The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one of the key suspects linked to the alleged theft of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, valued at N1.02 billion and recovered assets worth more than N300 million connected to the crime.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

Tijani explained that the arrest followed a petition submitted by MEA Energy over an alleged case of conspiracy and theft involving petroleum products worth N1.02 billion reportedly carried out by two suspects.

According to him, the command immediately launched a discreet investigation backed by intelligence gathering, surveillance and technical operations after receiving the complaint.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, operatives of the command commenced discreet investigation supported by technical intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.

“After 12 days of intensive tracking and follow-up operations, one of the principal suspects, aged 38, was apprehended in Delta, where he had fled in an attempt to evade justice.

“The suspect was successfully tracked and apprehended through coordinated interstate policing efforts by operatives of the command,” Tijani said.

The police commissioner further revealed that the suspect confessed to participating in the alleged crime during interrogation.

He added that the suspect later assisted investigators in recovering cash and properties valued at over N300 million, believed to be proceeds from the unlawful diversion of petroleum products.

Tijani stated that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the second suspect, who remains at large.

He added that the arrested suspect would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested six suspects allegedly linked to the murder of the traditional ruler of Ishinkwo Community, HRH Eze Josephat Nnanna Ikegwu.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki, noting that the arrests followed sustained intelligence-led investigations by operatives of the command.

The suspects, identified as Ucha Johnson, Ogobuchi Igwe, Nkpuma Nwankwo, Edwin Onwoshi, Itumo Joseph, and Emmanuel Nwaoba, were apprehended in connection with the killing.

According to the police, operatives also recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with eight rounds of live ammunition during the operation.

The monarch was reportedly murdered at his residence on April 2, 2026, a development that sparked tension and concern within the community.

Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Hope Urunwa Okafor, reaffirmed the command’s determination to ensure that all those involved in the crime are brought to justice.

She assured residents of the Command’s continued commitment to tackling violent crimes and maintaining public safety across the state.

The police said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned a man, Salifu Olije Mustapha, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja, for allegedly posing as an operative of the anti-graft agency and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

Mustapha was brought before Justice A.I. Akobi on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and misrepresentation.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly presented himself as an officer of the Commission and took part in activities aimed at deceiving and extorting members of the public.

One of the charges against him reads: “That you, Salifu Olije Mustapha sometime in March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while falsely pretending to be a Nigerian Air Force officer did abet the duo of Abubakar (now at large) and Haruna Mamuda (currently undergoing investigation with another law enforcement agency by conveying them fully dressed in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s operational uniforms as operatives of Commission in a Toyota Corolla with Registration No. KTU399GT to Sheriff Plaza, Wuse II, Abuja to defraud unsuspecting members of the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 84(c) and punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code Act.”

Another charge states: “That you, Salifu Olije Mustapha sometime in March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated a Public Servant by falsely presenting yourself as officer of the Nigerian Air Force and in that assumed character defrauded unsuspecting members of the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 132 of the Penal Code Act.”

When the charges were read to him, Mustapha pleaded guilty to all four counts.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, R.U. Adaga, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

Justice Akobi subsequently adjourned the matter until June 1, 2026, for sentencing.

The EFCC said Mustapha was arrested after security information linked him to the impersonation of EFCC personnel.

Investigations showed that he was allegedly seen wearing a fake EFCC uniform alongside two other suspects while harassing motorists and obtaining money from them under false pretences.