Crime & Court
Ogun Police Neutralise Five Kidnappers, Rescue Three Victims
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The Ogun State Police Command has neutralised no fewer than five suspected kidnappers along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in a coordinated operation aimed at curbing rising criminal activities on the major highway.
This was confirmed in a statement issued in Abeokuta by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, who detailed the swift response of security operatives to a distress call from commuters.
According to Odutola, the Area Commander of Sagamu received reports of an ongoing armed robbery near Ilishan, prompting an immediate deployment of a crack team of officers to the scene.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered that a group of unidentified gunmen had set up a roadblock using an articulated truck, indiscriminately opening fire on unarmed passengers, causing widespread panic,” she stated.
The assailants, she added, abducted three individuals—Bolaji Bilesanmi (65), Olasunkanmi Idowu (50), and Mohammed Salisu—dragging them into the forest from two vehicles: a Honda Pilot (Lagos EKY113GZ) and a Honda Accord (Lagos KJA13QFA).
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, ordered a covert operation spearheaded by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
“On January 29, 2025, at about 04:00 hours, operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout. Upon sighting the police squad, the gang engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle. In the exchange, five kidnappers were fatally injured, while others escaped with gunshot wounds,” Odutola disclosed.
Recovered from the suspected kidnappers were an AK-47 rifle, 10 rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition, ₦5.2 million suspected to be proceeds of crime, and three mobile phones.
She further confirmed that the three kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and issued a stern warning to individuals involved in criminal activities, particularly those targeting innocent commuters.
He assured residents that the police will continue to intensify efforts to ensure the safety of travelers and the general public in Ogun State.
Crime & Court
EFCC Chair Warns Greedy Politicians Against Looting LG Funds
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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a stern warning to politicians embezzling local government funds, vowing that they will not be spared by the anti-graft agency.
Olukoyede made this declaration on Wednesday while addressing activists, traditional rulers, and local government officials at the Gombe State Local Government Summit in the North-East state.
His remarks come on the heels of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that granted full financial autonomy to local governments, ensuring direct allocation of funds to the third tier of government. He urged the 774 local government chairmen across Nigeria to utilize the increased financial inflow for strategic developmental projects that will benefit their communities.
“Even though you may have financial autonomy, you must also remember that you don’t have constitutional immunity,” Olukoyede stated. “The application of your resources will be strictly monitored, not only by anti-corruption agencies but also by the state government. It is in the interest of the state government to ensure that local government funds are responsibly and judiciously utilized for developmental projects.”
The EFCC chairman emphasized the need for local government officials to embrace transparency and accountability, noting that effective governance at the grassroots level depends on adherence to financial regulations and public finance management principles.
He further called for the proper functioning of the legislative arm of local governments, lamenting that many council lawmakers fail to carry out their duties. “We have observed that in several areas, the legislative units of the local governments neither sit nor work as required,” he said.
Olukoyede stressed that without a proper system of checks and balances, local government chairmen would continue to act as sole administrators, a situation he described as detrimental to due process and accountability.
“You are not sole administrators; you are local government chairmen,” he reminded them. “To build an accountable system at the local level, we must start with ensuring that council leaders are in tune with laws governing public finance and that they comply fully.”
Crime & Court
Suspended Orile Ifo Monarch Remanded Over Assault Allegations
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The suspended traditional ruler of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, has been remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre following his arraignment before the Ifo Magistrate Court on charges of assault, conspiracy, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
The embattled monarch appeared before the court on Tuesday to face a three-count charge filed against him by the Nigeria Police Force, stemming from a viral video that allegedly captured him verbally and physically assaulting an elderly chief in his community, Areola Abraham.
In the widely circulated footage, Oba Ogunjobi was seen berating Chief Abraham, accusing him of conspiracy and issuing threats. The disturbing nature of the video sparked public outrage, prompting law enforcement agencies to take legal action against the suspended ruler.
During the court proceedings, Oba Ogunjobi pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, the presiding magistrate set his bail at ₦5 million, with stringent conditions requiring two sureties, each expected to deposit an additional ₦5 million.
Unable to meet the bail conditions, the traditional ruler was subsequently remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre pending further court hearings.
The case has been adjourned to March 6, allowing both the prosecution and defence time to prepare their arguments.
Legal Reactions and Community Tensions
The remand of the traditional ruler has generated mixed reactions within the Orile Ifo community. While some residents have expressed support for the legal process, others believe the incident should have been resolved through traditional channels.
Meanwhile, legal analysts suggest that the stringent bail conditions reflect the seriousness of the charges against Oba Ogunjobi, emphasizing that the judiciary is keen on ensuring justice is served without interference.
Crime & Court
Businessman Undergoes Surgery to Remove 57 Cocaine Pellets Stuck in Stomach
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A Nigerian businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone an exploratory laparotomy to remove 57 out of 81 cocaine pellets that had been lodged in his stomach for seven days after ingesting them in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Igbokwe was arrested on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
A body scan conducted by NDLEA operatives confirmed the presence of illicit substances in his system, leading to his immediate detention for excretion observation.
Failed Beirut Trip Exposed Drug Trafficking Attempt
Investigations revealed that Igbokwe, who claimed to be a clothing trader at Arena Market, Oshodi, Lagos, traveled from Lagos to Addis Ababa on January 22. On January 23, he ingested 81 wraps of cocaine before boarding a flight to Beirut, Lebanon, where he was expected to deliver the consignment in exchange for $3,000.
However, upon arrival in Beirut, Lebanese authorities denied him entry for failing to meet the minimum cash requirement of $2,000, leading to his deportation back to Addis Ababa. While in Ethiopia, he attempted to excrete the illicit drugs but was unsuccessful.
Medical Emergency Leads to Surgery
On January 25, Igbokwe flew back to Lagos with the drugs still inside him but was apprehended by NDLEA officers upon arrival the following day.
After five days in custody, he only expelled 24 pellets, prompting medical intervention at the NDLEA’s medical facility and later at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
With time running out and worsening health conditions, Igbokwe was admitted for exploratory laparotomy on January 30, following consent from his wife and brother. The surgery successfully removed the remaining 57 pellets of cocaine.
Babafemi confirmed that NDLEA operatives recovered all 81 pellets, weighing 1.943 kilograms, from the suspect.
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