Category: Crime

Swiss authorities probe death of Nigerian in police custody 5th June 2025

 

The Switzerland authorities said they have begun an investigation into the murder of Michael Ekemezie, who reportedly died in Lausanne on May 25 after some Swiss police officers pinned his head to the ground during a routine check.

 

According to the family, the 39-year-old Ekemezie from Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, reportedly collapsed and died at the police station less than an hour after being taken into custody.

 

The elder brother of the deceased, Henry Ekemezie, had in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, disclosed that his brother was chased by the police during a routine check, after he was caught up, handcuffed and pinned face-down, by an officer who used brutal force that proved fatal.

 

A viral video that circulated on X also showed the moment the deceased was pinned to the ground by a Swiss police officer, crying out in pain and shouting, “You’re hurting me.”

As a result, the family of the deceased, through their counsel, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, petitioned the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria and the Nigerian Diaspora Commission on May 30, 2025, demanding an investigation into his death.

 

The family lamented that since the incident took place, neither the Switzerland government or the Federal Government of Nigeria had reached out to the family.

 

However, in a reply dated June 4, 2025, the Swiss Embassy contacted the family of the deceased through their counsel, informing them that the competent prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

 

The reaction by the Switzerland embassy is coming after the report featured in the South-East Punch on Wednesday.

 

The letter dated June 4, 2025, and signed by the Chargé d’Affaires of Switzerland, Siamak Rouhani, was made available to our correspondent on Wednesday,

 

The letter read, “The Embassy of Switzerland acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 30 May, 2025.

“The Embassy would like to inform that the competent prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the death of a person of African origin on May 25, 2025, at a police station in Lausanne, Switzerland.

 

“The results of this investigation are pending. In accordance with the principle of separation of powers and of the protection of personal data, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not hold any information concerning ongoing cantonal proceedings and cannot interfere in them.

 

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore, has no information concerning the circumstances of this tragic event. The deceased’s family and its agent – supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Bern – can therefore interact directly with the competent cantonal authorities.”

 

However, in its reaction, the family of the deceased, through their legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, acknowledged the response of the Swiss Embassy while reiterating with unwavering resolve a demand for a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation.

“On May 30, 2025, we submitted a formal petition to the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, urging an immediate and transparent investigation into the tragic and deeply disturbing death of Mr Michael Ekemezie, a Nigerian citizen who lost his life after reportedly being brutalised by Swiss police officers in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 25, 2025.

 

“Today, we acknowledge receipt of an official response dated June 4, 2025, signed by the Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Siamak Rouhani. In the correspondence, the Embassy confirmed that the competent cantonal prosecutor’s office has formally launched an investigation into the incident. However, invoking Switzerland’s strict data protection laws and constitutional principle of separation of powers, the embassy declined to disclose further details at this stage.

 

“While we take note of this official acknowledgement and the initiation of investigative proceedings, we remain deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and the continued silence surrounding the exact circumstances of Mr Ekemezie’s death. A young Nigerian life was lost, under suspicious and distressing conditions, while in the custody of a country that proudly upholds itself as a global advocate of human rights, justice, and the rule of law.

 

“This is not just a legal matter; it is a human tragedy. A mother grieves. A family mourns. A nation watches with bated breath.

 

“Justice must not be shielded behind bureaucratic procedures. It must not be delayed. And it must never be denied. We urge the Swiss government and all relevant authorities to fully cooperate with the government of Nigeria and the legal representatives of Mr Ekemezie’s family, and every diplomatic and legal channel must be pursued. The truth must be uncovered. Accountability must be served,” the family said in a statement.

FUTA staff protest police refusal to return union vehicle

 

Workers of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, staged a protest on Wednesday against the Ondo State Police Command over its alleged refusal to comply with a court order concerning a vehicle belonging to their union.

 

The protesters, members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, FUTA chapter, claimed that a Chief Magistrate Court in January 2025 ordered the police to return the vehicle to the union — a directive they allege has been ignored.

 

During the demonstration on campus, the aggrieved workers carried placards bearing slogans such as: “Enough is enough, Ondo police should leave NASU FUTA,” “Ondo State Police has become an agent of crisis,” and “Federal Government should save us, Ondo State police want to kill us.”

 

Speaking at the protest, NASU FUTA Chairman Mr Adebayo Aladerotohun accused the police of interfering in union affairs and disregarding the court’s directive.

 

“We are voicing our grievances over the Ondo State Police Command’s intrusion into our union matters,” he said. “It is well known that issues of association fall outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Police.”

 

Aladerotohun explained that the police seized the union’s vehicle in June 2024 following a dispute involving a faction claiming to have taken over the union.

 

“Some unidentified individuals approached the police, claiming ownership of the union’s property. We informed the police that this was unlawful and that only the court could adjudicate such matters,” he added.

He further stated that the union later obtained a court order directing the police to park the vehicle in front of NASU’s Secretariat, but the police allegedly defied this order by handing the vehicle over to unknown persons.

 

“We still held the keys and vehicle documents, yet the police proceeded to give the car to individuals unknown to us, in blatant disregard of the court order,” he said.

 

The union has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and compel the Ondo State Police Command to comply with the court order.

 

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Olayinka Alayande, denied the allegations, insisting that the police complied with the court’s directive.

 

“The court ordered that the vehicle be released to the Secretariat, and that was done. It was not handed over to any individual,” Alayande stated.

 

He advised, “If the protesters are dissatisfied with the situation, they should follow the appropriate legal channels. I urge them to remain peaceful and avoid any actions that could disrupt law and order, as the command will not tolerate such behaviour.”

Couple publicly flogged 100 in Indonesia for sex outside marriage

 

 

‎A man and woman were publicly flogged 100 times each in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province on Wednesday after they were found guilty of sex outside marriage by a court operating under strict Islamic law.

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‎Sexual relations between an unmarried couple is outlawed in Aceh, which imposes a version of sharia, the Islamic legal code.

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‎Indonesia banned sex outside of marriage in its latest criminal code in 2022 but that law will not come into force until next year.

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‎The two were lashed in sets of 10 with a rattan stick as a small crowd watched on at a park in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, and the female suspect was lashed by a woman, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

‎Three other suspects were caned a combined 49 times for alleged gambling and alcohol consumption.

A member of the sharia police holds a rattan stick during a public caning in Banda Aceh on June 4, 2025. A man and woman were publicly flogged 100 times each in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province on June 4 after they were found guilty of sex outside marriage by a court operating under strict Islamic law. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP)

‎”Today we are carrying out flogging punishment for perpetrators of adultery, alcohol consumption, and online gambling,” Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal told reporters.

‎”This becomes a moral lesson for the community at large. This flogging punishment becomes a gateway to repentance for them.”

‎Medical services were on standby for all of those convicted.

‎Rights groups have condemned the punishment as draconian.

‎Yet caning retains strong support among Aceh’s population as a common punishment for a range of offences including gambling, drinking alcohol and adultery.

‎In February two men were publicly flogged more than 150 times after being found guilty of sexual relations. Gay sex is outlawed in Aceh.

‎The region started using religious law after it was granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.

Police rescue abducted Nasarawa traditional ruler

 

The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued the traditional ruler of Dari, Emmanuel Omanji, abducted in his palace in Dari, Kokona Local Government Area of the state, on May 28.

 

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, made this known in a statement issued in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday.

 

“The command is pleased to report that the Sangarin Dari, who was abducted on May 28, was successfully rescued unhurt,” he said.

 

Nansel said that the traditional ruler was rescued at about 11 pm on Monday, June 2.

 

“The rescue operation took place in the Panwasa Mountains, Mada Station, following sustained pressure from the command’s Search and Rescue Team,” he added.

 

The police spokesperson said that Omanji was taken to the hospital for medical attention immediately after the rescue and has since been reunited with his family.

 

“Efforts are ongoing by our operatives to apprehend the fleeing suspects involved in the abduction,” Nansel added.

 

The command’s spokesperson, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, appreciated members of the public for their invaluable support and timely information, which greatly assisted in the rescue operation.

 

Jauro-Mohammed also commended the efforts and collaboration of other security agencies and local vigilante groups, whose support, he said, was instrumental to the success of this mission.

 

NAN

Police arrest stepfather for sexual assault, stop mob in Bauchi

 

Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have successfully averted mob justice against a 37-year-old man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting his 15-year-old stepdaughter.

 

According to the Command, officers attached to Operation Restore Peace, led by CSP Kim Abert, acted on credible intelligence, intervening in a mob action involving the suspect, Wisdom Benoie.

 

This was disclosed in a press release issued on Monday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil.

 

Wakil explained, “On May 31, 2025, Wisdom Benoie, male, aged 37, of Yalwan Tsakani, was confronted by a group of local youths who suspected him of secretly molesting his stepdaughter (Joy, not her real name).

 

“The matter came to light after the victim’s father reported the incident to the ORP unit in the Yalwan Tsakani area of Bauchi.”

 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is married to the victim’s mother (name withheld), making him the teenager’s stepfather.

“It was disclosed that he allegedly sexually assaulted the victim on multiple occasions while her mother was asleep, entering her room and engaging in non-consensual acts.

 

“The victim, suffering in silence, eventually confided in neighbours, prompting a coordinated intervention that caught the suspect in the act,” Wakil noted.

 

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the offences.

 

“The victim has been taken to a medical facility for examination and care.

 

“The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Police Command, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation, after which the suspect will be charged to court for prosecution,” the statement added.

Police arrest three robbery suspects, recover stolen vehicles in Anambra

 

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a robbery gang, who specialise in dispossessing residents of their belongings, especially vehicles, at gun point.

 

In a statement released on Monday, the spokesman for the state command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspects were arrested based on the confession of a detainee in custody.

 

Ikenga said the police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu carried out the arrest at Agukwu-Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

 

He said the team also recovered one automatic pump action gun, and items suspected to have been stolen, which include a white Mercedes Benz C300 4matic car with Reg No: KWC 140, ash Lexus 350 car with Reg No: 669 CY and two exotic phones.

He said, “Police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu in the early hours of May 30, 2025 acting on information obtained from an armed suspect in custody arrested one Monday Onoja, Sanusi Muhammed, Kenneth Nwokpu all males and within the age bracket of 27 – 32 years.

 

“The team also recovered one automatic pump action gun, and items suspected to have been stolen from victims which include a white Mercedes Benz C300 4matic car with Reg No: KWC 140, ash Lexus 350 car with Reg No: 669 CY and two exotic phones.

 

“The operatives have expanded investigations and emplaced every necessary measure to arrest other gang members that are currently at large.

 

“This development highlights the command’s proactive approach to potentially disrupting all criminal networks in the state.”

Bolt driver shot dead in Bayelsa

 

The Bayelsa State Police Command has commenced investigations into the death of a Bolt driver at Samphino Junction in the Kpansia axis of Yenagoa, the state capital.

 

Punch Metro gathered that passersby discovered the lifeless body of the middle-aged driver on Friday morning inside his vehicle and alerted the police, who cordoned off the area.

 

This came barely a week after a 27-year-old graduate of the Federal University, Otuoke, Daniel Ayama, was killed by some assailants less than a kilometre away.

 

It is believed that the deceased was shot at a close range in a case of suspected assassination, as nothing is said to have been removed from his vehicle.

Reacting to the incident, the police spokesman in the state, Musa Mohammed, said a full-scale investigation was underway.

 

“We are working to gather all necessary intelligence. Forensic teams have been deployed to the scene and we are also liaising with the Bolt company to retrieve trip data that may help in tracking down the culprits,” Mohammed stated.

 

Meanwhile, members of the drivers’ union and other stakeholders have called on the police to expedite their investigations and ensure that those behind the murder are brought to justice.

France to ban smoking in public July 1

 

France will ban smoking in outdoor areas where children are likely to be present, starting July 1, 2025. This includes beaches, parks, bus stops, school entrances, and sports venues.

 

Health and Family Minister, Catherine Vautrin, made this known on Thursday, May 29.

 

“Tobacco must disappear where there are children.

 

“The freedom to smoke stops where children’s right to breathe clean air starts,” Vautrin told Ouest-France newspaper.

 

The rule will also stop students from smoking in front of schools. Anyone who breaks the rule may be fined up to €135 ($154).

However, the ban does not apply to France’s famous outdoor cafe terraces or to electronic cigarettes.

 

France already bans smoking in many public places like workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds.

 

Anti-smoking groups have long called for wider restrictions.

 

According to the World Health Organisation, about 35 per cent of France’s population smokes—more than the average in Europe (25 per cent) and around the world (21 per cent).

LASTMA begins crackdown on traffic offenders, seizes 235 vehicles, arrests 10

 

 

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has launched a massive clean-up operation across Lagos to bring order to the roads and improve the city’s appearance.

 

In the first day of the exercise, which started in areas like Oyingbo, Oshodi, Adeniji Adele, Jibowu, and Iddo, LASTMA impounded 235 vehicles for breaking various traffic rules.

 

These included private cars, commercial buses (Danfo), tricycles, trucks, and inter-state buses.

 

This was contained in a statement by the LASTMA on its X handle on Thursday.

 

According to the statement, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the vehicles were seized for parking on walkways, blocking traffic, creating illegal bus stops, and ignoring traffic laws.

 

“We will no longer tolerate any form of lawlessness on our roads. All impounded vehicles will be taken to court, and offenders will face the law.

“This operation is not targeted at anyone. It is simply about bringing back sanity to our roads. Everyone must learn to obey the rules,” Bakare-Oki said.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority during the crackdown on traffic offenders in Lagos. Photo: LASTMA

He said five trucks were caught unloading cows and animal waste on the Adeniji Adele Bridge, which could damage the bridge and put people at risk.

 

He stated that the drivers have been arrested and will be prosecuted, adding that 10 miscreants who were disrupting traffic and engaging in illegal activities were also arrested.

 

Bakare-Oki warned that the clean-up would continue across all parts of Lagos, including Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.

 

He said LASTMA is now operating under a zero-tolerance policy for traffic offences.

 

“Any vehicle parked illegally or driving against traffic will be dealt with immediately,” he stated.

Immigration arrests fleeing Enugu native doctor accused of ritual killing

 

Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service have arrested a popular native doctor, Levi Obieze, also known as ‘E de play, e de show.’

 

Obieze is wanted by the Enugu State Police Command for alleged involvement in abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings.

 

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, on Thursday confirmed the arrest in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, titled ‘Nigeria Immigration Service confirms arrest of notorious crime suspect, Obi Levi Obieze.’

 

“Through credible intelligence, Obi Levi Obieze was apprehended by vigilant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Border Patrol Command, at Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Road while attempting to flee the country on a motorcycle,” the statement read.

 

Obieze, a resident of Umuojor village in Isiagu Community, Enugu State, and a known native doctor, is alleged to have been involved in the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl on Tuesday.

 

According to reports, the community was thrown into panic on Monday following the discovery of two decomposing bodies of pregnant women in the soakaway pit of a native doctor.

 

The discovery was linked to the kidnapping of the teenager days earlier as she walked with her father to the farm.

 

Reports say two men on a motorcycle abducted the girl after they feigned a technical fault by the roadside.

 

“She was walking with her father to the farm on Monday when two men riding on a motorcycle stopped and pretended that their motorcycle had developed faults

 

“One of the men told the father of the little girl to please help them with his cutlass to use and fix the fault in the motorcycle, which the man obliged.

 

“They said the fault would require pushing the bike and begged him to help. It was in this process that one of the men grabbed the girl and jumped onto the motorcycle, and they zoomed off,” a source told The Guardian.

Local vigilante groups and the police began searching for the missing girl after her father raised the alarm.

 

Residents reported hearing screams from a bush near Obieze’s compound.

 

The search party then approached the premises, where the native doctor reportedly tried to stop them.

However, the vigilante groups overwhelmed him, foraged through the compound, and successfully rescued the abducted girl.

 

Further search revealed two decomposing corpses of pregnant women in separate soakaway pits on the premises, triggering an uproar in the community.

 

In a video shared on social media, community members were seen dragging and parading Obieze naked.

 

Popular for his flamboyant displays of wealth and habitual money spraying at public events, the native doctor was reportedly on the run along with his four wives before his eventual capture.

 

Akinlabi revealed that, “He is currently in custody and his identity has been confirmed through a National Identity Management Commission enrollment slip found in his possession.

 

“During initial questioning, he admitted to the alleged crimes.”

 

The NIS, reaffirming its commitment to border security, says it is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force for the suspect’s handover and further investigation.

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