Crime
NAPTIP arraigns Abuja doctors over organ harvesting
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arraigned one Christopher Otabor, medical director of Alliance Hospital, Abuja, over allegations of organ harvesting.
Otabor was arraigned on Monday alongside Emmanuel Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, an administrative secretary at the hospital, and Aremu Abayomi, a surgeon, before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court sitting in Zuba.
Hassan Tahir, prosecution counsel, alleged that Olorunlaye procured two 17-year-old boys and a 25-year-old man, Aminu Yahuza, for the removal of their kidneys at the Alliance Hospital, situated at Garki Area 11, Abuja, sometime in February 2023.
The prosecution counsel further alleged that Otabor accommodated the victims at the hospital for the removal of their organs while Abayomi performed the operations.
Tahir said Ugochukwu assisted in the removal of the kidneys.
The offence, he said contravened the provisions of sections 20(2)(a)(3) of the trafficking in persons (prohibition) enforcement and administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section(2)(b).
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge.
Richard Adeboju, counsel to Olorunlaye, moved a motion for his client’s bail.
Afam Osigwe, counsel to the other defendants, also prayed the court to admit his clients to bail.
”Otabor is on bail earlier granted by Justice Hamza Muazu and I urged the court to grant same. The defendants are responsible persons who run businesses and families and have been diligently honouring NAPTIP’s invitation,” Osigwe told the court.
He urged the court to adopt the same administrative bail conditions that were granted to the defendants by NAPTIP.
Although the prosecution counsel did not oppose the bail application, he applied for an accelerated hearing of the matter.
He also said the court may impose its conditions and does not have to be the same for bail given by NAPTIP.
Delivering a ruling, Kezziah Ogbonnaya, the presiding judge, held that administrative bail fizzles out upon arraignment and cannot determine the court’s bail conditions.
Ogbonnaya ordered the defendants to sign a register daily at the NAPTIP headquarters, starting from March 19, except the day of the hearing in court.
She also asked the defendants to deposit their travel documents with the court registrar and warned them to adhere to the order or risk their bail being revoked.
The judge then fixed May 6, 9 and 13 for continuation of the matter and ordered an accelerated hearing.
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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