Metro
Attack on Keke rider: Minna Court jails man 17 years for armed robbery, attempted murder
A Minna High Court has handed down a 17-year prison sentence to a 47-year-old man, Zingfa Nanboi, for his role in a violent attack on a commercial tricycle rider, bringing to a close a case of attempted murder and armed robbery that dates back to 2022.
Delivering judgment at Court Six of the Judiciary Complex, Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf ruled that the sentences would run consecutively.
Nanboi was arraigned by the Niger State Ministry of Justice on a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide, and armed robbery.
The prosecuting counsel, Fatima Mohammed, a Director in the Ministry, told the court that the offences contravened Sections 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, as well as Sections 99 and 229 of the Penal Code Law of Niger State.
The court heard that on May 22, 2022, the convict conspired with one Frank Moses, who remains at large, to attack a commercial tricycle rider, Adamu Saidu.
The victim had picked them up from the Obasanjo Complex in Minna en route to Maikunkele.
Along Airport Road, Nanboi allegedly strangled the rider with a cable and gagged him to prevent him from shouting.
In the course of the attack, the victim was pushed out of the moving tricycle and left unconscious by the roadside.
He later regained consciousness in a bush, where he was found the following morning by a passerby and taken home.
During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses and tendered three exhibits, including the defendant’s statement, an audio-visual recording of the statement, and his oral testimony in court.
In her judgment, Justice Yusuf held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing all three charges against the defendant.
“From the totality of the evidence and testimonies presented, the offences of conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide, and armed robbery have been clearly established against the defendant,” the judge ruled.
In a plea for leniency, defence counsel, Chief Olukunle Oyewole, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, describing the convict as a married man with children and a first-time offender.
However, Justice Yusuf sentenced Nanboi to 10 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery and seven years for attempted culpable homicide, with no option of fine.
The sentences are to run consecutively and will take effect from the date he was first remanded in custody.
Metro
Troops, NDLEA arrest six suspected drug dealers in Katsina
Six suspected drug dealers have been arrested during a joint operation by troops of the 17 Brigade and officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the raid was carried out around 1:00 pm on June 24 in Rugoji Village.
The sources told counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama that the team arrested six suspects and recovered 4.0 grams of a substance believed to be cannabis and 3.5 grams of tramadol.
The sources alleged that the suspects supplied hard drugs and other illicit substances to terrorist and criminal groups operating in Kafur and nearby communities.
The suspects and the recovered items have been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Metro
Ekiti court sentences two men to death for kidnapping NYSC staff
An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced two men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of kidnapping a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Omoboade Adesina.
The convicts, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar, were prosecuted following their arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over the abduction, which occurred on April 22, 2022.
Delivering judgment, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, held that the prosecution had proved its case against Ibrahim and Abdullahi Abubakar beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Ogunmoye subsequently sentenced the two men to death by hanging.
The judge commended the prosecution team of the DSS for its diligence in investigating and prosecuting the case.
He identified the identification parade conducted by the DSS and the analysis of call data records as crucial pieces of evidence that assisted the court in reaching its decision.
“The prosecution successfully established the guilt of the first and second defendants beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge held.
However, the court discharged and acquitted the third defendant, Usman Abubakar, after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the offence.
The conviction is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions secured by the DSS in cases involving kidnapping, terrorism, and other related offences across the country.
The agency recently secured convictions in separate cases involving terrorism, cross-border arms trafficking, and kidnapping in Sokoto and Kogi states.
Metro
‘We killed her to teach her a lesson’ – Suspected killers of Ogun broadcaster
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three suspects connected to the killing of retired OGTV broadcaster, Kitan Oyesiku, popularly known as Aunty Kitan.
Oyesiku was murdered in cold blood alongside her 38-year-old security guard, Pelumi Adetayo, at her residence
in the Kobape area of Abeokuta last Saturday.
The Ogun police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed that the corpse of the security guard was discovered within the security post, while the lifeless body of Oyesiku was found face up inside her apartment.
He stated that her vehicle, which was also discovered missing, was eventually recovered in the state.
Barely five days after her death, the police have announced the arrest of the suspects – Sodeinde Olajuwon Phillip, 22, Sakirudeen Abdulraheem Ayoola, 27, and Sobu Obafunsho, 36.
Sodeinde, the principal suspect, who was a former security guard to the deceased, was said to have recruited the others to join him in carrying out the heinous crime.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Thursday, stated that in the course of investigation it was discovered that Sodeinde have always contacted the deceased, demanding for money even when he was no longer worked for her.
The CP disclosed that the missing vehicle was recovered close to Sodeinde’s residence and he was arrested at a construction site in GRA Ibara where he worked as a labourer.
The police chief stated that on interrogation, Sodeinde confessed to killing the deceased just to “teach her a lesson”, adding that the attack following grievances he has been holding against with the deceased during the period he worked as a security guard in her employment.
The CP said, “The Command launched intensive investigation, intelligence gathering, and technical tracking operations aimed at identifying those responsible and recovering the missing vehicle.
“Acting on credible intelligence and technical tracking analysis, operatives of the Command successfully traced and recovered the missing Lexus RX 330 vehicle belonging to the deceased on 22nd June, 2026. Although the ignition key had been removed and the registration number plates detached from the vehicle, detectives recovered the vehicle’s registration plate concealed underneath one of the seats, which enabled investigators to positively identify and confirm the vehicle as the property of Madam Olakitan Oyesiku.
“One critical piece of evidence recovered from the scene was a handwritten note apparently left behind by the perpetrators. The note was subjected to forensic examination and analysis, which generated valuable investigative leads that significantly aided detectives in identifying and tracing those responsible for the crime.
“Further intelligence gathering and painstaking investigation led to the identification and arrest of the principal suspect, Sodeinde Olajuwon Philip ‘m’ aged 22 years, on 24th June, 2026, at a construction site in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, where he was working as a labourer.
“Further follow-up operations by detectives of the Command led to the successful arrest of Sakirudeen Abdulraheem Ayoola ‘m’ aged 27 years, a security guard, and Sobu Obafunsho ‘m’ aged 36 years, a bricklayer, thereby bringing into custody all identified suspects directly linked to the criminal conspiracy.
“The suspect stated that the murder of Madam Olakitan Oyesiku was intended to teach her a lesson.”
According to the commissioner, the suspects first overpowered the security guard, used him to gain access to the residence and upon gaining entry, they attacked Oyesiku and subsequently murdered the security guard.
Items recovered after searches at locations linked to the suspects include a broken hammer, a cutlass, a plank, a black pen and other relevant exhibits connected to the investigation.
The CP emphasized that while the suspects have made useful statements and substantial evidence has been recovered in the course of the investigation, all suspects remain entitled to due process under the law.
He noted that investigation is ongoing to consolidate all available evidence and ensure diligent prosecution of all suspects connected with the crime.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, Wale Olarewaju, thanked the CP for unraveling circumstances surrounding the broadcaster’s death.
-
Sports2 days agoDjed Spence Refuses Thomas Partey Handshake
-
Sports1 day agoWhy Austria and Algeria May Both Want to Lose Their Final Group Game
-
Sports23 hours agoBastian Schweinsteiger Sparks Outrage With Comments Ahead of Germany v Ivory Coast
-
Sports14 hours agoSteve Clarke Slammed For Interview After Scotland 0-3 Brazil
-
Sports5 hours agoThomas Partey Could Be Blocked From Knockout Tie
-
Sports2 days agoWhy Lionel Messi Misses So Many Penalties Revealed By Expert
-
Sports1 day agoJude Bellingham Avoids Red Card For Banned Gesture vs Ghana
-
Sports2 days agoCarlos Queiroz Explains Jude Bellingham Altercation During England 0-0 Ghana
