Crime

Pastor Defiles, Impregnates 16-year-old Pupil In Ogun

Published

3 years ago

December 14, 2019

The pastor of a white garment church in Iwaya , Ijebu – Ife , Ogun State , Prophet Sunday Adelaja, is cooling his heels in police custody for allegedly impregnating a 16 – year- old girl.

Adelaja, who is reportedly married to two wives, allegedly defiled the Junior Secondary School 3 pupil twice , resulting in the pregnancy.

It was learnt that the victim had kept the incident to herself as instructed by Adelaja until her mother got wind of the pregnancy which is now five months old.

It was gathered that the pastor owned up to the act but claimed he intended to marry the girl .

It was further learnt that the pupil’ s parents had gone to attend a meeting at the palace of the community’ s traditional ruler sometime in June 2019 , leaving her behind .

The 40 – year- old pastor was said to have invited her to his house on the pretext that he wanted to ask her some questions , but molested her instead .

The girl told City Round that Adelaja threatened her not to divulge the secret to anybody and that she should make herself available to him on demand .

She said about one week after the first encounter , the pastor accosted her while she was running an errand for her mother and took her to his house for another round of sex .

The pupil explained that about two weeks ago , her mother noticed some changes in her and took her to a hospital for a test . The result reportedly confirmed that she was five months pregnant.

She said , “My parents were in a meeting at the palace that day when the pastor asked me to come . He said he wanted to ask me something and took me to his second house . When we got there, I asked him what our mission was and he said I should be patient . He then shut the door and pushed me on the bed .

“ I tried to struggle with him but he overpowered me. After he had sex with me , he told me not to tell anyone . One week after , he stopped me along the road , took me to his house and had sex with me again .

“ Some weeks ago , my mother was worried about how I was behaving and she took me to hospital . It was confirmed there that I am pregnant. The pastor was the only person that had sex with me and he didn ’ t deny it. ”

The father of the victim , who identified himself simply as Soliu , stated that he was shocked when he learnt that it was Adelaja, who impregnated his daughter.

He said the suspect confessed to the crime and promised to provide N2 , 000 on a daily basis for the welfare of the girl .

He said , “ Her mother was afraid to tell me she is pregnant. She ( the mother ) went to inform my brother and a friend ’ s father who came to break the news to me last Tuesday .

I was shocked when they told me it was Pastor Adelaja who impregnated my daughter. This is somebody who already has two wives .

“ Through a friend , we took the case to a human rights group and it was reported at the Ijebu – Ife Police Station on Thursday , December 5 . My child is still going to school ; why should he contemplate marrying her ?”

The representative of Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network of Nigeria , the rights group monitoring the case , Mr Adeyemi Akin – Akala , said the incident caused pandemonium in the community as angry youths attacked Adelaja’ s church .

He said , “ The youths pasted a notice on the church entrance that no one should enter the premises.

Apparently , the prophet was at large when the youths got to the church and out of anger they destroyed the church walls , which led to the arrest of four of them. The perpetrator ( Adelaja) then came out of hiding to the police station .

“ A medical test was conducted on the girl at Ijebu – Ife General Hospital and the matter was later transferred to the police gender unit in Abeokuta . ”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state , DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi , confirmed the case , adding that investigation was ongoing .

(City Round via Punch)

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Crime

Evans Re-arraigned For Kidnapping, Attempted Murder

Published

4 days ago

March 16, 2023

Editor

Convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has been re-arraigned over the alleged kidnapping and attempted murder before a Lagos State High Court sitting in the Tafawa Balewa Square area.

Evans’ re-arraignment on Thursday follows the transfer of the case file from Justice Adedayo Akintoye, who is the initial trial judge.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Special Offences Court in September 2022 sentenced Evans and his co-defendant, Victor Aduba, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping one Sylvanus Hafia.

They were convicted of conspiring and kidnapping Hafia around 5:30 pm on June 23, 2014, at Kara Street, Amuwo Odofin, in Lagos and to have captured and detained Hafia and demanded a ransom of $2m.

However, the matter started afresh before Justice Ibironke Harrison, where Evans was again arraigned alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Okapara Linus.

The four are facing five counts bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder, preferred against them by Lagos State.

Evans and his co-defendants were arraigned for allegedly kidnapping Chief James Uduji and collecting a ransom of $1.2m dollars.

They, and others at large, allegedly committed the offence on September 7, 2015 at 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

The defendants were also accused of attempted murder by allegedly firing shots at Uduji and Donatus Nwoye which hit him on the hand and again shot one Mr Jereome Okezie on the hand and head.

According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 271 (3) and 230 (A), of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Harrison subsequently adjourned that matter till May 3 and 4, 2023 for trial.

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Crime

Prof Facing N1.4bn Fraud Case Gets N1m Bail

Published

5 days ago

March 16, 2023

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a Professor, Uche Edwin, before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges of alleged N1.4 billion fraud.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the EFCC’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren on Thursday.

Edwin was arraigned alongside his companies, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, NEMAD Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise, on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention and conversion of funds to the tune of N1, 473,367,046.04 belonging to Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria.

He, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the 11-count charge.

One of the counts reads: “ That you, Professor Uche Chigozie Edwin, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, Nemad Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court , conspired amongst yourselves to use the sum of N1, 473,367,046.04, property of the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: fraud; and you thereby committed an offence , contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

The prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, asked the court for a trial date and also asked that the defendant be remanded.

The defence counsel, Mobolaji Akintunde, in response, made an application for bail on behalf of his client.

He asked the court to admit his client to bail and also implored the court to allow his client to be remanded in EFCC custody pending when he would be able to meet the bail conditions the court might impose.

In a short ruling, the judge, Nicholas Oweibo, allowed bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum.

The sureties, according to the court, must possess landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, show a tax clearance certificate of three months as well as their passport photographs.

The defendant was also ordered to deposit his passport with the court.

The judge adjourned the trial till 27 June for the commencement of the trial.

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Crime

JUST IN: Court Jails Ex-Imo Commissioner

Published

6 days ago

March 14, 2023

Editor

A former Commissioner for Transport in Imo State, Laz Anyanwu, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Anyanwu, who served during the administration of ex-governor Rochas Okorocha, was sentenced after he was found guilty of the charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The judge, K. A Lewanya, while sentencing the former commissioner said that the jail term would serve concurrently.

The judge said that the convict was found guilty of fraud , looting of public funds and stealing.

The justice said that the former commissioner was found guilty of diverting N180 million of state funds into a private company account where he was a major shareholder and sole signatory when he superintended and doubled as commissioner for transport and the chairman interim committee of the Imo State transport company, ITC, which is against section 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020.

The judge held that Anyanwu by that action had violated the Public Procurement Act, abused his office and used his office to gain undue advantage in his dealings during his tenure as the commissioner for transport and the chairman interim committee of the Imo state transport company, ITC.

The judge said that the EFCC lawyer, Micheal Ani, was able to proof beyond reasonable doubt that when Anyanwu was commissioner for transport between 2015 and 2019, he transferred the sum of N100 million from the ITC account to his private company named Oma Oil Industries Limited, which is against section 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020 for a public servant.

The judge also said that the ex-commissioner signed off another N80 million from government coffers directly to his private company account with the motive that he wanted to procure some vehicles for ITC without due process and recourse to the public procurement act.

The judge, while sentencing him to prison, said the former commissioner looted the sum of N180 million found in his account said to be for the state transport company.

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