Crime
Alleged Murder: Police Exonerates Delta Cleric, Two Cops
Published
2 years agoon
By
EditorThe 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.
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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.
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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
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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.
Crime
Man, 41, Sent To Prison For Groping Woman’s Breast
Published
1 year agoon
April 14, 2023By
EditorA Badagry Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the remand of a 41-year-old man, Ibrahim Lemo, for groping the breast of a woman.
The court heard that Lemo beat up his victim, Zainab Babalola, when she demanded he stopped the unlawful act
Chief Magistrate Fadahunsi Adefioye remanded Lemo after he pleaded guilty to a two count bordering on assault.
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Adefioye ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Awhajigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry.
He adjourned the case until April 14 for facts and sentencing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP. Clément Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 6 at 2.30 p.m. at Badagry Roundabout shopping complex, Badagry, Lagos.
Okuoimose said Lemo without lawful excuse pressed the breast of the complainant, Zainab Babalola.
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He said the defendant also hit the complainant on her left eye and caused her harm after she asked him not to touch her again.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 134 and 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
(NAN)
Crime
Hushpuppi’s Associate, Woodberry, Pleads Guilty, Forfeits $8m, Assets
Published
1 year agoon
April 13, 2023By
EditorOlalekan Jacob Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
He also agreed to forfeit $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government.
Woodberry, a known associate of the now-imprisoned internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, recently in a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictments, the Peoples Gazette reports.
According to his plea agreement, he is required to pay back the sum of $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that he scammed.
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“Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence,” stated the document containing Mr Ponle’s signed plea declaration.
Woodberry was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai.
The high-end automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816).
Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.
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Last year, he forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin to the American government.
On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.
Prior to his arrest, Woodberry was known for rocking and flaunting expensive designer wear and showing off his illicit wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no idea his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime.
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