Crime

Jigawa High Court sentences four rapists to life imprisonment

Published

2 years ago

September 15, 2022

NewsDirect

By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse

The Jigawa High Court 6 sitting in Birnin Kudu presided by Honourable Justice Musa Ubale has on Wednesday delivered judgment against four men, Umar Danladi, Abdussalam Sale, Auwalu Yunusa and Mu’azu Abdurrahman sentencing them to life imprisonment for rape cases.

The four men were charged and found guilty of the offence of rape, punishable to life imprisonment under Section 283 of the Penal Code Law of Jigawa State 2012(as amended)

Umar Danladi who hails from Sabuwar Gwaram, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, was alleged to have lured and forcefully took an 8 year old pupil while returning from school and raped her.

The defendant was arrested, and on arraignment, he denied the charge.In his effort to prove the charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, the prosecution counsel Yahaya Abdullahi Esq (Deputy Director Citizens Right) called three witnesses, tendered three exhibits (statement of the defendant and medical report) and finally closed his case.

On his side, the defendant testified as sole witness in his own defense and called no other witnesses.

In the second case, Abdussalam Sale from Rafawa Village, Dutse Local Government Area, was accused to have raped a 12 year old girl he met along Sabon Garin Barnawa to Kishin Gishin Gawa village.

The defendant sent the victim on an errand, but after she had returned, he forcefully grabbed and raped her. After his arrest he admitted to have committed the offence. But on his arraignment, he denied the charge.

In the case of Auwalu Yunusu who hails from Kafin Fulani in Gwaram Local Government Area, he was accused to have raped a 6 year old girl, after returning from an errand the defendant sent her. After the victim had returned, the defendant forcefully had sexual intercourse and threatened to kill her if she tells anyone.

Few days later, the victim was asked what happened to her but refused to talk, until when she could not walk again. That was when she revealed the identity of Mr. Yunusa as the person who raped her.

In establishing the charge against the defendant, the prosecution called five witnesses, tendered two exhibits (statement of the defendant and medical report) and finally closed his case.

On his side, the defendant testified as sole witness in his own defense and called no other witness.

Lastly, Muazu Abdulrahman who comes from Sabuwar Gwaram in Gwaram Local Government was also accused to have lured an 8 year old pupil and had sexual intercourse with her while returning from school. The defendant forcefully took her to a guinea corn farm and raped her.

On arraignment, the defendant denied committing the offence, while the prosecution in an effort to prove his charge, called out 3 witnesses and tendered 3 exhibits (statement of the defendant and medical report). The defendant testified as sole witness in his own defense.

Honourable Justice Musa Ubale while delivering judgments in the four cases found that the prosecution through its counsel Yahaya Abdullahi had proved the cases beyond reasonable doubt, and so, sentenced the four accused men to life imprisonment based on the provision of Section 283 of the Penal Code Law of Jigawa State 2012 (as amended).

Crime

Alleged N8.5bn fraud: You have case to answer, Lagos court tells NIMASA staff, ex-JTF Commander

Published

19 mins ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, April 22, 2024, told a former Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe ( rtd.), and a staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Kime Engonzu, that they have a case to answer in the alleged N8.5bn money laundering case brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Atewe and Engonzu are standing trial on a 22-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N8, 537,586,798.58, which also involves a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and Josephine Otuaga, also a staff of NIMASA.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu, and Josphine Otuaga, sometime in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N8,537,586,798.58 property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thereby prompting the commencement of their trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called several witnesses and subsequently closed its case against the defendants.

However, the defendants, rather than open their defence, filed a no-case-submission.

Akpobolokemi had, in a no-case submission, filed by his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, prayed the court for an acquittal without having him present a defence.

Ruling on the no-case submission on Monday, Justice Faji discharged and acquitted Akpobolokemi and Otuaga, the fourth defendant.

He however, ruled that Atewe, the second defendant, and Engonzu, the third defendant, should open their defence in counts 12 to 22 of the charge.

Crime

Nasarawa: Police arrest three for alleged kidnapping

Published

25 mins ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

By Adeyanju Esther

In a significant breakthrough, the Nasarawa State Police Command has apprehended three individuals suspected of involvement in a kidnapping scheme within the Karu Local Government Area.

The arrest is as a result of diligent efforts of officers from the Mararaba ‘A’ Division of the Nigeria Police, as confirmed by DSP Ramhan Nansel, the command’s spokesperson, in a statement released on April 23.

The detained suspects, namely Babangida Abdullahi (29), Mohammed Abubakar (27), and Yakubu Sani (30), were taken into custody following allegations of their participation in a kidnapping plot.

According to reports, the trio allegedly collaborated and engaged in communication with Ibrahim Idris, an uncle of one of the suspects, they threatened to abduct him unless a ransom of N2 million was paid.

Succumbing to the pressure and fearing for his safety, the victim complied with the demands, delivering the specified sum to the designated location. Subsequently, the suspects retrieved the ransom and divided it amongst themselves.

Further investigations revealed that all three suspects have confessed to their roles in the criminal activity. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to apprehend another member of the syndicate who narrowly escaped arrest.

This successful operation underscores the Nasarawa State Police Command’s unwavering commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety and security of residents. It serves as a stern warning to criminal elements involved in kidnapping activities that law enforcement agencies will relentlessly pursue and bring them to justice.

Crime

UNN lecturer caught pants down inside office with student

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

NewsDirect

A lecturer of University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, has been caught pants down inside his office with a female student.

The man whose name is yet to be ascertained by newsmen is said to be a lecturer in the School of General Studies of the institution.

The victim is alleged to be someone’s wife.

A voice in the viral video said: “We have been following this case from day one. As you can see we have all the chats, voice notes, videos and everything.”

Commenting under the video, a student identified the man in the video, claiming he taught him Peace and Conflict, a course under General Studies, during his time in UNN.

He said: “That is my lecturer in UNN, he taught us Peace and Conflict under GS in my time. We called him or rather, he called himself “The Short Man.” He was very strict with us in class. It’s unfortunate that he was involved in this.”

Another source said: “When he wants to sleep with someone’s wife? Well, it was planned by her husband, UNN security with some students. Even when the lady offered him money he refused. Well, with this, if he still remains, he will never try that again”.

When contacted to speak on the matter, the Public Relations Officer of the institution said he was yet to see the video.

He said he would investigate to find out if it’s true.

Meanwhile, a lecturer, who sought to remain anonymous identified the location of where the incident happened as a GS building. He, however, said he couldn’t disclose the name of the man in the video.