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Tag: Police

  • Bricklayer sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling 7-year old niece

    An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Monday sentenced a bricklayer, Idowu Ismail Gbolahan, 30, to life imprisonment for defiling a 7-year old girl (names withheld).

    Justice Abiola Soladoye of found Gbolahan guilty of the offence of defilement of his niece.

    The trial judge sentenced him to life imprisonment following his guilty plea to lone count charge of defilement brought against him by the Lagos State government after arraignment.

    He was said to have defiled the seven year old girl, his niece, when she went to visit her grandmother at No 50 Maroko Road, Shomolu, Lagos on August 11, 2018.

    The prosecution Mrs. Fehinti Ogbemudia told the court that the defendant carried the victim from her grandmother’s room where she went to drink water.

    According to her: “The defendant suddenly carried the victim to his room and shut the door.

    “He removed her pant and had sexual intercourse with her.

    “The victim’s scream attracted a neighbour, one Ukfot Esther, who led the rescue of the victim.

    “Defendant made confessional statement and the victim was referred to the Mirable centre of Lagos State Teaching Hospital for medical examination to corroborate her evidence.

    “Both confessional statement and the Mirabel report attached to the proof of evidence which is before the court. We rely on the provision of section 213 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2015.”

    Read Also: Offa robbery: ‘Wounds on suspects’ legs not caused by gunshots’

    She urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant based on his guilty plea.

    In his allocutus, defendant cousel, Kelechi Obi, pleaded for mercy, adding his client is the first offender having no record of criminal offence and he did not waste the time of the court.

    Delivering judgement in the matter, Justice Soladoye held that the defendant upon arraignment, admitted to defiling the victim who is a seven-year-old child.

    She also held that he pleaded guilty to one-count charge of defilement of a child contrary to section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015

    “I have listened carefully to the allocutus of his defence counsel Mr Kelechi Obi.

    “I hereby hold that the offence in question is a strict liability offence.

    “An offence against a child is a violation of her chastity and I cannot imagine the emotional and physical scars she will endure for the rest of her life.

    “Idowu Ismail Gbolahan, male, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. This is the sentence of this honourable court,” Justice Soladoye said.

  • Wounds on Offa robbery suspects not caused by gunshots, doctor tells court

    Medical doctor in charge of medical welfare of inmates, Kwara state prisons command, Olaleye Paul Olasunkanmi Monday told Ilorin High Court trying the Offa robbery suspects that the report of the medical examination on the suspects did not show that the wounds on their legs were as a result of gunshots.

    But the court admitted in evidence the medical examination report on the wounds allegedly inflicted on the suspects during the course of their interrogation by the police.

    The medical examination was conducted by Dr Obiora Adunichukwu.

    The suspects are; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.

    At the resumed hearing of trial- within- trial, Olasunkanmi presented the medical examination report before the court.

    Olasunkanmi said that the instrument used in the hospital cannot tell the date that the injuries occurred during the cross-examination.

    He said the fracture seen on the X- ray film showed that the fracture was there in the past and was caused by metallic object.

    “I am satisfied with the medical examination presented to court despite not being the author. The author followed due process which has provided answer to the needs of the court.

    “I have informed the court that the date cannot be told by our instrument and the injuries are caused by trauma.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Yusuf Beki, Olasunkanmi testified that there is no place where gunshot was mentioned in the report.

    In his response, the defence counsel, Mathias Emeribe, prayed the court to allow further examination of the cause of the wounds on the legs of the suspects by a ballistician.

    He said since the court is after dispensing justice on the matter the assistance of the ballistician in the matter was necessary.

    Responding, the prosecutor Yusuf Beki said the submission of the defence counsel is not valid in the case and urged the court to discountenance it.

    He said a ballistician cannot determine the cause of wounds, saying ballisticians don’t work in the hospital.

    He added that ballistician only determine the various forms of guns.

    The trial judge, Justice Haleeman Salman, in his short ruling dismissed the submission of the defence counsel, saying that the Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) has no authority to order a ballistic examination of the wounds on the suspects’ legs.

    “This is outside the power of the CMD of UITH and I agree with this. This application is tantamount to attempts to delay the dispensation of this case. The application is hereby dismissed,” the Judge ruled.

    Read Also: Offa robbery: Court refuses post-mortem of dead suspect

    During the continuation of proper hearing of the case after a short adjournment, the defence counsel further submitted that the combined effects of the prolonged detention of the accused spanning six months without arraignment “as facts can show is enough torture itself which goes against constitutional provisions.

    “The implications of this weaken the accused emotionally; the prosecution cannot precisely tell when the accused were arrested or taken to Abuja. This leaves us with no option than to conclude that the prosecution was lying.

    “There is no medical report to show that Michael Adikwu died of natural causes. This shows that the prosecution is lying. There is a consistent story line by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and fifth accused that from the day of their arrest they have been under torture.

    “In the light of all this fact, it is difficult to conclude that whatever statement wherever it was obtained provided it occurred during the currency under the custody of the police was never voluntary. It was a statement that was given to stay alive.”

    The defence counsel further argued that the contents of the medical report earlier tendered and admitted in evidence by the court “gives credence to the story line that the (accused persons) confessional statement was obtained under duress and that the crux of the matter that makes the admissibility of the confessional statements impossible.”

    Responding, Beki said that the medical examination report showed that “the evidence of the prosecution witness in the trial- within- trial is credible, having not been discredited in any way. I urge the court to admit the evidence of prosecution witness.

    “Metallic is not same as bullet pellet. The doctor said that if it were to be gunshot despite being healed, it would have shown. We urge Your Lordship to admit these statements. “

    Justice Salman however, adjourned ruling on the admissibility of the accused confessional statement to a later date.

    She also adjourned continuation of hearing to May 2, 2019.

  • Family of five, 3-month-old killed in Ebonyi boundary crisis

    The Police in Ebonyi state have confirmed the death of eight persons, including a three- month baby in resumed boundary dispute between two communities in Ebonyi state.

    While six of the victims said to be from the same family were burnt to death in a bus they were traveling in, two others were also killed from bullet wounds they sustained from the attacks.

    The attack happened along the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike road near the border between the two communities.

    Police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.

    She said the incident happened on Saturday.

    According to her one of the victims is a wife of a Police officer serving in the state but who is on secondment to Borno state to fight insurgency in the Northeast.

    Read Also: Kidnapping: Police deploy IGP squad in 8 troubled Katsina LGs

    “It is a longstanding dispute between Ndiagu Alike community in Ikwo loal government area and Enyibichiri community in Abakaliki local government area that erupted the on Saturday.

    “A vehicle was seen burning on the road allegedly set ablaze by warriors from one of the communities.

    “The victims were coming from Abakaliki where they attended a matriculation of their son.

    “Five of them were from the same family including a little baby and one is a neighbour who joined them. They were burnt to ashes.

    “Also three other persons were also attacked and two of them were killed. One of them a woman was the wife of a police officer deployed to Borno state”.

    The communities have been battling an intractable land tussle for decades.

    All attempts to settle the dispute by successive administrations in the state have proved abortive.

    Details shortly…

  • Kidnapping: Police deploy IGP squad in 8 troubled Katsina LGs

    The Katsina State Police command on Monday announced the deployment of the IGP special squad drawn from Police Mobile Force Units, Counter Terrorism Unit, IGP Special Tactical Squad, Explosive Ordinance Department and Anti Robbery Squad and the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, under operation ‘’Puff Adda’’, to the 8 frontline local Government Areas mostly afflicted by criminal activities in Katsina State

    The State Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba told newsmen that the anti-kidnapping squad will be strategically deployed in three critical units along the affected Local government’s corridor, with each unit focusing on three local government areas at a time to tackle the menace of criminality in the areas

    He further disclosed that the squad went through specialized training, facilitated by the International Peacekeeping Training team from the Force Headquarters in Abuja and were expected to engage and arrest suspected bandits, kidnappers and cattle Rustlers and also to respond to distress calls along the routes.

    He said ’’I am appealing to the members of the general public to support and partner with the Nigerian Police force by providing credible information that will lead to the arrest of suspected persons in connection with these heinous crimes’’

    To those aiding and abetting criminality in the affected Local Government Areas, he charged them to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law

    ‘’I wish to also warn persons within the communities aiding and abetting the bandits by way of information or provision of logistics like fuel and food items to desist from such unwholesome practices’’ he said.

    Read Also: Police kill three bandits in fresh Kaduna village attack

    The State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, commended the Inspector General of Police for the initiative and assured that the State Government will do all it can to provide the needed operational logistics within its budgetary limits to ensure the success of the venture

    He said’ kidnapping and banditry in the state has suddenly turned a thorn in the flesh to the inhabitants of the state, and we will do all that we can and are ready to cooperate with the Police’’

    ‘’government will provide all needed logistics and whatever it takes, the government is ready to tackle the challenge in the state’’

    He warned the team to effectively patrol the length and breadth of the affected local government areas to make their presence felt by the communities rather than staying in one location

  • Police kill three bandits in fresh Kaduna village attack

    Policemen have killed three of the armed bandits that stormed Kakangi Village of Birnin-Gwari Council, Kaduna on Saturday in a gun battle.

    But the police lost two of their men in the cross-fire.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the development yesterday in a statement.

    The PPRO said: “The command received a distress call through DPO Randagi on 6/4/19 at about 1900hrs that armed men in large number entered Kakangi village of Birnin Gwari council, who started shooting sporadically and attacking the villagers.

    “Upon receiving hints, combine teams of PMF personnel, conventional police and men of a vigilance group were quickly mobilised to the village to engage the bandits in fierce gun duel and successfully repelled the attack, but however, two of our men paid the supreme sacrifice during the intense gun duel with the bandits.

    “Our gallant men gunned down three of the bandits and several others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.”

    The PPRO added: “One Inspector Aliyu Mohammed and Sgt Rabiu Abubakar both attached to Randagi Division as well as Sgt Ibrahim Nasir along with six civilians were injured and are now receiving treatment at the General Hospital Birnin-Gwari. The attackers also torched some houses in the village.”

    He said the command has mobilised more reinforcement to the area with a view to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice.

    “The Commissioner of Police Ahmad Abdurrahman has condemned the attack and assured members of the public that the command will fish out the culprits. He, however, appealed to the good citizens of the state to support the police with prompt and relevant information that could help in getting rid of the bandits.”

    The police chief prayed for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers, who lost their lives in the operation and quick recovery of the injured persons.

    But, the Chairman of Birnin-Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagwari, while narrating the incident, said the bandits stormed Kakangi around 5pm on motorcycles, shooting sporadically at the police station before proceeding on a house-to-house attack and burning down houses.

    He quoted a survivor of the attack at Gagumi Kakangi as saying that they were sitting in front of the police station and suddenly bandits heavily armed started shooting.

    One of the survivors said he jumped through the fence to escape.

    As they were escaping, thick smoke from several locations overshadowed the sky.

    Nagwari, however, added that he learnt from several sources that many people were feared killed, including high profile indigenes of Kakangi, who were attending a mass wedding.

  • Unclassified films: Censors Board seeks cooperation of Police

    THE National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) wants greater cooperation and partnership with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to enhance its fight against unclassified films and video works.

    Executive Director of NFVCB, Mr. Adedayo Thomas, said this when he led his management team on a visit to AIG David Folawiyo of the  Department of Training and Development (DTD) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

    According to Thomas, the visit was to congratulate Folawiyo on his recent elevation, noting that he “has been very supportive to the board in its enforcement operations, since his days as Police Commissioner.”

    He lauded the Nigeria Police for its crucial role over the years, in supporting the operations of the NFVCB, a key regulator of the film industry across Nigeria.

    He however added that the increasing growth of the Nigerian motion picture industry has also made the enforcement and compliance operations of the board more tasking, which made collaboration with relevant stakeholders imperative.

    “The Nigeria Police has been part of the reasons why the NFVCB is standing tall in regulating our film industry, and we are quite appreciative of this and have not taken it for granted.

    “Our enforcement raids across the country, including tough places like Alaba International Market, Lagos, have been made successful with the help of the police.

    “While appreciating your support, we would also like to request your support in providing training for our officers as Special Constabularies in other to boost our enforcement drive.

    “We need to regulate what goes out for public consumption, as we have been fighting against the distribution of films and video works not licensed and classified for distribution in Nigeria,” he said.

    Responding, Folawiyo who assured that the board’s request would be considered, said: “Once you formally request, we shall be very willing to get your officers trained, and to also give you slots to make your officers available for the Avance Detective Course.”

    The Executive Director and his team also visited and felicitated with Taiwo Lakanu, DIG in charge of Supplies and Logistics, who also assured the board of a cordial working relationship.

  • Anambra most wanted criminal suspect remanded

    Most wanted criminal suspect in Anambra state, Ikechukwu Udensi (alias IKANDA), has been remanded in Onitsha prison till Thursday, May 30.

    This followed his arraignment on Friday before Chief Magistrate, Chioma Amuche of Magistrate Court Two Onitsha over his involvement in the murder of an Onitsha-based businessman late Ndubuisi Nwokolo.

    The suspect was accused of committing the crime on June 2018 in accomplice with five others at large including Tochukwu Aneke, Eze Okwuchukwu and Ebuka Udensi.

    Counsel to the complainant, Chief Barr Charles Okafor, lauded the Nigerian Police Force for the arrest as well as ensuring his prosecution for murder case.

    He said: “We are looking upon the judiciary to deliver justice in this case. The Magistrate Court Onitsha has no jurisdiction to try the case presided over by Magistrate Chioma Amuche.

    “The only thing she has power to do is to remand the accused person; after which we are coming back on 30th May 2019 for compliance.

    “The compliance is to ensure that the case file is forwarded to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for which the case would be referred to Onitsha High Court which has powers and jurisdiction to entertain murder cases.”

    Chairman of Ogalonye Bright Street Line, Main Market Onitsha, Mr. Francis Maduka, demanded justice to put an end to this kind of atrocity in the state.

    He said: “Every right thinking person in Anambra state understood that IKANDA was declared wanted for many killing atrocities he has committed in Onitsha.

    Read Also: NEPAD trains 500 Anambra youths

    “Although he has those backing him up, he takes the state as though it was his personal property; that’s why he killed the deceased.”

    Present at the court were the mother, father and wife of the deceased (Ndubuisi Nwokolo), former chairman, Onitsha Market Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA), Chief Godwin Okeke.

    There were protesters outside the courtroom, demanding fierce justice against IKANDA who allegedly killed one of their own.

  • Court remands Inspector charged with murdering Kolade Johnson

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday remanded till May 6, a dismissed Police Inspector, Olalekan Ogunyemi, charged with murdering a football fan, Kolade Johnson.

    Magistrate A.O. Salawu remanded Ogunyemi at Ikoyi Prisons, pending advice from Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The court’s order was sequel an application by the police.

    Ogunyemi, 45, of No. 17, Alhaji Ede Street, Igando, was docked on a one-count charge of murder.

    Prosecuting Inspector Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 31, at about 5:10pm, at Onipetesi Estate, Idi-Mangoro, Lagos.

    He alleged that Ogunyemi, who served in the Anti Cultism Unit of Lagos State Police Command, shot Johnson, a 36-year-old father of one, to death, with his Ak47 rifle.

    Read Also:  Police Inspector who killed Kolade Johnson dismissed

    The offences, the prosecutor said contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Olatunde informed the court that he had a remand application order by the police to remand the defendant for the next 30 days.

    The plea of the defendant was not taken by the court, because magistrates’ court don’t have jurisdiction to try a charge of murder.

    But the defendant’s counsel, Sola Adeyemi, opposed the 30-day remand request.

    Adeyemi prayed the court to instead remand the defendant for the next 14 days.

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Salawu upheld the prosecutor’s application and adjourned till May 6.

  • Residents nab ‘kidnap’ syndicate operating in Taxi

    Residents of Bariga have arrested members of a suspected kidnap and robbery syndicate operating in a taxi.

    The suspects including an old man said to be the driver were arrested on Wednesday after one of the victims identified their operational vehicle, a dark green Toyota Camry.

    It was gathered that the victim, a woman, had boarded the taxi on Tuesday on her way to work but was diverted towards Badagry Expressway where her hands, legs and mouth were tied.

    The gang comprising four men, allegedly dispossessed her of her phone, N20,000 and other valuables before pushing her out of the vehicle inside a bush, to find her way.

    Luck however ran out of the gang on Wednesday when the said victim saw them and raised alarm.

    According to a resident, Alhaji Kolade Awofeso, one of the suspects fled but the mob was able to apprehend three.

    “The remaining three were taken to Bariga Police Station including the elderly man (driver). Surprisingly at the Bariga Police Station, the suspects were familiar with the policemen.

    “They surprisingly asked the elderly man about the stolen items collected from the victim. He responded that he has handed them over to one Mama who turned out to be the owner of the vehicle used for the unbridled kidnapping and robbing,” said Awofeso.

    Meanwhile, armed robbers last weekend attacked a photojournalist with Security Express Magazine Oluwasegun Falola at his 17, Bajulaye Street Shomolu residence.

    According to the victim, the robbers attacked his residence around 3am on Saturday, while he was asleep and hit his head with a cutlass after he told them he did not have money.

    Read Also: Police restrict night operation of Okada in Badagry

    The robbers, he said demanded his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, laptop, three telephones, video camera, computer hard drive and other valuables before exiting his apartment.

    Falola said they also locked him inside his apartment so he would not be able to come out or raise alarm, adding that he had to break his window to seek help from nearby De-Bajo Hospital since he was bleeding.

    But the victim’s plight was worsened after he realised that the robbers had withdrawn the only N50,000 he had which he planned to use in offsetting his medical bills.

    He said he was still at a loss as to how the robbers were able to access his account without his pin, adding that he had reported the case at the Alade Police Station in Shomolu.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) confirmed that two of the kidnap suspects were in custody and investigation was ongoing.

  • Melaye damaged 2 police vehicles while attempting to escape – Witness

    A prosecution witness on Friday, told an FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja that Sen. Dino Melaye, damaged two police vehicles in an attempt to escape from custody.

    The witness, ASP Dennis Agbi, member of the IGP Special Tactical Squad, made the allegation while testifying in the ongoing case of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage to police property, filed against Melaye.

    Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, is facing trial on a six counts of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage to police property.

    The witness informed the court that while on duty on April 24, 2018, a white-coloured Toyota Hilux with Registration No. MKA 603 GY, was brought for him to record as exhibit.

    He further told the court that when he inspected the evidence, he discovered that the right headlight of the van and part of the vehicle bumper were damaged.

    Agbi told the court that he marked the Hilux as exhibit NO. CER/STS/11/2018A in his records.

    Read Also: Saraki, Melaye, Murray-Bruce urged to surrender

    The white-coloured Toyota Hilux with Registration No. MKA 603 GY brought to an FCT High Court

    He said that the second vehicle was a white Hiace bus with front right side mirror broken, and the left side back window glass, broken.

    The witness told the court that the bumper CER/STS/11/2018B in his records.

    After the inspection of the vehicles by the judge, they were admitted and marked as exhibits by the court.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Jovi Oghojafor, said that the Certified True Copy of the records of exhibit was not available to be tendered in court.

    He further requested for an adjournment, to enable him to bring it at the next adjourned day.
    Justice Silvanus Oriji adjourned the case until May 16, May 27 and May 28.