The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police arraign businessman for raping minor

    Police arraign businessman for raping minor

    A 40-year-old businessman, Cosmos Ajibo, who allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl, was on Monday charged before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Junaidu Aminu, told the court that one Barira Isyaku reported the case to Takai Police Division on Jan. 19.

    Aminu said that the accused committed the offence on Jan. 19, at about 5.00p.m in Unguwar Tsamiya Quarters, Takai Local Government.

    He said that the accused had dragged the girl to his room when she went to buy biscuit from his shop and “forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with the victim, which caused her harm.”

    The offence is punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code.

    Ajibo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape, and his counsel, Mr Casmir Agbueze, applied to the court for bail.

    Senior Magistrate Kabiru Abubakar, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    He said both the accused and surety shall deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.

    The case was adjourned to Oct. 20, for mention.

  • Police reveal identity of inspector killed in Ekiti

    The police have revealed identity of the officer killed in an attack by gunmen suspected to be robbers on Friday night in an attack on Ido Ekiti Police Station, Ekiti State.

    The officer, Inspector Taiwo Oloniniyi, was gunned down by hoodlums while on duty about 7.25 pm.

    Two others were seriously injured in the attack, and their weapons stolen from the armory.

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said police authorities have paid a condolence visit to the family of the late officer.

    Adeyemi, who said no arrest has been made, added that investigation was on to unmask perpetrators of the attack.

    Barely two days after, Ido Ekiti is calm. But residents are yet to recover from the incident, as they called on relevant authorities to ensure their safety.

    A source said the incident formed prayer points in some churches yesterday, as  worshippers prayed against a repeat of the attack.

    Governor Ayo Fayose, in his reaction, expressed sadness at the incident and commiserated with the police, family of the deceased.

    Speaking while appearing on his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor”, Fayose said Ekiti was experiencing shortage of policemen because officers refused posting to the state.

    Fayose said: “We don’t have enough policemen in the state and I think it might be because this is not a state where you can get so much from.”

  • Police confirm clash with soldiers in Abakaliki

    The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed Saturday evening’s clash between its officers and soldiers from the Nigerian Army Cantonment at Nkwagu, near Abakaliki, the state capital.

    Police spokesman George Okafor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed this yesterday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.

    But Okafor said the matter had been resolved amicably.

    According to him, the clash was unfortunate and efforts have been made by the two agencies to forestall such occurrence in future.

    Okafor said: “The matter has been peacefully resolved and we urge the public not to panic over the development but be assured of their safety at all times.”

    The spokesman, who declined further comments on the matter, also failed to confirm whether or not police officers involved in the clash sustained injuries.

    An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, told NAN that the incident occurred at 1, Water Works Road in Abakaliki.

    He said: “Trouble started when a police patrol team on a road check requested for the identity cards and vehicle particulars of army officers from the Nkwagu Military Cantonment.

    “The soldiers rode a tinted Toyota Camry car with registration number BWR 886 AE and a black Toyota Jeep with the inscription of ‘Bride’ used to convey a newly wedded couple.

    “The soldiers, who were in their uniform – except one person, told the police team they were returning from a wedding and felt embarrassed by their request for the documents.

    “At this point, one of the police officers stopped the soldiers from passing and the latter angrily fired sporadically into the air.”

    The witness, who is a security agent, said the policemen called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on phone, adding that one of them slapped a soldier.

    “The clash subsequently ensued and the policemen, who had the upper hand, took some of the soldiers to the command’s headquarters and confiscated their rifles.

    “The soldiers, who escaped from the scene, rushed to the cantonment and, on their way, allegedly attacked some policemen near the cantonment and held them hostage,” the security agent told NAN.

    The eyewitness said one of the policemen held by the soldiers was released and he rushed to the command to report that some officers were being held at the cantonment.

    “This development almost affected the peace moves by both security agencies, but the situation eventually normalised following intervention by top echelon of both agencies,” the source added.

    The Army authorities had not reacted to NAN enquiries or made public their reaction over the development.

  • Abduction: Police in Enugu to sensitise school owners

    The Police Command in Enugu State has concluded arrangements to carry out a pro-active security sensitisation for school operators and owners to check cases of abduction of pupils and students.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the command is taking the step against the background of growing incidences of abduction of primary and secondary school pupils across the country.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, told NAN in Enugu on Sunday that the sensitisation would stress the need for school operators and owners to be security conscious.

    He noted that the sensitisation would also cover partnership with relevant security agencies toward ensuring a safe and secured school environment in the state.

    “The first phase of the programme will commence around first week of November 2016.

    “We have started circulating information and correspondences concerning the programme.

    “The command would involve critical stakeholders, offices and personalities on the programme as well as journalists to spread the security message.

    “The programme is mapped out in order to sensitise various school operators and owners with a view to making them security conscious.

    “This would help in the actualisation of the principles of pro-active policing the command is noted for,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu said that the first edition of the school operators and owners sensitization is part of the expanded programme of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV).

    NAN recalls that two weeks ago pupils and lecturers of Junior Model College, Igbonla, Epe in Lagos State were abducted.

    The Federal Government through negotiation is already securing the release of over 200 school girls abducted in Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok , Borno, kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.

  • N30m fraud: Witness absence stalls trial of ex-FCMB manager

    N30m fraud: Witness absence stalls trial of ex-FCMB manager

    The absence of a prosecution witness on Thursday stalled the trial before a Federal High Court Lagos, of a former FCMB branch manager, Rosemary Usifo, charged with N30 million fraud.

    The accused was arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit of the police on a charge of fraud.

    She had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum, one of who must be a blood relation with landed properties.

    The accused was, however, remanded at the Kirikiri prisons as she was unable to perfect her bail conditions.

    On Thursday, the trial of the accused could not go on due to the absence of a prosecution witness.

    When the case was called, the prosecutor, Mr Effiong Asuquo, apologised to the court that he could not proceed with trial as his witness was absent.

    He said that he had called the witness to remind him of the day’s proceedings, and to ensure his attendance, but was informed by the witness that he was bed-ridden.

    Asuquo therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable his witness attend court to give evidence.

    The trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, consequently, adjourned the case to Dec. 8 for trial.
    In the charge, the accused was said to have committed the offence in 2011.

    The prosecutor alleged that the accused defrauded a bank customer, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr Archibong Nkanga, of N30 million.

    The money was alleged to have been obtained from the fixed deposit account of the customer.

    The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 1(2) (a), (c), and 3 (1) (2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

  • Epe kidnap: Victims were ferried in two speedboats

    Epe kidnap: Victims were ferried in two speedboats

    …As police arrest Isheri ‘kidnappers’, reads riot act
    Kidnappers of the four students and two teachers of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe ferried them to safety in two speedboats, The Nation learnt Wednesday.

    It was gathered that Abu, Emmanuel Okonkwo, Jeremiah Ruth, Isaac Adebisi, Junior School Vice Principal, AO Oyesola and English teacher, Lukman Oyerinde were dropped off inside a forest where they trekked for over two hours before meeting their relatives.

    The Nation gathered that they were asked to walk in a straight line and not look back until they got to the point where family members of the sick victim and another parent have waited for over four hours.

    While the Vice Principal was said to have been in front, Oyerinde, it was gathered, was asked to stay at the back of the queue so that the children could be protected.

    The victims were taken to General Hospital, Epe for checkup, were some of them were diagnosed of typhoid and malaria.

    However, efforts to see the victims Wednesday failed as our reporter was told at the hospital that they have been discharged.

    According to the father of one of the victims, they were moved to a private residence in Epe, where the school’s principal addressed them.

    He said: “They spent several hours at the hospital and were later moved to a house in Epe town where the principal addressed them. Some of them were diagnosed of malaria and typhoid, including the one who was sick.

    “Two parents went to a designated place in Epe, where the kidnappers asked them to come. They were at the place around 6pm and stayed there till about 10pm without any sign of the victims.

    “As it was getting late, they said they were scared but had to remain there because that was the kidnappers’ instruction.  So, around 10:30pm, the victims were seen and they told them that they trekked for over two hours on a straight line, without looking back.

    “It seems where the speedboats dropped them off was the island of the militants because they said that it was inside a bush.

    “You cannot talk to my son bow because they are still busy but when we are ready, I will invite you for interview.”

    Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has read riot act to kidnappers, especially those operating in Lagos and Ogun states.

    Idris sounded the warning while confirming the arrests of suspected kidnappers of landlords at Oshorun Heritage Estate in Isheri North, Lagos.

    According to a statement signed by the Force spokesman, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCP), Natei Okunna (gang leader), James Kegbe alias JJ, ThankGod Segede and Trust Bourdilon were apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a unit under the IGP, while they were spending their loots.

    He said: “This feat was achieved as a result of due diligence and intelligence led policing exhibited by members of the Force and the zeal shown by public spirited citizens to rid our society of crime.

    “The suspects were arrested at different locations where they had gone to spend their share of the ransom. They, in the course of investigation, volunteered confessional statements admitting their involvement in the kidnap incident.

    “The IGP has restated the commitment of the Police Force to fight crime, especially the prevalent scourge of kidnapping to a bearable and tolerable state. He urges Nigerians to always be law abiding and to see themselves as stakeholders in this noble cause.”

  • Court orders police to pay retiree N5.7m, 10% pension benefits

    Court orders police to pay retiree N5.7m, 10% pension benefits

    •Police to pay N700,000 litigation cost

    In Industrial Court in Lagos has ordered the Police to pay a retired policeman, Inspector Samson Amadasun, his N5.74 million pension and gratuities.

    The court also ruled that the Police should pay the retiree10 per cent interest on the arrears of salaries, pension and gratuities from July 2012 till date and N700,000 as a cost of litigation.

    The court stated that falure to pay the arrears within 30 days will result to additional 21 per cent.

    Amadasun had in February, last year sought redress from the court against his employer, the Police Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police, the Pension Department, Nigeria Police and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) for unjustly and unlawfully withholding his salary arrears, pension, gratuities and other benefits since he was reinstated and retired on July 27, 2012.

    Counsel to the retiree (claimant), Kehinde Bamiwole of Kehinde Hassan Bamiwole & Co. in the claimant’s final written address, said the retiree was enrolled into the Nigeria Police on January 1, 1974.

    He stated that he rose to the rank of Corporal in 1980 and between 1983 and 1984, he was promoted Sergeant. He was promoted Inspector of Police in 1994.

    He said the claimant was suspended and dismissed from the services of the Police on the December 15, 1997 but was later given a letter, stating that he had been reinstated.

    According to him, the defendants realised the injustice meted out to the claimant who did nothing wrong before he was suspended, dismissed, reinstated and later retired on September 27, 2012.

    He said: “The claimant thereafter made formal demands for the payments of his salary arrears from December 1997 to July 2012 together with his pensions, gratuities and other entitlements. The claimant made all efforts to get his entitlements paid.

    “One DCP Ayo Akinsanmi of the defendants even wrote a letter on the claimant’s behalf in order for the salary arrears, pensions and gratuities to be paid.

    “One Elochukwu Nwakwo Esq. appeared for PenCom, the 4th defendant in March 2015 and did promise the court that all the accrued of the claimant shall be paid upon the provision of some documents by the claimant.

    “The claimant made efforts and collected all the documents from appropriate offices of the first defendant, the Nigeria Police four good times, but neither verification nor payment was made to the claimant on his accrued interests from 1974 to 2004 when the repealed Pension Reform Act, 2004 came into existence and the claimant’s benefits from 2004 till he was retired in 2012.

    “The said Act introduced Contributing Pension Scheme (CPS) for the payment of retirement benefits of employees in the country. The Act has been repealed with Reform Act, 2014.

  • Police arraign man over laptop theft

    Police arraign man over laptop theft

    A 23-year-old man, Ukanwa Justice, who allegedly stole a laptop valued N82,000, was on Tuesday charged before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

    Justice, whose address is unknown, pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 23 at 12.00 p.m. at Living Faith Church, Canaan Land, Ota.

    He said that the accused stole a laptop valued N82,000 belonging to one Oluyori Dele.

    Mustapha said that the offence contravened Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Vol.11, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.I. Adelaja, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Adelaja said that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed.

    She also ordered that the sureties should submit four recent passport photographs to the court and produce one year tax payment to Ogun Government.

    In addition, the Magistrate said that they should swear to an affidavit of means and their addresses should be verified by the police.

    The case was adjourned till Dec. 27 for hearing.

  • Police not part of ‘sting operation’ in Rivers

    Police not part of ‘sting operation’ in Rivers

    The police yesterday said they were not involved in the sting operation against judges in Rivers.

    Commissioner of Police Francis Odusanya won’t be punished for being at the scene during the botched operation in Port Harcourt, they said.

    Police spokesman Don Awunah, said in Abuja that Odusanya was at the scene where Governor Nyelsom Wike and his loyalists were locked in a conflict with Department of State Services (DSS) operatives to prevent a breakdown of law and order..

    He said: “The attempt to arrest a judge by the DSS was not a joint operation. But generally speaking, police are obliged to assist sister agencies when called upon.

    “With respect to Rivers State, the CP’s attention was called to the location where there was apparently a fracas. He was there in time to prevent possible breakdown of law and order. When he arrived there, the governor was there.

    “Maybe the governor had a pre-knowledge of the official assignment of the DSS. So, the CP was invited there and he went because there was fracas or disagreement between the parties. He was there to mediate and arbitrate.

    “It was his intervention that prevented the issue from degenerating because there were other people gathering, including some politicians and government officials who accompanied the governor. There were over 200 people there.

    “You could imagine an attempt by a security agency trying to do their legitimate function and maybe there were obstructions. So, it is not that the CP was part of the operation; he was only called upon to intervene. I am not aware of any plan to sanction the CP. There is no conflict with this issue.”

     

  • Police arrest four ‘illegal’ vendors of uniform, accoutrements

    Police arrest four ‘illegal’ vendors of uniform, accoutrements

    The police have arrested four persons who allegedly run a factory where some people produce and sell its uniforms, accoutrements at the Police College, Ikeja.

    Police boots, belts, badges, ranks, shirts, trousers, force numbers, cardigans and caps were recovered from the suspects, currently being grilled at the X-Squad, unit.

    It was gathered that some concerned persons had petition the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris about criminals coming into the college to purchase police uniforms in the factory.

    Idris, The Nation gathered, constituted a panel of inquiry headed by a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), which recommended thorough investigation on the issue.

    “When the recommendation was forwarded, the Commissioner of Police directed X-Squad to take over. We went to the shops and discovered that truly people were selling police uniform and kits and people believed to be civilians were coming to buy them.

    “We have to arrest the people in the shops and seized 11 big bags of police uniforms and kits such as belts, identity cards, emblems, boots, socks among others.

    “The exhibits and the suspects have been moved to the state command headquarters, while we are still tracking the other suspects on the run,” said a source.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said the suspects would be charged go court for conspiracy and unlawful possession, sale of Police kits.