Crime

Medical Director, three others arraigned for alleged organ harvesting

Published

2 months ago

March 19, 2024

The Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Christopher Otabor, alongside three others, found themselves in the dock at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Zuba, on Monday, facing charges related to alleged organ harvesting.

In a case brought forth by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Otabor, along with Emmanuel Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, and Dr. Aremu Abayomi, faced 11 counts related to organ harvesting.

The prosecuting counsel, Hassan Tahir, detailed the allegations, claiming that Olorunlaye had procured two 17-year-old boys and a 25-year-old man named Aminu Yahuza for the purpose of removing their kidneys at Alliance Hospital, situated in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, in February 2023.

Tahir further alleged that Ugochukwu, serving as an Administrative Secretary at the hospital, aided in the kidney removal procedures of the victims within the hospital premises.

The prosecution’s case extended to Otabor, accusing him of accommodating the victims at Alliance Hospital to undergo kidney removal procedures. Additionally, Dr. Abayomi, identified as a surgeon at the hospital, was alleged to have performed the kidney removal operations.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 20(2)(a)(3) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The defendants however pleaded not guilty.

Mr Richard Adeboju, the counsel to Olorunlaye, moved a motion for bail pursuant to Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Adeboju’s motion was supported with an 11-paragraph affidavit with a written address. He urged the court to adopt the same as his oral submission and grant the application.

Afam Osigwe, SAN, the defence counsel to the other defendants, also urged the court to grant his clients bail.

“Otabor is on bail earlier granted by Justice Hamza Muazu and I urge the court to grant the same. The defendants are responsible persons who run businesses and families and have been diligently honouring NAPTIP’s invitations,” Osigwe said.

He urged the court to adopt the same administrative bail conditions that were granted to the defendants by NAPTIP.

The prosecution counsel however did not oppose the bail application but applied for accelerated hearing on the matter.

He cited Section 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), noting that the court may impose its own conditions and does not have to go with the same bail conditions given by NAPTIP.

Delivering a ruling, Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya held that judicially, administrative bail fizzles out upon arraignment and cannot determine the court’s bail.

Justice Ogbonnaya however ordered the defendants to sign a register on a daily basis at the NAPTIP headquarters, starting from March 19, except the day for hearing in court.

She also ordered the defendants to deposit their travel documents to the court’s registrar and warned the defendants to adhere to the order or risk their bail being revoked.

The judge adjourned the matter for accelerated hearing from May 6 to May 9, after which hearing continues May 13.

Crime

NDLEA smashes int’l drug syndicate, arrests 5

Published

14 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.