The Ogun Government has announced a reward of N50 million for any information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) attached to Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s office, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi .

Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the State Government, announced the reward in a statement in Abeokuta on Friday.

According to the statement, Information provided would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

” Such information can be sent to the underlisted telephone numbers:
08037441955
08033074371
08081775020
08034062773
08032136765. ”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that suspected armed robbers on Nov. 29 shot dead Oyekanmi, and carted away government funds.

Oyekanmi had cashed an undisclosed amount of money from a branch of Fidelity bank in Abeokuta, and was heading back to the office when he was waylaid by the gunmen.

According to source, the gunmen, about five of them, shot the accountant dead at Kuto bridge in Abeokuta and went away with the government’s money.

It was gathered that Oyekanmi and other aides who sustained gunshot injuries during the attacks, were rushed to the State General Hospital, Ijaye, where the accountant later died.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed that smugglers are now adopting a new tactic of using fake presidential number plates to deliver vehicles across the country.

The NCS Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “B,” Kaduna, Mr Chedi Wada made this revelation when he received Bashir Rabe-Mani, Zonal Manager (ZM), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Kaduna Zonal Office, who paid him a courtesy call in Kaduna.

According to Mr Chedi, “they have also been dubiously using fake number plates belonging to various state and local governments, MDAs, Emirate Councils, and other governmental institutions.”

He said, “Customs will not relent and will continue to do its best by not allowing smugglers to use the old tactics of using the presidential number plates and other governmental institutions to smuggle luxurious vehicles into the country.

“This is one of the menaces we are having. It is saddening how vehicle smugglers are ridiculing the apex seat in the country by using presidential fake plate numbers on newly smuggled cars to deceive customs.”

According to him, Customs are well-trained personnel who can easily identify fake numbers and cannot be played by the old tricks.

The comptroller said, “We are not happy with them; it is too bad for them to be playing with the presidency. That’s why we always put a heavy hammer on those using the presidency in false instances on smuggled vehicles.

“Let them respect the presidency; we must respect the presidency, which is leadership.”

Wada also disclosed that they have impounded lots of such vehicles with fake number plates, including those of local governments, ministries, and lots of government institutions.

He said that the service was saddled with the responsibility of suppressing anti-smuggling activities, revenue, and trade facilitation while implementing other governmental policies.

Acknowledging the role of the media in sensitisation, Wada said that the media has been assisting them in extending what they were doing to the public, decrying that many people do not understand what the rules of the Customs are and why certain actions are taken.

“Some will say Customs will come to their houses to take contraband, but all this will be amplified through the media on what the rules and regulations are.

“According to the Act of Customs, on getting intelligence, customs can enter the premises and take contraband away, possibly arresting and prosecuting.

“People expect customs to notify them of any planned seizure at their houses or shops or arrest. If I inform you that I am coming, what stops you from taking away the exhibit?”

He said that since he assumed duty in the zone six weeks ago, they have made a lot of impact, including the seizure of various items.

While noting that the system is working, Wada added that they undertake an investigation depending on what was obtained and possible prosecution.

The Comptroller further called on Nigerians to be interested in customs jobs and know what was happening at customs in all areas, including its social media platforms.

The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested two suspected ritualists, Akeem Usman and Ifadowo Niyi, for allegedly killing and dismembering a 100-level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Quadri Salami.

The suspects reportedly murdered the 18-year-old Salami, dismembered his body and buried the remains in a shallow grave.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalists on Thursday.

The publicist explained that the deceased’s father had reported the sudden disappearance of his son to the police at Kemta police station on 14th November.

The deceased’s father had told the police that his son was last seen on 8th November.

The PPRO, however, said a police investigation led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Akeem Usman, who was found in possession of the deceased’s phone.

The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamut, on Wednesday, led a tactical squad to Mile 6 in the Ajebo area of Abeokuta, where the deceased’s body parts were buried in a shallow grave.

“He (Akeem Usman) implicated one Ifadowo Niyi that both of them committed the heinous crime by slaughtering the victim, one Quadri and dismembering his vital parts for ritual purposes.

“Ifadowo went away with Quadri’s head and his two wrists and paid the sum of N100,00 into Akeem Usman’s account as proceeds from the sale of the human body parts. The other parts were then buried,” Odutola said.