Category: Crime

Details have emerged on how gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted the wife of Hakeem Odumosu, a former Lagos state commissioner of Police and retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State. The Witness gathered that the four hooded heavily armed men intercepted the wife of Odumosu as she was about to enter her compound at about 9:55pm on Thursday. Her Lexus SUV was forcibly stopped, and she was dragged out before being whisked away through a swampy area to an…

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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…

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The Kebbi State Police Command of the Nigerian Police has announced that its officer rejected a ₦1,060,000 bribe offered by suspected bandits in the state. This was stated in a release signed by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, and made available to the media in the state on Tuesday. According to the statement, “On January 13, 2025, at about 1800hrs, one Umaru Garba ‘m’ aged 53yrs of Dangandu village, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji Mamman ‘m’ aged 51yrs of Maimaichi village, all of Arewa LGA, and Usman Muhammadu ‘m’ aged 50yrs…

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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…

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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.…

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The Katsina State Police Command has commenced a manhunt for the killers of the state chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Surajo Ahmadu, who was attacked and killed in Mai Rana village, Kusada Local Government Area, on Saturday. The command’s spokesman, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the suspected bandits stormed Surajo’s residence, shot him, and abducted his wife and daughter. The statement read, “On January 4, 2025, at about 11:30am, suspected armed bandits invaded the residence of the Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Surajo Ahmadu,…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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A Bayelsa State High Court has convicted the Senior Special Assistant on General Duties to Governor Douye Diri, Mr Prudent Oguruguru, on a two-count charge bordering on assault. Oguruguru was arrested for inflicting harm on one Ubong Effiong Ubek, which led to the latter being unconscious at Agudama-Epie on February 20, 2024. He was subsequently arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, serious assault, and malicious damage before Justice I. A Orukari. During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges,…

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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…

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Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State, on Tuesday, said he doubted if the release of the detained leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, would end the pervasive insecurity in the South-East. Soludo argued that criminals had hijacked the Biafran struggle and were now exploiting the Biafran struggle and Kanu’s name to perpetrate organised crime and fuel insecurity in the South-East region. Soludo noted that under the guise of agitation, these individuals had turned to “lucrative criminality,” engaging in armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and idolatry.…

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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…

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Remanded leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, is being held at the Kylmäkoski vankila (Kylmäkoski prison), one of the world’s toughest prisons, findings by Saturday PUNCH have shown. The high security prison is in Vanhamaantie, Akaa, Finland. The Finnish government had announced the arrest of Ekpa alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing. The Finnish police confirmed that Ekpa, who described himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, allegedly used social media to promote violence in…

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Officials of the Sokoto State Hisbah Board have intercepted and confiscated over 200 cartons of substances suspected to be alcoholic drinks at the Sokoto Central Motor Park. Addressing journalists at the Hisbah office in Sokoto on Wednesday, the state Hisbah Commander, Usman Jatau, paraded the seized items. Jatau stated that no one had come forward to claim the confiscated drinks and that the Hisbah Board would consult the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General to determine the next course of action. Outlining the rules and regulations guiding residents’ conduct…

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General, Olufemi Oluyede, has warned criminal elements to pack out of the country, emphasising that the Nigerian Army under his leadership is coming with full force. Oluyede said this while addressing the troops of the 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna when he paid a maiden operational visit on Wednesday. He said the adversaries should be ready to face a more serious and formidable Nigerian Army. Oluyede disclosed that as of December 10, he signed his command philosophy, which was hinged on leadership, sound…

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A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, barred human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the hard or soft copies of his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’. A similar order was issued by an Oyo State High Court, which also granted an interim order restraining Farotimi or any person acting through him from further printing the controversial book. The activist lawyer is currently embroiled in a legal battle over the controversial book. The police have arraigned Farotimi…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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No fewer than 8,034 terrorists were killed and 11,623 arrested during various operations across the country in 2024. Also, crude oil worth N57,052,218,551 was recovered and 6,376 kidnapped victims were rescued between January and December 2024. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba disclosed this at the biweekly update on military operations in Abuja on Thursday. He said, “Troops aggression across the various theatres of operation since the beginning of the year culminated in 8,034 neutralised terrorists; arrested 11,623 and rescued 6,376 hostages. “Additionally, troops recovered 53,101,430 litres of…

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Foremost legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has alleged that lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi defamed him in a book published recently. The accusation stems from a Supreme Court judgment involving a land dispute that spanned over two decades. In a petition dated November 19 and addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola detailed how his law firm discovered Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System and the defamatory contents therein. “I write to report…

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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…

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An Abuja based e-hailing driver, Stephen Abuwatseya has apologised to the House of Representatives member representing ABA North/South of Abia State in the National Assembly, Alex Ikwechegh who assaulted him after an altercation occurred during a package delivery. In a video statement released to the press on Thursday, Abuwatseya expressed regret for provoking Ikwechegh and asked Nigerians for forgiveness. He also urged everyone to move on from the incident. He stated, “Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a…

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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has said that a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh is being interrogated at its Maitama Divisional headquarters. Ikwechegh, who represents Aba North and South Federal Constituency, was alleged to have assaulted an e-hailing driver, Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya. According to a trending video, the lawmaker slapped the driver when he requested the delivery fee, querying if the driver knew who he was talking to. The lawmaker also threatened to make the driver “disappear” without facing any consequences. In a statement on…

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A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh. who assaulted an e-hailing driver, Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya, who went to deliver a package to him on Sunday, has apologised for his widely condemned action. The apology titled, ‘A statement of Regret and Commitment to Justice’, which was written in Abuja on behalf of the embattled federal lawmaker, by one Cornell Osigwe, was dated 28 October 2024. Confirming the authenticity of the statement to TheNiche, a high ranking government official said: “This is the correct version. He didn’t write it…

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The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has said the party has set up a disciplinary committee to investigate its controversial lawmaker and that, if found guilty, appropriate sanctions would be applied on Hon. Alex Ikwechegh who assaulted an e-hailing driver, Stephen Abuwatseya. who went to deliver a package to him. The Nigeria Police Force said it was already handling the case following the driver’s official report. It warned the public to stop using the name or the office of the Inspector-General of Police to intimidate others. In a statement on…

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