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Customs Intercept 111 Live Parrots, Illicit Drugs In Adamawa, Taraba

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The Adamawa and Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 111 live African grey parrots, illicit drugs, and other contraband items worth over N67 million.

The Area Comptroller, Garba Bashir, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Yola.
Bashir said that within three weeks, officers recorded 19 seizures valued at N67,785,358 in different locations.

According to him, the locations are Mubi-Sahua, Goshindan-Farang, Belel, Girei-Woro Bokki, Gella, Fufore-Gurin, Damare Waterside, Apawa-Numan road, and the Savannah-Numan axis.

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The seized items include; 13,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 1,925 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, packed in 528 and 77 jerry cans respectively.

11 sacks of second-hand clothing, Tramadol capsules; 5,710 (100mg), 990 (50mg); and 185 packets of Benzhexol tablets, 111 live African grey parrots and nine dead ones,” he said.

READ ALSO:World Customs Organisation Elects Adeniyi Chairperson

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The comptroller said that the illicit drugs were intercepted from a suspect along the Apawa-Numan road on June 19.

He noted that the substances were concealed in charcoal sacks and recovered following credible intelligence.

These drugs, when abused by youths will induce them to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

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“Such drugs can be inimical to the health of the citizens and undermining security of the nation,” he said.

On the wildlife seizure, Bashir said a suspected trafficker was caught on June 27 while attempting to smuggle the parrots from Cameroon through the Gurin border.

READ ALSO:Customs Promote Over 4,000 Senior Officers, Restructure Key Unit

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Bashir said the parrots were stuffed in six wooden boxes, leading to the death of nine resulting from poor handling.

The interception aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“Poaching methods are often brutal and a high percentage of captured birds die even before reaching export sites.

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“The species are highly trafficked due to its high demand as intelligent and mimicking pet,” he said.

The comptroller said that the seized drugs and suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, while the parrots would be transferred to the World Parrot Trust for rehabilitation.

READ ALSO:How Customs Intercepted $578,000 Undeclared Cash At Lagos Airport

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He said that 101 raw donkey skins, earlier seized in May, would be destroyed under NCS regulations.

He said the seized petroleum products would also be auctioned immediately to avoid fire hazards, with proceeds paid into the Federation Account.

The customs boss commended the leadership of the Comptroller General, Bashir Adeniyi, for providing an enabling environment and support from sister security agencies.

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He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to curbing smuggling, protecting Nigeria’s borders, and safeguarding public health and the economy.

(PUNCH)

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EFCC Arraigns Three Company Staff For Alleged Fraud Of ₦174m

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate, has arraigned Akaninyene Enefiok Archibong, Sylvanus Edet Akpan, and Glory Enefiok Archibong before Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday said they were arraigned on Friday, November 7, 2025 on twenty-two count charges bordering on stealing, conspiracy, money laundering and criminal diversion to the tune of ₦174,226,610 (One hundred and Seventy-four million, Two hundred and Twenty-six thousand, Six hundred and ten Naira).

He said, “One of the charges reads: “That you, Akaninyene Enefiok Archibong sometime between January and December 2022, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently took possession of the sum of ₦58,600,500.00 through your First Bank account number 3055162976, knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: stealing by conversion, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

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Another count reads: “That you, Glory Enefiok Archibong sometime in 2022, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took possession of the sum of ₦14,090,000.00 through your Zenith Bank account number 2256436893, knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”

He said the suspects all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them

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In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Oluwatimileyin Faleye prayed the court to fix a date for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case against the defendants.

However, defence counsel, Imeh Eduk and Ndifreke Inyangette sued for a short adjournment to enable them file formal bail applications for the defendants. They also made an oral application for the third defendant on the ground of being a nursing mother.

READ ALSO:EFCC Arrests CEO Over ₦2bn Ponzi Scheme

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After listening to both sides, Justice Onyetenu granted the third defendant, Glory Archibong bail in the sum of ₦30 million, with two sureties in like sum, and landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.

The court ordered that Akaninyene Archibong and Sylvanus Akpan be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The case was adjourned till January 27, 2026, for bail hearing and commencement of trial.

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The defendants were arrested in Uyo, following claims of a petitioner, Mr Ubong Bassey Okon, Managing Director of Ubotex Nigeria Limited.

According to the petitioner, Akaninyene Archibong and Sylvanus Akpan, who worked in the company as cashier and auditor respectively, allegedly conspired and diverted company funds into personal accounts, by manipulating figures with forged authorizations on payment vouchers.

Investigations into the matter revealed that Akaninyene Archibong transferred portions of the stolen funds to his younger sister, Glory Enefiok Archibong, who played a critical role in laundering the said funds via property acquisition and constructions, aimed at concealing the source of the illicit funds.

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Man Axed To Death By Lover’s Children, Friends In Delta

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A man identified as Rossy Omatseye has been attacked and axed to death by the children and friends of his lover in Orerokpe Community, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred on Monday, November 10, according to DAILY POST.

It was learnt that the deceased and his lover had an argument which led to his attack and death.

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When the children of his lover heard of the argument between him and their mother, they mobilized their friends and went to his house where they attacked and axed him to death on the spot.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Suspected Cultists, Gun Peddlers In Delta

The deceased family members who are from Ekpan Community in Uvwie Local Government Area mobilized with their friends to avenge the death of their brother in Orerokpe Community.

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The incident caused serious tension but the Police has brought the matter under control.

Although our sources confirmed the violence, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, is yet to confirm the incident as requested by our correspondent in Warri.

 

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Four Sentenced To Death Over Kano Garage Owner’s Murder

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A Kano State High Court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for the murder of Rilwanu Ilyasu, known as Nanu, a mechanic who ran a garage at Farawa Layout in Kano.

The accused are Abubakar Sadiq (alias Alhaji Sallari), Abdulmajid Jibrin, Nasiru Sani, and Yusuf Sani.

Both were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide under Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code. Two other suspects, Nura Farin Boss and Dan Bayo, are still at large.

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READ ALSO:French Court Sentences Saudi Navy Officer To 10 Years For Rape

Barrister Safiya Yalwati, leading the prosecution, said the attack happened on the night of April 13, 2016, when the defendants entered Ilyasu’s home armed with an axe and other deadly weapons.

She added that the assault was motivated by suspicions that Ilyasu had tipped off NDLEA operatives, leading to the arrest of the first defendant and the seizure of illicit drugs and N27,000.

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The attack left Ilyasu with fatal injuries. The prosecution called eight witnesses and presented key exhibits, including the murder weapon.

READ ALSO:Danish Court Sentences Ex-minister To Prison For Child Abuse Material

After reviewing the evidence, the court sentenced the four men to death by hanging.

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Reacting to the ruling, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Maude Kabir SAN, through his media aide Abubakar Tijjani Ibrahim, said the judgment reeflects the unwavering commitment of the Kano State Ministry of Justice to ensuring that justice is served in accordance with the law.

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