Security
Police parades 14 impostors who invaded Justice Odili’s residence as prime suspect claims working for Malami
Police High Command on Thursday paraded 14 suspects over the invasion of the Abuja residence of a Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, describing them as impostors who were unknown to any of the nation’s security forces.
Parading the suspects at the Force Headquarters Annex, Abuja, the Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, CP, said that the 14 suspects and seven other now at large conspired to raid the residence following information provided by self acclaimed whistle blower that the Supreme Court Justice was keeping a large sum of money in foreign currencies at her residence.
This came just as the prime suspect Lawrence Ajodo the fake CSP insisted that he was working for the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mallam Abubakar Malami, but was not sent to forge the signatures and the documents found on him.
Mba stated that following the failed unlawful attempt to raid the residence of the Supreme Court Justice by some people who presented themselves as security agents and members of Asset Recovery Panel from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Abubakar Malami, the Inspector General of Police IGP, Usman Alkali Baba ordered the Federal Investigation Bureau, FIB, of the Nigeria Police Force to carry out a comprehensive investigaton into the matter.
He added that AGF, also petitioned the IGP over the unfortunate incident in which he called for a thorough investigation as to identities of those behind the illegal act and their motives.
Mba further explained that during the course of investigation, it was discovered that the act was perpetrated by a syndicate made up of characters from various field of endeavours including journalism, law profession, Clerk with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the military amongst others.
According to him, “it has been discovered that the failed raid was a well conceived one with many actors and actresses drawn from various endeavors, the man who claimed to be a CSP with the Nigeria Police Force was never a police personnel, the Identity card he was parading was a forged one, the identity card he claimed to have been issued by the AGF was also forged, there is a journalist, two lawyers and those who conspired to carry out the illegal operation.
He said that the prime suspect, one Lawrence Ajodo who claimed to be a Chief Superintendent of Police, CPS, who led the illegal operation purportedly to be operating under Asset Recovery Panel from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, was not an officer of the Nigeria Police Force, but an impostor.
According to him, the fake CSP and his syndicate succeeded in obtaining security search warrant from the court after swearing to an affidavit by one Ali Ibrahim, a member of the group who claimed that a huge sum of money in foreign currencies was being kept in the building.
He added that, after this, the syndicate contacted some operatives of the EFCC, two Soldiers from the Lungi Barracks , Asokoro, Abuja, a Journalist with a leading newspaper in the country for the illegal operation after series of meetings were perfected for the illegal act.
According to Mba, the syndicate however met the brick wall when the security operatives attached to the residence of Justice Mary Odili put up resistance and demanded for their true identities and later raised the alarm.
He commended the resistance put up by the security personnel attached to Odili’s residence for not allowing the suspects access to the building on the day of the incident, saying that it would have been a greatest embarrassment to the nation before the international community if the operation had succeeded.
Mba who further said that efforts were being stepped up to track down the fleeing members of the syndicate including two military personnel declared that the suspects would be charged to court on the completion of the ongoing investigations for criminal offences ranging from conspiracy, trespass, forgery to accessory amongst others.
However, speaking with newsmen, the prime suspect, Lawrence Ajodo the fake CSP insisted that he was working for the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakarkar Malami but not sent to forge the signatures and the documents found on him.
According to him, “I work for Malami as a consultant of recoveries, I was given 18 accounts to recover. Though, Malami did not send me to this mission, but I am a banking expert with specialty in finance and forensic.
On his own, the Journalist claimed that he was following a story lead on that day based on the clue given to him by one of the arrested lawyers that a raid was going to be carried out by an Asset Recovery Panel under the Office of the AGF and that he was not part of the syndicate as being alleged.
Also speaking, the whistle blower Ali Umar Ibrahim, said he was the whistle blower, and that he sworn to an affidavit that there was millions of money in various foreign currencies being starched in the house.
The suspect who claimed to be a prayer warrior said that he was introduced to the godson of Justice Odili and he prayed to know if the story was through and he decided to go through the EFCC as a formal channel, he said he later ended in the Ministry of Justice. He asked to show the address and that he directed them to Justice Odili’s residence after surveillance.
However, reacting to the prime suspect’s claim that he was a consultant to Abubakarkar Malami, the Minister dismissed the claim, describing it as “a case of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner.”
In a statement made available to news men in a swift reaction to the claim by the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, he said that “it only takes the imagination of the evil minds to assume or think that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will descend so low to engaging a quack or fake police officer to serve as his consultant”.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a confession of a suspect during interrogation in the investigation of the recent invasion of the residence of the highly respected Justice of the Supreme Court; Justice Mary Peter Odili.
“With all the competent, high level professionals and capable human resources available at the disposal of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, it only takes the imagination of the evil minds to assume or think that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will descend so low to engaging a quack or fake police officer to serve as his consultant
“This is a case of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner.
“We are happy to note that investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances and personalities behind the invasion and sponsored campaign of calumny against the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
“It is our desire and we hope that the investigation would also disclose those after the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, those dragging his personality, his name and his exalted office in the dirty politics of disrepute. This is an orchestrated attempt to stir unnecessary controversies and public apprehension.
“We asked the suspect to present documents of engagements where he worked as a consultant to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, whether in past or now.
“Consultant for what? Which activity or assignment? When was he engaged? What were the terms of references for the alleged consultancy service? When was he engaged? Where was he engaged? Which work has he executed for the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and the Ministry of Justice? For what duration? And for how much?
“We boldly and unequivocally challenge the fake consultant/police officer to come out with answers or responses to these questions to the general public.
“The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice superintend over and respects the rule of law who will not do anything to undermine the sanctity of his office and that that entire judiciary and Justice sectors”
As public outrage continue to trail the killing of travelers in Uromi, Edo State on Thursday 27th March, 2025, the Nigerian Police authorities in the State has announced the arrest of 14 suspects in connection with the killing.
The victims said, to be hunters were travelling to the Northern part of the country when mob swooped and killed them on suspicion that they are Fulani kidnapper.
The Police said, they are 16 powers and all of them were killed.
The Spokesman for the Police Command, Moses Yamu said some persons have been arrested in connection with the attack.
“In the course of investigations, fourteen (14) suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime, while an emergency meeting was convened with stakeholders and members of the community to address the situation,” Yamu said in a statement on Friday.
Narrating how the incident happened, the Edo Police Command said it occurred when a “truck with registration number KKF 225 XA coming from Port Harcourt, conveying 25 travellers from Elele, a suburb of Rivers State, was accosted by some vigilante group members at Uromi, and some of the travelers who found in possession of locally made dane guns were arrested”.
“While this was ongoing, some vigilante members raised an alarm of them being suspected kidnappers, which led some members and passersby in the community to attack and lynch sixteen (16) of the occupants while the truck conveying them was equally burnt.
“Police operatives attached to the Uromi Division got wind of the incident and swiftly stormed the scene where ten (10) of the travelers were rescued, two of whom sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to a hospital where they are currently positively responding to treatment.”
Yamu said a unit of Police Mobile Force personnel with other command tactical teams had been deployed to the area to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
The police said “investigations continue” over the incident and cautioned “against any form of reprisal attacks”.
The new Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman has sent a strong warning to criminals operating in the State and vowed that his tenure as a Police boss would change the tide for them or else they should relocate elsewhere.
He sent this warning after he assumed office upon his posting to the State, insisting that criminal elements should stay clear of the State or be ready to incur the full weight of the command.
He said the command under his watch will engage a high level of professional standards in effectively policing the state calling on well meaning individual and critical stakeholders to partner with him in ensuring crime free Niger State.
According to the CP, he is already aware of the activities of youth restiveness and other criminal activities in Minna the state capital assuring that he will make the state unbearable for them.
Speaking through the Command Public Relation Officer (PPRO), while Fielding Question from Journalists at the Police headquarters in Minna Friday, Wasiu Abiodun,SP insisted that the command will not fold its hands to watch some disgruntled elements engaging in an act that will breach the security of the people.
He underscores his command preparedness to ensure the maintenance of law and order in policing the command through community related policing appealing to officers and men of the command to leave above board in making Niger State unsafe for criminal minded elements.
In his words,” as you know, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman just took over the mantle of the command on Thursday the 27th, of March 2025.
“He addressed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and other sectional heads of the Command. He assured them of building on the legacy of his Predecessor CP Ebenezer Shawulu Danmaman.
“He also requested that they should extend their hands of fellowship to him for him to succeed in chasing and curtail the activities of these miscreants to the barest level in Minna the capital of Niger State.”
Speaking on the Command’s preparedness to ensure crime free eid ul-Fitr celebration, CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman disclosed that the command will deploy enough personnel to all praying grounds across the state. This according to him is to ensure the safety of worshipers.
He warned parents and guardians in the state to monitor the activities of their wards and children to guard against any act that will bring them to face the wrath of the law.
While appreciating men and officers of the Command for their professional resilience in the maintenance of law and order, CP Abdullahi Elleman warned that he has zero tolerance for any act of unprofessional conducts that will bring the Command to ridicule.
In a bid to strengthen security of lives and property and to foster peaceful coexistence in Ijumu Local Government Area, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command CP Miller G. Dantawaye, convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders, within the Local Government, to address pressing security concerns and enhance community Policing efforts.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ovye Aya, made available to CAPITAL POST on Tuesday, said, the meeting was attended by prominent dignitaries, including the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara, Rtd, the representative of the Department of State Services (DSS); the member, representing Ijumu, at the State House of Assembly, the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, the Chairman of the Local Government, the Olujumu of Ijumu, as well as members of Miyetti Allah.
In his address, the CP emphasized the importance of collaboration in tackling insecurity. He called for intelligence-sharing between residents and Security Agencies, stressing that law enforcement alone cannot ensure safety without community support. He called for the effective collaboration between the Police and their host community.
He further assured of involving immigration agencies to monitor and regulate movement as well as Proper documentation that will enhance accountability and reduce security threats within the Local Government.
The meeting also addressed land ownership rights, the role of traditional institutions, and the need for structured conflict resolution. The CP urged all parties to respect existing leadership structures and seek peaceful resolutions through dialogue.
Reaffirming the Police unwavering commitment to professionalism and human rights, the CP warned against lawlessness, stating that Security Agencies are fully prepared to take action against any individual or group threatening the peace in the area. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly.
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