Crime
JUST IN: Corruption Trial: EFCC Set To Appeal Oronsaye’s Acquittal In N2bn Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is ready to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which on Monday, acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye of N2bn money laundering charge brought against him and others by the Commission.
While dismissing the charge, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the Commission failed to establish the charges against the defendants.
However, in a statement, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said the the trial judge erred by overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in the course of the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe.
He said that the Commission has therefore decided to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Oronsaye’s corruption trial commenced in 2015 when he was arraigned alongside the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Osarenkhoe Afe and three companies – Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants had between 2010 and 2011 used some firms to divert public funds through procurement fraud.
The EFCC equally accused Orosanye and the others of using inflated biometrics enrolment contracts, collective allowances, and other schemes to siphon money from accounts containing pensioners’ funds.
But Justice Ekwo held that the anti-graft agency failed to supply the court, with ingredients that could establish the alleged corruption charges against Oronsaye.
The judge subsequently dismissed the charges in relation to Oronsaye, discharged and acquitted him.
Crime
JUST IN: Suspected Bandits Kill 10 in Zamfara Ambush
At least 10 people were killed and several others injured when suspected bandits ambushed a convoy along the Gusau–Magami–Dansadau Road in Zamfara State on Monday.
An unspecified number of persons were also abducted during the attack.
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred between 4pm and 5pm as vigilante operatives were escorting residents home in a convoy. The attackers suddenly opened fire on the vehicles.
Among those killed were five traders, three local hunters, and a member of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG).
The injured victims were rushed to Magami General Hospital for immediate treatment. They were scheduled to be referred to Gusau for further care, but as of the time of this report, they remained at the Magami facility due to the lack of a security escort.
Crime
Homosexuality: Police nab 37-year-old man with 3 minors with 500 naira inducement
A 37-year-old man, Isah Usman of Angwan Biri, who sells honey in the Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, has been arrested by the police for forcefully having unnatural carnal knowledge of young boys aged 13, 14 and 15 severally in his room.

The incident, which occurred on 23rd April at about 3:30 p.m., was reported to the Bosso Division, where the suspect lured the minors with 500 naira each and some honey as an inducement to commit the act with them.
Confirming the development, spokesman of the police, Superintendent Wasi’u Abiodun, in a statement said the victims were taken to Police Clinic, Minna, for a medical examination, which confirmed the allegation and indicated penetration, while the suspect also confessed to the act.

The suspect, according to the police, has been transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation, after which he will be charged to court for prosecution.
Similarly, on the 28th April at about 5:45 p.m.m, Abiodun said a report was received at GRA Division that on the same date at about 4p.m, a 14-year-old boy was seen spending money lavishly and when questioned by his Boss, who is a mechanic.
The teenager, upon interrogation, revealed that another 16-year-old usually gives him between two thousand and two thousand five hundred naira after performing unnatural sexual acts with him in an uncompleted building around Tayi village.
The suspect was said to have been immediately arrested, and an investigation is ongoing to identify other victims and possible accomplices for investigation and prosecution for unnatural offences.
The police therefore advised Parents/Guardians to monitor and protect their wards against such unnatural offences to prevent the health implications for the victims.
Crime
NDLEA, US-DEA nab Nigerian billionaire drugs baron
Properties already identified and linked to Amadi Simon as proceeds of illicit drug funds include Jovi Hotel at 1 Isiayei Street GRA Phase 1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites at 4 Orikeze by Deeper Life Road, Agbor, Delta State; as well as Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court Mabushi, Abuja.
A Nigerian a billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, had been arrested in Switzerland along with his co-conspirators: 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi, in Anambra state, and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi, in Agbor, Delta state.
In a statement on Thursday, the NDLEA said that the arrest of the trio followed months of intelligence and investigations across multiple jurisdictions linking Amadi to the laundering of hundreds of billions of Naira in proceeds of drug and financial crimes.
In addition to the arrest of the suspects, the NDLEA, in collaboration with its international law enforcement partners, has also traced multi-billion assets linked to Amadi’s transnational criminal network in Nigeria and abroad.
“His operations in Nigeria included a complex scheme of front and shell companies; pass-throughs and delegates; and the use of numerous traditional and cryptocurrency accounts to conceal and launder illicit funds.
Properties already identified and linked to Amadi Simon as proceeds of illicit drug funds include Jovi Hotel at 1 Isiayei Street GRA Phase 1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites at 4 Orikeze by Deeper Life Road, Agbor, Delta State; as well as Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court Mabushi, Abuja.
“Also, several bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses used by the cartel to conceal hundreds of billions of illicit funds have also been identified and blocked.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd),expressed gratitude for the support received from the US-DEA to crack and dismantle Amadi’s transnational criminal network, adding that the US mission to Nigeria has continued to partner with the agency to combat narcotics trafficking through training in intelligence, evidence collection, case management, and tactical operations as well as the provision of critical equipment.
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