordinator of the recruitment Exercise, Solomon Arase has expressed happiness that at last the exercise is successfully coming to an end and: “more “boots ready to be injected into the system to join the battle to sanitize the security space”.

Arase assured that the new recruits have been painstakingly selected in the best possible processes that meet international standards and the local and peculiar challenges.

He said: “We are meticulously looking for high flyers and committed young Nigerians who will grow to become the bedrock of a new Nigeria security architecture. We are following every step of the recruitment with the required scrutiny and sense of purpose and we believe that as we continue with subsequent recruitments, we will have enough boots on the ground to recover the ungoverned spaces across the nation”

Arase commended the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and his management team for the success of the Computer Based Test (CBT), adding that JAMB has since built a reputation of excellence and reliability in computer-based examinations in the country.