Crime

Confusion As Nigerian Correctional Service Men, Police Disagree Over Who Takes Custody Of Inmate

Published

3 years ago

February 18, 2020

There was mid-drama and confusion on Tuesday, February 18, at Oredo magistrates’ Court, Benin City, as Nigerian Correctional Service officials and state police command officials disagreed over who take custody of a defendant, Chuks Moses.

The defendant was arraigned for an attempt to commit felony and malicious damage of security electric wire valued N250,000, but pleaded not guilty.

Consequently, Magistrate, Ivie Akere admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N80,000 with one surety in like sum, adding that the surety must residence within jurisdiction.

However, the defendant could not perfect the bail condition, but the men of Nigerian Correctional Service, Oko, refused to take the defendant along with them because of an injury in his leg and head.

They said that the injury sustained by defendant was not minor.

However, the Investigating Police officer (IPO), Inspector Fowobaje Taiwo, brought out the defendant’s Central Hospital card and drugs as evidence that he was receiving treatment, that he cannot take him back to police station.

He added that the defendant sustained injuries when mob were chasing him and that he spent his money to pay his medical bills.

In his part, the police prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, told the Nigerian Correctional Service men that the police has done their part by arresting and arraigning the suspect, adding that it was the duty of correctional service to take charge of defendant.

The Magistrate, however, asked the IPO to accompanied the correctional service men to government hospital where the defendant was treated.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Correctional Service, said that they do not admit inmates that sustained major injuries without evidence of proper treatment.

He said it was a new development.

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Crime

Convicted Nigerian Woman Extradited To U.S. Over Illicit Payment

Published

3 days ago

March 25, 2023

Editor

A convicted Nigerian fugitive, Florence Enwerim Onyegbu, was on Thursday, extradited to the United States of America, where she is wanted to answer to criminal charges bordering on the violation of the U.S. law involving the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter.

Onyegbu ‘sextradition was coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following a request by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, seeking assistance for her apprehension.

The EFCC said its investigations revealed that she had changed her name from Florence E. Onyegbu to Janet Boi in an attempt to remain hidden.

But that she however ran out of luck when operatives of the EFCC swooped on her at her residence in the Ojodu area of Lagos on February 21, 2022.

The anti-graft agency said that upon her arrest, a national identity card with the name Janet Boi as well as a Texas driver’s license with the name Florence Enwerim Onyegbu were found on her.

The Commission, on March 22, 2023, handed over Onyegbu to the FBI, following an extradition order granted by Justice Z.B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on December 2, 2022.

It will be recalled that Onyegbu’s travails began after she was arrested on February 12, 2011 in the U.S. and subsequently sentenced to 46 months imprisonment, following a guilty plea , over the violation of the U.S. law bordering on the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter.

Although she was ordered to report for service of her sentence on April 4, 2011, she failed to surrender on that date.

Consequently, she was further charged with failure to surrender for service of sentence in violation of U.S. Law on March 4, 2013.

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Crime

Man To Die By Hanging For Robbery, Kidnapping

Published

3 days ago

March 24, 2023

Editor

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday sentenced four men to death by hanging for armed robbery and kidnapping of a woman, Mrs Gloria Emole.

The convicts are Victor Chukwunonso, Ifeanyi Maduaka, Obinna Nwankwo and Richard Nwabueze.

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The convicts were said to have committed the offences on November 19, 2012, at about 8.30 am.

They were arraigned on July 13, 2013, and were remanded in prison custody.

The convicts were arraigned on a three-count bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping preferred against them by Lagos State.

The state Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, had told the court during their arraignment that they kidnapped the victim who was about to leave her house at 7, Unity Street, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are contrary to and punishable under Sections 297,285 (2) a, and 291, of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

The victim was later released on November 22, 2012, after a ransom of $70,000 was paid by her husband.

“The defendants are sentenced to 10 years for the first count of conspiracy. They are hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the second count of armed robbery and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for the third count of kidnapping,” Justice Lawal-Akapo held.

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Crime

Man Bags Life Jail For Defiling Colleague’s Nine-year-old Daughter

Published

3 days ago

March 24, 2023

Editor

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced a 51-year-old man, Ubregbo Parmer, to life imprisonment for defiling his colleague’s nine-year-old daughter.

Justice Abiola Soladoye sentenced the convict after finding him guilty of the offence of defilement.

The judge held that the prosecution sufficiently proved the charge of defilement against the convict.

Justice Soladoye stated that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, the victim and a medical doctor showed that the convict committed the offence.

The judge said, “The evidence of the respective prosecution witnesses established the ingredients of the offence against the defendant who was properly identified by the victim.

“The victim gave a vivid and gory account of her ordeal in the hands of the defendant.

“I hereby find him guilty as charged of the one-count charge of defilement and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.

“The defendant should have his name registered in the sexual offence register as maintained by Lagos State.”

The judge berated the victim’s mother for being negligent in her care and allowing her child to be taken away by her male colleague, without supervision.

“The need for proper and good parentage cannot be undermined at this age and time where defilement and rape are the order of the day.

“Parents should be alive to their responsibilities,” Justice Soladoye said.

The state counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke, called two witnesses and tendered two exhibits during the trial while the defendant testified as the sole witness in his defence.

Adegoke said the victim’s mother brought her daughter to the office and left her to attend to other things when the convict quickly removed her pant and had sexual intercourse with her.

She said the convict committed the offence on December 10, 2019, in Magodo, Lagos, The PUNCH reports.

According to her, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.