Metro

Court Remands 16-yr-old Robbery Suspects Nicknamed ‘Oyenusi’

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2023

An Akure Magistrate Court, in Ondo state, has ordered the remand of a 16-year-old armed robbery suspect, Sunday Ojo, nicknamed after Nigeria’s notorious armed robber, Oyenusi.

Ojo confessed that he has been involved in no fewer than 40 operations.

He was brought to court by men of the Ondo State Security Outfit, codenamed ‘Amotekun, over alleged housebreaking, stealing and illegal possession of a firearm

The defendant is facing a seven-count bordering on conspiracy, housebreaking, stealing and illegal possession of firearms.

According to the State Counsel, O.F Akeredolu, the defendant and others at large committed the offences between April 2022 and August 2023 at different places in Ilara-Mokin and Ijare, Ondo State.

Akeredolu alleged that the defendant with his armed gang had been involved in various house breaking and theft in the two communities.

He said that “On August 17, 2023, Sunday at about 3pm, broke into and looted a shop at Ilara, belonging to one Esther Olaseni and stole one 3kg gas cooker, 11 spaghetti, a pack of magic detergent, packs of big toothpaste, 15 rubbers of rice, nine pieces of golden terra, two bottles of air cream and 145 cubes of chocolate.

“Also on April 9, 2022, Sunday and others at large broke and entered into a shop belonging to one Mrs Esho Olanireti, at Hospital junction in Ilara-Mokin and looted all the goods there.

“On April 10, 2022, the defendant and his group at about 9am broke into a house and stole an itel phone valued at N9,500, belonging to one Mrs Grace Falaye, among others ,” Akeredolu alleged.

The defendant was also said to have firearms in his possession when apprehended

According to the Prosecution, the offences contravened Sections 413, 383, 516 and 414 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State, 2006 and Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Though the charges were read to him in Yoruba language, his plea was not taken.

Akeredolu prayed the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The trial Magistrate Damilola Sekoni therefore adjourned the case till September 15, for ruling on the remand application.

Recall that Ojo was arrested by the Ondo state security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, alongside two others nicknamed after notorious armed robbers three years ago.

They include Timileyin Femi, aka Anini, 13 years and Matti Lowe, aka Osunbo,16 years.

Sunday who was sent to juvenile home, when arrested last year by the state Amotekun, said that he has been involved in over 40 operations.

In an interview after he was re- arrested by the Amotekun corps, and paraded in Akure, the state capital, Sunday said that” l have lost count of the robbery operations I have been involved in. But they can’t be fewer than 40.

He claimed to be overwhelmed by evil spirit that motivates him to steal.

The state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said that Sunday was a second-time armed robbery suspect.

Adeleye added that the suspect who was arrested for illegal possession of firearms when he was 13 years old and was sent to juvenile home, was again arrested for burglary and stealing.

“We’ve arrested a juvenile robber, who adopted the name of notorious Nigerian armed robber, “Oyenusi” for stealing in the state.

“We rearrested a young boy we arrested three years ago and took to juvenile for illegal possession of firearms and robbery.

“At that time, he was 13 years. The best we could do was to hand him over to juvenile and see if he could be rehabilitated.”

Adeleye said that ” right now, he’s 16, this time around, he broke into a number of shops and removed items. Between then and now, he confessed that he had engaged in over 40 housebreaking activities”
VANGUARD

Metro

Sowore Arraigned Over Alleged Cybercrime

Published

10 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime offences.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate, faced a five-count charge accusing him of defaming President Bola Tinubu by calling him a criminal in posts on X and Facebook. The DSS claims that his actions violate the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Criminal Code Act.

At the hearing, Justice Mohammed Umar granted Sowore bail on self-recognition. However, the court imposed strict conditions, barring him from making any statements capable of inciting the public or undermining national security. The judge warned that any violation of these conditions would lead to immediate revocation of his bail.

Justice Umar noted that Sowore, who previously contested for the presidency, was already under bail conditions with his international passport held by the court. He said these factors justified granting him bail without a monetary surety.

The arraignment on Tuesday came after two earlier attempts were unsuccessful. DSS counsel, Akinolu Kehinde (SAN), attributed the delays to legal obstacles introduced by Sowore’s defence team.

Sowore pleaded not guilty to all charges. His lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, also filed a fresh bail application during the proceedings, which the court considered before ruling.

Two other defendants — X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc. — are listed in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025. The DSS claims that these companies aided Sowore in publishing the posts allegedly containing defamatory statements against the president.

The case is the latest in a series of legal battles involving Sowore, who has in the past faced arrests and charges over his activism and online publications.

The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, under which Sowore was charged, criminalises the online publication of false statements that can harm individuals or public institutions. The law also empowers the government to hold social media companies accountable if they facilitate the spread of such content.

Sowore’s arraignment has drawn reactions on social media, with supporters describing the charges as politically motivated, while others argue that public figures must exercise caution in their statements online.

Metro

Alleged Cybercrime: Court Grants Sowore Bail

Published

10 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Abuja Federal High Court, on Tuesday, granted former presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, bail on self-recognition, cautioning him to refrain from making any utterances that could incite the public against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sowore’s bail followed his arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) before the court on a five-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime.

In the five-count charge, Sowore is accused of allegedly making derogatory remarks about President Tinubu on his social media handles.

Sowore, who is the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to him.

Earlier in the proceedings, his counsel, Marshall Abubakar, had raised a motion challenging the competence of the suit, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction.

The prosecution objected, stating they had only just been served with the processes and needed time to respond.

In a short ruling, Justice Umar held that the objection on jurisdiction was not ready for hearing because the prosecution was served that morning, adding that the defendant needed to give them adequate time to file a counter-affidavit.

He then directed that the charges be read to the defendant.

When the charge was read, Sowore pleaded not guilty; his counsel applied for bail on self-recognition. The prosecution, however, opposed the application, arguing that Sowore posed a flight risk.

Justice Umar, in ruling on the bail request, granted Sowore bail on self-recognition and adjourned the matter to January 19, 2026, for trial.

Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019, was accused of contravening the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Criminal Code Act by calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal

The two other defendants listed in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, are X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.

Metro

Delta: Suspected Kidnapper Killed In Gun Battle With Police

Published

16 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

A suspected kidnapper has been killed during a gun battle with operatives of the Delta State Police Command in collaboration with Community Volunteers in Obiaruku Forest.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer,SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.

“Operatives of the Command State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), in collaboration with community volunteers, were on intensive patrol when they received credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers were mobilising within the Obiaruku forest to carry out an attack.

“Acting swiftly on the information, the operatives advanced towards the location to forestall the planned criminal activity,” the statement said.

According to Edafe, on approaching the area, the suspects opened fire from multiple directions in a bid to repel the team.

“The operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the death of one suspect, while others escaped into the forest with various degrees of injuries.

“One AK-47 rifle with forty-two rounds of live ammunition, nine mobile phones, and charms were recovered,” the statement added.