Metro

Police Dismiss Officer In Fatal Shooting Of Enugu Musician

Published

8 months ago

October 28, 2024

Police Inspector Joseph Ozonwanji, formerly of the Anti-Cultism Police Squad in Enugu State, has been arraigned and remanded in prison custody for the murder of Igbo ogene musician, Okezie Nwamba, also known as Igbo-Jah.

Ozonwanji was arraigned on Monday on one count charge bordering on murder before a Chief Administrative Magistrate, Enugu East Magistrate Court, Ngozi Edeani.

This development comes after Ozonwanji’s orderly room trial, which led to his dismissal, was approved by Assistant Inspector General of Police Godwin Aghaulor, who oversees Zone 13.

The prosecution is being led by the Officer-in-Charge of the Enugu State Police Command, SP Justice Attah, and Emmanuel Ajogwu.

In a charge marked CME/614/2024, Ozonwanji was accused of unlawfully killing Nwamba by firing him with an AK47 Riffle, an offense that is punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2024.

The one count charge reads, “That you Ozonwanji Joseph ‘m’ on 25th day of October 2024 at about 2010hrs at anti-Cultism Police Squad, Goshen Estate Enugu in the Enugu North Magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Okezie Chikezie Nwamba ‘m’ by firing him with an AK47 Riffle, which caused his death and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2024.”

After the charge was read to the accused in the language of his choice, the presiding Magistrate Edeani ordered for the case file to be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution for advice and ordered that the suspect be remanded at the Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre.

Briefing newsmen after the arraignment, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Enugu State Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said the accused’s arraignment for murder was in keeping with the promise and determination of the Enugu State Government and the police to ensure that justice was done in the matter.

“It is important to inform our people that the Chief Magistrate has listened to the charge brought against the dismissed police officer and has asked that the case file be transmitted to the Attorney General of Enugu State to proceed from there and advise accordingly for the next line of action.

“This is one trial we want to see happen. We are talking about a human life. Policemen generally have that responsibility to protect lives, but if, for whatever reason, any police officer misuses his firearm, the liability is on the person. That is exactly what has happened today. You could see the Enugu State Government and the police command in the state have done everything possible to ensure that justice prevails in this case,” Ndukwe stated.

Speaking on the matter, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, said his office would expect the file and act expeditiously.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 650 Suspects, Seizes 6, 634 kg Illicit Drugs In Nasarawa

Published

22 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Nasarawa State Command, says it arrested 650 suspects for drugs related offences and seized 6,633.667 kilogrammes of illicit substances in the state between July 2024 and June 2025.

The State Commander, Mr Dachi Elisha-David, made the disclosure at the grand finale of the 2025 UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday in Lafia.

He attributed the feat to the renewed approach to the fight against drugs, championed by the Chairman of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Marwa.

According to the Commander, the arrested suspects comprised 632 males and 18 females, while the seized illicit drugs and psychotropic substances include Cannabis Sativa, Cocaine, Methamphetamine and Diazepam.

Others were Tramadol, Rohypnol, Pentazocine injection, and Codeine.

Elisha-David also said that the command secured the conviction of 105 drug traffickers and filed 70 charges in Court within the period under review.

In the area of drug demand reduction, he said that the command through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign reached a total of 90,943 persons across schools, motor parks , communities and workplaces in the state.

The commander, however, mentioned some of the challenges facing the NDLEA in the state to include lack of operational vehicles and other logistics, and paucity of funds to procure credible intelligence on the activities of drug dealers from confidential informants.

“Lack of willingness from the public to volunteer information on the nefarious activities of drug dealers in their midst is bad enough.

“More troubling are the youth in some of these communities who fight our operatives on raid operations that are targeted at drug dealers. This has been a concern to the command,” he said.

He said the theme of the 2025 commemoration ” The Evidence is Clear; Invest in Prevention” was instructive as it conforms with the ideal notion of UN framework to prioritise prevention, treatment and rehabilitation as against punishment and incarceration.

Drug Trafficking: NDLEA intensifies crackdown at Port Harcourt International Airport
He thanked Gov. Abdullahi Sule, his wife, traditional institution and other stakeholders in Nasarawa for their support to the agency in the fight against drugs in the state and urged for its sustenance.

He also appreciated the NDLEA boss, Marwa, and personnel of the agency for their commitment in fighting the menace of drugs in Nigeria.

Metro

JUST IN: Gospel Singer Sentenced To Death For Killing Girlfriend

Published

1 day ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

The High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced gospel musician Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Salome Adaidu.

Justice Simon Aboki on Thursday found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide after months of trial.

Ajayi was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty for culpable homicide.

“The evidence before the court clearly shows that the accused intentionally caused the death of the deceased. The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death. Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Aboki ruled.

Adaidu, 24, was a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving at Nicon Insurance in Abuja.

Ajayi was caught with Adaidu’s severed head in January.

He told Channels TV that he did not regret his action. “I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time. It’s not something I planned. It happened on that day and it happened. Not that I have the plan in mind,” Ajayi said.

“She was cheating. She hides most of the things from me most times. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided.

“I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal, that is what I thought. If you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person.

“You have to understand what that person is going through so that you can actually put yourself in the position that the person is going through. That is why I don’t have any regrets because we were actually compatible.”

However, the victim’s elder sister, Esther Adaidu, denied that any relationship existed between Adaidu and Ajayi.

Metro

Woman Killed, Five Others Injured In Imo Market Explosion

Published

1 day ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

A landmine has killed a market woman, Mrs Ngozi Umeh and injured five others after it detonated inside the Eke Ubaheze Market Square, Awo-Idemili in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.

The explosion occurred at 2:40 pm on Tuesday while trading activities were going on at the market, killing one woman, Mrs Ngozi Umeh, from Ubaheze village, after she stepped on a planted landmine though locals said it was two people who died from the explosion.

The Imo State police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, explained to The PUNCH, on Wednesday, that the landmine was planted by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network.

Okoye who confirmed the incident to our correspondent said Mrs Umeh was rushed immediately to the hospital where she gave up the ghost adding that the five injured persons are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

According to him, the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, upon receipt of the incident, immediately deployed operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit who swept the area for yet-to-be-identified explosives and after screening, declared the place safe.

Okoye said normal business activities had resumed under increased police surveillance.

He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the explosion occurred when Ngozi Umeh ‘F’, a middle-aged woman from Ubaheze village, stepped on a landmine suspected to have been planted by IPOB/ESN terrorist. She was critically injured and later confirmed dead at the hospital, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.

“Upon receipt of the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, Aboki Danjuma, swiftly deployed operatives of the command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, tactical teams, and personnel from Orsu and Orlu Divisions to cordon off the area, evacuate victims, and sweep the market vicinity for any other planted IEDs. The area has since been declared safe, and normal activities have resumed under enhanced security surveillance.”

Meanwhile, the Imo police boss, Danjuma, has commiserated with the family of Mrs Umeh and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured victims.

He however restated the commitment of the Imo State Police Command to weed out all criminals threatening the peace of Orsu and Imo State as a whole.

The police spokesperson assured the state that adequate security measures had been put in place against a recurrence adding that they should go about their lawful activities.

Furthermore, he called on Imo people to strongly report any suspicious items, persons, or movements to the nearest police station or via the Command’s emergency number 08034773600.

Also, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department has been directed to commence a comprehensive investigation to unmask and apprehend the perpetrators.