On Monday, the Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court ordered the remand of a 41-year-old man, Nnamdi Dike, for defiling his girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter.

The defendant, a security guard, who lives at 27 Salami St., Akute, Ogun State, is being prosecuted for sexual assault.

The chief magistrate, Bola Osunsanmi, who refused to take the defendant‘s plea, ordered his remand in Kirikiri Prison, pending legal advice from the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

The magistrate subsequently adjourned the case until June 26.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in November 2022 around Ifako Ijaiye in Lagos.

The prosecutor said the 12-year-old told her teacher how the defendant, her mother’s lover, molested her sexually.

Mr Akeem added that the defendant usually molested the victim whenever her mother was not home and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

The prosecutor said the teacher informed the victim’s mother, who reported the case at the police station.

He said the offence contravened section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Governor Dapo Abiodun’s government has condemned the killing of a 300-level student of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abeokuta by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Waheed Adesina, the government described the killing as a dastardly act.

It promised the management and students of the university that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.

He disclosed that the police had been instructed to invite all those concerned, including the baale of Imaweje village, the institution’s host community where the incident happened, to unravel the cause of the death.

“No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. Every action necessary would be taken to punish all those involved,” the statement said.

“The government appealed to the students of the institution to remain peaceful and law-abiding while waiting for the outcome of the police investigation.”

The Ogun government added;

“Such an incident will not be allowed to happen again anywhere in the state.”

Some angry students protested violently in the aftermath of the murder, allegedly setting four houses ablaze in the community, including the baale’s.

The deceased, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was reportedly beaten to death for belonging to a cult group.

Meanwhile, the university’s management has shut down the school to forestall an escalation of the crisis.

The priest of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Anambra State, Rev Father Stanislaus Mbamara, who was kidnapped by gunmen has regained freedom.

The Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Raphael Ezeogu, confirmed the priest’s release on Sunday night, June 4, thanking everyone for their prayers.

“With joy, Nnewi Diocese is announcing that today(Sunday), June 4, 2023, Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Mbamara, kidnapped two days ago has been liberated. We sincerely thank all of you who joined in prayer for God’s intervention. Please, join us in happily acknowledging God’s compassion once again palpably manifested. Glory be to the father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit,” the statement read.

Rev. Fr. Mbamara, who is also a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, was abducted by gunmen while returning to Nnewi from Awka on Friday.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced that it has initiated the process of terminating crude oil swap contracts.

Reuters reported that NNPCL said it will now pay cash to private companies for petrol imports. Mele Kyari, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) added that less petrol will be imported by NNPC while private companies will import the bulk.

Kyari said;

“In the last four months, we practically terminated all direct sale direct purchase (DSDP) contracts. And we now have an arm’s-length process where we can pay cash for the imports.”

On Nigeria’s crude oil production, Kyari said the country’s total crude oil output was 1.56 million barrels per day (bpd) as of Friday, June 2.

Due to illegal refining and oil theft, the country has struggled to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota of 1.742 million bpd. Nigeria’s oil production fell below the one million mark in April 2023, as output tumbled to 998,602 bpd.

Two suspects who allegedly killed a tricycle rider in Suleja, headquarters of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger state have been arrested by the police.

The suspects have been identified as 22-year-old Sunday Paul of Timber-shed, Suleja and 33-year-old Bali Joshua of Kwamba area, Suleja and they were arrested in connection with the culpable homicide of one Boniface Chinanwa, 45 years of Morocco Road, Suleja.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said a third suspect (at large), Zingfa Selchak, had contracted the arrested suspects over his intention to snatch the tricycle from the owner and begged for their assistance in carrying out this dastardly act.

The statement read;

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that on 17/05/2023 at about 1900hrs that they were invited by one Zingfa Selchak of the same address but presently at large. He briefed them on his intention to snatch a tricycle and that he needed their assistance to perpetrate the act.

“He took them to somewhere along Kwamba Road, opposite Timber-shed, and told them to wait for him. Shortly, he appeared with a tricycle rider, whom he deceitfully contracted to convey some goods for him.

“They jointly moved to a nearby corner with the rider pretending to start packing the goods into the tricycle. Suddenly, the said Zingfa placed a cable on the neck of the rider from the rear and strangulated him to death with the help of Bali while Sunday tied the hands of the victim.”

The suspects also searched the victim, stole his phone and other valuables in his possession. Zingfa drove the tricycle to an unknown destination while Bali and Sunday dropped the body of the deceased by the roadside where it was discovered the following morning.

Following a tip-off on May 23, Police operatives attached to ‘A’ Division, Suleja arrested the two suspects.

Abiodun said the suspects have been transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation, adding that effort has been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect and to also recover the tricycle with other valuables stolen.

A police dog helped border patrol agents sniff out $2 million worth of smuggled fentanyl during a traffic stop in Arizona, USA last week, officials have said.

The seizure happened at a checkpoint along I-8 near Yuma, Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel wrote on Twitter.

“The narcotics totaled more than 192 pounds, enough to kill 48 million people,” McGurk-Daniel wrote.

The amount of fentanyl seized during the traffic stop was more than the total amount of fentanyl seized during the entirety of Fiscal Year 2022 in the Yuma Sector, according to public US Customs and Border Protections statistics.

McGurk-Daniel shared photos that show packets of the deadly drug apparently hidden inside car seats.

Another photo showed the dog in front of the vehicle after the seats were opened and searched. Fentanyl was also found hidden inside the gas tank of the car, according to reports.

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed an attack on two communities in the state by suspected gunmen.

The attack occurred in Uburu, the hometown of the immediate past governor of the state, David Umahi, while the second happened in Okposi community, both in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Onome Onovewakpoyeya, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, June 3, in Abakaliki.

Onovwakpoyeya said the police had commenced an investigation to unravel those behind the attacks.

“The command is aware of the attack and an investigation has commenced in order to arrest the suspects,” the PPRO stated.

“A Sienna car and two other vehicles were burnt. A passer-by was shot in the shoulder and is receiving treatment at the hospital.”

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has directed its members to withdraw their services nationwide on Wednesday, June 7 and join the strike action proposed by the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal government.

In a memo signed by its acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the NUEE urged its members to comply with the directive and stop work from the early hours of Wednesday.

‘’All National, State and Chapter executives are requested to start the mobilisation of our members in total compliance with this directive.

Please note that withdrawal of Services nationwide commences from 0.00 hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

You are encouraged to work with the leadership of State Executive Councils (SEC) of the Congress in your various states with a view to having a successful action” the memo reads.

The NLC had on Friday, June 2 announced it was embarking on strike on Wednesday, June 7, over the sudden removal of petrol subsidy.

NLC argues that palliatives have to be put in place before the Federal government takes such an action that causes serious hardship on the masses.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide strike from next Wednesday.

The strike was declared over the removal of fuel subsidy which has led to an outcry across different parts of the country.

Channels Television reported that the congress made the announcement on Friday, June 2, after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja over the fuel subsidy removal and subsequent hike in the pump price of petrol.

The NEC comprises all Presidents, General Secretaries, Treasurers of all NLC’s affiliate unions; State Chairpersons and Secretaries of the NLC State Councils, Chairperson of the NLC Youth Committee and members of the National Administrative Council (NAC).

The Oyo State Police Command has declared the sacked Chairman of Park Management System (PMS), Mukaila Lamidi aka Auxiliary, wanted.

At a press briefing in the state police command today June 2, the spokesperson of the command, SP Adewale Osifeso, said;

“The general public particularly good citizens of the state are hereby notified that LAMIDI MUKAILA AKA AUXILIARY ‘M’ whose Photograph appears above is wanted by the Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State command in connection with cases of attempted murder, causing grievous harm, arms dealing, murder, armed robbery within the state and kidnapping at Oke-ogun and Ibarapa axis of the State.

Lamidi Mukaila is an indigene of the state. He was born on January 9, 1962 (61yrs) and dark in complexion.”

This comes two days after the police raided Auxiliary’s Ibadan residence and in the process recovered weapons and ammunition.

During the operation, Auxillary escaped while the police arrested some of his boys found in his apartment.

A 33-year-old man, Danladi Ibrahim, has been arrested for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old daughter.

The state police spokesperson, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil said the suspect carried out the act after poisoning her drink at Nasaru village, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Wakil said;

“On the 25th May, 2023 one Abubakar Garba Yahua of Nasaru village Ningi LGA, Bauchi State, reported at Divisional Headquarters Ningi. On the same date at about 11:41a.m., one Danladi Ibrahim aged 33 years of Nasaru village, Ningi LGA deceitfully gave a lemon drink to his daughter, one Nadiya (not real name), aged 10 years old, suspected to be mixed with intoxicant which led her to an unconscious condition.

“He forcefully had carnal knowledge of her therein. As a result, the victim sustained serious internal injuries in her private parts and was bleeding.

“On receipt of the report, the team of detectives led by the DPO swiftly rushed to the scene, evacuated the victim to the General Hospital Ningi for immediate medical attention, and later referred the victim to the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre (NOFIC) Ningi, Ningi LGA, Bauchi State, thereafter referred her to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State for further medical attention.”

Wakil further revealed that the suspect has voluntarily confessed to committing the crime.

He said;

“The investigation is ongoing, after which the suspect will be charged to court. The general public will be updated as the investigation unfolds. The command will like to use this medium to reiterate the need for parents and guardians to maintain strict vigilance of the activities of their wards.

“It is pertinent now more than ever that the whereabouts of wards and the company they keep are constantly kept in check by all those responsible.”

A 13-year-old student of a Quranic school has drowned in a pond at Makugara village in Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State.

The boy, identified as Yusuf Magaji, drowned in the pond on Thursday afternoon, June 1, 2023.

The spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusuf Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, June 2, said a distress call was received at approximately 1:p.m. on Thursday from one Nafi’u Na Adama.

He explained that the boy and his companions were on their way to a nearby village, but decided to take a bath in the pond. Yusuf slipped inside the water and could not come out.

“We received an emergency call and we sent our rescue team to the scene but Yusuf was brought out of the pond unconscious,” the spokesperson said.

“Our men conveyed him to Karaye Specialist Hospital where a doctor confirmed him dead, ”Abdullahi added.

He said the victim’s body was handed over to Malam Nafi’u Na Adama, the proprietor of the Qur’anic school.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed rumors that it is planning to embark on a strike today June 2, over the removal of petrol subsidy.

There have been rumors that the NLC had fixed Friday to commence a strike in protest against the subsidy removal.

Reacting, the head of information and public affairs of NLC, Benson Upah, asked Nigerians to disregard the rumor.

“Our attention has been drawn to stories circulating in the social media claiming that the NLC would begin protest action on June 2 against the increase in the pump price of petrol. In as much as we are outraged by this mindless price increase which is intended to bring untold hardship to Nigerians, we have no plan to start any action on June 2. What we do have for now are organ meetings slated for June 2 to deliberate on the price issue.”he said

Upah said the NLC would keep Nigerians informed on its next line of action after meetings.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari has said that the notion of fuel price reducing when there are more refineries is false.

Kyari who sat for an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, June 1, said even with the increased local production of petrol, the price won’t reduce because the refineries will also input the cost of production among other things.

He said;

“There is a notion that if the product is processed locally, prices will reduce. Let me make it clear that it is not going to change anything. If you produce locally, the refineries will also input the cost of production and other things and it will be sold at the current price.

“There will also be no subsidy when local production starts because there is no cash-to-back subsidy, this country no longer has the resources to continue with subsidy.”

In another interview with Channels Television, Kyari said the queues experienced at fuel stations across the country will clear up before Saturday, June 3.

He said;

“I don’t see it staying beyond another day or two, maximum. It can actually be on Saturday. We have supplies. The key trouble with the PMS system is supply, but I have supplies.

“There are over 810 million litres of PMS in depots, tanks and fuel stations across the country, so you don’t have the problem of transferring those from marine to land, you already have them on the ground.”

A police prosecution witness, Inspector Jola Oso, who investigated the murder of a 28-year-old sex worker, Elochukwu Solomon, in Lagos State, has told the court how she was killed by a bus conductor, Babatunde Oluwadamilare.

Testifying before Justice Adesanya, of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday, June 1, 2023, Inspector Oso, said the 23-year-old defendant deliberately stabbed the deceased with a knife.

The witness, who was led in evidence-in-chief by the state prosecuting counsel, Olayemi Shofolu, said the defendant made a statement saying that he had an agreement to pay the late Solomon N2,000, but that it was after he had sex with her that the deceased said she was no longer collecting N2, 000 but N8, 000.

“The defendant said it was the deceased that first held his clothes before he saw a kitchen knife, and that immediately he saw the knife, he took it and stabbed the deceased,” the witness said.

When asked for his conclusion on the case, Oso said, “I found out that the deceased was 28 years old and was also a woman and Babatunde would have overpowered her and does not need to use any weapon.”

“I am saying that the defendant killed the deceased intentionally,” the Inspector added.

Justice Adesanya adjourned the case till June 6 for the continuation of trial. Oluwadamilare was arraigned on March 6, 2023.

He is standing trial on a count charge of murder.

The prosecutor told the court that the incident happened on November 6, 2019, around 11pm at No 17, Empire Road, the Surulere area of the state.