Crime

Labour Party’s Youth Mobiliser Escapes Death As Armed Political Thugs Attack Fuel Station

Published

1 year ago

February 26, 2023

By Eric Odigie

NIPCO Oil station on Ogida Axis of Siluko Road in Benin was on February 2023 attacked by armed thugs suspected to be the youth wing of the Peoples Democfatic Party (PDP) in Edo State.

The attackers numbering about 30 able bodied young men allegedly invaded the filling station on the eve of February 25 elections with cut-to-size; iron rods and other dangerous weapons ostensibly to scare and intimidate supporters of the Labour Party (LP) who, according to reports, populate that axis.

The attack, according to findings, was as a result of the strength and influence of one Omoregbe Edoseghe Bright, an LP youth Mobilizer and manager of the attacked fuel station.

Though manager of the fuel station, Edoseghe who was the main target was given the beaten if his life, he was lucky to have escaped with various degrees of injuries.

Eye witnesses accounts said the hoodlums damaged some fuel pump machines and other valuables in the process of the attack.

They were said to have even prepared to set the station ablaze in anger but the quick intervention of the local vigilance group and some spirited neighbours who repelled them.

Not satisfied with the attack and consequent escape of their target,
the thugs were said to have gone to Edoseghe’s house and molested his pregnant wife, Victoria to the extent that she lost her five months old pregnancy.

However, his wife was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital by neighbours on the axis where she was resucitated.

These attacks of the fuel station and Edoseghe’s house came on the heals of similar overnight attack on some LP supporters’ shops at the Ring Road business district wherein the attackers smashed tables and other platforms used by the traders to display their wares.

The attackers on the traders shop were said to have threatened to return to burn down their shop should they vote for the LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi on the February 25th presidential polls.

Meanwhie, Edoseghe Bright has gone underground after it became clear that he was the target.

Nigeria is replete with incidences of voter intimidation and outright attaks of supporting the candidate of their choice in an election and the authorities have not been able to respond adequately in defense of their right to choices.

Crime

Police Declare Man Wanted Over Homos*xual Act

Published

10 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.