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.
In Adamawa State, police have apprehended 23-year-old Rachel Geoffrey for allegedly burning the hands of two children belonging to her co-wife.
Rachel, a resident of the Federal Housing Estate in Girei local government area, is accused of inflicting severe injuries on 7-year-old Genesis Geoffrey and 3-year-old Ijadai Geoffrey.
Reports indicate that the children’s mother has separated from their father, who is Rachel’s husband.
Rachel was reported to have cooked rice and set it aside for her husband, the father of the victims, before leaving the house.
When the hungry children ate the food meant for their father, Rachel became enraged.
In her anger, she tied the children’s hands with a handkerchief to restrain them, then set their hands on fire, causing severe injuries.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, called on the public, particularly parents, to meet their responsibilities in caring for their children.
He also promised that the case would be prosecuted thoroughly.
Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, along with his daughter and two others, have been slated for arraignment today (thursday) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
They face charges related to an alleged N2.7 billion fraud linked to the failed Nigerian Air project.
The proceedings are set to unfold before Justice Sylvanus Oriji at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The charges, based on court documents, accuse Sirika of granting undue advantage to certain entities in Abuja between April 2022 and March 2023.
The anti-graft agency has accused Sirika of misusing his authority by awarding a N1.3 billion consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up to Tianero Nigeria Limited.
This alleged action is said to contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In a separate charge, the EFCC alleges that on or around August 18, 2022, in Abuja, Sirika utilized on or about August 18, 2022 ia, Sirika “did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma are your daughter and son-in-law respectively, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1.498,300,750.00.”
The anti-graft agency asserted that Sirika’s actions amounted to a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, rendering him liable to punishment under the same section.
In count three, the EFCC accused Sirika of criminal breach of trust “while serving as the Minister of Aviation and in his capacity as a public officer” on or around August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court.
In late April, the former aviation minister was taken into custody by the anti-graft agency and interrogated for several days.
Zamfara State is in the grip of fear and mourning following a series of vicious attacks by bandits, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and the abduction of a branch manager of Taj Bank in Mandir Laura.
In a daring raid, approximately fifteen armed bandits stormed the manager’s residence in Rijiyar Gabas, seizing him and vanishing into the night.
Meanwhile, Faru Town in Maradun local government area witnessed a bloodbath as bandits struck, leaving eight residents dead.
Eyewitnesses recount the terror as the attackers besieged the town, instilling fear and chaos before retreating with captives into the surrounding forests.
The incidents have prompted widespread outrage and renewed calls for urgent action to stem the tide of violence plaguing Zamfara State.
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