Tag: Suspects

Photo: Suspected Abuja bank robbers arraigned

The five armed robbery suspects arrested in connection with the foiled Mpape bank robbery at a First Bank branch in Mpape, Abuja were arraigned at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse on Friday.

They were charged to court by the FCT Police Command, in a matter with number CR/166/2020, for the robbery attempt that was foiled by security operatives on December 28, 2019.

They appeared before Justice Ajoke Adepoju of Court 22.

The prosecution led by James Idachaba, officer in charge of Legal of the FCT Command, slammed a five-court charge on them bordering on armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms.

The suspects Ehizo Larry ‘m’ 30 years, Princewill Obinna ‘m’ 24 years, Elijah David‘m’ 19 years, Timothy Joe ‘m’ 21 years and Ernest Ewim ‘m’ 29 years are the first to fifth defendants respectively.

The fifth defendant (Ewim) was represented by his lawyer, Peter Ihunweze.

Ihunweze, told the court, the first defendant’s (Larry’s), lawyer, Sunday David called him to hold brief for him.

The second defendant (Obinna) was represented by A. G. Enabosi.

Idachaba said before the hearing, if the suspects without representation are unable to get lawyers, they would contact the legal aide council to get lawyers to defend them in line with constitutional requirements.

After they suspects had the charges read to them by the court, they all pleaded not guilty to all of them.

Idachaba said taking into consideration that the suspects had pleaded not guilty, they were ready for trial.

He said they have seven witnesses and also some vital exhibits to prove their case.

He said subject to the convenience of the court, the prosecution would not mind just one week to conclude the trial.

The prosecutor said the case was easy because the defendants were caught in the act.

He called for the remand of the defendants in prison custody pending their trial.

Ihunweze and Enabosi aligned with the submission that the suspects be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS), while they seek a date to secure bail for the suspects.

Ihunweze said they remained innocent until proven guilty.

Justice Adepoju after listening to all the submissions adjourned the matter to March 13, 2020 for definite hearing.

She ordered the suspects to be remanded in prison custody

February 14, 2020
How Maersk boss’ attackers hid weapons in neighbourhood for days before incident

…Suspects spent three weeks strategizing attack

The two suspects who attacked the Luggard Avenue, Ikoyi residence of the Managing Director of Maersk Line Shipping Company, Gildas Tohouo, on Sunday had smuggled in their weapons and hid them in an empty flat in the estate several days before the incident.

An estate electrician Goke Olamilekan and his friend Akande Adeyinka allegedly attacked the family on Sunday night, killing the Tohouo’s wife Benedeth after robbing her of cash, ATM cards and other valuables while leaving him critically injured.

Fresh information gathered on Friday revealed that the suspects, who have since been detained at the homicide unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, plotted the attack on the family for three weeks.

It was gathered that Olamilekan had told his friend to tell the security men at the gate that he was in the estate to see one Mr. Max, a name that coincided with that of a resident there.

However, the duo did not know that Touoho was at home at the time they struck as their main target was his wife.

According to a police source, the suspects would have escaped but for the insistence Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu that a thorough search be conducted in the neighbourhood.

The source said one of the suspects was found on top of a mango tree by the CP who flashed a high-definition torchlight in surrounding bushes.

“The CP received the distress call and raced to the scene in less than an hour. He was on patrol when he got the message. Everywhere was dark and so, the CP brought out a very bright and big torch from his car.

“As we were going there, he called both the Area Commander and the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) in charge of the area to join him.

“He practically smoked the suspects out from their hiding places. Those suspects would have escaped if the CP had not taken the urgent steps he took.

“He insisted that everywhere in the estate be searched despite everyone else itching to go home. He insisted that the police must get a lead that would help both investigation and quick arrest of the suspects if they had fled.

“With his insistence, all other officers had no choice but to obey. It was while the search was going on that he flashed his torch up and then saw one of them hiding atop a mango tree. He was promptly arrested,” he said.

Asked why the suspects were yet to be paraded before the media, the source said the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu planned to personally question them, adding that the detectives handling the case were also avoiding sensational reports.

December 14, 2019
Police nab 3 suspects for stealing female pants

The Police in Niger have arrested three suspects for allegedly stealing female pants in Lapai and Gurara local government areas of the state .

The command’s spokesman, DSP Muhammadu Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday that a complainant was lodged at the Lapai Police Division of the theft on Oct. 18.

He said that the case was assigned for investigation which resulted in the arrest of a 24-year-old man, Mohammed Ali, a resident of state low cost housing estate, in whose possession the pants were found.

Abubakar said that when quizzed by the police, Ali confessed to have broken into the house of the complainant through the window and removed the pants from where it was spread.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect also stole three other pants from different rooms in the same neighborhood.

The suspect said that he delivered the stolen pants to one Malam Madaji Yabajeko of Agaie Local Government Area, now at large.

Abubakar said that the case would soon be charged to court after completion of Police investigation.

Similarly, on Oct. 9 acting on another report, operatives of Kaffin-Koro Division arrested one Abubakar Sadiq, 18, and Ephraim Isaiah, 19, both student’s of Izom Science Secondary school, Gurara Local Government Area for stealing female pants.

Abubakar said that the two suspects had since been charged to court.

October 25, 2019
Lagos baby factories: Suspect confirms ‘selling’ over 30 children, reveals strategies

One of the six suspects arrested by the police for stealing and selling babies to childless women has confessed that she sold two of her own children with the consent of their fathers.

The suspect, Blessing Stephens, was arrested by the operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) after stealing a boy from a couple at Ikota area of Ajah, Lagos State.

The 25-year-old suspect was arrested alongside five others, including a homeopathic medical doctor, Una Ekong Godwin, 58; Blessing John 27; Israel Ariyo 33; Itoro Anthony, 40, and Mrs. Mforbong Itoro, 48.

She said:” I am from Nsitayi, Odor Akwa Ibom state but resides in Ijota Ajah area in Lagos. I dropped out of Bright Academy Secondary School, Ajah, due to a financial problem.

‘’There, I dated one Julius Abang and he impregnated me. I had a boy called Emmanuel with Abang in 2010 but we broke up in 2011. Only my mother was taking care of me and when life became unbearable for me I sought an advice from one Mrs. Mforbong and she advised me to sell the child and tell the father that the child had died if he ever cared to ask.

‘’I was working as an office assistant and my mother did not know that the child was sold. In 2012 I started another work in a shopping complex in Ikota. When I went to Akwa Ibom for my mother’s burial I dated another guy, a truck driver and he impregnated me but after two years he abandoned me after impregnating another girl. After one month I sold the baby but I got only N100,000.

‘’In 2013, I got another lover named Israel who is an iron bender. Within six months he impregnated me but he was so poor that he could not even feed me nor pay house rent. The motorcycle he usually used to find small money was destroyed by someone who put salt into the engine and the motorcycle became useless.

‘’We decided to sell the baby for N250,000. Mrs. Ntoro collected N20,000 and she advised us to tell whoever asked after the child that the baby died and had been buried.

‘’Later, Mrs. Ntoro called from village that she needed another baby boy. I told my sister Blessing John to steal a baby boy from Ikota. It is this one that put us in trouble.’’

On July 14, 2019, a four- year-old boy, Master Ojo Adegboyega Fapounda was stolen from his parents in Ikota housing estate Ajah, Lagos by his neighbour identified as Blessing John.

She allegedly took the stolen child to Ibadan on July 15, 2019 to meet her childhood friend, Blessing Stephen. The child spent three days in the house of Stephens’s husband identified as Israel Ariyo.

The stolen child was taken to Akwa Ibom and sold to one human trafficker, Mrs Mforbong for N350, 000. Unfortunately for the buyer, the toddler started crying uncontrollably to the hearing of neighbours who wondered why the child was crying in the house of the old woman who had reached menopause.

Afraid that she might be exposed, the woman advised Blessing Stephen to return the child to his parents in Lagos after three days on the pretext that the child was too old for her to buy and that she preferred a week- old baby instead.

Blessing (Stephen) returned the child to Ibadan and handed him over to Blessing (John) to return the boy to his parents at Ikota in Ajah area of Lagos.

Determined to take the child to a place close to Ikota, she tried to deceive a security man attached to a church at Ketu, a Lagos suburb that she wanted to leave the boy with him in order to pick some items across the road, but the security man declined.

Unknown to the security man, Blessing later sneaked into the church through the back door and dropped the baby and bolted.

On discovering the baby in the church, the security man reported the matter to the church authorities and the matter was reported to the nearest police station.

The baby was subsequently taken to a childcare centre in Lagos by the police.

Operatives of IRT traced the suspects to Ibadan, Oyo State capital following a petition by the father of the boy leading to their arrest.

It was said that the syndicate had sold over 30 stolen children.

October 1, 2019
FCT Minister condemns lynching of ‘one chance’ suspects

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has decried the lynching of three suspected traffic robbers popularly known as ‘One Chance’ in the Dutse Alhaji area of the Federal Capital City.

The Special Assistant on Media to the FCT Minister, Malam Abubakar Sani made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that three suspected ‘one chance’ robbers were allegedly set ablaze by a mob at Dutse Alhaji junction on Kubwa-Zuba highway, on Monday in Abuja.

The minister frowned at the mob action which led to the unfortunate death of the three suspects and restated the FCT Administration’s resolve to reduce criminal activities to the barest in Abuja.

“The FCT Administration is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that the entire territory is free of criminality and criminal elements.

“That is why we are working round the clock with the security agencies to maintain a 24 hours surveillance round the city and its environs.

“To a very large extent, we are happy with what the security agencies are doing to keep the territory safe and arrest all criminal elements particularly traffic robbers, kidnappers and other lawbreakers where ever they may be.”

Bello, however, noted that the killing of the three robbers was an act of lawlessness which the FCT Administration strongly condemned.

“No group or individual has the right to take anybody’s life the way these young men were burnt to death. I have directed the Police to carry out a thorough investigation and bring the papetrators to book”.

The Minister, who called on residents to remain law abiding, warned that any individual or group found taking laws into their hands or resorting to self help would be dealt with in accordance with the relevant law.

Bello appealed to traditional, community and religious leaders to step up engagements with their subjects by emphasising the need for obedience to the laws of the land and refraining from acts capable of causing the breakdown of law and order.

October 1, 2019
BREAKING: EFCC arrests two more wanted Nigerian suspects on FBI list

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja Zonal Office has the arrested two of the 77 Nigerians on FBI list.

The suspects, Chika Augustine and Godspower Nwachukwu, were arrested in Abuja.

The breakthrough was announced by the new Zonal Head, Mr. Aminu Ado Aliyu at a briefing.

He said $35,000 has been recovered from one of them (Chika Augustine).

He also claimed that another suspect, who had long been on FBI radar, was picked up in November 2018, investigated and ready for trial.

Asked if the suspects on FBI list will be extradited, Aliyu added: “This decision is between the EFCC headquarters and FBI.

A 252-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed in August charged 77 Nigerian nationals with participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud schemes and launder the funds through a Los Angeles-based money laundering network as uncovered by the FBI.

September 3, 2019
Ondo bank robbery: Court remands five suspects

A chief magistrate court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital on Wednesday remanded in police custody five persons for alleged involvement in the Idoani Bank robbery.

Recall that the hoodlums on April 8, attacked a commercial bank in Idoani, Ose local government area killing seven persons including five bank officials, a police officer and Vice Principal of a secondary school who was a customer.

They also carted away a substantial amount of money after using explosives to break the security doors to the banking rooms.

Although six of them were arraigned on a seven-count charge by the Ondo State Police Command, one of them was said to be at large.

Chief Magistrate, Victoria Bob-Manuel after listening to arguments from both the prosecuting and defence counsel remanded the suspects in prison custody till May 2, pending the advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Their arrest came barely two weeks after the robbery incident.

April 24, 2019
Court frees Ozubulu massacre suspects

…I’ve forgiven my accusers – suspect

A High court sitting in Awka has discharged and acquitted two remaining suspects standing trial for alleged involvement in the killing of worshipers in a church in Ozubulu, Anambra state.

In a ruling that lasted for over three hours, Justice Fidelis Aniukwu ruled that the prosecution counsel was unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt the allegations leveled against the defendants, Chinedu Akpunonu and Onyebuchi Mbanefo.

Unknown gunmen had on August 6, 2017, invaded St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of the state and killed no fewer than thirteen persons.

The Judge had in December 2018 discharged two out of the four persons arraigned before a high court in November 2017 following the church attack.

Justice Aniukwu argued that the prosecution witnesses could not provide any evidence linking the defendants with the murder as alleged.

Reacting to the judgement, the defence counsel, Mr. Festus Kayemo SAN, described it as landmark in view of the accelerated hearing granted by the presiding Judge.

Kayemo, represented in court by another counsel, Mr Samuel Echeakputa, however said he would not be surprised if the judgement would be appealed.

“It’s the prosecution’s right to appeal the judgement. But from what I witnessed in the court today, it will be very difficult for the appeal court to upturn the judgement,” he said.

One of the defendants, Mr Chinedu Akpunonu, was full of gratitude to God for vindicating him from what he described as attempt by some persons to smear his reputation.

He however said he had forgiven his accusers, urging them to join hands to ensure peace reined in the community.

He said, “From the beginning, I told my people that I was not involved in the killing. But the Lord gave me victory as a proof that I’m very innocent.

“I didn’t know I was very important to my people until I saw excitement in the faces of crowd that came to court. I’ve already forgiven all that put hands to put me in prison.

“I thank those that stood by me throughout my travail. I also thank my lawyer and the Judge for delivering a fair and sound judgement.”

Meanwhile, the prosecution counsel, Mr Jay Jay Ezeuko SAN, said he would determine the next step after receiving a copy of the judgement.

April 15, 2019
Police arrest two suspected killers of ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh

Two suspects have been reportedly arrested in connection with the murder of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

The suspects are ‘murder contractor’ who reportedly hired the assailants and the one who is said to have pulled the trigger.

It was also gathered that Badeh was killed on Keffi-Abuja road following the information that he had some cash on him to pay for additional farmland. He was on his way from his farm.

The farmland was said to be next to the one he had already cultivated.

The police may parade suspects today to give Nigerians some insights into how Badeh was killed.

The parade will also allow the media to interact with the suspects.

An interim report has been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari who ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, to fish out Badeh’s killers.

Badeh( 61) was shot dead on December 18 near Gitata, a village on the Keffi-Bade-Abuja road.

Badeh was killed, his driver wounded and his friend abducted by the assailants.

The friend of the ex-CDS was released on Monday after the family had paid ransom said to be in millions of naira.

According to sources, the breakthrough was recorded by the IGP Rapid Response Team (IRT) in conjunction with the military and other security agencies.

A source privy to the matter said: “After about a week of investigation, the Police, in collaboration with the military and other security agencies have arrested the man who contracted out the killing of Badeh.

“And following intelligence, the detectives traced and arrested the suspect who actually shot at Badeh at close range to kill him.

“The killing had to do with alleged transactions on additional farmland which was to be sold to the ex-CDS.

“The suspect who hired the assailants was not part of the deal. But he got to know of the transactions the day and time that Badeh was coming to pay for the farmland.

“Unfortunately, the deal was not yet concluded on the appointed day, but the ‘murder contractor’ suspected that Badeh was with the cash on December 18 and engaged some assassins to waylay and kill him in order to haul the cash.”

The Police, the military and other security agencies are still on the trail of other accomplices, the source said, adding:

According to another highly reliable source, the suspects were said to have confessed that their intention was not to kill Badeh, but his driver refused to stop when they carried out the attack, leading to their shooting sporadically to stop the Toyota Tundra in which the former Nigerian Air Force Chief was travelling from his farm in Nasarawa State to Abuja.

December 27, 2018
NBA cautions members against defending kidnap suspects

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owo branch, has urged Ondo State and the Federal Governments to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping on roads in Owo and across the country.

Its Chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, said its members were worried about insecurity in Owo.

Ahmed, who stated this in a statement made available to newsmen said the branch had vowed not to defend kidnap suspects.

He said the news of “armed gangs, gun running and kidnapping are now ubiquitous in every nook and cranny of the ancient city”.

According to him, all the major roads that lead to Owo “are infested with all forms of criminally minded men”.

Ahmed said: “We call on the Government of Ondo State and that of the Federal Government to complement the efforts of the police authorities in securing the roads.

“It is not in contention that security is a key component of the fundamental objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy of Government as enshrined in Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as altered).

“By the provisions of the above quoted section of the constitution, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.

“On our part, we hereby declare that no lawyer from our branch shall henceforth, defend anybody that is accused of kidnapping a fellow citizen. Kidnapping is a heinous crime. It is a horrendous offence in all ramifications. It is a grievous wrong against humanity.

“It is on this note that we hereby invite the government of Ondo State and that of the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping on Owo roads and that of the entire federation.”

The lawyer noted further that men of the underworld, regularly masquerade as “pseudo policemen, pseudo soldiers or Fulani herdsmen”, to kidnap people “from all the roads that lead to Owo.”

He added: “A recent case of kidnapping was the one carried out on Owo–Akure expressway at Amurin Village. The commando-like operation, which led to the abduction of five citizens, including a heavily pregnant woman, was executed by some unknown men at about the closing hours of the day when civil servants were returning to Akure.

“NBA Owo is worried and disturbed that the police could not give a correct account of the citizens that were kidnapped on the Owo-Akure express way. While eye witnesses said the victims were five, – three Federal Medical Centre Owo staffers and two Rufus Giwa Polytechnic workers “ the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) was reported in a newspaper to have put the number of the kidnapped victims at two individuals.

“As much as possible, the police are required under the law to investigate crime and prosecute felons. How can the police that is lacking in the needed skill to investigate crime be able to nib crimes in the bud?

“As lawyers and advocates of justice, rule of law and human rights; we view the incessant kidnap of citizens in Owo axis as violation of human rights of citizens to freedom of movement, personal liberty and respect for the dignity of human persons as guaranteed by Sections 41, 35 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as altered).”

The NBA chief noted that one of the branch’s members was once abducted and that “the kidnappings ad ifinitum in Owo and her environs”, indicated a total collapse of security in Owo and the triumph of kidnapping and armed gangsters.

Ahmed said: “As social engineers fighting against all societal problems, we as lawyers cannot keep silent when the security situation of our society is at its lowest ebb.

“What is more? We now carry out our duties as ministers in the Temple of Justice with apprehension. Travelling from one court to another by lawyers and judges has now become an uphill task.”

He urged the police to “wake up to the present security challenge in Owo. “This is not the time to slumber. It is not the time to be supine as well. Police must, as a matter of necessity, be at alert to the security situation in Owo and her environs. To this end, we suggest that the idea of mounting police check points, which are nothing but avenues to take bribes from commuters, should be reviewed.

“Constant police patrol of the roads should be embarked on. In this way police will be able to foil any attempt by the men of underworld from showcasing their dare-devil skills on the roads.”

December 25, 2018