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N4.6bn ONSA fund was shared to organise prayers for Nigeria against insecurity – EFCC witness

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 An officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kazeem Yusuf,has told a federal capital territory (FCT) high court that N4.6 billion was allegedly diverted to organise prayer for Nigeria.

Yusuf spoke on Tuesday while testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW2) in the trial of Bashir Yuguda, a former minister of state for finance.

 

Yuguda is standing trial alongside Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA); Attahiru Bafarawa, ex-governor of Sokoto; his son Sagir, and Dalhatu Investment Limited, a company owned by Bafarawa.

 

The defendants are facing 25 counts of misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and receiving stolen property.

 

While being led in evidence by  Rotimi Jacobs, EFCC counsel, the witness said an investigation was carried out after the commission received a petition from the office of the national security adviser (ONSA).

 

He said the investigation revealed that “Dalhatu Investment Limited was one of the 78 companies alleged to have received money from ONSA without any documents to show that they bided for contracts”.

 

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Yusuf said an analysis of the statement of account of Dalhatu Investment Limited by EFCC from UBA revealed that the company got N4.6 billion from ONSA.

 

He added that the amount was paid in instalments between 2014 and 2015, noting that N783 million, being part of the money, came from the SAS account.

 

Yusuf said in a written statement, that Sagir, who represented the company, told the EFCC that “the money was meant for prayers for the country because of the insecurity prevalent at that time”. 

 

He said Sagir later gave a breakdown of how the N4.6 billion was spent, including a list of beneficiaries.

 

The witness said Abdallah Wali, a former senator, who received N580 million from the company, told EFCC that the money was meant for his gubernatorial election campaign in Sokoto in 2015.

 

He also told the EFCC team that Muazu Madawaki,  former secretary of the Pilgrims and Welfare Agency (PWA) in Sokoto, received N322 million, which he claimed was for payment of Hajj seats for some Sokoto indigenes.

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The witness said other beneficiaries listed include Ibrahim Maigoma, former Sokoto chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received N111million; Yahaya Dada (N327,549,000); Sani Kabir (N159million); INEC (N293,500,000), among others.

 

The witness added that the money received by Wali was sent through a company, Development Strategies International Limited, owned by Islam Wali and Mohammed Wali, who are cousins to the former senator.

 

The witness told the court that parts of the money meant for supplies of security equipment, including hand-held devices, were used to procure a Lexus car, a Hilux van and 16 Peugeot 206 cars which were distributed to PDP local government chairmen in Sokoto.

 

However, he stated that 14 of the Peugeot 206 vehicles were recovered in the course of the investigation.

 

The witness said one Amanze Obi received N15.3 million for political publicity for Bafawara’s 2015 presidential campaign.

 

He further told the court that about £123,000 was transferred to a bank in the United Kingdom to offset a mortgage for Bafarawa while N1billion went to Bureaux de Change (BDCs) to convert to dollars.

 

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Yusuf added that the defendants were invited by EFCC for interviews and statements, noting that they all showed up at the commission’s headquarters and volunteered their statements.

 

When the prosecuting counsel sought to tender Sagir’s statements through the witness, his lawyer, J.O Olatoke, objected to their admissibility on the ground that they were not voluntarily obtained.

 

Olatoke told the court that the statements were made based on inducement, intimidation, receipt and invitation to settlement.

 

He prayed the court to grant them trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements.

 

Based on the request, Yusuf Halilu, the presiding judge, ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements made by Sagir.

 

He subsequently adjourned the trial until February 14.

 

 

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Police arrest 71-year-old landlord for impregnating tenant’s 14-year-old daughter

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The Ogun State Police Command said it had arrested a septuagenarian landlord, identified simply as Adesina, for allegedly defiling and impregnating his tenant’s 14-year-old girl (name withheld) at Akegbeyale Street in Ifesowapo Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

The residents and other tenants were thrown into a state of shock when the septuagenarian suspect was found on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, having sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old girl at about 10:15 pm in the house bathroom.

The minor, according to a police source, was said to have made her way to the apartment’s bathroom to take a shower.

A few seconds later, the landlord was said to have gained entrance into the same bathroom and was believed to be having sexual intercourse with the teenager before he was caught in the act.

 

After this shocking discovery, some members of the community and other neighbours who witnessed the scene raised the alarm, leading to the arrest of the landlord by the men of the Ajuwon Police Division.

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It was gathered that upon advice by the police and others on the need for the minor to be treated to avoid any infection, the father took the 14-year-old girl to the hospital for medical examination.

 

However, the result of the test was said to have indicated that the minor was about six weeks pregnant.

 

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, where all parties would be grilled.

“The landlord has been arrested and detained. The father reported that he was caught defiling his 14-year-old daughter in their bathroom in the morning. The teenager was taken to Tamara Hospital in Akute for a medical examination.

 

“However, the medical report further showed that that wasn’t a first-time act because the test showed that the teenager was already six weeks pregnant. The state CID in Eleweran will soon take up the matter for further investigation,” Odutola stated.

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In November 2023, the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps reportedly apprehended another 76-year-old man, David Ogunsanwo, for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl in the Abeokuta area of the state. The teenager was also reportedly five months pregnant.

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Police arrest three suspected rapists targeting young women online

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Operatives of the Rivers state police command have arrested members of a gang allegedly specialised in kidnapping and raping young women in the state.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in the state, told reporters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the gang kidnapped and molested one Ogechi, 28, in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area on 1 July, 2023.

How they were arrested
She said the police had been tracking the gang, resulting in the arrest of a 32-year-old resident of Igoni Street, Abuloma, linked to the crime.

 

“Investigations revealed that Louise Brutolu engaged his victims through phone chats, inviting them to meet him at Pacific Suite Hotel in Abuloma, Rivers.

 

“After booking a room, the suspect drugs his victims, rendering them unconscious before disposing them of their valuables.

 

“In Ogechi’s case, the suspect took her iPhone, N28,000 and ATM card,” she explained.

Ms Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, stated that the police anti-kidnapping unit swung into action to capture Brutolu after the incident was reported.

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“Operatives recovered the substances used by the suspect to incapacitate his victims before disposing them of their valuables.

“During interrogation, Brutolu identified the gang leader, who was subsequently arrested after several months of persistent investigation.

“Various items belonging to different victims, such as 21 mobile phones, three female handbags, and receipt booklets, were found in possession of the gang leader,” she added.

Ms Iringe-Koko, who declined to disclose the gang leader’s identity, mentioned that the suspects had previously faced charges for similar offences in 2021.

Another arrest
Similarly, the police spokesperson announced the arrest of one Jemifor Timi, 28, for his alleged involvement in several rape cases of young women in the state.

“Timi specialises in enticing women and Bolt and Uber drivers through social media platforms like Instagram, Tinder, and Badoo.

“After selecting victims who flaunt expensive phones on social media, the suspect invites them to his hotel rooms and offers them drinks.

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“Following the consumption of drinks spiked with tramadol, Timi proceeds to rape and rob them of their belongings,” Ms Iringe-Koko disclosed.

The police spokesperson emphasised that the suspect had been engaged in these crimes for three years and had been previously arrested and charged twice.

She urged residents, particularly young women, to be cautious of kidnappers and rapists who exploit popular messaging platforms to lure victims.

“Personal safety should be a priority, with individuals insisting on meeting strangers in public places and informing family and friends about their whereabouts,” she advised.

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Police arrest three deadly robbers in Lagos, recover guns

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The Lagos State Police Command, on Tuesday, said its operatives arrested three suspected deadly armed robbers with guns recovered from them.

Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesman of the Command in a tweet on X thanked Lagosians for given the police information leading to the arrest of the suspects.

 

Hundeyin gave the names of the suspected armed robbers as Chinonso Bright, 34; Efanyi Chukwu, 23 and Alexander Chiemarie, 28.

He said Chinonso was arrested in Iba area of Lagos, while Chukwu and Chiemarie were arrested at Jakande-Lekki area.

 

Hundeyin stated that three locally made semi-automatic pistols, one locally made revolver, four rounds of live cartriged and 129 rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from the robbers.

He wrote: “Thank you, Lagosians, for giving us useful information. Your information led to the arrest of suspected cultist/armed robber Chinonso Bright aged 34 in Iba area of Lagos State.

 

“Investigation then led to the further arrest of Efanyi Chukwu aged 23 and Alexander Chiemarie aged 28 in Jakande-Lekki area.

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“Recovered from them are three locally made semi-automatic pistols, one locally made revolver, four rounds of live cartridges and 129 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Suspects are to be arraigned at the conclusion of ongoing investigation.

“Thank you again, Lagosians. With your help, three dangerous persons and four dangerous weapons are off the streets. Policing is everyone’s business. See something, say something!”

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