The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed four Rivers State Government officials on its Wanted List. Among them is Mr Fubara Siminayi, the accountant General of Rivers State.
The officials, comprising three men and one woman, were declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office to the tune of N117billion.
The four officials are among the 59 suspects wanted by the EFCC for offences ranging from money laundering to obtaining money by false pretence, fraud, internet-related offences and issuance of dud cheques.
The four Rivers government officials include Fubara Siminayi, the accountant General of Rivers State, Lekia V. Bukpor, Dagogo Rodderick Abere, and the only woman among them, Harrisonba Bessi Princewill, a cashier.
According to the EFCC, the suspects, “in their capacity as signatories to the Rivers State Government account, are alleged to have acted as proxies to several government officials, conspired and fraudulently withdrew and diverted the sum between 2015 and 2018.”
It added that all the suspects hailed from Rivers State and urged members of the public with useful information as to their whereabouts to contact any of the Commission’s offices or the nearest police station or other security agencies.
The police in Ogun State have arrested “a notorious and murderous cultist,” who was accused of terrorising Abeokuta and Ifo environs.
The suspect, who was identified as Rotimi Adebiyi (a.k.a Paracetamol), was nabbed on Saturday.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi said on Sunday that Adebiyi had been on the command’s wanted list, over “his role in several cult clashes in the State, which has led to the death of some members of another cult group.”
The suspect was reportedly arrested by the CSP Olanrewaju Kalejaye-led SWAT operatives in his hideout at Ifo.
“The suspect, a leader of Eiye cult group, used to come into Abeokuta metropolis to strike and always run back to his hideout in Ifo.
“The police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, stormed his place at about 1:30 am of Saturday 30th of April 2022, where he was apprehended,” Oyeyemi said.
According to DAILY POST a cut-to-size local pistol, a cutlass, one live cartridge, assorted criminal charms and weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspect.
In order to arraign the suspected cultist without further delay, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Lanre Bankole, has ordered a full scale investigation into the past activities of the suspect.
COURT ORDERS BANKS TO FREEZE SUSPECTED DRUG BARONS’ ACCOUNTS
A Lagos Federal High Court, has ordered Zenith Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa, UBA, to place a lien, also known as Post No Debit (PND) on the accounts of two suspected drug barons, Basil Okafor Onochie (SIR) and Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuchukwu.
Justice Tijjani Ringim, who presided over the court, issued the directive to the two banks, while granting a motion Exparte marked FHC/L/CS/694/2022, for such orders, by the anti-narcotic agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Apart from ordering placing liens on the said accounts, Justice Ringim also directed the two bank to allow the NDLEA to inspect and make Certified True Copies (CTC) of Account Opening Packages, Statements of accounts and any relevant documents in their custody in compliance with section 84 of the Evidence Act 2014, for purposes of investigation.
NDLEA had approached the court for the orders, through its counsel, Barrister Umar Hussaini, pursuant to sections 6(6) B, 44(1) and (2)(K) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended), sections 41 and 42(2) of the NDLEA Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As amended); Section 13(1) FHC Act 2004, Order 26(6-10); 28(1)and(2) and 30(A) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019 and under the Court’s inherent jurisdisction.
NDLEA lawyer, Umar when moving the Exparte application, asked the court to order Zenith Bank to freeze account numbers: 1001203139, 1010359483 belonging to Onochie and his company, Optional Business Bureau Limited, and account number: 1001464228 belonging to Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuchukwu.
He also asked the court to direct UBA Plc to place a lien on account numbers: 1008374573 belonging to Onochie.
He said the order sought for is for the period of 90 days, which the agency would have concluded it’s Investigation.
Justice Ringim after listened to the submissions of the counsel and perused all the processes before her said: “I have carefully perused the motion Exparte, supported with 18 paragraphs affidavit, Written address and exhibits attached.
“I’m of the firm view and satisfied that the orders sought for deserved to be granted and same are accordingly granted.”
NDLEA in an affidavit in support of the Summons Exparte, deposed to by Kareem Olayinka Musibau, an Investigating Narcotic Officer, stated that on March 28, 2022, the NDLEA Operatives arrested both Onochie and Izuchukwu, at 26, Akpomuje Street, Isolo-Okota Area of Lagos State, in connection with the seizures Of 2.169 kilograms of Heroin.
He stated that both Onochie and Izuchukwu are prominent transnational drug traffickers across the world and that following their arrest, the NDLEA is now investigating the level of their involvement in respect of the seizures of the hard drugs made on March 28, 2022, at their above stated address.
The deponet further stated that in the course of investigation, the NDLEA discovered the stated bank accounts, being used by both Onochie and Izuchukwu to launder the proceeds from their illicit drug dealings and that they both admitted the commission of the said offence in their respective written statements.
He stated that it has become necessary for the NDLEA to freeze the accounts temporarily pending the final investigation of this case.
He also avered that it would be expedient and for the court to place a Post No Debit status on the said account numbers, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc and UBA Plc, operated by both Onochie and Izuchukwu.
The deponet also stated that order of the court is necessary to require the Zenith Bank and UBA Plc, to give the NDLEA access to inspect and make certified true copies of statement of accounts in compliance with section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011, copies of all the account opening decuments and other relevant documents in respect of the accounts aforementioned to enable the applicant conduct and complete investigation in this case.
He averred that the order of the court is urgently required to carry out this of investigations and that no one will be prejudiced by the grant of the application, as it was in the interest of justice to grant the order sought for.
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday sentenced a 21-year-old driver, Kenneth Divine, to one month imprisonment for stealing 14 cartons of ”Indomie” noodles worth N48,300.
The police charged Divine, alongside Joel Olawale,34, with two counts of conspiracy and theft.
Delivering ruling, Magistrate A .O. Adeyemi, sentenced the convict to one month imprisonment, after he had pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him. with an option of N10,000 fine.
Adeyemi, however, gave the convict an option of N10,000 and also directed him to restitute N48,300 to the complainant.The second defendant, Olawale, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
Earlier, Prosecution Counsel, Insp E.O.Adaraloye, told the court that Divine, Olawale and others at large, committed the offence on March 29 at the Indomie Company, Fowobi,Oju-Ore area, Ota.
Adaraloye said they stole 14 cartons of 70g f Indomie noodle worth N48,3000 belonging to one Balogun Ayokunle. He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code,Laws of Ogun,2006.
She adjourned the case until May 13 for further hearing.
Police in Osun have arrested three young men on the Osogbo/Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife Campus Road, Ile-Ife, for being in possession of a human heart.
Police spokesperson in Osun, SP Yemisi Opalola, said two of the suspects are 21 years old, while the third suspect is 25 years of age.
“The Osun Police Command, in its efforts to sanitise the state of incessant ritual killings and other vices, has arrested three young men.
“On April 7, at about 11a.m., detectives on `Stop-and-Search’ duty accosted three men on a motorcycle on the Osogbo/OAU Ife Campus Road.
“They were flagged down, but rather than stop, they sped off and were pursued by the police team.
“They were eventually arrested at Safejo Area of Ile-Ife, and a human heart, which they claimed belonged to one of their friends, and various charms were found on them.
“As investigation was going on, one of the suspects took ill and died while on hospital admission. The corpse has been deposited at the state hospital for autopsy.
“The two other suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigation,’’ Opalola stated.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Nigerian socialite Cubana Chief Priest on charges of money laundering and tax fraud.
The socialite, whose real names are Pascal Okechukwu was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed airport on Thursday, but anti-graft officials kept quiet about it due to pressure from his friends and family, who warned that the incident could complicate conditions for others suspected of being involved in the alleged racket.
Okechukwu’s detention has made it impossible for him to respond to birthday greetings from his over four million Instagram followers.
Only his wife is allowed to see him in custody.
It was unclear when he would be released on bail or how much information officials had gotten from him as of Saturday night. An anonymous source claimed that “the matter is still under investigation.”
Yoruba activist, Adeyinka Grandson has been sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison.
He was convicted of inciting racial hatred for posting messages on social media encouraging violence in Nigeria has been jailed.
The British Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation in March 2019 as a direct result of members of the public raising concerns to police about online social media posts which contained comments aimed at particular ethnic groups based in Nigeria.
The posts were created by accounts under the name “Adeyinka Grandson” and were reported to police
He was investigated by specialist officers within the Met’s Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU).
After assessing some of his content on social media, which contained commentary encouraging attacks against certain ethnic groups in Nigeria, officers determined these posts were potentially in breach of UK legislation and a formal investigation was launched.
The activity was all found to be linked to Grandson whose real names are Adeyinka Shoyemi.
Shoyemi was found guilty on 30 November 2021 of eight counts of inciting racial hatred after a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Our Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit – the first of its kind to be established anywhere in the world – was instrumental in identifying Shoyemi and his activity.
“Over the last ten years, the CTIRU has been at the forefront of getting harmful content removed from the internet, and detecting and investigating potential terrorist-related activity online.
“We continue to need the help and support of the public and I would encourage anyone who comes across material or posts that could be related to terrorism or violent extremist activity to report it to us, so that our specialist officers can take action where necessary.”
Embattled Police Chief, Abba Kyari has been remanded in Prison Custody.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, ordered that Kyari and six others that are facing drug trafficking charges be moved to Kuje Correctional Center.
Trial Justice, Emeka Nwike ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to transfer the Defendants to prison custody shortly after he denied them bail.
The court held that the NDLEA placed sufficient materials before it to warrant the refusal of bail to Kyari and his Co-Defendants. Kyari’s accomplices and former members of the IRT, ACP Sunday Ubia, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu were also denied bail.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, are; ASP Bawa James, as well as two drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwane.
Nwite ordered an accelerated trial of the Defendants, even as it fixed April 28 for the review of facts in respect of the case against Umeibe and Ezenwane.
The Alayetoro of Ayetoro-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olufisan Ajayi (Odundun Asodedero 1) and some other persons led by one Chief Femi Ajibola, the Sajuku of Ayetoro-Ekiti have been quizzed by the police on missing electric transformers.
The monarch and others were alleged to have conspired to vandalise and steal two transformers located at Oke- Odi community in the town.
The police swung into action upon receiving a petition filed by an Akure-based lawyer, Barrister Iyiola Afolabi and addressed to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 17, Ijapo, Akure, Ondo State on March 13, 2022.
According to the petition written on behalf of his 19 clients, who are natives of Ayetoro-Ekiti, a copy which was obtained by newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the attorney stated that “Our clients, the Oke-Odi Quarters, Ayetoro-Ekiti have been thrown into darkness and the business of residents negatively affected by the unlawful removal of the transformers meant to supply electricity to the community.
“This dastardly act was allegedly committed by a group of people led by one Chief Femi Ajibola, the Sajuku of Ayetoro-Ekiti who allegedly sold the transformers to merchants from lbadan, Oyo State. Our clients reported this incident to the Alayetoro-in Council, which mandated Chief Femi Ajibola and his cohorts to return the transformers latest the 15th December 2021.
“Upon failure to comply with this directive, our clients reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State where their representatives made statements to the Police since the 21st December 2021.
“At the Ekiti State Police Headquarter, facts emerged that the Alayetoro of Ayetoro Ekiti, His Royal Highness, Oba Samuel Ajayi (Odundun Asodedero 1) actually gave the instruction for the removal of the transformers as well as about four other transformers in Ayetoro-Ekiti.
“The suspects were granted bail at the Ekiti State Police Headquarter, Ado Ekiti with an understanding that the transformers shall be returned within two weeks.
POLL
“However, up till date, the transformers are still at large and no charges have been preferred against the affected individuals, possibly owing to their positions in the community. The merchants who received the stolen products in the guise of purchasers were also not invited for interrogation.
“We have the instruction of our clients, the Oke-Odi Quarters, Ayetoro-Ekltl to request that you (AIG) use your good offices to take over the investigation of the case to give succor to the suffering masses and bring any culpable individual to justice, knowing that the law is no respecter of persons and positions.”
However, Chief Femi Ajibola, the Sajuku of Ayetoro-Ekiti, when contacted on the telephone, declined comment, saying “I don’t have anything to discuss with journalists, please keep off.”
Sources disclosed that the AIG office in Akure had summoned the monarch and other suspects for questioning over the incident on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Zone-17, Mr. Akeem Adeoye, confirmed the incident, saying the AIG office had commenced investigation into the case.
