Metro

N1.8bn Fraud: Court Orders Arrest Of Three Electricity Agency Officials

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2024

Editor

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja issued an arrest warrant on Thursday for three officials of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency.

The trial judge ordered the arrest of Emmanuel Titus, Umar Karaye, and Henrietta Okojie for refusing to appear in court on Thursday for their scheduled arraignment.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, in separate charges filed against the trio, charged the defendants with four counts of criminal charge bordering on theft of public funds meant to provide electricity to rural communities across the country.

The prosecution counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer at the ICPC, told the judge that Titus, Karaye, and Okojie were served with copies of the charges and duly informed of today’s proceedings but chose to avoid what he termed “by their own volition.”

He informed the court that the defendants were on administrative bail.

However, he asked the court to issue a bench warrant for their arrests because they were absent for their scheduled arraignment.

The prosecution lawyer cited Sections 114, 124, and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in praying the court to order their arrest.

In a short ruling, Justice Nwite ordered their arrest.

“The defendants decided not to come to court. I am convinced that the defendants deliberately absented themselves from the court,” Mr Nwite said.

He proceeded to order ICPC to arrest and produce all three defendants before the court on the next adjourned date.

Justice Nwite adjourned Titus and Karaye’s arraignment to June 13 and Okojie’s till June 14.

Meanwhile, Usman Kwakwa was present in court today for his arraignment.

Kwakwa, charged with the same offences in a separate suit, was docked before the court for his involvement in N1.853bn fraud.

After the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty to all four counts charge.

Justice Nwite granted Kwakwa N50 million bail following Akponimisingha’s non-objection to his bail request.

Part of the four-count charge against Titus stated that he defrauded the REA of N261 million.

The ICPC said the defendant received the funds in different tranches through his First Bank account in March 2023 under the “false pretence of project supervision,” violating the Advance Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.

According to the proof of evidence attached to the charges, the monies were “illegally paid out to the defendants from the Government Integrated Financial Management System without requisite approvals.”

As for Karaye’s four-count charge bordering on his involvement in an N165 million fraud, ICPC stated that the stolen funds were moved out of government coffers through the GIFMIS payment platform as payment for “project supervision” in March 2023.

On Okojie’s part, the Commission accused her of cornering N342 million through her Access Bank account under the guise of project supervision in breach of the Advance Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.

Metro

Ex-convict Arrested In Edo For Armed Robbery, Possession Of Firearm

Published

17 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has arrested a 45-year-old ex-convict, Owen Osas, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and suspected involvement in a robbery incident.

Osas was reportedly arrested with a cut-to-size single-barrel gun during a covert operation along Fishpond Road in Eyean, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.

The arrest reportedly comes barely a year after he was released from prison, where he had served time for illegal possession of firearms and other criminal offences.

Osas, who confessed to the latest crime, also admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

READ ALSO:Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo
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Consequently, a victim of an alleged robbery incident, Reginia Izy, identified Osas as the person who robbed her a day before his arrest.
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The victim narrated that the suspect had approached her residence around 8 p.m., pretending to be familiar before carrying out the attack.
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‎The Deputy Commander Operations of ESSC, Richard Balogun, said the arrest was part of intensified efforts to rid Edo State of criminal elements.

READ ALSO:Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama
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‎Balogun explained that operatives conduct both overt patrols and covert operations to track and apprehend suspects.
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He said, ‎“Our men are always on patrol. Some operate in plain clothes as part of covert strategies, while others are stationed at strategic locations.

“Osas, who is a former convict, was arrested with firearms and he also confessed to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity.”
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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.