Metro

Court Convicts DHL Franchise Owner In Benin For Conversion Of Customers’ Parcels

Published

3 months ago

July 22, 2025

Mr. Nuhu Omokide

A Magistrate Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has convicted Mr. Nuhu Omokide, a franchise owner and manager of a branch of DHL in Benin City, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, stealing, and unlawful interference with property.

Mr. Omokide, who was arraigned in Charge No. MEG/275c/2023/A, was convicted on Tuesday, July 22nd by Afe Osamudiamen, (Chief Magistrate Grade I), under Sections 412(1)(2), 287(1)(b)(c), and 346 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.

The charge followed allegations that Mr. Omokide criminally converted a parcel containing original academic certificates and other sensitive documents belonging to his customers.

The parcel was submitted at DHL’s Airport Road Office in Benin City in July 2023 for onward delivery to the United Kingdom, but allegedly disappeared under Mr. Omokide’s custody and failed to arrive at its destination.

The nominal complainants, frustrated by the defendant’s dismissive and uncooperative attitude, initially reported the matter to the police.

However, Mr. Omokide refused to cooperate with police investigation at the AIG Zone 5 headquarters in Benin City, and instead petitioned the Inspector General of Police, alleging harassment.

The matter was eventually charged to court upon subsequent conclusion of Police investigation.

In his defence, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Razak Isenalumhe, argued that liability for the missing parcel lay with DHL as a corporate entity, not with the defendant personally.

However, the prosecuting counsel, Festus Usiobaifo, Esq., Principal State Counsel, submitted that where a company is involved in criminal conduct, its alter ego, including the manager, can be held personally liable if they directly committed, aided, or abetted the offence.

Usiobaifo argued that the defendant, having admitted operational control, responsibility, and close proximity to the parcel, could not hide under the corporate veil of DHL to avoid criminal liability.

He, therefore, urged the court to pierce the corporate veil, stressing that corporate cover must never be allowed to shield criminal misconduct, especially where trust is wilfully breached.

Delivering his judgment, Chief Magistrate Osamudiamen agreed with the prosecution and convicted the defendant on all five counts.

The Court held that company executives and managerial officers will be held personally accountable for criminal acts carried out in the course of their duties, and that corporate protection cannot extend to shield criminality.

The judgment has been described by legal observers as timely and significant, especially in the face of growing concerns over the misuse of entrusted property by courier agents.

“It sends a clear signal that courier personnel are custodians of public trust, and any act of criminal conversion or breach of duty will attract the full weight of the law.”

Thereafter, stakeholders in the logistics and delivery industry were advised to draw lessons from the judgment, adding that the era where managerial negligence or deliberate conversion is masked by corporate identity is over.

Metro

Retired Principal kidnapped In Edo, Abductors Demand N70m

Published

22 hours ago

October 14, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have reportedly kidnapped a retired headmaster identified as Mr. Eliaser Olorunloju near a Fulani settlement in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The incident was said to have occurred between Sasaro and Ayetoro, along the dilapidated Igarra- Uneme-Nekhua – Ibillo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

Olorunloiu was said to be going back to Ugboshi-ele from Igarra, the headquarters of the local government where he was said to have gone to make photocopies of documents ahead of his son’s resumption at a tertiary institution.

It was gathered on Monday that his abductors have reportedly contacted the family and were demanding N70 million.

Confirming the incident, the Director of Operations and Strategy, Concerned Minds Initiative of Akoko-Edo (CMIA), Comrade Victor Arogunyo said “The incident occurred around Aiyetoro–Somorika Junction, close to a Fulani settlement on the Ibillo–Uneme–Nekhua–Igarra Road. This is another sad reminder that Akoko-Edo is under siege.

“In the last few months, this is about the fight kidnapping that is taking place on the same spot, close to that camp which is less than five minutes trekking away from there. The government must do something about this. I called his traditional ruler and he said they called on Sunday evening demanding N70 million.”

He identified bad roads, criminal herders, poor funding of security, low morale among vigilantes and hunters, and weak prosecution of arrested suspects as key factors fueling insecurity across the entire Edo North axis.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu could not be reached as at the time of this report.

Metro

Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate In Rivers, Rescue Babies

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have busted a child trafficking syndicate that manipulates young mothers and vulnerable pregnant women, steals their babies, and sells them to waiting buyers.

The police said the four-member syndicate is led by an ex-convict identified as Blessing Jack, who had previously been arrested, tried, and imprisoned in Calabar, Cross River State, for a similar offence.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday and sent to newsmen.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said Blessing, aged 54, was arrested by men of the Command’s C4i Intelligence Unit on October 9 in Igwuruta, near Port Harcourt, following a discreet probe into the activities of the syndicate.

She said Blessing’s arrest led to the location of her other three female partners, who were consequently taken into custody.

The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its investigation into the activities of a child trafficking syndicate in the state, with the arrest of several suspects.

“The syndicate, allegedly led by one Blessing Jack, a 54-year-old female resident of Timber Road, Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, exploits vulnerable young mothers, stealing and selling their newborn babies for significant financial gains.

“On October 9, 2025, at about 1500hrs, operatives of the Command attached to the C4i Intelligence Unit, through technically aided policing, arrested Blessing Jack at Igwuruta in Port Harcourt.

“A conversation between Blessing Jack and one Marley Oburu ‘m’ revealed the syndicate’s modus operandi. She discussed a recent incident where her associate had taken a woman’s baby, claiming the baby had died, but had been paid the sum of ₦2,000,000 for the transaction.”

She continued, “The transaction suggested that Blessing and her associates use fake scans and manipulate vulnerable pregnant women to obtain their babies.

“Other suspects arrested include: Chinonso Raymond, a 30-year-old male of Igwuruta, Port Harcourt; Chinyere Okorie, a 32-year-old female of Pipeline, Rumuoholu, Port Harcourt; and Nkechi Nwankwo, a 50-year-old female of Pipeline, Rumuoholu, Port Harcourt.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that Blessing Jack had previously been imprisoned in Calabar for three years for child trafficking, highlighting her long-standing involvement in the illicit business.”

The state police image maker said all the suspects voluntarily confessed to the crime, detailing their individual roles.

“Suspects are currently in police custody, while an in-depth investigation has been launched to arrest other members of the syndicate and dismantle the network,” Iringe-Koko stated further.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their diligence in investigating and apprehending the suspects, saying the Command will continue to work tirelessly to protect vulnerable individuals and combat human trafficking in the state.

CP Adepoju appealed to members of the public to report any information that may aid in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases, saying, “Together, we can build a safer and more secure society for all.”

Rivers State Police Command, in September, said its operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed two of their victims after collecting a total ransom of N10.4m.

Earlier in August, the Command said its men busted an armed robbery/kidnapping syndicate terrorising residents of Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of the state, and its environs.

Metro

BREAKING: Lagos Re-arraigns Kidnapper Evans Over Police Officers’ Killing

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

Lagos State Government on Monday re-arraigned convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja is hearing the case of the murder of two police officers by the billionaire kidnapper.

He and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were arraigned before Justice A. O. Ogala on a five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Details later…