Metro

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

Published

59 minutes 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

PICTORIAL: Many Feared Trapped As Three-storey Building Collapses In Anambra

Published

39 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

A three-storey building with four suspended floors located behind the Anambra State House of Assembly, off Ekwueme Square, Okpuno Awka, the Anambra State capital, has collapsed.

It was gathered that the building, still under construction and at the roofing stage, suddenly caved in at about 11:40 am on Thursday.

The development threw residents and passers-by into panic as it was gathered that some yet-to-be-identified number of occupants, especially construction workers, were trapped in the rubble.

Eyewitnesses near the scene said the structure suddenly caved in without any prior sign, adding that the number of workers and other occupants trapped could not be ascertained yet.

The cause of the collapse and casualty figure has yet to be ascertained, but some officials from the state Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and the materials testing department are already on the ground to ascertain the cause of the collapse.

A visit to the scene of the collapse, it was observed as some bystanders and other passers-by initiated some rescue efforts in a bid to see if anyone trapped could be rescued.

It was a chaotic situation at the scene as rescue efforts were being hampered by a lack of logistics and other necessary equipment, such as excavators.

One of the eyewitnesses at the scene said, “The building collapsed this morning(Thursday) as some artisans were carrying out some construction works at the roof of the structure.

“The building made some noise as it was collapsing while some construction workers were at the site. No one can say the cause of the collapse for now, but some government officials arrived at the scene shortly after, but rescue efforts have not begun, as they said they were waiting for excavators to arrive.”

The Chairman, COREN-ERM Anambra State, Sir Victor Meju, said, “It was a five-storey building, the sixth floor still under construction at its roofing stage. It is a private building. It was gathered that the structure was roofed last Thursday.

“On-site preliminary investigation revealed that it was a vertically complete collapse to the rubble. On-site preliminary investigation also revealed that the collapse occurred as a result of a poor concrete mixture and a likely foundation problem.

“The relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Housing and the Awka Capital Territory Development Association, have been notified, and they are on the ground to monitor and offer rescue operations.”

However, when contacted on the development, the Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was not aware, but promised to make enquiries and get back.
(PUNCH)

Metro

Police Rescue Mother, Baby, Five Others From Kidnappers In Kwara

Published

39 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The Kwara State Police Command has rescued a woman, Afusatu Alhaji Ladan, and her nine-month-old baby, Usman, alongside five other victims from kidnapper’s den after a gun battle with bandits in a forest near Owa-Onire, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were freed on Wednesday following a joint operation by operatives attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser, police officers, and vigilante members, according to the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.

The spokesperson who confirmed the development in a statement made available to Punch Online, on Thursday, said the rescue followed sustained search-and-rescue operations launched in response to recent abductions in the state.

“During the operation, security operatives encountered armed resistance from the kidnappers, leading to a fierce gun duel. The criminals were forced to abandon their hostages and escape deeper into the forest, while all seven victims were safely rescued,” she said.

The PPRO added that a vigilante member sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter but is responding to treatment.

Other rescued victims include Adam Khadijat, 23; Mamud Miriam, 24; Mumini Ahmed, 17; Hamadu Haruna, 44; and Abibat Umaru, 16.

Metro

Soldiers Kill Two Terror Suspects, Arrest 32, Rescue 13 Victims

Published

50 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised two terrorists, apprehended 32 suspects, and rescued 13 kidnapped victims in major operations in the last 24 hours across the country.

A credible source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that the operations were carried out in the North East, North Central, North West, South East, and South-South.

In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai arrested three suspected ISWAP/JAS logistics suppliers in Borno and Yobe.

He added that one terrorist was neutralised in an ambush in Konduga, while another suspect was apprehended in Garkida, Adamawa, for involvement in earlier attacks.

In Benue, the source said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised one extremist in Katsina-Ala and rescued 10 kidnapped victims in Ukum after a gun battle.

In the North West, he said the troops foiled kidnap attempts in Zamfara, rescuing three victims in Anka.

According to him, seven suspects, including a kidnap kingpin in Kaduna and three in Niger, were arrested.

“In the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA apprehended two suspected cultists with a pistol in Imo and recovered an improvised explosive device in Anambra.

“In the South South, troops of Operation Delta Safe arrested 20 suspects for illegal bunkering, drug trafficking, and kidnapping.

“They also discovered more than 1,200 litres of illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States,” he said.

The source urged Nigerians to continue to support security agencies with timely information to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations.
NAN