Metro

Court Remands Four Cybercafé Operators For Forgery

Published

10 months ago

October 16, 2024

A Chief Magistrates’ Court 1, sitting in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State, has remanded four commercial computer centre operators in the Nigeria Correctional Service facility in Aba.

The accused, Onuoha Ikechukwu (40), Daniel Lawrence (27), Odinaka Onyeforo (37), and Ndukwe Chukwu (50), were arraigned before the court, presided over by His Worship Erinma Maduagwu, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery of a Power of Attorney, an act reserved for qualified legal practitioners.

According to the charge sheet, the suspects operated at Nos. 2F and 2J Pound Road Extension, Aba, near the court, and had been involved in illicit activities for years. The first defendant, Onuoha Ikechukwu, was caught with over 70 forged Powers of Attorney, bearing the names of both living and deceased lawyers.

The suspects, who were often patronised by lawyers for legal document preparation, allegedly stole lawyers’ letterheads and, in connivance with other syndicates now at large, prepared illegal documents for unsuspecting clients, using stamps and seals of deceased lawyers.

Prosecutor Uzoamaka Emmanuel stated that their actions violated sections 516A(a), 484, and 465, punishable under section 467(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.

Counts two and three accused the defendants of falsely presenting themselves as licensed surveyors and legal practitioners by preparing Deeds of Power of Attorney using stolen letterheads and the names of lawyers, including one Van Abakwuo and Mr. Izuchukwu Onyeoma.

The charge sheet further stated that the suspects forged numerous Power of Attorney documents using fraudulent details and legal representation.

“Other Deeds of Power of Attorney purportedly executed by you for yet-to-be-identified persons as listed on the face of the said Deeds; so many cover pages of Power of Attorney signed by Joshua Onyekachi Emele ESQ without the name of any Donor and Donee.

“One Power of Attorney between Mr. Awa Agwu, Robert Nworo, and Onyegu Ifeanyi and other legal documents respectively, a representation you know to be false, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.

“That you, Onuoha Ikechukwu ‘M’, Daniel Lawrence ‘M’, Odinakachi Onyeforo ‘M’, Ndukwe Chukwu ‘M’, and others now at large on or before the 9th day of October 2024, at Nos: 2F, 2J Pound Road Extension, Aba, in the Aba South Magisterial District, did forge and sell legal documents to members of the public, purporting same to have been properly prepared by a solicitor/Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 465, punishable under section 467(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.”

The defendants, represented by their lawyers, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial magistrate adjourned the matter to Friday, October 25, for consideration of their bail application and ordered their remand in the Aba Nigeria Correctional Service facility.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Aba branch, Barr. Charles Oluchukwu, who led other lawyers to the court, commented on the case, “These perpetrators have truly dealt with us (lawyers). The Bar passed a resolution that such individuals caught should be prosecuted, and some of our colleagues who are aiding them in signing those documents should be reported to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee in Abuja for prosecution, with the possibility of having their licences withdrawn.”

Oluchukwu added, “The mandate has been given to me to clamp down on them through a 5-man committee called the Anti-Fake Lawyers and Car Stickers Committee, headed by Uchenna Ejiogu.

“The public should desist from patronising these quacks because most of the Powers of Attorney they purportedly prepare are defective. We shall begin prosecuting those who patronise them.

“Our advice to these computer operators is that they should desist from conniving with quacks to prepare legal documents. We will not spare anyone involved.

“We have put measures in place by setting up a committee that will monitor these illegal activities by touts.”

Metro

Lagos: Police Arrest Security Guard For Stealing Generators, Others

Published

7 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old security guard for allegedly breaking into an apartment and carting away household items worth about N1.8 million.

Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed the arrest in a statement released on Saturday, adding that the suspect was tracked down by officers attached to the Iju Police Division.

He said operatives from the Iju Division apprehended the suspect following a report from a resident of the Ifako area, who returned home on August 15 to find his house burgled.

“Stolen items included a Sumec generator, a Fireman generator, a National air conditioner, and three air conditioner compressor engines, all valued at N1.8 million.

“Detectives arrested the suspect in the same neighbourhood after investigations revealed he conspired with others, who are still at large, to commit the crime,” Hundeyin said.

He added that the stolen items have been recovered, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices.

Hundeyin said the case would be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, assured residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing criminals to justice and urged employers to conduct proper background checks before hiring staff.

Metro

NAF Kills 35 Terrorists In Border Airstrikes Near Cameroon

Published

8 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Air Force said it had killed more than 35 jihadists in raids Saturday on militant fighters that had gathered near the Nigeria–Cameroon border following an attempted attack on ground troops.

The air strike was the latest by the Nigerian military, which is battling a resurgence of attacks in the country’s embattled northwest.

“Acting on multiple intelligence from several sources, the Air Component executed precision strikes in successive passes, engaging the terrorists and neutralising more than 35 fighters at four identified assembly areas,” said a Nigerian Air Force statement.

It re-established communication with the ground troops that had been threatened, and they confirmed that the “situation around their location had been stabilised,” the statement added.

The strike had “intensified efforts” to dominate the battles field and “deny terrorists freedom of action,” said the statement.

While Nigeria’s 16-year-old insurgency has slowed since violence peaked around 2015, attacks have picked up since the beginning of the year.

The Air Force said the latest operation demonstrated the force’s commitment to providing close air support to ground forces, “while also disrupting terrorist logistics and movement corridors along the north east border regions.”

AFP

Metro

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

Published

8 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The police command in Kwara says it arrested a man, who allegedly dismembered the body of his pregnant sister-in-law, Mrs Esther Enemo at Egbejila Road in Temidire community, Ilorin.

This is contained in a statement by the command Spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Saturday in Ilorin.

According to Ejire-Adeyemi, the command wishes to inform members of the public of a tragic incident that occurred in the early hours of Aug. 21, at Temidire community in Ilorin.
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‎”At about 9 a.m., a resident of the area reported a suspected foul play within the residence of one Mrs Esther Enemo.

“In a swift response, a team of police detectives visited the scene, where the dismembered body of Mrs Esther Enemo (aged 39 years) was discovered in the bush behind her residence.

“Further search led to the recovery of other parts of her body concealed in a sack and dumped beneath a nearby community bridge.
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‎”The suspect, (names withheld), aged 29 years, younger brother to the victim’s husband, who was seen leaving the house a few minutes before the discovery of the incident, has been arrested in connection with the crime.

”Meanwhile, the husband has also been contacted for necessary clarification.
“The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) morgue for autopsy.

‎”The Commissioner of Police (CP), Ojo Adekimi, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter, assuring that the command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is served,” he said.
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Ejire-Adeyemi expressed the command regret of the unfortunate incident and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid speculations that would incite fear or tension within the community.

He assured that the police would unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring the perpetrators to face the full weight of the law.

He urged the residents to continue to cooperate with the police by providing useful information that would aid ongoing investigations and security operations.

He reiterated the command to resolve to protect all residents and ensure peace prevailed in the state.

NAN