Metro

Alleged Age Falsification: Absence Of Five Ex-police Officers Stalls Arraignment

Published

3 weeks ago

September 25, 2025

The arraignment of five former senior police officers before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama on charges of alleged age falsification failed to hold on Thursday following their absence in court, owing to the inability of the police to effect personal service on them.

Thursday’s development marked the third time the scheduled arraignment before Justice Yusuf Halilu had failed to proceed.

The defendants are: AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd) and ACP Simon A. Lough (Rtd).

They are facing a 14-count filed against them by the Inspector-General of Police.

In the charge marked CR/353/2025, Owohunwa, Igweh, Opara, Obo and Lough are accused of conspiracy, age falsification and forgery, among other offences.

One of the charges alleges that the defendants, who enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force in 1999, conspired to falsify their ages in order to remain in service beyond the mandatory retirement age, in contravention of Section 97(1)(2) of the Penal Code Law.

Another charge states that they falsified and altered their ages and official documents with the intention of illegally prolonging their service, thereby benefiting from office privileges contrary to the Public Service Rules of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an act said to amount to cheating under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law.

The defendants are also accused of making fraudulent declarations, submitting falsified documents to police records, and dishonestly deposing to false claims in court proceedings, contrary to Sections 158(1), 178 and 366 of the Penal Code Law.

At the last sitting, Justice Halilu had ordered the Inspector-General of Police to do everything within his power to produce the defendants in court for their arraignment.

That order followed complaints by the prosecution counsel, ACP Rimamsomte Ezekiel, that the defendants had failed to appear despite allegedly being served with the charge.

However, when the matter came up on Thursday, the defendants were again absent. Ezekiel expressed disappointment, noting that despite assurances given by their counsel, Goddy Uche (SAN), at the previous sitting that they would attend, they had failed to do so.

He further informed the court that investigators made repeated attempts to serve the defendants at their known residential addresses, only to discover they had relocated. Ezekiel said he also sent a soft copy of the charge to their WhatsApp platforms, yet they did not appear.

He therefore urged the court to issue a bench warrant against them pursuant to Section 266(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

However, defence counsel, Terkaa Aondo (SAN), opposed the application, insisting that the defendants had not been personally served with the charges.

“My Lord, up till now, the defendants have not been served with a copy of the charge. This is a criminal matter which requires personal service, not substituted service. Until the defendants are properly before the court, any request for a bench warrant is premature.

“The police have the apparatus to bring the defendants to court. If they could arrest Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and Omoyele Sowore in Nigeria, why can they not arrest these defendants and bring them before the court? I urge Your Lordship to refuse the request and order the prosecution to do the needful,” Aondo submitted.

In his ruling, Justice Halilu agreed with the defence counsel that criminal charges require personal service on the defendants. He also observed that the police possess the means to arrest and bring the defendants to court for their arraignment.

On the prosecution’s request for a bench warrant, the judge held that such an order was premature, since the defendants had not been properly brought before the court.

“You granted them bail on self-recognition. It remains your responsibility to ensure they are brought before the court to take their plea. You are the prosecutor. You should do all within your powers to ensure that the defendants attend court on the next adjourned date for arraignment,” Justice Halilu ruled.

He further directed the defence counsel to also ensure the appearance of the defendants at the next sitting.

The case was adjourned until November 17 for arraignment.
(PUNCH)

Metro

Court Jails Football Coach For Sodomising Minor Player

Published

15 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

A Kano State High Court has sentenced a football coach, Hayatu Muhammad, to eight years in prison for sodomising one of his underage players.

The presiding judge, Justice Musa Dahuru Muhammad, delivered the judgment on Wednesday, sentencing Hayatu without the option of a fine.

According to the prosecution, the coach, who lives in Sanka area of Kano metropolis, committed the offence twice in different locations. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.

To prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, the state counsel, Barrister Ibrahim Arif Garba, presented five witnesses who testified against the defendant.

In his defense, Hayatu took the witness stand alone.

The prosecution stated that his action violated Section 284 of the Penal Code Law, which criminalises sodomy.

After reviewing all the evidence and witness statements, Justice Dahuru ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved the case.

He sentenced Hayatu to four years in prison on each of the two counts, to run concurrently — meaning he will serve a total of eight years starting from the day of the judgment.

Metro

Lagos Fire Service Rescues Woman From 60-foot Well In Ikorodu

Published

16 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has saved a 32-year-old woman who accidentally fell into an uncovered well approximately 60 feet deep at No. 14 Mustapha Bolatiwa Street, off Agric Bus Stop, in the Ikorodu area of the state.

The incident, which drew a large crowd of onlookers, was described by residents as “nothing short of a miracle.”

Eyewitnesses said the woman, whose identity had not been immediately confirmed, reportedly wandered from a nearby compound and was seated on the edge of the well before losing balance and falling in.

Following a distress call, operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived swiftly and launched a well-coordinated rescue operation.

Confirming the incident, the Director of the agency, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, said the woman was pulled out alive after a tense and delicate rescue effort.

“She was immediately stabilised and transported to a nearby hospital for further medical care,” Adeseye said.

She cautioned residents to ensure all open wells and similar structures are securely covered to prevent avoidable accidents.

Adeseye also praised the professionalism and prompt response of her team, reaffirming the agency’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property across Lagos State.

Metro

DSS Arrests Two Dismissed Officers Over Impersonation, Fraud

Published

16 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services, DSS, has arrested two dismissed officers, Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, accused of impersonating the Service to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

The DSS, in a statement issued on Wednesday, confirmed that both individuals, earlier declared wanted in separate public warnings, have been arrested and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“The Department of State Services recently issued disclaimers on two dismissed personnel of the Service, Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin. These individuals were alleged to be cloaking under the Service to engage in fraudulent activities.

“The public is hereby notified that these culprits have been apprehended and will face prosecution in accordance with the law,” the Service said.

This comes after a series of alerts by the DSS warning Nigerians against dealing with the former officers dismissed for misconduct but still parading themselves as active operatives.

Recall that the secret police had raised the alarm over the activities of Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, accusing him of using the DSS name to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

In the same vein, on October 8, a separate statement was issued concerning Barry Donald, another dismissed officer alleged to be impersonating the agency for fraudulent purposes.

The DSS said it remains committed to protecting Nigerians from impostors and maintaining public trust in the Service. It also revealed plans to publish the names of other previously dismissed personnel to prevent citizens from falling victim to similar schemes.

The DSS urged members of the public to verify all official engagements through its verified communication channels and to report any suspicious activities involving persons claiming to represent the Service.