Crime
Travel Agency CEO In Hot Soup Over N144m Hajj Fraud
The Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, Mustapha Mohammed has been arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on intent to defraud and obtaining by false pretences amounting to the sum of N144 million.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him before Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court, Gombe, on Monday for allegedly collecting N144 million from Hamza Maina and Ibrahim Arabia under the pretext of facilitating their 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
According to the EFCC, Mohammed, alongside an accomplice, Nazifi Idris (now at large), fraudulently obtained N97,080,000 from Maina for flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the religious exercise.
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The offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
In a similar count, Mohammed was accused of fraudulently collecting N29,082,500 from Arabia for the same purpose, an act that violates Section 1(2)(a) of the same Act.
During proceedings, the prosecution counsel, S.H. Sa’ad, urged the court to set a trial date and remand the defendant in the Gombe State Correctional Facility.
However, defence counsel, M.Z. Gambo, filed a bail application, which the prosecution opposed.
Justice Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Gombe State Correctional Facility.
Opposing the bail application, Sa’ad argued, “My Lord, the defendant still has about eight other pending petitions filed by different complainants, alleging he defrauded them of an aggregate sum of N120,869,500. If granted bail, he may abscond from Nigeria and evade justice.”
The case was adjourned to a later date for further hearing.
Police Rescue Three Kidnap Victims in Taraba After Sustained Pressure
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed the rescue of three kidnapped victims in Taraba State following sustained pressure mounted by its rescue teams.
The victims were identified as Otuwe Torhumba, 37; Kenneth Nyiutse, 35; and Michael Emmanuel, 27.
The Force made the disclosure on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in its 24-hour operational update covering security operations recorded across the country on October 2.
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According to the Police, “Due to sustained pressure by Police rescue teams, three of five kidnapped victims — Otuwe Torhumba (37), Kenneth Nyiutse (35) and Michael Emmanuel (27) — were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families.”
The Police said the three victims were rescued unharmed and subsequently reunited with their families.
The Force did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the abduction or the whereabouts of the remaining two victims in the operational summary.
The case is currently being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Jalingo.
The rescue was among several operational successes recorded by the Nigeria Police Force during the reporting period.
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed the rescue of an 86-year-old man and his son after they were allegedly detained by suspected members of the Axe Men confraternity in Cross River State.
The victims, identified as Dominic Columbus Udoh, 86, and his son, Emmanuel Columbus Udoh, 40, were rescued by Police operatives on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The Police made the disclosure on Saturday, October 3, in its 24-hour operational update detailing security successes recorded across the country.
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According to the Force, Police operatives were mobilised to the scene after receiving information that suspected Axe Men confraternity cultists had unlawfully detained the two men.
The Police said the suspected cultists fled from the scene when operatives arrived.
The Force stated that officers, with assistance from neighbours, “forced open the locked apartment,” where the two victims were found.
According to the Police, both victims had sustained facial and chest injuries.
They were subsequently rescued and conveyed to the Police Hospital for medical treatment.
The Police said the incident is currently being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Calabar.
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that personnel of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF) repelled an ambush by suspected bandits along the Amaafu-Abaji Road in Benue State.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 2, 2026, during a routine patrol by the security personnel along the road.
The Police made the disclosure on Saturday, in its 24-hour operational update detailing security successes recorded across different states.
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According to the Police, “Personnel of Operation Zenda JTF on routine patrol along Amaafu-Abaji Road successfully repelled an ambush by bandits, neutralizing one suspect and recovering his locally fabricated gun.”
The Police added that other members of the group fled into the surrounding bushes following the encounter.
It further stated that “No Police casualty was recorded” during the operation.
The recovered firearm was subsequently taken as part of the evidence from the operation as investigations continue.
The Police said the case has been placed under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi.
The Police Force continues to urge members of the public to provide security agencies with timely and useful information that can assist ongoing operations against criminal elements.
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