|
Manko said, “On July 26,
2012, around 8:30pm, there
was a distress call that
there was commotion at GTB,
Ogba branch. On getting
there, the suspect was seen
with 19 ATM cards.
“He is an employee of Zenith
Bank and we wondered what he
was doing with the 19 cards.
He was arrested and as of
the time of his arrest, he
had cashed N652, 000. The
matter is under
investigation.”
The suspect however denied
stealing the ATM cards. He
said whenever he lent people
money, he would collect
their ATM cards as
collateral and return them
after payment.
He said, “I usually loan
people money and I've been
doing it for over a year.
Whenever I loan people
money, I will collect their
ATM cards and their Personal
Identification Numbers. When
they repay me, I return
their cards to them.
“However, if they don't pay
me back in cash, I go to
withdraw money from their
accounts through the ATM.”
When quizzed on where he got
the money which he lent
people, he said he was into
various kinds of businesses.
He also said he had friends
in the banking sector who
helped him with funds.
He said, “I am a very hard
working person. I joined
Zenith Bank as a driver over
three years ago and in less
than a year, I bought a
tricycle which I leased to
another driver that gives me
returns on a regular basis.
“The following year, I
bought two tricycles
bringing the total number to
three. I make N150,000
monthly from the tricycles
and N60,000 from my salary.
I also get credit facilities
through my connections in
the banking sector.
“On the day I was arrested,
I went to withdraw money on
Thursday night with some of
the cards when a security
guard raised the alarm. I
did not steal those cards. I
know the owners of the cards
and I have their numbers on
my phone.”
Meanwhile, the command has
warned members of the public
to be very careful when
buying vehicles so as not to
buy stolen ones.
The warning became
imperative following the
arrest of two mechanics who
allegedly received six
stolen vehicles and even
sold some to members of the
public.
Manko said buyers could
sense stolen vehicles by
their cheap prices.
It was learnt that on July
7, 2012, Sunday Okoduwa came
with a report that his car
was stolen on Victoria
Island.
Policemen later traced the
car to a workshop in
Agidingbi and arrested a man
identified simply as
Abdusalam, who in turn
claimed that he bought it
from one Idowu Adegboyega.
We also learnt that when
Adegboyega was arrested and
could not give a
satisfactory explanation,
his house was searched and
some documents were found
which led to the recovery of
six other vehicles.
A police source said, “When
we searched the suspect's
house, some documents were
recovered which led to the
recovery of six other
vehicles.
“All the vehicles were
registered in the name of
one Oti Olusekola Jacob, who
is believed to belong to the
gang of armed robbers in
Lagos.”
In a related development,
the police have arrested 12
armed robbery suspects.
Police authorities said the
suspects belonged to a
syndicate that specialised
in snatching vehicles from
the owners at gunpoint.
The police alleged that the
suspects operated in Ikorodu
where they robbed and also
sold vehicles.
According to the police,
Ahmed Abdullahi, Azeez
Abiodun, Olusoga Taiwo,
Wasiu Azeez and Dele Balogun
are among the suspects
arrested.
It was learnt that three of
the suspects, Adebiyi
Mafimisesin, Lekan Aibinuomo
and Okalawon Akinpelu; were
receivers of stolen
vehicles, which were either
Toyota or Honda products.
A police source said, “The
case emanated from Ikorodu
Police Station and was
reported on June 20, 2012 by
a complainant who was
attacked and robbed of his
Toyota Sienna Space bus.###
Mother Discovers Daughter
Died In Crash Two Months
After
All along, she had pitied
families of the victims of
the Dana Air plane crash.
But, unknown to Mrs.
Victoria Okeke, her
daughter, Hope, was one of
the victims. She only found
out at the weekend that her
33-year-old daughter is no
more.
The news threw Ekwulobia
community in Aguata Local
Government Area, Anambra
State into mourning.
The late Okeke was a midwife
with the S.O.S Children's
Village, Gwagwalada,
Abuja.She was on her way to
Owu-Ijebu, Ogun State on
relief duty when she died in
the crash.
Mrs. Okeke said she has
taken consolation in the
Lord since the crash
affected many families. She
gave the example of Job in
the Bible who lost all he
got and yet blessed God.
Mrs. Okeke warned Christians
to amend their ways while
alive to avoid regrets at
death.
Information on the website
of Nursing Nigeria World
indicate that but for her
seat that was allegedly
allocated to another
passenger, the late Okeke
would not have been counted
among the dead in the plane
crash.
The nurse was said to have
booked a seat aboard Dana
Air flight 9J998 at 7.45am
on the fateful day but found
out that another passenger
had been allocated her seat
when she got to the Abuja
International Airport at
7.30am
Her colleague at the SOS
Children's Villages Nigeria,
where she was a nurse, Mr.
Mark Nwakudu, said the late
Okeke left the SOS Village
in Abuja for another in
Owu-Ijebu, Ogun State, en
route Lagos, to relieve a
colleague who had travelled
to Benin Republic on an
official assignment.
Narrating his last moments
with Okeke, Nwakudu said: "I
was in Edo State when she
was leaving Abuja but I was
monitoring her movement on
the telephone. She was at
the airport with her sister
and another colleague.
"I asked her why she didn't
travel with a bus but
because of her passion for
the children, she said she
needed to be at the
Owu-Ijebu SOS village on
time as our colleague there
had travelled to Benin
Republic.
"Her flight was to take off
at 7.45am but she didn't get
to the airport until about
7.30, when she was told her
seat had been allocated to
another passenger. Our
colleague, who was with her,
queried the unfair
treatment."
The late Hope worked briefly
at Dionye Hospital,
Ekwulobia before going for
further studies. She
attended Umuezennefor
Primary School, Ekwulobia
Community Secondary School,
Oko before proceeding to
N.S.K.S.T School of Nursing
Nkar Gboko, Benue State and
Midwifery courses at the
Ministry of Health, Makurdi
also in Benue state. She is
survived by three siblings
and an aged mother.###
Kano: Extortion: 17
Policemen Arrested
Kano State police command
has disclosed that in
response to public
complaints over alleged
extortion by police and
other security personnel at
various check points in the
state, about 17 policemen
have been arrested in
connection with the sharp
practice.
The State Commissioner of
Police Mr. Ibrahim Idris
revealed that the clamp down
on corrupt officers was part
of their efforts to sanities
the force to provide better
services to the people of
the state.
Idris told reporters at the
weekend that to this effect,
17 officers comprising six
inspectors, three sergeants,
five corporals and three
constables are facing
disciplinary action for
alleged extortion at road
blocks.
“Orderly room trial is in
progress to ascertain their
culpability and the public
is hereby warned to desist
from offering money for
whatever reason to policemen
on duty at check points for
they too will be held
culpable if caught,” the
commissioner disclosed.
The commissioner stated that
any officer who demands
money from members of the
public should be reported to
the police using the
emergency numbers and public
complaint numbers.
Idris also added that the
command has held a meeting
with Islamic leaders in the
state on modalities to be
used for the sustenance of
peace in the state.
According to him, the
meeting with religious
leaders had been successful,
resulting in some major
decisions.
"At the latest meeting with
religious leaders with
members of the Hisbah,
Vigilante, Civil Defence and
FRSC in attendance, it was
agreed that during this
period, persons coming to
mosques shall remain there
until the close of prayers
and no loitering around the
mosques would be allowed. It
was also agreed that there
would be erection of
barricades where and when
applicable.”
He added: "People should not
be allowed into the mosque
vicinity with bags, parcels
and containers, while any
strange object should be
reported to the security
agencies."
The commissioner explained
that "Preachers have also
agreed to avoid using
inciting comments, while
suspicious movements would
attract police attention.
Vehicles and motorcycles
will now be parked at safe
distances while abandoned
ones around the mosques
should be promptly reported
to the police."###
Cop Killed Trying To Rescue
Kidnapped Victim
A staff of Due Process
Office, Government House,
Asaba, Delta State, was,
weekend, kidnapped with his
son in the state.
Police authorities gave his
name as Mr. Duke Okeze. He
was rescued, yesterday,
though one of the policemen
involved in the rescue
mission was killed in the
process, while the son of
Mr. Okeze, kidnapped along
with him received bullet
wounds.
Police Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Charles Muka,
in a statement, said: “Mr.
Okeze of Due Process Office,
Government House, Asaba, was
kidnapped by unknown gunmen
along with his son. But they
were rescued at 6.30a.m.,
Monday, by a combined team
of SARS, STORM in Issele-Uku
division at Atuma Iga.
“Three suspects, including a
lady, were arrested and his
Toyota Corolla car was
recovered. In the process of
rescue, his son, Emma,
sustained minor bullet
wounds from the kidnappers'
guns while a police Corporal
was killed. Efforts are on
to arrest other fleeing gang
members.”
He added that “Three armed
robbers, including one
dressed in National Youth
Service Corps, NYSC, uniform
were arrested in Asaba, with
a rifle, three battle axes,
three cartridges, a laptop
and a camera.”###
Edo
We Were Offered N20m To Kill
Oshiomhole's Aide, Says
Suspect
A suspect in custody in
connection with the murder
of Olaitan Oyerinde, the
Private Secretary to Edo
State Governor Adams
Oshiomhole, has reportedly
told police interrogators
that he was offered N20m for
the job.
He said he was paid N200,000
as part payment with which
he recruited four others.
Five suspects, including the
Executive Director of the
African Network for
Environment and Economic
Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David
Ugolor, have been arrested
in connection with the
murder.
Rev. Ugolor was picked up on
Friday by the investigating
team from the Force CID in
Abuja. His office and
residence were ransacked. He
was arrested after the
suspect named one “David” as
the sponsor of the murder.
Police sources said the
suspect identified Rev.
Ugolor during an
identification parade as the
“David” that sponsored the
killing.
It was gathered that the
suspect told police
investigators that the deal
to kill Olaitan was sealed
at a restaurant in Benin
City and that Rev. Ugolor
pointed Olaitan to him at a
bureau de change where the
late Olaitan had gone for a
transaction.
He said they trailed the
late Olaitan to a place
where he (Olaitan) and
Ugolor had a drink before
following him home to carry
out the killing.
Ugolor took the late Olaitan
home the night he was shot
and he was the person called
by Olaitan's wife to take
him to the hospital after he
had been shot.
Police sources said Ugolor
and the suspect met on
Sunday. Ugolor reportedly
questioned him.
Ugolor, however, said he was
being framed up for the
murder of Olaitan.
A statement signed by the
Programme/Policy Officer of
ANEEJ Innocent Edemhanria,
in Benin City said the
relationship that existed
between the late Olaitan and
Rev. Ugolor was convivial
and neither of them could
plot the killing of the
other.
The statement said: “The
suspect who is accusing
David Ugolor is of a
northern Nigeria origin and
is completely unknown to
Rev. David Ugolor,
colleagues and friends. At
the moment, the police are
still holding onto David as
they carry out their
investigations on the
allegation we consider
spurious.”
“We suspect strongly that
somebody high up somewhere
is framing up our Executive
Director Rev. David Ugolor,
over the murder of the
personal aide to Edo State
Governor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole.
“Rev. David Ugolor is a life
saver, not taker as his
natural penchant for poverty
eradication, enlarging the
voice of the voiceless,
assisting the poor and needy
is unparalleled in his
almost 25 years of
effective and
result-oriented activism.
“While, we wouldn't want to
obstruct police
investigations on the murder
of our friend, Comrade
Olaitan Oyerinde, as a law
abiding corporate citizen,
we insist that Rev. David
Ugolor is innocent of any
accusation being leveled
against him. We call for his
immediate release so he can
rejoin his family.”
The late Olaitan was
murdered on May 4 at his
Benin City home by unknown
gunmen.###
Sokoto -
Policeman, Hair Dresser
Killed In Suicide Bombings
Sokoto, seat of the Sultan -
head of the Muslim Ummah-
which has been largely
spared of attacks, was hit
by twin suicide bombings
Monday.
Two police stations,
including the headquarters
of Zone 10, where the office
of the Assistant Inspector
General of Police (AIG) is
located, were the targets of
suicide bombers.
Four persons were killed,
among them a police
corporal. The two suicide
bombers were blown into
pieces. Over 30 people were
injured.
Sokoto was thrown into
panic, with people running
helter skelter.
There were sporadic gun
shots around the Arkilla
Divisional police station,
hours after the morning
suicide blasts.
The exchange of fire sources
believed, was between the
police and unidentified
persons suspected to be
criminals.
The gun shots were heard
minutes to the time of
breaking of fast by muslims
even as there were no
official reports of killing
or injuries.
But unconfirmed sources said
four persons were feared
dead in the marathon
shootings that shattered
normal activities of
residents many of whom took
to their heels for refuge.
The AIG Zone 10 office is at
Marina, the centre of town.
The other police station
attacked is at Ungwar Rogo.
A Corporal, identified as
Samaila and the suicide
bomber, died at the AIG's
Zone 10 office blast.
The attack on Ungwar Rogo
Police Station left the
suicide bomber and one hair
dresser dead.
The hair dresser, who
operates a saloon in one of
the Police Officers' Wives
Association (POWA)corner
shops, was killed.
The blast destroyed almost
one-third of the building,
damaging the official car of
the AIG.
The twin explosions were
carried out simultaneously
by the attackers.
The Marina suicide bomber,
who drove a Honda Civic
vehicle, reportedly forced
his way into the premises to
launch the attack.
AIG Mukhtari Ibrahim said
the suicide bomber was
stopped by the police but he
resisted and rammed his
vehicle into the building.
Deputy Commissioner of
Police (DCP) Kudu Nma of U/Rogo
said the suicide bomber
could not penetrate the
premises of the station and
crashed into the POWA
building.
“We had always cordoned off
the police station and that
made it difficult for the
bomber to access the
premises,” he said.
Boko Haram Islamists,
responsible for scores of
deadly gun and bomb attacks
in recent months, are
suspected of having hideouts
in Sokoto, but the group has
rarely struck within the
city.
A Red Cross official said:
“A policeman and woman were
killed in the bombings.
Thirty people were injured,
mostly around the market in
the Yan Marina neighbourhood,”
said the official who
requested anonymity.
Yan Marina resident Usman
Bube said the area was
“engulfed in flames”.
“There was a huge explosion
about an hour ago at the
police station that was
followed by thick smoke,”
Bube told AFP. “It is so
chaotic now, with people
running to safety.”
A senior police officer, who
did not want to be
identified, said the bomber
approached the station in a
vehicle packed with
explosives and was denied
entry at the security gate,
where the vehicle then blew
up.
Lawai Danfili, who lives
near the Unguwar Rogo
station, said residents
raced into their homes
following the attacks.
“We heard a loud explosion
around the police station.
The impact of the explosion
shook houses in the area. We
all moved indoors,” he said.
While there was no immediate
claim of responsibility,
Boko Haram has repeatedly
targeted police across the
North, where most of its
attacks have been carried
out.
The radical Islamist group
has long stated its loathing
for traditional Muslim
leaders, saying they have
betrayed the faith by
subjecting themselves to
the secular government.
Boko Haram has said it wants
to create an Islamic state
in the North.
In May, gunmen accused of
being Boko Haram members,
shot at a building near the
Yan Marina Police Station,
killing one officer and a
civilian.
A Briton and an Italian were
killed in Sokoto in March
during a failed attempt to
free them from their
kidnappers. They were
believed to have been shot
by their captors before they
could be rescued.
Boko Haram, which regularly
claims attacks in statements
sent to journalists, denied
involvement in the
kidnapping and killing the
two Europeans.
The group has claimed the
deaths of more than 1,000
people in attacks since
mid-2009 and three of its
top leaders have been
designated as global
terrorists by the United
States.###
Subsidy Scam: Two More Oil
Marketers Docked, Detained
Two more oil marketers,
Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, Habila
Theck and their company,
Fargo Energy Limited accused
of swindling the Federal
Government in oil subsidy
scam were arraigned,
yesterday, at an Ikeja High
Court on a six count charge
of conspiracy, obtaining
money under false pretence,
forgery and using forged
documents.
They were accused of
defrauding the government of
N979,653,110.28. They,
however, pleaded not guilty
to the charge
The prosecution alleged that
the offences they committed
are contrary to section 8
and punishable under section
1 (1)(2)(3) of the Advanced
Fee Fraud and other Fraud
Related Offences Act, Laws
of the Federation of Nigeria
as well as sections 363 and
364 of the Criminal Laws of
Lagos State of Nigeria No
11, Laws of Lagos State
2011.
According to the charge, the
accused persons and the oil
company “on or about
February 10, 2012, with
intent to defraud, conspired
to fraudulently obtain
N976,653,110.28 from the
federal government of
Nigeria by falsely
representing that the said
sum represented subsidy
accruing on importation of
13,627,084 litres of Premium
Motor Spirit(PMS)
purportedly purchased from
Sealac Petroleun Limited and
imported into Nigeria
through MT Diplomat and MT
Milleura which
representation they knew to
be false”.
It further alleged that the
defendants and the oil
company “on 14th day of
October, 2011 at Lagos and
within Ikeja judicial
division, with intent to
defraud and in order to
facilitate your obtaining
money by false pretence from
the federal government of
Nigeria, under the Petroleum
Support Fund, forged a
document titled “Certificate
of Origin, Port of Loading
Antwerp Belgium” dated 14th
day of October, 2011,
purporting the document to
have been issued by Sealac
Petroleum Limited”.
Shortly after their pleas
were taken, their counsel,
Mr. Babajide Koku (SAN)
informed the court of his
plan to move their
applications for bail.
However, he said he had two
different applications, one
of which was dated July 25,
2012 and forwarded to court
last week and a new one
filed yesterday morning. He
then applied that one the
bail applications dated July
25, 2012 be struck out
substituted with the new
application.
He said the move was to
react to the counter
affidavit filed by the EFCC
which opposed the bail for
the 1st defendant.
The prosecution then urged
the court to grant it time
to react to some fundamental
issues raised in the new
application filed by the
defence while the defence
asked for two days to react
to all issues raised in the
counter affidavit of the
bail application.
While conceding the need for
an adjournment, the
prosecution urged the court
to order that the accused
persons be detained in the
custody of the EFCC pending
when their applications for
bail will be argued.
The trial judge, Justice
Adeniyi Onigbanjo ordered
the detention of the
defendants at the EFCC and
adjourned the matter till
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
(tomorrow) for argument on
bail application.###
NAFDAC Nabs Fake Cameroonian
Doctor
The National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and
Control, NAFDAC has nabbed a
Cameroonian who specialised
in prescribing, selling and
administering unregistered
Chinese drug products to
unsuspecting members of the
public.
The man, Justin Sitamze who
claimed to be a doctor was
arrested at his illegal
clinic situated within the
central mosque premises in
Ajegunle metropolis of Lagos
State by a team of
operatives from the
Enforcement Directorate of
the Agency.
Acting on a tip-off and
after a successful
surveillance of the area,
the officials swooped on the
premises where the suspect
was caught right in the act
along with three of his
staff.
The director of enforcement,
Mr. Garba Macdonald who
disclosed this after the
exercise said that the
suspect was operating the
illegal clinic by carrying
out consultations and tests
on his patients using some
electronic medical devices
after which he prescribed
and administered the
unregistered Chinese drug
products for the treatment
of the ailment he claimed to
have diagnosed for a fee.
Garba while condemning the
activities of the suspect
revealed that his officers
had been on his trail
following information from
some concerned members of
the public about the
location of the clinic which
they suspected was not
genuine. He informed that
the drugs had been
confiscated and sampled
against him for further
investigations by the police
who have taken custody of
him.
The Director then appealed
to the public to be weary of
such people and ensure they
purchase their drugs from
licensed pharmacies and
recognised patent medicine
stores.
He added that the drugs
recovered from the illegal
clinic were labeled in
Chinese language without
English interpretations
warning that their quality
could not be guaranteed by
NAFDAC for human
consumption.
In his statement, the
suspect, Sitamze admitted to
the crime arguing that he
was trained in China and
licensed as a trado-medical
practitioner.###
Man To Die For Killing Baby
An Owerri High Court
presided over by Justice
Nonyerem Okoronkwo, has
sentenced Uchenna Uhuegbu,
from Odunmara, Orodo,
Mbaitoli Local Government
Area of Imo State, to death
for the murder of an
18-month-old baby girl.
Uhuegbu was charged for
killing the baby girl,
Chimuanya Iwuagwu, also from
Odummara, Orodo, on May 17,
2009, in very bizarre
circumstances.
Chronicling how the innocent
suckling was murdered,
Justice Okoronkwo recalled
that the deceased Chimuanya
was heading to throw away
refuse with an elder
relation and was accosted by
the accused on their way.
The Judge agreed with the
prosecution that “because
the accused was very
familiar with the family of
the infant girl, her
relation had no problem
leaving the two and
proceeded to throw away the
refuse.”
Apart from believing the
prosecution's account, the
Judge equally ruled that
since the little girl's
relation did not find the
duo on her return, it was
for the accused to account
for the baby that was left
in his care.
Justice Okoronkwo co quoted
the confessional statement
Uhuegbu made to the police,
especially how a mystery
voice advised him to kill
the little girl if his life
was to be better.### |
