Crime
BREAKING: NPF Tackles Sowore On Egbetokun’s Tenure

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has issued a statement claiming the legality of Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun’s tenure.
Biztellers reports that the clarification was necessitated by assertions by critic, Omoyele Sowore that IGP Egbetoku was staying in office illegally.
Consequently, the NPF in a statement in Abuja Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi maintained that “IGP Egbetokun’s status as the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police is both legally and procedurally sound”.
It was issued under the subject, ‘Police Refutes Sowore’s Misleading Claims On IGP Egbetokun’s Tenure’, and published on its socials.
READ ALSO: Court Adjourns Ruling On Sowore’s Bail Application
The statement reads, “Clarification: Appointment is Legal, Duly Confirmed by Police Council.
“The Nigeria Police Force hereby refutes, in clear and unequivocal terms, the baseless and misleading claims recently attributed to Mr. Omoyele Sowore alleging that the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, is illegal. Such claims are entirely unfounded and seek to undermine the legitimacy of the IGP’s appointment as well as public confidence in the Nigeria Police.
“IGP Egbetokun’s appointment is firmly grounded in law, specifically PART III, Section 7 (6) of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended). This provision explicitly states that “The person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years.” Moreover, his appointment was duly ratified by the Police Council, and he has received the requisite confirmation letter from the Presidency, validating his tenure from October 31, 2023, to October 31, 2027, in line with the provisions of Section 8A of the executive bill passed which amended the Police Act, clearly stating that “Any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of section 7(6) of this Act. The amendment aims to provide stability and continuity in the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, enabling the IGP to implement long-term plans and policies without fear of abrupt termination. This change is expected to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the police force in maintaining law and order in the country.
“It is crucial for members of the public to be aware that IGP Egbetokun’s status as the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police is both legally and procedurally sound. The Nigeria Police Force views Mr. Sowore’s unfounded assertions as an attempt to erode public trust and foster confusion regarding the force’s leadership. Dissemination of inaccurate information, particularly about the IGP’s standing, has the potential to compromise the security framework of our nation and impede our collective efforts to ensure peace and order.
“The Nigeria Police hereby cautions individuals and groups against perpetuating such unfounded narratives that can mislead the public and jeopardize national security. We urge all citizens to focus on objective discussions that advance our shared mission of safeguarding lives and property, rather than indulging in disinformation that may undermine the significant strides we continue to make in maintaining public safety.”
Crime
Notorious Bandit Leader, Bello Turji Fines Sokoto Villages N22m For Killing Gang Member

Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, has imposed a N22 million fine on four villages in Sokoto State after one of his gang members was killed during a military operation in their locality.
The levy, which was initially N25 million, was reduced after negotiations between the affected communities and Turji’s gang.
According to Aminu Boza, a lawmaker representing Sabon Birni West in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, one of the villages being forced to pay the fine is Garin Idi, the hometown of the state’s Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir.
READ ALSO: Sokoto On Edge: Nigerian Army In Intense Gun Battle With Bandits Led By Bello Turji
Boza revealed that Turji has relocated his base to the eastern part of Isa Local Government Area (LGA) in Sokoto.
“He is just like a businessman who has multiple shops and is going around to supervise them,” Boza said, criticizing the military for failing to maintain a sustained presence in the region.
“I have always criticised the military for not sustaining their operation in the eastern part of Sokoto because anytime they withdraw, it is the villages that bear the brunt,” he stated.
Despite multiple visits from top officials of the Ministry of Defence, banditry remains a serious threat in Sokoto.
Boza pointed to a recent attack in which six members of the Sokoto Community Guards were killed.
In addition to the imposed fine, Turji is also demanding N250,000 from the family of each of the 13 worshippers abducted in Sabon Birni LGA two weeks ago. So far, five hostages have been released after their families paid the ransom.
The lawmaker called on the military to intensify and sustain operations in the region, emphasizing that consistent military action is necessary to protect vulnerable communities and restore peace.
Crime
Singer Portable Arraigned In Ogun Court Over Alleged Assault On Officials

Controversial street-hop singer, Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi, popularly known as Portable, has been arraigned at the Ogun State Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, over an alleged assault on government officials.
The Ogun State Police Command had declared Portable wanted on February 18 following an incident involving three officials from the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority (OGPDPA).
The officials were reportedly carrying out enforcement actions at the singer’s bar when the situation escalated.
READ MORE: Portable Surrenders To Police In Lagos, Awaits Transfer To Ogun
According to police reports, the altercation occurred on February 5, when OGPDPA officials attempted to seal Portable’s establishment due to “a lack of approved permits and insufficient airspace.”
The singer allegedly led a group in a violent attack on the officials, who managed to escape despite sustaining injuries.
Following the incident, nine of Portable’s associates were arrested and arraigned on a five-count charge, including armed violence, felony, obstruction, assault, and intent to kill.
Portable later surrendered himself to the police in Lagos on Wednesday before being transferred to the Ogun State Police Command.
He was subsequently brought before the court on Thursday to face charges related to the attack.
More to follow………..
Crime
Alleged N5.78b Fraud: Ex-Kwara Gov, Ahmed Diverted UBEC Funds-Witness

The First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Abubakar Hassan in the trial of former governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu on Monday, February 17, 2025, told Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the State High Court, sitting in Ilorin that the first defendant diverted to personal use, funds earmarked for Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) projects in the state.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting both defendants on a 12-count charge of mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N5.78 billion.
ALSO READ: Edo Pitches EFFC Against Obaseki, PDP Leaders In N96bn LG Fraud
The witness, an Assistant Director of Finance in UBEC, while being led in evidence by prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, disclosed that a total of 51 UBEC projects approved under the 2013 Action Plan were abandoned under former Governor Ahmed due to a lack of funds. The projects, discovered by the UBEC Project Monitoring Committee in the state were abandoned despite UBEC’s approval for citing them in state and funds for their execution, released. According to the witness, the state government under the leadership of the defendant mismanaged the funds.
“My lord, the Projects Monitoring
Committee conducted investigations and found that many projects were either unexecuted or abandoned. We wrote to the then Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, in May 2018 to address these issues. The projects were categorized into three: Early Care Education, Primary School Education, and Junior Secondary School Education, but we received no response,” he said.
He further explained that the abandoned projects were scattered all through the 16 Local Government Areas of the state and further revealed that on January 6, 2015, the sum N1 billion had to be loaned from the 2013 UBEC Matching Grant Account with Skye Bank Plc to pay staff salaries and pensions.
Addressing the utilization of the 2014 and 2015 State Counterpart Funds, he stated that the Kwara SUBEB illegally withdrew the sum of N1,829,054,054.06
(One Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty-nine Million, Fifty-four Thousand, Fifty-four, Six Kobo) from funds lodged on February 18, 2016, stating that the withdrawn funds qualified the state to access the Federal Government’s UBE Matching Grants.
“State Matching Grants are not permitted to be borrowed or utilized for any purpose outside the approved action plan. The objectives of UBEC were undermined due to these infractions and the failure to implement the Action Plan,” he said.
Worried by the diversion of the funds, the witness disclosed that UBEC also had to send a letter of invitation to the state government, requesting a documentary evidence on Kwara State Government’s use of UBEC funds. Attached to the invite were
documents showing the lodgment of funds from UBEC to the Kwara SUBEB.
Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the matter until February 18, 2025, for cross-examination of the witness.