Crime
Couple Arrested For Kidnapping, Killing Hotelier In Ogun
A couple identified as Larry Adebayo Adewumi and wife Okereke Olufunmilayo, have been arrested by the police alongside one Adebowale Sanni over alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of a popular hotelier, Otunba Abayomi Ajayi Smith, the Director of Rolak Hotel Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
Otunba Ajayi Smith was kidnapped on the 28th of September 2020 at about 7:30 am, at Anifowose Estate igbeba, Ijebu Ode by some gunmen.
The state police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, who made this known in a statement said on receiving the information about the kidnap, men of the anti-kidnapping unit were then mobilized to commence an investigation, but all efforts to get the victim out of captivity proved abortive, despite the fact that the victim’s family paid a ransom of 15 million naira to the abductors.
“Since then, police operatives have not relent in their efforts to fish out those behind the devilish act. The efforts of the SP Taiwo Opadiran led team yielded positive result in September this year, when they got wind of plan by the hoodlums to strike again, this time, the wife and son of Otunba Ajayi Smith were their target.
“The team, having got the intelligence report, embarked on technical surveillance for the suspects. Consequent upon which one of them was traced to Ikeji Arakeji in Osun state, where the 55 years old Adebowale Sanni was apprehended.
“On interrogation, he confessed to have been on the trail of Yeye Olusola Roseline Ajayi, the wife of their earlier victim, Otunba Ajayi Smith in order to kidnap her, on the order of Larry Adebayo Adewumi the ring leader, whose wife Olufunmilayo happened to be an employee of Otunba Ajayi Smith.
“He confessed further that it was Larry who described the location of the victim’s hotel and his other business outfits to him with instruction that if they succeeded in kidnapping the woman and her son, the two of them must be killed after collecting ransom in order not to leave any trait, just as they did to her husband two years ago.
“His confession led to the arrest of Larry’s wife Olufunmilayo who was a manager at the victim’s building materials shops.
“Larry himself was arrested three days after, he initially denied having anything to do with the kidnap of Otunba Abayomi Ajayi Smith, but when he came into confrontation with Adebowale Sanni, his accomplice, he knew immediately that the game is up.”
Oyeyemi said preliminary investigation revealed that Larry who is an indigene of Ilesha, Osun state used to be a fraudster before he moved to full-time kidnapping business.
“His modus operandi was to scout for a rich victim, after which he will mobilized the gang working for him to go after such person. He got full information about Otunba Ajayi Smith through his wife Olufunmilayo who was an employee of the man.
“Further investigation revealed that Larry has two bank accounts where he used to keep money realized from his criminal activities.
“In one of the accounts with number 0010913206 domicile in Bank, the sum of Thirty four million, nine hundred and fifty three thousand four hundred and fifty five naira (#34,953,455) was discovered there in, while he has the sum of four million five hundred and seventy six thousand eight hundred and forty six naira (#4,576,846) in another account with Bank,” the statement further read
The PPRO said a 2014 model Toyota Highlander was also recovered from him.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, who commended his men for painstakingly following the suspects until they were arrested, directed that other members of the gang should be hunted for and brought to book.
He also directed that the arrested suspects be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a 35-year-old woman, Joy Ikoja, to seven years’ imprisonment for mutilating her boyfriend’s manhood during a violent confrontation after allegedly catching him in bed with another woman.
Justice Oyinkansola Oluboyede convicted Ikoja of causing grievous harm but acquitted her of attempted murder, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish that she intended to kill the victim.
The case, filed under Charge No. HAD/14C/2025, arose from an incident that occurred on April 12, 2025, in the Irona area of Ado-Ekiti.
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According to court records, Ikoja and her boyfriend, Ibrahim Usman, had lived together for about three years.
Their relationship reportedly turned sour after they accommodated Ikoja’s female friend, Mayowa Ayomide, who was facing accommodation challenges.
Investigations revealed that Usman allegedly began a secret sexual relationship with Ayomide while they were all living in the same room.
On the evening of April 12, 2025, Ikoja reportedly returned home and found the door locked from the inside. After gaining entry, she allegedly caught Usman and Ayomide together in bed.
The court heard that Usman tried to shield Ayomide by pushing her away and blocking Ikoja’s path. During the ensuing struggle, Ikoja allegedly grabbed Usman’s manhood with force, inflicting severe injuries that left him requiring urgent medical attention.
The victim was initially treated at the Police Cottage Hospital in Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, before being referred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital after the injury became infected and required specialist urological care.
During the trial, prosecuting counsel F.O. Awoniyi called four witnesses, including police investigators and the attending medical doctor.
Five exhibits were also tendered before the court, including medical reports, photographs, a certificate of compliance and the defendant’s confessional statement.
The defendant, represented by Legal Aid Council counsel Adeyinka Opaleke, pleaded not guilty and denied making the confessional statement, insisting that although there was a fight, she did not inflict the injuries sustained by Usman.
In her judgment, Justice Oluboyede held that the prosecution proved the offence of grievous harm beyond reasonable doubt, describing the defendant’s denial as an afterthought because it was contradicted by medical evidence, police testimony and her extra-judicial confession.
Before sentencing, the judge advised that a plea bargain would have resulted in reduced legal costs, a shorter prison term and a faster resolution of the case.
She also condemned domestic violence driven by uncontrolled emotions, stressing that no act of violence can be justified.
“This Court understands that the Defendant’s action was mostly borne out of uncontrolled emotions and passion against her intimate partner. However, there is no justification for violence and this should serve as a deterrence to any other aggressive partners or would-be aggressive partners.”
Justice Oluboyede subsequently sentenced Ikoja to the maximum punishment prescribed under Section 255 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021, imposing a seven-year prison term excluding the period already spent in detention.
The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has suspended seven lecturers over allegations ranging from the unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks to sexual harassment, as the institution investigates claims of sex-for-marks, cultism and other forms of misconduct.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Polytechnic’s spokesperson, John Onimisi.
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According to the statement, six lecturers were suspended on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, over the alleged unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks, while another lecturer was suspended over allegations of sexual harassment.
The suspensions come amid growing concerns over reports of sexual harassment, cult-related activities and other disciplinary issues within the institution.
Sources within the Polytechnic alleged that some lecturers demanded sexual favours or money from female students in exchange for passing grades, while cult activities had allegedly resurfaced on campus.
One source claimed that disciplinary measures introduced by the institution’s previous administration had weakened, emboldening erring staff and students.
The source further alleged that female students who reported incidents of sexual harassment received little institutional support and were instead subjected to intimidation.
There were also claims that cult groups had resumed nocturnal meetings on campus despite previous efforts to stamp out such activities.
Other allegations included the reintroduction of compulsory handout sales, a relaxation of the institution’s dress code and reduced enforcement of student identity cards, developments the source claimed had contributed to a decline in discipline across the campus.
Reacting to the allegations, the Polytechnic’s spokesperson, John Onimisi, said the institution’s management was aware of the claims and had already referred the matter to the disciplinary committee for investigation.
“The school management is aware of the allegations, and the disciplinary committee of the Polytechnic is already investigating them. The outcome will be made available to journalists in due course,” Onimisi said.
He assured that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken based on the committee’s findings.
A former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), Jimoh Yisawu, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading not guilty to an eight-count charge of alleged money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Yisawu was arraigned on Monday before Justice Inyang Ekwo in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/361/2026, over allegations that he violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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According to the EFCC, the former refinery boss allegedly indirectly converted more than $789,950, said to be proceeds of unlawful activity, in contravention of Section 18(2)(b) of the Act and punishable under Section 18(3).
The anti-graft agency further alleged that Yisawu made cash payments exceeding $789,950 to one Samaila Bala without using any financial institution, contrary to Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
The commission also accused him of making additional cash payments totalling $122,600 through one Rasheed Olaitan Yusuf, also without routing the transactions through a financial institution.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all eight counts when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, defence counsel Wale Balogun (SAN) urged the court to grant his client bail, noting that the EFCC had earlier released him on administrative bail after seizing his international passport.
Balogun appealed to the court to maintain the same bail conditions, arguing that his client needed to prepare adequately for his defence while out on bail.
However, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) opposed the application, urging the court to consider the EFCC’s counter-affidavit challenging the defendant’s request for bail.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the offences contained in the charge were bailable and ruled that Yisawu was entitled to bail.
Relying on Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the judge granted the former WRPC boss bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with one surety in like sum.
The court ordered that the surety must be a responsible Nigerian with landed property in Abuja and must provide proof of ownership of the property.
Justice Ekwo also directed Yisawu to surrender his international passport and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval from the court.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the former refinery chief remain in the custody of the EFCC.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 25, 26 and 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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