Crime
Man’s Shocking Attempt To Use Son For Money Ritual Uncovered
The Zone 2 Police Command has apprehended a 50-year-old man from Benin Republic, Pome Banda, along with three accomplices, on suspicion of luring a nine-year-old boy from the same country with the intention of performing a money ritual.
According to Mr. Mohammed, during the course of their plot, the Zone 2 Criminal Investigation Department received information about the group’s activities.
As part of their operation, the police posed as a herbalist willing to assist them in using the boy for the money ritual.
Under this pretense, the operatives engaged in discussions with the boy’s father, Benjamin Balobi, who resides in Nigeria, as well as two Nigerian nationals, Segun Shile, and Ige Koshelu.
Mr. Banda left his hometown, Ajah Jakatome in Benin Republic, and arrived in Nigeria on May 30, 2023, with his son. He convinced the young boy that they were coming to secure a housemaid job for him.
Once in Nigeria, the boy was handed over to a man known as Baba Shina, who is currently on the run, to work as a house help.
Mr. Mohammed disclosed that following a month of living with Baba Shina, the boy was taken back to Cotonou, and a sum of N35,000 was given to his father in his presence, disguised as a salary to confuse the young boy.
Between June 17 and 23, Mr. Banda, after finalizing arrangements with the other suspects, brought the boy back from Benin Republic to Nigeria for the purpose of conducting a money-making ritual.
The four suspects involved in the crime were apprehended at Sango Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria, which was the presumed location of the native doctor they were working with. The suspects have all confessed to their involvement in the nefarious act.
The AIG stated that the four suspects involved in the crime were apprehended at Sango Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria, which was the presumed location of the native doctor they were working with.
He further said that the suspects have all confessed to their involvement in the nefarious act.
The authorities stated that the investigation is ongoing, and once it is completed, the suspects will be charged to court to face appropriate legal consequences for their actions.
During the interrogation at the Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, the boy’s father, Mr. Banda who communicated through an interpreter confessed that he resorted to attempting a money ritual using his fifth child because of his impoverished condition.
In his quest to execute this sinister plan, he contacted his brother, Mr. Balobi, who resides in Nigeria, seeking his assistance in finding a job as a house help for his son.
However, Mr. Banda’s ulterior motive was to also involve his brother in the money ritual scheme.
Mr. Balobi managed to secure a person named Baba Shina to act as the master of the boy, who was to be employed as a house help.
Furthermore, Mr. Banda connected with a Nigerian individual named Ige Koshelu and discussed with him the specific details of what he wanted his son to do in relation to the money ritual.
He said he met Mr Koshelu in the Ilaro area of Ogun, who then contacted Mr Shile, who allegedly made arrangements for a herbalist in the Owode Yewa area in Ogun.
Mr Banda said Mr Shile became the middleman and coordinator between Mr Ige, himself and the suspected herbalist, who they never knew was a policeman.
On the part of Mr Balobi, the boy’s father called him to know what he was doing in Nigeria and wanted him to help get a place where his son would work as a house boy.
Mr Balobi said he told Mr Banda that the job he saw paid N5,000 salary monthly.
“It was later he opened up to me that he wanted to use his son for a money ritual; that is when I connected him with one Baba Shina, who is on the run now. The boy was taken to Baba Shina’s house,” he said.
According to Mr. Koshelu’s statement, when Mr. Banda brought his son from the Benin Republic, it was Baba Shina, the boy’s master in Nigeria, who contacted him. Baba Shina informed Mr. Koshelu about their plan to use the boy for a money ritual.
Mr. Koshelu, however, claimed that he had no knowledge or expertise in rituals. Despite this, he assured Mr. Banda and Baba Shina that he would try to help them by reaching out to a friend who might know a herbalist or be able to assist them in their quest for a money-making ritual.
He said “It was a friend of mine whom I contacted that promised to get someone for them in the Oja Odan area of Ogun, who finally helped them.
“It was that my friend who later took us to the herbalist’s house at Owode Yewa, and from Owode Yewa, we moved again to Sango to meet the herbalist. Unfortunately, we were arrested at the scene where the policemen were already waiting.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds intended for Delta State during his tenure.
Okowa, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, was detained after he voluntarily appeared at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate on Monday in response to an official summons.
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According to an EFCC source, Okowa is accused of failing to account for the N1.3 trillion derived from the federation account, as well as an additional N40 billion he allegedly invested in shares of UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The investigation suggests that Okowa acquired an 8% stake in a major Nigerian bank to support the offshore LNG venture, with funds purportedly misallocated from state resources.
Beyond the LNG shares, investigators are probing whether Okowa redirected state funds to acquire high-value properties in Abuja and Asaba.
Okowa is currently held at an EFCC facility in Port Harcourt as the inquiry continues.
The high-profile arrest comes as Okowa, who was the vice-presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, faces scrutiny over his financial conduct in office.
Amid repeated absences from court, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy tied to alleged misappropriations totaling N1.3 billion.
The ruling, handed down Monday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, calls for Ranesh’s immediate arrest following his failure to respond to multiple court summonses.
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Justice Egwuatu cited Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), empowering the court to issue an arrest warrant against defendants who evade appearance.
“The defendant is legally obligated to appear, and the court is authorized to issue a warrant for arrest if he does not,” Justice Egwuatu said, setting January 13, 2025, as the next court date, adding that no objections will be considered unless Ranesh is present.
Ranesh and two Dana Group subsidiaries—Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd—face serious allegations from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018, Ranesh and his companies engaged in fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of industrial generators valued at N450 million, which had been pledged as collateral in a debenture agreement.
Additional charges allege the misappropriation of N864 million from bond funds meant for operations at the Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, and a N60.3 million transfer to an external account without authorization.
The charges, filed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Moshood Adeyemi, cite violations under the Criminal Code Act.
In court, government lawyer Mojisola Okeya-Esho argued for the arrest warrant, stating that Ranesh had disregarded court orders to appear for arraignment.
Defense counsel B. Ademola-Bello challenged the prosecution, contending that jurisdictional issues must be addressed before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed these objections, underscoring that Ranesh’s presence in court is required before other arguments can be entertained.
The matter is now adjourned until January 13, 2025, with the warrant remaining active until the defendant is brought to court.
In a shocking act of violence, armed assailants targeted the Police Rapid Response Squad facility in Owerrinta early Monday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a female detainee.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.
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State Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed the incident, revealing that the gunmen arrived in three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on the police facility.
“Our personnel successfully repelled the attack,” Isa stated.
However, the attackers resorted to using dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and exposing the detainees inside.
During the chaos, the gunmen attempted to free detainees, leading to the fatal shooting of the female suspect.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she was in custody related to a child trafficking case.
In the aftermath of the attack, police swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, employing advanced technical methods to track their movements.
Commissioner Isa announced the arrest of one suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the identities of additional accomplices.
“We are making significant progress in our investigation,” he affirmed.
Authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as the investigation continues.
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