Crime

Edo Attorney-General Pledges Severe Judgement For Rapist

Published

4 years ago

June 20, 2020

Edo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, has vowed that anyone who indulges in rape would be given the appropriate judgement and punishment such person deserved.

The Commissioner who led a peaceful protest against rape to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) premises, noted that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration is making everything possible to make sure rape culture is totally eradicated in the state.

In the protest organised by coalition of gender-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Omorogbe said not only does she believe rape can be totally eradicated, she added that Governor Godwin Obaseki has been working to make sure this come through soonest.

“All we are trying to do is to make sure there is no more rape in Edo State. Not only do I believe that rape can be totally eradicated in the state, government of Mr. Obaseki is committed to ensuring there is total eradication of rape culture in this state, and to ensure that all rapists get their judgement and given the punishment that they deserved. We are doing all we can to make sure that this becomes a reality”, she added.

Reacting to falsehood being peddled on social media that Omozuwa Vera Uwaila (UNIBEN 200L student that was recently raped and murdered) was impregnated by her pastor before setting her up, the Commissioner said the claim was not only false but misleading, stressing that autopsy carried out on Uwa shows she was not pregnant and was also a virgin.

“We were all terribly shocked to what happened to Uwa. It was terrible; it was a brutal experience. We were further shocked by some of the different things we saw all over the places particularly on social media, and that is why it is important we come here.

“For example, we saw a terrible lie being peddled on social media and not regular press that Uwa was being impregnated by her pastor. That has been refuted though it caused serious anguish to the family members. It’s a terrible story.

“Though one cannot talk at this point, but from the autopsy done on Uwa, it was clearly established that not only was she not pregnant, she was a virgin, so how boyfriend and pregnancy came in only God knows”, she added.

On her part, Roseline Okosun, Chairperson, Edo Women’s Development Initiatives, expressed worry at the increasing rate of rape in the nation, just as she expressed fear that mothers, children no longer safe in the nation.

While stating that it has never this bad since she was born, Okosun lamented that even neighbors, relations do go into rape, stressing that fathers too do rape their biological daughter.

“Our mothers are no longer secured and safe with their children. They can no longer leave their children with their neighbors anymore, and even with relations. Relations are raping our children, fathers are raping their daughters.

“I grew up here in Edo and I have not heard it this bad before that fathers, young boys are raping our daughters in the universities and down to primary school. I don’t know the curse that has been placed on our land”, she lamented.

Further lamenting that children of months old are being raped, Okosun called for a stop to the menace, just as she advocated that anywhere the girl child find herself she must be secured and safe.

She noted, “Even a three-month-old child is being raped. What is the problem with us in this country. We are saying no to all of these. It must come to an end, and that is why we are here. Our children must be safe!”

Also lending her voice,Stella Obehi, a legal practitioner, said they were out to express their deep sadness, anger, and dismay over the incident of rape and defilement in the land, adding that they do not want women and children to be raped anymore but be treated with respect and dignity.

While calling on law enforcement agencies and the government to put in place laws that will protect women and children against rape, she noted that rape thrive because stakeholders are silent about it.

She said, “We are saying we do not want our women and children to be raped anymore. We want our women to be treated with respect and dignity. We are calling all stakeholders to join us to form forces against rape.

“We do not want the culture of silence anymore because probably this is why the menace has thrived so long. We want law enforcement agencies to be up and doing in their jobs. We want government also to put in place all needed to protect us from rape.”

Welcoming them to the premises of the NUJ, Roland Osakue, Chairman Edo NUJ, disclosed that journalists are against rape and ready to provide all the necessary support so as to put an end to the menace.

While saying that rapists are criminals in the society, Osakue stressed that they needed to be treated as criminals without pity.

Crime

Police Declare Man Wanted Over Homos*xual Act

Published

10 months ago

June 22, 2023

Editor

A 50-years old man, Edo Omusi, has been declared wanted by the police in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, for disappearing after being ‘caught’ in a same s*x act in Ogiso community.

A source close to the police in the state, told our correspondent that the suspect, and one of his male friends, whose name was not given, were sighted at an undisclosed location by some youths as they were comitting the act.

Under Nigerian Laws, any person caught in the gay act is liable to 14 years in prison and if found by the community could be killed.

The duo were said to have been deeply engrossed in the act when they were found but before the person who saw them in the , “sinful and abominable act”, went for back up, they had escaped the location.

The incident which occurred on 25/4/23 at Ogiso area of the town almost threw the community into a turmoil as irate youths welding sticks and cudgels rampaged the community in search of the duo to lynch them.

It was also learnt that worried by the trend the youths in the community had to set up a surveillance team to monitor his movements. It was on one of the surveillance trips that he was reportedly caught on the fateful day, with the unidentified male partner.

It was gathered since the community reported the incident to the police, the whereabouts of the suspect, Edo Omusi has since remained unknown by all and sundry.

Speaking on the development, a top Police official confirmed the matter and explained that the Crime Investigation Department of the command is working round the clock to arrest the suspect, having declared him a wanted person.

Crime

Man, 41, Sent To Prison For Groping Woman’s Breast

Published

1 year ago

April 14, 2023

Editor

A Badagry Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the remand of a 41-year-old man, Ibrahim Lemo, for groping the breast of a woman.

The court heard that Lemo beat up his victim, Zainab Babalola, when she demanded he stopped the unlawful act

Chief Magistrate Fadahunsi Adefioye remanded Lemo after he pleaded guilty to a two count bordering on assault.

Adefioye ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Awhajigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry.

He adjourned the case until April 14 for facts and sentencing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP. Clément Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 6 at 2.30 p.m. at Badagry Roundabout shopping complex, Badagry, Lagos.

Okuoimose said Lemo without lawful excuse pressed the breast of the complainant, Zainab Babalola.

He said the defendant also hit the complainant on her left eye and caused her harm after she asked him not to touch her again.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 134 and 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

(NAN)

Crime

Hushpuppi’s Associate, Woodberry, Pleads Guilty, Forfeits $8m, Assets

Published

1 year ago

April 13, 2023

Editor

Olalekan Jacob Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

He also agreed to forfeit $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government.

Woodberry, a known associate of the now-imprisoned internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, recently in a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictments, the Peoples Gazette reports.

According to his plea agreement, he is required to pay back the sum of $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that he scammed.

“Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence,” stated the document containing Mr Ponle’s signed plea declaration.

Woodberry was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai.

The high-end automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816).

Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.

Last year, he forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin to the American government.

On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.

Prior to his arrest, Woodberry was known for rocking and flaunting expensive designer wear and showing off his illicit wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no idea his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime.