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Petitioner seeks compensation of N10 million for alleged arbitrary arrest by Police

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Petitioner seeks compensation of N10 million for alleged arbitrary arrest by Police

Petitioner seeks compensation of N10 million for alleged arbitrary arrest by Police

By: Michael Mike

A petitioner, Nnaemeka Orjiakor has demanded a compensation of N10 million from the police for alleged arbitrary arrest, detention and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in 2019.

Orjiakor made this demand on Wednesday at the Independent Investigative Panel on human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units in Abuja.

He pleaded with the panel to order N10m compensation in his favour, alleging that SARS officers led by one Mohammed Elbow Awal arrested him on the 8th February 2019 from his shop, handcuffed him, paraded him around Wuse market before bundling him into their vehicle, and took him to the SARS office in Area 3, Garki where he was beaten and detained for six days before he was released.

Nnaemeka, also during his narration before the panel presided over by Dr. Garba Tetengi, who stood in for the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima(rtd), said that in 2006 he rented a shop from a lady in Wuse market, but when he wasn’t making enough sales had to sublet part of the shop to a third party so that he can make enough to pay the rent on the shop and boost his business.  

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He added that unknown to him, when the rent on the shop expired the third party in the lease contract went behind his back and paid the rent in full so as to be the sole occupant of the shop and further invited the police that he (Nnaemeka) was an illegal occupant of the shop.

Continuing in his narration, he said with the intervention of the police the matter was taken to court where trial had commenced, only for SARS personnel to arrest him on the morning of 24th December 2018 on the allegation that the owner of the shop is claiming that he wanted to sell the shop, and he was subsequently taken away but for the intervention of his wife who got a lawyer to get him reprieve.

He said it was the intervention of the lawyer who called the police and informed them the matter was still in court that got him released.

He said during another arrest on the 8th February 2022 that he was subjected to torture and degrading treatment.

The matter was adjourned to 22nd March for the continuation of hearing and defence.

In another development, the panel has ordered police to release all properties seized from officer of Nigerian merchant navy coast guard, while police alleges that the above-named organisation has no law to operate.

The Independent Investigative Panel on human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the Nigeria Police to release all 21 items including 4 Mistubishi L300 bus, two speed boats, passports, and other valuable documents of Commodore Allen Edema of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard they seized.   

The panel gave this order following the plea of Commodore Allen Edema that the police allegedly asked him to pay N600,000 before his properties will be released to him.

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At the first hearing of the petition, Edema alleged that in 2008 the Nigeria Navy in a joint operation with the police, invaded his head office, arrested him, and seized his properties in Lagos. Since his release, the police has refused to hand over his properties to him despite orders from the court.

Under cross-examination, one of the respondents DSP Azuka Oboni who was led by Fidelis Ogwobe informed the panel that in 2008, officers of the Nigerian Navy arrested Commodore Edema and seven others and were brought to the FCT Command.

The Nigerian Navy alleged that Commodore Edema and others were impersonating the Nigerian Navy and also wearing their uniform, tempering with Naval activities at waterways and having illegal possession of naval equipment. 

DSP Azuka also stated he was the  IPO assigned to investigate the allegations. He wrote to the National Assembly to inquire about the operations of the organizations. From their response it was discovered that there was no law backing their existence, meaning the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard was operating illegally. 

Thereafter, they were charged to court without bail being granted. DSP Azuka disclosed to the panel that  Commodore Edema jumped bail by not showing up at the court for more than three times.

Under cross-examination, Counsel to the Police, Fidelis Ogwobe, asked Lawrence Ibiam and Chika Okereke, both lieutenants and  members of the organisation ,if they were aware that the  organisation was operating illegally. 

Chika answered in the affirmative that the organisation has been proscribed this led to the closing of the head office in Lagos and invasion of the training school in Idah. On  28th April 2014, a joint task force of the Police, Navy, Army, and Civil Defence invaded the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast  Guard training center in Idah, Kogi State, and killed 11 persons during the invasion of the training center.

While Lawrence Ibiam disclosed that he joined the organisation in 2006 and he has been working without receiving salary. On further probe by the panel on how he survives he disclosed that he works as a security man at Watchman church.

Earlier, Fidelis Ogwobe had asked Commodore Edema to state which law or act mandates the organisation to operate. In which he responded that there is a bill before the house in regards to the establishment of the office.

The matter has been adjourned to 22nd March 2022. In the meantime Counsel to both parties have three days each to file their written addresses.

Petitioner seeks compensation of N10 million for alleged arbitrary arrest by Police

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Crime

Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

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Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 27 fishermen were slaughtered and 3 others abducted by the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah
lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, Boko Haram terrorists group in the fringes of Lake Chad in the border between Cameroon- Nigeria.

It was gathered that terrorists suspected to be from the Buduma faction of Abou Ummaymah, attacked a local fishing community harboring most fishermen from Nigeria at Island Kofiya near Darak in the Republic of Cameroon.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that they asked them to lie down, tie their hands behind their backs before they started slaughtering them.

The sources said the terrorists also abducted four other fishermen after accusing them of spying for the ISWAP faction

The bodies of the fishermen were later recovered during a search and rescue operation by troops and their colleagues who received the news from victims who fled the attack scene.

Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

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Crime

NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

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NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has discovered in Egbema West of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State illegal petroleum refinery site with massive capacity.

A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the security agency, Afolabi Babawale read: “In a swift response to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR marching order the CG”s SIS having upscaled their intelligence and operational techniques have uncovered a massive illegal refining site with over 95,000 illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) while others yet to be refined but already siphoned are unquantified in litres.”

He said: “Acting on credible intelligence, the CG’s SIS stormed Otulu Community in Egbema West of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State and discovered an illegal refinery covering a large expanse of land with many cooking pots and illegally connected Pipes tapping from the main Oil Trunk line of NNPC OML 20 assets in Egbema West field; Well 11 location with many fabricated reservoirs, drums and AGO concealed in cellophane bags.

“Upon sighting the resilient and dogged CG’s Special Intelligence Squad the perpetrators took to their heels through the thick forests. “

He revealed that: “The following exhibits were recovered at the crime scene:

“Galvanized iron pipes, several locally fabricated metal reservoirs, Constant Elepaq Gasoline Generating Set, Bridge Inverter Welding machine ARC 200, Electrical filing machine, Several vandalized Well Head Valves, a yellow coloured Robin GC pumping machine and Packs of Electrolyte.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the perpetrators behind the heinous crime while the exhibits recovered would be forfeited to the federal government after the Court’s order. “

Babawale said: “The NSCDC hereby affirms it’s determination to relentlessly combat the menace of Vandalism and crude oil theft to a stand still across the nation.

NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

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Crime

Borno Police parades suspects for various criminal offences, Urges public to report any suspected movements

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Borno Police parades suspects for various criminal offences, Urges public to report any suspected movements

By: Babagana Wakil

The Commissioner of Police Borno State call on the people of the state to continue to support the police with timely reports of incidences following the parade of suspected aledged for committing various crimes.

Command under the watch of the Commissioner of Police CP Yusufu Mohammed Lawal has recorded breakthroughs with the recent burst of criminals involved in mischief, culpable homicide, illegal mining and kidnaping in the state.

Police Public relations officer ASP NAHUM KENNETH Daso disclosed this in a statement he signed and made available to Dandal Kura Radio International in Maiduguri.

On Criminal Conspiracy and Illegal Mining at about 1330hirs On the 24th March, 2024 at about diesel tanker truck with four suspects was arrested by Nigeria Army patrol team attached to 331 Battalion and were brought to Bayo division, the suspects were caught in possession of 70 bags of suspected monoxide substance despite the ban of illegal mining activities in the state, the suspects confessed to the crime while investigation ongoing.

Kenneth Daso also stated that on the 11th March, 2024 at about 2000HRS, one Umar Mohammed of Jiddari Polo area Maiduguri reported to GRA police station that while inspecting his uncompleted house in Judumari area Maiduguri, found a shallow grave with an unidentified decomposed body, one digger and 2 knives. On receiving the report police detectives of GRA police station visited the scene and exhumed the body which was further taken to state specialist hospital Maiduguri for autopsy. On the 25th of March 2024 at about 1500HRS police investigation further led to the arrest of one Ibrahim Muhammed who confessed to have conspired with his master one Usman still at large and one Mustapha Modu a laborer who dug the shallow grave where the body was buried and he was paid the sum of N1,500 was also arrested. The case is under investigation as effort is on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspect.

The statement also reveals that On the 29th March 2024, at about 1800HRS one Hauwa Audu Adamu reported to police crack squad Maiduguri, that on the same date at about 1330HRS her son Hisham Mohammed 10yrs of age went for Jum’at prayer and never returned home, the next day 30/04/2024 at about 0900HRS an unknown GSM number called her and demanded a ransom of three million naira N3,000,000. For the release of her son in their custody, a sum of N400,000 was later negotiated and given to the suspects. Police crack squad swung into action and arrested two primary suspects who later confessed to the crime, the victim was rescued unhurt investigation is ongoing.

Borno Police command further disclosed that On the 1st April, 2024 at about 0630HRS, Chief Security Officer of University Of Maiduguri reported to Gwange Police Station that on the same date at about 0530HRS they discovered one Dr Kamal Abdulkadir a lecturer of Department of Physical and Health Education University of Maiduguri lying on his pool of blood, on receipt of the report, police detectives of Gwange police station and forensic experts from State Criminal Investigation Department visited the crime scene and found the victim lying dead with multiple stab wounds and injuries on the body. The victim’s mobile phone and vehicle one Honda Pilot with Reg NO. NGU232XG YOBE Golden Colour was carted away by the criminals; the body was taken to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Maiduguri for autopsy.
Adding that Eight suspects have been arrested while the case is still under discreet investigation.

On the mater of incessant fire outbreak across the stste on the 24th March 2024 at about 1030HRS Hunter group of Mafa reported to Mafa division with 3 suspects Malum Usman 16yrs, Bulama Bukar 14yrs, Rawa Usman 11yrs all of Mafa IDP camp that suspects were arrested with matches while trying to set a house ablaze in the camp, preliminary investigation further revealed that the trio were sponsored by one Babagana Umar a firewood seller at Muna garage area Maiduguri who contracted them to commit the act at the rate of N10,000 the case is under investigation.

The Commissioner of Police calls on the good people of the state to continue to support the police with timely reports of incidences and further assures diligent investigation and prosecution will be served in all cases

Borno Police parades suspects for various criminal offences, Urges public to report any suspected movements

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