Metro
Two Bankers Arraigned For Alleged N20m Theft
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, arraigned two bankers, Freeman Jacob and Umar Abdullahi before Justice Simon Akpah Amobeda of the Federal High Court, Kano on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The commission also arraigned two others – Ahmed Bashir and Abdulhakim Musa (aka Gandu) for working with the duo in 2020.
According to the commission, the defendants allegedly conspired among themselves to produce an ATM card in the name of one Alhaji Sani Muntari.
They used the same to steal the sum of N20,000,000 from his bank.
READ ALSO: Fayemi Breaks Silence On EFCC Probe Over Alleged N4bn Fraud
One of the charges reads, “That you, Freeman Austin Jacob, Umar Abdullahi, sometime in February 2020, at Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, connived with Ahmed Bashir and Abdulhakim Musa to prime and issued Automated Teller Machine card” from a commercial bank account number belonging to one Alhaji Sani Mutari without the knowledge or consent of the said customer and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 (7) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc,) Act, 2015.
The defendants perpetrated the fraud by using the account holder’s SIM card, which was stolen by Bashir, the third defendant, to produce an ATM card with the help of the first and second defendants.
It added that the investigation traced some of the proceeds of the theft to the bank account of the fourth defendant, Abdulkarim Musa, a friend of the third defendant, Ahmed Bashir.
However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty.
READ ALSO: EFCC Grills Fayemi Over N4bn Money Laundering
Counsel for the prosecution, Aisha Tahar Habib prayed that the defendants be remanded and urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Counsel representing the 1st and 2nd defendants made an oral bail application on behalf of his clients which was opposed by the prosecution counsel on the grounds that the application ought to be formal.
L.A Umar who represented the 4th defendant informed that she intends to file a formal bail application and subsequently prayed to the court for a date to do the same and serve the prosecution.
After listening to the parties’ submissions, Justice Amobeda agreed with the prosecution that bail applications should be made formally as the court is a court of record.
He subsequently remanded the defendant and adjourned the matter till June 26, 2023, for hearing of bail applications and commencement of trial.
PUNCH
Metro
Police Detain Officers Over Alleged N3.3m Extortion From Lagos Couple
Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that it has identified and detained officers accused of extorting N3.3 million from a couple in the state.
The command disclosed on Monday that the officers were traced following allegations that surfaced on social media.
According to reports, the officers, attached to Area H Command in Ogudu, allegedly arrested a couple unlawfully on December 18, 2025, and coerced them into paying $2,000.
READ ALSO:Delta Police Command Punishes DPO Over Extortion, Intimidation Involving Good Samaritan
It was further alleged that after the incident drew public attention on X, N2.2 million was refunded to the victims, while the officers reportedly pleaded to retain about N1.1 million, claiming the sum had already been shared among several personnel.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the officers involved had been taken into custody and transferred to the command headquarters for a thorough investigation.
She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration to supervise the inquiry.
According to the command, the affected officers have since made statements as part of the ongoing investigation, while efforts are underway to have the complainant formally present his account to aid the probe.
Metro
Army Rescue Retired Colonel From Kidnappers In Plateau
A retired senior military officer, Colonel Ajanaku (rtd), has been rescued from kidnappers by troops of the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army and Operation Enduring Peace.
The rescue happened around the Rafiki axis located in Bassa local government area of Plateau state.
Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 3rd Division, Nigerian Army, confirmed the rescue of the retired senior military officer.
READ ALSO:Nigerian Army Confirms Arrest Of Suspected Suicide Bombing Facilitators
According to him, “I can confirm that the senior officer was rescued by our troops in the early hours of the evening. He’s currently taken to our medical facility for a medical check-up.”
Ajanaku was abducted by gunmen in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State at about 12:45 am on Monday from his house opposite the Salvation Army Church, along Rukuba Road.
Metro
Troops Rescue 6 Kidnapped Victims In Kaduna
Troops of Sector 1 Operation Fansan Yamma, OPFY, have recorded another operational success with the rescue of six kidnapped victims in the Kajuru/Kujama general area of Kaduna State.
Lt.-Col. Shuaib Umar, the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Officer, 1 Division Nigerian Army, disclosed this on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Umar said the rescue operation was conducted on Monday as part of a wider, coordinated series of operations across multiple axes within Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia and Kagarko Local Government Areas, including the fringes of Kauru border communities.
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According to him, the operations were deliberately designed to further suffocate the freedom of action of violent extremists within the Joint Operations Area, JOA, and, by implication, the wider Sector 1 OPFY JOA.
“Following a distress alert on the activities of violent extremists around the Kasso adjoining hills, troops of Sub-Sector 5, who were already conducting clearance operations in the Kujeni general area, swiftly mobilised to the location.
“On arrival, troops made contact with the criminals and engaged them with effective suppressive fire, forcing them to flee in disarray into the surrounding forest.
“The gallant troops immediately exploited the area, leading to the successful rescue of six kidnapped victims, “he said.
READ ALSO:
Umar said the rescued victims were safely handed over to the representatives of Kajuru Local Government Area and the Kajuru Emirate Council for onward reunification with their families.
He said the General Officer Commanding/Commander Sector 1 Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj.- Gen. Abubakar Wase, had commended the troops.
He said he charged them to remain on maximum alert and continue to sustain the aggressive tempo to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.
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