Metro

EFCC Storms Lagos School; Management Alleges Assault

Published

7 months ago

March 3, 2025

The management of Goodwill School, Ikorodu, Lagos, has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of invading their school premises and assaulting some teachers and students.

According to the school, on Thursday, February 27, 2025, EFCC officers entered the classrooms and informed the teachers and pupils that the anti-graft agency had taken over the school through a final forfeiture order obtained in January 2025 via an ex parte motion, without prior notification to the other party.

The acting Vice Principal of Goodwill Private Schools, Mr. Olalekan Adewale, recounted how the sight of armed officers left students terrified. He described how one pupil was so traumatized that she began vomiting.

He said: “The EFCC officers even threatened to arrest me but changed their minds when the teachers and pupils insisted they would accompany me to their office in Lagos Island. We were all embarrassed as they harassed everyone simply because we refused to accept the letter they brought from their office. It was a traumatic experience for both teachers and students alike.”

The proprietor of Goodwill School, Mr. Omoniyi Enikuomehin, accused EFCC officials of forcibly evicting students and staff from the premises and attempting to detain the Vice Principal.

”I wasn’t around when the EFCC officials came, but I was informed that two of them were armed. They entered the school compound and told students that the school now belonged to the EFCC.

“They met with the Vice Principal, Mr. Olalekan, and asked him to sign a letter. He declined, stating that he had no instructions from the management to do so. The officers then threatened to arrest him, but the teachers and students refused to let him go alone.”

EFCC Denies Assault Allegations

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson Mr. Dele Oyewale denied claims that officers assaulted anyone at the school.

“We do not storm locations; we conduct our operations lawfully. The Goodwill School case is under investigation, and the matter is in court. The court granted final forfeiture of the property to the commission, following legal procedures.

“The court had initially issued an interim injunction, directing the commission to publish a notice in two national newspapers for any interested party to contest the forfeiture. This was done within 14 days before we obtained the final forfeiture order.

Once a property is forfeited to the government, no business can be conducted there. Our officers simply informed the school that the property was under litigation and had been forfeited. They did not arrest or assault anyone. The rightful owner of the property was aware of the legal processes.”

Documents reviewed by Vanguard indicate that the EFCC’s action stems from a contractual dispute between a first-generation bank and Mrs. Olabisi Victoria Olaiya.

A petition by the law firm Ronke Adekoya & Co., on behalf of Mrs. Olaiya, accused the bank of failing to uphold a contractual agreement regarding a mortgaged property.

Part of Goodwill School was reportedly used as collateral for a loan. When the property owner sought to sell it to repay the debt, the bank allegedly bypassed due process by selling it to Mrs. Olaiya without advertising for competitive bidding.

When the original owner objected, the bank halted the transfer of title documents to Mrs. Olaiya. She then petitioned the EFCC to recover her money. In response, the EFCC secured an ex parte order for both interim and final forfeiture of the property.

The proprietor of Goodwill School has since notified the court that he was not given prior notice before the forfeiture order was issued. The court subsequently ruled for a status quo to be maintained. However, the EFCC proceeded with its enforcement, leading to the confrontation at the school.

Metro

Imo To Arraign Lawyer Over Anti-Uzodimma Articles

Published

5 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The police in Imo State have charged an Owerri-based lawyer, Chinedu Agu, with cyberstalking and defamation of character following two opinion articles written by the lawyer criticising the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Agu was scheduled to be arraigned before the magistrates’ court in Owerri on Wednesday but the case was stalled as chief magistrates in the court were away for an official function.

The spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed that Agu would be arraigned for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

“Yes, Mr. Chinedu Agu, Esq., will be arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Owerri on allegations bordering on cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civic disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. The arraignment is in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights,” Okoye said.

Agu, a known critic of Governor Uzodimma’s administration, was arrested on Tuesday after honouring a fresh police invitation.

His arrest followed a petition by the Imo Democratic Alliance, signed by Umukoro Marvis Udochukwu, accusing the lawyer of publishing inciting articles.

Several lawyers thronged the court on Wednesday, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri branch, Chief Chris Ihentuge; Chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum, Damian Nosike; and a former NBA Owerri Chairman, Chief Stanley Imo (SAN).

However, after waiting for hours without proceedings, Nosike informed them that no chief magistrate was available.

“We have just been informed that there is no chief magistrate available for the charges to be preferred against our colleague, Barr. Chinedu Agu. The police said they will take him back to their office and return him to court tomorrow. The matter cannot be heard today,” Nosike told his colleagues.

Agu has recently gained attention through a series of opinion pieces critical of the Uzodimma administration.

On August 30, 2025, he published an article titled,“Tears from Enugu: A lawyer’s heartbreaking diary from a state that works to a state in ruins,” followed the next day by another one titled,“Imo State — where justice is on vacation during court vacation”.

In response, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, wrote a rebuttal titled, “Lawyer Agu’s satanic verses against Imo State”.

Meanwhile, Agu has insisted Imo Democratic Alliance, which wrote a petition leading to his arrest, is a fictitious organisation, claiming it is neither registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission nor traceable to any physical address.

He alleged that the petition against him was sponsored by Emelumba.

Agu’s arraignment is now expected to hold today (Thursday).

Metro

Police Declare Man Wanted For Attempted Murder, Fraud

Published

25 minutes ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has declared one Okoro Prince Nkemakolam wanted for alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, assault, threat to life, and criminal breach of trust.

The Force made this known in a Special Police Gazette Bulletin released via its official X handle on Thursday.

The Force stated that Nkemakolam is wanted by the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force (INTERPOL), and the Head National Central Bureau, Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The bulletin stated, “The above-named person is hereby declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force. A warrant of arrest was issued against him by the High Court of Abuja.

“He is wanted for the offence of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, fraud, threat to life, criminal breach of trust, and attempted murder by attacking the complainant with a machete and knife to the extent that he was admitted and stitched all over his head and his body, escaping death by the whiskers.”

The police described Nkemakolam as a 38-year-old man of medium height and build, with copper complexion and a square-shaped face.

According to the police, the suspect dresses in western clothes and speaks Igbo fluently, and was last seen in Benin/Abakaliki in Umobo community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Force urged members of the public with useful information on his whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact the Interpol, Force Headquarters, Abuja, through 080622129151.

Metro

JSS 3 Student Hacks Man To Death In Cross River

Published

1 hour ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

A Junior Secondary School student in Ugboro Secondary School in Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State, identified as Ogbeche, has hacked a 23-year old man to death.

The incident was said to have occurred in Ugboro at the close of school on Tuesday, when Ogbeche and another student whose name was given as Nicholas were engaged in a fight and the deceased known as Oshen went to separate them.

Speaking to Vanguard, an eyewitness simply identified as Lizzy, said while Oshen was separating the fight, Ogbeche took offence that Oshen was siding his opponent and left the fight to pick a pestle used in pounding food and struck Oshen on the head causing him to collapse.

“When he picked up the pestle, people were shouting, asking him to drop it but he did not listen. He went ahead to hit Oshen on the head with it.

“You know the pestles we use here are very heavy not like the ones you people use in the town, that was why it could inflict severe damage to the head with just one strike,” Lizzy said.

According to her, Oshen did not die on the spot but was rushed to a hospital at Ogoja, where he died same Tuesday night.

“Oshen’s father, known as Oshen Ushaka, was one of the early rich men we had here in Bekwara. He passed on some years back and his children are the ones occupying his compound,” she added.

The eyewitness further explained that Ogbeche has a record of regular fights and, some times, he attacked his fellow students with machete but there had been no casualty until the Tuesday incident.

It was gathered that the assailant was arrested by the police and is currently at the Ogoja prison.