Crime
Alleged £1m Fraud: Police Witness Reveals How Suspects Were Apprehended In Ikorodu
The third prosecution witness, PW3, in the ongoing trial of seven suspects over an alleged £1m fraud, Giwa Wasiu, an Assistant Superintendent of the Police, ASP has told Justice R. A. Osodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos how the defendants were apprehended in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
The Lagos Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had on February 3, 2022, arraigned Morufu Adewale, (a.k.a Gbegunleri Adelana), Abayomi Alaka (a.k.a. Dauda Usman Alashe), Omitogun Ajayi and Ajisegiri Abiodun before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. Three other defendants, Taiwo Ahmed, Raufu Raheem and Sanlabiu Teslim, had initially been listed at large.
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However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Taiwo.
This prompted the re-assignment of the case file to Justice Oshodi, even as the EFCC intensified its efforts to secure the arrest of the other suspected fraudsters.
Subsequently, all seven defendants were in December 2022 re-arraigned on an amended three-count charge.
Count one reads: “Morufu Yahaya Adewale, Omitogun Ajayi, Ajisegiri Abiodun, Abayomi Kamaldeen Alaka, Taiwo Olamilekan Ahmed, Raufu Wale Raheem and Sanlabiu Owolabi Teslim between May and July 2018 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division obtained the total sum of £1,000,000.00 (One Million Pounds Sterling) from Dr. and Dr. (Mrs) Lateef Oladimeji Bello for the purpose of conducting prayers for spiritual cleansing of the family and that the money will be refunded after the prayers within one week, which you knew to be false.”
Count three reads: “Morufu Yahaya Adewale, Omitogun Ajayi, Ajisegiri Abiodun, Abayomi Kamaldeen Alaka, Taiwo Olamilekan Ahmed, Raufu Wale Raheem and Sanlabiu Owolabi Teslim between August and September 2018 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division obtained the total sum of N175,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Seventy-five Million Naira Only) from Dr. and Dr. (Mrs) Lateef Oladimeji Bello for the purpose of conducting spiritual prayers for spiritual cleansing of their son and the family and that the money will be refunded one week after the prayers which you knew to be false.”
They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them, prompting the commencement of their trial.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, N. K.Ukoha, during the sitting on Friday, Wasiu identified the suspects in the dock and also narrated how he and his team members arrested them in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
He said: “In July 2021, I got a call from DCP Abba Kyari, who was then our team leader before I was transferred out of Abuja. He informed me about a fraud discovered in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, being handled by the EFCC. He said some of the suspects had been arrested, while others were at large. I was ordered by him to arrest the fleeing suspects. Their phone numbers were given to me; and from there, I got the location of the suspects. Some of my men and I traced them to Gberigbe in Ikorodu.”
Giving further testimony, he said: “ The suspects were arrested inside a house. When we got to their hideout, the suspects attempted to run away. Raheem went on to climb the ceiling, the second suspect too ran away, while the third suspect managed to escape through the fence into the next compound. We jumped into that building and arrested one of them immediately. The others were still missing.
“While my men jumped over the fence in search of the suspects, someone, who was going in the street, quietly informed us that the suspect we were looking for had hidden somewhere. So, we went there to arrest him.
“During this operation, the three suspects who were arrested were taken to Abuja for further interrogations. They were also informed of the reason for their arrest.”
According to him, the suspects confessed to have duped a woman, identified as Dr.(Mrs ) Bello, of the sum of N675 million, after they had assured her of conducting a spiritual cleansing for her son.
Wasiu also told the court that during their interrogations in Abuja, their confessional statements were video-recorded through the NPF Camera and copied on the Nigeria Police laptop computer as well as a flash drive.
The PW3 added that “the flash drive was given to the EFCC, while the suspects were also handed over to the Commission.”
Thereafter, the prosecution counsel sought to tender the video as evidence before the court.
However, the defence counsel, particularly Olalekan Ojo, SAN, representing the 3rd and 4th defendants, objected to the admissibility of the video, on the grounds that the confessional statements “were made under duress” and that “the documents were obtained through the instrumentality of coercion.”
The defence counsel also submitted that the defendants’s lawyers were not with them when the confessional statements were obtained from them.
Ojo further argued that the witness did not occupy the position that warranted his use of electronic devices such as operating a video.
“Is the flash drive a documentary evidence?” he asked.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case till October 11, 2024, for ruling and continuation of trial.
Crime
Policeman Feared Dead As Gunmen Attack Checkpoint In Abia
A police officer is reportedly dead and another injured following an attack by unknown gunmen on a police checkpoint in the Ohafia area of Abia State.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday at Ugwu Abba Asaga, has sparked concerns over the rising wave of insecurity in the region.
The Abia State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the attack. However, when contacted, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, assured reporters that she would provide updates, but no further details had been shared as of the time of this report.
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This incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks in Abia State. On Monday, the Abia State government accused unnamed politicians and external parties of fueling kidnappings and violence targeting security personnel and civilians since May 2024. In a statement signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the government vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“The promoters of violence and insecurity in the state will pay a heavy price,” the statement read.
However, John Okiyi Kalu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, criticized the government’s position. He argued that insecurity in the state should not be politicized but rather addressed through actionable measures.
The attack has heightened tensions in the state, with citizens calling for swift action to restore peace and ensure the safety of residents and security personnel alike.
Crime
Ebonyi Police Crackdown Leaves Labourer Dead, Three Others Injured
A yet-to-be-identified labourer was reportedly shot dead on Wednesday, while three others sustained critical injuries, during an altercation involving the Crack Squad of the Ebonyi State Police Command at Ugwuechara Junction in Abakaliki.
Witnesses say the incident began when members of the Crack Squad stopped a motorcycle rider, accusing him of fraud and attempting to seize his motorcycle.
The rider reportedly identified himself as a member of the military but was allegedly assaulted by the operatives.
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An eyewitness recounted, “As the policemen removed his cap and started hitting him with their guns, the bike man tried to resist them, possibly to snatch one of their guns.
“One of the team opened fire, which killed one of the labour seekers, who usually gather at the junction to look for daily jobs. Three persons were wounded and were rushed to the hospital.”
The deceased, a labourer waiting for work at the junction, was struck by the gunfire. Among the injured are a young apprentice at a barbershop and a female passer-by.
Witnesses say the police operatives took the body of the deceased and the motorcycle rider to their station after the incident.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi, Joshua Ukandu, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
However, Obinna Mbam, the Special Assistant on Internal Security to Governor Francis Nwifuru, confirmed the incident.
“Normalcy has returned to the area,” Mr. Mbam said. “The state government will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
The incident has sparked outrage among residents of Ebonyi State, who have raised concerns about the increasing cases of police brutality, extortion, and indiscriminate arrests.
Many residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the Crack Squad, which was established as part of police reforms following the disbandment of the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 2020.
Crime
IGP Files Fraud Charges Against Ex-Senator, Two Others Over N400m Scam
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed criminal charges against former Nigerian senator Andy Uba and two others, accusing them of defrauding a complainant, George Uboh, of N400 million.
The charges, which include two counts, were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Uba, who represented Anambra South in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, along with Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu, is alleged to have conspired with Hajiya Fatima, who remains at large, to defraud Uboh in 2022.
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According to the charges, the accused individuals falsely claimed they could secure the appointment of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone who could pay N400 million.
“The accused persons collected the N400 million from Mr. Uboh and converted it into their personal use,” the police said, describing the actions as a violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act of 2006.
The police also revealed that six witnesses would testify against the accused parties.
The case was officially filed on 10 October 2023 by Abdulrashid Sidi from the Police Legal/Prosecution Section.
During a hearing on 13 November, the prosecution informed the court that the defendants had been evading the service of court documents despite being granted administrative bail.
“The defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order, which had prevented the police from bringing them to court,” said M.L. Anthony, a lawyer for the prosecution.
“It was only after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge.”
The trial, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was adjourned until 18 February 2025.
This delay allows time for the defendants to appear in court and take their plea, following the prosecution’s efforts to ensure they are properly served with legal documents.