Crime
Blood on Chidinma’s dress matched Ataga’s DNA, forensic expert tells court
Richard Somiari, the 11th prosecution witness in the alleged murder trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, says the DNA blood sample found on her dress matched that of the victim, Usifo Ataga.
Somiari, a director and consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, gave his evidence before a Lagos high court at TBS on Tuesday.
Ojukwu, a 300-level student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is charged with the murder of Ataga, the CEO of Super TV, alongside her sister Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri.
At the resumed hearing, the witness was led in evidence by Adenike Oluwafemi, the deputy director of public prosecutions in Lagos.
Somari told the court that he had practised in forensics for 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests.
The forensic analyst said his office received 21 items as evidence on different days from their DNA centre staff members.
He said the items included a stained red dress, an army green T-shirt, and a DNA sample from Chidinma.
He added that other items received were urine, blood, gastric content and byle which were retained for a toxicology report.
He said the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.
Somiari told the court that the DNA blood sample collected from Chidinma’s red dress matched that of Ataga.
He, however, said that the DNA did not match that of Chidinma and the other suspects, Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.
Somiari was cross-examined by Onwuka Egwu, the first defendant’s counsel.
The witness narrated how the result of the toxicology report was forwarded to the office of the attorney-general of Lagos, the commissioner of police, and the director of public prosecutions.
He, however, said that not all forensic reports went through such a procedure.
When asked if he questioned the report of the doctor Andrea Nuhu, the witness said: “I have already said that I am not a toxicologist. It is a toxicologist that can do such”.
Egwu requested the video of the crime scene to be played and the court granted it.
While the video was playing, he asked the witness whether the samples of the blood on the cotton, the wall, the duvet, and the white polo the victim was wearing were tested.
The witness answered that the samples were not submitted.
He, however, said that the markers indicated in his report had nothing to do with the video.
He had earlier said that some samples were in storage but not tested.
Babatunde Busari, the second defendant’s counsel, also cross-examined the witness.
Busari asked if any DNA sample was taken from the second defendant, Quadri, and the witness said no.
The counsel also asked the witness if he took part in the toxicology analysis which he answered no.
C. G. Ugochikwu, the third defendant’s counsel, said she had no examination for the witness.
After listening, Yetunde Adesanya, the presiding judge, adjourned the case until May 30 for a continuation of trial.
Chidonma Ojukwu and the two others were arraigned on October 12, 2021, by the Lagos government.
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing.
Egbuchu, however, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.
Crime
UK prison officer, Linda De Sousa Abreu jailed over viral sex video with inmate
A former prison officer in the UK has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after being filmed engaging in sexual activity with an inmate.
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, was identified by senior prison staff when the footage surfaced online and quickly went viral.
Abreu was arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to board a flight to Madrid with her father.
She had previously admitted to misconduct in public office.
Andrew Davy, the governor of Wandsworth, expressed the broader consequences of Abreu’s actions in a statement to Isleworth Crown Court.
He stated that her behavior had undone “less than a day” the years of effort female staff had invested to build respect and trust in the all-male prison.
He also noted that many female staff members reported being “hit on” more frequently by inmates and now felt “considered fair game.”
The court heard that the incident captured in the viral video occurred between June 26 and 28, and further investigation revealed additional misconduct.
A recording of Abreu performing a sex act on the same inmate was discovered on her prison-issued body-worn camera.
She admitted to having sexual relations with the prisoner on another occasion as well.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC described the viral video as part of a pattern of repeated misconduct rather than an isolated incident.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that investigations into the two prisoners identified in the video are ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service commented: “While the overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest, we’re catching more of the small minority who break the rules by bolstering our Counter Corruption Unit and strengthening our vetting processes. As today’s sentencing demonstrates, where officers do fall below our high standards we won’t hesitate to take robust action.”
The Prison Officers’ Association, which represents prison staff, acknowledged that corrupt individuals like Abreu undermine the efforts of their colleagues but emphasized that such cases represent a small minority.
Crime
Police Arrests Cop-killer, Dismantles Child-trafficking Syndicate
As Operatives Recover Illicit Arms, Ammunition.
The Nigeria Police Force as part of its efforts to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians by employing proactive, intelligence-driven strategies to combat crime have evolved improved strategies to combat crimes and criminality.
These efforts have led to the disruption of criminal networks and a notable decrease in incidents of organized and violent crime, enhancing the overall security situation in the country.
On the 1st of November 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT arrested one Ogaga Dickson ‘m’ 35 years, a member of a notorious armed robbery syndicate responsible for the death of CSP Hassan Jega, the DPO Agbarho Division, Delta State, who was killed on the 14th of October 2024, during a fierce gun battle between a team of police officers led by the deceased DPO and the assailants, after the team of police men had foiled one of their robbery operations.
The operatives had earlier stormed the gang’s den and engaged them in a fierce gun duel leading to the neutralization of 4 of the gang members. Upon Ogaga’s arrest, the police recovered one Ak 47 rifle, one English pistol, one locally made pistol, ammunition of various calibres and six exotic vehicles.
Similarly, police operatives apprehended a child-trafficking syndicate led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard ‘m’ of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State on the 2nd of December 2024.
The operation led to the rescue of five children between the ages of 2-4, abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of other members of the syndicate identified as Rita Agboeze ‘f’, Victoria Ugwu ‘f’, Nanman Puntel ‘f’, and Peter Ukwuani ‘m’. Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to having abducted and sold 13 children at varying prices, all of whom have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Furthermore, In line with the IGP’s directive to all police detectives to mop up every illicit arms and ammunition in circulation, operatives of the FID-IRT have successfully recovered 14 Ak-47 Rifles.
These operations exemplify the unwavering resolve of the Nigeria Police Force and highlight the effectiveness of our efforts to combat crime and enhance national security.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
6th January 2025.
Crime
Lagos filmmaker, Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe arrested over cannabis trafficking case
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested one Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, a US-trained Nigerian filmmaker, over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
The NDLEA, in a statement on Sunday, said the filmmaker was apprehended at a hotel in Lekki, Lagos, on December 27, 2024.
It said the arrest came shortly after one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, identified as an associate of his, was apprehended earlier the same day at Ajao Estate, Ikeja.
The operatives revealed that James was intercepted at a warehouse retrieving a shipment of 33 parcels of “loud”, a potent strain of cannabis.
The shipment, weighing 17.30 kilograms, had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 24 via a Delta Airlines flight.
The substance was concealed in “large wooden crates”.
The NDLEA disclosed a series of other arrests and drug seizures across the country.
Among them was Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, a 61-year-old Lagos socialite, who was apprehended at her mansion in Okota after operatives intercepted a truck loaded with over 1,500 kilograms of cannabis.
In Kwara state, two young women were arrested for producing drug-laced cupcakes allegedly targeted at students.
Similarly, in Rivers state, a joint operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex uncovered more than 300,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Kano, a separate raid led to the seizure of over 149,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5.
Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, said the agency is abiding by a “balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction”.
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