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Lagos Police Arrest Four Suspected Armed Cultists
Police operatives attached to Ejigbo Division, have based on a tip off, arrested two suspected armed robbers at the Ejigbo area of Lagos, while consulting one Lawrence Adeniji, (OPC Abore) at his Shrine to appease the god of Iron, Ogun.
At the shrine, the Abore and some members of the community quickly informed the Divisional Police Officer, Ejigbo Division, of the antics and suspicious moves of the suspects for being in possession of locally-made pistols, live cartridges and ammunition to appease the god of Iron, Ogun, which is strange to their usual practice in the shrine.
The suspects arrested are Opeyemi Adegboyega, m, 28, and Dernard Ahor, m, 35 while Items recovered from them included two (2) locally-made pistols, six (6) live cartridges, one hand chain, one ring, two (2) iPhones, one Nokia phone, one Tecno phone and assorted charms.
The suspects and their exhibits have been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for proper investigation on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu.
In another development, Police operatives attached to Owutu Division in Ikorodu, on Sunday at about 11pm arrested two (2) suspected cultists at Damis Palace Hotel Igboolomu area, Ikorodu.
The police had been informed of the gathering of some suspected cultists, planning to foment troubles in the area, when the police operatives, in conjuction with some Vigilante men, raced to the hotel and picked up the suspects while others escaped.
The suspected cultists are Lucky Ibaye, m, 23, and Kazeem Sherif, m, 34. Two (2) locally-made pistols and assorted charms were recovered from them.
The suspects have been transferred to State CID Panti for investigation and possible prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has applauded the efforts of the members of the community to call the attention of the police to such suspicious acts of the suspects at Ejigbo and Owutu respectively. He however appealed to the general public to embrace the principles of community policing and support the police in providing adequate security for all and sundry in Lagos State.
The Order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on the 31st of January, 2024, has been set aside, today, 25th April, 2024.
Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 31 ordered Ehie’s arrest in connection with the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30, 2023.
The police, in the charges, alleged that Ehie and five others masterminded the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly amid a plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The five others are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, alias Rambo.
Justice Emeka Nwite while reading the ruling setting aside the order given by the court against Eddison Ehie declaring him wanted and granting an order of arrest said it as now becoming a mere academic exercise.
The judge further granted same to the 2nd-5th Defendant/Applicant in same suit.
Eddison Ehie had a team of representation including Falana SAN, Wole Oladoye SAN, Dr Bimpe Ajegbomogun and Barr. Asmau Yakubu
Though Ehie’s name was mentioned in the counts, he was not listed among the defendants.
He said, “He was never invited by the police for anything. All that he saw was that they filed a charge; they mentioned his name in four out of seven charges for murder and arson.”
Aladedoye also argued that it was strange that the Inspector-General of Police left all the courts in Rivers State, where the alleged offences were committed, to file an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“Your Lordship has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter here, “Aladedoye said.
Counsel for the other defendants, Femi Falana (SAN), said the crime his clients were alleged to have committed were state offences.
In the application it was stated that “What is disclosed are state offences; it is our submission that this court cannot exercise any jurisdiction in state offences without the fiat of the Attorney General of Rivers State.”
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the now embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, withdrew $720,000 from the State government’s account to pay his child’s school fee.
The EFCC boss disclosed this to journalists in Abuja.
The former governor was last week declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
EFCC operatives, during the period, stormed Bello’s residence in Abuja to arrest him, but were stopped by his security aides.
Two courts of coordinate jurisdiction also issued conflicting rulings on the matter. While the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja restrained the EFCC from arresting the former governor, the Federal High Court gave the commission the go-ahead to arrest Bello preparatory to his arraignment for alleged fraud.
Olukoyede said: “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s school fee in advance, $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House.
“In a poor State like Kogi, and you want me to close my eyes to that under the guise of ‘I’m being used.’ Being used by who at this stage of my life?
“I didn’t initiate the case; I inherited the case file. I called for the file, and I said there are issues here.
“On my own, I called him, which I am not supposed to do, just to honour him as an immediate past governor. ‘Sir, there are issues. I’ve seen this case file. Can you just come let us clarify these issues?
“He said, ‘Ha! Thank you, my brother. I know, but I can’t come. There’s one lady that has surrounded EFCC with over 100 people to come and embarrass me and intimidate me.
“I said if that is the issue, I’m going to pass you through my own gate, and you will come to my floor. We will accord you that respect. I will invite my operatives; they will interrogate and interview you in my own office. What could be more honourable than that to allay the fear?
“You know what he said: ‘Thank you, sir, but can’t they come to my village? “
The National Coordinator, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), CSP Okuwobi Olabisi, has congratulated Nigerian Chess Master Tunde Onakoya for his world record-breaking chess marathon campaign at the Times Square in New York, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), has learnt.
The POCACOV boss took to her X handle to offer her congratulatory messages, while encouraging the youths to emulate Onakoya’s fighting spirit. She emphasized that cultism can never put anyone on the world map, only innovation and creativity. She applauded the victory more as it occurred on a day dedicated creativity and innovation.
She wrote, “POCACOV congratulates the Nigerian rave of the moment, Tunde Onakoya @Tunde_OD on setting a new world chess record and being exemplary to other Nigerian youth on resilience, innovation and creativity at the world centre stage.
“I wish to congratulate and identify with you today being 21st of April; which is the World Innovation and Creativity Day!
“Cultism and criminalities can’t attract both local and international accolades to no one! Say No to Cultism and Say Yes to Creativity and Innovation, and be a champion like Tunde Onakoya.”
She added, “I use the World Day for Innovation and Creativity to congratulate the Champion of the Guinness World Chess marathon.
“I also admonish Nigerian youth to shun cultism and criminality while urging them to emulate the new world champion by being resilient, innovative and creative. Note that belonging to cultism and engaging in crimes can never attract accolades to no one.”
