The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke, has said that no police officer is permitted to search the phones of any Nigerian.

He noted that the Police Force had a cyber section responsible for that, adding that if a police officer suspected anything, they would take the person to the station so the phone could be searched.

A Sunday statement by the management of Melody FM, 107.7FM, signed by Kunle Babarinde, noted the CP said this when he visited the radio station at Iyana-Ipaja on Wednesday.

He commended the radio station for its efforts to provide the public with information.

Kayode reaffirmed that bail was unrestricted while urging the public to expose corrupt police officers.

“If you feel you have been cheated by a policeman or a policeman engaged in corruption, kindly report the policeman to his DPO. If the DPO is not forthcoming, report to the Area Commander. I believe your case will be solved but if you still feel cheated, please report to me directly. My phone number is open to all Lagosians,” the statement quoted the CP as saying.

The CP also said, “No policeman has the right to beat citizens. You, the people, are the government’s employers; your taxes support us. Thus, we have to treat you with the appropriate decency.”

“On the issue of searching phones, no policeman has the right to search your phone. If a policeman suspects anything on your phone, he will take you to the station to search the phone. We have a cyber department that deals with all that,” he added.

Fire on Sunday gutted a mechanic workshop along Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, opposite Building Materials International Market in Ogidi, Anambra.

The Anambra Fire Service said this in a statement signed by its director, Martin Agbili, on Monday.

According to the statement, at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, the service received a distress call at a mechanic workshop between Bakery Market and UBA on Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.

“We immediately deployed our two fire trucks and our brave firefighters to the scene. We fought, controlled and extinguished the fire. We prevented the fire from entering the bank or the bakery market.

“Although some of the trucks (parked in the workshop) were burnt, the situation was put to a control,” said the Anambra fire service.

It said the cause of the fire was unknown.

No life was lost.

One Ikem Emmanuel has allegedly stabbed to death a co-tenant, Philip Fiama, said to be a shuttle bus driver, for accusing him of sleeping with his wife.

The incident between the pair, who are residents of Sobande Close, Alagbole, Ajuwon in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, was said to have occurred around 06:30 p.m. on Sunday.

A fight between the two started after Mr Fiama asked Mr Emmanuel why he had allegedly been sleeping with his wife, which led to Mr Emmanuel stabbing the deceased.

Mr Fiama was taken away for medical attention but reportedly died on the way to a nearby hospital. However, the prime suspect is said to be on the run.

Confirming the murder to The Punch on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, stated that investigation is ongoing while assuring that the fleeing suspect will be arrested.

Ms Odutola said, “The incident happened on Sunday, January 7. A landlord from Sobande Close, Alagbole, Ajuwon, at around 8 p.m. on that day, came to report that one Philip Fiama, a tenant, accused Ikem Emmanuel, another tenant, of having sexual intercourse with his wife.

“This was reported to have led to a fight when Ikem Emmanuel stabbed Fiama in the chest. The deceased was said to have been confirmed dead in one Tamara Hospital.

“The suspect has escaped to an unknown destination, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation. The police are also on the trail of the fleeing suspect,” it added.

Ebonyi State government, led by governor Francis Nwifuru has decried the death of two residents at the flyover located opposite the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke Ezza South Local Government Area.

Two persons were recently killed by a tanker explosion that occurred at the airport flyover.

It took the intervention of the ministry of aviation and transport technology to quench the fire.

The state commissioner for aviation and transport technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, who spoke with newsmen during the inspection of Chuba Okadigbo Airport Runway, at Onueke Ezza South LGA, revealed the preparedness of the state government to avert a repeat of such incident.

She noted that: “if not for the grace of God, and by the way the flyover was constructed, many lives would have been lost.

“We are still praying God to give eternal rest to those that were killed- the driver and the conductor.

“We won’t want such to be happening at the runway; we are getting it right this time around; some of the things we omitted before have been done right now.”

Obichukwu reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensure that the airport commenced flight operation by May, 2024.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, requested us to change the runway pattern from concrete to asphalt.

“And the runway is being asphalted now.

“We thought that the project will be ready by August, but the way it is now, we are ready to start operation by May,” she stated.

On Thursday, the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, remanded a 29-year-old man, Arikpo Ikpi, in Kirikiri prison custody for stealing 830kg of palm oil.

Magistrate A.O. Ogbe remanded Mr Ikpi after pleading guilty to a charge of stealing.

Mr Ogbe adjourned the case until January 18 to review the facts and sentencing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Adegeshin Famuyiwa, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on December 25, 2023, at PZ Cussons, Odogunyan, Ikorodu.

Mr Famuyiwa said the defendant stole palm oil valued at N954,000, belonging to Trucksoft Logistics Ltd.

He said that the defendant was caught by security guards, who handed him over to the police.

Mr Famuyiwa said that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The police, on Thursday, arraigned a 41-year-old man, Ojo Olanrewaju, before the Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court for stealing 910 litres of diesel.

The defendant is standing trial on a charge of stealing.

Police prosecutor Akinwale Oriyomi told the court that the defendant committed the offence between Dec.16 and December 21, 2023, at Nova Iyonitemi in the Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti.

Mr Oriyomi said the defendant stole 910 litres of diesel, valued at N1,092,000, from the property of Pyramid Risk Management Consult.

According to him, the offence contravenes Section 295 and is punishable under Section 302(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him to study the file and assemble his witnesses.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.Counsel to the defendant, Odunayo Okunade, urged the court to grant his client bail with a promise that he would not jump bail.

In her ruling, the magistrate, Dolapo Babalogbon, granted the defendant bail of N100,000, with one surety in like sum.

She adjourned the case until February 16 for a hearing.

The Police Command in Gombe State said it rescued three babies and arrested 16 suspects for alleged child trafficking and criminal conspiracy.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, said this while briefing journalists on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, in Gombe on Wednesday.

Mr Abubakar said the case was recorded over the weekend following an intelligence report from the Barunde community of the state.

He said three babies were rescued from the suspects within the state, while two others were trafficked out of the state.

According to him, one of the trafficked babies is now in Lagos, while the other has been traced to Anambra State.

He stated that efforts were on to recover the other two babies and return them to the state.

Mr Abubakar stated that during investigation, it was discovered that one of the babies was alleged to have been sold for N400,000.

He said the child was sold to a buyer within the state in collaboration with a social welfare worker in the state.

He said the suspects operated what could be likened to a “baby factory” where their victims were kept in a location and their babies sold after birth.

According to the police spokesperson, the command received an intelligence report on one of the parents who sold her child to the alleged traffickers.

“This is a criminal conspiracy and child trafficking where one Khadija Manzo and 15 others were arrested following an intelligence report received from the Barunde community over the weekend. That sometime last year, one Khadija Manzo and 15 others were involved in selling babies to people in need.

“On receiving the report, detectives attached to the Low-cost Division carried out an investigation which led to the arrest of Manzo, and other suspects,” he said.

Mr Abubakar said investigation further revealed that Manzo had allegedly sold two babies to one Ukamaka Ugwu on different occasions.

He said other suspects were nabbed for their involvement in the crime.

Mr Abubakar said: “investigation shows that the said Ms Manzo reportedly sold a child for N400, 000 to one Tina Raphael.

“And she gave N200,000 to one Haruna Abubakar, who works with Social Welfare, Gombe under the guise of making relevant certificates for proper handing over of the child.

“Yahaya Suleiman received the N200,000 from Manzo to give to Haruna Abubakar and he delivered the money.

“Ukamaka Ugwu bought two children and one is currently in Lagos and the other in Anambra, but the police are working to ensure safe return of the babies.”

Mr Abubakar said a case of rape was also uncovered during the investigation which was covered up by the victim’s family.

He said the victims of the rape delivered the babies and Ms Manzo conspired with them to pay their medical bills to sell the babies afterwards.

Mr Abubakar said the suspects in the case would soon be charged to court.

The Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, said it would upscale its feeding programme in public schools across the state to boost pupils’ welfare, improve attendance and reduce the menace of out-of-school children in the state.

The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, stated this during his visit to some schools to monitor second term resumption for the 2023/2024 academic session.

Alli-Balogun, according to a statement by the ministry on Tuesday, assured that the state government would deploy its resources for the safety of students and staff in the new year, while urging teaching and non-teaching staff and students to make 2024 count for excellent performance.

“The Lagos State government has expressed determination to ensure that the limited resources of the state are deployed for the safety of students, pupils and school personnel in this new year.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has reiterated its commitment to upscale school feeding programme in public schools to boost pupils’ welfare, improve attendance and reduce the menace of out-of-school children in Lagos State.

“Many of our students, pupils and teachers made us proud in 2023 individually or as representatives of various schools, this naturally encourages the state government to do more,” the commissioner said.

He urged students to stay off drugs, shun cultism, avoid gang wars and examination malpractice, saying, “The energy for such vices can be diverted to various co-curricular activities encouraged in schools and sometimes supported by various non-governmental organisations.”

The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, has said that one of the soldiers who spoke against the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for ordering the arrest of one of their colleagues for driving one way, in a viral video, has been apprehended.

In a few minutes of a viral video currently in circulation, Lagbaja noted that the action of the soldier caught riding one-way did not represent the entire Nigerian Army.

The Army Chief, who was seen addressing journalists, said the soldiers criticising the governor were fake, adding that the real one among them had been arrested.

“I want to say that the soldier who was apprehended by the Governor of Lagos State while plying on the one-way does not represent the Nigerian Army because, in every respect, it contravenes what we stand for, which is discipline as an army and the constitution and the laws of Lagos. We frowned upon that, as did the army.

“But for what you alleged —that soldiers have gone to social media casting aspersions on the office of Lagos State Governor— I will say it is only one soldier that has done that.

“The army has investigated; that soldier has been apprehended, and we are investigating. For every other comical act that you have seen, they are not personnel of the Nigerian Army. We have investigated that.

“From the mode of dressing of some of them, you will know that they are not personnel of the Nigerian Army. And from the utterances that these people made, you will know from what angle these people are talking.

“They are talking about politics, not the army. We are serious about upholding the law and rule and remaining disciplined, and we will enforce that on our personnel.”

Sanwo-Olu had last Tuesday ordered the arrest of a soldier and three other motorcyclists for taking one way on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Wale Ajetunmobi, revealed in videos shared on his X handle on Tuesday that lawless Okada riders plying one-way along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway left their motorcycles and passengers upon sighting the convoy of Sanwo-Olu.

The statement said, “One of the offenders—a Lance Corporal in the Army—was arrested with his bike.”

One of the videos shows the moment some motorcyclists drove away with their passengers to escape being arrested by the governor’s security officers.

Some of them were seen escaping on foot while abandoning their motorcycles and their passengers. In another video, Sanwo-Olu ordered the officers to put one of the motorcyclists who claimed to be a soldier into the vehicle, stating that he was going to lock him up.

He said, “Put him there; let your father come and rescue you. You’re telling me you are a soldier; that is the reason I’m going to lock you up…”

A family court in Ibadan, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of Michael Ayinde, 51 and his son, Abiola Ayinde, 19, for allegedly raping his daughter and the latter, his sister.

The magistrate, O.O Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendants’ pleas, ordered their remand at the Abolongo correctional facility, Oyo town.

The defendants, the father and older brother of the complainant, allegedly committed the offence at their residence in the Agboti Olosan area, Alakia, Ibadan.

Ms Ogunkanmi said remanding the father and son in custody would allow the court to await the outcome of legal advice from the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

After that, she adjourned the matter until February 21 for mention.

The prosecution counsel, Gbemisola Adedeji, told the court that the younger Mr Ayinde, the complainant’s brother, between 2021 and December 2023, allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with his younger sister.

The prosecutor said Mr Abiola allegedly impregnated her without her consent, while their father, Mr Ayinde, also between 2021 and December 2023, allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of his 17-year-old daughter without her consent.

She said the offence contravened section 34 of the Oyo State Child Rights Law, 2006.

Police in Lagos State on Tuesday arraigned a 20-year-old man, Gilbert Israel, before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a Sanyo television valued N20,000.

The defendant, of no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of felony and stealing.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP Ikem Uko, had earlier informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on Jan. 2, at No 10, Olufunmi Bankole Str. Ibiye, Badagry area of Lagos.

Uko alleged the defendant broke into the house of one Sunday Bankole with the intent to commit felony.

He said the defendant stole one 10 inches Sanyo television valued at N20,000.

According to him, the offences contravened Sections 308 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).

The Chief Magistrate, Mr T. A Popoola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Popoola ruled that the sureties must be responsible citizens resident in Lagos State and should be gainfully employed in a reputable company or in a government establishment and then adjourned the case until Jan.30, for mention.

The Grand Mufti of Ibadan, also known as Alfa Agba of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulfatai Muhali is dead.

The Alaga died on Tuesday.

A source close to the family disclosed that the deceased has been on sick bed in the last few days.

It was gathered that he died in the early hours of Tuesday.

The late Grand Mufti was born in 1944.

He would be buried at 4:00 pm today, Tuesday, Jan. 8.

The National Universities Commission on Monday denied reports that it uncovered a total of 100 fake professors in some universities across the country.

Some media organisations had listed some universities as part of the institutions indicted by the NUC for having fake professors.

But the NUC in a statement released on Monday, said though it initiated a verification process in 2019 for academics in Nigerian universities, at no point did it release a list of fake professors in 2024.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the commission can confirm that it initiated in 2019 a laudable project, with the intent of compiling and publishing a list of full Professors in the Nigerian Universities System through the use of an online portal to collate the requisite data. During the exercise, the NUC found anomalies, such as Associate Professors being listed as full Professors.

“It is essential to also state clearly that the Commission as a responsible Federal Government Agency, does not engage in half-baked exercises capable of tarnishing the image of Nigeria and the NUS.

“That was why the Commission deemed it necessary to share the collated data with the Nigerian Universities for authentication by the competent authorities as to who qualifies to be a full professor”, the regulatory agency said in the state.

The media space has been taken awash by reports of the alleged fake professors with Nigerians raising questions regarding the qualifications of academics in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

So far, some of the universities listed as allegedly having fake Professors on their payrolls such as the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, Babcock University and Covenant University among others, have issued rebuttals and called for calm.

The Lagos State Government has said it is working towards completing 15 jetties to add to the existing ones in the state to boost water transportation.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, during a chat with journalists at Alausa recently said the government also plans to deploy 12 ferries to make commuting easier for residents of the state.

He added that the government of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would complete the Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge this year to solve the traffic problems faced in the area, saying the bridge would take traffic off the Ikorodu Road and make access to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport from Ojota a lot easier.

“The Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge is going to be completed. We were there recently to see the level of work and we have seen the transformation that the bridge has brought to that area. It means that when it is completed, people will no longer miss their flights when they are going to the airport when there is traffic congestion. The traffic around that area will definitely fade away. It’s going to be significant.

“The Red Line, which will also be completed soon, will reduce the about three-hour travel time by road from Iddo to Agbado to about 35 minutes while the water transportation will receive a boost with the completion of about 15 new jetties and the addition of 12 boats to the existing 21.”

Omotoso added, “By the time Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu came in, we had about seven ferries, later it increased to 14 and very soon, we will be bringing in about 12 more ferries so that water transportation can be expanded and made more popular; because on water there is no traffic congestion, it is smooth, healthy, fast and comfortable.”

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kano State has arrested a 25-year-old man, Alkasim Ya’u, for allegedly stabbing his father to death at Tudun Yola ‘C’, in the Gwale Local Government Area of the state.

The NSCDC Corps Commandant, Mohammed Falala, disclosed this in a telephone interview with journalists in Kano on Sunday.

He said the incident occurred on Friday at about 1:30 p.m. at the residence of Salisu Bala.

“The deceased father, Ya’u Mohammed, brought his mentally ill son, Alkasim Ya’u, to Psychiatric Hospital Dawanau for medical treatment, where they booked to see a medical doctor on Saturday, January 6.

He explained that instead of going back to Katsina, the deceased decided to sleep at his brother’s house at the same address.

“Our investigation revealed that Mr Alkasim became mentally ill due to his engagement in hard drug activities.

“On their arrival at Tudun Yola, the ill son took a sharp object and injured the father, until the intervention of the NSCDC operatives attached to the area, who took the victim to the hospital and arrested the suspect,” he said.

He said that already, the family was already making arrangements to return the corpse to Katsina for a funeral, while the suspect and the exhibit were handed over to the Rijiyar Zaki Divisional Police Office for further investigation.

The Police Command in Ogun says a couple, Mba Moses and Florence Moses, have allegedly killed one Mark Kalu after the victim sustained injuries from a fight between them.

This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the command, SP Omolola Odutola, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Saturday.

Odutola explained that the Divisional Police Officer in the Odeda area of the state, on Saturday at 7:00am received a report of the death of the 45-year-old man.

The spokesperson said that the deceased sustained injuries during a fight that occurred on October 8, 2023, at Osiele market.

“The altercation took place in the market square between the late Mark Kalu and a couple, Mba Moses, aged 50, and his wife, Florence, aged 40, leading to the death of Kalu,” he said.

“Efforts were initially made by the Babaloja of Osiele and the Igbo Community Leader to mediate and find an amicable resolution but these failed.

“However, the suspects have now been taken into custody for a preliminary investigation into the matter,” she said.

She explained that the body of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, for autopsy.

No fewer than 22 persons have been killed in Danmusa Local Government Area of Kastina State when bandits attacked traders on their way to Yantumaki market.

Operatives of the Katsina State Police command engaged in a gun duel with the bandits leading to the death of the 22 persons.

While the bandits killed six villagers, the security operatives neutralized about 26 bandits during the gunfire.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasiru Muazu-Danmusa confirmed this to NAN on Saturday.

“We condemn what happened in Danmusa LGA where the bandits attacked traders on their way to Yantumaki market from Maidabino.

“They laid an ambush against the traders, killing at least six persons and injuring others, including two of the security personnel escorting the traders.

“It was reliably gathered that no fewer than 16 of the terrorists were killed at the scene by security operatives during the encounter and many escaped with gunshot wounds,” he said.

The Commissioner, however, claimed that there has been remarkable progress in the fight against cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the state since the inception of the administration of Governor Dikko Radda.

“The problem has now been reduced to about 60 per cent from the reliable information we have been receiving across the state.

“That is why the terrorists resorted to using other ways in perpetuating their heinous acts,” he said.

The Katsina State Government on Friday revealed plans to upgrade the Gen. Amadi Rimi Orthopaedic Hospital to the status of a comprehensive healthcare facility.

The state governor, Dikko Radda, disclosed this in Katsina when the management and founders of Al-Qalam University, Katsina, led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nasir Yahaya-Daura, paid him a courtesy visit.

Mr Radda said that a committee of medical professionals had been engaged to propose necessary facilities for the upgrade alongside the ongoing construction of a dialysis centre in the hospital.

He said there were ongoing discussions with Saudi Arabia and other foreign countries for potential investments in healthcare delivery in the state.

The governor said that the aim was to significantly improve healthcare services.

He emphasised further on the initiative’s goal of minimising the need for medical treatment abroad, benefiting people in Katsina and neighbouring states.

Mr Radda said the state government was also in contact with consultants from Tokyo and the United Kingdom for collaboration in managing health institutions in the state.

“The potential for the upgrade of the hospital is to become a teaching hospital for Umaru Musa Yar’adua University and other universities in the state once the 15-year agreement with the Federal Medical Centre expires.”

The governor encouraged the management of Al-Qalam University to request inclusion in TETFUND interventions from the Federal Government, assuring them of his support.

On his part, MrYahaya-Daura expressed gratitude for the governor’s commitment and requested support for fencing the university due to security concerns.

Following the recent massacre in communities in Bakkos, Barkin-Ladi and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State, eight suspected persons have been arrested and in police custody.

The onslaughts claimed the lives of about 200 persons.

The police spokesperson in the state, Alfred Alabo said this on Thursday, adding that the suspects were arrested at various locations.

“We have been getting tremendous success from that process,” the Plateau police spokesman said.

“It would also interest you to know that seven persons, in fact as of the last count, there are now eight of them under investigation in our custody and they have been moved to the state CID where the AIG Zone 4 and the commissioner of police are overseeing the affairs of the operation and also the investigation.”

Recall that Vice President Kashim Shettima had visited the area to commiserate with the people of the North-Central State.

During the visit, the VP appealed to the residents to “resist the temptation to succumb to sectional divisions or the poisonous rhetoric of hatred towards fellow citizens, as we pursue justice to ensure your security”.