Crime
Court orders IGP, DSS to produce alleged bandit for prosecution within 48 hours
A Federal High Court sitting in Minna has ordered the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service to produce one, Mohammed Ahmadu, an alleged bandit in Court for arraignment within 48 hours.
The suspect was arrested on 17th November, 2021 on suspicion of banditry and terrorism and has not been charged to Court since then, a development the Court frowned at, saying that could be an infraction on his fundamental human right.
The court also ordered the payment of the sum of N65 million to the applicant by the respondents for all he suffered and the agony he was subjected to as a result of his arrest.
After his arrest, his house which he was living in Albishir area of Minna metropolis was demolished on the order of the then Commissioner for Internal Security in Niger State Mr Emmanuel Umaru on the allegation of belonging to a gang of notorious terrorist and bandits group.
His lawyer, family members did not have access to him since arrest in November, 2021.
Delivering judgment on the enforcement of the fundamental right of the applicant as brought by his Counsel, Barrister Mohammed Tsado Mohammed, Justice Aminu Garba held that the action of all the respondents in suit is not within the purview of the law.
He further submitted that the arrest and unlawful detention of the applicant without trial is a gross violation of his right and the demolition of his building by the third and fifth respondents is illegal, malicious, null and void.
According to Justice Garba Mohammad, “in the whole it is clear from the fact of this case, as established by the process of the parties that the applicant has been arrested on November,17, 2021 since then he was not arraigned before the court of law for prosecution.
“The family of the applicant and his lawyer were not allowed access to the applicant.
“The house of the applicant was demolished on the ground that the house was acquired through the proceed of crime.
“In all of the above it was based on mere allegations that the suspects is a notorious kidnapper, armed robber and in unlawful possession of fire arms” Justice Garba held.
He submitted further that “in all these the applicant was never arraigned before any court and be prosecuted and sentenced by court of competent jurisdiction.
“This is a clear case of violation of applicant’s fundamental right under section 36 (5 and 6) paragraph C and section 43 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”, he declared.
In an interview with Journalists shortly after the Judgement, the lead counsel to the applicant, Barrister Mohammed Tsado Mohammed noted that the Judgement has further rekindle the hope of the common man.
He stated that for a common man to file a law suit against state government, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General State Security Service and to get Judgement against the respondent is worthy of commendation.
He thanked the Judge for his boldness and his courage for delivering the Judgement at this point in time.
In his own remarks the Chief State Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General’s Chamber, Barrister Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi told Journalists that they will appeal against the judgement on some grey area.
He said the Office of the Attorney General is preparing the necessary documents to file and appeal the Judgement.
Crime
Police investigations of alleged Russian KGB infiltration of NASS: Senator Natasha reportedly abandons petition
The alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency being investigated by the Nigeria Police seems to be a quandary.
This is because a source close to the Police headquarter said, Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi was invited for interrogation on the heels of petition before it by his colleague, Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
According to the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan who is currently on six months suspension from the Senate asked the police authority to investigate claim by her counterpart from Kogi west that KGB has infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic processes.
In her petition, she alleged that Senator Karimi shared a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.
In her petition, the embattled female Kogi lawmaker asked the Police not to treat the alarm raised by Senator Karimi with levity, declaring that, “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body.”
It was further revealed that Senator Karimi appeared at Louis Edet, Police headquarter on Monday to state his own side in deference to Police invitation.
Sources at the Police headquarter which described the session with Karimi as “positive with useful disclosure”
as the lawmaker owned up to his post, however revealed that the Force authority were taken aback that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has since distance herself from her petition and subsequently, rebuffed request to appear before the Force headquarter.
“We reached her after the session with Senator Karimi. “We wanted to hear from her too but she has continued to ignore our invitation.
That is disturbing to us because we don’t expect her to suddenly dump a petition with such a sensitive allegation against her colleague and then elope.
“Her excuse was that she is outside the country. But a viral video of her visit to her constituency has since went viral.So, it is difficult to reconcile her claim of being outside the shore of the country with the information available to us.
“We don’t want to meddle in the ongoing intrigues in the Senate. But it will be scandalous for her to try to use the Police to join forces with her against his colleagues.”
Asked what is the possible next line of action, the source said his superior knows what to do with such a petition which he dismissed as frivolous.
Reacting to the Police claim, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan denied that she snubbed invitation to shed light on her petition, insisting that she was never invited of recent by the Police after Senator Karimi’s summon.
She said:”Apart from being invited to adopt my petition, I haven’t been invited.”
Groups operating under the aegis of the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) South East Zone have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to release ritualists and native doctors in detention.
The groups said, the Qnambra Governor should use the three years anniversary of his office to release the ritualists who have been in detention in the government house.
The appeal was contained in a joint statement by the Executive Director of the Human Rights body, CD South East Zonal Chairman Dede Uzor A.Uzor, the groups said he should use their release as a gift to their families in this season and occasion of three years in office.
The group named the native doctors as: Akwa Okuko tiwara Aku in Oba, Eke Hit from Okija and Onyeze Jesus from Nkpor.
The trio were arrested in connection with “spurious and obnoxious social media instigation on our youths” which painted a very bad image for the society.
The group lamented that the native doctors encouraged ostentatious lifestyle and crime, making our youths to believe that hard work doesn’t pay unless you engaged in unwholesome criminal activities like ‘okeite’ or ‘Awale, yahoo plus’ among other false lifestyles.
It also said “their activities promoted serious insecurity and tension in the state with teeming young people turning to such criminal and outlandish lifestyles.
“But since their arrest, we believe they have learnt a big lesson”.
The group advised that Soludo should make them sign undertaking with the hope of discontinuing such crude, unethical and diabolical activities in line with the extant laws of the State,” they appealed to the Governor.
HURIDE said Governor Soludo should grant amnesty to them in the spirit of this successful celebration of three years in office, saying that he has done so much to improve the lives of citizens of the State.
CAPITAL POST recalled that the Soludo administration has been clamping on criminal elements amid high number of missing persons believed to be orchestrated by ritualists in the State.
Crime
Ghana’s anti-drug agency nabs Nigerian drug kingpin, Uchechukwu Chima, seizes $2.1m worth of cocaine, heroin
Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested a drug kingpin of Nigerian origin from the South East , Uchechukwu Chima.
The commission operatives raided his hideout in Accra.
Chima, who is 56 years was arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following the discovery of 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, valued at $2.1 million on the streets.
The acting Director of of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC, Francis Amoah speaking on the matter in Accra, confirmed that the substances seized were indeed cocaine and heroin.
Authorities believe Chima has played a significant role in previous drug-related operations in the country.
He said the operation marks a critical success in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in Ghana.
“NACOC remains committed to making the country a hostile environment for drug trade and ensuring the safety of both Ghanaians and the international community.”
-
News1 week agoPlateau gov’t expresses concern over violence in Shendam LGA, calls for calm
-
Politics1 week agoOpposition leaders announce coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027
-
Opinion1 week agoSule Lamido, PDP, and the politics of defection.
-
Foreign6 days agoHouthis declare Ben-Gurion Airport ‘no longer safe’ after renewed Gaza fighting
-
Politics1 week agoYahaya Bello deceptively arranging recall of Senator Natasha, desperate to replace her – Constituents
-
Politics1 week agoAtiku, El-rufai, Obi condemn Tinubu’s suspension of Rivers Governor, demand reversal
-
News7 days agoWhy Christ Embassy’s Pastor Chris holds Abuja mega crusade – Fisho
-
News6 days agoUmeh denies receiving $10,000 with other 42 Senators to support state of emergency in Rivers