Crime
Police Apprehend Suspected Ritualist With Human Skull
In Akwa Ibom State, South-south Nigeria, the police have reported the apprehension of an alleged ritualist found in possession of a human skull.
The state’s police spokesperson, Odiko Macdon disclosed this during the second quarter news briefing by the Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, on Friday.
The individual in question, identified as Edu Ime from Mbak Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area, was taken into custody on May 15.
The arrest took place at the well-known Urua Ekpa Junction along the Calabar-Itu Highway, as stated by Mr. Durosinmi.
He said “Suspect could not give any reasonable explanation as to why he was in possession of a human skull but named their ring leader, who is a suspected ritualists.”
In the past three months, Mr. Durosinmi, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, provided a review of the police accomplishments in the region.
He stated that during this period, the police managed to arrest a total of 269 suspects involved in various criminal activities which include murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, and cultism.
According to the police spokesperson, Mr. Macdon, there was an additional notable arrest in Akwa Ibom State.
He stated that the police successfully apprehended a gang on April 14th, responsible for the kidnapping of a vice chancellor from a private university in the state.
However, Mr. Macdon did not reveal the identity of the victim or the specific university involved.
Among the suspects arrested, one individual was identified as Prince Okon who was formerly employed as a domestic worker by the vice chancellor but was dismissed due to his “criminal tendencies.”
As per Mr. Macdon’s statement, the primary suspect, Prince Okon, was the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the vice chancellor in collaborated with two other members of his gang, identified as Saviour Luke and Richard Friday, to carry out the abduction.
Macdon said “The sum of N1, 270, 000 cash was recovered as part of the ransom paid, while N250,000 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.”
In addition, the police also apprehended five suspected cultists who were known for terrorizing the residents of Uyo during a recent clash that occurred around the Nwaniba area.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly stabbing his 38-year-old wife to death in Oke-Ira, Ilogbo Eremi, Badagry.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the crime took place on Wednesday.
According to Hundeyin, detectives from the Morogbo Division received a tip-off about the incident and immediately moved to the scene.
“A team of detectives, while on surveillance township monitoring patrol at Oke-Ira, Ilogbo Eremi, got information that the suspect had stabbed his wife to death. The team swiftly raced to the scene and apprehended the suspect,” he said.
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The police recovered a blood-stained kitchen knife from the suspect, who reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation.
The victim’s remains have been deposited at the Badagry General Hospital morgue, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba for further investigation.
Authorities assured the public that the suspect would face the full weight of the law.
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.
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