Metro Files

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 12, 2024, sentenced Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, to six months imprisonment over mutilation of the Naira notes. He was arraigned on Friday, April 5, 2024, on a four-count charge bordering on mutilation of the Naira notes to the tune of N490,000,00 (Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira). He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him. Delivering judgment , Justice Awogboro held that “  The act of mutilating the Naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the image of the country. “Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. His will serve as a deterrent to others.” The Judge, therefore, sentenced him to six months imprisonment, without an option of fine, from the date of his remand. 715 Views

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, for allegedly spraying Naira notes. The EFCC had invited the 31-year-old following a video report of spraying and flaunting wads of new Naira notes at the premiere of a movie, Ajakaju, produced by Eniola Ajao, a Nollywood actress and producer, at Film One Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos on March 24, 2024. The investigation also revealed that he had also committed the alleged offence at some other event centres and parties at different times. Following the invitation by the Commission, he arrived at the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC on the morning of Wednesday, April 4, 2024, for interrogation and volunteered his statements. He will soon be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. 723 Views

The Office of the National Security Adviser has confirmed that a Binance executive, Nadeem ANJARWALLA, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria escaped from lawful custody on Friday, 22 March 2024. Upon receiving the report, ONSA said it has taken immediate steps, in conjunction with relevant security agencies , MDAs, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect. Security agencies are working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect . Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect is said to have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention. Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria, like other governments around the world, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform. Until his escape, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts. The suspect escaped while under a 14-day remand order by a court in Nigeria. He was scheduled to appear before the court again on 4 April 2024. ONSA urge the Nigerian public and the international community to provide whatever information they have that can assist law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspect. 569 Views

The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State While on peace mission to OkUOMA community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State. The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers. The Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa has has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Govt. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps in place to unravel the motive behind the attack. 501 Views

Suspected abductors of the pupils and staffers of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti in Ekiti State, have been apprehended by the operatives of the State Police Command. Parading the suspects before journalists on Friday evening at the Command headquarters in Ado Ekiti, the Police said one of the suspects, who are nine in number, was shot dead as the gang engaged Policemen in a gun duel. On 8/02/2024 at about 1300hrs, the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) received a credible tip-off that a gang of armed men has invaded a farmland at Eda-Oniyo-Ekiti and were planning to kidnap some Expatriates in Dairy Farmland, Ikun-Ekiti. Upon receipt of the information, a team of RRS operatives swung into action and arrested one ABUBAKAR ALIYU a.k.a SMALLIE who was on a mission to spy on the actual location of the Expatriates. After the arrest of Abubakar Aliyu a.k.a SMALLIE, the leader of the kidnapping gang identified as one Sumo Karami sent two (2) vigilante members, one Saliu Ibrahim and Umaru Saliu, to secure the bail of the arrested gang member from Police custody. The two (2) vigilante members were arrested and they led the RRS operatives to Oro-Ago town where one Mohammed Bashiru, the leader of Miyetti Allah vigilante in Oro-Ago, Kwara State, was arrested. During interrogation, Mohammed Bashiru revealed that he is a relative of Sumo Karami who is a leader of a dreaded kidnapping gang and that Abubakar Aliyu a.k.a SMALLIE is one his gang members who have been terrorizing and kidnapping innocent citizens with AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons. Initial investigation revealed that Sumo Karami and his gang members were responsible for the kidnapping of the Pupils and their Teachers in Emure-Ekiti on 29th January, 2024. Meanwhile, the phone used to demand for ransom for the release of the Pupils and the Teachers was recovered from the suspects and effort intensified led to the arrest of two (2) among the gang members, namely: Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba in Owo forest, Ondo State. Further investigation led to the arrest of one Kenneth Ugwu in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 14/02/2024. The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicate who kidnapped 5 Pupils, three (3) teachers and a driver in Emure-Ekiti who was allegedly killed by the kidnappers. The suspect led a team of RRS operatives to the kidnapper’s hideout inside Agric Reserved Forest between Ise-Ekiti/Emure-Ekiti. On sighting the Police, the armed hoodlums engaged the team in a gun duel. In the process, one of the gang members who was later identified as AYUBA was neutralized, one Abubakar Mohammed a.k.a Smallie was captured alive while other gang members escaped through the forest.Investigation revealed that the syndicate was responsible for the kidnapping of one Paul Omotosho, the APC Chairman, Ekiti State, along Agbado/Imesi, Ekiti road on 08/07/2023, the kidnapping of Mr. and Mrs. Awoniyi along Ikere/Itaogbolu road in the month of January this year and the kidnapping of teachers and pupils of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Emure-Ekiti on 29th January, 2024. EXHIBITS RECOVERED: i. One (1) AK 47 assorted rifle, ii. One(1) pump action gun loaded with five (5) lives cartridges, iii. Twenty-one (21) AK47 live ammunition iv. Expended shells of AK-47 ammunition. v. One (1) face-mask vi. One (1) Nose mask vii. Two (2) pairs of hand glove viii. Twenty (20) different handsets ix. One (1) National ID Card bearing Salisu Mohammed x. Two (2) MTN sim card xi. One (1) airtel sim card 519 Views

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised a Special Task Force in all its Zonal Commands for the enforcement of extant laws against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy. The Task Force, inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, was raised to protect the economy from abuses, leakages and distortions exposing it to instability and disruption. Already, the Commission has made some arrests of perpetrators of issuance of invoices in dollars and mutilation of the Naira in Lagos and Port Harcourt. Also, proprietors of private Universities and other institutions of higher learning charging fees in dollars have been invited by the Commission. The Commission is committed to the enforcement of all laws in place for the reflation and stimulation of the economy. 494 Views

Adamawa state Police Command revealed that it has arrested a 59 years old Man who specializes in defrauding Members of the public in a disguised manner. The suspect, Muhammad Abubakar a.k.a Malam Sabo who was arrested yesterday is said to be a habitual 419. Mostly, the suspect hides his identity, pretending to be a Ghost, talking to his Victims with different voices. The suspect, at times changes his voice sound to that of a woman or a child to dupe his victims. Recently he tricked and duped one Abba Bale of Demsawo of the sum of three Hundred thousand (N300,000.00 482 Views

The Nigeria Police Force, through the diligent efforts of its operatives, has successfully apprehended two suspects involved in an alleged assassination plot. The arrested suspects include a Chairman of one of the Local Government Areas of Benue State. Preliminary investigations revealed that the Local Government Chairman allegedly contracted a militia with the sinister intention of eliminating the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Hycenth Dajoh. The operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) swiftly swung into action upon receiving credible intelligence regarding the planned assassination. Both suspects are currently in police custody and are actively cooperating with investigators in the ongoing inquiry. 562 Views

The Lagos State government has banned the usage and distributions of Styrofoam otherwise known as \’Form pack\’ and other single use plastics with immediate effect. This is being announced today, Sunday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab in a statement he personally signed. According to Wahab, the decision was reached following the menace which the single use plastics especially the non-biogradeable Styrofoam was causing on the environment. He added that most drainage channels in the state are daily clogged up by Styrofoam through its indiscriminate distribution and usage despite the regular cleaning and evacuation of the drains with humongous amounts. 682 Views

It was a red letter day last night in Ibadan as what now discovered as explosives, which were stored by illegal miners exploded in one of the buildings located around Dejo Oyelese Street, old Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State. Confirming the incident and the cause, the State governor, H.E Seyi Makinde said, “We visited the scene of the explosion which occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024 in Bodija, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties. We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night. Earth moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident. The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident. In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and 2 fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government. We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives. Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book. I urge all residents to please call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference. We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured. Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations\”, he concluded. 682 Views

The one sweet romance between Doyin Okupe and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour party, seems to have gone sour as the physician turned politician has tendered his resignation letter from the party. The letter reads, “I submit herewith my letter of resignation from the Labour Party with effect from today. You will recall that our flag bearer, Mr Peter Obi, myself and others left the PDP abruptly and had to look for a Special Purpose Vehicle in which to contest the 2023 Presidential Elections. \”The Labour Party, your good self, and other members of your executives provided us with this veritable platform with no burdensomeness whatsoever and for which we were extremely grateful. “We did contest the election on the platform of the Labour Party and lost. This makes it exceedingly difficult for me to continue to stay in the Labour Party which is ideologically rooted in the left of the center. “I have been a rightist and a Liberal Democrat all my entire life. It is therefore this ideological conflict that makes me seek an exit so that I may continue my political activities with liberalism, sincerity and freedom. “I wish to thank you in particular and other members of the leadership of the party for the cordiality and respect accorded to me as the Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organization. “I wish you and the party success in your future endeavors. Long live the Labour Party. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria\”. 649 Views

In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect. The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder. The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation. Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative. These directives of the President take immediate effect. 584 Views