Crime

N300m Fraud: Ex-PDP Chairman Paralysed, Says Counsel

Published

2 months ago

February 1, 2023

Duncan David Oluohu, counsel for former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bello Mohammed, has stated that the former party chair can no longer walk as a result of paralysis.

Oluohu disclosed this on Tuesday at the resumption of hearing in the alleged N300m fraud case brought against him, his late son, Abba Mohammed and a firm, Bam Projects and Property Ltd by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Earlier in January 2016, the EFCC had arraigned the three for allegedly receiving N300 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser former, under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, for the PDP’s 2015 campaigns.

On Tuesday, when the case was mentioned, Akeem Bakare, who appeared for the second defendant (Bam Projects and Property Ltd) told the court that, although the case was scheduled for continuation of trial, the first defendant had died.

Bakare said Abba’s death, which occurred on January 6 had further worsened the deceased’s father’s health condition adding that a copy of the death certificate had been handed to the prosecution.

On the situation, Oluohu further disclosed that the third defendant Haliru Mohammed has suffered a stroke as a result of his son’s death.

He said, “He is currently paralysed and can’t walk. That is why he is not in court today.”

The prosecuting lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, confirmed the development in relation to the first defendant, adding that the defence served him a photocopy of the first defendant’s death certificate shortly before the commencement of the court’s proceedings.

He prayed the court to strike out Abba’s name from the charge and to adjourn to a later date for the trial continuation of the remaining defendants.

Following this, the judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned the continuation of the trial till March 28.

Advertisements

Crime

Convicted Nigerian Woman Extradited To U.S. Over Illicit Payment

Published

16 hours ago

March 25, 2023

Editor

A convicted Nigerian fugitive, Florence Enwerim Onyegbu, was on Thursday, extradited to the United States of America, where she is wanted to answer to criminal charges bordering on the violation of the U.S. law involving the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter.

Onyegbu ‘sextradition was coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following a request by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, seeking assistance for her apprehension.

The EFCC said its investigations revealed that she had changed her name from Florence E. Onyegbu to Janet Boi in an attempt to remain hidden.

But that she however ran out of luck when operatives of the EFCC swooped on her at her residence in the Ojodu area of Lagos on February 21, 2022.

The anti-graft agency said that upon her arrest, a national identity card with the name Janet Boi as well as a Texas driver’s license with the name Florence Enwerim Onyegbu were found on her.

The Commission, on March 22, 2023, handed over Onyegbu to the FBI, following an extradition order granted by Justice Z.B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on December 2, 2022.

It will be recalled that Onyegbu’s travails began after she was arrested on February 12, 2011 in the U.S. and subsequently sentenced to 46 months imprisonment, following a guilty plea , over the violation of the U.S. law bordering on the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter.

Although she was ordered to report for service of her sentence on April 4, 2011, she failed to surrender on that date.

Consequently, she was further charged with failure to surrender for service of sentence in violation of U.S. Law on March 4, 2013.

Advertisements

Crime

Man To Die By Hanging For Robbery, Kidnapping

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2023

Editor

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday sentenced four men to death by hanging for armed robbery and kidnapping of a woman, Mrs Gloria Emole.

The convicts are Victor Chukwunonso, Ifeanyi Maduaka, Obinna Nwankwo and Richard Nwabueze.

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The convicts were said to have committed the offences on November 19, 2012, at about 8.30 am.

They were arraigned on July 13, 2013, and were remanded in prison custody.

The convicts were arraigned on a three-count bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping preferred against them by Lagos State.

The state Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, had told the court during their arraignment that they kidnapped the victim who was about to leave her house at 7, Unity Street, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are contrary to and punishable under Sections 297,285 (2) a, and 291, of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

The victim was later released on November 22, 2012, after a ransom of $70,000 was paid by her husband.

“The defendants are sentenced to 10 years for the first count of conspiracy. They are hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the second count of armed robbery and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for the third count of kidnapping,” Justice Lawal-Akapo held.

Advertisements

Crime

Man Bags Life Jail For Defiling Colleague’s Nine-year-old Daughter

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2023

Editor

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced a 51-year-old man, Ubregbo Parmer, to life imprisonment for defiling his colleague’s nine-year-old daughter.

Justice Abiola Soladoye sentenced the convict after finding him guilty of the offence of defilement.

The judge held that the prosecution sufficiently proved the charge of defilement against the convict.

Justice Soladoye stated that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, the victim and a medical doctor showed that the convict committed the offence.

The judge said, “The evidence of the respective prosecution witnesses established the ingredients of the offence against the defendant who was properly identified by the victim.

“The victim gave a vivid and gory account of her ordeal in the hands of the defendant.

“I hereby find him guilty as charged of the one-count charge of defilement and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.

“The defendant should have his name registered in the sexual offence register as maintained by Lagos State.”

The judge berated the victim’s mother for being negligent in her care and allowing her child to be taken away by her male colleague, without supervision.

“The need for proper and good parentage cannot be undermined at this age and time where defilement and rape are the order of the day.

“Parents should be alive to their responsibilities,” Justice Soladoye said.

The state counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke, called two witnesses and tendered two exhibits during the trial while the defendant testified as the sole witness in his defence.

Adegoke said the victim’s mother brought her daughter to the office and left her to attend to other things when the convict quickly removed her pant and had sexual intercourse with her.

She said the convict committed the offence on December 10, 2019, in Magodo, Lagos, The PUNCH reports.

According to her, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.