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Lagos man jailed eight years for child molestation

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Lagos man jailed eight years for child molestation

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced a man, David Charles, to eight years imprisonment for assault and indecent treatment of a 10-year-old girl.

Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted him after he pleaded guilty to the two amended charges brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

In a charge marked ID/6934C/2018, Charles was initially arraigned on July 28, 2021, over an allegation of defilement and indecent treatment of a child, and he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution said Charles, sometime in April 2017, at No. 16 Aina Street, Shogunle, Oshodi, Lagos, indecently treated a 10-year-old girl by touching her lap with his penis and exposing her to pornography.

According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 135, 170 and punishable under Section 172 of the Criminal Law Lagos State, 2015.

During the trial, the prosecution called witnesses while the defendant testified for himself and later opted for a plea bargain.

He was, therefore, re-arraigned on amended two counts bordering on indecent treatment of a child and assault.

He pleaded guilty to the two counts and the court held his plea.

However, while delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi held that the court had carefully considered the facts of the case, the plea bargain agreement, and the provisions of the law.

The court, therefore, sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on count one and one year imprisonment on count two.

The court held that the sentences shall run consecutively by the plea bargain agreement between both parties.

Therefore, the total term of imprisonment shall be eight years.

“This sentence shall commence from the day he was remanded, October 10, 2017. This takes into account the time he has already spent in custody.

“In light of the nature of the offence in count one and by the relevant provisions of Section 32 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021, this court orders that you, David Charles, be registered as a sex offender.

“Mr Charles, the sentences imposed today reflect the gravity of your offences, particularly the exploitation of a vulnerable child.

“The consecutive nature of the sentences underscores the severe and distinct nature of each offence.

“I hope that during your period of incarceration, you will reflect deeply on your actions and their impact on the victim and society at large. They also trust that you will take advantage of any rehabilitation programme,” he said.

Hardship pushed me into spending fake currencies, says Benue woman

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Hardship pushed me into spending fake currencies, says Benue woman

A 30-year-old woman,  Rebecca Ako, living in Owena, Osun State, paraded by the state Amotekun corps after being arrested for spending fake currencies, has said extant hardship pushed her into the crime.

Ako, an indigene of Benue State, was among the suspects paraded for various offences across the state by the Amotekun corps on Tuesday.

A statement signed by the spokesperson for the Osun State Amotekun Corps, Yusuf Idowu, in Osogbo on Tuesday, said the corps commander, Dr Adekunle Omoyele, explained that the 30-year-old Ako was arrested inside Sabo Market, Ilesa.

Omoyele added that Ako admitted committing the crime, giving the excuse of the financial crisis she was going through as the reason for her action.

Responding to questions from According to Metro, Ako, who admitted committing the crime, added that she was introduced to the crime by one Mrs. Elizabeth, a co-tenant, after her husband had dumped her.

“I am from Benue State but I live in Owena. I used the fake money to buy goods. There is a woman, Mrs Elizabeth, who I used to live with when my husband left me. The woman later left for Abuja and called me one day to introduce me to the fake money, telling me I could spend it.

“She usually sent the fake naira to me through dispatch. When she gave me N100,000 fake money, I would give her N50,000 original money that I would have made using the fake money. That is how I used to do before I was caught,” Ako said.

Also paraded was a 19-year-old girl, Adegboye Glory, arrested in Iwo for burglary and theft of food items.

One Najeemden Adeyemi, aged 50 years, arrested for attempted kidnapping and stealing from female victims by luring them to secluded places using a fake Facebook account, was also paraded.

The Osun Amotekun boss, who said the corps would make the state too hot for criminals, called for the cooperation of the residents to nip criminal acts in the bud.

Three suspected armed robbers nabbed in Bauchi

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Three suspected armed robbers nabbed in Bauchi

The operatives of Bauchi State Police Command have disclosed the arrests of three suspects involved in armed robbery in Misau local government area of Bauchi state.

According to a press release by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, on Tuesday, the suspects included Ahmad Musa, 20, Tijjani Abdullahi, 20, and Danladi Aliyu, 30.

Wakil noted that the suspects were arrested on an allegation of criminal conspiracy for breaking of a house, and armed robbery.

He explained that sometime in July 2024, the suspects, along with four others, namely Ismail Kawuwa, Sadiq Kange, Adamu Dan Kamfani, and Attahir (still at large), conspired and unlawfully trespassed the residence of Malumi in Misau LGA, Bauchi State.

He said, “Armed with locally made pistols and seven rounds of live ammunition, they robbed Malumi of N250,000, three handheld phones, and an unspecified quantity of recharge cards from various networks.”

The PPRO insisted that “Ahmad Musa was apprehended by the Rapid Response Squad, with a fabricated pistol and seven rounds of live ammunition. Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime.”

In another development, the statement disclosed the apprehension of two suspects involved in the gruesome murder of Adamu Alkasim, 18, of Kofar Dumi, Bauchi.

The statement revealed that the incident happened in the Bayan Gari area of Bauchi where suspects such as Usman Shehu, 20; and Abdullahi Abubakar, 19, were arrested for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

Wakil stated that Shehu conspired with four others to attack one Adamu, resulting in his death.

“Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, ordered a discreet investigation, leading to the arrest of Usman Shehu and Abdullahi Abubakar,” he said.

He said the case was under investigation and upon completion, the suspects would be profiled and charged in court.

According to Wakil, the command is working to apprehend the remaining suspects urging the public with information on their whereabouts to contact the police.

Suspected Rivers diesel thief dies in tank

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Suspected Rivers diesel thief dies in tank

The body of a security guard identified as Uche was found inside a diesel tank at a telecommunications facility in Rumaholu community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to Metro gathered on Tuesday that Uche who worked as a guard at the facility reportedly fell into the tank last Saturday night but his body was found on Monday.

Residents of the area said they last saw him on Saturday and began searching for him only to discover his lifeless remains on Monday morning.

It was alleged that the security man had gone to steal the diesel in the tank and mistakenly slipped, leading to his sad end as there was no one to rescue him.

One of the residents who pleaded anonymity told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that they found the victim’s slippers near the diesel tank while the gate of the facility which he guarded was left open which made them check the tank where his body was found.

He said, “When I came to the shop this morning, a brother of the landlord told me that this man (the deceased) was trying to steal diesel from the place on Saturday night.

“And along the line, they don’t know how it happened and he fell inside the tank. When they didn’t see him throughout Sunday, they started searching for him and came to the place where he worked.

“They discovered that the protector was open and their security house was also open. They saw the clothes that he removed and his slippers. They also saw that the diesel tank was open and that he fell inside.”

Our correspondent reports that Uche’s family and representatives of the telecommunications company had filed a complaint with the police.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, proved abortive as her mobile phone number was not reachable, even as she had yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report.

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Ex-convict rearrested with N4 .6bn cocaine at Lagos airport

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Ex-convict rearrested with N4 .6bn cocaine at Lagos airport

A 48-year-old businessman, Christian Ogbuji, described as an “unrepentant kingpin” was, on Wednesday, re-arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for alleged drug peddling.

 Ogbuji was first arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 10, 2023, upon arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986kg.

He was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court 12 Abuja, presided over by  Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023, and convicted on July 13, 2023.

According to Metro gathered that Ogbuji was consequently sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of N3m.

A statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Ogbuji eventually paid the fine.

Babafemi added that Ogbuji also forfeited the seized 1.986 kilograms of cocaine and his passport, while $14 and 9000 Uganda shillings were found on him at the time of his arrest.

However, the NDLEA revealed that 16 months later, Ogbuji was arrested again on September 18 with N4.6bn worth of cocaine.

Babafemi said, “Barely 16 months after he was arrested and convicted for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine, a 48-year-old businessman Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji has been intercepted by operatives of the NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos for importing 817 wraps of the same Class A drug weighing 19.40 kilograms with an estimated street value of  N4,656,000,000.00.

“Ogbuji was again arrested at the Lagos airport on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos. The suspect had approached the joint examination table with a black travelling bag searched by an NDLEA operative who cleared the luggage.

“In a dubious move, Ogbuji sneaked back to the carousel area to put inside the cleared bag a black backpack he left on the conveyor’s belt.

“As he made his way out of the arrival hall, vigilant NDLEA officers intercepted him and subjected him to a secondary search. It was then large wraps of excreted cocaine were found concealed inside the backpack hidden in the black bag that was earlier with the suspect. A total of 817 pellets of cocaine excreted by many traffickers in Addis Ababa weighing 19.40kg belonging to different members of a drug cartel were recovered.“

Babafemi said during an interview with the suspect that he initially left the backpack containing the drug at the carousel area as a strategy to beat the NDLEA operatives, adding that he never knew there could be a secondary search since he had presented his bag for search previously and nothing incriminating was found.

The spokesperson said the suspect claimed he had to buy a new passport to continue his criminal trade.

“Investigation reveals Ogbuji is an unrepentant kingpin within the network of drug cartels operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub-region like Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire,” he added.

Protesters to storm Lagos Assembly over Mohbad’s death probe

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Protesters to storm Lagos Assembly over Mohbad’s death probe

Nollywood actor and human rights advocate, Yomi Fabiyi, is set to lead a peaceful protest to demand justice for the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka MohBad.

Fabiyi who disclosed this on his Instagram page noted that the protest would take place on Monday, September 30, 2024, at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

According to him, the protest seeks to call on the state government to set up a committee to investigate the singer’s death.

He alleged that “those behind this heinous crime, those who cut Mohbad’s life short are spending millions upon millions of naira to see that they cover up the case, create distractions, and bury the many blatant evidence.

“We are so sure the CCTV cameras inside and outside Mohbad’s house were working, and they store remotely someone and not via DVR. The builder of the houses of similar patterns and Royal Pine Estate, Off Orchid Road, Lekki security, and CDA have answers to where these facts are stored.”

He described the refusal of the police to retrieve the cameras as “very frustrating” and that “the masses do not want to put the law into our hands by going to ask for it, hence we need the true representatives of the people of Lagos State to wade in and set up a committee to summon, visit and bring the truth out.”

He enjoined citizens of the country to come out, be a part of the protest and speak in one voice.

“This struggle needs you. Be orderly and civil when attending,” he concluded.

Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022. The Lagos State Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others.

The singer’s body was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

However, a pathologist, while testifying before the Coroner’s Court on May 15, revealed that an autopsy couldn’t determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of his body.

Following the disclosure, According to Metro exclusively reported that the US-based lab refuted the claim by the Lagos State Government that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility.

The revelation was in response to inquiries made by our correspondent, who embarked on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the musician’s cause of death.

Responding to According to Metro’s inquiry on May 17, the Client Services Associate, Forensics Division, NMS Labs, Esther Dede, stated, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, in a document sent to our correspondent clarified that the lab confirmed receipt of the postmortem samples.

The document which contained the lab’s response to an inquiry by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, read, “We are responding to your office’s request to confirm that NMS Labs tested postmortem samples identified as belonging to Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.

“On March 1, 2024, NMS received postmortem samples from another Pennsylvania-based lab, ITSI Biosciences. ITSI Biosciences requested that NMS Labs conduct testing and report findings on samples they (ITSI Biosciences) identified as being from Ilerioluwa Aloba. NMS Labs completed toxicological testing and delivered a report of findings to the submitting agency, ITSI Biosciences, on April 9, 2024.”

Lagos DPO turned me down after reporting mob attack –Victim

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Lagos DPO turned me down after reporting mob attack –Victim

A 37-year-old Uber driver, Gbolahan Fagbenja, has lamented the response of the police to the brutal attack on him by a mob of motorcycle riders in the Abesan area of Lagos State.

According to Metro reported that the victim was attacked on Saturday, August 17, after being mistaken for a police informant.

The attack came after officials of the Lagos State Task Force raided motorcycle parks in the area and seized some of the motorcycles.

Fagbenja explained that he was coming from his brother’s residence when the angry motorcycle riders accused him of being a police informant and pounced on him.

He added that dangerous weapons were also used to attack him before some Good Samaritans intervened and rescued him from them.

Speaking to our correspondent on Monday, Fagbenja said efforts to engage the police in getting justice had proved abortive.

He specifically noted that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ipaja Police Division, Alagolo, turned him down during a visit to his office to complain.

He said, “After the incident, while I was still at the hospital, I managed to go to the nearest police station, which is Alagolo Police Station which was very close to the hospital. When I got there, I narrated what transpired to the policemen and they took me to their DPO. When we got to his office, and the officers narrated what had happened to me, he suddenly flared up and started shouting at the officers, saying that they should never bring any case of police and motorcycles to his office again.”

The victim said he was thereafter sent out of the DPO’s office without any further action taken on his matter.

“I was sent out of the office and that was how I was left all alone, stranded on the premises of the station. As I speak to, I have been unable to get justice,” he disclosed.

Fagbenja who narrated the incident from his hospital bed on September 3, said, “I visited the Abesan Estate with a friend to check out a car I was interested in using for an Uber business. After inspecting the vehicle, I stopped by my brother’s place in the area and spent some time with him until evening. Around 7 pm, I decided to leave and head home. As I approached the gate, I noticed a commotion and saw task force officials loading motorcycles into their van. I walked past them to buy some items from a nearby trader.

“Just as I finished my purchase and walked a short distance away, a young man approached me, pointed at me, and accused me of being one of ‘them.’ Initially, I ignored him, but he asked if I wasn’t with the police. He then claimed I was the one who had dragged him when the police were around earlier. Before I could respond, his friends surrounded me and attacked me.”

Fagbenja said efforts to prove his innocence proved abortive as they continued to attack him on the spot.

He claimed to have struggled by running into a building to seek cover, but the aggrieved riders caught up with him and continued to beat him.

“They attacked me with iron rods, sticks, bottles, stones, and other dangerous weapons, hitting me all over my body. I could barely see as my eyes were also affected. Just as I thought all was lost, I recognised a woman passing by and called out to her for help. She saw my condition and quickly rushed to alert other neighbours, who came to my rescue and saved me from my attackers. Afterwards, I was taken to the nearest police station to report the incident.”

Woman arraigned for allegedly defrauding firm of N350m

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Woman arraigned for allegedly defrauding firm of N350m

The Lagos State Police Command, on Tuesday, arraigned a 35-year-old woman, Rukayya Dantata, for allegedly defrauding a Bureau de Change consulting firm of N350,900,000.

Dantata was arraigned on two counts of fraud, cheating, and obtaining money under false pretences before the Ikeja Special Offences Court.

The prosecuting counsel, Ezekiel Rimamsomte, told the court that Dantata committed the alleged offences between July and August 2022.

He said the defendant obtained N350,900,000 by fraudulent means, which was transferred into her Zenith Bank account, 2082551256, and her firm, Adat Ventures’ account, 1014937041, under the name, Rukayya Saadina Dantata.

Rimamsomte added that Dantata deceived her victims, Saka Rasak of Rosiyike, and others of Financial Consultant Ltd, located at No. 50 Kingsway Building, Lagos, by pretending to conduct legitimate business transactions.

According to him, the offences committed contravened Section 1(a)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006, and Section 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Dantata, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her.

Her defence counsel, David Igbodo, requested bail for his client,  submitting a bail application dated August 30, which was filed on  September 4, 2024.

Igbodo urged the court to grant the defendant bail under “the most liberal terms,” stating, “The defendant has complied with all police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission summons and has not jumped bail, despite her health challenges.”

He further informed the court that Dantata’s husband, Alhaji Ismaih Singer, and one Otunba Olutaye Ariyo were present in court to secure her bail.

The prosecutor did not oppose the bail application and left the decision to the court’s discretion.

In a short ruling, Justice Rahmon Oshodi granted Dantata bail of N30m, with two sureties in like sum.

The judge stipulated, “Both sureties must provide an affidavit of means and evidence of three years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.”

Justice Oshodi also ordered Dantata to deposit her passport and other travel documents to the court’s chief registrar, adding that the registrar must verify both her home and office addresses.

The case was adjourned to  December 3, 2024, for trial.

Protesting Ogun commercial drivers seek govt intervention

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Protesting Ogun commercial drivers seek govt intervention

The protesting minibus drivers in Ogun State on Tuesday stormed the Ministry of Transportation complex in Abeokuta to express their displeasure over alleged extortion and multiple levies by their union executive.

They also appealed to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, to intervene and end the incessant extortions, harassment, and attacks by the union officers.

According to Metro reported on Tuesday that the drivers had protested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday against the union executive.

They noted that the multiple levies imposed on them by transport union workers, otherwise known as agberos, had subjected them to severe hardship.

The drivers lamented that the transport union fee, previously a cumulative sum of N4,000 to N6,000 per day, had been increased to between N6,000 and N10,000.

Our correspondent who monitored the protest on Tuesday observed that the drivers stormed the transportation ministry’s complex and presented their demands to an official.

Their demands included a call for the reversal of the increased levies, eradication of multiple tickets, removal of agberos along the expressway by limiting their activities to designated parks, and an end to arbitrary fees such as “Owo Chairman” (Chairman’s fee), “Owo King of Boys” (King of Boys levy), and “Owo Marker” (Marker levy), among others.

Speaking on behalf of the drivers, Abiodun Owolabi stressed that with the new increase, drivers would have to pay about N11,000 in union levies daily.

He noted that the new levies would further worsen the hardship faced by the drivers.

In his words, “We have a lot of complaints, including the outrageous hike in ticket prices. They keep increasing the ticket prices almost every week. We collect a ticket at every bus stop within a kilometre. The stretch of road that we ply daily is about 10km from Mowe to Arepo, and we are collecting about eight tickets.

“If we calculate the money we spend on levies, it amounts to about N8,000 daily. With the new increase, it’s around N11,000.

“What we are earning is little, and what we are giving out is too much. This is affecting our daily income, and we are appealing to the governor and the commissioner to come to our aid,” he added.

Another driver, Ogunlade Idowu, added that contrary to what is applicable in other local government areas where drivers operate with a single ticket, the union executive in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area imposed eight tickets on them.

“We have made our investigation, and this is only happening in the Obafemi Local Government Area. This is even a federal road, so why are they making life hard for us? Look at the current economy of the country; is this the time to increase the ticket fee?” he asked.

Responding to the drivers’ concerns, a senior official of the state Ministry of Transportation, who did not want to be named, stressed that the ministry was concerned about the issues raised by the drivers and was committed to addressing them.

He urged the protesting drivers to submit their grievances in writing for the ministry to take necessary action.

“We have received your complaints and are very much concerned about them. As the regulatory ministry, it is our responsibility to look into them. Please, put your complaints in writing so that necessary actions can be taken,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Secretary of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, Tiwalade Akingbade, on Monday, dismissed the drivers’ allegations as untrue.

He stressed that the union and the drivers had a misunderstanding earlier on Monday, which was resolved at the police station.

Police mourn five officers killed in Kano auto crash

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Police mourn five officers killed in Kano auto crash

The Kano State Police Command has mourned the death of its five officers in a ghastly motor accident along the Zaria Kano Road in the early hours of Tuesday.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a telephone interview.

He said the accident occurred at the Karfi village in Kura Local Government Area while the officers were returning to Kano from an official assignment.

“The accident occurred at Karfi, some few kilometres to Kano and five of the officers died as a result of the accident while 11 others sustained injuries,” he said.

According to him, 11 other officers who sustained various degrees of injuries are currently receiving medical treatment in one of the hospitals in Kano.

Our correspondent gathered that the vehicle in which the police officers were travelling had a head-on collision with a trailer in the village.

Five officers died on the spot while 11 others who sustained various injuries were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital where they are currently receiving medical attention.

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