Crime

Exhibits Linked To Suspended DCP Abba Kyari Tested Positive To Cocaine, Witness Tells Court

Published

2 years ago

October 19, 2022

Editor

A Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Mohammed Ajia, on Wednesday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that substances linked to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari, tested positive to cocaine.

Kyari and four Intelligence Response Team (IRT) members of the police – Sunday Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirgba and John Nuhu are facing charges bordering on illicit dealing in 21.35kg of cocaine between January 19 and 25, 2022 – an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act. https://ndlea.gov.ng/

The four other co-defendants are police officers belonging to the IRT, a police unit that was being led by Kyari until he was suspended following the fraud charges filed against him in the US last year.

Another Federal High Judge, Inyang Ekwo, in Abuja dismissed Nigeria’s Attorney-General’s request to extradite Kyari to the US due to the ongoing drugs trafficking suit.

But Chibuna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who are non-police officers pleaded guilty to the charges of unlawful importation of 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria via the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Enugu State, on January 19, 2022.

At the resumed trial on Wednesday, Ajia the fourth prosecution witness, said Mr Ubua who headed the IRT team following Kyari’s suspension over links to Internet fraud involving Abbas Ramon in the US, wrote the NDLEA about Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne’s arrest with substances suspected to be cocaine.

Ajia while being led in evidence by Joseph Sunday, the prosecuting lawyer, further said the anti-narcotics agency on February 4, took custody of the two drugs traffickers and some powdry substances they were apprehended with on February 4, 2022.

“After the substances were subjected to a test, the results tested 80 percent positive to cocain, while in others, there were traces of cocaine in them, which suggests that the substances must have been adulterated with another substance,” the witness told the court.

Following the no-objection by Kyari’s lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, and other defence counsel to the “transfer letter” of the IRT to the NDLEA for Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne’s custody, the letter was admitted as Exhibit 13.

However, Ajia, while being cross-examined by Ikpeazu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said he was unaware if NDLEA personnel at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, where Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne smuggled their drugs into the country, were arrested and prosecuted for failing in their duty.

The witness admitted that the anti-narcotics agency has its operatives at all airports across Nigeria.

“The Airport in Enugu is one of such international airports,” Mr Ajia said while responding to Mr Ikpeazu’s questions.

Justice Emeka Nwite has however fixed October 20 for continuation of trial.

Crime

Police Declare Man Wanted Over Homos*xual Act

Published

11 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.