Metro
Zone 2 Police Nab, Parade 23 Suspects, Recover Weapons, Food Items, Others
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olatoye Durosinmi-led Zone 2 Police, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, have arrested and paraded 23 suspected crime merchants for various criminal offences.
Parading the 23 suspects, made up of 21 males and 2 females, before members of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) and other media men, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, SP Umma T. Ayuba, who representated the AIG, said the suspects were arrested for various crimes and at different areas of the zone.
She noted that the arrest was part of the efforts of the zone under AIG Durosinmi to mitigate crime, and has so far yielded tremendous results.
The offences, she revealed bordered on Criminal Conspiracy, Kidnapping, Breaking & Stealing, Armed Robbery and Adulteration of Pharmaceutical drugs with the recovery of exhibits in great numbers, including locally made double barrel and single barrel pistols, 10 rounds of live cartridges, five cars of different makes, two of which were unregistered, including Mazda, Nissan Primera and Toyota.
Other items recovered from the suspects were food stuffs such as bags of rice and garri, adulterated pharmaceutical products and empty bottles of drugs.
Narrating how some of the suspension ts were nabbed, SP Ayuba said
“On the 1st June, 2024 Operatives of the Zonal Dragon Squad arrested one Samson Sesan ‘m’ an ex- convict who is the principal suspect and kingpin of a robbery gang involved in several robbery incidents around Abeokuta area at Ilaro, Ogun State. While conducting search at his apartment, One (1) Locally Made Double Barrel Pistol, One (1) Locally Made Single Barrel Pistol and Ten (10) Live Cartridges were recovered. Upon interrogation, other suspects were arrested and more exhibits recovered.
“In the same vein, a case of Kidnapping was reported to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command Headquarters by one Jona Jumai ‘f’ that sometimes in the month of May, 2024 her sister one Ruth Livinus ‘f’ who works as a domestic staff in Ajah Area of Lagos went missing and few days later the family members were contacted via a strange telephone number that Ruth Livinus ‘f’ has been kidnapped and in custody of the kidnappers who demanded Five Million Naira (N5,000,000:00k) Ransom be paid into a designated account. Suspects were trailed and arrested in their hideout in Ikorodu Area of Lagos by Operatives of the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit led by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi.
“Investigation revealed that it was the purported kidnap-victim Ruth Livinus ‘f’, her boyfriend Isaac Gabriel ‘m’ and one Jeremiah Boniface ‘m’ (her cousin) prearranged the kidnap to extort monies from her employer and family members.
Similarly, one Dennis Ebeze ‘m’ who was a domestic staff (Chef) at the time was alleged of Breaking and Stealing of jewelries and other valuables worth over Forty Million Naira (N40,000,000:00k) in a petition received from Dr. Ademola Oyewusi ‘m’ sometimes in August 2023. The suspect was arrested somewhere in Makurdi, Benue State through a technology driven investigation by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi and team.
“He confessed to have sold the stolen items to one Mutairu Yakubu ‘m’ for a sum of Seven Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N7,400,000:00k) before he absconded to his hometown in Cross-River State.
Furthermore, a petition filed by one Walter Anyaoha ‘m’, the Managing Director of Wihyaland Pharmaceutical Limited in which he alleged that his trainee one Chisom Ndukwu ‘m’ who has been living with him suddenly left the house to an unknown place, and when he checked his shop he realized that Four (4) Cartons of JVI drug valued Nine Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,600,000:00k) were also missing in the shop.
“Investigation into the allegation by CSP Omotayo Adegbite O/C Zonal Anti-Crime Unit led to the arrest of the suspect in company of his accomplice one Mark Chukwuemeka Ambush ‘m’ who is into production of Adulterated Cough Syrups. Upon search conducted in the houses and premises of the suspects, Bags containing packs with inscription of DSP CODIENE COUGH SYRUPS and empty Bottles & Covers of cough syrups were recovered.
“Suspects admitted to the crime with one Kosi ‘m’ who is currently at large.
Investigation is ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to arrest fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile updates will be provided to members of the public and suspects will be prosecuted accordingly upon completion of investigations.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, raised concerns over the petition for the recall of the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The commission, in a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, acknowledged receiving the petition, which includes six bags of documents that are said to contain signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the district.
However, INEC pointed out that the petitioners failed to provide the necessary contact information, such as their addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, as required under the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
The petition, presented on behalf of the constituents by Charity Ijese and received by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on Monday, was said to be lacking clear contact details for the representatives, with only the phone number of the lead petitioner provided.
Also, INEC noted that the petition represents voters from five local government areas—Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene—covering 902 polling units across 57 registration areas.
However, the commission criticised the petitioners for providing a vague address—simply listing “Okene, Kogi State”—which does not meet the standards outlined in the commission’s regulations.
The statement read in part, “The commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Tuesday, 25th March 2025. Among other issues, the meeting discussed the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
“The process of recall is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 as well as the commission’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, available on our website. All petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.
“The petition from Kogi Central Senatorial District was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.
“The commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines.
“The address given is ‘Okene, Kogi State’, which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of ‘the lead petitioner’ is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.”
The commission emphasised that the recall process is governed by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s own detailed guidelines and that once the petition meets all the legal requirements, INEC will initiate the verification of signatures in an open process at each polling unit.
It said the verification will be limited to registered voters who signed the petition, and both the petitioners and the senator facing recall will have the right to nominate agents to observe the process.
Signature verification will be conducted using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, and media and other observers will be accredited.
Olumekun explained, “The commission wishes to reiterate that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them.
“Once the petition meets the requirements of submission, as contained in our regulations, the commission shall commence the verification of the signatures in each Polling Unit in an open process restricted to registered voters who signed the petition only.
“The petitioners and the member whose recall is sought shall be at liberty to nominate agents to observe the verification, while interested observers and the media will also be accredited. At each Polling Unit, signatories to the petition shall be verified using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.”
INEC assured the public that the recall process would proceed in accordance with the law, provided the petitioners fulfill all necessary guidelines.
However, in the absence of complete contact information, the commission is exploring alternative methods to notify the petition representatives.
INEC also urged the public to disregard any rumours or speculations circulating on social media and reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the process is carried out in full compliance with the legal framework.
“Consequently, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the Regulations and Guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the commission will announce the next steps in line with the extant laws, regulations and guidelines.
“In the absence of a definite contact address, the commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation.
“The commission reassures the public that it will be guided by the legal framework for recall. The public should therefore discountenance any speculations and insinuations in the social media,” the statement concluded.
The recall petition follows several controversial events involving Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged “gross misconduct” following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The petition, titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” called for her removal due to accusations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and a pattern of deceit.
The Punch
State governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The President, on March 18, declared the emergency rule, citing Section 305(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months while announcing Retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state.
The PDP governors, comprising leaders from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara states, argue that the president lacks the constitutional power to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor, adding that they also contend that the appointment of a sole administrator is unconstitutional.
According to the court documents, the governors are seeking a declaration that the president’s actions violate sections 1(2), 5(2), and 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
They further maintained that the president has “no powers whatsoever or vires to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor of a state in the federation of Nigeria under the guise of or pursuant to the proclamation of a state of emergency.”
The governors are also challenging the approval of the state of emergency by the National Assembly, arguing that the use of a voice vote is unconstitutional as the law mandates a two-thirds majority vote from all members of each legislative chamber.
In their submission to the court, the plaintiffs further argued that the emergency proclamation did not meet the constitutional requirements set by Section 305.
“The proclamation failed to meet the stipulated conditions and procedures for such a declaration and was made for reasons beyond those specified in the said constitutional provision,” the governors contend.
The governors are seeking an order to nullify the appointment of Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator, declaring it unlawful and in gross violation of the constitution.
Additionally, they want the court to restrain the president from further attempts to suspend other governors or interfere with their constitutional duties.
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.
