News

Hausa Community Petitions Edo CP, Demands Justice For Truck Driver Killed Over N1,000 Fee

Published

8 months ago

March 10, 2025

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

Hausa Community in Edo State has petitioned the State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Betty Enekpen- Otimenyi, over the killing of a truck driver, Suleiman Bala.

Bala was killed by revenue collectors in Ahor Community, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state over alleged refusal to pay N1000.00( one thousand naira ) revenue ticket Ahor Community Development Association.

He was said to have loaded his truck with his conductor from Jos, Plateau State, to Benin City on the 23rd of February, 2025 and off- loaded his vehicle.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity said on the said date, about 12.00am, some boys who were said to be revenue collectors for Ahor Community Development Association, acting on behalf of Ahor Community Development Association Chairman woke- up Suleiman Bala’s conductor, demanding for N1000.00 ticket.

The conductor, surprised by the revenue collectors’ act in such a nocturnal period offered them N400.00 but they refused the offer.

Thereafter, it was gathered, the boys in anger collected their wheel spanner, which made the conductor call the attention of his driver, Bala, who was sleeping.

The deceased, it was gathered, followed the revenue collectors alongside his conductor, pleading for the release of the wheel spanner, while he reportedly offered the revenue collectors the balance of N600.00.

However, in anger, the boys (revenue collectors) were said to have used the wheel spanner to hit the driver repeatedly until the driver fell and died, while they reportedly disappeared immediately.

Consequently, in a petition dated February 24, 2025 by the Chairman, Hausa Community, Alhaji Saleh Badamasi, appealed to the Edo State Commissioner of Police to bring the perpetrators to book.

The petition written by his lawyer, S.O. Osazuwa & Co, urged the CP to investigate and arrest the chairman of Ahor Community Development Association, on whose instructions the boys were collecting illegal revenue.

The petition reads: “That our Client informed us that Late Suleiman Bala who is a member of Hausa Community was brutally attacked and murdered in cool blood by some
boys (Agents) of Ahor Development Association Acting on the instructions of Ahor Development Chairman.

“That our Client further informed us that the Late Suleiman Bala who is a bonafide gentle member of Hausa Community, is a Businessman from Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“That our Client further informed us on the 23rd day of February, 2025 while en route from Jos to Lagos and also delivered some goods in Benin which was close to 8:00pm on that same fateful day decided to stay and spent a night in Ahor Kara Market along Lagos Express Way.

“That our Client informed us that at about 12:00am midnight when Late Suleiman Bala, Driver and the Motor Boy were sleeping inside the Trailer (Truck) were woken up by a group of boys holding and parading a ticket bearing Ahor Community Development Association purporting to be acting on the
instructions of Ahor Communiy Development Chairman to collect revenue of One Thousand Naira (N1000) of any Truck even at that unholy hour.”

“That our Client reliably informed us that both Late Suleiman Bala, the Driver and the Motor Boy pleaded and offered them Four Hundred Naira (N400) in order to make peace reign even when they know they were acting illegally.

“That the boys who are Agents of the Chairman of Ahor Community
Development Association, ignored their Pleas by taking laws into their hand grabbed and seized their wheel Spanner of the Truck and were going away with it.

“That we are informed by our Client that while they were begging them
(Agents), the Boys got angry for disturbing with their insistent plea and attacked Late Suleiman Bala with the wheel Spanner by continuously beating and hitting
him with the same wheel Spanner which led to his internal injury and bleeding.

“That we are further informed by our Client that the late Suleman Bala collapse
and died on the spot as a result of the internal bleeding and injuries he
sustained from the attack particularly from the force and hitting on him with the wheel Spanner.

“We are by this Petition calling on your good Office as the Commissioner of Police, Edo State to investigate, arrest the Chairman of Ahor Community Development Association on whose instructions his boys (Agents) carried out such illegal Act to produce his boys (Agents) against the background of the banning of such activities by the Executive Governor of Edo State and more so acting at such an unholy time
to perpetuate these illegal, devious and murderous activities which has culminated into taking an innocent life who engaged in his lawful Business by name Suleiman Bala.
Be assured of our highest commendation in this regards.”

Contacted, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Moses Yamu said, he was not aware of such an incident.

He said: “I don’t know about that, such a thing did not happen in this place, I can assure you that such a thing did not happen here.”

News

Bank MD Jailed Five Years For N32m Fraud

Published

34 minutes ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured a five-year conviction of a former Managing Director of Bonghe Micro Finance Bank, Grace Karka, for her role in a N32m fraud, with an option of fine.

The PUNCH learnt in a statement by the EFCC on Thursday that the agency received a petition from the bank alleging that the defendant transferred N32m while she was the bank’s MD to an unknown account.

The statement noted that the petitioner said the fraudulent act was discovered during an audit of the bank’s account domiciled with a commercial bank.

She was subsequently arraigned before Justice Benjamin Lawan Manji of the Adamawa State High Court on counts of criminal conspiracy and cheating.

One of the charges read: “That you, Grace Andreas Karka and Prince Moses Batalu, between August 2020 and March 2021 in Yola, Adamawa State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit theft of N66,792,960.00 from Bonghe Micro Finance Bank Nigeria Limited (account number 2013668857 domiciled with First Bank Nigeria Limited) by dishonestly moving the said sum without necessary approval, contrary to Section 61(2) of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law 2018.”

According to the statement, the defendant was arraigned in November 2024, but she pleaded not guilty, which led to a full trial.

The EFCC said during the trial, the prosecutor presented witnesses and tendered several documents, while the defendant presented three witnesses.

Following the trial, the judge found the defendant guilty and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment.

“Justice Manji, on October 17, 2025, while delivering judgment, said the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant accordingly on counts one and two.

“The judge also sentenced Karka to five years’ imprisonment with an option of N3m each on counts one and two. The sentence is to run concurrently.

“In addition, the court ordered the convict to restitute the balance of N29,877,040 to the petitioner,” the statement added.

This is not the first time a former bank MD has been jailed for fraud.

News

Edo Lauds Germany On Partnership To Boost Creative Community

Published

1 hour ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Edo state government has commended Germany’s Filmakademie on its partnership to boost the state’s creative community.

The government noted that the plan by the German outfit to use Edo artefacts as basis for harnessing potentials would no doubt impact positively on the state’s creative sector.

The state’s deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa said this when he hosted the German Filmakademie, Ludwigsburg in Benin on Friday.

In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor, who commended Filmakademie for choosing to partner with the state, said that the collaboration will open channel for the training of filmmakers in the state.

The Filmakademie team led by the Director, Entertainment and Creative Economy, Edo Creative Hub, Amb. Solomon Okosun, said that the partnership aligned with policy direction of Governor Monday Okpebholo on creative industry.

Idahosa announced, “Senator Okpebholo is a fantastic and people oriented Governor; a visionary leader that believes in the gifts and potentials of Edo people.

“Exposure to documentary filmmaking and observance of international filmmaking standards through the interface of Edo State trainees with counterparts/students from the German Filmakademie would boost further film production and content creation.

“This will be based on present training of participants on the rudiments of cinematography, film production, film editing, and directing.

“The exposure will enable them gain invaluable skills at story telling and weaving beautiful stories which showcase the rich arts and cultural heritage of Edo State and its people,” he explained.

Idahosa commended the efforts of the two finalists who would make it through to the German Filmakademie after a rigorous three weeks training/workshop, Idahosa urged

“such participants should hone their skills, influence their peers, and push the content and quality of Edo state filmmakers to international standards,” he said.

Idahosa nonetheless appreciated the Director, Edo Creative Hub for collaborating with the foreign film academy, which has helped to expose talented youths from the three senatorial zones.

He advised the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.

According to him, “I expect and encourage participants who have benefitted from this programme to take it very seriously.

“This is because, if the opportunity is given and two of you decide to go to Germany to learn this high profile skills in the movie industry, you will not just keep those opportunities for yourself, you will come back and affect your brothers and sisters, you left behind, thereby, giving more opportunities to our people.

“Our dream is to have a lot of people, God has given potentials to, in the entertainment industry.”

He assured of government’s support to the state’s entertainment industry through the German Filmakademie, in order to help grow the industry in the state.

He told his visitors that the state is safe and prepared to welcome investors from any part of the world.

On his part, the director, Edo Creative Hub stated that as one of its collaborators, the German Filmakademie came into Edo state to prepare trainees for the AFFRIFF/Nollywood Film Workshop.

He said the best two persons that emege from the participants after the workshop would be sponsored to Germany for further studies.

He said, “After a three weeks stay in Benin, trainees would head to Lagos State for the AFRIFF Film Festival haven learnt how to shoot documentaries, training on how to use the high end “ARRI ALEXA 35″ cinematography camera.”

Project Manager, Nollywood Workshop, 2025, from the Filmakademie, Ludwigsburg, Germany, Abel Alechenu, an alumnus of the Filmakademie said over the past two years, indigenes of Edo State have come to the Filmakademie to study under the four months programme and then, came back home to pass on the knowledge to others.

He said, “This year, the Filmakademie chose to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.

“We have been to the National Museum, and to Igun Street, to know the process and see the artefacts and those who created them. It is really a connecting point for both of us.”

News

NAF Redeploys 25 Senior Officers

Published

1 hour ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force has approved the redeployment of several senior officers to key command and staff positions as part of efforts to enhance operational efficiency and align its structure with the leadership vision of the new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

No fewer than 19 officers received new appointments, while six others were posted to various defence and inter-service establishments.

A statement on Friday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the restructuring was aimed at improving decision-making, strengthening coordination across units and commands, and reinforcing readiness in response to current security challenges.

Under the new postings, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi becomes Chief of Policy and Plans, while AVM Adeniran Ademuwagun assumes duty as Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna. AVM Ibitayo Ajiboye was appointed Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited Group of Companies.

AVM Precious Amadi is now Chief of Operations, just as AVM Nnamdi Ananaba becomes Chief of Air Intelligence. AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe will serve as Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation, and AVM Ahmed Dari as Chief of Training. The Transformation and Innovation Branch will be headed by AVM Mohammed Ibrahim.

“In the logistics and engineering domains, AVM Olufemi Ogunsina has been appointed Chief of Aircraft Engineering, and AVM Michael Onyebashi assumes command as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command. AVM David Pwajok is now Chief of Communication and Information Systems, while AVM John Ukeh takes charge as Air Provost Marshal.

“Further reinforcing NAF’s administrative and welfare structures, AVM Simon Peter has been appointed Managing Director, NAFIL Housing and Construction Company, while AVM Chidiebere Obiabaka becomes Air Secretary. AVM Anthony Martins now serves as Chief of Administration, AVM Abubakar Sule takes over as AOC, Logistics Command, and AVM Abdulrasheed Kotun has been appointed Managing Director, NAF Farms. The new Chief of Civil-Military Relations is AVM Edward Gabkwet, while AVM Osichinaka Ubadike has been named Deputy Commandant, AFIT, ” the statement added.

The statement added that other senior officers — including AVMs Ahmed Bakari, Albert Bot, Idi Sani, Muhammed Suleiman, Jibrin Usman and Japheht Ekwuribe — have been deployed to various defence and inter-service establishments to strengthen joint operations.

The Chief of the Air Staff assumed office on Thursday, and the redeployment exercise followed the following day.

His decision to reshuffle senior officers comes just a day after his counterpart in the Nigerian Army also announced a major reorganisation of top commanders