Crime

Task Force impounds 322 commercial motorcycles in Lagos

Published

2 years ago

August 5, 2022

Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has impounded more than 322 commercial motorcycles in the state for allegedly contravening traffic laws.

The agency’s Spokesman, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, who confirmed the seizure in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, said that the operation was carried out in a week-long raid.

The 250 motorcycles earlier seized by the task force for traffic offences were crushed by the State Government in June.

Abdulraheem said that the motorcycles were seized while plying the major highways across the state, six local government areas and nine local council development areas, where commercial motorcycles had been prohibited.

While describing the activities of those he called ‘recalcitrant commercial motorcyclists’ as rebellious, he maintained that the motorcycles would continue to be confiscated and crushed by the state government.

“The Lagos State Task Force has carried out numerous raids which spanned a week in various parts of the state, in order to enforce and maintain the ban on the activities of commercial motorcycles.

“The enforcement exercise, spearheaded by the Chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, took place at Agege/Fagba, Apapa and Ajah, where pockets of their activities were seen.

“More raids will be carried out in the coming days, and we will ensure that we hit them in their strongholds and cripple their activities.

“No commercial bike operator violating the state’s traffic laws will be spared until total compliance is attained,” he said.

Abdulraheem reminded Lagos residents, still in the habit of patronising okada operators, to desist forthwith, in order not to be arrested and prosecuted.

According to him, both passengers and riders are culpable, if found operating on routes that have been banned by government.

“Both the passengers and riders face a penalty of either three months jail term or N50,000 fine by the court or both, if found guilty,” he said.

The agency’s Spokesman enjoined motorcycle operators to embrace alternative means of transportation, which, he said, were safer, more presentable and in line with the state government’s vision of having a top metropolitan city in the world.

Crime

NDLEA smashes int’l drug syndicate, arrests 5

Published

16 hours ago

May 5, 2024

NewsDirect

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said the unravelling of the drug cartel started on April 20, when their cargo containing four suitcases arrived the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NACHO) shed on an Airpeace flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to him, after days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Peter Umeh was arrested on April 24.

“This was after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases containing loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.

“The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contained a total of 17.6 kilograms of loud and drug candies.

“Another member of the syndicate, Mrs Chiwendu Ugbe, whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Ugbe, sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra.

“This was where NDLEA officers arrested her on April 27, while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband,“ he said.

Meanwhile, no fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-week intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra.

Babafemi said the arrest followed the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

Also, two other suspects: Onyejakor Chimezie and Naaji Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were arrested in parts of Lagos on April 29.

“Their arrest led to another operation in Abia, where Mrs Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels.

“They were containing loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony, who is equally operating from South Africa,“ he said.

Crime

Police admit officer shot man killed on Lagos fuel queue

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

The Lagos State Police Command has admitted that one of its officers is responsible for the death of a young man, Toheeb Eniafe.

Toheeb was shot on Wednesday at a petrol station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited at Obalende in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Eniafe was reported to have been shot dead while he and some others were resisting the move by some security agents to buy fuel without joining the queue.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this on Thursday.

He said, “The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.

“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available.

“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice,” the PRO stated.

Crime

Internet fraudster bags seven years in Port Harcourt

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

Justice P.M Ayua of the Federal High Court sitting in PortHarcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced one Odinakachi Prince Onyeoziri to seven years imprisonment.

He was jailed after pleading guilty to three-count charges bordering on internet fraud contrary to Section 14 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section.

One of the count charges reads: “That you, Odinakachi Prince Onyeoziri, and Solmyr (atlarge) between June, 2021 to November, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly caused your victims loss by inputting or suppressing data in computers thereby benefiting the aggregate sum of $3000 (Three thousand United States Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 14(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel, I. Agwu sought to review the facts of the case through the investigating officer, Abalaka Stephen, an operative of the Commission. While being led in evidence, he told the court that the defendant was arrested by operatives of the Commission following a written petition by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, against the defendant for alleged internet fraud activities. He was thereafter apprehended sometime in February, 2024 at Owerri, Imo State.

Testifying further, he told the court that the defendant in his voluntary statement to the EFCC, confessed to being into internet fraud, spreading of computer virus, spamming and also causing his victims losses by inputting data in computers. He confessed benefiting an aggregate sum of Three Thousand United States Dollars ($3,000) by representing himself to unsuspecting victims as different individuals

Agwu, thereafter, sought to tender in evidence, the statements, and all the items recovered from the defendant. The court thereafter admitted the evidence and were marked as exhibits.

Thereafter, the trial judge declared him guilty as charged.

Defence counsel, B. Onuoha, on the other hand prayed the court for leniency. He appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, considering his status as a first-time offender, and remorse for his actions.

Justice Ayua sentenced him to seven years imprisonment cumulatively with Three Million Naira (3,000,000.00) as an option of fine payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In addition, the judge ordered that, items recovered from the convict, two laptops, a mobile device, Toyota Highlander with Registration: NKR 736 AA, two story buildings containing six units of two bedroom flats should be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Additionally, the convict shall depose an affidavit of good behaviour before the court.