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Kidnapper Evans, sentenced to 21 years imprisonment

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2 years ago

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An Ikeja special offences court in Lagos has sentenced Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, kidnap kingpin better known as Evans, to 21 years imprisonment.

Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the presiding judge, also sentenced Victor Aduba, co-defendant, to 21 years in prison.

The convicts were charged with plotting to kidnap Sylvanus Ahanonu, a businessman, on June 23, 2014, in the Amuwo Odofin neighbourhood of Lagos.

Ahanonu, while giving his testimony as a prosecution witness, said his driver was waylaid by some men in police and military uniforms, who claimed to be officers of the defunct special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.

“Evans came into my car brandishing an AK-47 rifle. He was wearing a three-quarter jeans trousers,” he said.

Ahanonu added that his abductors contacted his wife three weeks after his kidnap to demand $2 million ransom or he would be murdered.

He said his wife was able to raise a total of $420,000 before he was released after two months in captivity.

However, Evansm who claimed to be in the transport business, denied the accusation.

He said the police forced him to admit to some allegations and sign incriminating documents.

Delivering judgment on Monday, the judge held that the prosecution successfully proved the case of kidnap and possession of firearms against the convicts.

“It has been established by the prosecution witness (PW3, Ahanonu) complainant was kidnapped. The question is who kidnapped him?” the judge said.

“Pw3 identified the first defendant in court while he was giving his testimony. He also recognised him at the police station nearly two months before the matter was taken to court.

“He testified that he was blindfolded before taken to the bus. He said ‘immediately I saw him, I said this was the person that kidnapped me’, I also watched the video where the first defendant admitted to have kidnapped PW3.

“The first defendant sat in a comfortable chair and there was no sign that he made the statement under duress. He was not threatened or harassed. He signed the statement.

“He also said how he broke into banks and later graduated to kidnapping. I am satisfied that this court can convict the defendants through his confessional statement.”

Additionally, the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the claim that three of the men arrested with Evans were killed by the police officers as alleged.

For Aduba, the second defendant, he was found guilty based on his confessional statement, and the judge ruled that he would serve out his sentence without the option of fine.

“I have considered the allocutus of the defence counsel. This sentencing will serve as a deterrent to others,” the judge held.

“The two are hereby sentenced to a five-year jail term for the first count, second count, 21 years, and third count, five years.

“The sentencing will, however, run concurrently. They are hereby sentenced to 21 years imprisonment without an option of fine.”

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Thieves cart away cows meant for church harvest celebration

Published

3 days ago

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November 24, 2024 9:59 am

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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.”

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Crime

NDLEA arrests businessman for smuggling cocaine through ingestion

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3 days ago

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November 24, 2024 9:55 am

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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!”

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Crime

UK teenager risks 20 years in Dubai prison for sex with 17-year-old girl

Published

5 days ago

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November 22, 2024 8:16 am

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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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