Metro

Hotelier, Others Arrested As Lodger Found Dead In Delta Hotel

Published

4 months ago

March 26, 2025

A hotel owner, his wife and a security guard have been apprehended by police operative in Owheologbo, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State following the death of a client in mysterious circumstances linked to ritual killing.

Officials of Isoko North Local Government Council sealed the hotel following the suspects’ arrest.

Community sources said that the owner, his wife and a staff of the hotel have been arrested in connection with activities linked to kidnapping and rituals.

The incident, Vanguard gathered, was the disappearance of a lodger, Sunday Ogofotha, who came from Lagos to attend the funeral of a relative.

The police were informed and upon investigation, the police found evidence of the kidnapping and arrested the hotel owner, Joseph Oghole, the security guard and his wife.

The POS machine and other valuables of a mysteriously killed POS operator earlier were also recovered from the hotel by the Police.

Godwin Ogorugba, Council Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Area angered by the act ordered the immediate sealing of the Hotel.

Century Hotel, located in Owhelogbo community was allegedly being used as a hub for kidnapping and other criminal activities.

The victim had travelled to attend a family member’s funeral and lodged in the hotel but was allegedly killed on Friday night in his room.

According to a source, “Century home is a den of kidnappers, ritual and other criminal activities take place there. Last year, a girl, a POS operator opposite the hotel was killed in same circumstances and during the search for the man who lodged in the hotel on Friday that was killed, the POS machine and other valuables belonging to the POS girl were recovered from the hotel.

“Even the wife of the security guard in the hotel has confessed how the POS girl was killed by her husband and buried her at the back of the hotel. Century home is a butcher home where innocent people meet their untimely death.

“What surprises us was the opening at the back of the hotel with a stream and bushes all over it. Can I shock you? Do you know that the sides and front gate of the hotel are well-fenced, plastered, painted and decorated?

“But the back of the hotel where they have bush and a stream is not fenced at all and you can never notice that and that is where all the atrocities take place in the community,” she said.

Another community source narrated, “The man is from Owhelogbo community, Isoko North. He came all the way from Lagos on Friday to attend the burial of his late relative the following day which was on Saturday.

“But till on Sunday, he was not seen and relatives called his wife and luckily the man had told his wife the hotel he was lodging on arrival to the community on that very Friday.

“Based on that information, the family members moved straight to the hotel to make enquiries but they were told by the hotel management that nobody of such came to lodge in their hotel.

“After much-heated argument, the family members insisted on checking all the rooms with a bit resistance from the hotel management. As the checking was going on, they got to a particular room and the hotel owner, Chief Joseph Ovie Oghole, insisted that clients lodged in that particular room were making out so they should not be disturbed for whatever reason.

“But the family members and members of the community’s vigilante group broke the door and they saw the man on the bed already killed. He was tied with rope with so many injuries inflicted on him both his penis,” he added.

According to Vanguard, the Council Chairman, Ogorugba with some key government officials and security personnel had visited the scene of the crime and officially sealed up the hotel following alleged kidnapping and criminal activities said to be going on in the hotel.

Ogoruba was said to have expressed his deep regret over the unfortunate event even as he emphasized the serious nature of criminal activities in the area and explained the rationale behind the recent curfew imposed in the local government for public safety.

“The police are actively investigating, and we are committed to uncovering the facts and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. For now, I will not be able to disclose all details publicly for security reasons but be rest assured that efforts to preserve safety in Owhelogbo and the entire Isoko North Local Government remain our priority.

“This hotel should be completely sealed up and I want to warn individuals who use their structures for illegal activities, including kidnapping, that the wrath of the law shall catch up with you. Recently, I convened a meeting of hotel owners within the council and the management of this hotel failed to attend.

“During that meeting, we emphasised the need to maintain a manifest to track customer check-ins and check-outs. Moving forward, we will take decisive action against any property owners who aid criminal activities in our communities,” Ogorugba warned.

The recovered remains of Ogofotha have been deposited at an undisclosed morgue in Ozoro.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, was yet to respond to a message sent to him.

Metro

Court Grants Two CBEX Promoters N10m Bail Each

Published

15 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

16 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

16 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)