Suspected cultists arrested in Edo with N700k worth pump action gun – Newstrends
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Suspected cultists arrested in Edo with N700k worth pump action gun

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4 months ago

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The suspected cultists paraded with seized guns

Suspected cultists arrested in Edo with N700k worth pump action gun

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested three suspected cultists with a deadly automatic pump action gun worth N700,000.

The suspects, Eyefia Godbless, 30, Imuetiyan Ewemade, 30 and Emeka Okpaja, 22, were alleged to be members of the Maphite confraternity.

The State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, disclosed that the suspects were arrested at Ubiaza Community, Off Sapele Road in Benin City, where they planned to avenge the killing of one of their members, (simply identified as Kokori) who was allegedly killed by members of Aye confraternity, a rival cult group in June 2024.

He noted that the State is recording remarkable progress in the war against cultists and other criminal gangs.

According to him, “This is an automatic pump action gun which is as deadly as AK-47 which has a bullet that can kill several people, unlike AK-47 which can kill just one person. According to the suspects, the gun was purchased for about N700,000.

“It’s difficult to separate cultism and heinous crimes like killings without fear or remorse. Look at their beret and constitution, the book that governs their illicit activities, killing, and counter-killings.

“They even confirmed they registered their organization in Edo State, they have been proscribed and their activities are illegal. We wouldn’t allow this in the State. We were able to arrest these ones and will arrest more of them in this fight.”

Items recovered from them included one automatic pump action gun, 11 live carriages, three green berets, and Maphite constitution.

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In another development, five suspected cultists at their hideout along Siluko Road were arrested by the Anti-vices Team of the Command.

“This incident is unfortunate as we appeal to our youths to gainfully engage themselves in profitable and positive activities as crime, cultism, and internet fraud do not pay.

“We are parading them to enable their members and other cult groups to know that crime doesn’t pay. The Edo State Government and the police, with the assistance of other sister security agencies and the press, will continue to sensitize the people on the danger of such groups.

“I want to assure you that with the collaboration of the judiciary, they will be diligently prosecuted and taken off the society,” the CP said.

Items recovered from them were two pump action guns, two locally-made single barrel guns, 20 live cartridges.

Other suspects paraded by the Edo CP included one Tony Osayande (48) who was arrested along Siluko Road by the Rapid Response Squad of the Command.

He was intercepted in one Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car with registration number YAB 389 BG, in which one pump action gun and two cartridges were recovered.

Another suspect, Apalobi Daniel, of Powerline, in Ugbiyokho, Benin City, was arrested for allegedly strangling his wife to death with his neck tie after an argument.

Suspected cultists arrested in Edo with N700k worth pump action gun

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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18 mins ago

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November 14, 2024

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Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments

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23 mins ago

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November 14, 2024

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Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN

We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments

Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has stated that the Commission is understaffed and under-resourced. Aliyu says this is limiting the commission’s efficiency.

According to a statement on the ICPC website published on Wednesday, Aliyu made this known on Monday while presenting the Commission’s performance scorecard to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes.

“Currently, we have 21 state offices, but they are severely understaffed and under-resourced, which affects our efficiency nationwide,” he said.

Aliyu mentioned that the ICPC suffered from inadequate funding, which hampers the pursuit of investigations, legal proceedings and public education efforts.

Cases involving politicians, where external influences can challenge the impartiality and integrity of investigations, are also some of the challenges bedevilling the ICPC.

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Aliyu cited slow court processes as one of the factors preventing the swift resolution of corruption cases and undermining public trust in anti-corruption efforts.

“Our work requires diverse expertise, from forensic analysis to psychology, yet rising living costs make it increasingly difficult to maintain high morale among staff. Reviewing salaries and welfare benefits is essential for sustainable productivity,” Aliyu said.

“Additionally, ICPC personnel face security risks, especially during high-stakes investigations, making it critical to provide them with adequate security measures similar to those granted to other agencies.

“We urge you to consider the Commission’s requests for adequate funding to strengthen operational resources. Such support will enable us to pursue a more effective, inclusive, and resilient fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

 

We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments

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Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary

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46 mins ago

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November 14, 2024

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Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, has disclosed how rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, had approached him, seeking his blessings to become the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, a plea he turned down.

Wike said Adeyanju who became jobless on account of the rejection has now become an emergency activist, using every opportunity to attack the FCT Administration under him.

The minister spoke on Wednesday evening during a live media chat in Abuja.

Adeyanju who had recently attacked Wike for allegedly concentrating development on the city centre, an allegation that has been severally denied by the Administration, with video and pictorial proofs.

Adeyanju also last week led a protest against Wike over the demolition of Ruga, a settlement along Metro line corridor in Wuye District.

Reacting, Wike said; “I saw one young man, they call him Adeyanju. He is from Kogi State. This young boy came to me that he wants to be the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP and I said ‘No’..

“I said he won’t be, and he was not. I have no regrets about it. He has suddenly become a civil society activist. He has no job and that is why he decided to turn to a civil society activist”.

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Shortly after the live media chat, Adeyanju had posted on his Facebook page that he was too busy with clients that he would not be making any response until Friday. He however did not explicitly mention the Minister’s name but rather used expletives.

Wike had on Sunday vowed to go ahead with demolitions of shanties and illegal structures in the territory, saying government will not succumb to blackmail by few individuals who would rather that the status quo be maintained.

Wike who had held an emergency security council meeting on Sunday evening had in company of the security chiefs and journalists visited the Ruga community in Wuye District where town planning officials and security personnel had earlier gone on clearance operations.

There were reports that a handful of the squatters had protested alongside a lawyer, but spokesman of the community, Abba Garu conceded that they were illegal squatters and that previous administrations had carried out at least 22 demolitions of the area but the people always returned.

While he noted that the community was a mini-Nigeria as it had people from different tribes, Garu begged the administration for compassion.

In response, Wike asked him to nominate four other members of the community to meet with officials of the administration in order to come up with a humane solution.

Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary

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