TheNewsGuru

Tag: Arrest

  • Wanted man, 80, arrested after 27 years on the run

    Wanted man, 80, arrested after 27 years on the run

    An 80-year-old man has been arrested at an airport after 27 years on the run, British police said on Tuesday.

    Richard Burrows, who is accused of historic sexual abuse of children, was arrested at Heathrow on Thursday after returning to the UK from Thailand, a spokesman for Cheshire Police said.

    The force said he has been wanted since December 1997 when he failed to attend Chester Crown Court to face trial for two counts of buggery and 11 counts of indecent assault.

    The charges relate to alleged abuse between 1969 and 1971, reported to have taken place at a children’s home in Congleton, Cheshire, and in the West Midlands.

    Detective Eleanor Atkinson, from Cheshire Police, said: “Our determination to locate Burrows has not faltered over the past 27 years and his arrest marks a significant step forward in this case and the beginning of closure for all those involved.

    “I would like to thank the public for the information that they have provided over the years during our search for Burrows and I hope that his arrest provides some reassurance.

    “I also hope that his arrest acts as a warning to any other wanted suspects – demonstrating that no matter how long you hide, we will find you and you will be arrested.”

    Efforts to locate Burrows since his disappearance have included a Crimewatch appeal in 1998.

    Duncan Burrage, National Crime Agency (NCA) international liaison officer in Thailand, said: “Utilising our international network and working closely with Cheshire Police colleagues, we have been able to track down a fugitive wanted in connection to extremely serious allegations.”

    Burrows has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear at Chester Crown Court, the police spokesman said.

  • Peter Obi faults manner of Abure’s arrest

    Peter Obi faults manner of Abure’s arrest

    The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed dissatisfaction at the manner which the Nigeria Police operatives handled the arrest of the party’s National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure, on Wednesday.

    Obi in a statement on his X handle platform said that there could have been a better way to handle the arrest of the party chieftain to “show we are … in a democracy”.

    He said: “Like many Nigerians, I observed the distasteful national television news reports detailing the humiliating arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, in Benin City, Edo.

    “Throughout my roles as a private individual, public figure, Governor, and Presidential candidate, I consistently advocated for the paramount importance of upholding the rule of law in any sane society.

    “I firmly believe that, as citizens, we are all duty-bound irrespective of our status in society to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority.

    “My stance on this matter remains unwavering but does not explain watching the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest.

    “This act is undesirable and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria.”

    He described the manner of the arrest as deplorable, saying such manner of arrest must be not only denounced but also actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect within our society.

    “Regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr Abure’s arrest, it is crucial to emphasise that while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process and established arrest procedures.

    “The officers must embody civility, decorum, respect for the dignity and rights of citizens, and, above all, the presumption of innocence.

    “It is crucial to emphasise that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria,” Obi said.

    Abure and some LP party members who were arrested by the police on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo capital,have however been released.

    Also, after the arrest, Tijani Momoh, Spokesperson for Zone 5 Police Headquarters, Benin City, said Abure was arrested over a petition in a case of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit dangerous harm.

    Momoh had on Wednesday, while briefing newsmen, said that the police did not assault the LP national chairman in the process of arresting him.

    The police spokesperson said some persons tried to prevent Abure’s arrest, which led to an altercation between them and police operatives.

  • Just In : Police accost 22-year-old for buying car with fake bank alert

    Just In : Police accost 22-year-old for buying car with fake bank alert

    The Police in Ondo State have accosted a 22-year-old man, Bakare Ayobami, for allegedly buying a car with fake bank alert.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Akure.

    Ms Odunlami-Omisanya said that on October 26, 2023, a case of cybercrime was reported to the police, involving one Bakare Ayobami aged 22, of Ode Irele in the Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The PPRO explained that Ayobami had on October 20, 2023 at about 1800hrs, went to a car stand belonging to Filani Oluwaseun and Ogbaguwa Oluwasola at Ikare Road, Owo, to buy a Toyota Corolla 2006 model in the sum of N4,650,000.00 using fake bank alert.

    According to the PPRO, through intelligence gathering, police operatives attached to Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, arrested Ayobami Bakare and his accomplice, one Abdullahi Abubakar, aged 26 in Ekiti.

    “The stolen vehicle was recovered in Osogbo, Osun State, while another Toyota Camry 2014 model valued at N6.2 million suspected to have been stolen, was also recovered from the suspect.

    “Other items recovered include one iPhone 12 PRO Max valued at N600, 000 and one iPhone 14 PRO, all purchased with fake transfers,” he said.

    Ms Odunlami-Omisanya, who said that the suspect had confessed to the crime, said he would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.

  • How Ex-Sokoto gov, Bafarawa allegedly diverted N4.6bn from office of NSA – EFCC

    How Ex-Sokoto gov, Bafarawa allegedly diverted N4.6bn from office of NSA – EFCC

    A Second Prosecution Witness, in the trial of a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, Kassim Yusuf, on Tuesday, recounted before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, that the former governor diverted a staggering N4.6billion he received as security fund from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

    This was according to a statement by the spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale.

    The EFCC is prosecuting Bafarawa on amended 25-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds to the tune of N4.6 billion.

    Other defendants in the case are, Bashir Yuguda, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Dalhatu Investment Limited and Sagir Attahiru.

    Yusuf, an officer of the EFCC, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that N4.6billion security funds received by Dalhatu Investment Limited from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, ONSA, Colonel Dasuki were used to sponsor Sokoto State indigenes on Muslim pilgrimage and finance Bafarawa’s 2015 presidency quest, as well as offset his overseas mortgage, and acquisition of expensive vehicles comprising Lexus, Toyota Hilux pickups and 16 Peugeot 206 cars for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP local government chairmen in the state.

    The PW2 further revealed that N1billion was given out from the sum to about 10 Bureau De Change, BDC operators for conversion to dollars.

    “About 10 BDCs said Dalhatu Investment Limited sent somebody to collect the money and about N800 million was transferred to Dalhatu Investment Ltd’s domiciliary account to be converted to dollars. Funds were paid to a company called Development Strategy International Ltd. The directors of the company are Islam Wali and Muhammad Wali who are cousins to Ambassador Abdullahi Wali,” he said.

    The witness further revealed that Ambassador Abdullahi Wali received the sum of N5580million from Dalhatu Investment Ltd, which Bafarawa released to him for his 2015 Sokoto State gubernatorial aspiration.

    The Lexus that was purchased was bought by Dalhatu Investment for Abdullahi Wali’s election. Muazu Madawaki who received N322million was also invited. He told the investigation team that the money was for payment for Umra and Hajj allowances, hotel accommodation and flight tickets for some Sokoto State pilgrims. Ahmed Yahya received N327million and when he was invited he said the money was for political activities. He is the personal assistant to Bafarawa. Ibrahim Maigana received N111million from Dalhatu Investment for political activities in Sokoto State. He was the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at that time. One Musa Soba received N85million on behalf of nine aspirants in the state for the House of Representatives”, he said.

    The witness further informed the court that one Muhammad Gambol supplied the Toyota Hilux pickups and 16 Peugeot 206 for the political campaigns of Ambassador Wali.

    “I recovered about 14 of those PDP local government chairmen’s cars. One Amanze Obi received the sum of N15.3million for political publicity for Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa Presidential campaign. About £123,000 (One Hundred and Twenty-three Thousand Pounds) were transferred to the United Kingdom to offset a mortgage for Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. We wrote back to the National Security Adviser, Major General Muhammad Mungonu and he confirmed that the monies were simply diverted without executing the project,” he said.

    After listening to the testimony of the witness, Justice Halilu adjourned the matter till April 14, 2024 for continuation of trial.

  • Anambra govt arrests woman for planning to sell 2 sons for N2m

    Anambra govt arrests woman for planning to sell 2 sons for N2m

    Anambra government has arrested a 38-year-old woman for attempting to sell her nine-year-old and seven-year-old sons for N1 million each.

    Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, told newsmen on Wednesday in Awka that the woman’s eldest daughter, a 17-year-old, was also arrested for being part of the scheme.

    Obinabo said the accused and her eldest daughter were arrested when she (the commissioner) posed as a potential buyer of the boys after she got the hint of the transaction.

    “I heard about the transaction and decided to pose as a buyer. The suspect told me she would sell the boys at the sum of N2 million but after serious negotiations, she settled for N1.8 million.

    “The culprits stay at Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, but we lured them to Awka to seal the transaction and they were eventually arrested.

    “The state government condemns this kind of act and will continue to intensify efforts to eradicate such crimes.

    “The suspects will be handed over to the police and will be prosecuted accordingly,’’ she said.

    Fielding questions from newsmen, the suspect, an indigene of Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra, said she decided to sell the two boys because of economic hardship.

    She said she has 11 children, but could not afford to cater for them, hence her decision.

    “I had only two kids before the death my husband and had the other nine children for other men. Ever since, it has been difficult to adequately care to and support them.

    “This is my first attempt. I only developed interest in the business of selling children after my neighbour successfully sold one of her kids.

    “I planned to do the business alongside my eldest daughter because the money will also be used to advance her tertiary education,’’ she said.

    After the suspect fielded the questions, the commissioner ordered that her other children be taken into the state government’s custody for proper care.

    Obinabo said that plans were underway to arrest the suspect’s neighbour after which contact tracing would follow to retrieve the child she sold.

  • Heavy ‘kasala’ for ex-BPE DG, Okoh, jailed, to cough out N10m for contempt of court by Supreme Court

    Heavy ‘kasala’ for ex-BPE DG, Okoh, jailed, to cough out N10m for contempt of court by Supreme Court

    Supreme Court has upheld the judgement of the lower courts, which imprisoned the immediate-past Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Alexander Okoh, for contempt of court.

    The apex court further slammed a fine of N10m on Okoh, who was sacked by President Bola Tinubu on January 8, 2024.

    The BPE and Okoh had appealed to the highest court to overturn the decisions of the courts downstairs that slammed jail term on him for refusing to grant ownership of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria to BFIG Group Corporation.

    In 2004, the BPE advertised an application of interest for bidders for the privatisation of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria.

    At the end of the exercise, BFIG won the bid, and BPE notified the company with a letter dated June 17, 2006.

    Despite this, the BPE nullified the bid result, which led to a long legal dispute.

    Although BFIG’s case was dismissed by the lower courts, the apex court allowed the appeal in 2012.

    The Supreme Court ordered the BPE to rescind its decision to cancel the bid and hand over the company to BFIG, but the BPE refused.

    In April 2019, BFIG initiated contempt proceedings against the BPE and Okoh.

    The court then ordered that Okoh be remanded in prison for at least 30 days until he purged himself of the continued disobedience of the court and further contemptuous conduct.

    In December 2019, BPE prayed for a stay of execution of the committal order against Okoh, the Appeal Court in a unanimous ruling affirmed the Abuja Federal High Court order.

    Dissatisfied with the judgement, the BPE approached the apex court for redress.

    Justice Tijani Abubakar, while reading the lead judgement on Friday, resolved all the issues against the appellants.

    Abubakar tongue-lashed the BPE and Okoh for disobeying several orders issued on the matter, describing their actions as “scandalously shameful and disgraceful.”

    The Judge said, “The above application leaves no one in doubt that the appellant disobeyed the other of this court, especially the order that restrained the appellants or their agents from reselling, negotiating, or transferring the company. This is a flagrant disobedience to the order of this court.

    “Court orders are meant to be obeyed and must be obeyed. The appellants treated the order of this court with total disdain and disrespect. The conduct of the appellants is scandalously shameful and disgraceful.

    “Agencies of government must respect the law. Nobody in this country is above the law. The appellants are not to choose the order of the court to obey or not. For this reason, I resolve the issues against the appellants.

    “This appeal deserves to be dismissed, and it is thereby dismissed. The judgement of the appeal court is affirmed. The cost of N10m is awarded against the appellants. The cost is to be paid personally by the second appellant (Okoh) in addition to going to prison.”

  • Arrest of alleged Gistlover staff: Popular broadcaster asks IGP to release his brother

    Arrest of alleged Gistlover staff: Popular broadcaster asks IGP to release his brother

    …demands explanation on why they were paraded

    Popular broadcaster and producer, Executive Director of Hallowmace Foundation, Anderson Osiebe has asked the Inspector of General Police to release his brother one of the arrested alleged staff of Gistlover.

    In a letter made available to journalists on Sunday and signed by Anderson Osiebe entitled: ‘PARADE OF ALLEGED GISTLOVER SYNDICATE TRIO BY THE NIGERIA POLICE: TRUTH OF THE MATTER’, he declared that his brother has no link with Gistlover.

    Osiebe explained how the police on different occasions deceived him after perfecting his brother Isaac Akpokighe’s bail papers.

    Hear him:

    “My name is Sunny Anderson Osiebe, a Nigerian and cousin to one of the accused, Isaac Akpokighe.

    “To the best of my knowledge, Isaac is not a member of the Gistlover syndicate as accused by the Nigeria Police.

    “Isaac and 2 others were brought into Abuja on the 3rd of December, 2023, by the Cybercrime department of the Nigeria Police.

    “I intervened in the matter, and after over 2 weeks of police investigation, they discovered that he was not actually a suspect in the matter.

    “This made the police to grant him bail under certain conditions.

    “I swung into action and got the level 15 officer as requested by the Police for his bail.

    “On the 24th of December, just at the point of perfecting the bail conditions, the Investigation Police Officer (IPO) incharge of the case, told me that he just received an order from above to change it to a level 16 officer.

    “This made my cousin to spend the Xmas break in detention.

    “Consequently, on the 27th of December, I got a level 16 officer to stand as a surety.

    “His documents were accepted while the letter of introduction from his place of work was rejected.

    “This again made him to spend the new year in detention.

    “On the 3rd of January, 2024, the surety brought another letter of introduction which the Police Cybercrime department accepted. This meant that all the bail conditions have been fully satisfied.

    “At that point, they didn’t know what excuse to give me or anybody else.

    “After about few hours of waiting, the IPO came out to tell me to go and come back on Friday, the 5th, to enable the DIG investigation give final release approval.

    “Only for the Police to parade them that same Friday I was asked to come back to get my cousin, Isaac Akpokighe.

    “The police said in its press release that they would be charged to court after investigation.

    “Does this mean that the police didn’t do due diligence before parading them???

    “How do you parade people you are still investigating???

    “Which reasonable and responsible organisation does that???

    “It amounts to defamation and intimidation.

    “This is happening at a time President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has constantly assured Nigerians of a renewed hope in all ramifications.

    “It’s most unfortunate and disheartening that one has to go through hell to secure bail for an innocent Nigerian.

    “Gistlover has openly demanded that the Police should show the world the link the trio have with its operations.

    “From the communication and interaction I had with the police before the parade, I demand the immediate and unconditional release of my brother as he has no link whatsoever with Gistlover.

    Sunny Anderson Osiebe
    Publisher, Producer, Broadcaster, Convener

  • VIOs can arrest traffic offenders, FRSC clarifies

    VIOs can arrest traffic offenders, FRSC clarifies

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) have legal backing to arrest traffic offenders depending on the state within which they operate.

    Deputy Corps Marshal at the FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem, stated in Abuja that the motoring public should give maximum cooperation to VIOs for the enhancement of safety on the roads

    A unit commander of the FRSC in Abuja had earlier declared that VIOs did not have the right to arrest road traffic violators, including those operating overloaded vehicles or motorists caught using phones while driving.

    The Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the unit commander to the national headquarters for necessary administrative and disciplinary actions.

    “The general public is advised to disregard the unit commander’s statement as it had no approval of the FRSC Corps Marshal and does not in any way reflect the corporate or general position of the FRSC.

    “In line with sustaining the Corps’ resolve that road safety is a collective responsibility, we acknowledge the role VIOs play in complementing the responsibilities of the FRSC through the enforcement of traffic laws,’’ Kazeem stated.

    He enjoined the motoring public to always comply with all established traffic regulations and to cooperate with security agencies deployed to maintain law and order on the highways, irrespective of their corporate mandate.

  • Israel arrests over 500 suspects in West Bank

    Israel arrests over 500 suspects in West Bank

    Israeli security forces have detained over 500 suspects in anti-terror operations in the West Bank since the escalation of the conflict with Hamas, the Israeli military said Thursday.

    A total of 524 people are being held, including at least 330 active members of the Islamist organisation that launched a major assault on Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7.

    More than 50 weapons were also confiscated, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

    The security situation in the West Bank has been increasingly tense, since the bloody attack by hundreds of Palestinian fighters on Israeli border communities 12 days ago.

    Support for Hamas remains strong among the Palestinian population of the landlocked territory adjoining Jordan.

    There are no official numbers of members of Hamas.

    However, a poll in September showed that in the event of a presidential election, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh could expect half of the vote if the only other candidate was Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

  • FCCPC summons Erisco Foods over alleged consumer arrest

    FCCPC summons Erisco Foods over alleged consumer arrest

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has summoned Erisco Foods Limited for allegedly arresting a dissatisfied consumer for her negative review of one of their products.

    According to reports, one Chioma Egodi Jnr. on Sept. 17, expressed her dissatisfaction on Facebook after using Nagiko Tomato Mix, one of the company’s products.

    FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Babatunde Irukera, said on his X(Twitter handle) on Tuesday, that the Commission’s operatives had confirmed the arrest of the consumer.

    Irukera said the summon on Erisco Foods Ltd. was to secure an explanation from the company.

    According to him, summons are being issued to Erisco Foods Limited immediately.

    ”This is to ensure that businesses are not engaging in conduct that creates a chilling effect on legitimate citizens expressions.

    ”Indeed, the author of a public statement owes a certain level of obligation for the truth and veracity of their statements.

    ”There are legally accepted thresholds for fairness and fair speech which are constitutionally protected.

    ”Erisco Foods’ prerogative to refute a claim such as this is inviolate.

    ”And where they consider a statement sufficiently outrageous and a violation of law or their rights, bringing it to the attention of a ‘relevant authority’ is permissible.

    ”Erisco however should not seek or facilitate the arrest of a citizen for statements they consider prejudicial,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Erisco Foods Ltd. in a statement said they would take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on their reputation.

    The company described the claim as untrue and unfounded in its entirety.