Juliana Francis Blog: February 2017

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Angry mob besiege police station as gospel singers die in detention

My son was tortured to death-Grieving father

Residents of Epetedo area of Lagos Island yesterday besieged the Area ‘A’ Police Command, Lion Building, threatening to burn it to the ground.

A 55-year-old pilgrim to Saudi Arabia, Basirat Iyabo Binuyo, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour, for smuggling 76 pellets of cocaine weighing 931 grammes to Medina, Saudi Arabia.

A 37-year-old man, Mr. Anayo Gabriel, who was allegedly shot by a policeman attached to Morogbo Police Station, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of shattering his leg and abandoning him at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos State.

Court Orders Forfeiture of 17 Vehicles of Ex-Customs Boss to FG

Justice S.M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna today February 24, 2017 gave an interim order, forfeiting the seventeen vehicles found in the warehouse of former Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, to the Federal Government.

RRS NABS 12 HIGHWAY TRUCK HIJACKERS

...Diverts Multi Million Naira Petroleum Product.

Operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 12 suspects over an attempted murder of a tanker escort and the diversion of a 45,000 litre diesel laden truck as well as the diversion of 410 bags of flour.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has recovered a sum of N900, 000 (nine hundred thousand naira) mistakenly deposited in an account of a customer in a new generation bank.

Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, on Monday, February 27, 2017 reserved ruling on whether or not the court has the jurisdiction to entertain a case against Nze Chidi Duru, who is facing a 4-count charge of criminal breach of trust to the tune of N16.2million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice John Tsoho has reserved ruling for March 13, 2017 whether or not to vacate an interim forfeiture order awarding ownership of Oil Prospecting Licence, OPL 245, owned by former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete to the federal government pending the conclusion of investigation and prosecution of entities allegedly involved in the $1.2 billion disputed Malabu oil bloc.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris , concerned with crime of kidnappings and other related violent crimes in the country, reorganized and equipped the IGP’s Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Technical Intelligence Unit, (TIU) and other investigative departments of the Force for optimum performance to nip in the bud and rid the country of the menace.

Against this background, the Special Tactical Squad STS with the assistance of Technical Intelligence Unit TIU/ATIC recorded remarkable achievements in tackling these crimes across the Country.

The police arrested suspected kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunition. The police also recovered victim's car and suspects' operational vehicle.

The suspects are Uche Obiora, Michael Ishaku, Raphael Dauda and Mohammed Sanusi Haruna.

Haruna's room was used to keep the kidnapped victims for nine days at Mpape.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

‘How police officer snatched my wife, children’

*Wife: I’m not having extra marital affair, but I live in fear

Esonwune

An angry husband, Mr. Emmanuel Esonwune, has accused a serving policeman, working with the Imo State Police Command of snatching his wife and children.

The Victoria Island Police Station, Lagos State, has arrested a 22-year-old man, who specialised in defrauding rich widows and divorcees through social media.

Mr. Abba Kyari was recently promoted to the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). He’s the officer in charge of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris’s Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), an elite squad. He and his men have been instrumental in the cracking of many high profile cases of kidnapping, robberies and murders. In this chat with JULIANA FRANCIS after his decoration with his new rank by the IGP, Kyari, the youngest ACP in police, speaks about his promotion, most challenging operations and childhood.

Excerpt:

Suspected kidnappers, on Tuesday, grabbed two sand dredgers at Eleko village, Ibeju/Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.

How serving soldiers introduced me to robbery –Gang leader

*Gang kidnaps ambassador, politician, doctors

· Suspect: I used my share to marry

The Nigeria Police have arrested seven gang members, including a lady, who allegedly specialised in kidnapping and armed robbery.

Kidnappers beat lecturer to death after N1.1m ransom

*Cultists kill ex-policeman, drive nail into head

Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris’s, Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, has arrested two men, Patrick Koyi and Chituru Ferdinand, for allegedly kidnaping and beating a lecturer to death after collecting N1.1 ransom.

Four men, who used to burgle the Kaduna State Government's Lodge have been arrested.

The atmosphere was gloomy on February 17, as the casket of the late Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, was gingerly lowered into a grave at the Vaults and Gardens Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

My mission is to steal from rich, single ladies on Instagram -Ukraine national

*He has robbed over 20 ladies -Police

*Victim: He looked rich, handsome

A Ukraine national, Napoleon Young, 27, who was arrested by detectives attached to Victoria Island Police Station, Lagos, for allegedly tricking and stealing from over 20 ladies, said he was on a revenge mission.

IGP orders arrests of seven SARS operatives for murder

The Inspector-General of Police(IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the immediate arrest and detention of eight operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu, Anambra State, for murder of Mr. Ejike Bob Manuel.

Some Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP), have kicked against the continual delay of their promotion and the humiliation of becoming junior officers to their course mates.

Epe: Kidnappers on the rampage, attack policemen

•Abductors kill colleague over sharing formula

•OPC joins military to confront gunmen

Kidnappers, wielding sophisticated weapons, stormed Igbodu area of Epe, Lagos State, with ferocious anger yesterday and unleashed terror on the hapless residents.

The gunmen abducted five farm workers at Elysian Farms.

The attack seemed to be a response to Monday’s protest by residents and farmers of Igbodu and Isiwo in Epe to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s office over incessant abductions.

But unlike previous incursions, the kidnappers met policemen.

This was even soldiers and police continued to forage into creeks in Festac Town area, attempting to rescue the Army lieutenant, who was abducted on Friday.

Yesterday, marauding kidnappers were said to have stormed out from the creek, fully armed and engaged policemen, who were patrolling the area in the mother of all battles.

While some residents claimed the kidnapers were reacting to the protest to the government against their activities, others claimed that the bandits were fighting over money sharing formula.

A resident said: “Trouble started today (yesterday) after the kidnappers fought over money. We heard they argued among themselves over money. The kidnappers withdrew money from ATM gallery with the card of one of the victims.

“It was in the process of fighting over the money, that one of them was shot and killed. Apparently angry and mourning their slain colleague, five among them stormed Elysian Farm, hoping to abduct another set of victims. They, however, met policemen. They immediately opened fire, riddling police patrol van with bullets. The policemen scampered in different directions, leaving their vehicles.”

But the policemen later regrouped, called for reinforcement and returned fire for fire.

It was also learnt that the kidnappers were able to grab five victims. For reasons yet unknown, three of the kidnappers left the victims in the custody of two of their colleagues in the bush.

When the victims realised that only two kidnappers were left behind, they attacked them. The victims allegedly managed to kill one of the kidnappers.

The New Telegraph gathered that those, who escaped, returned from the bush to narrate their story to others.

A farm manager claimed that the kidnappers were more than 30 who stormed Elysian Farms, yesterday.

Elysian Farms was also the farm, where five farm workers and two members of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) were abducted on February 14. Yesterday’s attack was the third time the abductors stormed Elysian Farms.

The farm manager, who refused to disclose his name, said: “The patrol vehicle of policemen, stationed in the community, was riddled with bullets from the kidnappers. While the gun battle between the police and the kidnappers was going on, about five workers of Elysian Farma were allegedly abducted.

“We can’t ascertain the number of farm workers abducted for now. We cannot go into the farm presently; those of us, who were around when they came, had to escape. We are going to have a head count later to know the number of workers kidnapped. There were gunshots everywhere. The community is under attack.”

The Baale of the community, Mr. Michael Shodipo, spoke with the New Telegraph on the phone, screaming that the community was under intense attack.

He said: “As I’m speaking with you now, there is commotion in the community. Everybody is running for safety. We have tried all possible means to dislodge the kidnappers from our community. Our efforts didn’t yield any fruitful results.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the ongoing battle between police and kidnappers at Epe, said that no police officer died in the shootout.

The Publicity Secretary, Gani Adams-led Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Yinka Oguntimehin, said: “We are taking no more chances. I think our tolerance has been mistaken for cowardice. It is time to act! Now, we are ready to join hands with the relevant Nigerian forces to smoke out all militants. We have already moved into action. They shall all be smoked out and dealt with.”

Following the abduction of the Army lieutenant, Gyan, a combined team of military personnel, police and members of the OPC, has swooped on the sleepy town of Soba, Festac area and environs in Lagos to combat the kidnappers.

Oguntimehin believed the abduction of the Army officer was masterminded by suspected militants from the Niger Delta Region.

The suspects swooped on the area at the weekend to unleash terror on residents and in the process, kidnapped a military officer, identified as Lieutenant Gyan. It was gathered that the OPC Coordinator in the Zone, Akeem Lawal, sustained bullet wound injuries as the abductors grabbed Gyan.

In a reprisal attack, a combined team of military personnel from Ojo Cantonment, Naval Officers from Navy Town and a team of OPC cordoned off the creeks in the area to dislodge the militants from their hideout.

It was learnt that the kidnappers finally bowed to pressure, resulting in several casualties on both sides.

Lieutenant Gyan was abducted with his service rifle at Ijedodo area of Abule-Ado, Lagos, while on patrol about 5:30p.m. on Friday.

On Monday, sporadic shootings rocked Festac Town as soldiers tried to rescue their own.

While some soldiers invaded the creeks and headed for the kidnappers’ den, others headed for the hideout where the abducted Lieutenant was suspected to have been taken to.

Others remained at strategic points around Ijedodo, Abule-Ado, Totowu, Igando and neighbouring exit points, to ensure that the kidnappers did not escape. The operation continued yesterday.

COMMANDER OF AFRICOM VISITS IGP

General Thomas D. Waldhauser, the commander of United States Africa Command, AFRICOM today 22/02/2017 paid a courtesy call on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Kayode Aderanti, mni has encouraged schools to invest more in the security of their facilities.

A prosecution witness, Goji Mohammed, on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 gave a vivid explanation of how the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recovered one million dollars during a raid conducted on the house of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, who is standing trial along Iyalikam Nigeria Limited on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.97 billion.

A prosecution witness, Goji Mohammed, on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 gave a vivid explanation of how the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, conducted raid on the house of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, who is standing trial along Iyalikam Nigeria Limited on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.97 billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 arraigned a former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema before Justice Maikaita Bako of the State High Court, Katsina on a 22-count charge of criminal breach of trust, forgery and abuse of office.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has concluded arrangements to prosecute a Deputy Director of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in Akwa Ibom State, and former Electoral Officer in Rivers State, Gogo Anderson Waribo for bribe taking.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 arraigned one Usman Muhammad Dajji, a staff of the Gombe State Sharia Court of Appeal before Justice Sa’ad Muhammad of the State High Court, Gombe on a 5-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and forgery.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 arraigned one Bala Tangalu before Justice A. B. Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja on a 2-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N2.5million.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 20, 2017 arraigned one Marcel Amadi, before Justice Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court Enugu, Enugu State for operating a financial institution without any valid license contrary to Section 2(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and Punishable under Section 2(2) of the same Act.

The Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, has expressed determination to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its efforts to make Nigeria a corrupt free nation.

Olisa Metuh, a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will know his fate on February 23, 2017 as to whether the Federal High Court Abuja, will release his international passport for him to seek medical attention outside of the country.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 recovered seventeen exotic vehicles in a warehouse belonging to a former Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, located at Nnamdi Azikwe Street, Kaduna.

Heavy shootings rock Festac as Kidnappers grabbed Army Lieutenant

Heavy shootings rock 7^th Avenue, Abule-Ado, Festac Town, Lagos State, yesterday, as soldiers and policemen in large number attempted to rescue an Army Lieutenant that was grabbed by kidnappers three days ago.

Kidnapped victim's wife slumps as farmers protest incessant abductions

*Seven farmers still in captivity, over N20bn business threatened

IGP, Ibrahim Idris

Ambode

A housewife collapsed yesterday in front of the office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, while protesting the abduction of her husband and the strangulating hold of kidnappers on Epe residents and farmers.

A Federal High Court, Maitama on February 20, 2017 admitted 26 documents as exhibits in the trial of a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, who along with his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba, are standing trial for a N29 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 20, 2017 through its 14th witness presented more exhibits against a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, who is standing trial along Iyalikam Nigeria Limited on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.97 billion.

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court Abuja has fixed February 22, 2017 for "hearing without fail" in a money laundering charge brought against Olisa Metuh, former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Visa Racketeer Bags Four Years

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 13, 2017 secured the conviction of Olugbenga Fanbunmi, who was arraigned before Justice Mamman Kolo of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court on one-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud.

Three suspected professional burglars, who had been to prison seven times, have been re-arrested for burgling a shop in Kaduna State Metropolis and stealing assorted phones valued N15 million.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Monday, February 20, 2017