Crime
Court jails ex-Imo commissioner, Laz Okoroafor-Anyanwu for three years over fraud
A high court in Owerri, Imo state, has sentenced Laz Okoroafor-Anyanwu, a former commissioner for transport, to three years imprisonment for fraud.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, K.A. Lewanya, presiding judge, found Okoroafor-Anyanwu guilty of diverting N180 million of state funds into a private company account where he is a major shareholder and sole signatory.
At that time, the convict doubled as commissioner for transport and the chairman interim committee of the Imo state transport company (ITC).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused him of violating the public procurement act, abuse of office, and using his office to gain undue advantage in his dealings during his tenure as a commissioner and ITC chairman.
The EFCC said while Okoroafor-Anyanwu was commissioner between 2015 and 2019, he transferred the sum of N100 million from the ITC account to his private company named Oma Oil Industries Limited which is against sections 12 and 19 of the ICPC act 2020 for public servants.
He also approved the transfer of another N80 million from government funds directly to his private company account under the guise of procuring vehicles for the management of ITC without due process and recourse to the public procurement act.
Upon arraignment in 2020, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, the judge held that Michael Ani, EFCC’s counsel, was able to prove the case against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge also ordered that the looted N180 million found in his account be forfeited to the Imo state transport company.
Crime
Police dismiss inspector for collecting N45k bribe from colleague to conceal rape in Edo
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed Edith Uduma, an inspector, for allegedly collecting a bribe from Abraham Uzuobo, a sergeant, to conceal a rape incident.
Uzuobo was accused of raping a 17-year-old female suspect in a room inside South-Ibie police station in Edo state.
The suspect was detained at the police station for allegedly receiving stolen property.
In October, a video showing Uzuobo hurriedly wearing his trousers while the female suspect was lying on a chair inside a room in the police station appeared on social media.
In the video, Uzuobo was challenging a female officer for recording the incident.
The female officer in the background of the video was later identified as Uduma.
Uduma was the charge room officer (CRO) on duty on the day the incident happened.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said Uduma called her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, a police inspector, instead of reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities.
Adejobi said Uduma and her husband demanded a N1 million bribe from Uzuobo to assist him in concealing the incident.
The force spokesperson said Uzuobo offered the couple N45,000.
“However, the sergeant offered only N45,000 in cash, which they collected at that instance, and after a few days, contacted the sergeant to request the same sum of N1,000,000, but the sergeant refused to comply,” Adejobi said.
“Dissatisfied by his refusal to follow through with the blackmail, they decided to report the erring officer to the DPO and also simultaneously share the video on social media.
“Everyone culpable in this case has been sanctioned appropriately, as there is no intention to impede justice.
“The erring sergeant has been dismissed and prosecuted and is currently in prison custody as the trial progresses.
“Inspector Edith Uduma was also dismissed for her role, while her complicit husband has been reduced to the rank of sergeant.
“However, it has come to the attention of the force that following her dismissal, Mrs. Edith has made numerous unfounded claims regarding her innocence and has sought to taint the reputation and integrity of the adjudicating authority, the inspector-general of police, in person and the entire police force.
“It is imperative to set the record straight and provide clear context regarding her actions and the decision to dismiss her from service.
“The dismissal of former police inspector Edith Uduma was not only justified but necessary, based on thorough investigations that presented irrefutable evidence of her failure to follow standard incident report protocol to immediately document the incident, attempt to conceal an offender for benefit, participation in extortion, and manipulating the justice process for personal gain.”
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!”
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