Crime
Father Murder 35-year Old Only Son In Akwa Ibom
Aniekan James, a native of the state’s Ikot Ndot village and Ukanafun Local Government, was accused of killing his only son, Odudu Aniekan James, who was 35 years old, by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Friday.
While presenting the suspect and 268 other people detained for a variety of offenses, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durusinmi, claimed that Aniekan James was a serial killer who had carried out similar killings in the states of Lagos and Abia.
The police boss said the suspect was arrested on the 16th of June, 2023 by the operatives of the Ukanafun Police Division.
“On 16/06/2023, one Aniekan James of Ikot Ndot village in Ukanafun L.G.A was arrested by Ukanafun Division for shooting his 35 years old only son who has been having a war of words with him, one Odudu Aniekan James. The suspect is a habitual murderer who has committed murders in Lagos and Aba Abia State,”.
The commissioner also paraded the abductor of a Vice Chancellor of a private university who was kidnapped on his way home by his former domestic staff sacked for criminal tendencies.
He said the remaining kidnap ransom of over N2 million and the Toyota Corolla used for the operation was also recovered, while the VC has been reunited with his family.
According to the commissioner, “On the 14th of April 2023, at about 10:30 am, the Vice-chancellor of a private University in the State was kidnapped on his way home.
“Two days later, being the 16th, in a prompt and discreet investigation, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command, arrested one Prince Thursday Okon, a former domestic staff of the VC, sacked because of his criminal tendencies who masterminded the kidnapping and two of his gang members, Saviour Sunday Luke and Richard Friday, all of Ikot Ebam Village in Mkpan Enin LGA.
“The sum of one million, two hundred and seventy thousand naira cash was recovered as part of the ransom paid, while two hundred and fifty thousand naira was left in one of the suspect’s accounts. The Toyota Corolla used for the operation was also recovered. The VC has been reunited with his family,” he stated.
Also, paraded was a suspected ritualist, one Edu Udeme Ime who was arrested by operatives of the Quick Response Squad of command with a human skull.
“On 15/05/2023 at about 8:05:pm one Edu Udeme Ime of Mbak Etoi village, Uyo was arrested at Urua Ekpa Junction by the command’s Quick Response Squad for being in possession of a human skull. The suspect could not give a reasonable explanation as to why he was in possession of a human but only name the ring leader who is a ritualist,” the commissioner said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano State Zonal Directorate, has arrested popular TikTok influencer Murja Kunya for allegedly abusing the Nigerian currency.
According to a statement released on Monday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Kunya was taken into custody for spraying naira notes for fun during her stay at Tahir Guest Palace, a hotel in Kano State.
Her latest arrest follows a dramatic attempt to evade justice after she allegedly jumped administrative bail earlier granted by the commission.
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Kunya was initially arrested in January 2025 for violating the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the national currency.
Although she was granted bail pending her arraignment before the Federal High Court in Kano, she failed to appear in court and instead went into hiding.
“After weeks of intensive investigation and surveillance, EFCC operatives successfully re-arrested the TikTok Influencer on Sunday, March 16, 2025,” the statement read.
Kunya is now in custody at the Kano Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, where she is awaiting arraignment.
The commission reiterated its commitment to enforcing laws protecting the integrity of the naira and issued a warning against all forms of naira abuse, including spraying, stamping, or mutilating the currency at social events.
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the arraignment of former First Bank of Nigeria Plc chairman, Oba Otudeko, and the bank’s former managing director, Bisi Onasanya, over an alleged ₦12.3 billion fraud.
Justice Aneke, delivering the ruling on Monday, stated that under Nigerian law, a defendant’s plea must be taken before any application or objection can be entertained.
“The issue before the court is whether the processes before the court can be taken before the arraignment of the defendants. Any preliminary objection to the validity of a charge can only be heard after the plea is taken; this is now a condition precedent, and this court is bound by the decision,” the judge ruled.
READ ALSO: Counsel To Otudeko Protests Alleged N12.3bn Fraud Charges
The prosecution had opposed any attempt to delay the arraignment, with counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala insisting that legal proceedings must follow due process.
Following the ruling, Otudeko’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the court that all parties, including the prosecution, had met with the Attorney General of the Federation on March 12 to explore an out-of-court settlement.
He urged the court to allow time for discussions, a request supported by other defense lawyers, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Yinka Fusika (SAN), and Charles Adeogun-Phillips (SAN).
However, the prosecution maintained that the case should either proceed to arraignment or be adjourned for a settlement report.
After hearing both sides, Justice Aneke adjourned the case to May 8 for an update on the settlement discussions or the formal arraignment of the defendants.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 13-count criminal charge against Otudeko, Onasanya, a former board member of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Soji Akintayo, and a company linked to Otudeko, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
The EFCC alleged that between 2013 and 2014, the defendants fraudulently obtained ₦12.3 billion from First Bank through multiple transactions, including payments of ₦5.2 billion, ₦6.2 billion, ₦6.15 billion, ₦1.5 billion, and ₦500 million.
A couple, Baba Sule Abubakar Sadiq and Hafsat Kabir Lawal, along with two accomplices, Abdullahi Bala and Ladani Akindele, have been arraigned before Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court on charges of fraud, money laundering, and stealing totaling N197,750,000.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the defendants before the court on Monday, March 9, 2025, on a six-count charge.
They are accused of conspiring to defraud victims by impersonating the wife of the Katsina State Governor, Fatima Dikko Radda, and offering fake foreign exchange deals.
According to the EFCC, Hafsat Kabir Lawal allegedly posed as the Katsina First Lady to lure victims into fraudulent currency exchange transactions.
READ ALSO: Tragic End: Abducted Catholic Priest Killed In Kaduna
Using SIM cards registered under the name “Fatima Dikko Radda” on True Caller, she reportedly contacted a bureau de change operator, Aminu Usman, and convinced him to transfer N89 million in exchange for $53,300.
Investigators further revealed that another victim was defrauded of N108 million under a similar scheme involving a supposed exchange of $118,300.
The funds were allegedly deposited into the bank account of the third defendant, Abdullahi Bala, before being laundered and shared among the conspirators.
Hafsat’s husband, Sadiq, is accused of providing the SIM cards used in the fraud. He allegedly enlisted the help of Ladani Akindele, a former bank colleague, to secure the contact details of Unity Bank Chairman Hafiz Bashir. The contact was then used to gain the trust of the victims.
When the charges were read, all four defendants pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Bright C. Ogbonna requested a trial date and urged the court to remand them in a correctional facility.
Defense counsels, led by M.S. Katu (SAN), argued for bail, stating they had already filed applications.
However, the prosecution opposed the requests, stating that the applications were not yet ready for hearing. When the defense requested an oral bail application, Justice Bello ruled in favor of the prosecution and ordered the defendants to remain in custody.
The case was adjourned to March 17, 2025, for the hearing of bail applications.
The suspects were initially arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) before being handed over to the EFCC when the case was determined to be financial in nature.
The EFCC has vowed to ensure that justice is served in the case, emphasizing the need for vigilance against fraudulent schemes involving high-profile impersonation.
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