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INEC deploys materials, staff in Esan Central LGA

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The distribution of electoral materials and deployment of ad hoc staff to their various polling wards have commenced at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, ahead of the governorship election across the state on Saturday.

Our correspondent who visited the INEC office on Friday, observed that the exercise was hitch-free amidst heavy security presence at the Commission’s Headquarters in Irrua, on Friday.

The officials of INEC were seen sorting and packaging the materials, including voting cubicles, ballot boxes, electoral forms, markers, pens and other relevant items into the vehicles designated for various centres.

Hundreds of ad hoc staff also received their accreditation tags and other relevant materials as they joined the vehicles in moving to their destination of duty.

One of the INEC officials, simply identified as Vera Ibitemi, said, “All the materials both sensitive and non-sensitive have been sorted and packaged and they are ready to be distributed to their various wards tonight for voting tomorrow.

“The ad hoc staff have been sorted and mobilised. The vehicles carrying the materials and the personnel are already on ground. The exercise is in top gear.”

The governorship election is scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 21, across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

Our correspondent gathered that the materials are for voting in Edo Central Senatorial District, which has five LGAs, comprising Esan South-East, Igueben, Esan North-East, Esan West and Esan Central LGAs.

The district is where the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Monday Okpebholo, is located.

Overwhelmed by challenges, man attempts suicide on Third Mainland Bridge

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A 59-year-old man identified as Yemi has disclosed that he attempted suicide because he was overwhelmed by challenges.

Yemi, a resident of Ilasa in Lagos State, was rescued by the Rapid Response Squad operatives while attempting to jump into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge on Friday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

Hundeyin tweeted, “At about 1200hrs today (Friday), Rapid Response Squad (RRS) bike riders on routine patrol on the Third Mainland Bridge prevented a man from jumping into the lagoon.

“The man, one Yemi, aged 59 of Ilasa, Lagos stated that he was overwhelmed by challenges.”

He added that Yemi has been taken into protective custody pending the arrival of his family.

“Commander RRS, CSP Shola Jejeloye has counselled the suspect and has directed he be kept in protective custody pending the arrival of his family members,” the PPRO said.

According to Online reported on July 10 that Lagos State Police Officers rescued an American citizen from attempting suicide on the Third Mainland Bridge.

According to Hundeyin, the American, whose name was not disclosed, was driven to the bridge by his baby mama at approximately 1:23 p.m.

Hundeyin had revealed that the American, who is in his early 30s, directed his baby mama to park her vehicle while he walked to a spot on the bridge, intending to jump into the Lagoon.

A passerby who noticed his suspicious behaviour had alerted patrolling Rapid Response Squad operatives, who persuaded him not to jump.

Businessman jailed for issuing false documents

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The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, convicted and sentenced a businessman, Bernard Nzenwa, to four years and 11 months imprisonment over issuance of false documents.

In a statement obtained from EFCC’s official X handle on Friday, Nzenwa, alongside his company, Omega Maritime and Energy Ltd, were arraigned on December 7, 2022 by the Lagos Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on issuance of false documents.

The count read: “Bernard Okechukwu Nzenwa, Omega Maritine and Energy Limited, and Dr. Oluchi Nzenwa, (now at large), sometime on the 9th March, 2011, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, issued a false document titled, “Bond for the Re-exportation of Imported Goods Delivered Without Payment of Import Duties”, which you purported to have emanated from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc”.

The defendant, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, thereby leading to his full trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, G. C. Akaogu, called six witnesses, through whom several documentary evidence were presented to prove the case against him and his company.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice R. A Oshodi, held that the prosecution effectively proved the case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubts.

“I find the defendant guilty of false bond, false documents and fraudulent intent, “ he said.

The judge sentenced him to four years and eleven months in prison, with an option of fine of N50m, while the company was fined N50 million to serve as a punishment and deterrent to others.

The journey to the Correctional Centre began for Nzenwa when he issued false documents titled: “Bond for the re-exportation of imported goods delivered without payment of import duties to exporters”.

He was charged to court and found guilty of false bond, false document and false intent.

Four arrested for mutilating teenager’s corpse in Ogun

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The Ogun State Police Command has arrested four persons including one Ogidan Mustapha and three others (names undisclosed) for allegedly exhuming and mutilating the body of a teenager who died of electrocution.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, in a statement on Friday, the suspects were arrested near a river in Igbosoro village, on Friday.

Odutola noted that some officers of the Vigilante group had noticed suspicious activities around the bush around 1:30 am which prompted them to search the area.

She added that the search led to Mustapha’s arrest with the corpse of the teenager wrapped in a mat with both hands amputated.

The PPRO said, “Upon closer inspection by vigilante operatives, it was discovered that the corpse was a young girl, one Oriyomi Gboyega ‘f’ 13-year-old with both of her hands amputated and wrapped in a mat before being discarded near the river.

“Upon contacting the mother, one Peace Adegboyega ‘f’, she stated that her daughter had died from electrocution on September 19, 2024, at about 10:20 am, and arrangements were being made for her burial the following day.

“She expressed shock upon learning that their neighbour, Ogidan, was found with the amputated body of her daughter in the bush.”

Odutola added that upon further search of the suspect’s house, ammunition and local charms were recovered while he allegedly confessed during interrogation that the father of the deceased teenager had contacted him to assist with the burial.

The state PPRO added that three other suspects who assisted in the digging of the grave were also arrested.

“A search warrant was executed at Ogidan Mustapha’s residence by the Divisional Police Officer and the Vigilante group. Two English pump action rifles and various local charms were recovered in his house.

“During police interrogation and questioning, the suspect denied amputating the 13-year-old girl but confessed that the girl’s father, one Sunday Adegboyega, had asked him to help bury the deceased far from home.

“Three other suspects of northern origin who assisted in digging the grave were also arrested.”

Odutola noted that the case had been transferred to the command’s Criminal Investigation Department for onward investigation.

Mercy Johnson’s husband escapes assassination attempt

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Security personnel foiled an assassination attempt by armed men suspected to be political thugs on a federal lawmaker representing the Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State, Henry Okojie.

Okojie’s media aide, Michael Ihaza, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, saying that Okojie, the husband of the Nollywood movie Star, Mercy Johnson, was reportedly attacked at his residence by gunmen in a Lexus GX 470 carrying a Rivers State vehicle registration number – PHC 253 FF.

The statement noted that the planned assassination “was unsuccessful owing to the intervention of security personnel attached to the lawmaker”.

“The armed thugs who disguised as police officers along with two others, invaded the residence of Hon. Okojie, claimed to be on appointment and proceeded to the seating room.

“Following the intervention of the security personnel attached to the lawmaker, two of the armed thugs fled leaving behind the driver and another who are currently being interrogated by officers from the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Uromi.

“The suspects have so far made a confessional statement stating that they were sent on the mission by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Esan North East Local Government Area,” the statement added.

Efforts to reach the Edo State Police Command for comments were not successful

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Police nab gunrunner, recover 20 AK-47 rifles in Kaduna

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The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a notorious gunrunner and recovered 20 locally fabricated AK-47 rifles.

The suspect, Bitrus Gyang, from Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, was apprehended on September 19, 2024, at Buruku Bridge during a routine patrol by officers from the Buruku Division.

According to Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, in Kaduna on Friday,  the rifles and an empty Type 06 magazine were hidden in the boot of a black Golf III saloon vehicle.

He said Gyang confessed to being a gun runner and revealed he had transported fabricated rifles on at least three previous occasions.

According to Hassan, the suspect is cooperating with the police, and efforts are underway to track down his accomplices.

He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Audu Dabigi, to have commended the officers for their dedication to duty.

“Kidnappers and bandits will continue to have no breathing space throughout the state,” he assured.

The police spokesman said, “On September 19, 2024, at about 1600 hours, officers from Buruku Division, while conducting a routine patrol at Buruku Bridge, intercepted a black Golf III saloon vehicle.

“Upon a thorough search of the vehicle, the officers discovered twenty (20) locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and an empty Type 06 magazine hidden in the vehicle’s boot. The suspect was identified as Bitrus Gyang, a male from Barkin Ladi, Plateau State.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a gunrunner and revealed that he had transported fabricated rifles on at least three previous occasions.

“The suspect is currently cooperating with the police, and efforts are underway to track down his other accomplices.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Ali Dabigi psc, commended the officers for their efforts and dedication to duty. He also assured the public that kidnappers and bandits would continue to have no breathing space throughout the state.

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Police Force said it dismantled a notorious gunrunning syndicate and arrested over 2,700 suspects in connection with various criminal activities within the past month.

Ogun Assembly tasks electoral commission on due process

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Ogun State House of Assembly has charged the management of the State Independent Electoral Commission to adhere strictly to its electoral guidelines in the forthcoming November 16 Local Government election in the state.

The Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, gave the charge on Friday during an interface between OGSIEC and the State Inter-party Advisory Council led by its Chairman, Sanyaolu Abayomi at the instance of the State House of Assembly.

Elemide in the company of his colleague-lawmakers, said, “The management of OGSIEC must ensure that all the processes leading to the election are in accordance with the nation’s constitution and the state electoral act.

“We are assuring that the Assembly is also ready to collaborate with the Commission to ensure a free and fair election.”

Also contributing, the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye and a member representing Ewekoro State Constituency, Yusuf Amosun, challenged the Commission to ensure that all the processes leading to the election follow the nation’s constitution so as to prevent avoidable litigation before, during and after the election.

The lawmakers noted that the Assembly was ready to assist in amending the state electoral law if the need arises.

Speaking earlier, the IPAC Public Relations Officer, Itunu Abioro, requested a further reduction in the administrative fees of N250,000 per Chairmanship candidate and N150,000 per councilorship candidate being charged by the Commission to allow more candidates to participate in the local government election.

Responding, the Commissioner 1 in charge of Operations, Mr. Tunji Akonni, said that the Commission has continued to interface with all stakeholders including IPAC in the course of the election process and that OGSIEC has always followed the electoral guidelines approved by the assembly in line with the state electoral law.

Akonni counselled the political parties to present credible candidates, engage in vigorous campaigns and present credible party agents to monitor their vote at the polling booth, recalling that the majority of political parties did not have party agents to represent them during election days.

Two arrested with 120 wraps of suspected cocaine in Lagos

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The Police Command in Lagos State says it has detained two suspects, Sunday Nwabufor, 47, and Obinna Nweke, 45, for alleged possession of 120 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this in a post he shared on his X handle, @benHundeyin, on Friday.

He said that Nwabufor, resident of Festac, and Nweke, who resides at Ketu Mile 12 area of the state, were intercepted based on reports from members of the public.

“The suspects were apprehended by officers of Ojo Division on Wednesday at about 2:00 p. m. in the Ojo area of Lagos State following a tip-off.

“They were found with 120 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine,” the image maker said.

According to him, investigation is ongoing.

NAN.

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Police hunt Pastor accused of defiling minor in Ogun

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The Ogun State Police Command is searching for a pastor, Onyekachi Okoli, who is accused of raping a 16-year-old girl during a deliverance prayer in the Mowe community, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, According to Online has learnt.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to According to Online on Friday.

It was gathered that the survivor had been invited to a revival programme at the Adoration Fire Ministry in the community by the church’s pastor, Emmanuel James, on September 14, 2024.

Okoli, a pastor from Delta State and a guest minister at the revival programme, allegedly approached the survivor on September 16, 2024, around midnight, claiming she needed deliverance that could only be performed at his hotel, where he was staying.

After luring the survivor to his hotel room, it was gathered that the suspect allegedly forced her (the survivor) onto the bed during the deliverance prayer session and raped her.

Our correspondent learnt that the survivor allegedly experienced severe pain during the alleged assault by the pastor, resulting in significant blood loss due to uncontrollable bleeding.

Odutola said, “The survivor reported the crime at the Mowe Division on September 19, 2024, stating that she had been invited to the church for a revival, where the guest minister informed her that she needed deliverance.

“The suspect invited her to the hotel where he was staying. During the deliverance session, he allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim, causing her to bleed.

“Our officers were sent to the church, where the pastor was brought in for questioning. He confirmed that the church had invited the suspect as a guest minister for the revival, but he was unaware that the suspect had committed any crime before returning to Delta State.”

Odutola mentioned that the church’s pastor had promised to present the suspect for interrogation, adding that the police investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

According to Metro reported a similar incident on April 23, 2024, involving pastor Monday Ogunyomi from the God Foundation Spiritual Church of Christ, Ibùdó Aseyori of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Osioyemi Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He was arrested for allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman during a cleansing prayer on the church premises.

The pastor reportedly went naked and allegedly instructed the survivor to remove her clothes before starting a prayer session aimed at helping her overcome her nightmares through spiritual deliverance.

Curt Vacates Interim Order, Dismisses EFCC Suit Against Heartland Estate

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Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has vacated an interim order granted against a property development company, U. S. Homes Depot Development International Limited.

The court sets aside an earlier order granted in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissio, EFCC.

U. S. Homes Depot Development International Limited is the owner of
Heartland Estate based in Owerri, Imo state.

Also, the court granted an order dismissing the interim forfeiture of the property as well the suit.

Joined as an interested party in the suit is Dr Ngozika Nwaneri.

The court had earlier granted an interim attachment/forfeiture of 10 hectares of land purchased by U.S Homes Deport Development International Limited in Heartland Estate, Owerri, Imo state.

The EFCC secured the order last year and shortly after that did nothing about the case.

The plaintiff, through its lawyer, Dr Lilian Ojima, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/963/2023, prayed the court for an order
vacating/discharging and/or setting aside the order of interim attachment/forfeiture granted by the in respect of 10 Hectares of land purchased by U.S. Homes Deport Development Intemational Ltd in Heartland Estate, Owerri.

The plaintiffs also prayed the court for an vacating/discharging and/or setting aside the order stopping any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/asset in respect of 10 Hectares of land purchased by U.S. Homes Deport Development International ltd in Heartland Estate, Owerri.

They prayed the court for an order of vacating/discharging and/or setting aside the order authorizing the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appoint a competent person/firm to manage the asset/property in respect of 10 Hectares of land purchased by U.S. Homes Deport Development International ltd in Heartland Estate, Owerri.

After listening to parties in the matter, Justice Lifu in his ruling dated September 10, 2024, held “Where the Court finds the evidence led by the Applicant reliable and believable and it is accepted as in the instant case, and the
evidence support the Applicant case, the Court will act on it in favour of the person so entitled.

“Going through the entire gamut of the instant Application, | hold that the Respondent (EFCC) has not justified the reason to enable the court refused the application of the Applicant.

“Consequently, | hold that the exparte order of this Court granted on the 8th day of August 2024 is hereby set aside. Ruling is so entered”.