Metro

Court Sentences Two To Death For Ritual Killing In Ogun

Published

4 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, on Friday sentenced the duo of Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging.

At the same time, Lukmon Abdulgafar bagged life imprisonment over the murder of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo at Kugba area, Abeokuta, on January 28, 2022.

The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Friday.

Recall that Sofia had gone to visit her boyfriend, Mustakeem, who had sexual intercourse with her, after which he was said to have viciously attacked and strangled the deceased with the support of Soliudeen and then beheaded her.

They subsequently cut parts of Sofia’s thighs and stuffed her headless body into a sack, after which the deceased’s head was taken to Lukmon’s house to be burnt with a local burner.

In a viral video that surfaced on the internet in January 2022, the trio were caught by community guards with Sofia’s head burning in the local burner.

They were also seen reciting incantations over her corpse.

The commissioner’s statement read, “Today, July 11, 2025, the trio of Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon
Abdulgafar faces the full wrath of the law over the gruesome killing of Sofia Okeowo.

“The dastardly act which occurred on January 28th 2022, around Kugba, Abeokuta saw Mustakeem Balogun lure 16-year-old Sofia to have canal knowledge of her and later kill her in preparation for a premeditated money ritual charms.

“The two other culprits are Soliudeen Majekodunmi and Lukman Abdulgafar.

“Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court has, however, found the trio guilty of the crime committed and has therefore sentenced Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging while Lukman Abdulgafar received a life sentence.”

The commissioner further stated that the present administration does not allow crime to thrive, prompting the state to secure the conviction of the three criminals, which will serve as a deterrent to other ritualists.

Metro

Woman Dies After Falling Into 170-ft Well

Published

4 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

A woman has died after falling into a 170-foot well at a construction site in Ijegun, Lagos.

Her body was recovered by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service after a prolonged multi-agency operation.

The agency said it received a distress call around 7:34 pm on June 30, about the incident at Abuba Anthony Street, near Obalagbe Bus Stop, close to Fadeko International Hotel.

According to a statement by the Fire Service’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Maria Fadairo, on Friday, emergency responders from the Ejigbo Fire Station arrived to find that a female adult had fallen into a deep well located at the front of a one-storey building still under construction.

The structure reportedly consists of six two-bedroom flats on a fenced 648-square-metre plot.

According to The PUNCH, due to the complexity of the situation, a multi-agency operation was launched. After days of coordinated efforts, the woman’s body was recovered on Thursday (July 10).

“The victim was recovered dead and handed over to officials of SEHMU, while the Lagos State Ambulance Service stood by as the Nigeria Police observed proceedings,” the statement said.

The Director of the state Fire Service, Margaret Adeseye, expressed her condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasised the importance of safety at construction sites, noting that “a 170-foot uncovered well is a severe hazard that must never be left unsecured.”

Further investigations will be handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, according to the statement.

Metro

Bank Fraud: Court Orders Forfeiture Of Cash, Properties

Published

4 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the final forfeiture of two properties, several cars and cash to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to a statement posted on the official X account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday, the Judge gave the order, following a motion on notice filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, through its lawyer, H. U. Kofarnaisa.

In an affidavit deposed by the investigating officer of the EFCC, Sulaiman Muhammad told the court that the commission received a petition from a first-generation bank which complained of a monumental fraud allegedly committed on the account of some of its customers, which totalled N1,403,343,400.

The statement said, “The properties are one unit of a three-bedroom bungalow in Abuja; No. 8, Grace Crescent, Efab Queens Estate, Gwarimpa FCT, Abuja; one Mercedes Benz C300; one gray-coloured BMW 3 Series SUV, and one Black coloured Range Rover 2012.

“Others are three Toyota Hilux of 2008, 2010 and 2014 models; one black coloured BMW SURXI 2016 and two Range Rover vehicles. Other items forfeited included a cash sum of N326,400,000 and another $480,000.

“Justice Osiagor had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties and also ordered the publication of the said order in a national newspaper for any interested parties to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Moving the application for the final forfeiture on Friday, Kofarnaisa told the court that the application was supported by an affidavit from Muhammad.

In the affidavit, Muhammad stated that the bank subsequently submitted an addendum to the petition dated July 24, 2023, wherein the total sum of N2,007,000,000 was fraudulently stolen from the customers of the bank.

According to him, the bank discovered that some customers’ accounts were debited in a manner other than the pattern familiar to the bank, which led to an internal investigation by the audit unit of the bank.

He further stated that the investigation revealed that Atus Homes Limited fraudulently received a total sum of N681,200,000 from 126 customers’ accounts in different tranches.

“An investigation also revealed that Fav Oil and Gas Limited fraudulently received a cumulative sum of N1,388,000,000 from 429 customers’ accounts in different tranches.

“That the total sum of N887,478,600.00 of the sum fraudulently stolen was transferred to various accounts in other banks. Kofarnaisa, thereafter, submitted that the said accounts warehousing the funds sought to be forfeited received inflows reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and are not proceeds of any legitimate business venture.

“She also told the court that the mastermind of this fraudulent crime had been charged before a Federal High Court and that ‘trial is ongoing.’ After listening to the EFCC counsel, Justice Osiagor held that he found merit in the argument of the applicant and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the statement added.

(PUNCH)

Metro

Court Orders Lagos LG To Vacate Deeper Life Church Land

Published

4 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

A Lagos High Court has ordered Surulere Local Government and its representatives to vacate a parcel of land belonging to the Deeper Life Bible Church, following the demolition of the church’s building and failed compensation negotiations.

Delivering ruling on the matter on Thursday, Justice E.O Ashade, also restrained the council from undertaking any development on the disputed land, just as he directed that members of the church should be given unfettered access to use the property for worship and other religious activities.

Justice Ashade further ordered the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, to provide protection for the church and its members to prevent further interference and break down of law and order.

The church had accused Lagos State agencies, including Lagos State Building Control Agency, and officials of Surulere Local Government area of demolishing its building located at 36, Aina Street, Lawanson, Surulere.

It also accused the government of flouting a court order that restrained it from carrying out the demolition pending court decision.

“Since 2007, we have worshipped and served the community from this location. However, in January 2024, the Surulere Local Government notified us of plans to remove our building. This occurred despite an ongoing court case concerning the matter,” the Parish Pastor, Israel Adeagbo, said.

Our correspondent gathered that two days after demolishing the church, the government commenced the construction of shops on the land.

The ruling came following the failed peaceful settlement of the disputed land by the parties after the intervention of police and Christian Association of Nigeria.

The church accused the local government of undermining the settlement process by offering N10m compensation without adequate valuation of the land, demolished building and other lost property.

Speaking on the court’s ruling, counsel to the church, Taiwo Kupolati, SAN, disclosed that the decision followed a breakdown in attempts to reach an amicable resolution.

“A letter was delivered to the counsel to the church offering N10m as full and final compensation for both the demolished church building and the entire land.

“We responded immediately, requesting that a fair settlement should be based on a joint valuation by the local government’s valuer and the church’s valuer, and possibly the provision of an alternative land within the same community. But there was no response”, Kupolati said.

According to him, the refusal of the local government to further engage in the settlement process and its recent application for an extension of time to file a defence in court demonstrated that the council was no longer committed to resolving the dispute amicably.

“Now, settlement has completely broken down. Despite the peaceful way we approached them, they (local government) repaid us with silence and disregard. The local government, has proofed that they are no longer interested in a settlement, filed a statement of defence and an application for extension of time,” he said.

Kupolati added that the court’s ruling was a response to the church’s plea for justice and protection.

“We want to get back our land and seek sufficient compensation for the unlawful demolition of our church building.

“The court granted our prayers and now has restrained the local government from further interfering with our operations. Deeper Life Bible Church now has control of the land until the final determination of this case,” he added.

The court, however, noted that both parties were still free to pursue further dialogue, but warned against any violation of its order.