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366 B’Haram terrorists convicted, four financiers jailed – AGF

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2023

Trends Admin

Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

366 B’Haram terrorists convicted, four financiers jailed – AGF

The Federal High Court sitting in Dawaki, Abuja, on Monday, convicted four Boko Haram financiers.

They are Modu Aisami, Zana Zarama, Umar Mohammed, and Bunu Kame.

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

The AGF’s Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, said the prosecution team led by the AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), secured the convictions in separate cases before Justice Binta Nyako and Justice Emeka Nwite.

He said the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.

“The defence counsel was led by the Director, Criminal Justice in Legal Aid Council, F. A. Bakre.

“According to the charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M. B. Abubakar, Aisami provided funds for the terrorist group by buying food products from the group, having reasonable grounds to believe that the proceeds would be used to commit a terrorist act, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 13(1)(a)(ii) of the Terrorism Provision Amendment Act, 2013,” the statement said.

Ogundele said Justice Nyako convicted the defendant having pleaded guilty to counts 2 and 3.

“I hereby sentence the convict to 20 years imprisonment for each of the offences. They are to run concurrently,” Nyako was quoted to have ruled.

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He said the judge also convicted Zarama and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for concealing the identity of a Boko Haram member, Modu Sulum.

Ogundele said Justice Nyako added that the jail terms should run from the day the convicts had been in custody.

Justice Nwite, in another trial, convicted the duo of Umar Mohammed and Bunu Kame and sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the AGF, also on Monday in Niger State, disclosed that the Federal Government secured a total of 366 convictions in the trial of Boko Haram terrorists that was conducted in 2017.

He added that 896 suspects were discharged for lack of evidence while 61 other cases were subsequently adjourned for further hearing.

The AGF spoke on Monday at the commencement of the trial for the fourth phase of the arrested suspected terrorists in Niger.

He said, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this special event marking the resumption of the prosecution of terrorism suspects. This day is special for many reasons. First, the day marks yet another step forward in the journey of ensuring the security and safety of Nigeria and Nigerians, a duty that is of utmost importance to all of us gathered here, as it is the primary duty of government to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens.

“I must acknowledge the fact that we have come a long way in this initiative. The first phase of the Kainji Prosecution Project commenced in October 2017 with remarkable achievements where we recorded a total of 366 convictions, 896 others were discharged for want of sufficient evidence and 61 other cases adjourned for further hearing.

“There have been three phases of the exercise so far, spanning between October 2017 and July 2018. I must, at this point, challenge all stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is sustained, seeing how important this assignment is to the well-being of our beloved country and her people. “

Emphasising the importance of the trial, the AGF warned that if mismanaged, the situation could fuel insecurity and plunge the country into existential crises.

He said, “Terrorism has cost us a lot as a nation. From the communities directly affected, to the staggering losses in human and material resources, displacements, political and economic instability, and the general atmosphere of fear it has created, all point to how crucial this exercise is to our progress and prosperity as a nation.

“Conversely, if the process is mismanaged and, as a result, the insecurity situation is allowed to fester, it may lead to existential crises in the very long run. I, therefore, pledge my total support to the cause as I urge the stakeholders once again to continue in a good job.”

Fagbemi said the trial would be open and compliant with the constitution, adding that the Ministry of Justice would continue to deploy the right resources to improve its prosecutorial capabilities.

“The ministry is also continuing to support efforts towards deradicalisation and reintegration of deserving terrorists,” the AGF added.

366 B’Haram terrorists convicted, four financiers jailed – AGF

metro

Rainstorm destroys schools, mosques, others in Kwara community

Published

2 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Trends Admin

Rainstorm destroys schools, mosques, others in Kwara community

Rainstorm has destroyed some public and residential buildings in Ogele, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The storm also rendered scores of residents homeless

The incident, which occurred in the night of Eid- el- Fitr celebration, affected schools, mosques and other buildings. They included the Ansarul Islam Primary School, Community Secondary School, health centre and Mosques

Other were concrete poles and high tension wires supplying electricity to Ogele, Afon and other communities.

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Some victims of the rainstorm said they were still counting their losses.

They appealed to the government, individuals and organisations for help.

Aare Ogele, Alhaji Abubakar Akanbi, whose residence was also affected, called for government’s aid for the victims, including the Mufti of the community.

Chairman, Ogele Descendants Progressive Union (ODPU), Alhaji Issa Akanbi-Oniyo, said the incident had left many residents homeless.

Rainstorm destroys schools, mosques, others in Kwara community

metro

Rivers police arrest General Overseer for alleged homosexuality

Published

2 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Trends Admin

Rivers police arrest General Overseer for alleged homosexuality

The Octopus (C4i) Strike Force Unit of the Nigeria Police has arrested a General Overseer of a new generation church in Eagle Island, Diobu, Port Harcourt over allegations of homosexuality.

The Guardian gathered that the General Overseer, nicknamed Elijah, was arrested after videos of him engaging in homosexual acts were leaked to the police by a male acquaintance named Patrick.

The acquaintance, who had been the target of the cleric’s advances, reportedly played along and captured nude videos of the pastor as evidence. The police, acting on credible intelligence, traced him to one of his relaxation spots in Port Harcourt, where he was arrested and taken into custody for investigation.

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Sources close to the investigation revealed that he has allegedly confessed to numerous acts of homosexuality involving both male adults and minors within and outside Port Harcourt.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe Koko, stated that the investigation is ongoing.

Rivers police arrest General Overseer for alleged homosexuality

metro

Police hunt for last suspect in LASU graduate killing

Published

2 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Trends Admin

Ogubode Adedamola and Evangelist Whepetoji Babaniyeh

Police hunt for last suspect in LASU graduate killing

The Lagos State Police Command on Monday said it had intensified its search for Teniola Ajisomo, who is the remaining suspect linked to the murder of a 28-year-old graduate of Lagos State University, Adedamola Ogunbode.

The Lagos State Police Command on March 12, exhumed the body of the late Ogunbode from a shallow grave behind the LASU fence in its Ojo campus.

Newstrends reported that the deceased, a Political Science Education graduate, had been missing since January 16.

Among those arrested during police investigations were Sunday Whepetoji, a pastor, who allegedly received N70,000 from the victim’s account; and Sheriff Adebayo, a church member, accused of also receiving N300,000.

Also, Omolara Ajisomo, who allegedly helped her children, Teniola and Olaoluwa Ajisomo, escape to Cotonou, Benin Republic, after each received N300,000 from the victim’s account, was arrested too.

Meanwhile, Olaoluwa was arrested in the Alakuko area of the state before leading the police to the shallow grave.

Reacting to an inquiry by PUNCH Metro on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said Teniola was still on the run.

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He said, “The suspect is still at large and we are trying to get him and we will soon get him. The Shepherd and Sheriff are in Ikoyi correctional centre and Ajisomo who took us to the grave is still with us and is assisting with the investigation.”

Hundeyin also confirmed that Omolara who aided the escape of her children had been released.

“The mother of two of the suspects has been released. She was arrested because her children used her identity to register the SIM. It was the SIM registration that led us to her. But when we discovered that she was not the one using the phone and we arrested the person using the phone, so we let the mother go.”

Hundeyin who addressed newsmen in the course of the probe said the church where some people alleged that the missing boy was killed and buried had been sealed to prevent it from being burned.

“The church was sealed following intelligence reports that some people planned to burn it down out of vengeance, and we do not want that to happen.

“It is still a suspected crime scene, we still need to go over it, and we may need to revisit that scene multiple times for us to gather evidential value.

“The church has been sealed for now to prevent it from being burnt. And we assure the public that updates will be given about the investigation and the progress we have made as soon as we get new updates,” he said.

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