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Four Men Bag Life Sentence For Kidnapping In Ekiti

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An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for kidnapping a 75-year-old woman in Ikere Ekiti.

The defendants – Adeoye Sunday, Adewusi Dare, Bamigboye Damilola and Ogunlayi Seun were also on Monday sentenced to five years imprisonment each for the offence of conspiracy.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Ojo Tope of the charges levelled against them.

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The defendants were tried for the kidnap of 75 years old Madam Florence Popoola from her house, on September 14, 2017, in Ikere Ekiti and kept her in the forest between Eyio and Awo-Ekiti for four days until she was eventually released after the payment of N1.5m ransom.

READ ALSO: FG Revokes Two Smart Schools Contract In Kebbi, Bayelsa

The five defendants were arrested and charged to court with the offences of conspiracy to armed robbery, armed robbery, kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, who prosecuted the case for Ekiti State, said, “The offences committed by the defendants were contrary to Section 6(b) &1(2) (a)of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Sections 3 & 4 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.”

Ajibare called four witnesses and tendered eight exhibits to prove his case.

The defendants, who spoke through their counsel, Chris Omokhafe and Sunday Ochai, gave evidence in their defence and did not call any other witnesses.

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READ ALSO: Why I Tore My Husband’s Passport, Woman Breaks Silence

The judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, in the judgment held that the prosecution proved the offences of Conspiracy to Kidnap and kidnapping against the 1st – 4th defendants beyond reasonable doubt

Ogunmoye consequently convicted four out of the five defendants and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the offence of kidnapping and five years imprisonment for conspiracy to kidnap, but acquitted and discharged them for the offences of Conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.

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The 5th defendant, Ojo Tope was however acquitted and discharged for all the offences.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 39 Suspects With 2,477.59kg In Edo

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, have arrested thirty-nine (39) suspected drug traffickers with 2,477.59 Kg of narcotic drugs.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, state commander of the NDLEA made this known in a statement titled: operational scorecard for October 2025, which he made available to newsmen in Benin on Monday.

According to the statement, the suspects consist of twenty-seven (27) males and twelve (12) females.

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READ ALSO:NDLEA Arrests 3 Suspects With 1,779kg Of Cannabis In Ogun

The statement added that, within the period under review, three cannabis sativa farms measuring 6.711192 hectares with an estimated yield of 16,777.98 kg were also destroyed.

A breakdown of the total 2,477.59 kg of seized drugs indicates that Cannabis Sativa 2,476.87 kg; Tramadol 0.3575 kg; Nitrazepam 0.068 kg; Bromazepam 0.8141 kg; Diazepam 0.084 kg; Swinol 0.0036 kg; Danabol (Molly) 0.013 kg; Methamphetamine (abandoned) 0.0465 kg and Codeine Syrup 0.1 litre.

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According to the statement, three cannabis farms located in the Ugbodo Forest of Ovia North East Local Government Area, covering an area of 6.71 hectares, with an estimated yield of 16,777.98 kg of illegal crops, were eliminated.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Files Forfeiture Case Against Lagos Socialite’s Club Over Drug Party

The command’s prosecution unit also made significant strides in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.

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October saw the conviction of eleven individuals involved in drug-related offences and eleven new cases charged in the courts. Currently, there are 121 pending cases at the Federal High Court in Benin City.

“Our commitment remains steadfast as we continue to enforce the law, educate members of the public, and rehabilitate affected individuals who have problems using drugs.

“The fight against drug trafficking is relentless, and those who continue to engage in this illegal trade will face not only heightened enforcement but also stiffer penalties,” the statement reads.

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Police Rescue Stolen Boy, Arrest Six Over Child Trafficking In Anambra

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The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a three-year-old boy who was stolen in the state and arrested six members of a child-stealing and trafficking syndicate operating across Anambra, Enugu, and Lagos states.

A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said that on September 4, following a petition from the victim, operatives attached to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, began an investigation into the case.

Ikenga explained that the petition detailed how the complainant’s daughter had left her three-year-old son in the care of one Samuel Ibe of Umusiome, Nkpor Uno, while she briefly went to her shop.

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READ ALSO:Anambra Decides: CDD Advocates Neutrality, Seamless Process; Says Litmus Test For Amupitan

On her return, both the child and the said Samuel were missing. Swift investigative actions by the operatives led to the arrest of the said Samuel Ibe. His confessional statement subsequently led to the arrest of his mother, Agatha Ejeweh, 35, and his younger brother, Ejeweh Chigozie Chidera, 15,” he said.

He further disclosed that operatives extended their investigation to Enugu State, where one Angela Eze, 30, was apprehended for collaborating with Juliet Onah to facilitate the transfer of the stolen child to Lagos.

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READ ALSO:Newborn Rescued As Police Bust Anambra Child Trafficking Syndicate

Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives proceeded to Lagos State, where a suspect, China Cosmas, was arrested and the stolen child was successfully rescued. The child has since been reunited with his family in good health,” Ikenga added.

He confirmed that the suspects involved in the crime are currently in custody and will be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

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Ikenga reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that criminal elements should not consider Anambra State a safe haven for any form of criminal enterprise.

 

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Man Dies After Attempting To Flee EFCC Raid In Lekki

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A man identified as Endurance Udeke has died after jumping from a four-storey building durin
g a raid conducted by operatives of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Lekki area of Lagos.

The EFCC confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the operation, which took place on 4 November, targeted suspected internet fraudsters residing at Periwinkle Estate, Lekki Phase 1.

According to the agency, four suspects were arrested during the sting operation, while Udeke and another resident attempted to escape after learning of the EFCC’s presence.

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Udeke and one other resident of apartment W6a got wind of the operation and tried to escape arrest by jumping down from the four-storey building,” the statement read.Udeke did not survive the suicidal effort, in spite of medical interventions made to rescue him.”

READ ALSO:‘EFCC Collected N10m Before They Released Me’ – Oladips Alleges [VIDEO]

The second individual survived after receiving treatment and has since been stabilised, according to EFCC officials.

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The anti-graft agency stressed that its operatives had no physical contact with Udeke before the incident, describing his action as tragic and unnecessary.

The Commission is shocked at the suicidal action of the deceased. There was no contact between officers of the Commission and the deceased before the unfortunate incident,” the EFCC said.

The agency added that the case has been handed over to the police for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding Udeke’s death.

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READ ALSO:EFCC Arraigns Three Over 25m Petroleum Theft In Lagos

The EFCC urged the public to remain calm and cooperate during its lawful operations, insisting that its raids are conducted in accordance with due process.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of EFCC operations following several controversial raids in recent months.

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In September, the agency faced backlash after an early morning operation at a hotel in Lagos led to the arrest of 11 people, including guests not linked to fraud.

Earlier this year, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Ogun State also accused the EFCC of an unlawful raid on its facilities, demanding ₦3.5 billion in damages and a public apology.

READ ALSO:Court Admits More Evidence In EFCC’s $4.5bn Case Against Emefiele

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Despite public criticism, the EFCC maintains that its anti-corruption drive remains a key pillar in Nigeria’s efforts to curb cybercrime and illicit financial activities.

While expressing sympathy to the family of the deceased, the Commission reiterated that its operations are conducted lawfully and urged members of the public not to panic or resist EFCC operatives when they act within their mandate.

While we await the outcome of the investigation, it is important to remind the public that no one with nothing to hide has reason to be afraid of EFCC sting operations,” EFCC noted.

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