Crime

Alleged Murder: Police Exonerates Delta Cleric, Two Cops

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2022

Apostle Akpor and members during Thanksgiving service. Photo: PUNCH

The police have exonerated a popular cleric in Delta State and General Overseer of the Palace of God Bible Church in Effurun, Apostle Michael Akpor, of murder allegation.

PUNCH Metro gathered that two police operatives, ASP Mesoro Victor and Inspector Ignatius Achazie, attached to the cleric as security escorts were also exonerated alongside with him.

Sources said that the trio who have been under police investigation since Tuesday, 12th July, 2022, over alleged killing of one Charles Okpako and Ejiro Ekiepovwe at Ugbolokposo community were let off the hook following contradicting evidences by those who reportedly claimed to have witnessed the murder incident.

Apostle Michael Akpor who could not hide his joy following his exoneration in the murder allegation resorted to a special thanksgiving service in his church on Monday, expressing gratitude to God for his vindication in the matter.

The cleric, however, sympathised with the families of the deceased persons.

When contacted by our correspondent, the public relations officer for Delta State Command, Bright Edafe, confirmed the report saying that Apostle Michael Akpor together with the two operatives have since been let off the hook.

Speaking with journalists on the incident, the legal counsel to the cleric, Austin Nyekigbe, Esq. hinted that it was alleged that in the evening of Tuesday 12th July, 2022, a commercial tricycle conveying three passengers at Ugbolokposo community in Effurun, Delta State hit and scratched a black Jeep and a man in police uniform came down from the black Jeep and shot severally at the tricycle killing the two passengers at the back seat.

The rider of the tricycle sustained a bullet wound on his left shoulder while the lady at the front seat survived unhurt.

The registration number of the said black Jeep was reportedly covered while a V.I.P sat at the back seat of the black Jeep and wore white native attire just as the black Jeep and the police escorts were suspected to be that of Apostle Michael Akpor.

Consequently, the cleric and his two police escorts were reportedly invited by the Ebrumede Divisional Police Headquarters for interrogation over the murder incident, from where the case was later transferred to the State Police Headquarters, Asaba where the trio were detained.

But it was learnt that following discreet investigation into the allegation of murder levied against the cleric and the two policemen, including visits to the scene of crime, the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara and the Warri Central Hospital mortuary to inspect the corpses, it was gathered that the evidences of the purported witnesses were in contradiction while the suspected killers could not be traced.

Sources said that one Festus Ebereri who claimed to be an eyewitness identified Asp. Mesoro Victor as the policeman that shot the two deceased persons “whereas the movement register of Special Protection Unit (SPU), Base 25, Asaba revealed and confirmed that the said policeman, Asp. Mesoro Victor was not with Apostle Michael Akpor and was not in Effurun and its environs at the time of the incident”.

The said policeman was reportedly nominated for election duty at Osun State and left Effurun for the election duty at Osun State before the time of the incident.

Investigations further revealed that Akpor was at the Palace of God Bible Church, off Uti Road, Effurun, to attend a church programme on the day of the incident.

He reportedly arrived the church premises at about 12:00noon and stayed till about 9:00pm before leaving the church premises whereas the murder incident occurred at about 6:00pm at Ugbolokposo community.

Apostle Michael Akpor reportedly drove a green coloured Range Rover sport car and did not cover the registration number.

The Close Circuit Television footages of the church premises also revealed and confirmed the time Apostle Michael Akpor arrived the church premises and the time he finally left the church premises on the day of the incident.

The CCTV footages also confirmed the make and colour of the car and the colour of clothes Apostle Michael Akpor wore on the day of the accident, it was gatherered.

The police reports further confirmed that the inspection of the movement register of the SPU Base 25, Asaba contradicted the claims of the key witness “as ASP Mesoro Victor left on 12/07/2022 at 1630hrs for a special duty to Osun State’s Guber election”.

Also, the two rifles issued to the two policemen were issued with 30 rounds of live ammunition each, which were all intact.

In view of the findings, the police submitted that it was crystal clear that the suspected cleric “was going on with his religious business in the Church as at the time of the incident”.

Consequently, in the light of the uncontroverted evidence and findings, it was gathered, the police Investigation report confirmed that “the cleric and the two policemen attached to him, who were accused of killing two persons at Ugbolokposo community, were exonerated, vindicated, and released on bail.”
PUNCH

Crime

Nigeria Police Go Tough On LGBT, Vow to Extradite Suspects From Abroad

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2023

Editor

By Udiele Mercy

Men of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested two men in a hotel in Benin City for alleged involvement in homosexual activities in contravention of the laws of the State.

The men whose identities were given as Dele Thompson and Steve Omobeke were reportedly nabbed during a routine raid on suspected black spots of gay activities in the state.

This particular arrest the police authorities say has got some international dimensions as investigations have revealed that the duo has links with some LGBT exponents in Canada and the United States of America.

Although the police gave no details beyond mentioning one Osamudiamen Monday Aimiuwuriamwen said to be mutual sex partner with Dele Thompson and a funding source for their nefarious activities in Nigeria, they however vowed to do everything humanly possible to arrest every member of the illicit sex gang from wherever they are presently.

The police said they have material evidence in the form of pictures and videos obtained from the suspect’s phone, implicating enough for them to prosecute the suspects.

According to the police, “we have photographs and videos extracted from the suspect’s showing where the outlaws in very compromising positions indicative of their involvement.

“We are surprised that despite efforts by the force and other security agencies to stamp out LGBT practices in the state, many are still indulging in the unholy behavior.”

The command has communicated with the Force Headquarters to activate its extradition agreement with the Interpol to extradite members of the syndicate outside the shores of Nigeria,” said Chidi Nwabuzor, PPRO Edo State Police Command.

Besides the Nigerian State prohibiting same sex relationship through the enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013, the Nigerian society frowns seriously at it to the extent of mobbing suspected LGBT exponents to death when caught in the act.

The law that prescribed 14 years for convicts is considered too lenient by citizens who often prefer to take the laws into their hands.

Crime

Suspected Gay Men In Trouble As Tradition, Police Hunt Them

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2023

Editor

A young man identified as Festus Igbineweka is in serious trouble over his alleged participation in a gay party that went sour at his father’s house on 14 Oguola Road, off Siluko Road Benin City, resulting in his being beatien up along side his partners in crime, causing bodily injuries.

Festus and Osarugue it were allegedly caught in the act kissing and expressing love towards each other, with others including Vincent Obi, Frank Okoli, John Opakunle and Felix Obasuyi who were also having similar fun in their separate room in the same apartment, doing the same thing and later began to have sex on June 30, 2023.

Eye witness account said that Festus Igbineweka reportedly got entangled with an old gay lover Osarugue Austine Edobor,now at large in an after party sex rump in Oguola, the traditional puritan enclave of the legendary Benin tradition which forbids same sex relationship.

The abominable secret meeting came to the open when Festus’ next-door neighbor Benard Akpata was knocking at the door because he was to drive out of the compound and Festus’s car was blocking the drive way. It was learnt that the renegades behaving to type had put on some loud music in the house to mask the pleasurable sounds from within.

Having knocked severally with no response, the said neighbour Bernard reportedly walked in and saw what was happening and promptly raised an alarm that drew the attention of distraught neighbours who descended on them with clubs and other dangerous weapons and repeatedly shouting, abomination!!!.

The alarm caused confusion and rage as more persons got attracted to the crime scene and joined in the beating.

The suspects Festus Igbineweka, Vincent Obi, Frank Okoli,Felix Obasuyi and John Opakunle, after the mob attack were handed over to the police by the vigilante group in the area while the rest suspects Osarugue Austine Edobor and Darlington Itoya managed to escape.

The duo of Osarugue and Darlington who
managed to escape the mob attack, took advantage of the power outage that left the house in total darkness.

Festus and his co travellers including Osarugue,Vincent Obi, Frank Okoli and John Opakunle are also wanted by the Edions (elders) of the area to perform some rituals meant to cleanse the land of the abominable act which can have dire consequences on innocent people if not exorcised.

The gay love birds including those on the run and those arrested are expected to present the atonement items which include, a live spotless white cow, 1000 cowrie shells, seven bottles of red palm oil, 100 pieces of kolanuts, 14 cloves of alligator pepper etc, while the host Fedtus Igbineweka and others arrested are also in the battle of Police prosecution.

Meanwhile, the gay exponents are unable to report the gang beating they suffered in the hand of the natives to the police because their involvement in same sex relationship, is a practice that has been criminalized in Nigeria under the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013.

According to our crime reporter who visited the Ogida Divisional Police Headquarters,the suspects denied involvement in the alleged same-sex practice.

Crime

Police Declare Man Wanted Over Homos*xual Act

Published

2 years ago

June 22, 2023

Editor

A 50-years old man, Edo Omusi, has been declared wanted by the police in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, for disappearing after being ‘caught’ in a same s*x act in Ogiso community.

A source close to the police in the state, told our correspondent that the suspect, and one of his male friends, whose name was not given, were sighted at an undisclosed location by some youths as they were comitting the act.

Under Nigerian Laws, any person caught in the gay act is liable to 14 years in prison and if found by the community could be killed.

The duo were said to have been deeply engrossed in the act when they were found but before the person who saw them in the , “sinful and abominable act”, went for back up, they had escaped the location.

The incident which occurred on 25/4/23 at Ogiso area of the town almost threw the community into a turmoil as irate youths welding sticks and cudgels rampaged the community in search of the duo to lynch them.

It was also learnt that worried by the trend the youths in the community had to set up a surveillance team to monitor his movements. It was on one of the surveillance trips that he was reportedly caught on the fateful day, with the unidentified male partner.

It was gathered since the community reported the incident to the police, the whereabouts of the suspect, Edo Omusi has since remained unknown by all and sundry.

Speaking on the development, a top Police official confirmed the matter and explained that the Crime Investigation Department of the command is working round the clock to arrest the suspect, having declared him a wanted person.