Metro

Court Orders Remand Of Registrar, Banker In Federal Correctional Custody

Published

2 years ago

November 2, 2023

A Senior Magistrate Court 3, sitting in Suleja, Nigeria, has ordered the remand in federal correctional custody of a court registrar and a banker.

The presiding Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Halima Alhassan, who gave the order on November 1st, had turned down the bail application moved by the banker’s defence counsel, Barr. Nuhu Edah.

The two defendants were arraigned on two separate charges by the men of the ‘A’ Divisional Police Command in Suleja on the allegation of forging court affidavits for unsuspecting members of the public in Suleja.

Abdullahi Ismaila, a banker, and Aliyu Ismaila Evuti, a court registrar with the Niger State Judiciary, were separately standing trials on three counts of charges: using a genuine forged document, impersonation, and forgery.

The court registrar was separately arraigned on two counts of breach of trust and negligent conduct, which contravened sections 314 and 196 of the penal code law.

The banker was also separately arraigned on three counts of charges, which included using a genuine forged document, impersonation, and forgery, which are punishable under sections 179, 321, and 366 of the penal code.

According to the charge sheet marked Sul/Smc/Cr/41/2023, on October 23, 2023, the “above-mentioned case was referred from Chief Magistrate Court Suleja for Investigation.

“That on October 20, 2023, you Abdullahi Ismaila, also known as “Man of God,” used a genuine forged court affidavit you signed as the Commissioner of Oath and issued it to one Sunday Bitrus of Zuba FCT Abuja, who came to UBA Bank to effect a correction of his names.

“During the police investigation, you confessed to the commission of the crime and also said you have used this method to collect money from three different unknown persons.”.

When the charges were read to them by the presiding senior magistrate, Halima Alhassan, they both pleaded not guilty to the charges and the police prosecutor, ASP Saidu Ibrahim Katakpa, objected to the bail of the defendant on the ground that the offence for which the defendant was charged was not bailable and requested their remand at the correctional custody.

The second defendant in the case, the prosecutor, ASP Agwajinya Smart Solomon, informed the court that investigations into the case had been completed and urged the court to give them a date to commence a full trial.

However, both defendants were represented by lawyers, and they orally applied for bail with the assurance that they would produce a reasonable surety that would stand for them throughout the trial.

At this point, Senior Magistrate Halima Alhassan, while granting the request of the prosecutor, refused the bail of the banker as his charge was not bailable, while she adjourned until 7 to rule on the bail application moved by the counsel of the court registrar and ordered their remand until November 22, 2023.

Metro

18-year-old OAU Medical Student Dies While Sleeping

Published

8 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, has announced the death of an 18-year-old part-three medical student of the institution.

The student, identified as Timilehin Adetoye Toromade, was a student of the College of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine and Surgery.

According to a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, Timilehin with matriculation number CLI/2022/133, reportedly died in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

The statement revealed that the “university received the news of the student’s passing with shock and deep sorrow”.

It also described the incident as devastating to the academic community.

According to the statement, “preliminary information suggested that the student might have died shortly after 2 a.m., as one of his roommates reportedly said the deceased opened the door for another student around that time.

“The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed condolences on behalf of the Visitor, the University Council, Management, Senate, staff and students”.

The VC, Professor Bamire, described the incident as a painful loss, saying, “The loss of a young life filled with promise, purpose, and potential is a tragedy that words alone cannot adequately capture.”

He added that the university community was united in grief over the passing of a student who had embraced the rigours of medical training with the aim of serving humanity.

According to him, the death had left a void among the student’s peers and all those who knew him within the university community.

The university management stated that it was working closely with relevant authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident, in line with established medical and administrative procedures.

It also disclosed that appropriate support measures were being put in place to assist students and members of the university community who may have been emotionally affected by the loss.

The management called on students, staff, alumni and friends of the institution to remain calm and compassionate, while extending sympathy to the family of the deceased.

Metro

Panic As BRT Bus Catches Fire On Third Mainland Bridge

Published

8 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Panic gripped motorists on Tuesday afternoon following a fire outbreak involving a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge, leading to massive traffic disruption.

The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. near the Adekunle section of the bridge, heading towards Iyana Oworo.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the development in a statement posted on its official X handle.

According to the agency, the high-capacity BRT bus suddenly went up in flames, prompting anxiety among road users in the area.

Footage shared online showed the bus completely consumed by fire, with thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as motorists slowed down or sought alternative routes to avoid the scene.

While no injuries or loss of life were reported, the incident caused a heavy traffic buildup extending from Adekunle towards Iyana Oworo.

“A high-capacity bus is currently on fire on the Third Mainland Bridge by Adekunle, inward Iyana Oworo, and this is impacting traffic flow,” LASTMA stated.

“Our personnel are on ground managing traffic, while efforts are ongoing to extinguish the fire,” the agency added.

Subsequent updates indicated that officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene and worked to control the blaze to prevent further damage.

Traffic officers were also deployed to redirect vehicles away from the affected area as emergency responders tackled the situation.

As of the time this report was filed, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.

Metro

Kwara Vigilante Men Arrested By Soldiers In Edo State Released

Published

11 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Six Kwara State vigilante men arrested by the Nigerian Army on December 31,2025, along Auchi-Ikpeshi highway in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, have been released after a thorough investigation by the authorities.

Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, confirmed the development in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday.

The statement read in part; “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to confirm that on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, it received six vigilante members who were earlier arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Army along the Auchi–Ikpeshi Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

“The Vigilantes, travelling in a vehicle belonging to Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, were formally handed over to the Kwara State Police Command by the Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Brigadier General N.N. Rume, for the purpose of investigation and profiling.

“Following a thorough investigation, it was established that the individuals are legitimate members of a vigilante group operating in collaboration with recognised security agencies in the ongoing efforts to combat banditry and other forms of criminality.

“Consequently, having been exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing, the vigilante members were released to their respective leaders,” the statement added.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, reiterated the command’s commitment to synergy among security agencies and community-based security outfits, while urging all groups to continually operate within the confines of the law.

He assured members of the public that the command remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure the safety and security of all residents of the state.