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ICPC charges ex-AFN Secretary-General over alleged $150,000 fraud

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ICPC charges ex-AFN Secretary-General over alleged $150,000 fraud

ICPC charges ex-AFN Secretary-General over alleged $150,000 fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Secretary-General of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Amaechi Akawu, over his alleged role in a $150,000 scam.

According to a statement by the ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugwa, Mr Akawo was arraigned by the commission at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, February 4.

He was arraigned before the trial judge, Inyang Ekwo, on charges of corruption, including money laundering and fraudulent diversion of public funds.

The anti-corruption agency had accused the former Secretary-General of diverting funds released by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) for the successful hosting of the CAA Grand Prix Competition in Delta State, also known as the 2017 Warri Relay Competition.

The defendant allegedly committed the offences in July and August 2017, when he was said to have diverted sums of money from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for personal use.

The ICPC alleged that Mr Akawo actions violated Sections 1 (a) and 16 (1) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 and are punishable under relevant sections of the same Act.

Akawo pleaded not guilty to all the charges and then filed for bail.

ICPC prosecutor, Mashkur Salisu, did not object to the bail application but urged the court to grant him bail on stringent terms to ensure the defendant attends his trial.

In the ruling, the trial judge, Mr Ekwo, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N15 million, with one surety. The judge ordered that the surety must have landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and must deposit his passport with the court registry.

The case was thereafter adjourned until May 16 and fixed May 17 to 18, 2022 for further trial dates

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Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Four Victims in Lagos-Ogun Border

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Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Four Victims in Lagos-Ogun Border

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers and rescued four victims held in captivity at Oke Aro, a border community between Lagos and Ogun states.

Police sources confirmed that one of the victims, Okorie Henry, managed to escape and reported the case at the Iju Police Division at about 3:30 p.m. on March 31. Henry told the police that he and four others had been forcefully taken into custody by a group of armed hoodlums.

He was able to convince his captors that he had received money in his account and needed to withdraw it at a bank. During the trip, he fled and alerted the authorities.

Following his report, a police team was mobilized to the scene, leading to the rescue of four victims: Otoh Chisom (20), Okeke Kwufrochukwu (26), Uchenna Obeji (26), and Minachi Udochukwu (12).

The police also arrested four suspects identified as Chibike Iheijika (23), Stanley Iheijika (22), Obiora Oyedibe (26), and Emmanuel Onedibe (25).

The command said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices and determine the full extent of the criminal operation.

Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Four Victims in Lagos-Ogun Border

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Sokoto: Armed Bandits Repelled; Stray Bullet Kills Villager

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Sokoto: Armed Bandits Repelled; Stray Bullet Kills Villager

By: Zagazola Makama

A group of approximately 90 armed bandits, riding on motorcycles, attempted to attack Tozai village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on March 31, 2025.

The bandits were confronted by a combined team of Military and Police forces, which engaged them in a gunfight, forcing the assailants to retreat.

Unfortunately, during the exchange of fire, a stray bullet from the bandits struck 35-year-old Sule Ummaru, a resident of Tozai village, who was attempting to escape the scene. He was rushed to General Hospital Isa but later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

Security forces have continued patrols in the area to ensure further safety and deter any future attacks.

Sokoto: Armed Bandits Repelled; Stray Bullet Kills Villager

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Businessman Arrested Over Illicit Drug Shipments from US into Nigeria

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Businessman Arrested Over Illicit Drug Shipments from US into Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a Lekki-based businessman and proprietor of Damillionz Takeout, Arokodare Damil Ebenezer in connection with the shipment of 60 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, from the United States of America to Nigeria.

The spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said the 43-year-old businessman was arrested at Bay Lounge, Admiralty Way, Lekki area of Lagos where he does his illicit drug business last Monday while he was expecting to take the delivery of his latest drug consignment.

Babafemi said the suspect arrest followed the seizure of his cargo that arrived Nigeria in seven big cartons at a logistics company in Lagos on 12th March by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation
(DOGI).

After his arrest, he was taken to his Lekki home for a search during which 94 grammes of the same psychoactive substance, cannabis crusher and other drug paraphernalia were recovered, bringing the total weight of the drug seized from him to 32.24 kilogrammes.

In his statement, he claimed he started the illicit drug business in 2017.

Attempt by another businessman Omoruyi Terry to export 1,400 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 800 grammes to Italy has also been thwarted by NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Babafemi said Omoruyi was intercepted at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on his way to Italy via a Qatar Airways flight. Investigation reveals the suspect is an Italy based frequent traveler and logistics agent.

In Katsina, four suspects: Baraka Abubakar, 40; Haruna Alitine, 23; Muhammad Babangida, 20; and Hamisu Lawal, were arrested last Friday during an intelligence led raid operation at Godai village in Daura local government area where 684 blocks of compressed skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 423 kilogrammes and 86,000 pills of diazepam were recovered from them. The three male suspects were arrested while repackaging the diazepam tablets into other containers while Baraka, the female suspect was apprehended with the heaps of skunk in her house.

The NDLEA spokesman said not less than 13,198 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa were destroyed in Edo forests across parts of the state between last Monday and Friday by NDLEA operatives who also evacuated 158 kilogrammes of same substance for possible prosecution.

He disclosed that the forests where no fewer than four cannabis plantations were discovered and destroyed include: Uhen forest, Ovia North East local government area. Sobe, Owan West local government area; and Amahor forest in Igueben local government area.

In Niger state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road last Friday intercepted a black Toyota Corolla car marked SLM 137 SV and arrested the two occupants in possession of 179 blocks of compressed skunk with a total weight of 77.6 kilogrammes concealed in false bottom of the vehicle. The two suspects are: Paul Christopher, 46, and Lucky Anumie. In another operation, 50 kilogrammes skunk was on Saturday recovered from the home of a suspect, Isa Iliya, who is currently at large, in Wawa village, Borgu council area of the state.

While 108.5kg of skunk was recovered from lockup shops at Aria New Market, in Enugu metropolis, Enugu state by NDLEA operatives last Tuesday, 25 kilogrammes of same substance was seized from a suspect Abdulrazak Saka at Kilako Area of Ilorin, Kwara State last Monday. Another suspect Sulk Saheed, 50, was nabbed with 2.5 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud and 515 grammes of Colorado, at Olomi Academy area of Ibadan, Oyo state.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Edo, Kwara, Niger, Enugu, Oyo and Katsina commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated. He extended eid-el-fitr greetings to them, their families, other stakeholders and Nigerians at large.

He added that: “May the spirit of obedience and sacrifice that defines this special day guide and strengthen us as we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a drug-free society. May Allah continue to bless and guide us and may our collective efforts bring us closer to a safer and healthier society for all.”

Businessman Arrested Over Illicit Drug Shipments from US into Nigeria

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