News

Police Arrest, Parade Killers of Senator Yayi’s Aide

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2023

Eric

The Lagos State Police Command has paraded three suspects linked to the killing of Adeniyi Sanni, a senior aide to Senator Solomon Adeola, who is the lawmaker representing Ogun West at the National Assembly.

The arrested suspects include 43-year-old Lagosian, Fred Okuno; 33-year-old Lucky Michael from Delta State, and 26-year-old Adedigba Segun from Ibadan, Oyo State.

Confirming the arrests of the suspects while parading them before journalists on Monday at the Command’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, said their arrest was made possible through a diligent investigation that was carried out by the police.

Owohunwa said, “Through painstaking intelligence and investigative activities which brought out the best in the capacity of Lagos Police Command, we have succeeded in arresting the syndicate of the robbery and murder. The three suspects directly involved in the robbery and murder were arrested with three firearms, including the killer weapon, recovered.”

The command recovered one brand new pistol with three rounds of live ammunition, one Beretta pistol with three rounds of live ammunition, one locally made cut-to-size pistol with six live cartridges, six expended cartridges, military gear comprising a military camouflage vest, jungle hat, a jungle boot and a red Honda CRV from the suspects.

The suspects, who were all former felons, and had served various prison sentences, confessed part of a syndicate working for a foreign criminal gang, headed by one “Alhaji,” who targets imported fairly used cars.

Speaking during the parade, the suspects, who also confessed to the killing of the aide, said the act was mistakenly done.

One of the suspects, Lucky, who is an ex-inmate, said the slain aide was not their target, but he was stopped because he was driving a “Tokunbo” (imported fairly used car).

“I stopped the car because it had no number plate. I shot at him twice because he was shouting. I didn’t plan to shoot the man, the gun fired by itself,” Lucky said.

Another suspect, Okuno, who narrated what transpired, also said their gang tried to make the bleeding senator’s aide get help but it was too late.

Okuno said, “On August 5, 2023, when the incident happened, it was around midnight, in the Ojodu Berger area. One of us, who was ahead of us, gave a signal that a car was coming with no number plate. It was a black Toyota Camry, a 2017 model. Lucky was putting on a (military) camouflage uniform, and holding a torch.

“I told him that a car was coming with no number plate. He (Lucky) stopped the car on the other side. I ran down to join him. I asked the man (slain aide) for the document of the car. The man was on call talking but I don’t know who exactly he was talking to, maybe his wife or his family.

“He (senator’s aide) said the document was right inside the car. Then the man said, ‘What else do you guys want again? I’ve given you guys everything you wanted.’ He started shouting for help, he pulled out and was screaming ‘Thief’. He wanted to raise the alarm.

“So, I shot at him, and before I knew it, Lucky also fired shots, it hit the man and he fell. My partner; Segun, and I decided to put him in the back of the seat and we drove off. He was still breathing, but he was still shouting.

“My partner then stabbed him and I asked him why, and he said he was disturbing with his screaming. We then dropped him by the side of the road and drove down to Abeokuta, Ogun State. It was from there we moved to Iseyin, towards Benin Republic border where the “Alhaji,”.”

The wife of the deceased was said to have been contacted later by passersby through the next-of-kin phone number on her husband’s driver’s licence that his body was dumped around the Toyota Bus-stop in Oshodi, Lagos with gunshot wounds.

Recall that Senator Adeola had in August claimed that suspected soldiers killed his aide.

He said he was of the belief that based on available facts at the disposal of the police, his aide “was killed by a syndicate of soldiers operating under the newly deployed Commander of 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General A.M Adetuyi, through the mounting of checkpoints and robbing of lone occupants of cars.”

“Top police sources familiar with the investigation informed me that a similar brutal killing and armed robbery occurred around the same Ojodu-Berger late Thursday night of August 17, 2023, resulting in the killing of another Nigerian whose body was discovered around Iyana-Ipaja after he was taken away by soldiers from the checkpoint,” he said through his media aide, Kayode Odunaro.

Odunaro said shortly after, the wife called his associates to say she could no longer reach her husband on the phone, necessitating the mobilisation of a search party.

News

More Trouble for Natasha As INEC Formally Receives Petition for Her Recall

Published

8 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Eric

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally received the petition seeking recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, received the petition on Monday, March 24, 2025.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, had restrained INEC from receiving petitions to initiate a recall process against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The presiding judge, Justice Isa Dashen, gave the order after listening to the application moved by the counsel for the applicants, Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa (SAN) & Co, on Friday, March 21.

The applicants – Anebe Jacob Ogirma, John Adebosi, Musa Adeiza, Ahmed Usman, and Maleek Yahaya – had through their counsel sued INEC for the recall process of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The applicants prayed the court to order INEC not to receive any petition by purported members of Kogi Central Senatorial District for the purpose of initiating a recall process for Akpoti-Uduaghan, pending the determination of the motion on notice to the same effect.

The ex-parte application for the interim injunction was supported by an Affidavit of Extreme Urgency together with other court processes sworn to by Anebe Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Justice Dashen granted the application and ordered that the court order and motion on notice be served on INEC.

The judge fixed May 6 for the report of service and further mention of the case.

News

Kogi Prison Break: 12 Inmates Escape

Published

14 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Eric

No fewer than 12 inmates have escaped following an early morning jailbreak at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State.

Kogi State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, described the incident as “unfortunate” and assured citizens that the government, working with security agencies, would take steps to prevent a recurrence.

According to him, law enforcement agencies have re-arrested one of the escapees.

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.

“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” Fanwo said.

The commissioner said Governor Usman Ododo has asked security agencies to ensure that such security breaches do not happen again.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.

“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority,” Fanwo added.

News

Tension As Bayero, Sanusi Plan Parallel Sallah Durbar in Kano

Published

15 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Eric

There is palpable tension in the ancient city of Kano following a parallel Sallah Durbar festival scheduled by the 15th Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Khalifa Mohammadu Sanusi II.

The prolonged emirate tussle in the city is taking another tough dimension amidst a legal battle, as both contenders have mapped out separate lines of events with the full backing of the Federal and State governments.

In a letter signed by Bayero’s Private Secretary, Abdullahi Haruna Kwaru, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the 15th Emir has notified the authorities of the plan and arrangements to conduct the traditional festival, including Hauwa Nasarawa and Daushe, to commemorate the end of Ramadan.

According to the schedule, Bayero’s festivities will feature Hawan Sallah, Hawan Daushe, and Hawan Nassarawa on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days of Shawwal 1446 AH, followed by a cultural event on the 4th day.

Kwaru noted that this year’s celebrations mark a significant milestone, coinciding with the Emir’s fifth anniversary on the throne of his forefathers.

“The purpose of this letter is to formally notify the security agencies in Kano State, particularly the Police Force, that this year’s Sallah events coincide with the five (5) years anniversary of His Highness on the throne of his forefathers, with the assurance that all activities will be conducted peacefully,” the letter read.

He expressed hopes for a peaceful celebration and prayed for protection, good health, and harmony in society, adding that the Emir’s office sought the cooperation of security agencies to ensure a peaceful and successful celebration.

Incidentally, Bayero’s notice of the event emerged on social media. Soon after, the Kano State Government directed the four recognized emirates, under the leadership of Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, to commence full preparation for the Durbar festival.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the directive while hosting the first and second-class emirs to a special Ramadan Iftar at the Government House, insisting that residents would not be denied the opportunity to relish the colorful traditional activities at the end of Ramadan.

The Kano Sallah Durbar festival is a famous tourist attraction that gathers visitors from within and outside Nigeria to witness the heritage of Hausa/Fulani culture at the Emir’s palace.

The Durbar features a colorful horse ride by the Emir, accompanied by district heads, traditional titleholders, and hundreds of their subjects, where they display ancient shows of strength and warrior traditions.

Besides the horse rides, the Sallah festival also witnesses the honor of homage by the Emir to the Government House (Hauwa Nassarawa) on the second day of Sallah, after the Governor would have paid a similar visit to the palace on Sallah day.

Coincidentally, while Governor Yusuf is scheduled to receive the homage of Muhammadu Sanusi and other second-class emirs at the Government House, The Guardian reliably gathered that Bayero would pay a similar visit to Federal Government delegations, including top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kano, at a local venue yet to be unveiled.

As at Sunday night, the Kano Police Command in Kano was yet to issue an official statement on the rising apprehension in the State.

However, the newly posted Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, upon his arrival, pledged to ensure the protection of lives and property.

Meanwhile, the police had banned the celebration of the Sallah Durbar festival last year following the emirship crisis and the attendant tension of a possible security threat in the city.