Crime
UNILORIN Undergraduates Sentenced To Death For Rape, Murder
On Tuesday, Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, sentenced two students, Abdulazeez Ismail and Ajala Oluwatimileyin, to death for the murder of Blessing Olajide, a 300-level undergraduate at the University of Ilorin.
On June 2, 2021, the two attacked Olajide and killed her at her sister’s home in Ilorin, Kwara State’s Tanke neighborhood.
Two siblings, Abdulkarim Shuaib (aka Easy) and Kareem Rasheed (aka Rasworld), were each given a sentence of three years in prison for taking money from the deceased’s Guarantee Trust Bank account a few days after she was killed. Justice Yusuf also sentenced another student, Oyeyemi Omogbolahan, to life improvement.
Three others: Abdullateef Abdulrahman, Daud Adebayo (Bashman) and Akande Oladoja, were discharged and acquitted by the court.
Justice Yusuf said, “While the prosecution established the ingredients of conspiracy and armed robbery against the first three accused persons, it proved beyond reasonable doubt that injury was inflicted on the deceased and she was raped to death.
Justice Yusuf found the eight defendants guilty on 11 counts, including conspiracy, rape, culpable homicide, and theft of funds. Two other telephone repairmen who assisted in unlocking Olajide’s phone and helped with the withdrawal of money from her account were also found guilty on conspiracy and theft charges.
The prosecutor established its case beyond a reasonable doubt, according to the court, who noted that 13 witnesses testified for the prosecution while 16 witnesses, including the accused, were called to testify for the defendants.
“I direct that Abdulazeez Ismail and Ajala Moses Oluwatimileyin be hanged by the neck until they are pronounced dead.”
The prosecution counsel and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo, who spoke to journalists after the court session, said, “The irony of it all is that all those involved are young men of 19, 23, etc. It’s quite unfortunate. And that shows that we have to work on our future in this country.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has issued a public summons for former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, requiring him to appear in court on October 24.
This summons follows the filing of a 16-count charge of alleged fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC has accused Bello, alongside two others—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—of criminal breach of trust involving a staggering sum of N110.4 billion.
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The public summons was issued by Justice Maryanne Anenih on Thursday, after the EFCC reported difficulties in serving Bello with the charges.
Bello’s absence led to the postponement of his arraignment, which was originally scheduled for Thursday.
This latest development follows prior efforts to compel Bello to attend court, including a May ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite that mandated his physical presence, as well as a recent order from the Court of Appeal.
Darius Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, has been granted bail of N150 million by a high court in Maitama, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ishaku appeared in court on Monday alongside Bello Yero, the former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, facing serious allegations including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds.
The two defendants pleaded “not guilty” to a total of 15 charges during their arraignment.
In a court session on Thursday, their legal teams presented bail applications, which were not opposed by the prosecution.
Rotimi Jacobs, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stated that he had no objection since the defendants had previously been granted administrative bail.
Judge Sylvanus Oriji approved the bail, requiring each defendant to provide two sureties in the same amount as the bail.
The sureties must be responsible citizens residing in the FCT, with verifiable office and residential addresses.
Additionally, at least one surety for each defendant must hold a director-level position in the civil service.
The court imposed restrictions on both men, preventing them from traveling outside the country without prior approval and mandating that they deposit their travel documents with the court.
Ishaku, 70, who governed Taraba from 2015 to 2023, was previously invited by the EFCC in July 2023 regarding financial transactions during his tenure, resulting in his initial release on bail.
However, both Ishaku and Yero were arrested and detained by the EFCC on September 27, 2024.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 33 individuals suspected of involvement in internet fraud during a recent operation in Port Harcourt.
The agency announced the arrests via its X account (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
The suspects were apprehended in a sting operation in the Iwofe and Ogboro areas of the city, following credible intelligence regarding their alleged criminal activities.
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Along with the arrests, the EFCC seized a range of items, including several mobile phones, laptops, and boxes containing counterfeit United States dollars.
The operation also revealed fake stamps from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Customs, airport clearance, DHL, and FedEx, as well as two vehicles.
The suspects are currently in custody and will face charges in court upon the completion of ongoing investigations.
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