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.
The European Union has imposed a €200 million fine on Chinese-owned online retail platform Temu over the sale of illegal and unsafe products across its marketplace.
EU regulators announced the penalty on Thursday, accusing the e-commerce giant of failing to properly prevent dangerous items from reaching consumers within the bloc.
According to the European Commission, European shoppers were highly likely to encounter illegal products on Temu, including unsafe baby toys, defective chargers, and jewellery that failed safety standards.
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The EU said Temu failed to adequately assess the risks linked to illegal products being sold on its platform, adding that the company underestimated the level of harm such items could pose to consumers.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen said Temu’s rapid expansion in Europe made the issue more concerning, noting that millions of users could potentially be exposed to unsafe products.
Temu, however, disagreed with the decision and described the fine as “disproportionate.” The company stated that it had cooperated with regulators and already introduced additional measures to improve platform governance and user safety.
The sanction was issued under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, a major law aimed at holding large digital platforms accountable for illegal content and consumer risks online.
The platform, which entered the European market in 2023, has grown rapidly and now boasts about 130 million users within the EU.
Regulators also disclosed that investigations into other suspected breaches by Temu are still ongoing, including concerns over addictive app features and its recommendation systems.
Temu has been given until August 28 to submit a compliance plan outlining how it intends to address the violations or risk facing further penalties.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over his alleged involvement in a N33.8 billion fraud linked to power sector projects in Nigeria.
The arrest comes months after Mamman was convicted in absentia on multiple counts bordering on the alleged diversion of public funds meant for critical electricity infrastructure, including the Mambilla Power Project and other national power initiatives.
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EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed that the former minister was apprehended at about 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Rigasa area of Kaduna State following weeks of intelligence-led surveillance operations.
According to him, Mamman had evaded arrest since his conviction and sentencing, prompting a sustained nationwide search by EFCC operatives.
He said the arrest represents a major breakthrough in the commission’s efforts to ensure that all individuals found guilty of financial crimes are brought to justice, regardless of their status or influence.
Two suspects arrested for allegedly harbouring ex-minister
The EFCC also disclosed that two other individuals were arrested during the operation for allegedly assisting and providing shelter to the former minister while he was on the run.
Investigators are currently questioning the suspects to determine the extent of their involvement in aiding a convicted fugitive.
Properties and assets under investigation
The anti-graft agency further revealed that it has identified additional properties suspected to be linked to Mamman, adding that asset recovery processes are already underway.
EFCC boss Olukoyede noted that the case has exposed weaknesses in monitoring high-profile corruption trials, adding that reforms would be introduced to prevent similar lapses in future cases.
Prosecutor confirms enforcement of court order
The Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), said the arrest marks the enforcement of a court judgment, stating that Mamman’s conviction and sentence are now being fully implemented following his capture.
He added that the next step would be the ex-minister’s transfer to a correctional facility in line with legal procedures.
Bizteller recalls that Saleh Mamman was convicted over allegations of diverting funds allocated for major power projects, including the Mambilla hydroelectric scheme, one of Nigeria’s largest and most strategic energy investments.
The EFCC says the arrest underscores its commitment to tackling corruption and recovering stolen public funds across the country.
Operatives of the Kebbi State Hisbah Board, an agency under the state Ministry of Religious Affairs, have arrested a man allegedly found hiding inside a “Ghana Must-Go” bag at the residence of a married woman in the Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi.)
The Director of Sharia at the board, Sirajo Kamba, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.
According to Kamba, residents of the community alerted the Hisbah Board around 12:15 a.m. on Monday, May 18, after noticing a man entering the woman’s residence under suspicious circumstances.
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He explained that the residents suspected the pair were involved in an illicit relationship considered contrary to Islamic teachings and therefore decided to formally notify the authorities.
“Upon receiving the report, the Kebbi Hisbah Board swiftly deployed officers to investigate the matter,” Kamba said.
He disclosed that when officers arrived at the residence and requested permission to search the premises, the married woman initially denied that anyone else was inside the house.
Kamba, however, noted that the woman later allowed the operatives to conduct a thorough search, which led to the discovery of the suspect allegedly concealed inside a large “Ghana Must-Go” bag.
Further investigations, according to the Hisbah official, revealed that the suspect allegedly had a romantic relationship with the married woman.
He added that both suspects allegedly admitted to the claims during interrogation and would be arraigned before a Sharia court to face legal proceedings under Islamic law.
The incident has since sparked reactions among residents, many expressing shock over the unusual manner in which the suspect was allegedly hidden inside the bag.
Meanwhile, the development comes days after the Kano State Hisbah Board arrested two women and a 35-year-old fish seller over an alleged attempt to engage in immoral acts in the state.
The Director of Public Enlightenment of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Auwalu Sheshe, had disclosed in a statement that operatives found the fish seller, identified as Ali Abubakar from the Kano Cooperative area, alongside his female companion, Fatima Abubakar, a 28-year-old woman from the Niger Republic, inside a room allegedly preparing to engage in immoral conduct.
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