Crime
Police arraign 21 Enugu water corporation workers for ‘stealing items worth N15m’
The Enugu police command, on Thursday, arraigned 21 staff members of the state water corporation for allegedly stealing items worth N15 million.
The accused were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
Appearing before Ngozi Edeani, chief magistrate at the Enugu east magistrate’s court, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Innocent Egbuaba, the prosecution counsel, told the court that “the accused had between December 2021 and January 2022 at Ajali water scheme at Ajali in Ezeagu local government area (LGA) of Enugu, conspired among themselves to steal”.
He said the defendants later stole armoured cables, copper bags and one other item valued at N10 million, as well as a water treatment chemical valued at N5 million, which were the property of the Enugu state water corporation.
Egbuaba said the loss of N5 million water treatment chemicals was never reported to the Enugu state water corporation.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 495 and 353 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. ll, Revised Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
According to the counsel, section 36(5) of the 1999 constitution as amended, provides that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, a provision which is also captured in section 9 of the Enugu State Administration of Criminal Justice, 2007.
“My lord, we have a reliable surety who is present in the court to take them on bail,” Awuda said.
C.D. Okoro, the counsel to the second defendant, made the same appeal to the court.
The chief magistrate, however, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20 million each and sureties in like sum.
She also ordered that the sureties must be grade level 14 civil servants, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
The matter was thereafter adjourned till July 27 for further hearing.
Crime
Thieves cart away cows meant for church harvest celebration
Suspected thieves have carted away two cows from the premises of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Testimony Parish in the Egbeda area of Oyo state.
In a post published on its Facebook page, the church said the stolen cows, bought at N1.9 million, were meant for its annual adult harvest thanksgiving celebration.
The incident happened on November 11 as the church prepared for the celebration slated for November 17.
After days of searching for the missing cows, the church solicited for financial contributions to buy new cows for the harvest celebration.
“Dear Celestians and The General public, This 2 Huge Cows was stolen where it was Tied in The Church Premises at CCC Testimony parish Elerumoke Area, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia and its meant for slaughter for the 9th adult harvest thanksgiving of the church coming up this Sunday 17th November 2024,” the church wrote on Facebook.
“We hereby solicit for your prayer for quick recovery of this harvest thanksgiving sacrificial materials.
“Anybody with useful information on how to recover these cows or any means of assistance to make the harvest thanksgiving a beautiful one should contact the parish shepherd.”
Crime
NDLEA arrests businessman for smuggling cocaine through ingestion
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the arrest of a businessman caught with a large quantity of cocaine.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed the arrest on Sunday via his X account, accompanied by a video displaying the seized contraband.
The businessman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly ingested a substantial quantity of cocaine in an attempt to avoid detection.
Babafemi wrote, “Detty December: Before you swallow those drugs, please remember that the new @ndlea_nigeria has the capacity and capability to catch you.
“The businessman who excreted this amount of cocaine will not only spend Christmas behind bars but also risks a life sentence at the end of his trial. Beware!”
Crime
UK teenager risks 20 years in Dubai prison for sex with 17-year-old girl
An 18-year-old British boy has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl in Dubai.
Detained in Dubai, a group of UAE legal experts, said the teenager was on holiday with his parents when he met the girl — who is now 18 — at the same hotel.
The teenagers who are both from London were said to have made plans to continue their romance when they returned to the UK.
The group, which campaigns to help people it says have suffered injustice in the UAE, said the young man was charged because the girl’s mother found their chats and pictures back in the UK.
It was gathered that the woman subsequently contacted police in Dubai and he was arrested.
The boy however claimed he was unaware that the girl was younger than him when they met. The teenager also disclosed that he was in police custody for three days and was unable to contact his parents.
“We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” he told Detained in Dubai.
“My parents knew about our relationship but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.
“When she left, I couldn’t wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door. They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn’t tell me why. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.”
The teenager, it is understood, could face up to two decades in prison owing to Dubai’s strict laws regarding sex outside marriage.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of the campaign group, said Dubai recently legalised out-of-wedlock sex for tourists but “still hosts a strict Islamic legal system”.
“Sex outside marriage is legal for tourists but only if both parties are over 18. The girl was just a few months younger than Marcus and he didn’t know that at the time,” Stirling said.
“Since his arrest, she has turned 18. This is not something Dubai should be prosecuting.
“Parents will be scared to take their older teenagers on vacation with them where they could end up losing their lives over behaviour that’s completely legal in their own countries.”
The teenager and his family have called on foreign secretary David Lammy, their local MP, to intervene in the case.
The teenager is no longer being held in a police cell but is unable to leave the country, with his family facing bills of £2,000 for Airbnb accommodation until his case is resolved.
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