Metro

Fire Destroys Goods Worth Millions In Rivers

Published

2 years ago

December 29, 2023

Goods and property worth millions of naira were destroyed in two separate fire outbreaks in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State respectively on Thursday.

The first was recorded at the Marine Base axis of the metropolis opposite the Plank shade market.

Eyewitnesses said the fire started from a shop at the plank shade in the morning, as thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere.

One of the eyewitnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity said the fire was almost put out by residents and shop owners before the arrival of the firefighters.

He stated, “I was just called upon that there was fire in Marine Base. So when I came to the place, it was opposite the plank shade but the boys around did well to see that they stopped the fire.

“Fire service came later and completed what the boys started but smoke is still coming out.”

Another resident, who gave his name as Obi, said initially when the fire service personnel came, some boys started chasing them and stopped them from doing their job.

“But they (firefighters) were later allowed and the fire was put out. Though a lot of damage has been done and people have lost properties and valuables,” he explained.

Meanwhile, another fire was recorded at a parking space in the Rumueme axis of Mile 4 along Ikwerre Road on Thursday evening which also destroyed several properties.

The PUNCH correspondent who visited the scene noted that a rented space was used by a trader to store items including furniture and mattresses, but the cause of the inferno could not be ascertained.

One of the affected residents said, “I just locked my door and I went out. When I returned, I saw a crowd. Reaching here, I saw all the mattresses at the back have burnt. It affected my window and most of mu things got lost.”

Another resident said, “We just saw the fire but we could not identify where it started from. I picked my phone and started calling the fire service. Though they were not picking but they later came. There is this man that stored many goods. Some of the goods just came in.”

Speaking, an official of the Federal Fire Service said they got to the scene as soon as they received the distress call and expressed happiness that some properties were salvaged by residents.

Meanwhile, residents of the state have called on the state government to make the state fire service functional in order to promptly respond to such emergency situations.

Metro

Court Grants Two CBEX Promoters N10m Bail Each

Published

16 hours ago

July 22, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to two detained promoters of Crypto Bridge Exchange in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted bail to Avwerosuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, with the condition that the sureties must own property worth the bail sum within the jurisdiction of the court.

He further ordered that the addresses of the sureties be verified by the court registrar.

CBEX is a digital platform that became defunct after collecting billions of naira from investors.

Following widespread public outcry after the platform mysteriously disappeared along with investors’ funds, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission approached Justice Emeka Nwite on April 24, seeking an order to arrest and detain six CBEX promoters over alleged fraud.

Justice Nwite granted the request after the EFCC filed an ex parte motion. He ruled that the suspects be detained pending the conclusion of investigations and potential prosecution.

The six suspects named in the application are Adefowora Abiodun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, listed as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

In the motion ex parte dated April 23, and filed by EFCC counsel, Fadila Yusuf, the Commission stated four grounds for its application. Yusuf noted that the EFCC has a statutory mandate to prevent and detect financial crimes through investigations.

She submitted that “the defendants are at large and a warrant of arrest is required to apprehend them for proper investigation and prosecution.”

According to an affidavit filed in support of the motion, the EFCC said it received intelligence in April 2025 about an alleged investment scheme fraud involving the defendants.

It alleged that the defendants and their company, ST Technologies International Limited, used another company, Crypto Bridge Exchange, to carry out the fraudulent scheme.

The EFCC stated that the defendants promised unrealistic returns on investments—up to 100 per cent.

“That the victims were made to convert their digital assets into a stablecoin, USDT, for onward deposit into the suspects’ crypto wallet.

“That the victims were initially given full access to the platform to monitor their investments.

“That after deposits valued at over one billion dollars were made, the CBEX investment platform became inaccessible, and the victims could no longer withdraw their funds.

“That the victims later discovered that the said scheme was a scam.

“That during the course of investigation, it was discovered that ST Technologies International Limited, though registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, was not licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to operate as an investment firm.

“That it was also revealed that the defendants had vacated their last known addresses in Lagos and Ogun States.”

The EFCC stated that a warrant of arrest was necessary to place the defendants on the red watch list to facilitate their apprehension and prosecution.

The Commission asserted that its investigation established a prima facie case of investment fraud and that granting the application would serve the interest of justice.

Following the court’s order, Adefowora Abiodun (1st defendant), Avwerosuo Otorudo (5th defendant), and Chukwuebuka Ehirim (6th defendant) were detained in EFCC custody for investigation.

The trio applied for bail before Justice Nwite on June 30, but the application was denied.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that from the totality of the affidavit evidence presented by both parties, the weight of evidence against the defendants was strong.

He also noted that, due to the nature of the case, the EFCC had obtained a remand order from a competent court.

Meanwhile, Otorudo and Ehirim filed a separate bail application before Justice Umar.

At the last hearing on July 7, the court reserved ruling after hearing arguments from their counsel, Justice Otorudo, and opposition from EFCC counsel, Fadila Yusuf.

In delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Umar granted bail to the duo but adjourned the matter until October 13, for the commencement of trial.

The two defendants were arraigned by the EFCC on an amended three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/216/2025, bordering on illegal financial operations and unlicensed investment activities.

They were accused of collecting public funds and promising up to 88 per cent returns on investment without obtaining the necessary regulatory approval.

In a separate proceeding, the EFCC arraigned the 1st defendant, ST Technologies International Limited, and its Managing Director, Adefowora Abiodun (2nd defendant), on an amended eight-count charge dated July 9 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/215/2025.

Justice Umar fixed July 25 for ruling on Abiodun’s bail application after hearing submissions following the defendants’ arraignment.

The charges include allegations of obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, and operating a financial institution without a licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria or registration with the SEC.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.

Defence counsel, Babatunde Busari, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of Abiodun on June 30 and urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms.

Busari argued that the charges were bailable and that Abiodun had voluntarily submitted himself to the EFCC for investigation.

He also presented a medical report showing that the defendant had an urgent eye condition requiring surgery, which he had been unable to access during 80 days in detention.

“We, therefore, urge the court to admit the defendant to bail, noting that the total monetary value of the claims is around N20 million,” Busari said.

He prayed the court to release Abiodun to him for the purpose of bail.

However, EFCC counsel, Fatsuma Mohammed, strongly opposed the bail application, citing a counter-affidavit filed on July 7.

She urged the court to refuse bail and instead order an expeditious trial, stating that investigation was concluded and the prosecution was ready.

When asked by the judge whether the offence was bailable, Mohammed responded: “The section under which the defendant is charged carries a sentence of seven years upon conviction, which is sufficient to create a flight risk.”

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter to July 25, for ruling and ordered that Abiodun remain in EFCC custody pending the outcome of the bail application.
(PUNCH)

Metro

Man Stabbed To Death During Argument

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Editor

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old suspect over the alleged murder of one Auwal Umaru, of Katami village, Silami Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The spokesperson for the command, Nafi’u Abubakar, made this known in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

He said that on July 21 at 8am, the police received information that Umaru was seen lying in a pool of blood behind the Central market, Birnin Kebbi.

“Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Central Market, mobilised a team of policemen and vigilantes to the scene and evacuated the victim to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, where a medical practitioner certified the victim dead.

“Following a credible lead, one Bello Amakwa, 30, of Birnin Kebbi was arrested in connection with the case.

“In the course of preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to having stabbed the deceased with a knife on his neck as a result of a mere argument at about 2:30 a.m.,” Abubakar said.

The spokesman said that the exhibits used in committing the crime have also been recovered.

Abubakar quoted the Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, as appealing to youths not to resort to self-help when aggrieved, but rather to seek redress through appropriate channels.

“He directed the Divisional Police Officer to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation and prosecution,” Abubakar said.

Metro

Internet Fraud: Chinese Nationals Lose $222,729 In Digital Assets To FG

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Editor

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of digital assets worth $222,729.86 USDT recovered from Chinese nationals linked to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed this in a statement on Monday, following the court order delivered on July 21, 2025.

The forfeited assets were recovered from members of a syndicate arrested during a December 10, 2024 raid in Lagos, codenamed the “Eagle Flush Operation.”

According to the EFCC, the suspects,including the Chinese nationals, were part of a group of 792 individuals arrested for alleged cryptocurrency investment scams and online romance fraud.

The commission stated, “Justice Owoeye gave the order, following an ex parte motion filed on July 18, 2025 by the EFCC, through its counsel, Zeenat Atiku.”

While moving the application on Monday, Atiku informed the court that it was backed by an affidavit deposed to by Muazu Abdulrahman, an EFCC investigating officer.

In the affidavit, Abdulrahman stated that the syndicate carried out its operations through a Nigerian-registered company known as Genting International Co. Limited.

“Over the course of its activities, this company’s Union Bank account 0225100403 received a staggering sum of over N2,268,839,161 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Eight Hundred Thirty-Nine Thousand, One Hundred Sixty-One Naira) from April 12, 2024, to December 23, 2024.

“An analysis of the company’s bank statement revealed that the primary inflows into the account originated from two cryptocurrency vendors: Chukwuemeka Okeke and Alhassan Aminu Garba.

“Furthermore, Okeke and Garba were invited for questioning and they willingly provided their statements under caution.

“They reported that they received a total USDT valued at $2,386,642 from the syndicates, resulting from USDT purchased through peer-to-peer trading.

“They also identified the wallet addresses utilized by the group for transferring funds (USDTs),” he said.

Atiku submitted that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of computer-related fraud and money laundering, and urged the court to order their forfeiture to the Federal Government.

In granting the request, Justice Owoeye ruled, “I have read the motion and attachments and found sufficient merit in the application.

“Consequently, the motion succeeds and is hereby granted.”
(PUNCH)