The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday said it has arrested four suspected armed robbers and cultists, stating that the officers who carried out the arrest, rejected a N500,000 bribe offered them.
This was made known in a statement by the spokesman of the command, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, to confirm the arrest.
Ajisebutu, in the statement, noted that an anti-crime patrol team from Area ‘J’ Command, Elemoro, arrested the suspects during a routine stop and search operation on September 4 at about 12.30 a.m.
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The police PPRO stated that one of the suspects who was simply identified as Timothy, 23 years old, and resident of No. 9, Baale Street, Majek, Ajah, was arrested at General Paint Garden area, Lekki.
He revealed that one locally-made double barrel gun and two live cartridges, including an expended cartridge packed in a bag, were recovered from the suspect during the operation.
According to the spokesman, another suspect, who claimed to be a cultist with the Aye Confraternity, simply identified as Toheed, 22 years old, was arrested with a live cartridge at the General Paint ghetto area, Ajah at about 12.45 a.m. on September 4.
The image maker further said that two more suspects were arrested for allegedly offering N500,000 bribes to the police to secure the release of the two suspects earlier arrested.
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“While one 34-year-old Sunday, resident of 66, Henry Smith Close, Abidjan GRA, Ajah, offered N400,000 cash to secure the release of the first suspect (Timothy), one Akeem, 43 years old, offered the sum of N100, 000 cash to secure the second suspect (Toheed).
“Determined to ensure justice through thorough investigation, the uncompromising police officers in charge of the case rejected the bribe,”he said.
Ajisebutu said the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Hakeem Odumosu, commended the professionalism and uncompromising act of the police officers, admonishing other officers to emulate the incorruptible ones.
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“The CP has, however, directed that the case be transferred to the command’s Tactical Team for further investigations and prosecution,”he said
A 50-years old man, Edo Omusi, has been declared wanted by the police in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, for disappearing after being ‘caught’ in a same s*x act in Ogiso community.
A source close to the police in the state, told our correspondent that the suspect, and one of his male friends, whose name was not given, were sighted at an undisclosed location by some youths as they were comitting the act.
Under Nigerian Laws, any person caught in the gay act is liable to 14 years in prison and if found by the community could be killed.
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The duo were said to have been deeply engrossed in the act when they were found but before the person who saw them in the , “sinful and abominable act”, went for back up, they had escaped the location.
The incident which occurred on 25/4/23 at Ogiso area of the town almost threw the community into a turmoil as irate youths welding sticks and cudgels rampaged the community in search of the duo to lynch them.
It was also learnt that worried by the trend the youths in the community had to set up a surveillance team to monitor his movements. It was on one of the surveillance trips that he was reportedly caught on the fateful day, with the unidentified male partner.
It was gathered since the community reported the incident to the police, the whereabouts of the suspect, Edo Omusi has since remained unknown by all and sundry.
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Speaking on the development, a top Police official confirmed the matter and explained that the Crime Investigation Department of the command is working round the clock to arrest the suspect, having declared him a wanted person.
Adefioye ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Awhajigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry.
He adjourned the case until April 14 for facts and sentencing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP. Clément Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 6 at 2.30 p.m. at Badagry Roundabout shopping complex, Badagry, Lagos.
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Okuoimose said Lemo without lawful excuse pressed the breast of the complainant, Zainab Babalola.
Olalekan Jacob Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
He also agreed to forfeit $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government.
Woodberry, a known associate of the now-imprisoned internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, recently in a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictments, the Peoples Gazette reports.
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According to his plea agreement, he is required to pay back the sum of $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that he scammed.
“Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence,”stated the document containing Mr Ponle’s signed plea declaration.
Woodberry was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai.
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The high-end automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816).
Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.
Last year, he forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin to the American government.
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On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.
Prior to his arrest, Woodberry was known for rocking and flaunting expensive designer wear and showing off his illicit wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no idea his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime.