Headline

Edo Community Cries To IGP Over Alleged Plots To Free Murder Suspect

Published

4 years ago

January 24, 2022

…Seeks Transfer of Case File To AIG Zone 5

The Ohen, elders and members of Ekiugbo community in Uhunwonde Local Government Area of Edo State have cried out to the Inspector-General Police, Alkali Usman Baba, over an alleged attempt by the legal section of the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, to burgle investigation and set free the alleged murder of their son, Ikpomwonsa Omoruyi by Justin Omoruyi.

The community noted that after a painstaking investigation by the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, SWATT, which link the murder suspect to the death of Ikpomwonsa, the legal section in the force CIID had suddenly resorted to measures unknown to the law to pervert justice.

While appealing for justice on the matter, the complaintants pointed out that autopsy report had shown symtom with the gun found with the suspect.

They therefore appealed to the IGP to order either the legal section of AIG Zone 5 Headquarters Benin to take over the case file as they no longer have confidence in the Legal Section of the Force CIID , handling the matter.

A written compliant to the Nigeria Police Complaint Response Unit by the solicitor to the complaintants, Douglas Ogbakwa, Esq., reads: “That Justin Omoruyi was identified by eye witnesses, who saw him participating actively in the killing of the deceased on the 12th of October ,2021.

“That the SWAT Team of the FCIID ,who ultimately investigated the matter did a fantastic job and recommended that the main suspect -Justin Omoruyi be charged for murder, among other recommendations .

“That the duplicate case file was handed over to one Inspector Gabriel of the Legal Section of the Force CIID , who held on to the case file for weeks with out any communication from him. (SIC)

“That a Petition was filed against Inspector Gabriel by our client to the Inspector General of Police ,the file was later assigned to one Omosun and despite that the matter lied fallow for weeks with out being attended to.

“That our client just discovered from the grape vine an attempt by the Legal Section of the Force CIID to pervert Justice by using technicalities unknown to Nigerian Law to exculpate the main suspect -Justin Omoruyi from murder on a doubtful alibi.

“It is the brief of our client that the duty of the Police is to investigate an alibi and Charge the Murder suspect to Court and not for the Legal Section to give an opinion discharging a suspect identified positively by witnesses at the scene of crime , as the Legal Section is not part of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution or a Court of Law which can discharge a main suspect of murder with the avalanche of evidence against him.,which includes a gun , recovered from him, which the Legal Section removed from the evidence under the ploy that they were taking the gun for analysis.

“An autopsy conducted by the Police Doctor also established the deceased was killed with a gun.It also very curious based on the facts gathered from our clients that the Legal Section of the Force CIID seeks to manufacture a Charge when there is none to Charge our client for what ever offence not supportable by the Proof of Evidence.

“It is the briefs of our clients that they no longer have confidence in the Legal Section of the Force CIID and we humbly urge the reputable Inspector General of Police to Order either the Legal Section of the AIG Zone 5 Headquarters Benin City of the Nigeria Police or the Legal Section of the Edo State Police Command to take over the case file as antecedents with the Legal Section has left much to be desired”.

Recall that late Ikpomnwosa Omoruyi (deceased ), who was allegedly murdered by Justin Omoruyi and others, on their way back from Ekiugbo Community, in Uhunwonde Local Government Area of Edo State on the 12th of October,2021.

Headline

Court Jails Two For Targeting President With Sorcery

Published

10 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A Zambian court on Monday sentenced two men to two years in prison with hard labour on charges of attempting to use witchcraft to kill the country’s president.

Mozambican national Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Zambian village chief Leonard Phiri were arrested in December in possession of charms, including a live chameleon.

Police said they planned to use the charms to harm President Hakainde Hichilema, and they were charged with professing knowledge of witchcraft and possession of charms.

“The motive of the crime was to kill the head of state,” magistrate Fine Mayambu ruled in the capital Lusaka on Monday.

“The convicts were not only enemies of the head of state but all Zambians. I therefore sentence them to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour from the date of their arrest,” he said.

The prosecution said the men had been hired by the brother of opposition MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, who is facing trial for robbery, attempted murder and escaping custody.

Headline

Two Nigerians Face Jail Terms In Liberia’s Piracy Trial

Published

10 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

Criminal Court ‘D’ in Monrovia is set to deliver judgment this week in Liberia’s first piracy trial, involving two Nigerian nationals accused of hijacking a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to court records, the defendants were arrested earlier this year after a Liberia-flagged ship was seized by armed men while transporting goods through international waters. The crew sent a distress signal, prompting international maritime forces to intervene.

The suspects were subsequently transferred to Liberian authorities under global maritime cooperation protocols.

According to Liberia’s news platform, Front Page Africa, the case has attracted attention because Liberia maintains one of the world’s largest open ship registries, yet prosecutions for piracy within its domestic courts have not previously occurred. Under international law, Liberia holds jurisdiction over crimes involving ships registered under its flag.

On Monday, proceedings took a new turn when defense lawyer, Cllr. Bestman Juah, informed the court that the defendants had admitted responsibility for the hijacking and were requesting a plea-bargain arrangement. State prosecutors did not oppose the request, leaving open the possibility of reduced sentences in exchange for full cooperation.

Resident Judge Mameita Jabateh-Sirleaf, who presides over Criminal Court ‘D’, will rule on whether to accept the plea deal and determine the sentencing framework. The ruling could also address deportation measures following imprisonment.

Criminal Court ‘D’ handles cases involving armed robbery, terrorism, hijacking, and other serious crimes, and the piracy trial represents a growing trend of transnational offenses being prosecuted within Liberia’s judicial system.
As of press time, the court has not announced the date for sentencing.

Headline

Spain Cancels $825m Israel Arms Deal Over Gaza

Published

10 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

The Spanish government has cancelled a contract worth nearly 700 million euros ($825 million) for Israeli-designed rocket launchers.

The move comes after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced last week that his government would “consolidate in law” a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel over its offensive in Gaza.

The contract, awarded to a consortium of Spanish companies, involved the purchase of 12 SILAM rocket launcher systems derived from the PULS platform made by Israeli firm Elbit Systems, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance.

First reported by local media and the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the cancellation was formalised on Spain’s official public contracts platform on September 9.

The following day, Sanchez unveiled measures aimed at stopping what his leftist government called “the genocide in Gaza”.

It includes the approval of a decree imposing a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel due to its military offensive in Gaza, launched after the Hamas attacks in October 2023.

Spain applied the ban as Israel stepped up its military onslaught.

Spain has also formalized the cancellation of another contract for 168 anti-tank missile launchers, which were to be manufactured under license from an Israeli company.

That contract, valued at 287 million euros, had been first reported by the press in June.

According to Spanish daily La Vanguardia, the government is undertaking a broader review to phase out Israeli weapons and technology from its armed forces.

Sanchez has emerged as one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza policy.

Relations between the two countries have been tense for months.

Israel has not had an ambassador in Spain since Madrid recognized the state of Palestine in 2024.

Last week, Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel after heated exchanges over Sánchez’s new measures.

The Barcelona-based Delas Centre, a security research institute, estimated in April that since the start of the Gaza war, Spain had awarded 46 contracts worth $1.044 billion to Israeli companies, based on public tender data.