Crime
JUST IN: EFCC Queries Matawalle over Alleged N70bn fraud
The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, is currently being investigated over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission made the revelation saying that it was making the development known following the recent attempt by the outgoing governor to cast aspersion on the integrity of the agency’s fight against corruption by making what the agency described as ‘farcical allegations’ of corruption in assets disposal and plea bargain procedure, among others.
The Director, Media and Public Affairs, EFCC, Osita Nwajah, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made this disclosure on Thursday while addressing journalists at the Commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
The anti-graft agency also confirmed that a former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, who was recently arrested by its operatives over alleged N22bn fraud, is still in detention.
Going philosophical, Nwajah said, “It is intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate. Is this a case of a ‘thief’ saying he must not be touched until other ‘thieves’ are caught?
“Unfortunately, it is not within Matawalle’s remit to dictate to the EFCC whom to arrest, when, and where. Suspects in the custody of the Commission cut across all sectors and social class.
“The qualification to get a space in the Commission’s detention facility is to commit a crime. It does not matter whether you are a priest, Imam, governor or minister.
“Currently, a former minister of power is in the custody of the EFCC over a N22 billion corruption allegation. That conveniently did not attract Matawalle’s attention,” the EFCC remarked.
The anti-graft agency noted further that the outgoing governor of Zamfara State is being investigated for allegedly diverting money sourced as a loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state.
Nwajah added, “But the real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC, over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.
“The money which was sourced as a loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.
“The Commission’s investigations so far reveal that more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state. Some of the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the Commission made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States Dollars.
“They confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamafara State but were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollars and return to the state governor through some of his commissioners, notably the commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs,” Nwajah disclosed.
Crime
BREAKING: Former AIG, Hakeem Odumosu wife kidnapped in Ogun.
Wife of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Hakeem Odumosu has been kidnapped from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State.
Sources revealed that the kidnappers stormed the residence in a coordinated attack, leaving the community in shock and fear.
Confirming the incident, the Ogun command spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola said the victim was about entering her home when her Lexus Jeep was accosted.
She added that Mrs Odumosu was dragged out of the Jeep, and taken through a swampy area to an unknown location.
“The Divisional police officer has led a team of officers to the scene, where they are currently searching the swampy bush area.
“The Baale of Warewa and Maaba have been contacted to also deploy local security forces to the riverine area”, she said.
Details later….
Crime
Police: Crime Reels Across Benue, Delta and Kebbi
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended the operatives for these milestone achievements in the fight against crime and criminality.
▪︎ Suspected criminals/ NPF file poto
The Nigeria Police Force successfully raided an illegal weapons manufacturing factory on the 11th of January, 2025 at Tse Akamabe Area of Kwande LGA, Benue State, the house of a cultist in Delta, and the arrest of two suspect for murders in Kebbi State. In a statement with the Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/337, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force PRO, Force Headquarters Abuja, said : “The Police carried out a well-coordinated operation that led to the discovery of an illegal weapons manufacturing factory at Tse Akamabe Area of Kwande LGA, Benue State and arrested two suspects namely Friday Aduduakambe ‘m’ and Iorwashima Iornyume ‘m’ aka “AK” aged 35 years. Upon a coordinated search of the factory, the following items were recovered; 9 locally fabricated pistols, 1 locally fabricated Ak47 riffle (unfinished), 2 gas cylinders, 4 vise machines, 1 filing machine and numerous other weapons manufacturing tools.
In another development, police operatives attached to the Delta State Command acted upon credible intelligence raided an apartment in DSC belonging to a notorious Eiye confraternity member named Prosper Akeni aged 32 years, a hit man for the cult group.
The following items were recovered; 1 English revolver pistol, 1 berretta pistol, 2 locally made double barrel gun, 2 locally made single barrel gun, 1 locally made revolver pistol, 1 locally made single barrel pistol and 25 rounds of ammunition.
The suspect confessed that the guns recovered belonged to his cult group and he was in custody of them as the number one man in the group.
Equally, the Police on December 31, 2024, at approximately 8:00 PM, arrested Yunusa Haruna, a 25-year-old male from Bakin Turu Village in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, who fatally stabbed his elder brother, Isiyaku Haruna, with a sharp knife in the chest.
In response to the ugly incident, a team of police officers from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Shanga promptly raced to the scene and arrested the suspect.
Also another suspect, one Abubakar Ummar, was arrested in Zuru Village on 8th January, 2025 for stabbing one Mohammed Bala during an argument leading to his immediate demise.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended the operatives for these milestone achievements in the fight against crime and criminality.
He has charged police operatives to intensify efforts in ensuring sanctity is restored across the country.
The IGP further encouraged members of the public to remain vigilant at all times and share useful information to the Police in order to have a community-based policing system.”
Crime
Gospel Singer Confesses He Killed Lover ” Salome Adaidu ” Without Regret
He has succeeded in destroying our daughter. Not ordinary killing, he butchered her into pieces. He cut that body into more than 50 pieces.
A Nasarawa State-based gospel singer, Timileyin Ajayi, confessed to the Police why and how he killed his girlfriend -Salome Enejo Adaidu, on Sunday morning of January 12, 2025.
Salome, aged 24, was a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving with Nicon Insurance in Abuja. She had visited her boyfriend- Ajayi, at his Papalana axis, New Karshi in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Ajayi, in a confessional statement, told the Police that while they were together, they had a dispute over her phone.
Ajayi claimed that Salome attacked him with a knife and injured his hand, and in retaliation, he stabbed her in the neck, severed her head, and butchered her into pieces.
That morning, Ajayi was caught by the members of a Church with Salome’s severed head concealed in a blood-dripping polythene bag.
When asked why he was carrying the head, Ajayi alleged that “a woman” instructed him to bring it for her.
According to the church’s Bible Study Teacher and General Secretary, Caleb Umaru, police officers took Ajayi and the decapitated head away.
‘She was cheating, I don’t regret killing her’ – Timileyin Ajayi
Timileyin Ajayi, aged 32, who was caught with the severed head of Salome Adaidu, has said he does not regret having killed her, as she was cheating on him with other men.
He told Channels TV: “I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time. It’s not something I planned.
It happened on that day and it happened. Not that I have a plan in mind.
“She was cheating. She hides most of the things from me most of the time.
I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided.
“I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal that is what I thought. If you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person.
“You have to understand what that person is going through so that you can put yourself in the position that the person is going through.
That is why I don’t have any regrets because we were compatible.”
We don’t know him – Salome’s family
However, Salome’s elder sister, Esther Adaidu, denied that any relationship existed between her deceased sister and the suspect, as she pleaded for justice.
She said: “This so-called Timi guy, we don’t know him. We had never seen him until we were called up to tell us that this guy murdered and dismembered our sister.
“I demand and need justice to be served to this guy sitting over there because he is the one who murdered my sister, and he confirmed it to me.”
Salome’s uncle, Samson Adaidu, spoke for the family: “The position of the family is we discovered this through the Nigerian Police and we are expecting justice from the police.
“He has succeeded in destroying our daughter. Not ordinary killing, he butchered her into pieces. He cut that body into more than 50 pieces.
“And when you look at the whole thing, he is preparing that body for consumption because he cut them and left them in about six polythene bags.”
There’ll be justice – Police
Police have promised justice in the matter. The Police Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, said: “Investigation is ongoing, and upon conclusion, he will be arraigned in court for prosecution.
I want to assure the family and members of the public that this suspect will not be spared if found wanting.
“We are calling on members of the public, who may have any complaints against the suspect, to come forward with their complaints, and it will be looked into and investigated.”
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