Crime
Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against DSS By Alleged Boko Haram Financier
In a case involving Abba Maina, a suspect connected to allegations of supporting Boko Haram, a Federal High Court in Abuja rejected a lawsuit against the Department of State Services (DSS) over claims of unlawful detention.
The court dismissed the lawsuit on Tuesday.
Maina was apprehended by the DSS at an Abuja bank in September 2022, following investigations tying him to financing terrorism, dealing in terrorist assets, and facilitating the movement of terrorists within Nigeria.
In the initial motion filed on November 22, 2022, Abba Maina took legal action against the Department of State Services (DSS) and its Director-General. He requested an order compelling the respondents to present him in court to investigate the reasons for his detention since September 19, 2022.
Additionally, Maina sought a bail order in accordance with Sections 32(3), 32(1) and (2), and 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Article 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and other relevant laws.
Identifying himself as a ‘law-abiding Nigerian citizen,’ Maina revealed that he was arrested on September 19, 2022, at a branch of Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) in Abuja by DSS personnel. According to him, the arrest was linked to undisclosed accusations.
He further stated that the respondents, in violation of constitutional provisions mandating law enforcement agencies to present a suspect in court within 24 or 48 hours, kept him in detention.
The security agency contended that the lawsuit was an abuse of the legal system, citing a previous similar lawsuit filed in another court.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his Tuesday ruling, sided with the Department of State Services (DSS), acknowledging that the suit aiming for Maina’s release constituted an abuse of court processes.
He highlighted that initiating separate legal actions involving the same parties across different courts, even if on different grounds, amounted to an abuse of the judicial system.
Hence, the judge concurred with the Department of State Services (DSS) and its Director-General regarding the similarity between the fundamental rights suit labeled CV270/2022 before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the FCT High Court, filed on November 4, 2022, and the ongoing case labeled FHC/ABJ/CS/2090/2022.
This is clearly a situation where the applicant has fallen into the temptation of instituting different actions between the same parties simultaneously in different courts, even though on different grounds.
“The applicant could have clearly avoided this situation by taking one of the options available to him by law, exhausting one remedy before going for another, assuming that the next action would not be caught by the principle of res judicata.
“Consequently, nothing else is worthy of any consideration where a suit is found to be an abuse of process of the court.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had submitted court documents alleging that on September 12, they received intelligence from their Borno Command about plans to transfer N10 million to aid the relocation of certain Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lid-Dawa’awati wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, members from Borno to a camp in Kaduna State.
This transfer was reportedly organized by an individual identified as Kaura (FNU), who is purportedly the armor-bearer for the terrorist group.
Further investigation by the DSS revealed that Kaura (FNU) sought bank account numbers from individuals named Baba Guraba and Bayero (FNU), identified as Boko Haram commanders stationed around Bama Local Government Area (LGA) in Borno.
Their involvement was allegedly to facilitate the transfer of the funds.
The agency stated that Bayero (FNU) provided a United Bank for Africa (UBA) account number, 2196498467, registered under Basiru Hassan’s name, and a GTB account number, 025264587, linked to Maina.
They alleged that while Hassan’s account received N6 million, Maina’s account received N4 million. According to their intelligence efforts, Kaura (FNU) instructed that transfers and withdrawals should be managed through Point of Sale (POS) operators.
“Kaura (FNU) initially deposited N2 million into the applicant’s GTB account number 0025264587 as the first payment.”
“Based on this intelligence gathering efforts, the Borno State Command of the 1st respondent sought and obtained the orders of the court to flag the said account numbers by placing a Post-No-Debit (PND) order and requesting that the account holders be apprehended whenever sighted,” it said.
The DSS reported that on September 19th, 2022, Maina was arrested at a GTB branch near the National Mosque in Abuja while attempting to inquire about the funds deposited into his account.
The agency claimed Maina was promptly detained due to suspected involvement in facilitating terrorist activities, financing terrorism, dealing in terrorist assets, and alleged roles in aiding the movement of terrorists within Nigeria.
Their investigation purportedly revealed that Maina, contrary to being a law-abiding citizen, acted as a courier and facilitator for the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Crime
Jigawa Bloodshed: Police Arrest Nine After Deadly Market Violence
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine suspects in connection with separate incidents of deadly violence, including a fatal market clash, attacks on security personnel, and a homicide case in different parts of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Shi’isu Adam, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Dutse, describing them as part of the police’s ongoing efforts to maintain law and order across Jigawa State.
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According to Adam, two suspects were arrested over the violent unrest that broke out at Gujungu Market in Taura Local Government Area on July 26.
“The disturbance reportedly began following a misunderstanding between a soldier and one Biniya Alhaji Ibrahim, 25, of Miga Local Government Area, at the market,” he said.
The police spokesperson explained that the disagreement escalated into violence after the soldier allegedly stabbed Ibrahim.
“During the altercation, the soldier allegedly stabbed Biniya with a knife, resulting in injuries from which the victim was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” Adam stated.
The incident reportedly triggered chaos in the market as hoodlums allegedly attacked a police station, fired bows and arrows at security personnel, and set two thatched shops ablaze.
Adam said intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Muhammed Muhammed, 22, of Gagarawa Local Government Area, and Faridu Mohammed, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.
In a related development, six more suspects were arrested for allegedly attacking two vigilante members with sticks and cutlasses during the same disturbance.
“As a result of the assault, one vigilante member sustained fatal injuries and was certified dead by a medical doctor, while the second victim is currently responding to treatment at a medical facility,” the police spokesperson said.
The six suspects were identified as Isiyaku Abdulkarim, 55; Yahaya Habu, 31; Ibrahim Abubakar, 30; Audu Mamman Janare, 30; Ya’u Duga, 65; and Mamman Musa, 20, from Taura, Gagarawa, Kaugama and Jahun Local Government Areas.
Police also recovered six cows believed to have been abandoned during the unrest.
In another incident, the command arrested 20-year-old Saminu Ibrahim of Gidan Gona Village, Ringim Local Government Area, over the alleged fatal stabbing of another 20-year-old during a dispute in Dabigel Village.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that an argument between the two youths degenerated into violence, during which the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest with a sharp metal object locally known as “Danbuda.”
The victim later died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
“Acting swiftly, police operatives arrested one Saminu Ibrahim, 20, of Gidan Gona Village, Ringim Local Government Area, in connection with the incident,” Adam said.
He added that the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse for further investigation before being arraigned in court.
Meanwhile, the police said a stakeholders’ engagement involving Miyetti Allah, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, security agencies, youth representatives and other relevant stakeholders is ongoing to address the root causes of the Gujungu Market violence and prevent a recurrence.
Adam said the Commissioner of Police commended officers and other security personnel for their swift response to the disturbances and reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
The command also urged members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding and continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing investigations.
Crime
Jealous Rage: Court Jails Ekiti Woman 7 Years for Mutilating Boyfriend’s Manhood
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.
Crime
Kogi Polytechnic Suspends Seven Lecturers Amid Sex-for-Marks, Cultism Probe
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.





