Crime

Police parade killers of Youth Corps member, others in Benue

Published

2 months ago

February 29, 2024

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

The Benue Police Command has paraded two notorious criminals Oryina Kumshi and Terzungwe Tyohie Philip all of no fixed addresses in connection with the killing of a female youth corps member Irene Chioma Emmanuel while trying to protect her laptop when the armed robbers attacked their vehicle along Makurdi-Naka road at Adaka.

Benue State commissioner of police Emmanuel Adesina who made the disclosure on Wednesday in Makurdi, during his maiden press briefing at the police headquarters.

He explained that following reports of the robbery incident, detectives were deployed to the scene where the suspects who were in a hideout at Adeke were arrested and both confessed being involved in four other robbery operations on Makurdi-Naka road and neighboring communities that led to the loss of five lives and property worth millions.

CP Adesina added that a knife and three live ammunition were recovered from the suspects, pointing out that investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

He also revealed that on January 24 information was received that a gang of dreaded armed bandits led by one Chen kingpin of the group whose surname was not given at the time of this report now in police custody and Iorpuu Ayangeer had blocked Tse-Kperse, Naindo-Zaki-Biam road and abducted one Aornen Kpor,a member of the Benue State Volunteer Guards who was traveling along the route to an unknown destination.

CP Adesina further disclosed that during police investigation one Vanen Mnyim and Adera Terseer both of Ngenev, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State were arrested in connection with the crime, adding that the suspects both confessed to the crime and led the police patrol team to a bush at Adogo village where the victim was killed and buried in a shallow grave.

He said corpses of the victim have been exhumed and deposited at the hospital for autopsy for proper burial while investigation is still ongoing.

CP Adesina also told journalists during the briefing that on February 24 while police officers in collaboration with Community Volunteer Guards were on patrol at Adaka, they intercepted one Echoche and Inalegwu Anebi in a dark corner where they were suspected to have laid ambush for commuters.

He said the suspects were arrested and one single barrel gun , ATM cards and one locally made revolver shotgun loaded with five rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

CP Adesina, who assured the people that under his watch the command would continue to fight criminality to make the state a better place for peaceful coexistence of all, called on the good people of the state to support the police by giving useful and timely information that is capable of preventing crime.

He also urged journalists to be professional in carrying out their duties as information managers in the state, adding that the development would create an environment that would allow peace to thrive.

Related Topics:Benue Emmanuel Adesina Police

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Crime

Police admit officer shot man killed on Lagos fuel queue

Published

8 hours 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

8 hours 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.

Crime

Naira mutilation: Court adjourns Cubana’s trial till June 5

Published

10 hours ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the

Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, May 2, 2024 adjourned further hearing in the trial of Pascal Okechukwu, a.k.a. Cubana Chief till June 5, 2024.

Okejukwu was arraigned on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 by the EFCC on a three-count charge bordering on abuse of the Naira.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, on 13th February, 2024, at Eko Hotel Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500(Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

Another count reads: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, during a social event tampered with funds in the denomination of N500( Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

At the resumed sitting of the court on Thursday, Okechukwu through his lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, told the court about a plan of his client to enter a plea bargain with the EFCC.

Ojukwu also sought to withdraw his earlier preliminary objection filed on April 24, 2024, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charge. “In the interest of justice, we are urging the court to strike out the motion because the prosecution has not responded to it,” he said.

The prosecution counsel did not oppose the withdrawal of the application.

Consequently, Justice Ogundare struck out the application, having been withdrawn by the defence, and also adjourned the case till June 5, 2024.