Crime
How I Waited For 10yrs To Kill My Friend Who Snatched My Boyfriend – Suspect
A woman identified as Anita Ofili, has reportedly confessed to fatally stabbing her friend, Glory Okon, in her apartment at Greenville Estate in the Ajah, Lagos.
The woman who was taken into custody on March 26th revealed that she committed the act after waiting for 10 years to exact her revenge because the deceased snatched her boyfriend about 10 years ago.
Occupants of the building were alerted by a shout for help from Ofili’s one-room self-contain apartment at 1.20p.m., penultimate Sunday.
They reportedly forced the door open, only to discover Ofili thrusting a kitchen knife into Okon’s neck.
Anita Ofili
Unfortunately, the victim, who was rushed to the General Hospital on Lagos Island, was confirmed dead, having lost so much blood.
One of the tenants of the building, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Vanguard, explained that “the landlord’s daughter was the one that heard the scream.
“She peeped through the window and saw a masked person stabbing a lady. She rushed and called her father, who alerted other tenants that forced the door open, only to discover that the masked person was Anita Ofili.
“The whole room was filled with blood. We discovered that the victim was still breathing. We had to tie Ofili’s legs and hands to prevent her from escaping.
“Before the arrival of the Police, Ofili did not show any sign of remorse. She said she would explain to the Police what happened.
“She claimed the lady in question was her friend and that her action was in revenge for what her friend did to her.”
‘Why I killed her’
Vanguard gathered that the suspect and the deceased had been friends for close to two decades and had attended the same tertiary institution.
They were said to have had a misunderstanding that tore them part for close to 10 years before they reconciled two weeks ago.
Vanguard further gathered that both of them returned from a party penultimate Sunday.
Explaining why she committed the act, Ofili said: “Glory and I had been good friends for years, but she betrayed that friendship by snatching my boyfriend.
“I had the intention of marrying him. Her action strained the relationship and we went our separate ways for 10 years.
“We only reconciled two weeks ago. I invited her to my house and the rest you know.”
Meanwhile, Vanguard was informed that family members of the suspect distanced themselves from Ofili over her action.
One of them, who visited the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, SCIID, yesterday, was heard telling others that “I knew Anita was troublesome, but I never knew she could go to this extent.
“I stopped visiting her over 12 years ago because of her character flaws.”
Meanwhile, a team of detectives visited Ofili’s apartment, yesterday.
Police sources said tramadol suspected to have been used to drug the deceased was recovered.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
He said: “At 5.50p.m., on March 26, a resident of Greenville Estate came to the station to report that he heard someone screaming from the room of one Annie Ofili, that himself and other tenants quickly rushed to the room, forced the door opened only to meet Annie on top of Glory Okon, who came to visit her.”
He said Ofili held Glory Okon’s throat and stabbed her on the neck and back with a kitchen knife, that they rushed Okon to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.
“Upon the information, a team of detectives moved to the scene. The suspect was arrested, the knife recovered, while the corpse was deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for autopsy and preservation.
“The suspect has been transferred to the SCIID, Yaba, for discreet investigation.”
Crime
N1.3trn Fraud: EFCC Arrests Ex-Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds intended for Delta State during his tenure.
Okowa, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, was detained after he voluntarily appeared at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate on Monday in response to an official summons.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Debt Service Ratio Falls To 65% As Tinubu Tackles Economic Woes
According to an EFCC source, Okowa is accused of failing to account for the N1.3 trillion derived from the federation account, as well as an additional N40 billion he allegedly invested in shares of UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The investigation suggests that Okowa acquired an 8% stake in a major Nigerian bank to support the offshore LNG venture, with funds purportedly misallocated from state resources.
Beyond the LNG shares, investigators are probing whether Okowa redirected state funds to acquire high-value properties in Abuja and Asaba.
Okowa is currently held at an EFCC facility in Port Harcourt as the inquiry continues.
The high-profile arrest comes as Okowa, who was the vice-presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, faces scrutiny over his financial conduct in office.
Crime
Court Orders Arrest Of Dana Air CEO In N1.3bn Fraud Case
Amid repeated absences from court, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy tied to alleged misappropriations totaling N1.3 billion.
The ruling, handed down Monday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, calls for Ranesh’s immediate arrest following his failure to respond to multiple court summonses.
READ MORE: Ibadan Man On Why He Used 76 Women For Ritual, Ate Others
Justice Egwuatu cited Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), empowering the court to issue an arrest warrant against defendants who evade appearance.
“The defendant is legally obligated to appear, and the court is authorized to issue a warrant for arrest if he does not,” Justice Egwuatu said, setting January 13, 2025, as the next court date, adding that no objections will be considered unless Ranesh is present.
Ranesh and two Dana Group subsidiaries—Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd—face serious allegations from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018, Ranesh and his companies engaged in fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of industrial generators valued at N450 million, which had been pledged as collateral in a debenture agreement.
Additional charges allege the misappropriation of N864 million from bond funds meant for operations at the Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, and a N60.3 million transfer to an external account without authorization.
The charges, filed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Moshood Adeyemi, cite violations under the Criminal Code Act.
In court, government lawyer Mojisola Okeya-Esho argued for the arrest warrant, stating that Ranesh had disregarded court orders to appear for arraignment.
Defense counsel B. Ademola-Bello challenged the prosecution, contending that jurisdictional issues must be addressed before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed these objections, underscoring that Ranesh’s presence in court is required before other arguments can be entertained.
The matter is now adjourned until January 13, 2025, with the warrant remaining active until the defendant is brought to court.
Crime
Gunmen Attack Police Facility In Owerrinta, Female Detainee Killed
In a shocking act of violence, armed assailants targeted the Police Rapid Response Squad facility in Owerrinta early Monday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a female detainee.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.
READ MORE: Edo Deputy Gov, Omobayo Ordered To Court Over Refusal To Vacate Office
State Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed the incident, revealing that the gunmen arrived in three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on the police facility.
“Our personnel successfully repelled the attack,” Isa stated.
However, the attackers resorted to using dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and exposing the detainees inside.
During the chaos, the gunmen attempted to free detainees, leading to the fatal shooting of the female suspect.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she was in custody related to a child trafficking case.
In the aftermath of the attack, police swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, employing advanced technical methods to track their movements.
Commissioner Isa announced the arrest of one suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the identities of additional accomplices.
“We are making significant progress in our investigation,” he affirmed.
Authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as the investigation continues.