Crime
Alleged attack on witnesses: SDP’s allegation reckless, stands logic on its head – Kogi Govt says
*Says it’s illogical to attack witnesses doing enough to make paymasters lose woefully in court
*Accuses SDP of stage-managing attack because its petition is suffering irreversible setback
*Affirms commitment to peace, security
The Kogi State Government has debunked what it described as a headless allegation by the Social Democratic Party that it masterminded attacks on witnesses at the ongoing Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, saying the allegation was not only reckless, but stands logic on its head.
The state government said, contrary to the propaganda of the SDP, discerning members of the public were following the Tribunal case and would know that there was no way anyone would plot an attack against witnesses that were already testifying against those who paid them to testify and doing enough to make SDP lose woefully.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state, Kingsley Fanwo, said it was, however, important to enlighten the SDP that the case at the Tribunal was between parties and that the State Government, which it accused, was not one.
Fanwo, who spoke at a press conference in Lokoja, on Saturday, noted that if any attack did happen as claimed by the SDP, “it must have been stage-managed by the SDP to justify their failure to produce the number of witnesses they claimed to have in line with their modus operandi as witnessed during the campaign.”
“Why would anyone attempt or even attack a witness that has testified against those that paid him to witness for them? The discerning public is following the tribunal case and understands there is no need to attack witnesses that are doing enough to make SDP lose woefully in the law court,” he said.
The state government noted that it was absurd and incomprehensible for the SDP to continue to exhibit anti-democratic tendencies and provoke the sensibility of the people in such a reckless manner, adding that “if they are so confident in their incompetent petition, why resort to self help?”
“As a legitimate Government, we won’t be soiled in the oil of subjudice that the SDP has engaged in with impunity. We will protect all the people and residents of the State and also protect our integrity and image,” the Commissioner stated.
He said, “We wouldn’t have bothered to respond to the barking of the SDP and its leadership as the State Government is busy with governance; but it is important to set the record straight and address the minds of the public to the tradition of lies by the SDP.
“The Kogi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, the democratically elected Governor of the State, will be undaunted in its resolve to serve the people of the State rather than be entangled in the propaganda festival by a jobless and idle party.”
According to him, the Kogi State Government is unwavering in its stance on security and constitutionalism as the basic minimum in ensuring a peaceful and secured state.
The Commissioner added that it was the responsibility of the Government to protect all citizens, irrespective of their political or religious persuasions.
“To this end, the State Government did not receive any report of politically stirred crisis and therefore surprised at the blatant, false, spurious and pedestrian claims by the Social Democratic Party in the party’s usual way of whipping up sentiments and spreading falsehood to win public sympathy,” he said.
The state government stated, “It is clear that SDP’s petition is suffering an irreversible setback at the Tribunal as the comedians they presented as witnesses probably didn’t rehearse their lines well or they are falling because their claims have their foundation in fiction. It will be unacceptable for them to vent their impending failure on the State Government that is doing all it can to provide security for all in the State.
“The Kogi State Government doesn’t subscribe to violence and actions that breach the peace of the State. We will also not accept statements deliberately made to incite the people against the Government and possibly spark panic. The SDP must always be prepared for the consequences of their actions and utterances against the Kogi State Government or its officials.
“The illogic of the SDP’s claims is characteristic of a party that is desperately making efforts to hug the limelight through propaganda.
“The Governor of Kogi State is a law abiding gentleman who is working hard to consolidate on the achievements of the immediate past administration. He promised to protect all Kogites irrespective of their political and religious beliefs. His commitment to fulfilling such promises is iron cast and unimpeachable.
“For the National Chairman of the SDP to make false claims against the Kogi State Government before gentlemen of the Press is further proof of the party’s irrelevance and the reason the party is not controlling any state in the Federation. Kogi State cannot be a podium for the SDP to test its songs of division, ethnic bigotry and violence.
“We urge the people of the State to go about their normal businesses as there won’t be any chance for anyone to attack any Kogite. No stone will be left unturned to ensure peace and security in the State.”
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 300-level undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt, identified as Cynthia Chukwundah, who allegedly set her lover on fire in a private residence in Choba in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
Recall that the incident occurred on Sunday during a heated argument between the two lovebirds before the girl resorted to such action.
It was later gathered that the scuffle revolves around the pregnancy of the girl, even as her lover, a 32-year+old Sunny Amadi, died from injuries he sustained from the fire.
Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and sent to the media.
Iringe-Koko also said the girl, who also suffered some burns from the inferno, is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital under the watch of the police, saying the command has launched an investigation into the incident.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command is aware of and deeply concerned about a circulating social media report depicting a fire incident that occurred at No. 11B Okoro Street, Choba, Port Harcourt.
“According to the report, one Cynthia Chukwundah, a 300-level female undergraduate student of the University of Port Harcourt, allegedly set her boyfriend, one Saint Sunny Amadi, a 32-year-old male from the Elibrada Community in Emohua LGA, ablaze in a room, resulting in severe injuries during the inferno.
“He was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical treatment.
Upon receiving the report at about 1112 hours, Police detectives from the Choba Division promptly visited the scene and the victim at the hospital, who was in critical condition.
Unfortunately, the victim later succumbed to injuries and died while on admission.
”She added, “The Police have located Cynthia, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital due to injuries she also sustained during the incident.
She is also heavily pregnant with the deceased’s child.“
Due to her critical condition, she is unable to provide a detailed account of the incident, but will do so when her condition is stable.“
The probable cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained, and a thorough investigation has been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
The State Police image maker said the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, urges the public to remain calm, peaceful, assuring that justice would be served in this tragic incident.
……As IGP Reaffirms Commitment To Intelligence-Led Policing.
The Nigeria Police has again recorded significant successes in the fight against cultism, violent crimes, gunrunning, and kidnapping across Delta, Katsina, Adamawa and Edo states.
This comes in a series of coordinated intelligence-led operations in Edo State, on 26th June 2025.
Two individuals; Godday Irieude and Wisdom Emeka were abducted from their farm in Ewatto area at about 1:00 AM.
Police operatives in synergy with local vigilante groups, trailed the abductors to their hideout and launched a coordinated rescue operation.
The kidnappers upon sighting police operatives, engaged them in a fierce gun duel.
However, the superior fire power of the operative caused the kidnappers to flee with various degree of gun shot injuries, leading to the rescue of the kidnapped victims unhurt.
Similarly, Police operatives attached to the Delta State Command, acting on credible intelligence and a search warrant, stormed a residence in Mosogar area occupied by two suspected cultists; Koko Josh (29) and Asomugha Clinton (27).
A thorough search of their premises lead to the recovery of 1 fabricated Baretta pistol loaded with two rounds of live ammunition, two locally made guns, eight live cartridges, multiple mobile phones, a laptop and fetish items.
Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects; Anthony Kelvin (26) and Gift Amotsuka (25) all confirmed to be members of Aiye Confraternity.
In a separate operation executed in Okpanam area of Delta State, police operatives arrested two suspects; Ekene Chroma (36) and Okafor Jonathan (18) in possession of two English-made single-barrel guns and 110 live cartridges.
Preliminary investigations revealed their involvement in illegal arms dealing, acting as suppliers and couriers for wanted criminals.
In a separate operation in Funtua, Katsina State, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) apprehended one Yunusa Ishaku (40) in possession of two stolen vehicles (a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Camry).
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to his role in a nationwide vehicle theft ring targeting Abuja, Jos, and other cities, with stolen vehicles being conveyed to Niger Republic for resale.
He further revealed the locations of three additional stolen vehicles( Honda accord, Toyota carina II, Toyota camry 98) in Zamfara and Bauchi States. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices and recover more stolen exhibits.
In another related development, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the FID-IRT arrested one Alhaji Iya Bima, a 52-year-old man from Kem Shithem LGA, Adamawa State in possession of One AK-47 rifle, Two magazines and Fifty rounds of live 7.62×39 mm ammunition.
Further interrogation led to the recovery of additional Ak-47 rifle, 3 magazines and 50 rounds of ammunition.
All suspects would be arraigned before the court of law upon completion of investigation
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, once again reaffirms the resolve of the Nigeria Police Force to intensify intelligence-driven policing, disrupt criminal syndicates causing unrest across the country.
The Force urges members of the public to remain vigilant, support police operations, and report suspicious activities via dedicated emergency lines or to the nearest police station.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has filed a civil forfeiture complaint to seize property belonging to Lagos-based fraudster, Ehiremen Aigbokhan for allegedly stealing more than N460 million in funds meant for U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
The FBI is also actively pursuing an arrest warrant for Mr Aigbokhan in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted a donor intending to contribute to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee.
According to legal filings seen by Peoples Gazette, Mr Aigbokhan and his co-conspirators allegedly carried out a sophisticated fraudulent operation using the notorious Business Email Compromise scheme to trick their victims into sending money to cryptocurrency accounts belonging to them.
In the weeks leading up to the inauguration on January 20, 2025, the FBI reported that fraudsters created several fake email addresses to mimic the legitimate ones used for the ceremony, which they sent to dozens of people, requesting donations for Mr Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.
On December 26, 2024, one of these fake emails, with the address @t47lnaugural.com, was sent to a victim to mimic @t47inaugural.com, the official email of the co-chair of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, Steve Wiktoff.
The victim subsequently sent 250,300 USDT.ETH to the criminals. The 250,300 USDT.ETH is estimated to be worth over ₦400 million at the current black market rate.
Within days of receiving the money, the perpetrators immediately disbursed 215,000 USDT.ETH to several crypto wallets before the FBI caught wind of the scam and requested crypto operator Tether to freeze the accounts, which the company voluntarily adhered to on December 31, court documents showed.
Following the scam, the FBI immediately launched an investigation into the matter, and records of the crypto address associated with the scheme were traced back to Mr Aigbokhan in Lagos.
Investigations by the FBI revealed that part of the stolen funds were transferred to a Binance.com account registered to Mr Aigbokhan, who created the account in October 2024.
The Binance account had no prior deposits before receiving transfers from the scam wallet.
Further digital forensics linked the fraudulent email accounts and cryptocurrency transactions to Nigeria, with IP address data consistently tracing logins and email activity to Lagos, corroborating the connection to Mr Aigbokhan.
The agency said 20,017 USDT.ETH was seized from Mr Aigbokhan’s wallet, and another 20,336 USDT.ETH from 0xC7bdBA7ffB126F68E8454C, totalling over N60 million in black market rate, which Rick Blaylock Jr, the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, is asking the court to declare its forfeiture.
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