JUST IN: Four police officers face trial in Imo for bribery

The Imo State Police Command has commenced an Orderly Room Trial of four officers caught in a viral video extorting money from a Content creator by name Young C.

Young C in the video had tagged the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and activist, Very Dark Man, narrating bitterly how operatives of the Command’s Anti-Narcotics Unit and the State Criminal Investigation Department attacked, brutalised and maltreated him and his crew.

Reacting to the allegation, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma on Tuesday directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police overseeing the IGP X squad to conduct thorough investigations into the allegation and assured the general public that those found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary actions according to the Forces guidelines.

However, in a short message by the Commands Spokesperson, Henry Okoye on Thursday, the command has commenced an orderly room trial on four of the officers involved in the allegation.

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He said: “The Imo State Police Command has commenced an orderly room trial against officers caught in a viral video extorting money in Owerri.

These officers, who have been in detention, are:
1.Inspector Ibrahim Nainna
2.Inspector Unaka Maxvirgin
3.Inspector Miller Ibinitta

4. Sergeant Antony Alozie

“The results of the proceedings will be communicated in due course.”

In another development, the state Commissioner Of Police CP Aboki Danjuma and his management team embarked on an inspection across the various police divisions and tactical teams in the state

The initiative according Okoye “aims to assess the conditions of suspects in detention and ensure that no individual is held beyond the legal limits.

“This move reflects a commitment to upholding the rights of detainees and improving overall police accountability.”

JUST IN: Four police officers face trial in Imo for bribery

Cement company, Lafarge, to face trial over subsidiary alleged funding terrorism

Cement maker, Lafarge, a subsidiary of Swiss-listed Holcim, is set to face trial in France on charges that its Syrian operations financed terrorism and violated European sanctions to maintain factory operations, according to France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor and a key plaintiff.

The company, which merged with Holcim in 2015, has been under investigation since 2016, marking one of the most significant corporate criminal cases in recent French history.

On Wednesday, Paris investigative judges ordered Lafarge to stand trial.

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In response to the decision, Lafarge stated in a message to Reuters on Thursday that it “acknowledged the decision of the investigating judges.” Following the announcement, Holcim’s shares briefly fell nearly 2% during late Wednesday trading before closing 0.7% lower.

The investigation also examines allegations that Lafarge was complicit in crimes against humanity. Sherpa, an anti-corruption organization that initiated the criminal complaint, noted that the case focuses on how the company kept its Syrian factory operational after civil conflict erupted in 2011.

In January, France’s highest court dismissed Lafarge’s appeal to drop the complicity in crimes against humanity charges.

The sanctions-related charges involve breaches of a European prohibition on financial and commercial links with Islamist militant groups, including Islamic State and Al-Nusra, according to Sherpa.

Separately, in a 2022 investigation in the United States, Lafarge admitted that its Syrian subsidiary made payments to groups designated by the U.S. as terrorist organizations, including Islamic State, to safeguard staff at the plant amid the country’s prolonged civil war.

Cement company, Lafarge, to face trial over subsidiary alleged funding terrorism

(REUTERS)

BREAKING: Senators pass vote of confidence on Akpabio

Senators on Thursday passed a vote of confidence on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

The vote of confidence on the Presiding Officer of the Senate came on the heels of reports that his colleagues have plans to impeach him.

Some online media platforms on Wednesday speculated that the presidency had drafted a large number of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) into the National Assembly Complex to stop Senators from performing their constitutional responsibilities including a plot to remove Akpabio as the Senate President.

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Akpabio had denied the report, saying the red chamber remained united.

The presidency, also in a statement, said there were no impeachment threats against Akpabio.

BREAKING: Senators pass vote of confidence on Akpabio