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Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of $16,500, N127m Diverted From NIMASA

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,

 

Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of the sums of $16,500 and N127m, which were fraudulently diverted from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The order was entered on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, according to a post on the verified handle of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on micro-blogging site, X on Tuesday.

The funds are forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).

Recall that the Judge had, on May 23, 2024, ordered the interim forfeiture of the funds, following a motion ex parte filed by the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC, through its counsel, Suleiman I. Suleiman, had sought the interim forfeiture of the funds under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 2006; and Section 44 (2)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).

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The Judge, in granting the interim forfeiture order, had also directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper for interested parties to show cause why the money should not be finally forfeited to the FGN.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, Suleiman told the court that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful acts and that the Commission had recovered $16,500 in cash and N118 million from one Uche Obilor and his companies.

Moving the motion for the final forfeiture, Suleiman said, “Pursuant to your lordship’s order made on May 23, 2024, the publication of the order was made on June 6, 2024 of Punch newspaper.

“The said application is supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Oghare Ogbole, an investigator with the EFCC.

“The application is accompanied by two exhibits, the interim order of the court and the Punch publication of June 26, 2024; and it is supported with a written address.

“We respectfully adopt same and pray the court to grant all the reliefs sought.”

In the affidavit, the EFCC submitted that, “The funds sought to be forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful acts of diversion of funds from the treasury of the NIMASA, through Mr. Uche Obilor, his companies and other cronies.

“That during the course of investigation, the total sum of $16,500 USD cash, was recovered by the Commission, part of the funds diverted from the treasury of the NIMASA. And that for using his companies as mentioned above, Mr. Uche Obilor, upon invitation to the Commission during the course of investigation agreed to return the sum of N118 million, admittedly received and retained by his companies from the funds fraudulently converted from the treasury of the NIMASA.”

Biztelleres reports that at the sitting today, no interested party appeared in court to contest the interim order.

Consequently, Justice Ogundare, after listening to the counsel to the EFCC, held that “order granted as prayed.”

Crime

Police Arrest 3 Over Brutal Murder Of Okada Rider In Kwara

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In a disturbing case, the Kwara State Police Command has arrested three men accused of murdering a commercial motorcyclist, 34-year-old Rafiu Akano, in Asunlere village, Oke-Oyi, within the Ilorin East Local Government Area.

The suspects-Peter Samuel, Jeremiah Tiozinda, and Sunday Agbenke-allegedly killed Rafiu on November 4, 2024, in an attempt to steal his newly purchased motorcycle.

According to police, the body of the late Rafiu was found headless at the crime scene. In a statement, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, explained, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the public of an important breakthrough, wherein police investigators at the SCID Ilorin have recovered the dismembered remains of the late Rafiu Akano…who was brutally murdered by Peter Samuel, Jeremiah Tiozinda, and Sunday Agbenke.”

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The suspects confessed to the crime, stating their motive was to take Rafiu’s motorcycle for financial reasons. According to their account, Sunday Agbenke initially provided Rafiu’s phone number to Peter Samuel, who then arranged for the Okada rider to transport them to a location in Oloru, Moro Local Government Area. During the journey, Peter pretended to need a stop, allowing Jeremiah to strike Rafiu with a stick, causing him to fall off the motorcycle. Samuel then used a cutlass to sever Rafiu’s head while Jeremiah disposed of the head and the weapon in a nearby stream.

Their actions, however, were noticed by a nearby vigilante patrol team, prompting the suspects to abandon the motorcycle and flee into the bush. Police detectives later found a mobile phone belonging to Peter Samuel at the scene, which led to their arrest.

Samuel, one of the suspects, revealed, “I’m from Benue State. Sunday Agbenke gave us the phone number of the Okada rider, who he said had recently bought a new motorcycle. We killed him to take possession of his motorcycle because we needed money to transport my wife’s body home for burial.”

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, confirmed that the suspects would be brought to court following the conclusion of the investigation. He also reiterated his commitment to maintaining public safety, reinforcing the restriction on motorcycle and tricycle movements between 9 pm and 6 am to curb further incidents.

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Crime

Adamawa Police Nab 19-Year-Old Man for Strangling His Three-Day-Old Baby

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The Adamawa State Police have arrested a 19-year-old man, Aliyu Yaro, for allegedly strangling his three-day-old son in Mubi North Local Government Area.

The tragic incident occurred on November 7, 2024, and has shocked the community.

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Yaro’s arrest followed an investigation triggered by a distress call from the baby’s mother, Safiya, who reported that her infant had been abducted by Yaro.

Safiya, who had given birth just days earlier, claimed that Yaro had failed to provide for her and the newborn, despite repeated requests for support.

Speaking to authorities, Safiya explained that she had left Yaro alone with the baby to run an errand at around 8:30 p.m.

When she returned, both Yaro and the baby were gone. She immediately notified the police, leading to a swift response.

The next day, police located Yaro, who confessed to the crime during interrogation.

He led officers to a shallow grave in an uncompleted building in the Girpata area of Mubi, where he had buried the infant’s body after strangling him.

Yaro reportedly told police that his dire financial situation had led him to murder the child in a desperate attempt to avoid the responsibilities of fatherhood.

Suleiman Nguroje, spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, confirmed the arrest, stating, “Aliyu Yaro has been apprehended for the alleged murder of his three-day-old baby boy. During questioning, he confessed to the crime and led us to the location where the body was buried.”

Yaro is currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing.

The tragic death of the infant has left the community in shock, as authorities work to ensure justice for the grieving mother.

 

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Crime

New Terror Group, Lakurawa Leaves 15 Dead In Kebbi Community Clash

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A deadly confrontation has left over 15 people dead in Kebbi State, as residents of Mera community engaged in a violent clash with the Lakurawa, a newly emerged terrorist group believed to be affiliated with ISIS forces in the Sahel region.

The incident took place on Friday near Mera, in Augie Local Government Area, according to a BBC Hausa report.

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The conflict reportedly began when members of the Lakurawa group attempted to seize livestock from a local herder. The herder escaped and alerted the community, leading to a swift response from local residents, who mobilized to confront the armed group. The altercation escalated into a fierce fight, with both sides suffering casualties. At least 15 people were confirmed dead, with many others wounded.

An eyewitness from the scene recounted the events, saying, “The herder ran to the community and raised alarm, and community members marched to the location where they engaged the terrorists in a fight, which led to the killing of 15, while many were injured.

“The locals succeeded in killing some of the terrorists and injured others. But the survivors among the terrorists carried their casualties and left.”

In the aftermath, Kebbi State’s Deputy Governor paid a condolence visit to Mera, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police and the Emir of Argungu, to offer support to the grieving community.

Speaking on the incident, Abdullahi Idris Zuru, a media aide to Kebbi State’s Governor, on Saturday, confirmed the presence of Lakurawa in certain areas of the state.

“The authorities are containing the threat posed by the Lakurawa,” Zuru said, assuring residents that efforts are underway to restore peace and security to affected areas.

 

 

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