Metro

Man Jailed Seven Years For N11.4m Enugu Land Fraud

Published

1 month ago

July 1, 2025

The Enugu State High Court, sitting in Agbani, Enugu State, before Justice U.J. Mogboh, has convicted and sentenced George Igwesi to seven years’ imprisonment for land fraud.

The suspect, alongside his company, Georgeann Enterprises Limited, was arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on October 19, 2023, on two counts of theft and fraud, with a total sum of N11.4m involved.

In a statement on its verified X handle on Monday, the commission disclosed that Igwesi was apprehended on July 1, 2022, for swindling one Charles Okenwa out of N12m under false pretences. He claimed to own two plots of land at Amurri Road in Agbani, Enugu State, but investigations showed the land was not his. Igwesi failed to deliver the property or refund the money.

The offence was said to be contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

The statement read, “One of the charges reads: “That you, George Amechi Igwesi and Georgeann Enterprises Limited, on or about the 1st day of July 2022, in Agbani Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, by false pretences and with intent to defraud, obtained from Charles Emeka Okenwa, the sum of Eleven Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira only (N11, 400, 000. 00), as payment for two plots of land, situated at Amurri Road, Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, under the pretext that the said land belongs to you and thereby committed an offence.”

The convict pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when they were read to him, setting the stage for his trial.

The trial of the case commenced on January 23, 2024, with the EFCC presenting three witnesses and several documents as evidence.

“Hearing of the matter began on January 23, 2024, and in the course of the trial, counsel for the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Ikechukwu Ani, presented three witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted in evidence,

“Delivering judgment, Justice Mogboh said, “The prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt” and convicted the 1st defendant, Igwesi, on both counts. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

“The court also ordered Igwesi to perform community services for a period of six months at the high court premises in line with Section 392 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2007,” the statement illustrated.

The court ruled Igwesi to pay N7m in compensation to Okenwa while releasing the second defendant, Georgeann Enterprise Ltd.

“The court further ordered Igwesi to restitute the sum of Seven million Naira to one Charles Okenwa, the petitioner, having restituted part of the money during the investigation of the case. The court, however, discharged and acquitted the second defendant, Georgeann Enterprise Ltd,” the statement concluded.

Metro

Vigilante Shoots Father Who Prevented Kidnapper Son’s Arrest In Kwara

Published

15 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Police Command in Kwara has confirmed the death of a man who helped alleged kidnap suspect escape.

The Police Commissioner in Kwara, Mr Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Wednesday in ilorin.

Ojo further disclosed that a vigilante member who sustained injuries from the incident was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The commissioner of police said the deceased struck a vigilante member, who was holding the alleged kidnap suspect, with a machete, enabling the suspect to escape.

He added that investigation was ongoing.

Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that the deceased prevented vigilante members from arresting his son over alleged involvement in kidnapping.

An eyewitness said the incident occurred on Tuesday at the Shaare Cattle Market in Kwara, as the deceased attempted to help his son evade arrest.

According to the source, the man attacked one of the vigilante members with a machete, creating an escape route for his son.

“In response, the vigilante member shot the man, who later died from his injuries,” the source said.

NAN

Metro

Police Arrest Six Suspected Cultists In Anambra Black Spot Raid

Published

16 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has raided a black spot in Ogidi, the Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, arresting six suspects, including a female.

The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a press statement released on Wednesday, adding that police operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugwu-Ukwu, carried out the operation on Tuesday.

Ikenga said the team recovered one fabricated Beretta pistol without a magazine and quantities of illicit drugs, including Mkpuru Mmiri (crystal meth), during the raid.

The statement read in part, “Police operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad Enugwu Ukwu on August 12, 2025 at about 2.30pm and acting on credible intelligence, stormed a black spot at 7th Mile, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA.

“The team arrested six suspects, including a female, and recovered one fabricated Beretta pistol without a magazine and quantities of illicit drugs, including Mkpuru Mmiri (crystal meth), during the raid.

“The suspects are: Olisaemeka Izuchukwu ‘M’ aged 21 years, Isioma Chisom ‘M’ aged 22 years, Chinonso Izuchukwu ‘M’ aged 20 years, Chinaza Isioma ‘M’ aged 24 years, Onyekwelu Miracle ‘M’ aged 19 years and Mrs. Chinenye Eloka Okeke ‘F’ aged 35 years.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the operatives for their swift action and reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to sustain the tempo against cultism, drug trafficking, and other crimes in the state.

“The suspects would be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations.”

Metro

Ekiti Court Remands Lady For Stealing New Born In Health Facility

Published

16 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, has ordered the remand of a 34-year-old lady, Deborah Ayeni, at the correctional centre in Ado Ekiti over alleged stealing of a day-old baby at a health centre in the state capital city.

The prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Wednesday that “the defendant was alleged to have committed the offence which attracted public sympathy and interest as a result of the prevalence case of child stealing in Ekiti State and reported on August 4, 2025, against her.”

Oriyomi said, “The offence is punishable under Section 292 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021 within Ado Ekiti Magisterial District”.

He urged the court to remand the defendant at the correctional centre, saying, “She is reasonably suspected to have committed the offence”, as he prayed the court to grant his application for remand of the lady.

The police prosecutor said that the duplicate case file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

The defendant was represented in court by Stephen Ademuwagun.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the prosecutor’s application for the remand of the defendant.

The chief magistrate adjourned the case till September 12 for mention.