Author: Wura Kelani, Crime Reporter

The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) is set to arraign Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others, in court for alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, and involvement in a N1,356,057,330.43 billion fraud. His father, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence is also standing trial in court for alleged multi-billion naira fraud in a case instituted by the EFCC. Others to be arraigned alongside Obanikoro are: Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited. The suspects will…

Maj.-Gen. Eyitayo Oyinlola has assumed duty as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, near Jos, and Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH). Oyinlola took over from Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, who has been posted to the National Defence College, Abuja. He thanked the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, for finding him worthy to head 3 Division and OPSH. He promised to sustain the successes achieved by his predecessor and ensure lasting peace in Plateau and other areas of responsibility. Earlier, Abubakar congratulated…

The Nigeria Police Force says its operatives have rescued the wife of the former Assistant Inspector General, Hakeem Odumosu Mrs Folasade Odumosu. Mrs Odumosu was abducted last Thursday at the entrance of her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State. The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Adejobi said with the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged Odumosu’s abductors in a gun duel and neutralised the criminals in the swampy area of…

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, made an order proscribing the Lakurawa sect. The court also proscribed other similar groups in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central regions of the country. Justice James Omotosho made the declaration while delivering a ruling in a motion ex-parte originating summons filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The AGF had in an ex-parte application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/41/2025, approached the court seeking four orders. An Assistant Director in the Federal…

A Federal High Court, in Lagos on Friday, restrained the Federal Road Safety Corps from arresting vehicles with faded number plates. The court also ordered the restriction of the FRSC from imposing any fine or punishment on any driver for driving with a faded vehicle number plate. Justice Aluko made the orders while delivering judgment in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/253/2024, filed by Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube against FRSC. The applicant, Ezebube, in an Originating Summons dated January 12, 2024 and filed on February 13, 2024, by his lawyer, U.G.Nwokedi, had asked…

The Federal Government has received $52.88 million in recovered assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United States of America. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed this during the formal signing ceremony of the asset agreement between Nigeria and the United States in Abuja on Friday. In his remarks, Fagbemi, according to Channels TV reports, explained that $50 million of the recovered assets would be deployed through the World Bank for the development of rural electrification projects, while the…

Nigeria has called on the United Nations to investigate the funding and training of the Boko Haram terrorists. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, made the call in a recent interview he had with Al-Jazeera. Musa said there was international flow of funding for the terrorists, stressing the need for the UN to come in to trace and track it. The defence chief, who questioned how the insurgents had sustained themselves for 15 years, also fingered international conspiracy in providing the terrorists with funds, training and equipment.…

Saudi Arabia has released three Nigerians earlier arrested and prosecuted for alleged drug trafficking. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the release followed a high-level diplomatic engagement between the Nigerian government and Saudi authorities. The three Nigerians namely: Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah and Fatima Gamboi were arrested for alleged possession of a substance suspected to be cocaine while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. According to the statement, they were arrested and prosecuted on March 5, 2024,…

Nigeria’s military authorities have cleared the air on allegations that its recent operations in Northwest of Nigeria bombed two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving many villagers dead while several others injured. Spokesman for Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, did not confirm if military jets struck the communities, he however admitted that there is a significant risk that Lakurawa and other terrorist groups “may attempt to undermine military successes through media disinformation, necessitating caution concerning unverified claims, especially in the ongoing fight against terrorism…

A human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi, has been released from the correctional centre in Ekiti State after meeting his bail conditions. Farotimi was released on Tuesday morning. Last week Friday, at a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, granted Farotimi bail conditions, including a N30 million bond, two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner, a submission of Farotimi’s passport and a prohibition of Farotimi granting media interviews once released. However, addressing media personnel after his release, Farotimi said he had never had any course to lie…

The Zone-2 Police Command in Lagos has apprehended two suspected international fraudsters allegedly involved in forging foreign certificates in Lagos and Ghana. In a bold move underscoring their integrity, the police operatives turned down a bribe offer of N66 million from the suspects. AIG Adegoke Fayoade, who heads the Zone-2 Command, confirmed the arrest on Monday. “These suspects, identified as Elvis, 23, and Kelly, 24, specialised in forging certificates from foreign institutions and African universities, deceiving unsuspecting victims online,” Fayoade disclosed to the News Agency of Nigeria. This commendable action…

Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State has expressed concern over a reported death sentence passed on a young man in the state for stealing a fowl. In a statement on X.com on Tuesday, Adeleke directed the state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice to launch a full investigation into the case and initiate processes to grant the young man a prerogative of mercy. He wrote, “I have received the report of a case of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun State for stealing a…

The Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, is gripped with fear and anger following the death of its 81-year-old treasurer, Dennis Okugbaye, in military detention. Okugbaye’s demise comes barely six days after the community’s President-General, Pa James Oghoroko, reportedly died in similar circumstances in military detention. Pastor Akpos Okugbaye, the son of the late community treasurer, tearfully announced his father’s passing on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through the already mourning community. Both leaders, alongside others including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and…

Afam Osigwe, SAN, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association has called on Nigerians and members of the legal profession to take affirmative steps towards eradicating corruption. Osigwe made this appeal on Monday in Abuja while joining the global community to commemorate the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day, themed “Uniting with Youths Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.” The NBA President emphasised that Nigeria’s survival depends on its ability to eliminate corruption. Describing corruption as a complex phenomenon involving fraud, embezzlement, illicit financial flows, administrative malpractice, mismanagement of public resources, lack of…

Nigeria’s military high command says it has invited the international human rights organization, Amnesty International, to defend its allegations against the armed forces that 10,000 civilians died in its custody. It described the claims by the international rights group as “malicious, shocking, lacking in merit as well as mischievous” adding that the armed forces of Nigeria as a professional organization could not have engaged in what it was accused of. Amnesty International at a press briefing n Maiduguri on Thursday accused the military of sending 10,000 civilians into early grave…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission announced its largest asset recovery, a massive 753 housing units located in Lokogoma District, Abuja, since its establishment. The recovered asset, located in the Federal Capital Territory, is an estate spanning 150,500 square meters and comprising 753 units of duplexes and other apartments. The estate is situated on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. The recovery followed a ruling delivered on December 2, 2024 by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie. On November 1, 2024, the judge had given an order of interim forfeiture on…

The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier today, swore in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). The ceremony took place at the Council Chamber of the State House Abuja as Kekere-Ekun becomes Nigeria’s 2nd female presiding officer of the apex court. The event had in attendance Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Ministers of Information, Muhammed Idris, FCT, Nyesom Wike, Justice, Lateef Fagbemi and Special Duties, Mr Zephaniah. The swearing-in of Kekere-Ekun as substantive…

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II has expressed his readiness to intervene in the Fulanis crises in the country to provide a permanent solution to the problems. Speaking while receiving the leadership of a Fulani group, Tapital Pulaku Njode Jam Nigeria, on Tuesday, in his palace, led by Modibbo Jada, said it was high time for the government to provide a permanent solution to the Fulani crises in the country. He said, “But this can be done only if the Federal Government will give me full support to…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday said a man, who was one of the masterminds of the crisis that ravaged Sudan, was among the organisers of just-concluded #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest. Egbetokun, clarified that the operatives of the force did not raid headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), but an office in the building being used by the foreigner. The police chief, who stated this in Abuja during a Youth Summit organised by the force, specifically said the raid was not targeted at the labour leaders but the…

Bandits have ambushed soldiers on patrol in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing four of them. Two others were also injured during the attack which occurred this weekend. The member, representing Gudu at the state House of Assembly, Yahya Gudu who confirmed the attack said the assailants burnt down two patrol vehicles of the operatives. “Yes it is truth, some gunmen ambushed soldiers on patrol along Kukurau-Bangi road on Saturday and killed four of them while two others were injured. They also burnt down their patrol vehicles,” he…

The wife and two daughters of a Kogi-based journalist, Muhammed Bashir, were among the ten members of the same family kidnapped on Thursday in Kaduna State. Bashir’s wife and his two daughters arrived in Kaduna earlier on Thursday for a holiday with her (the wife’s) family in a suburb of Kaduna. In a terse statement, Bashir, a correspondent with the Nigeria Telegraph, disclosed this to colleagues on Friday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. “My dear colleagues, please I need your prayers. My two daughters and their mother, including eight…

A Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Sini has said he turned down a N150m bribe allegedly offered to him by a Lagos-based businessman, Akintoye Akindele to have peace of mind. Akindele who was arraigned for the offence at the Federal High Court in Abuja in August 2023 was remanded in the Kuje correctional centre. According to the charge sheet, the bribe was offered to allow police to permit him to escape abroad and to write a favourable report for him after the investigation. Sini was said to have led the Inspector…

A prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged $6 billion Mambila Power Project fraud, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has narrated how former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, received multiple transfers totaling N5.2 million from one Mr. Jide Sotirin, an employee of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd. An EFCC statement on Thursday via X noted that the revelation came during Agunloye’s trial before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, where he faces seven-count charges bordering on official corruption and…