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Catholic Rev Sisters remanded over alleged illegal adoption

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Catholic Rev Sisters remanded over alleged illegal adoption

Two Reverend Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church have been remanded by the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court of Anambra State over alleged illegal adoption of babies.

The accused, Angela Onyenachi Ibe (42) and Mother-General, Chiemelie Jacinta Yvonne (41) were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, punishable under sections 495(a) and 386 of the Criminal Code, Cap 36, Volume II, of the Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991 and illegal dealings on Children, as well as fraudulent adoption, punishable under section 30(2)(b) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.

According to the Prosecutor, the defendants were alleged to have fraudulently collected huge sums of money between N4million and N1,500,000 paid into Zenith Bank account, belonging to Sam Damian Community Children’s and Old People’s Home, under the guise of perfecting adoption for the complainants.

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The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges, explaining that both of them hailed from Imo State and belonged to Catholic congregation, known as the St. Francis of Compassion, also based in Imo State.

They added that they were staff members and attendants at the Sam Damian Community Children’s and Old People’s Home, located at Obosi, Anambra State.

The Defense Counsel, in a bail application, prayed the Court to grant bail to the defendants on the ground that they were Revd sisters of the Roman Catholic Church, and would religiously attend their trials, whenever called upon to appear before the Court.

In her ruling, Presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve C. Osakwe, described the ground of bail application as very weak and unknown to law.

She bemoaned what she termed rising cases of illegal adoption and dealings on children in Anambra State, calling on security agencies, especially the Police to extend their search, arrest and prosecution to those involved in the management of illegal Community Children’s and Old People’s Homes, across the state.

The case was adjourned till May 29 and June 26, 2024 for definite hearing, while the Court ordered that the defendants be remanded at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka.

Catholic Rev Sisters remanded over alleged illegal adoption

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Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

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Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene

Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

Gunmen suspected to be bandits wreaking havoc in Nigeria’s middle belt State of Benue have struck again.

At least six people have been reportedly killed in attacks on Ayati and Borikyo in the beleaguered Ukum Local Government Area of the State.

Many other locals were wounded and houses were set ablaze in the attacks which happened on Wednesday afternoon.

Locals revealed that the the armed militia during the community invasion shot and killed residents indiscriminately and also burned public properties, including the Ukum Local Government Secretariat.

Many residents fled for their lives, but the unfortunate ones were hit by bullets, and several others were injured.

Properties belonging to influential and prominent people in the area, including the residence of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Paul Biam, in Zaki Biam, were also torched during the onslaught.

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After the attacks, residents, in their numbers, took to the street and blocked the Sankera-Ayati-Sai Road in protest against the perennial invasions of their homes by bandits.

The Ukum Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was razed during the protest against attacks by gunmen.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sewuese Anene, confirmed that six people were killed and many others wounded.

She said, “Upon receipt of this information, police teams, in collaboration with other security agencies, rushed to the area and engaged these bandits who were eventually repelled.”

Meanwhile, the senator representing Benue North-East, Emmanuel Udende, has condemned the attack. He called on security agencies to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the killings

Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

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EFCC nabs 3 fraudsters impersonating popular cleric on social media

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The three suspects

EFCC nabs 3 fraudsters impersonating popular cleric on social media

Three young men identified as Odion Victor, Amos Godwin and Ayomide Michael have been arrested for impersonating Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach on the social media.

The three men had allegedly created social media platforms in the name of Evangelist Obi to defraud members of the public.

The three fraudsters were arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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Spokesperson for EFCC, Dele Oyewale announced the arrest of the three suspects in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.

According to the statement, the fraudsters were arrested after intelligence uncovered how they allegedly cloned the social media accounts of Obi and deceived many of his church members to give money towards treatment of some purported sick people, sow seeds for spiritual breakthrough or for special prayers.

The suspects were directing the church members to pay the money into their bank accounts

EFCC said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

EFCC nabs 3 fraudsters impersonating popular cleric on social media

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Man, 67, offers two siblings N500 to defile them in Bauchi

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Bauchi State Police spokesman SP Ahmed Wakil

Man, 67, offers two siblings N500 to defile them in Bauchi

A 67-year-old man in Bauchi has been accused of defiling two teenagers and offering them N500.

The fathers of the teenagers was said to have reported the rape incident at the A’ Divisional Police Headquarters on June 22, 2024.

They reported that Mohammed lured their daughters, 17-year Safiya (not real name) and 16-year old ( not real name) of the same address into his room and had carnal knowledge of them.

Spokesman of the Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil revealed in a statement on Friday that , during interrogation , the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime and corroborated the victims’ statement.

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He added the victims further revealed that the suspect had carnal knowledge of them each, up to five times and gave them N500 each, adding that investigation was ongoing.

In a related development , another suspect, one Suleiman Musa aged 28 , was arrested by the police for allegedly luring one Amina ( not real name) aged 9, into his room while she was on errand before he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her without her consent.

The mother of the victim , one Hajiya (not real name) was said to have reported the rape incident at A’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Bauchi on July 4,2024, same date her daughter was allegedly raped by the suspect.

Wakil revealed that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime.

He said that investigation is still ongoing, after which the suspect will be charged to court for prosecution for the established offence.

Man, 67, offers two siblings N500 to defile them in Bauchi

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