Choose between death and ransom, police tell two men taken to Edo bush – Newstrends
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Choose between death and ransom, police tell two men taken to Edo bush

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Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command

An Ondo State resident has narrated to FIJ how policemen extorted N61,000 from him and a friend on Friday.

The 23-year-old student said he was travelling with his friend from Akure, the Ondo State capital, to Benin in Edo State when policemen stopped their vehicle.

He said the policemen accused them of fraud, took them to a bush and threatened to shoot them dead if they didn’t pay a ransom.

Folami said they were made to part with a combined N61,000 before they were let go by the police.

Recounting his ordeal, he said, “A friend and I were travelling from Akure to Benin. Along the Owo road, some 15 minutes to Benin, policemen stopped us.

“They said they wanted to search us, as we were the only young boys in the vehicle.

“So, I brought down my bag. They searched and didn’t see anything. I told them I was a student, then they took us across the road and said they wanted to search our pockets.

“I emptied my pockets, and there was nothing. They then branded us Yahoo’ boys. So, I gave them my phone and told them to search through it. When they did and found nothing, they started harassing us and asking us to get into their vehicle.

“Before I could call for help, the bus driver dropped my bag and my friend’s in front of the police and left.

“We were in the middle of nowhere. The police said they were taking us to a police station, but they took us into a bush. I was speaking up but my friend was crying.

“They told us they could shoot and kill us and nothing would happen as no one knew where we were.

“We cooperated with them, so they checked our accounts and found money. They took us out of the bush to a Point of Sale merchant and made us transfer N31,000 from my account, while my friend transferred N30,000 from his before they let us go.”

Folami said he was unable to get the names of the policemen, as they were wearing black uniforms with no name tags.

He, however, was able to get a picture of one of them.

Policeman photographed by Folami

Folami said he was scared to approach the police to report the matter as he feared for his life.

When FIJ called Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, she said, “The man said he was some minutes away from Benin, so that’s not Ondo.

“He can come forward and report the matter to the police, but according to him, he had left Akure and was close to Benin, so it’s not Ondo.”

FIJ also called Chidi Nwabuzor, Edo State police spokesman, for comments.

He said he was unaware of the matter, but invited Folami to visit him for a resolution. He allayed the student’s fears and said, “The matter will be treated with utmost confidentiality.”

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Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the temporary freezing of 21 bank accounts domiciled in some commercial banks and directed the arrest of the account holders by the police.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

Justice Nwite also granted the “order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATMs while allowing inflow into the said accounts” pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence.

“I am of the view that the motion ex-parte is meritorious.

“The application is hereby granted except that the period of the investigation can only last for a period of 90 days,” Justice Nwite said.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 3 for mention.

The banks are Access Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Ltd, Wema Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank Ltd, United Bank of Africa Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, First Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, TAJ Bank Plc and Keystone Bank Plc.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the I-G is the applicant in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1965/V/2024, the 13 banks are sued as 1st to 13 defendants respectively.

The I-G, in the motion filed by Mohammed, sought an interim order directing the listed “banks to freeze the accounts mentioned in the schedule attached to this summon pending investigation and prosecution of this case.

“An order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATM while allowing inflow into the said account as from the date of this court order.

Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

The crisis erupted in the Hallelujah community in Egbedore local government area of Osun State on Friday, as enraged residents beat the newly installed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya while attempting to conduct jumat service in the area.

The Ajeniju, who was installed by the Timi of Ede a few months ago, against the will of the Ido-Osun community, was beaten to a pulp by angry youths, saying he had no right to install a chief Imam in the community.

It was gathered that the monarch had last week turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community, but while gathering some people at his palace to observe jumat prayer, some youth allegedly from Ido-Osun invaded the palace and disrupted the exercise.

Some of the aggrieved youths while shouting at the monarch queried his authority to install and conduct jumat prayer in a domain belonging to a separate monarch.

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The mob beat the monarch seriously and vandalised the palace before security operatives could intervene in the situation.

A security source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that it took the intervention of security operatives to rescue the monarch from the scene.

“The situation escalated, resulting in the vandalization of the palace and a physical attack on Ajenifuja of Hallelujah, who sustained serious injuries. He has since been taken to the State CID for further investigation and safety”, said the source.

However, another source in the community disclosed that the monarch has been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security, Hon. Samuel Ojo said he will not comment on the incident pending the outcome of an investigation on the matter.

Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rescued eight injured passengers involved in an accident at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba.

The LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.

Bakare-Oki said the road traffic incident which involved a commercial long bus, popularly referred to as ‘Molue,’ at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba, caused severe injuries and significant disruption to traffic.

“The accident was triggered when the vehicle, registered as KTU 801 XM, lost control at excessive speed, reportedly due to driver impatience.

“In an attempt to avoid colliding with another LT commercial bus and pedestrians awaiting transport at the roadside, the driver veered sharply, resulting in the bus crashing into the expressway median and overturning.

“Several passengers sustained injuries, while others escaped through the bus’s windows,” he said.

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He said that officers from LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene, executed a well-coordinated and efficient rescue operation.

“Eight individuals, including five males and three females, suffered varying degrees of injuries. Among the injured was the bus driver, who sustained a fractured left arm.

“All victims were immediately handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention,” he said.

Bakare-Oki said to ensure the free flow of traffic and public safety, LASTMA’s Response Unit was swiftly mobilised to oversee the removal of the overturned vehicle.

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