Crime & Court
Lawyer Lauds Police Over Arrest of Oyo Lawmaker’s Suspected Killer
Published
8 years agoon
By
Mega Icon…Calls for Probe Into Other Political Murders
An Ibadan-based lawyer, Barrister Olumuyiwa Afolabi, has commended the Oyo State Police Command for the arrest of a suspect linked to the 2016 assassination of 41-year-old lawmaker, Hon. Gideon Aremu, describing it as a significant breakthrough, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to unearth those behind other unresolved political killings in the state.
Hon. Aremu, who represented Oorelope State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly under the Labour Party (LP), was gunned down by a three-man gang on 1 July 2016 in front of his residence at Alaakia area of Ibadan.
Late lawmaker, Hon. Gideon Aremu
A vocal opposition figure, he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Public Relations and Security before his untimely death.
Following the murder, the Oyo Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu, had vowed to bring the killers to justice. Over a year later, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude, announced that a breakthrough had been recorded.
CP Odude revealed that the arrested suspect had fled to his hometown in Ekiti State after the incident and had been on the police wanted list ever since. His arrest came after he re-entered Ibadan quietly and led a gang to snatch a motorcycle in the Egbeda area of the city. It was during investigations into the robbery that detectives linked him to Aremu’s killing.
Reacting to the arrest, Barrister Afolabi, who spoke from an undisclosed location, praised the diligence of the police and described the development as “a step in the right direction.” However, he called for a broader and more thorough investigation into the killing, which he insisted bore clear political undertones.
“The arrest is commendable, but we must go deeper. Hon. Gideon Aremu’s killing was politically motivated. It’s time the police cast their net wider to ensure that not just the trigger men, but also the masterminds, are brought to justice,” Afolabi said.
The legal practitioner also highlighted a troubling pattern, noting that another opposition leader and grassroots politician, Hon. Busari Adelabu, was assassinated in Ibadan two years before Aremu’s murder. He revealed that his pursuit of justice for the late Busari had exposed him and his family to grave danger.
“In the course of investigating Hon. Busari’s murder — who was my client — my law office was attacked. My security guard, Mr Sunday John, and my secretary, Miss Sandra Kingsley, were killed. My home was also targeted, but by sheer providence, my family and I were not present. The assailants slaughtered my security dogs instead,” he recounted with emotion.
Afolabi stressed that justice must not remain elusive, referencing the high-profile assassination of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Chief Bola Ige, in Ibadan in 2001, which remains unresolved to date.
“We can’t continue like this. When those behind political killings are allowed to walk free, it emboldens others and threatens our democracy. The police have shown that with commitment, results can come. They must now pursue every lead and expose the forces behind these killings,” he urged.
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Crime & Court
Joshua crash: Driver faces fresh charges as court adjourns trial
Published
6 days agoon
April 16, 2026By
Mega IconThe Ogun State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Sagamu has adjourned the trial of the driver involved in the road crash that affected former heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, to June 2, 2026.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun, fixed the new date to allow the prosecution to file fresh charges in the case.
The defendant, Adeniyi Mobolaji, is facing a four-count charge bordering on dangerous and negligent driving resulting in death.
It was gathered that the matter had been adjourned about four times to enable the prosecuting counsel, G. O. Ogunyomi, amend the charges before the court.
Mobolaji was accused of reckless and negligent driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the relevant law, as well as driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm, and damage to property under Section 7(1).
He was also alleged to have driven without a valid national driver’s licence, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act.
Ruling on the prosecution’s application for adjournment, the magistrate granted the request and fixed June 2 for proper hearing. The defence counsel did not oppose the application.
Speaking after the proceedings, counsel to the defendant, Abiodun Olalekan, said the adjournment was necessary to ensure justice for all parties involved.
The 46-year-old defendant was involved in the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, along the Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway on December 29, 2025.
The Lexus SUV conveying the boxer collided with a stationary truck, leaving Joshua and the driver with minor injuries.
Joshua was later discharged from the hospital after being certified clinically stable.
The deaths of Ayodele and Ghami drew widespread reactions within the international boxing community, where both men were regarded as key figures in Joshua’s camp.
Their remains were subsequently repatriated to the United Kingdom, where a funeral prayer was held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque.
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Crime & Court
NDLEA Ends 15-Year Hunt for Alleged Drug Lord in Lagos
Published
2 months agoon
March 5, 2026By
Mega IconThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old alleged drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had reportedly been on the agency’s wanted list and that of British authorities for over 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following what the agency described as a high-level, coordinated operation by officers of its Special Operations Unit.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said the suspect’s arrest ended a prolonged manhunt linked to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to the statement, Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the United Kingdom and convicted for drug trafficking.
He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.
Babafemi added that the suspect was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 over drug-related offences.
He said, “He was granted administrative bail but jumped jurisdiction and fled to Nigeria.
“Typical of a recidivist, Ilomuanya was in November 2018 arrested in Nigeria by NDLEA operatives following the discovery of two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in his Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area country home in Imo State and at his No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close, Lagos residence where officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment.
“He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, after which he jumped court bail and has been on the run since then.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing war against drug trafficking networks.
Marwa said the operation demonstrated the agency’s resolve to track down criminal elements regardless of how long they evade the law.
He said, “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice.
“Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.
“We remain committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords.”
Marwa also commended officers of the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism and persistence in tracking down the suspect.
He added that the agency would continue to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and international cooperation to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
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Crime & Court
Court Acquits Suspended DCP Kyari, Faults NDLEA Over Weak Evidence
Published
2 months agoon
March 5, 2026By
Mega IconThe Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday discharged and acquitted a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of a 23-count charge bordering on alleged non-declaration of assets filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations against the defendants.
Kyari was arraigned alongside his two brothers, who were accused of swearing to false affidavits in an alleged attempt to conceal the origin of certain properties.
However, the court ruled that the anti-drug agency failed to establish that the properties allegedly not declared by Kyari were actually owned by him.
Justice Omotosho explained that ownership of landed property could be established through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession by connection.
According to the judge, the prosecution did not present any of these forms of evidence to prove that the properties located at Fountain Estate in Karsana, said to belong to Ramatu Kyari, were owned by the suspended police officer.
The court also held that the prosecution failed to produce material evidence linking Kyari to properties located on Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, as well as properties in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In his defence, Kyari maintained that the properties in Borno State belonged to his late father, who bequeathed them to him and his siblings.
The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove otherwise.
Justice Omotosho also faulted the prosecution for charging Kyari’s brothers with conspiracy, describing the allegation as unsubstantiated.
He described the NDLEA’s case as weak and lacking credible evidence, adding that the defendant had served the country well and should not be subjected to persecution.
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