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A’Court upholds death penalty passed on Dane who killed Nigerian wife, daughter

Published

2 years ago

July 22, 2024

A’Court upholds death penalty passed on Dane who killed Nigerian wife, daughter

The Appeal Court Lagos Division has affirmed the death penalty handed to Denmark national, Peter Nielsen, for killing his Nigerian wife, Zainab and daughter, Petra Nielsen.

The appellate court dismissed Nielsen’s appeal for lack of merit and upheld his conviction by the trial court.

During court proceedings on Friday, Mr Adebayo Haroun, leading Jubril Kareem, announced his appearance for the respondent, while Mr A.D Taiwo Nsirim with Tochukwu Amaefule, appeared for the appellant.

Delivering the judgment, the appeal court held that the respondent (Lagos State) proved the offence of murder against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

It resolved the appeal in favour of the respondent and dismissed the appellant’s case.

The appellate court held, “The corroborative evidence of DNA also strengthened the circumstantial evidence against the appellant.

“There was no proof of breaking into the apartment as suggested by the appellant.

“The missing exhibits as a result of the #EndSARS attack on the court do not affect the defence of the appellant as he had ample opportunity before the attack on the court. The findings of the forensic examiner corroborate the evidence of the children.”

Nielsen was found guilty and convicted of the murder of Zainab and Petra, by Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile,(retd.), of the Lagos State High Court, at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

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Okikiolu-Ighile, in her judgment delivered on May 20, 2022, held that Nielsen smothered Zainab and Petra Nielsen to death.

She ruled, “He was the one who killed Zainab, and Petra Nielsen. Zainab had already predicted her death when she told their driver that this man would kill her. She told her stepfather, Chris Madaki, when she went to Abuja that this man would kill her.”

The judge also held that the evidence of the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) that on April 5, 2018, at 4:10 am, she saw Peter Nielsen beating and hitting Zainab’s head on the floor collaborated with the oral evidence of Prof John Obafunwa (PW4).

She held that Prosecution Witnesses (PW5 and PW6) testified that they heard Zainab calling Mimi (one of the girls living with the couple) for help and they heard Zainab telling Nielsen to check her phone but he kept hitting her head.

“The act of Nielsen shows that he suffocated his wife and daughter.

“Nielsen has always domestically abused his wife which was shown in the police extract from the Ikoyi Police Station.

“She didn’t know that her marriage to the convict was void abi nitio because Peter was already married in Denmark.

However, on the issue of the nightgown worn by Zainab on the night she died, the judge expunged the evidence.

She said that the pathologist who analysed the DNA on the nightgown was thoroughly examined and cross-examined by the defence.

The judge, however, said that on October 20, 2020, the High Court of Lagos was vandalised and burnt, during the #EndSARS protest which affected the nightgown, a jumpsuit, towel and pants worn by Zainab and Petra.

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The judge, however, said that the contention of the convict was not for cross-examination but for them to take the items for DNA examination for their case.

“It is trite law that all documentary evidence must be scrutinised but the defence argued that the convict didn’t have the opportunity to produce his examination.

“The defence made an application to expunge such items from the evidence.

“I have considered the application, exhibits, PWN (Zainab’s nightgown, Petra’s jumpsuit, towel and pants) is hereby expunged,” she said.

But dissatisfied with the judgment Nielsen approached the appeal court to challenge his conviction.

Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018, on two counts of murder.

He pleaded not guilty, to the two counts of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, following which trial commenced.

The Lagos State Government accused Nielsen, now 57, of smothering Zainab and their daughter Petra Nielsen, to death at about 3:45 am, on April 5, 2018, at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi.

When the trial commenced, the prosecution called nine witnesses and closed their case on September 20, 2019.

The defence opened its case and also called nine witnesses with the convict as the ninth witness.

A’Court upholds death penalty passed on Dane who killed Nigerian wife, daughter

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Grand Chief Imam Visits DSS Director, Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration in Oyo

Published

6 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Grand Chief Imam Visits DSS Director, Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration in Oyo

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam Barrister Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State, Mr. Usman Biu, as part of efforts to deepen cooperation between religious leaders and security agencies.

The visit, which took place in Oyo State, focused on strengthening the existing relationship between the Muslim community and security institutions, with an emphasis on promoting peace, unity, and public safety.

Accompanying the Grand Imam was Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, a prominent member of the Oyo State Muslim community.

Speaking during the engagement, Sheikh Akeugberu stressed the need for sustained collaboration between religious authorities and security agencies in maintaining societal stability and addressing emerging security threats. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Muslim community in Oyo Land to support lawful authorities in ensuring peace and harmony across the state.

In his remarks, DSS Director Usman Biu expressed appreciation for the visit and lauded the leadership role of the Grand Chief Imam in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence. He assured the delegation of the DSS’s continued resolve to protect lives and property, while encouraging ongoing dialogue with community stakeholders.

The meeting is seen as a step toward enhancing synergy between religious institutions and security agencies in Oyo State, amid growing calls for community-based approaches to tackling security challenges.

Grand Chief Imam Visits DSS Director, Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration in Oyo

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FG Disburses ₦9.9bn Cash Transfer to Vulnerable Households in Ondo

Published

10 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Bernard Doro

FG Disburses ₦9.9bn Cash Transfer to Vulnerable Households in Ondo

The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has disbursed about ₦9.9 billion in direct cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households in Ondo State as part of its expanded social protection and poverty reduction programme.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Bernard Doro, disclosed this during a working visit to Akure, where he met with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as part of a nationwide assessment of the Renewed Hope social intervention initiatives.

According to the minister, the cash transfer programme is implemented under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to provide direct financial support to the poorest households and strengthen social welfare systems across Nigeria.

He explained that beneficiaries under the Household Prosperity and Cash Transfer Programme receive ₦75,000 in three tranches, with more than nine million households benefiting nationwide since the rollout began.

Doro stated that Ondo State alone has received “about ₦9.9 billion across successive payment cycles,” covering initial, second, and ongoing phases of the national disbursement programme.

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He added that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to poverty alleviation in Nigeria, social inclusion, and targeted welfare delivery aimed at reducing economic hardship among vulnerable citizens.

However, the minister raised concerns about low awareness among some beneficiaries, stressing the need for improved grassroots sensitisation to ensure eligible citizens fully understand and access the programme.

He noted that the federal government is currently conducting verification exercises across states, including Ondo, to confirm beneficiaries, validate data, and strengthen transparency in the distribution process.

Doro further explained that the ongoing engagement also serves as a data validation exercise, aimed at improving accountability, enhancing targeting, and reducing inclusion errors in future welfare programmes.

In his remarks, Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed that Ondo State has recorded about 396,671 beneficiary households across the different payment cycles, describing the programme as one of the largest social intervention efforts in the state.

The governor commended the Tinubu administration for prioritising direct cash support to vulnerable citizens, noting that the initiative has helped cushion the effects of economic challenges at the grassroots level.

He also urged relevant agencies to address challenges linked to National Identification Number (NIN) registration, which he said has affected seamless access to some federal support schemes.

Earlier, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibule, Ifedore Local Government Area, the minister said the Federal Government is working on a redesigned national social protection framework to improve efficiency and impact.

He emphasised that stronger community engagement is essential for future interventions to reflect real needs, adding that stakeholder participation remains key to improving delivery of federal cash transfer programmes in Nigeria.

FG Disburses ₦9.9bn Cash Transfer to Vulnerable Households in Ondo

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Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦33.6bn Opioids Seized by NDLEA at Onne Port

Published

11 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦33.6bn Opioids Seized by NDLEA at Onne Port

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an interim forfeiture order on 17 containers of illicit opioids worth ₦33.6 billion, seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in one of the largest pharmaceutical drug interceptions in Nigeria’s recent anti-narcotics operations.

The containers were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, between April and September 2025, during multiple coordinated inspections targeting suspicious cargo linked to drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦33.6bn Opioids Seized by NDLEA at Onne Port According to court filings and NDLEA statements, the shipments contained a massive haul of controlled substances, including 19.6 million pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, as well as 2,496,400 bottles of Codeine syrup, with a combined estimated street value of ₦33,691,200,000.

The forfeiture order was issued by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, following a motion ex parte filed by the NDLEA on February 10, 2026, in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/25/2026.

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In his ruling, the judge ordered that the 17 shipping containers, along with their contents weighing about 365,657 kilograms of psychotropic substances, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending final determination of the case.

He further directed that custody and possession of the seized containers be handed over to the applicant agency until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Reacting to the ruling, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the development as a significant blow to drug cartels operating in Nigeria, stating that the forfeiture effectively dismantles the financial structure behind the illicit trade.

He said the seizure was not only a disruption of supply but a direct hit on the economic backbone of criminal syndicates that profit from the distribution of dangerous opioids, particularly among young people.

Marwa commended the Nigerian judiciary for what he described as swift and firm intervention, noting that judicial cooperation remains critical in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria.

He also praised NDLEA operatives attached to the Onne Port Command for their vigilance and professionalism, which led to the detection of the concealed shipments. He acknowledged the support of sister agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service and other port stakeholders, whose collaboration ensured the success of the operation.

The NDLEA boss further highlighted the role of international intelligence partners in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-narcotics efforts, adding that global cooperation continues to play a key role in intercepting transnational drug shipments.

Authorities say the latest forfeiture reinforces Nigeria’s ongoing crackdown on opioid trafficking networks, which have been identified as a major contributor to drug abuse and public health concerns across the country.