Crime
Woman Kills Septuagenarian With Chemical In Ogun
A man, Emmanuel Agbeli, 70, was found dead after allegedly being killed with chemical by a woman simply identified as Omotayo.
According to reports, Omotayo entered the elderly man’s apartment on Havana Estate in Arepo as he was saying a prayer and threw chemicals on Agbeli’s body.
Agbeli reported Omotayo to Mama Hausa, a neighbor, and Fashola, a security guard, after he reportedly began experiencing strange reactions on his body as a result of the chemicals.
Speaking with our correspondent, a source said Agbeli, who is a Togolese, after reporting Omotayo’s action to his neighbour and Fashola, was said to be returning into his apartment when he suddenly slumped and died on Tuesday, 22nd of November, 2022.
The source said, “As Agbeli was walking towards his house after narrating the incident to mama Hausa, he collapsed and died. He died on the road on Dare Ojo Close. I was about to drive out of my gate when my attention was drawn to Agbeli’s body.
“He wore only boxers and lay on the road; we first took him to the ROA Hospital and then to the Beachland Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival. We later took his corpse to the Sagamu General Hospital. I remembered that at each of the hospitals we visited, the doctors were asking why Agbeli’s body was hot.”
Agbeli’s wife, Abigail, said before her husband’s death, Omotayo had been frustrating her family, adding that she, alongside her daughters left her husband in their apartment when Omotayo’s attitude became unbearable.
She said, “Sometimes ago when I returned from a trip, my husband told me that the woman used to chase her with a stick. At first, we didn’t take it seriously until I discovered that the woman usually does as my husband reported.
“Early this year, I moved out of the house because of the woman’s problem. But my husband said he cannot leave because of the woman. Recently, the woman’s husband claimed to be the owner of my plantain plantation.
“We had an argument about it and I just left them because they are troublesome people. On Tuesday, we met my husband in the middle of the road lying dead.
“The house was flooded with water and I don’t know how the water got there. It was later that one of our neighbours told me that my husband reported that the woman should be held responsible for his death.”
When our correspondent visited the estate to speak with residents who witnessed Agbeli’s last moments, the residents declined to speak on the matter.
The chairman of the estate, who declined to metinon his name, when asked to give a comment on the events that led to Agbeli’s death, redirected our correspondent to the Warewa Police Station.
He said, “If you want to do your investigative journalism, go to the Warewa Police Station to get the whole story to you. The investigation is still ongoing; the autopsy, and everything on it. After they have concluded the investigation, whatever the story is, we will make it public; nobody is trying to hide anything.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Omotayo had been arrested, adding that investigation into the case was ongoing.
Oyeyemi said, “Yes, the woman has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department and investigation is ongoing. She was alleged to have poured chemicals on her neighbour and he died. At the conclusion of the investigation, the woogunman will be charged to court.”
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.
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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.
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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.