Metro

Court Orders Remand Of Registrar, Banker In Federal Correctional Custody

Published

3 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

Police Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged N18m Romance Scam

Published

3 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, have arrested a woman and her daughter over their alleged involvement in a romance scam that reportedly defrauded a Malta-based victim of more than N18 million.

The police disclosed that the arrests followed investigations into allegations bordering on computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering after receiving intelligence from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.

In a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uwana Imah, the suspects were identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident identified as Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently at large, allegedly collaborated with Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru to open and operate multiple bank accounts used in carrying out fraudulent transactions.

“One of the victims was identified as a resident of Malta whose identity has been withheld,” the statement said.

The police further disclosed that proceeds from the alleged romance scam were transferred through money transfer operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts belonging to Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

Investigators also alleged that the funds were later moved into an Ecobank account owned by Urowhe Diana, where the money was allegedly spent.

According to the statement, forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital activities allegedly linked both mother and daughter to the cybercrime operation, leading to their eventual arrest.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Emmanuel Amanfo, who was described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to safeguarding Nigeria’s cyberspace and tackling cybercrime across the country.

The NPF-NCCC also urged members of the public to report suspicious cyber-related activities through its official online reporting portal and designated communication channels.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

18 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.