Connect with us

Metro

Court Clears IPOB Leader Of Terrorism Charges, Awards N5m Damages Against FG

Published

on

A Federal High Court 1 sitting in Owerri, Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo has cleared the Head of Directorate of State of Indigenous People of Biafra, Chika Edoziem, of charges related to terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping and violent criminal activities.

Justice Oweibo delivered the judgment in Suit No: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024, between Mazi Chika Edoziem Vs Hon. Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff and consequently declared as “illegal”, the designation of Edoziem as a wanted person, terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper and violent criminal by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.

Advertisement

The ruling affirms that the March 22, 2024, publication of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s First Edition of 2024, as a security threat, was done in “gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity of the human person, and as such, unconstitutional”.

In the charge sheet obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, His Lordship, further directed the Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff to immediately retract the unconstitutional declaration of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a “terrorist”, “insurgent”, “kidnapper”, “violent criminal” and “wanted person”, and to issue an unreserved public apology in two national newspapers to Mazi Chika Edoziem.

READ ALSO: Police Storm IPOB/ESN Camps In Imo, Kill 6 Including 3 Wanted Kingpins

Advertisement

The court also awarded ₦5 million in damages to Mazi Chika Edoziem for the infringement of his fundamental right to the dignity of the human person.

Notably, among the many names listed in the said notice, Mazi Chika Edoziem was the only one who successfully challenged the publication or inclusion of his name in the offending publication.

Edoziem is the next in the rank to the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Advertisement

Reacting to the development, the lead counsel for IPOB, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has hailed the Federal High Court 1, for the “landmark” judgment clearing the Head of Directorate of State of IPOB, Mazi Chika Edoziem, of charges related to terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and violent criminal activities.

Edoziem is the next in the rank to the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court Declines Trump’s Request To Reinstate Birthright Citizenship Order

Advertisement

Ejiofor, in a statement on Thursday, described the ruling as “historic” and “landmark”, saying that the judgment is a strong statement against unjust profiling and underscores the importance of due process in security matters.

He said, “Security agencies must focus on proper profiling to identify actual criminals rather than targeting innocent citizens. The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility beyond just the security forces.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my dedicated colleagues in Chambers whose relentless efforts made this victory possible. Special thanks to Ezigbo Umuchineke for their unwavering support and prayers, whose peaceful conduct has enabled seamless defence in matters affecting genuine and peaceful agitators.

Advertisement

“Above all, I thank Almighty God for His guidance and protection throughout the proceedings.

“Justice has prevailed.”

Advertisement

Metro

Police Arrest Siblings Over Communal Clash In Ondo

Published

on

Ondo State Police Command has arrested two brothers, Ogunsemore Gbadebo and Michael Ogunsemore for their allegedly involvement in a violent communal clash that occurred in Eki/Oboto Community of Ilaje local government area of the State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the suspects had been locked in a prolonged land dispute with the monarch of the community, Oba Oyetayo Ofoaye of Aboto.

Advertisement

According to the. state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olusola Ayanlade, the matter was first taken to the Okitipupa High Court, which ruled in favour of the monarch.

However, not satisfied with the verdict, the siblings filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Akure, where the appellate court again upheld the Oba’s position.

READ ALSO:Job Seekers Protest Alleged Fake Employment Letters For Ondo Teaching Jobs

Advertisement

The PPRO alleged that the brothers resorted to self-help thereafter, recruiting armed thugs to unleash violence on the community rather than accepting the judgement of the Appeal Court.

It was learnt that the attack reportedly perpetrated by the suspects and their gangs, displaced residents, destroyed huts, palm produce, and other valuables, while one Jeremiah Okuntimehin sustained machete injuries in the fracas.

This criminal escalation turned a civil dispute into a grave security threat, prompting swift police intervention,” the PPRO said.

Advertisement

According to the police spokesman, the police launched a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of the brothers – Gbadebo and Michael, who have since been arraigned in court.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Ex-Ondo SDP Governorship Candidate Dies

He added that efforts were ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the group who took part in the unrest.

Advertisement

Ayanlade stressed that the arrests marked a decisive step in restoring peace to the affected community, warning that communal violence will not be condoned under any guise.

Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Adebowale Lawal cautioned individuals and groups against undermining judicial decisions or taking the law into their own hands, warning that such acts would attract the full weight of the law.

He assured residents of Eki/Oboto and Aboto of adequate police presence and urged them to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies.

Advertisement

The CP also emphasised that dialogue and peaceful engagement remained the only sustainable means of resolving communal disputes.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Metro

Foreign Currency Found On Beggars As 40 Evacuated In Kwara

Published

on

The Kwara State government has again evacuated another set of 40 beggars from the street of Ilorin, the state capital.

The evacuation of beggars was carried out by the officials of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development in collaboration with operatives of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), Kwara State Command.

Advertisement

During a search conducted on the beggars, a foreign currency (US dollar) was found on one of them, Musa Mahmuda, who claimed to be from Kano State.

READ ALSO:Bandits Invade Kwara Community, Kill One, Kidnap Eight Others

A sharp knife was found in the possession of another beggar.

Advertisement

Seven of the evacuees were second term offenders, having been arrested during a previous evacuation excercise but they returned to the streets again.

The operation was conducted at Tipper Garage in Tanke, Offa garage and Garin Alimi areas – all in Ilorin metropolis.

The Commissioner for social Welfare and Development, Dr Mariam Imam, expressed delight that the excercise was yielding the desired results, saying the number of those evacuated from the streets in the latest exercise has “dratically reduced from 94 arrested during the last time to 40”.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Dismembering Pregnant Sister-in-law In Kwara

She said the ministry’s evacuation team was changing its “strategy as the beggars too were changing their tactics and locations to evade being evacuated from the streets.”

She implored those patronising the beggars to stop doing so and channel their offerings through religious organisations, orphanages and places of worship, reiterating that street begging has been outlawed in the state.

Advertisement

The head, Non-custodian Centre, Nigerian Correctional Services, Kwara State Command, Adebayo Okunola, said the appropriate punitive measures will be meted out to the arrested beggars to serve as deterrence to them and others.

We will make sure that they clean the streets, they will sweep the streets so that they will know that there is dignity in labour,” he stated.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Indian Businessman, 3 Others Over Alleged Trafficking Of N3.9bn Tramadol

Published

on

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an Indian businessman, Gupta Ravi Kumar, alongside three Nigerian accomplices in connection with the seizure of 2,248,000 pills of tramadol 200mg/225mg.

Kumar was apprehended alongside Ogunlana Noah Olanrewaju, Olushola Idrees Kayode and Bakare Korede Muheeb at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.

Advertisement

The tramadol shipment worth N3,990,000,000 in street value was imported from Delhi, India, disguised as multi-vitamins in 114 cartons and arrived the import shed of the Lagos airport on an Ethiopian Airline flight on Monday 8th September 2025.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said a team of NDLEA officers who had put the consignment under surveillance, swooped on a clearing agent and two drivers who were trying to move the shipment out of the airport in two trucks on Thursday, September 11th.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Arrests 26, Recovers 41,410.53 KG Drugs In Edo

Advertisement

Babafemi said a follow-up operation the following day, Friday, led to the arrest of the Kumar, when he was trying to take delivery of the consignment.

At the Terminal 2 departure of the airport, NDLEA operatives on Sunday, September 7, intercepted a passenger Onyeganochi Stanley Ifeanyi while travelling on a Qatar Airline flight to Doha.

“A search of his bag led to the recovery of 900grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis concealed in crayfish. As a first-time traveler, Onyeganochi claimed the bag was given to him to help take to Doha by a Qatar-based Nigerian Ohaodiegwu Anthony Uchenna who actually followed him to the airport.

Advertisement

“His confession led to the arrest of Uchenna who was still within view. Operatives who later conducted a search of Uchenna’s hotel room in Ajao Estate discovered additional 200grams of the same psychoactive substance.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Busts Cartel, Recovers ₦6.4bn Drugs From Kingpins

He claimed he was to return to Doha days later and pick the bag from the unsuspecting Onyeganochi if he had succeeded in escaping security checks,” the NDLEA said.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, at the Tincan Port in Lagos, a total of 161 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 81.7kg and 1.2kg hashish oil were recovered from a 40ft container of vehicle spare parts and used vehicles imported from Montreal Canada during a joint examination of the shipment on Tuesday 9th September.

Two suspects including John Ochigbo, 53, and Okeke Kingsley, 26, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Arrests Widow Using Fake Pregnancy To Traffic Cocaine

Advertisement

Another shipment of Canadian Loud with a total weight of 65kg was tracked from the port to Third Mainland bridge where NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle conveying the consignment, recovered it and arrested the driver Abubakar Ibrahim, 42 on Thursday 11th September.

Two separate shipments of methamphetamine concealed in picture frame and Loud, hidden in video players were seized at two courier companies in Lagos on Monday 8th and Thursday 11th September respectively by NDLEA operatives.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending