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Police exhume body of Ekiti varsity ex-DVC, arrest six

Published

3 months ago

August 2, 2024

Former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Professor Femi Olaofe.

Police exhume body of Ekiti varsity ex-DVC, arrest six

The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeniran Akinwale, said on Thursday that the police had arrested six prime suspects in connection with the kidnap and killing of the former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Prof Olorunfemi Olaofe.

Olaofe was taken away by armed men from his residence at the Federal Housing Estate, Ado Ekiti, alongside his security guard, on July 9, 2027.

He was discovered dead and buried in a shallow grave in the bush along Airport Road at Afao Ekiti on Wednesday, July 31.

The CP, in a statement on Thursday, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said the body of the retired university teacher had been exhumed from the shallow grave and deposited in the morgue.

Akinwale said, “An unknown gang of armed men allegedly stormed the residence of Prof. Femi Olaofe, kidnapped him alongside his security guard, one Abdul Opotu, and took them to an unknown destination with the Professor’s Toyota Camry car.”

He stated that the police, on receipt of the information, deployed Rapid Response Squad operatives to the scene for the possible rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators, noting, “They had already whisked the victims away before the arrival of the operatives. The operatives, however, combed the forest between Ado Ekiti and Afao Ekiti and recovered Olaofe’s Camry car.

The CP stated that “a discrete investigation and a painstaking operation for rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators led to the arrest of one Omowaye Ayodele at Bencom Guest House, Akure, Ondo State.

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“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and mentioned one Kenneth, Amodu Gbenga, Nnamani Chukwuka and Ojо a.k.a Ojo ljan as his accomplices. He confessed further that Abdul Opotu, who was the security guard of the victim (Prof. Olaofe), was the one who invited them to kidnap the professor.

He further stated that Ayodele (suspect) said the security guard was not kidnapped alongside the professor as earlier reported, but only played along and made the operation easier for them.

Ayodele, he further disclosed, confessed that the two AK-47 rifles used to kidnap the professor were in possession of Kenneth who is currently at large.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Amodu Gbenga, who also confessed to the commission of the crime during an investigation and further narrated how he used to supply food and water to the gang members in their hideouts located in a bush behind Government College, off Ijan Road, Ado Ekiti.

“The two suspects led the police operatives to their hideouts for the possible rescue of the victim but discovered that the gang in the custody of the victim had already relocated with the victim to another unknown location.

“Further investigation on Tuesday, July 30, led to the discovery of a shallow grave in a bush located off Afao Road, behind the new airport site, Ado Ekiti, where a human being was suspected killed and buried.

“Consequently, Order of Exhumation and Coroner Forms were obtained from the Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti, while the Ministry of Environment was contacted. On Wednesday, July 31, the police led the Ministry of Environment and some medical practitioners to the scene where the corpse was exhumed and later identified as the earlier kidnapped Professor Olaofe,” he said. he said.

He stated that the corpse had been deposited at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital morgue, Ado-Ekiti, for autopsy.

“Efforts are ongoing for the possible arrest of the fleeing members of the gangs including the security guard of the kidnapped and murdered professor who masterminded the crime. Meanwhile, six suspects have been arrested so far and are in custody undergoing investigation,” Akinwale stated.

Police exhume body of Ekiti varsity ex-DVC, arrest six

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Court orders Alcon Nigeria to pay ex-workers over N39m

Published

5 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Trends Admin

Court orders Alcon Nigeria to pay ex-workers over N39m

Justice Muhammad Hamza of the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has ordered Alcon Nigeria Limited to pay its former employee N39,707,607 for breach of contract.

In a statement on Monday, the court declared that Alcon Nigeria Limited’s non-payment of Mr. A. Ikenna’s salary from October 2021 to January 2022 constituted a breach of the employment contract.

The court further ordered Alcon Nigeria Limited to pay Mr. Ikenna N16,781,500 as pension contributions for the period from January 2017 to January 2022, N5,762,267.4 as salary for October 2021 to January 13, 2022 (less one month’s payment in lieu of notice), N11,289,600 as End of Service/Gratuity, and N5,874,240 as leave allowance for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 periods, plus a 50kg bag of rice, among other payments.

Facts of the case

The claimant stated before the court that he was forced to resign from Alcon Nigeria Limited due to the company’s failure to pay his outstanding benefits.

The claimant’s legal team argued that their client’s obligation to comply with Alcon Nigeria Limited’s exit protocols only arises when the company has fully settled all outstanding salaries, allowances, and pension contributions owed to Mr. Ikenna prior to his resignation.

The claimant contended that, since Alcon Nigeria Limited admitted to breaching the employment contract, it could not claim that he had failed to adhere to exit protocols following his resignation.

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The claimant urged the court to grant relief for the various outstanding payments.

In response, Alcon Nigeria Limited’s legal team argued that Mr. Ikenna’s entitlements were withheld because he had not completed the exit process or returned company property.

The defense added, “Withholding these properties and assets is a clear violation of the collective agreement signed between the parties,” claiming that the claimant’s “self-help” actions in withholding Alcon Nigeria Limited’s assets hindered the company’s ability to settle his entitlements as stipulated in the collective agreement.

What the court said

In delivering judgment, Justice Muhammad Hamza held that, based on the evidence presented, the claimant was entitled to salary payments from October 2021 to January 13, 2022, minus one month’s pay in lieu of notice as specified in the company’s collective agreement.

The court further ruled that “Mr. Ikenna has proven his entitlements for unremitted pension contributions and End of Service/Gratuity from Alcon Nigeria Limited to the satisfaction of the court. The assertion that Mr. Ikenna had been employed by Alcon Nigeria Limited since 2004 requires no further proof.”

On the matter of damages, Justice Hamza held that although Alcon Nigeria Limited breached the employment contract by not paying the claimant’s monthly salary, Mr. Ikenna was not entitled to general or exemplary damages as he had retained company property after his resignation.
Justice Hamza subsequently ordered the firm to pay the claimant his dues while Mr. Ikenna was ordered to return all Alcon Nigeria Limited property in his possession, including a Lexus vehicle and a laptop, in good condition within seven days.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, established in 1976, presides over cases related to labor disputes, civil matters, child trafficking, employment issues, entitlements, allowances, and workplace sexual harassment.

Court orders Alcon Nigeria to pay ex-workers over N39m

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Two brothers remanded in Kaduna for alleged armed robbery, killing

Published

5 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Trends Admin

Two brothers remanded in Kaduna for alleged armed robbery, killing

A Kaduna High Court on Tuesday ordered that two brothers be remanded in a correctional centre for alleged culpable homicide and armed robbery.

The police charged Hamza Jibrin, 27 and Yusuf Jibrin 24, with conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

Justice Aisha Shagari ordered the remand of the defendants, after they pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Shagari adjourned the matter until Dec. 12 for hearing.

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Earlier, the Prosecutor, James Edward, said that the defendants and two others at large, while armed with matchete and other dangerous weapons along Airport Road, Kaduna, on Nov. 7, robbed and caused the death of a 26-year-old man, Rabiu Sani.

He said the defendants stole the deceased’s HP laptop, two cell phones, his wallet which contained two ATM cards and cash sum of N30,000.

Two brothers remanded in Kaduna for alleged armed robbery, killing

metro

Police dismiss bomb explosion reports in Jos as false alarm

Published

5 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Trends Admin

Police dismiss bomb explosion reports in Jos as false alarm

Residents of Jos, the Plateau State capital, who were at the Terminus area of the city early this morning scampered for safety as rumours of a bomb planted in the neighbourhood filtered to town.

Diverse messages had circulated on social media about a suspected explosive device in the vicinity, causing panic, but the State Police Command debunked the rumour, saying it was a false alarm.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, explained, “In the early hours of today, the 12th day of November 2024, at exactly 08:20 am, the Plateau State Police Command received a report of a shallow dug hole suspected to be planted with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the Murtala Mohammed Way beside Old JUTH fence, which created panic among the residents.

“Upon receiving this report, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Adesina, immediately ordered the Area Commander Metro and the Officer in Charge of the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, aka Anti-Bomb Squad, to mobilise a team of bomb technicians to the scene in collaboration with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), “C” Division, to assess the situation and take necessary actions.

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“On reaching the scene, the area was immediately cordoned, and our EOD Team began examination. Upon conclusion of the examination, the hole was found to be safe and free of any explosive devices. CP Emmanuel Adesina and other members of his management team also visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

“The CP commends the people of Plateau State for being security conscious and cooperating with the police throughout the exercise. He therefore urges them to go about their normal business activities without fear, as the area is safe and free of any threats to lives and properties.”

Also, Cynthia Ukachukwu, whose shop is in the vicinity, told Vanguard on the phone, “I was in the market very early this morning to receive my goods. At about 8 am, I saw people hurrying about; when I asked what had happened, I heard there was a bomb close to the old JUTH.

“Police and other security agencies were here, and they asked us to vacate our shops, which we did, but as I am speaking with you now (11.25 am), I am in the shop because the police allowed us to go back to our businesses. Nobody is running here; everywhere is calm.”

Recall that the very busy neighbourhood had experienced a double bomb blast in 2014 where, yet to be ascertained, a number of people lost their lives, and scores are still carrying the scars of the scary incident.