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27 Feared Dead In Kwara Boat Mishap

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Few months after a boat mishap claimed over 100 lives in Gbajibo community in the Kaiama local government area of Kwara State, another boat mishap has claimed the lives of 27 people in the area.

It was gathered that passengers in the Kwara boat mishap were returning from market expedition in Niger state when the incident occurred.

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It was also gathered that the incident which happened in the night, was as a result of passenger overloading.

READ ALSO: 100 Die In Boat Mishap In Kwara Boat Mishap

‎An eye witness and a survivor, who narrated how the incident happened, said that the incident happened three days ago at night while returning from Niger state due to overloading.

‎The eyewitness, who could not give exact number of passengers on the boat, said that the heavy wind that accompanied an impending rainfall was also responsible for the incident.

‎Speaking on the development, the chairman of Kaiama local government area, Abdullah Danladi, who led the government delegation to commiserate with families of the victims, said the government would no longer tolerate the nearly yearly occurrence.

READ ALSO:Navy Rescues 99 In Rivers Boat Mishap

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The council boss said that the council would set up a committee to ensure usage of life jacket and stoppage of night travelling among other measures.

‎The Emir of Kaiama community, Mallam Muazu Umar, said that enlightenment would be intensified to ensure passengers and boat operators adhere to water traveling safety standards.

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Woman Kills Husband Over Food

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A 35-year-old woman from Garin Abba village, Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State, has allegedly killed her husband following a heated argument over food.

The woman, identified as Hadiza Mamuda, struck her husband with a long of wood, leading to his death.

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Yobe State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday.

READ ALSO:Mysterious Bird Found Inside Auchi Poly Lecturer’s Office, Killed

Investigation is underway, and the suspect will be arraigned in court subsequently.

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“The victim, a polygamous husband with two wives and five children, including the accused, leaves behind a grieving family,” the statement said.

The State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ado, in the statement, emphasized the need for community intervention initiatives to address domestic violence and abuse.

READ ALSO:Panic As Armed Robbers Kill 2 In Ebonyi

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He urged religious leaders to intensify sensitization campaigns on the dangers of physical violence in marital affairs.

The Command remains committed to maintaining security and safety for all citizens”, he said.

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Court Convicts DHL Franchise Owner In Benin For Conversion Of Customers’ Parcels

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Mr. Nuhu Omokide

A Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has convicted Mr. Nuhu Omokide, a franchise owner and manager of a branch of DHL in Benin City, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, stealing, and unlawful interference with property.

Mr. Omokide, who was arraigned in Charge No. MEG/275c/2023/A, was convicted on Tuesday, July 22nd by Afe Osamudiamen, (Chief Magistrate Grade I), under Sections 412(1)(2), 287(1)(b)(c), and 346 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.

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The charge followed allegations that Mr. Omokide criminally converted a parcel containing original academic certificates and other sensitive documents belonging to his customers.

The parcel was submitted at DHL’s Airport Road Office in Benin City in July 2023 for onward delivery to the United Kingdom, but allegedly disappeared under Mr. Omokide’s custody and failed to arrive at its destination.

READ ALSO: Lawyers Drag Tinubu To Court, Seek Emergency Rule In Zamfara

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The nominal complainants, frustrated by the defendant’s dismissive and uncooperative attitude, initially reported the matter to the police.

However, Mr. Omokide refused to cooperate with police investigation at the AIG Zone 5 headquarters in Benin City, and instead petitioned the Inspector General of Police, alleging harassment.

The matter was eventually charged to court upon subsequent conclusion of Police investigation.

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In his defence, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Razak Isenalumhe, argued that liability for the missing parcel lay with DHL as a corporate entity, not with the defendant personally.

READ ALSO: Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of N335m, Hospital, Five Filling Stations To FG

However, the prosecuting counsel, Festus Usiobaifo, Esq., Principal State Counsel, submitted that where a company is involved in criminal conduct, its alter ego, including the manager, can be held personally liable if they directly committed, aided, or abetted the offence.

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Usiobaifo argued that the defendant, having admitted operational control, responsibility, and close proximity to the parcel, could not hide under the corporate veil of DHL to avoid criminal liability.

He, therefore, urged the court to pierce the corporate veil, stressing that corporate cover must never be allowed to shield criminal misconduct, especially where trust is wilfully breached.

Delivering his judgment, Chief Magistrate Osamudiamen agreed with the prosecution and convicted the defendant on all five counts.

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READ ALSO: Bank Fraud: Court Orders Forfeiture Of Cash, Properties

The Court held that company executives and managerial officers will be held personally accountable for criminal acts carried out in the course of their duties, and that corporate protection cannot extend to shield criminality.

The judgment has been described by legal observers as timely and significant, especially in the face of growing concerns over the misuse of entrusted property by courier agents.

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It sends a clear signal that courier personnel are custodians of public trust, and any act of criminal conversion or breach of duty will attract the full weight of the law.”

Thereafter, stakeholders in the logistics and delivery industry were advised to draw lessons from the judgment, adding that the era where managerial negligence or deliberate conversion is masked by corporate identity is over.

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Court Grants Two CBEX Promoters N10m Bail Each

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to two detained promoters of Crypto Bridge Exchange in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted bail to Avwerosuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, with the condition that the sureties must own property worth the bail sum within the jurisdiction of the court.

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He further ordered that the addresses of the sureties be verified by the court registrar.

CBEX is a digital platform that became defunct after collecting billions of naira from investors.

Following widespread public outcry after the platform mysteriously disappeared along with investors’ funds, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission approached Justice Emeka Nwite on April 24, seeking an order to arrest and detain six CBEX promoters over alleged fraud.

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Justice Nwite granted the request after the EFCC filed an ex parte motion. He ruled that the suspects be detained pending the conclusion of investigations and potential prosecution.

The six suspects named in the application are Adefowora Abiodun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, listed as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

In the motion ex parte dated April 23, and filed by EFCC counsel, Fadila Yusuf, the Commission stated four grounds for its application. Yusuf noted that the EFCC has a statutory mandate to prevent and detect financial crimes through investigations.

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READ ALSO:ICRC Warns Of Rising Malnutrition As North-East Faces Food Shortages

She submitted that “the defendants are at large and a warrant of arrest is required to apprehend them for proper investigation and prosecution.”

According to an affidavit filed in support of the motion, the EFCC said it received intelligence in April 2025 about an alleged investment scheme fraud involving the defendants.

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It alleged that the defendants and their company, ST Technologies International Limited, used another company, Crypto Bridge Exchange, to carry out the fraudulent scheme.

The EFCC stated that the defendants promised unrealistic returns on investments—up to 100 per cent.

That the victims were made to convert their digital assets into a stablecoin, USDT, for onward deposit into the suspects’ crypto wallet.

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“That the victims were initially given full access to the platform to monitor their investments.

“That after deposits valued at over one billion dollars were made, the CBEX investment platform became inaccessible, and the victims could no longer withdraw their funds.

“That the victims later discovered that the said scheme was a scam.

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“That during the course of investigation, it was discovered that ST Technologies International Limited, though registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, was not licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to operate as an investment firm.

READ ALSO:CBEX Fraud: EFCC Declares Two More Wanted

That it was also revealed that the defendants had vacated their last known addresses in Lagos and Ogun States.”

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The EFCC stated that a warrant of arrest was necessary to place the defendants on the red watch list to facilitate their apprehension and prosecution.

The Commission asserted that its investigation established a prima facie case of investment fraud and that granting the application would serve the interest of justice.

Following the court’s order, Adefowora Abiodun (1st defendant), Avwerosuo Otorudo (5th defendant), and Chukwuebuka Ehirim (6th defendant) were detained in EFCC custody for investigation.

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The trio applied for bail before Justice Nwite on June 30, but the application was denied.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that from the totality of the affidavit evidence presented by both parties, the weight of evidence against the defendants was strong.

He also noted that, due to the nature of the case, the EFCC had obtained a remand order from a competent court.

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Meanwhile, Otorudo and Ehirim filed a separate bail application before Justice Umar.

At the last hearing on July 7, the court reserved ruling after hearing arguments from their counsel, Justice Otorudo, and opposition from EFCC counsel, Fadila Yusuf.

READ ALSO:CBEX Resumes Operations Despite SEC Ban, N1.2tn EFCC Probe

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In delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Umar granted bail to the duo but adjourned the matter until October 13, for the commencement of trial.

The two defendants were arraigned by the EFCC on an amended three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/216/2025, bordering on illegal financial operations and unlicensed investment activities.

They were accused of collecting public funds and promising up to 88 per cent returns on investment without obtaining the necessary regulatory approval.

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In a separate proceeding, the EFCC arraigned the 1st defendant, ST Technologies International Limited, and its Managing Director, Adefowora Abiodun (2nd defendant), on an amended eight-count charge dated July 9 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/215/2025.

Justice Umar fixed July 25 for ruling on Abiodun’s bail application after hearing submissions following the defendants’ arraignment.

The charges include allegations of obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, and operating a financial institution without a licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria or registration with the SEC.

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The defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.

Defence counsel, Babatunde Busari, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of Abiodun on June 30 and urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms.

Busari argued that the charges were bailable and that Abiodun had voluntarily submitted himself to the EFCC for investigation.

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READ ALSO:EFCC Arrests TikToker For Spraying, Stepping On Naira Notes In Kaduna

He also presented a medical report showing that the defendant had an urgent eye condition requiring surgery, which he had been unable to access during 80 days in detention.

We, therefore, urge the court to admit the defendant to bail, noting that the total monetary value of the claims is around N20 million,” Busari said.

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He prayed the court to release Abiodun to him for the purpose of bail.

However, EFCC counsel, Fatsuma Mohammed, strongly opposed the bail application, citing a counter-affidavit filed on July 7.

She urged the court to refuse bail and instead order an expeditious trial, stating that investigation was concluded and the prosecution was ready.

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When asked by the judge whether the offence was bailable, Mohammed responded: “The section under which the defendant is charged carries a sentence of seven years upon conviction, which is sufficient to create a flight risk.”

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter to July 25, for ruling and ordered that Abiodun remain in EFCC custody pending the outcome of the bail application.
(PUNCH)

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