The four teenagers, who allegedly killed a 20-year-old girl identified as Sofiat Kehinde, have been ordered by an Abeokuta Magistrates Court sitting in Isabo, Ogun State to be remanded in prison for two months.
The suspects, Balogun Mustaqeem, 20; Majekodunmi Soliudeen,18; Abdulgafar Lukman,19; and Waris Oladeinde,18; were arraigned on Thursday on two counts of conspiracy and murder.
Recall that the teenagers were apprehended in the early hours of last Saturday burning the head of Sofiat in a local pot for ritual.
Inspector Lawrence Balogun, police prosecutor, while speaking in the court noted that the defendants committed the offence around 11pm on January 28 at the Kugba area in Abeokuta.
He further stated that the suspects conspired among themselves to kill Sofiat, who was Soliudeen’s girlfriend.
The prosecutor added that the defendants murdered the girl by cutting off her head with a cutlass, adding that they had plans to use her for money rituals.
According to Balogun, the offence contravened sections 324 and 316 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State 2006.
He said, “They unlawfully killed Sofiat Kehinde, aged 20, by cutting off her head, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
The Magistrate, I. O Abudu, who did not take the plea of the defendants, ordered that they be remanded in prison.
Abudu ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Oba Custodial Centre pending legal advice from the Ogun State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
She, however, adjourned the case till March 14 for mention.
The Nigerian Government has disclosed that a total of 123 companies, 33 Bureau-De-Changes and 96 individuals have been linked to terrorism financing in the country.
The Country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed disclosed this in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Thursday morning.
The controversial minister revealed that the suspects were uncovered by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. In his words: “For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, involvement of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and 7 co-conspirators.”
“The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets. Also, from its analysis of tax evasion and tax avoidance linked to corruption, NFIU has identified N3,909,707,678,112.43 in VAT and N3,737,918,335,785.82 in Withholding Tax due to the Government.”
“NFIU has also sent 1,165 intelligence reports on cases of corruption, money laundering and other serious
offences to 27 domestic agencies for investigation, prosecution and asset recovery. On terrorism financing, NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and others with 19 countries. During the same period, 2020-2021, the organization returned fraudulently-obtained funds totalling US$103,722,102.83, 3,000 Pound Sterling; 7,695 Singapore Dollar and 1,091 Euros to 11
countries of victims who came into the country.”
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Wednesday, said criminals have threatened to go after him, following the anti-crime battle of his government.
Abiodun had on January 21, 2022, re-launched the state joint security outfit, code-named OP-MESA, where he declared war on kidnappers and internet scammers commonly called ‘Yahoo Boys’ in the state.
But the governor, while speaking in Abeokuta, hinted that the hoodlums are feeling the heat of the newly relaunched security outfit.
He spoke at the “Ogun, Oyo Joint Security Meeting”, bilateral session put together by Ogun and Oyo State Governments to finding solutions to the insecurity challenges in their states.
The governor dared the criminals, saying “I am waiting for them.”
He said “After we launched our OP-MESA last week, I understand that they have been working extremely hard, in fact, what I hear is that those criminals are now saying that Dapo Abiodun is making life unbearable for them and that they are going after me, well, let me assure you that I will continue to make life intolerable and unbearable for you and I’m waiting for you.”
Binance Chief Executive Officer, Changpeng Zhao, has explained that the controversial restriction of accounts on its platform is due to ongoing measures to prevent fraudulent activities.
In a statement addressed to the Nigerian community, published on Sunday, Mr Zhao said 281 Nigerian cryptocurrency accounts were affected by these proactive measures.
“Some 281 Nigerian accounts have been affected by these personal account restrictions with approximately 38% of these cases restricted at the request of international law enforcement,” he said.
Mr Zhao emphasised that the Nigerian community is one that brings great pride, adding that since the inception of Binance, Nigeria and Africa at large have been “very special markets to us and for crypto.
The CEO’s comment came days after many traders of cryptocurrencies took to Twitter to vent their anger and grievances over the various unusual activities they noticed on their wallets on the Binance platform.
Many users of the platform, especially Nigerians and other Africans, last Wednesday alleged that they had been deprived of access to their wallets (account) without significant reasons.
Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange platform where digital currency holders can transact seamlessly in a peer-to-peer (P2P) pattern.
“On hearing the concerns raised by the community, I decided to write to re-emphasize our commitment to you,” Mr Zhao said in his statement Sunday.
While apologising for the inconvenience caused by delays in resolving customer support requests, Mr Zhao stated that “user security remains our top priority.”
He said: “We love and are devoted to our Nigerian community, but we must ensure that our users are safe. As such, protection mechanisms such as KYC, anti-money laundering measures, collaboration with law enforcement, and account restrictions are in place to ensure our community remains protected and that fraudulent activity is prevented.
“This is a global approach applied in every country.”
Ongoing efforts
According to the statement, Mr Zhao said regardless of the bitter experiences, “we owe it to you, our users, to deliver the experience you deserve.”
In its bid to rebuild the trust of Nigerians on its brand, Mr Zhao said the company is ensuring speedy resolutions of ongoing user cases tied to account restrictions.
“Currently, we have resolved 79 cases and continue to work through others. All non-law enforcement-related cases will be resolved within two weeks,” he said.
He noted that the company is devoting more customer service personnel to the region, and that it will dedicate additional risk agents with a great understanding of the Nigerian market.
“Rest assured, we are working hard to attend to all customer service requests,” he explained.
Mrs Ibironke Oluremi Adefila (nee Jobi), a senior staff member of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), was brutally murdered in Lagos by assailants thought to be assassins.
Adefila was reportedly on her way to work in the early hours of Friday, January 28, 2022, when she was confronted by heavily armed assailants opposite Awalu group of schools in Laketu, Ikorodu.
According to onlookers, a voice among the armed men was heard yelling, “that’s her, that’s her,” and they promptly attacked her and chopped her to death on the spot with an axe, cutlass, and knife.
Although some good Samaritans attempted to take her to the hospital in the hope that she would survive the senseless mutilation, she had lost a great deal of blood due to the severe injuries she had sustained on every area of her body, including her head and spine.
The deceased’s family has pleaded with the police and other appropriate authorities to expedite the investigation into their daughter’s death.
Alaba Jobi, speaking on behalf of the family, stated, “What made the crime even more shocking and terrible was that she was scheduled to attend a celebration that day in the office to celebrate her promotion to a new level in her office.”
“Many have wondered, ‘What could have prompted this brutal and heinous murder?’”
“Another surprise was that none of her personal items or body parts were stolen.
“Police must act immediately to apprehend those responsible for this horrible act. The mother of five children should not perish in vain. Mr Adefila, the husband, also seeks justice,” stating that Ikorodu, which was once a tranquil neighbourhood, has been blighted by a slew of criminal activities that has become nearly permanent in the area.
“All relevant parties should assist the Lagos Police command in unraveling the mysteries surrounding Ikorodu’s security concerns, particularly the death of Mrs Ibironke Oluremi Adefila,” he added.
Adekunle Ajisebutu, the state police command’s spokesperson, confirmed the incident and stated that the state’s police are “working vigorously to apprehend the offenders.”
Additionally, he added that Abiodun Alabi, the state commissioner of police, has authorized a thorough inquiry into the event.
The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill seeking to regulate rent payments in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for second reading.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi (All Progressives Congress, APC, Kogi State), specifically seeks to stop yearly advance payment of rents and compel house owners to collect rent monthly in arrears.
Adeyemi said many properties in Abuja were empty because of the outrageous rents placed on them.
“Many residents of FCT are finding it very difficult to cope with huge rent payment, the reason many of the houses built for such purpose are empty.”
He said some landlords always insist their tenants pay one year or two years rent.
“That is wrong. There are many tenants whose salaries are competing with their rents because they live in cities like Abuja,” he said.
Speaking on the issue, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger), described the proposed law as people-centred and urged his colleagues to support its passage.
Sammie Okposo’s wife, Ozioma Okposo has reacted after her husband returned to Instagram.
Recall that Naija News earlier reported that Sammie re-activated his Instagram account after taking a break from social media.
He had written: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am born of God the life of God is in me; Christ in me the hope of glory I am free from the law, from the power of sin. I am no longer bound by the fear of men.
“God’s grace is available sufficient and working for me. Jesus already saved me not because of any works of righteousness that I have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
“Jesus is crazy about me, He loves me just the way I am. Christ has redeemed me. I live free, all my fears and mistakes are drowned in God’s perfect Love. There is, therefore, no condemnation to me. I am in Christ Jesus. I walk not after the flesh but after the spirit; the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made free from the power of sin and death. Who is he or she that saith a thing and it cometh to pass when the Lord commandeth it not…… NOBODY.”
To show her approval of her husband’s return and declaration on social media, Ozioma liked his post.
At least 29 people have been killed, with many houses burnt in fresh attacks at Galadima-Kogo and Galkogo Communities of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Naija News gathered that the bandits invaded and launched attacks on the two communities after overpowering security operatives on Sunday morning.
In a chat with Daily Trust, the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, said over 20 residents were killed during the attacks on Sunday.
Umar added that the gunmen attacked a Forward Operating Base in the area and killed 12 members of the Special Taskforce deployed to the community.
He said “One of our Forward Operating Bases manned by our security was overran during the attack. But we are already strategising to take the fight back to them. Already, there have been ongoing security operations in the area, both air and ground. We are doing our best.”
The Chairman, Shiroro Local Government Area, Suleiman Dauda Chukuba, also said 11 dead bodies have been recovered while nine persons who were injured have been taken to hospital for treatment.
He said: “This is a tragedy that has just occurred on Saturday and I cannot really ascertain the number of casualties for now because the place stands as a no-go area as I am talking to you now.
“The only dead bodies that we have recovered were 11 but that is not the exact number of casualties. A lot of people were affected. Those that were wounded were nine in number and they are in the hospital as I am talking to you.
“As the situation is now, we have not done much about the displaced people. Our concern now is how to make sure we get back the communities that have been taken over by the attackers.”
He, however, dismissed the rumour making rounds that the security operatives were withdrawn before the attacks.
“It’s not the withdrawal of security operatives per say. But the attackers were more in number and well-armed with sophisticated weapons. So, when they launched the attack, they overpowered our security men because they came in hundreds with sophisticated weapons,” he said.
Four Chibok girls have been released from the captivity of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.
Recall that the girls were part of the victims kidnapped during an invasion of Kautikari village of Chibok Local Government Area in Borno State on Friday, January 14.
It was learned that the girls were taken to Dille village which shares a border with Sambisa forest before they were released on Sunday afternoon.
Confirming the development, a resident of the town said that the girls regained their freedom on Sunday.
He told Vanguard that the girls are with the District Head of Kautikari village who resides in Chibok town.
“I can exclusively confirm to you that the four young girls who were in the captivity of insurgents have regained freedom today (Sunday).
“I was informed that they were taken to Dille axis of Askira Uba local government area of Borno state which shares border with Sambisa forest.
“Presently, all the girls are cooing off with the District Head of Kautikari who resides in Chibok town,” he said.
Marwa Arrests Drug Traffickers In Adamawa, Lagos, Plateau States
Three trans-border drug traffickers have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while trying to smuggle 48,000 tablets of 225mg Tramadol through Mubi, Adamawa state to Cameroon Republic, just as over 1,500 kilograms of imported Loud and other illicit substances have been intercepted in raids across Lagos and Edo states.
A statement signed by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy and made available to NAOSRE, the agency stated that the suspects: Mohammed Hussaini, 32; Adamu Bella, 18, and Mohammed Umar, 18, were arrested at Tsamiya Junction, Madanya Road, Mubi, Mubi North LGA, Adamawa State on Friday 28th January, with the exhibits concealed in the packets of another drug. When interviewed, they claimed the drugs were being taken to Bagira town along Nigeria-Cameroon border to be delivered to some Cameroonians for onward delivery to Maroa in Cameroon.
This comes on the heels of a similar operation at Alaba Rago area of Lagos where operatives of the state command of the Agency intercepted 1,200 parcels of imported Loud, a strong variant of cannabis suspected to have been smuggled into the state from a neighbouring country with a total weight of 1,229 kilograms.
In another raid on Wednesday 26th Jan, at Suru Alaba, Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, Lagos, operatives arrested one Ibrahim Musa, 25, with 18,530 tablets of Tramadol, Rohynol, Diazepam, Exol-5, and 138 bottles of Codeine.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the airport during their routine cargo search intercepted a consignment of 22 international passports of six different countries concealed in a bag of Gari among other food items.
Nine of the passports were three each of UK, France and Portugal, while the rest were: Nigeria -8; Ghana -4 and Cameroon -1. Also at the airport, operatives equally recovered 12 parcels of cannabis weighing 4.95kg concealed in a carton of Golden Morn packaged for export through the SAHCO export shed.
In Plateau state, a team of Marwa led NDLEA officers on Friday 28th Jan. arrested two suspects; Emeka Ezenwa, 37, and Julius Akingbe, 45, for being in possession of 126.5grams of methamphetamine concealed inside a DVD player coming from Lagos, while a raid in Kampani Zera- Wase LGA of the state on Friday led to the arrest of Fatima Sadiq, 20, who was caught with 21.3kg cannabis.
A similar raid on Friday of a notorious drug joint, Bakin Kogi Ringim, Jigawa state led to the recovery of different quantities of Cannabis, Diazepam, Exol-5 and some new psychoactive substances with a total weight of 8.680kg as well as weapons such as knives, cutlasses, Gora sticks, catapults and charms.
In Edo state, operatives recovered 19 bags of cannabis weighing 144.10kg stored in the bush along Uromi Road, Esan North East LGA ready to be transported to other parts of the country, while eight bags of the same substance weighing 111kg were recovered from a bush at Iruekpen, Esan West LGA.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended officers and men of Lagos, MMIA, Adamawa, Plateau and Edo commands of the Agency for their tenacity and vigilance. He charged them along with their colleagues across the country not to relent until the last gram of illicit drug is recovered from every part of Nigeria.
