The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Court orders police to pay N10m to church

    Court orders police to pay N10m to church

    An Effurun High Court has ordered the police to pay N10 million as general damages to a church, Truth Ground Prophetic Ministry Incorporated.

    The claimants, the church and Pastor Joshua Emmanuel Thomas, sued the police, demanding N50 million for general and special damages for the destruction and trespass on a land belonging to the claimants.

    Justice J.E Ikede ruled that the claimants were the true and bonafide owners of the  land on Ogbe Family Layout, behind Police Barracks, DSC Express-way Effurun.

    The Divisional Police Officer, Ebrumede, Suleman Ukhurebor, the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police and Police Service Commission were all defendants in the suit.

    The court also gave an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendant, their agents, servants and privies, from preventing the claimants from gaining accesses to the use and enjoyment of the piece of land.

    “A declaration that the claimants are the persons entitled to a land statutory right of occupancy over all that piece of land measuring approximately 1509.389 square meters lying being and situate at Ogbe Family Lay-out behind Police Barracks, Off DSC-NPA Express way Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area.

    “A declaration that acts of the defendants in entering the claimants said piece or parcel of land without their consent and authority and thereon perpetuated untold damages and destruction is illegal and amount to wanton trespass.

    “The sum of N10, 000, 000.00 (ten million naira as special and general damages for the destruction and trespass committed by the defendants on the claimants said land and properties,” the judge ruled.

  • Police stop Sri Lanka cyclists

    Four members of Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Games team sparked a police response after going for a ride down one of Scotland’s busiest stretches of motorway.

    The four Glasgow 2014 athletes were spotted cycling down the M74 before police intervened near the exit for Motherwell and Hamilton and informed them they were breaking the law.

    The junction is close to Strathclyde Park, which hosts the triathlon events on Thursday and Sunday.

    Police Scotland confirmed they had been called to a report of four cyclists on the M74 at Junction 6 at around 11.55am on Wednesday.

    A police spokeswoman said: “Police attended. Advice and assistance was given and the cyclists were advised to get off the road.”

    The spokeswoman confirmed they were from the Sri Lankan team and said the cycles were loaded on to a team vehicle and they left the area.

    A similar episode occurred during the Manchester Games in 2002 when two Kenya cyclists travelled 17 miles down the M61 before being pulled over by police near Bolton.

  • ‘Over 1000 police families to receive compensation soon’

    ‘Over 1000 police families to receive compensation soon’

    Over 1,000 families of Nigerian police officers and men who died or sustained injury during active service between 2012 and last year will soon receive adequate compensation, The Nation has learnt.

    The victims are those who were not covered as a result of the non-payment of insurance premium on the Group Life Assurance Scheme of Federal Government workers to insurers following the enforcement of ‘No premium, no cover’ policy by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in the insurance industry.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head Insurance Department, Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Turner disclosed this in an interview with The Nation.

    He said the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar had been working with the Budget  Office to pay the affected families.

    He said following the enforcement of the ‘No premium, no cover’ policy’by NAICOM, the money to be paid to the families cannot be termed as insurance claims any longer but compensation because no premium was paid to the insurers.

    Turner assured that going forward, premium on police Group Life Assurance Scheme will be paid up front.

    He noted that the police presently have insurance cover running for the year, as insurance premium has been fully paid.

    He believes premium should not be tied to quarterly allocation of the budget releases.

    He however stated that NAICOM ought to give a special concession to the police and other security forces in paying their premium owing to the nature of their job and the time when the Federal Government budget allocation is released, knowing full well that premiums are paid from the budget which comes every January after most of these polices may have been due.

  • Alleged kidnap: Police exonerate pastor

    A pastor accused of kidnapping a seven-year-old boy has been exonerated by the police.

    Pastor Ernest Chukwu-emeka Nwankwo of Holy Family, Happy Family Ministry in Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos was freed after the police found that he has “no case to answer”.

    A woman, Rosemary Chukwu who allegedly kidnapped Emmanuel Emeka on June 25, claimed that Nwankwo sent her on the mission.

    When she was apprehended by a mob, with Emeka concealed in a travelling box, Rosemary alleged that Nwankwo paid her N4million to steal the boy.

    But, Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said yesterday that Nwankwo “has no case to answer”.

    She said the pastor was granted bail because of lack of substantive evidence against him.

    Braide, however, said detectives were still investigating the case, adding that if anything implicating is found against Nwankwo, he would be re-arrested.

    Braide said: “The prophet is on bail. We can’t just detain someone because of allegation that cannot be substantiated. From preliminary investigations, we have not found any evidence to detain him. We have also sent the woman who made the allegation to the psychiatric hospital to ascertain her sanity; we are awaiting the result. The children found with the woman on the day of incident are nowhere to be found.

    The ministry, through its spokesman, Evangelist Patrick Adebayo, had earlier denied all allegations made against Nwankwo.

    The prophet said the woman found with the boy was neither a member nor a worker of the ministry.

    He stressed that the building where some people were found in chains was only used as praying ground for lunatics and not for ritual purposes as alleged.

  • Police beef up security in Lagos

    Police beef up security in Lagos

    The police have beefed up security in Lagos, following recent claim by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau that he ordered a bombing – Apapa, an industrial hub of the former capital city.

    Lagos State Police Commissioner Umar Manko told leaders of the Victoria Island community at a meeting at the weekend that the value of investment in the area cannot be take for granted hence the need for the community to be alert at all time.

    “We have been on top of security situation in Lagos. Victoria Island had recorded low crime rate in recent time.

    After the explosion in Apapa area of Lagos that Boko Haram claimed responsibility, the need for more enlightenment on security became necessary. I don’t want us to take the issue of Boko Haram’s claim for granted. The police and other security agents cannot do it alone.

    “We must be at alert. We have all the headquarters of banks and other big companies in this area. We need to secure our residents and offices; watch the people around your homes; report to security people any strange object, vehicles and persons.

    “This meeting is not to create panic but awareness of the time we area in. Terrorism is a global problem. Many countries have been facing the problem before it came to Nigeria, we must stand against it. If you see any strange bag, vehicles, can, cable connected material, don’t go close. Monitor the entering into the home and offices, control access to your building, car parks. Introduce screening devices, although, they are expensive, but not to the security of our lives and property. We should also take special note of our domestic workers. Hotels, eateries and cenemal centres must employ all security measures. No body is too big to be screen into your building,’’ Manko said.

    The Chairman of Iru/Victoria Island Local Community Development Area, Mr Abayomi Daramola, urged all landlords with private guards to register them with effect from today as part of security measures in the area.

    Daramola said 60 per cent of Victoria Island houses had been turned to commercial centres, warning that any private guard who is not registered would be arrested by the council’s task force.

    He said the council was working with the Ministry of Physical Planning to ensure that all vacant plots of land were taking care of by their owners to avoid them being used as hideout for criminals.

  • Pastor’s stolen bible lands robbery suspects in police net

    Pastor’s stolen bible lands robbery suspects in police net

    A bible found with a robbery suspect has led to the arrest of five others by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command. The holy book in question was said to have been found with 32-year-old Monday Patrick, leading to the arrest of five other suspected members of a robbery gang, namely Adeagbo Michael, Ismaila Kareem a.k.a. Asmuo, Odu John, Nwoke Promise and Ifeoluwa Coker.

    A police source told our correspondent that the owner of the bible, Pastor Adesoye Zaccheaus of Unity Estate, Igando, Lagos had reported to the police that as he was driving his car into his compound at about 8 pm on May 26, he was accosted by two armed men who forced him to move to the back seat before driving off to the road that leads to the Lagos State University.

    At a point on the road, they pushed him out of the vehicle and drove off to an unknown destination. Pastor Zaccheaus then went to Idimu police station to report the incident. SARS operatives reported the matter to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who directed the officer in charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, to take over the case and fish out the culprits.

    The complainant led SARS operatives to Oko Filling area of Igando where Monday Patrick and Michael Adeagbo were arrested. An instant search conducted at the building where they were arrested revealed two pairs of army uniform and a black bag containing the documents of the car that was snatched.

    The two suspects were taken to the Scorpion House headquarters of SARS at GRA, Ikeja, Lagos where they confessed that the robbery operation was carried out by Adeagbo and Ismaila Kareem a.k.a. Asmuo, and that the vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was with Kareem.

    Kareem was said to have been arrested at Iyana-Oworo area of Lagos. He corroborated the statements of the suspects and also named one John Odu as the receiver of the snatched car. Odu, who pretended that he was in Port Harcourt, was later caught at Ikotun area of Lagos while trying to receive another snatched vehicle from the same Asmuo, who was promptly arrested. Asmuo confessed that he snatched the vehicle but that it had been sold to a Port Harcourt-based customer named Promise Nwoke. Nwoke was later arrested and the vehicle was recovered.

    Asumuo also claimed that he sold one Toyota Camry to one Desmond Iwerem and one Ifeoluwa Coker in Ondo State while Desmond is still at large.

    Monday Patrick’s father was said to be the owner of the house the operatives searched and recovered a gun. The building is located on Emmanuel Street, a slum where some boys were found smoking Indian hemp. It was there the police discovered a bible bearing the pastor’s name.

    Narrating his role in the robbery operation, Monday Patrick said: “I don’t know my age. I only remember that I was born in 1982 in Ibilo village, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. I trained as a fashion designer.

    “I knew Michael through my work. He came to my shop to meet me with a black bag. When he came, I was busy working and he just dropped the bag and left immediately. He did not come back until three days later.

    “I had become worried and wanted to know what was inside the bag. I thought it was a cloth he had brought for me to sew. Surprisingly, when I opened the bag, I found a gun, books and a big bible. I started looking for him.

    “I smoke Indian hemp, but I have not stolen a pin form anyone. I am happily married with a child. I smoke (Indian hemp) twice a day; once before I start work and once at the close of work.

    “I used to sew clothes for him and we are close friends. He gave me phones whenever he had no cash to pay. But that had happened only two times.

    “When I saw the pastor’s bible, I liked it because it is big. I took it from the bag. When his mother heard that SARS operatives were combing the area, she picked the gun and went to the backyard to hide it.”

    The second suspect, who was said to have gone to prison several times, Adeagbo Michael (29), a native of Ile-Ife, Osun State, said: “I live at No. 27 Emmanuel Street, Governors Road, Ikotun. I am an okada (commercial motor cycle) rider.

    “Somebody gave me a bike on hire purchase and robbers snatched it from me. The owner of the bike took me to the police, alleging that I was the thief. I was charged to court and later sent to the Kirikiri Maximum prison on remand.”

    Asked how he snatched the pastor’s bag, he said: “We were two: Desmond and I. The pastor was coming back from work on that Monday. We took positions and waited for the man to come down. As he came down to open the gate, we rushed towards him.

    “We overpowered him and carried him into the car. He had only N1,000 on him. I took the money. When we wanted to push him out of the car, I gave him N400 for transport. We took him inside the car to stop him from shouting.

    “I was the one who brought the gun. I brought it from my village. Nobody taught me how to rob. It was when they seized my motorcycle that I became jobless. I did not know the pastor before. I just said let us take a stroll and look for something to snatch. Asmuo did not give me a kobo after selling it.

    “As for the snatching of laptops, we operated four times. But the one of jewellery and handsets (phones) happened two times. It was Lucky and Kunle, who is now in prison, who did the work with me. Lucky was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the police.

    “I smoke marijuana (Indian hemp) once every evening. It was in the prison that I learnt how to rob. In the prison, there is no teacher for robbery lessons. Every inmate narrates his experience and others learn from it.”

    The third suspect, Ismaila Kareem a.k.a. Asmuo (27), is married with a kid and hails from Okitipupa in Ondo State. But he resides at Okoafo area of Badagry.

    “He said: “I used to see Michael at Oshodi market area where we rode okada together.I was the one that drove. When we got there, Michael showed the man a gun and put him at the back seat. We dropped him off at Igando area.

    “We had used a pipe gun to snatch a Jeep at Festac side. I did it with Michael. I do smuggling at the Seme border with a Volvo car. Michael told me that he had gone to the village to bring a gun. I am an ex-convict.”

    On why he sold the car without giving Michael a dime, he said: “We decided to be working with the car, but I later decided to sell it. I don’t know his house. He normally takes me to the nearest junction to where he is living for me to wait for him.

    “When I sold the car, I called him and told him that I had not collected the money. I sold the car for N290,000 at the New Garage, Ifako, Gbagada. I used the money to pay the balance of my house rent.

    “I went to Kirikiri prison for using a bike to snatch a bag. I used to operate on Victoria Island, Lagos. I spent two years and three months awaiting trial. A court in Ikeja discharged and acquitted me for want of prosecution as the investigating police officer was absent in court.”

    The fourth suspect, Odu John (39), a native of Ahoda, Rivers State, says he is married with four children and formerly worked with a construction company, Dredging Atlantic, in Port Harcourt. He said his appointment was terminated in 2010 no money was coming into the company and the staff were redundant.

    He said: “I was arrested in connection with the pastor’s car. The car was snatched and brought to me by Asmuo to buy. I knew Asmuo through one Kehinde. I knew that the car was snatched. The pastor’s car was bought for N290,000. Another Toyota Camry was bought for N180,000 and I resold it for N280,000 while the one of N290,000 was resold for N400,000.

    “I live at No. 10, Dele Street, Ikotun. I relocated to Lagos in March this year. I met Kehinde in a restaurant in Ikotun this year and it was he that introduced me to the gang. He said they normally got cars to sell.

    “I graduated in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt.”

    The fifth suspect, Nwoke Promise (36), says he sells juice and is married with four children.

    He said: “I live in my own house, which I built in Ikwere, Port Harcourt. I bought the car for my senior brother for N400,000. The pastor’s bible was inside a bag. John and I attended the same primary school. He told me that his friend who works in the Customs had a problem and wanted to sell his Camry car for N600,000, but I later paid N400,000.

    “I did not know his work after primary school. He called me on the phone at a restaurant at the University of Port Harcourt and told me that he worked with Charles Ugwu, the previous NDDC Chairman, and I believed him.”

    The sixth suspect, Ifeoluwa Coker (28), graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who majored in Biology Education, said that Demond was his guardian in the church where they worship in Akure.

    He said: “I am a member of the Buccaneer fraternity. I was arrested in respect of a Toyota Camry. I worship with a new generation church.

    “I joined the Buccaneer in 200 Level. I was threatened to join them because I helped them to do their class assignments.

    “I went to Akure to receive the car.”

  • Bloodbath averted as police, soldiers clash in Anambra

    Bloodbath was averted yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, following a fight between policemen and soldiers.

    A source said trouble began at the Aroma junction where the policemen posted to the roundabout to control traffic, stopped motorcyclists and demanded N1,000 each from those who did not wear helmet.

    The source said a soldier, riding a motorcycle, later got to the point.

    Said he: “They told him to park. When he was about doing that, one policeman hit him, thinking he wanted to run.

    “The young military officer (name withheld) parked the motorcycle and told them he is a soldier (although he was not wearing uniform).

  • Police foil bank robbery in Osun

    The peoples of Modakeke, the headquarters of Ife East Area Office of Osun State on Thursday were under the fear of dare devil armed robbers, who attacked an old generation bank in the town for several hours.

    It was gathered that the robbers attempted to rob the bank located at Iraye area of the town but the police were able to dislodge the armed bandits.

    Eye witness account said that the robbers, numbering about six got to the bank around 3.00 pm but could not gain entrance into the banking hall before the police after receiving a distress call chased them away into the bush near the Modakeke High School.

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mrs. Folashade Odoro, prompt response of the police saved the bank from being robbed.

    She said the police were on the trail of the armed bandits but said no arrest has been made.

  • Police, Army clash in Anambra

    What would have been a bloodbath in Awka, Anambra State was averted Thursday following a fight that ensued between policemen and the military officers.

    Trouble started at the popular Aroma junction in Awka where policemen posted to the round about to check traffic decided to stop every motor cycle operator (Okada) and began to demand for, 1,000 naira each for not wearing helmet.

    Unknown to then, when a military man who was riding a motor cycle got to the point they stopped him and demanded that he should park well, when he was about doing so, one policeman hit him thinking he was running away.

    The young military man (names withheld) parked the okada and told them he is a military man, though, not in uniform, the police man slapped him, and he retaliated, then the police men out numbered him.

    They told him to kneel down; but the military man refused and thereafter made contact to his superiors.

    Sensing danger, the first police man who slapped him ran away before the reinforcement from the military arrived.

    The leader of the Police Squad stationed at Aroma, Laz Ebehe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) molested and assaulted reporters who trooped out to witness the scenario.

    All the motorcycle operators stormed the arena in protest of the fee being demanded by the policemen at Aroma who they claim, harass and intimidate them with their guns.

    When the state police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka was contacted on the incident, he quickly told the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), in charge of operations Olafimihen Adoye, who immediately contacted the divisional police Officer in charge of B Division Maikudi Shehu (CSP).

     

     

  • Police uncover plot to attack Abuja transport network

    Police uncover plot to attack Abuja transport network

    The police said on Saturday it has uncovered a plot to attack the Abuja transport network.

    The force said in a statement that the plot could be carried out by suicide bombers, using devices concealed in luggage at major bus stations.

    Abuja has increasingly been targeted by Boko Haram sect, with three deadly bombings since April, including one in a bus park that killed at least 75 people, Reuters says.

    “Credible intelligence indicates that terrorists have perfected a plot to carry out attacks on the Abuja transport sector. The move is intended to cause panic amongst Abuja residents and visitors,” police spokesman, Frank Mba, said in a statement.