Metro

Absence Of Bishop Accused Of Raping Pastor Stalls Arraignment

Published

2 years ago

April 4, 2023

The planned arraignment of the Founder of I Reign Christian Ministry, Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniel, for alleged rape was stalled on Monday after he failed to show up in court.

The matter, which was listed as number four on the case list of the judiciary, came up before Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.

The police prosecutor, Mrs Inumidun Solarin, however, informed the court that the defendant was not around.

She noted that Daniel was granted bail by the police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi.

According to her, the Investigating Police Officer, ASP Yemi Temenu, claimed that when the police visited his house in Ikota, Lekki, it was discovered that he had relocated.

While seeking an adjournment, she said the pastor was in Abuja for a church programme.

The case was subsequently adjourned till April 17, 2023.

The PUNCH had reported that the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions ordered the prosecution of Daniel for the alleged rape of an assistant pastor of his church and another lady.

The case against him was investigated at the FCID, where some of the victims had made statements.

The case file was forwarded to the DPP last year when the investigation was said to have been concluded.

However, for several months, the legal advice was not released, as the victims alleged compromise on the part of the police and the state government.

The PUNCH confirmed that the legal advice was issued by the DPP in December 2022 and the cleric had yet to be prosecuted, decided to apply for the certified true copy of the advice.

On Thursday, March 2, The PUNCH was said to have applied for the certified true copy and after the payment of the requisite fee, the advice was released exclusively to our correspondent on Monday, March 13.

The advice, which was signed by the DPP Director, Dr Babajide Martins, was dated December 16, 2022.

The report stated in part, “After careful consideration of the facts available in the duplicate case file, this office is of the view that there exists prima facie offence of rape under Section 260 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 against the suspect, Oluwafeyiropo Daniel.

“Facts from the duplicate case file reveal that the suspect, Oluwafeyiropo Daniel, is a pastor and the founder of I Reign Christian Ministry; that he had a church branch in Akungba Akoko (Ondo) where he had young people as pastors and assistant pastors. It is also revealed that Oluwafeyiropo Daniel invites the branch pastors and assistants to his house from time for one reason or the other.”

The report said Daniel took advantage of the assistant pastor whenever she visited his residence in the Ikota area of Lagos.

“It is revealed that Oluwafeyiropo Daniel having presented himself as his victims’ spiritual father whom they must be loyal to and must never hide anything from, including their body, lures the complainant and his other victim into having sexual intercourse with him.

“In the light of the foregoing, this office shall prosecute Pages 81- (Oluwafeyiropo Daniel) for the offence of rape under Section 260 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015,” the advisory stated.

Metro

CBEX Fraud: EFCC Declares Two More Wanted

Published

20 hours ago

June 5, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday declared two more individuals wanted in connection with an alleged fraud case linked to a digital trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange, popularly known as CBEX.

The suspects, identified as Folashade Odelana and Bamidele Ayodele Abiodun, were accused of orchestrating fraudulent activities that reportedly led to significant financial losses for unsuspecting investors.

12 persons had been declared wanted by the commission in connection with the same scheme.

In a notice published across its official social media platforms, the anti-graft agency asked members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward.

The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that the persons whose photographs appear below are wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud allegedly perpetrated on an online trading platform called Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX). FOLASHADE ODELANA. Odelana is 31 years old and her last known address is at No. 17, Oremeta Street, Allen, Ikeja, Lagos State.

“BAMIDELE AYODELE ABIODUN. Abiodun is 32 years old. His last known address is at No.17, Oremeta Street, Allen, Ikeja, Lagos State.

“Anybody with useful information as to their whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices, or through these numbers 09-9044751-3, 08093322644, 08183322644, 07026350721-3, 0706350724-5; its e-mail address: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”

No fewer than 600,000 Nigerians reportedly invested in the scheme and lost N1.3tn after it collapsed in April 2025.

Metro

Protest In Osun Over Alleged Amotekun’s Arrest, Detention Of Community Chiefs

Published

1 day ago

June 4, 2025

Editor

Residents of the Itaapa community in Atakumosa-East Local Government Area of Osun State on Wednesday stormed the Amotekun command headquarters protesting alleged indiscriminate arrest and detention of leaders of the town.

The protesters bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Embarrassment, Amotekun De-robed our chiefs”, “Osun Amotekun has become a political tool”, Amotekun supporting criminals”, among, urged the Inspector General of Police to look into the situation.

Addressing newsmen at the protest scene, the leader of the protesters, Chief Olusegun Owoeye said the community has been deserted following the indiscriminate arrest and detention of residents by Amotekun operatives.

It is unfortunate that Amotekun subjected itself to the whims and caprices of criminals terrorising our community over time. It is on record that some criminals already arrested by the police and others on wanted list for terrorising the community have now turn around using the community through PDP leaders to hunt innocent residents of Itaapa.

After the terror acts of the said criminals, including Bode Itaapa in police custody, the community was advised to form a vigilante group by the police to watch over itself.

Those under the said vigilante, having prevented criminals from extorting and harassing residents are now being arrested by the police. Ten community leaders are also in their custody for over five days now.

“We demand their release and called on the Inspector General of Police to order proper investigation into the present situation in the community”, he said.

Reacting, Osun Amotekun Corps Commandant Adekunle Omoyele, said those arrested by Amotekun were being investigated for criminal activities, adding that the corps has laid down procedure for arrest and investigation which it followed to the letter in the case at hand.

We arrested suspects with pump action riple, who claimed to be members of vigilante in the State. The people they mentioned during investigation were also arrested and being investigated. There is no need to drag politics into a pure criminal issues. We will conduct thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that Justice is dispensed in the case”, he said.
(VANGUARD)

Metro

Man Falls From 26-storey Cocoa House In Oyo

Published

2 days ago

June 3, 2025

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified man has reportedly fallen from one of the top floors of the 26-storey Cocoa House building in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident, which threw the entire business community into panic, occurred in the early hours of Monday.

One of the eyewitnesses said, “When the incident happened, I initially thought it was a large bird falling from the sky.

“It was only when the person landed that I realised it was a human being.

“I had my phone with me but I couldn’t even record anything because I was completely shocked.”

Another eyewitness said, “The victim first hit a roof beside the security post of the building before landing on the ground. It was a terrifying sight.”

As of press time, the circumstances behind the unfortunate incident were still sketchy as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, a statement released by Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the firm managing Cocoa House, on Tuesday, in Ibadan, the state capital, confirmed the incident.

The Head of Branding and Communication of the company, Victor Ayetoro, who authorised the statement, said, “The individual involved was swiftly attended to by the emergency response team and taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for urgent medical attention.

“The company expressed deep concerns over the development and assured the public of its full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the fall,” he added.