Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six Calabar, Jonathan Towuru, has ordered the five policemen who forcibly collected three million Naira from a man last week at gunpoint to be disciplined and prosecuted.

Towuru said such will serve as a deterrent to others.

In a statement dated 1st July, 2024, signed by SP Nelson Okpabi, the Zonal PRO, Towuru said the five officers have been taken into custody and investigation commenced, adding that the zone will never tolerate any criminality among officers.

It would be recalled that police officers attached to the zone, while on patrol along Ikom-Calabar highway, were alleged to have indulged in corrupt practices and unprofessional conduct.

In recent times, there have been loud complaints by motorists and other highway users of intimidation and extortions by policemen at the innumerable checkpoints.

The statement said, “Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 6 headquarters Calabar frowns at the unprofessional conduct of the policemen alleged to have abducted and fraudulently extorted N3,000,000 from an individual last week.

“The AIG has ordered a high powered investigation into the matter to uncover the facts behind the allegations for an informed disciplinary measure to be taken.

“The crime and criminality zero tolerant AIG vowed to ensure that appropriate disciplinary measures are taken against the erring Officers to serve as deterrence to others.

“The Zone will not tolerate any criminality amongst officers that are saddled with the responsibility and crime prevention and order maintenance.”

The statement said that the outcome of the investigation and disciplinary measures, including orderly trial and possible prosecution, would be made known to the public in due course.

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) has unveiled the six wrestlers that will represent the country at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The contingent comprises five female wrestlers, one male wrestler and three coaches.

They were presented in a colourful ceremony at the Dynamite Wrestling gym in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The Wrestlers unveiled are: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborodudu (68kg), reigning African champion Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), and Military world champion Hannah Reuben (76kg).

Others are reigning African champions and debutants, Esther Kolawole (62kg) and Ogunsanya Christinah (53kg), while Ashton Mutuwa completes the list in the (125kg) men’s freestyle wrestling.

The coaches are Victor Kodei, Purity Akuh and Happiness Burutu.

The athletes and officials are expected to depart Nigeria for Spain on 3rd July for a pre-Olympic tournament in Madrid before settling in Germany for their last camping ahead of the games proper.

An unspecified number of people have been trapped as a four-storey building collapsed in Unity House, Area 11 by Nkwere Street in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory.

DAILY POST gathered that the incident occurred on Monday night when occupants of the building were asleep.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the incident to DAILY POST on Tuesday.

She told the correspondent that three victims have been successfully rescued from the rubble, while search is still ongoing.

According to the PPRO, “the attention of the National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria and FCT Development Control have been drawn to the situation, and their personnel have taken charge of the area for robust management of the scene”.

The Abia government has announced its plan to secure Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)- powered buses to improve the state’s transport system.

The state commissioner for information and culture, Okey Kanu, made this known on Monday during a press conference on the outcome of the state executive council meeting at the Government House, Umuahia.

Mr Kanu said that the initiative became necessary to fill up the gap that would be created by the government’s new policy restricting the operational hours of tricycles and motorcycles in Umuahia and Aba.

The government earlier announced that tricycle and motorcycle operators in Umuahia and Aba will be restricted to operating between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day from July 1.

The commissioner said that the government had moved the commencement date for the enforcement of the restriction policy for the operational hours of tricycles and motorcycles to Aug. 1.

Mr Kanu said that the government decided to extend the enforcement of the policy by one month to sustain the gains made with regards to extending business hours in the state, particularly in Aba and Umuahia.

He also said that the extension was done in response to the pleas and yearnings of the people of Abia received through various feedback channels.

“As part of the initiatives and incentives to drive this new policy, Abia Government plans to introduce CNG-powered buses to close up whatever gaps that will be created by the full implementation of this restriction policy,” Mr Kanu said.

He said that tricycle and motorcycle operators interested in the CNG-powered buses could access it by forming a cooperative and working in clusters.

“The bottom line will be to access these buses so that there will be no gaps in terms of people missing out on earning income,” he said.

Mr Kanu described the introduction of the CNG-powered buses as a measure that would ensure that commuters move around the state, particularly Aba and Umuahia, when these restriction orders commenced.

According to him, other arrangements, such as enumeration and registration of all commercial vehicles with regard to the restriction policy, have commenced as planned.

He said these were preparatory steps to the official take-off of the restriction policy.

On the upload of credentials by Abia civil servants, Mr Kanu said that the exercise had “progressed well”.

He said, ”As at date, a total of 36,875 academic certificates and a total of 25,458 career documents have been uploaded, while a total of 7,582 certificates were moved to various institutions for verification.”

Mr Kanu commended the civil servants who had obeyed the directive on uploading credentials for verification.

He urged civil servants that were yet to do theirs, to upload their credentials “in their best interest”.

Mr Kanu said that road construction and rehabilitation efforts were still progressing in the state despite the challenges posed by the rains.

“The design of the stretch of road from Onuimo to Abia Tower is in progress, and the enumeration of structures within the right of way from the Owerrinta Bridge to Umuikaa Junction is ongoing,” he said.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested four suspected fake Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officers while planning to abduct and collect a ransom of N150m from their victim name (withheld).

Parading the suspects alongside other suspects at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, said the principal suspect, Emmanuel Akpayak, masterminded the kidnap of the would-be victim whom he owed over N12m as he tried to extort money from him and subsequently kill him to evade repayment of his debt.

He listed the suspects to include one Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak ‘M’ aged 27years, Echem Ovurizichi Weneka, ‘M’, aged 27years, Promise Udofia ‘M’ aged 28 years and Jeremiah Johnson Okon ‘M’ 38 years.

According to the CP, “Investigation revealed that Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak had arranged for the kidnap and killing of the would-be victim by engaging men on arms and procuring the EFCC vest/uniform for the operation.

“(The) Victim was invited and a search was conducted at the principal suspect’s house where four pairs of the EFCC vest were recovered. Information at hand indicates that the suspect transacted a business of selling cars with the would-be victim and owed the victim about N12m. To evade the repayment of the debt, the suspect hired armed men to kidnap, extort the sum of N150m and also kill the victim thereafter but the operation was foiled. Suspects will have their day in court,” he said.

In an interview with the principal suspect, Akpayak, he claimed that the intending victim was his business associate to whom he owed some money but hired “boys” who were issuing threats to him.

He noted that attempts to make his associate come to roundtable discussions failed hence he resorted to getting the EFCC vest from an online vendor to give to his syndicate who posed as officials to arrest the man and force him to bring N150m as he alleged that the would-be victim was rich and into Internet fraud.

The commissioner also paraded suspected advance fee fraudsters who had been swindling PoS operators in Uyo.

“On 21/06/2024 at about 7:00pm, one Glory Uko Okon ‘F’ of Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan Village, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, called in through the emergency hotline and alleged that one Donald Ita Nyong ‘M’, Rex Clement Uso ‘M’ and one Kingsley Mathias Joekim POS syndicates came to her stand at Udo Udoma Avenue Uyo, pretended to make a withdrawal of N10,000. While she made the withdrawal to the suspects, one of the suspects gave her N3,200 to deposit into an Opay account which she tried three times and the transaction was unsuccessful. The suspects mounted pressure on her which made her give out the POS machine to the suspect to type in the account number. Before she could realise it, the suspects had withdrawn the sum of N320,000 from her machine and quickly jumped into their waiting car and zoomed off. Suspects were arrested, they all made useful statements and have confessed to the crime.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, dismissed the fundamental rights suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government.

Justice James Omotosho dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

But Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimako, told The PUNCH, “We will appeal.”

The judge said the IPOB leader failed to provide evidence to sustain his claim that the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Attorney General of the Federation; the Department of State Services and its Director General, listed as defendants, violated his fundamental rights.

Kanu had, in the suit marked FHC/CS/1633/2023, claimed that the DSS and its Director General violated his right to a fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him to prepare him for his treason trial.

He alleged that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to a fair hearing.

He further alleged that DSS operatives did not allow his lawyers to take notes during pre-trial meetings with him.

He prayed the court to make “a declaration that the respondents’ act of forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents pertaining to facilitating the preparation of his defence which were brought to him at the respondents’ detention facility by his lawyers, amounted to a denial of his rights to be defended by legal practitioners of his own choice.”

But in his judgment on Monday, Justice Omotosho said Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims.

Kanu has been on trial since 2015 when he was arrested over his secessionist push. He fled the country in 2017 after being granted bail but he was rearrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in 2021 and has been in the DSS detention since then.

The Nigerian Customs Services has intercepted a 40ft container loaded with various categories of arms and nine containers loaded with codeine at Onne Port, Rivers State.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, displayed the intercepted weapons and drugs to journalists at Onne, Rivers State, on Monday, July 1.

He said the weapons were brought into the Country from Turkey.

He added that the weapons and drugs were concealed in fairly used clothes.

Adeniyi said: “We have followed its sail across continents and we have benefitted immensely from credible information through our collaboration with intelligence communities both at local, national and international levels.

“The importer tried to circumvent our procedure throught the outlet of a private bonded terminal.

“On Friday 21st of June 2024, the auspicious container was subjected to thorough physical examination, inside the container were; 844 units of assorted riffles 12,500 pieces of life ammunition.

“The riffles and ammunition were concealed with various items like doors, furniture fittings and leather bags.

“Duty paid value of the container is N4,171,710.00billion.

“In connection with the seizures, we have three suspects in our custody after securing a detention warrant from a competent court of justice.

“On Saturday, our officers intercepted an 8 by 40 footer container transiting from a bonded terminal.

“On examination, six of the containers were laden with 1,50,000million bottles of cough syrup of codeine in 100ml sizes. 3,500,000 tablet of tramodol in 5mg
The duty paid value of the containers is N9.6billion”

Adeniyi said the Total Duty Paid Value of the nine containers is N13, 915, 710, 000.00.

Actress Omoni Oboli is currently in high heavens as her son, Tobe and his wife, Marelle, are expecting their first child.

The couple got married in March this year.

The excited soon-to-be grandma shared the good news on social media today July 1.‘’God is certainly in this story I’ve become a cry baby besties. Every time I think about the fact that our baby is coming, I cry 🥹 Can’t wait to hold her in my hands She’ll be the cutest baby ever. My hands are shaking typing this.Who am I that you are so mindful of me Lord? Our families are overjoyed and getting ready to spoil her.My daughter @marelleoboli the cutest mom to be ever ‘’

Justice James Omotosho, of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, dismissed the Fundamental Human rights suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government.

Kanu, in the suit, is seeking N1 billion in damages from the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Services, for alleged right violation.

Kanu, in the suit, marked: FHC/CS/1633/2023, claimed that the DSS and its Director-General violated his right to a fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him where he is being detained, in preparation for his defence in his criminal trial.

Omotosho, while delivering a judgment on the suit, held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims that his interactions with his lawyers were interfered with, that he was denied unhindered access to his lawyers and that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to a fair hearing.

Omotosho further held that the applicant failed to prove that his lawyers were stopped from taking notes at meetings held with him during visitation, and further held that there was no evidence before him showing that he was denied a fair hearing as claimed in his suit.

On this note, the judge dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, in an originating motion dated and filed December 4, 2023, sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the AGF, the DSS, and its DG, as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

Kanu, in the suit, demanded the enforcement of his fundamental rights while in detention at the DSS.

The suit was filed under Order II, Rules 1 & 2 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, among others.

In the motion, Kanu prayed for “a declaration that the respondents’ act of forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents about facilitating the preparation of his defence which were brought to him at the respondents’ detention facility by his lawyers, amounted to a denial of his rights to be defended by legal practitioners of his own choice”.

He also sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of refusing or preventing his counsel from taking notes of details of the counsel’s professional discussions/consultations with him at DSS detention is unlawful and amounts to a denial of his right to be given adequate facilities for the preparation of his defence by legal practitioners of his own choice.

He further sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of eavesdropping on his confidential consultations or conversations with his lawyers amounted to denial of his right, among others.

Kanu, on this note, sought an order of injunction restraining and prohibiting the respondents from their act of forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents brought to him at the detention facility by his lawyers.

He also sought an order mandating the respondents to jointly and severally pay the sum of N1bn as damages for the mental, emotional, psychological and other damages he suffered as a result of his rights’ breach, among others.

The FRN and the AGF, in a counter affidavit, urged the court to dismiss the suit for being an abuse of court process.

The DSS, in a counter affidavit dated and filed March 12, 2024, denied the allegations levelled against it by Kanu.

In the application deposed to by staff in the service’s legal department, Yamuje Benye argued that 11 paragraphs in Kanu’s affidavit were untrue.

The deponent averred that Kanu was in safe and secured custody of the DSS and that he was not detained in solitary confinement.

According to him, Kanu, alongside his counsel, was permitted to consult and interact on visiting days in one of the best interview facilities of the DSS to ensure maximum comfort of the applicant and his visitor(s).

He argued that there is no basis for eavesdropping and recording of Kanu’s conversations.

He said, in line with the Service Standard Operation Procedure of the State Security Service, all visitors to her facility are subjected to normal routine security checks and items in their possession are scanned.

According to him, this is to avoid unauthorised materials making their way into the facility.

Benye said the instant suit was an abuse of the court process, adding that Kanu, had previously argued the same issues before Justice Nyako.

He added that Justice Nyako, who is presiding over Kanu’s criminal trial, has always maintained that visits to him should always be under supervision, as it is the best practice all over the world.

He said Kanu has always been allowed access to his family members and team of lawyers on his visiting days without any hindrance, and at no time did any DSS personnel seize or confiscate documents brought to Kanu by his lawyers or any other person.

He added that their personnel never denied Kanu’s lawyers the professional liberty to perform their lawful duty of discussing, consulting, and interacting with him.

“Applicant’s counsels are allowed to moderate size notes or pads for the visit, but the exchange of materials that promote the IPOB ideals (subject matter of applicant’s criminal trial) were strongly resisted and refused.”

Two persons have lost their lives in the early hours of Monday when a passenger bus rammed into a truck along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

This is just as four other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries while 14 escaped unhurt.

The spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, said the vehicles involved were an unregistered Howo truck and a Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number BEN 823 ZW.

Akinbiyi disclosed further that the accident occurred due to speeding on the part of the bus driver which led to loss of control and eventual collision with the truck.

He added that 20 persons were involved in the accident comprising 15 males and five females.

“There is a road traffic accident at Area Command hill, Inbound Ijebu Ode, on Sagamu-Benin Expressway at about 0630hrs on 01/07/2024. Two vehicles were involved including a Howo truck with no registration number and a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BEN 823 ZW.

“According to eyewitnesses, the accident was caused by excessive speed on the part of the bus driver leading to loss of control thereby crashing into the truck. The victims are 15 males and five females with four injured and two dead.”

The TRACE spokesperson disclosed that the remains of the dead victims were deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital morgue while the injured were taken to the same hospital for treatment.

“Accident victims have been rescued to OOUTH while the bodies of the two dead victims were deposited at OOUTH morgue,” Akinbiyi stated.

No fewer than 20 travellers along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway were reportedly abducted by some gunmen at about 8 pm on Sunday while one of the victims was shot in the knee.

The gunmen were said to have ambushed the travellers between Sagamu Area Command of the Nigeria Police and Ilisan township.

The Chairman of Ilisan Development Council, Wemmy Osude, confirmed this to PUNCH Online.

Osude said one of the victims of the attack who is a resident of Ilisan Remo was already receiving medical attention at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital.

He said, “Information reaching me right now confirmed a kidnapping incident between the Area Command and Ilisan City Gate (formerly Delabo).

“A resident of Ilisan (name unconfirmed) was reportedly shot in the knee and is receiving medical attention at Babcock Teaching Hospital.

“Other victims were taken into the bush. While waiting for additional information, please contact your loved ones who may be plying that road at about this time to be cautious.”

Osude said that he had spoken to the resident of the town who was being treated at Babcock University Teaching Hospital and he was said to be in stable condition.

He added, “I have spoken to the Sagamu Area Commander about this incident, and hopefully, we trust that all the security agents will go after these criminals and rescue these people.”

This incident was preceded by the recent abduction of two others and the murder of Prof Yinka Olomojobi of Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, at the Ajadeh Event Centre, along Iperu-Sagamu Road, Iperu Remo, in the Ikenne Local Government area.

Olomojobi was a professor of human rights and gender law.

Efforts to get the reaction of the spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, were unsuccessful as calls put across to her line did not connect.

The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Teliat Yunus Ayilara has revealed that the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye barred him from entering the palace since February this year.

The Chief Imam also said the traditional ruler had barred him from performing palace services and activities.

Ayilara made the claims while speaking with DAILY POST on Sunday.

the traditional ruler and the cleric have been at loggerheads in the last few months.

The cleric in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST noted that the monarch barred him in February this year through a letter.

Ayilara noted that all efforts to reach the monarch have proved abortive since then.

“Do you know that the Soun barred me from entering the palace? He has barred me from participating in palace activities and services.

“All efforts to reach him have proved to be abortive. He has barred me from calling him. He has excommunicated me. No avenue to reach him. So, how will I reach him?”.

Soun in the letter dated 14th February 2024, urged the cleric to refrain from the palace.

The letter reads; “Letter of notification. Sequel to the case you instituted in the court of law against me and the Soun-in-Council, you are hereby notified that you should refrain from Ogbomoso Palace services and activities till court resolution.

“I believe and understand that distance during this period will bring a lasting peace. I hope you will respect my decision and do as directed”.

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, So-Safe Corps, has apprehended three suspects for buying stolen transformer armoured cables worth ₦9.8 million in OPIC Estate, Agbara.

The suspects are Mansirina Usman aged 27, Janadu Ahyarn, 20, and Husseni Abdullahi, 20.

This was contained in a statement issued by the State Commander, Commander Soji Ganzallo, through the Corps Spokesman, Moruf Yusuf, on Sunday in Abeokuta.

According to the statement, the Corps were alerted that transformer armoured cables worth ₦9.8 million were vandalized and stolen by unknown thieves.

On the information, the arrest was made following a tip-off that the stolen cables were being sold in the area.

The statement added that the suspect on interrogation confessed to having bought the cables from one Mustapha and Minister, who are currently at large.

“The suspects were arrested on June 27, 2024, at about 1913hrs.

“ The suspects confessed to buying the stolen cables from Mustapha and Minister who are currently at large. Usman bought 30kg of cable for ₦300,000, Ahyarn bought 25kg for ₦250,000, and Abdullahi bought 20kg for ₦200,000.

“The suspects had in their possession four off-cut armoured cables, ₦18,850 in cash, three Android phones, two wristwatches, and two unmarked TVS motorcycles” the statement read.

The State Commander, Soji Ganzallo, noted that the suspects and recovered exhibits have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Agbara Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and likely prosecution.

Ganzallo added that the achievement is a testament to the Corps’ commitment to tackling criminal activities in the state.

Some terrorists have attacked the Guto, Piyawe and other communities in the headquarters of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, killing one person while about four others were kidnapped.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning when over 30 terrorists suspected to be kidnappers, infiltrated the area council.

According to residents, the assailants surrounded the communities, fired sporadically, and forcibly entered people’s homes, causing widespread fear and panic in the communities.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the attack in the Guto community.

She, however, said operatives of the command in collaboration with officers of the Department of State Services, DSS and hunters trailed the attackers and engaged them in a gun duel at Gauraka Forest, Niger State, bordering the FCT.

The PPRO noted that two of the kidnapped victims, Mart Ojadi, 15 years old, and Evelyn Chinaza, 12 years old were rescued by the security operatives.

She said the “kidnappers were overwhelmed by the operatives, forcing them to scamper to safety through the nearby bushes with varying degrees of bullet injuries, and the two kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt”.

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested some members of the Edo State Security Network, ESSN, in connection with the death of one Omobude.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Funsho Adegboye, made this known to newsmen in Benin.

Adegboye said the members of the State’s Security Network were invited by one Hassan Haladu during a fight with the deceased.

He said the ESSN on arriving at the scene of the fighting tied the deceased who later died as a result of suffocation.

He added that on receiving the information, the operatives of the Ikpoba Hill Divisional Headquarters stormed the scene and arrested six suspects.

The commissioner said the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at Our Clinic Hospital for autopsy while an investigation has commenced.

Adegboye also disclosed the arrest of one Akhere Solomon, an alleged serial killer, who had participated in the recent secret cult-related killings in the state.

He said the suspect was arrested following an investigation into a case of alleged murder reported to the command by one Samuel.

The commissioner stated that the complainant had petitioned the command of the alleged shooting to death of his brother by hoodlums suspected to be cultists.

He explained that as a result of the petition, the operatives of the command swung into action and arrested the suspect who confessed to being a member of the Eiye secret cult confraternity, and had participated in the recent secret cult killings in the state.

He said efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, has mourned the death of 14 worshippers who were killed by a trailer following an accident after Juma’at prayers on Friday, in Kano.

Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, had confirmed that 14 worshippers lost their lives when a trailer ran over them after Friday prayers at Imawa town, Kura LGA of Kano State.

In a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau, commiserated with the families of the deceased.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and the speedy recovery of the injured persons.

He said, ”With profound sadness, we mourn the tragic loss of 14 worshippers crushed by a trailer after Juma’at prayers on Friday in Kano.

”Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. We offer our deepest condolences in this hour of unimaginable grief.

“We pray for the souls of the departed to rest in Aljanatul Firdausi and for the Almighty Allah to grant strength and comfort to those they left behind,” he said.

In an early morning operation, the Lagos State Police Command arrested a 25-year-old man, Toibu Hassan, under the Agege Pen-Cinema bridge.

According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Saturday, the suspect was found in possession of a locally made pistol and one expended cartridge.

The statement said, “Today, at 6 am, under the Agege Pen-Cinema bridge, Toibu Hassan, aged 25, was arrested by officers from Elere Division with one locally made pistol and one expended cartridge. Investigation is ongoing.”

The Supreme Court has discharged and acquitted Akawu Bala, a sergeant in the Nigerian Army, who had been accused of murder.

Bala had been imprisoned in Kaduna since 2012, following a death sentence issued by a general court-martial for allegedly shooting a man identified as Isa Mohammed with an AK-47 rifle on December 9, 2012. Mohammed died the next day at Saint Gerald’s Catholic Hospital in Kaduna.

Bala was originally found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging under Section 106 of the Armed Forces Act 2014. However, on February 17, 2017, the Kaduna Court of Appeal overturned the death penalty, citing that the charge sheet was not signed by a General Officer Commanding (GOC) as required by law, rendering the trial and conviction null.

Despite this ruling, the court did not order Bala’s release, prompting him to appeal to the Supreme Court on March 16, 2017. Bala’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo, argued that since the trial was declared null, Bala should have been discharged. Atabo also highlighted Section 193 of the Armed Forces Act 2014, which prohibits retrial after a voided trial.

The Nigerian Army, represented by Isaac Udoka, opposed this and sought a retrial. However, the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, upheld Bala’s discharge, stating that under Section 193 of the Armed Forces Act 2014, he could not be retried for the same offences. The court ordered Bala’s immediate release from Kaduna prison.

Bala maintained that he acted in self-defence, claiming he fired at Mohammed and another person in the dark during a period of heightened Boko Haram attacks. He asserted that he had instructed them to stop, but they continued advancing towards him, causing him to fear for his safety.

A 42-year-old woman from Maphisa, Kezi in Zimbabwe named Sindiaso Ndlovu, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of her husband over infidelity issues.

The Bulawayo High Court convicted Ndlovu under Section 47 of the Criminal Law Act Chapter 9:23.

According to a post by the National Prosecution Authority of Zimbabwe, the incident occurred on October 19, 2019, when Ndlovu set her husband, Busani Ncube, on fire after a heated argument about his extramarital affairs. In a fit of rage, she locked the bedroom door, poured petrol on Ncube, and set him alight.

The police were notified, and Ndlovu was arrested. Ncube sustained severe burns and was initially treated at Maphisa District Hospital before being transferred to United Bulawayo Hospital, where he died on January 8, 2020, three months after the incident. Initially charged with attempted murder, Ndlovu’s charges were upgraded to murder following Ncube’s death. After a four-year trial, the court handed down a 10-year jail sentence.

Eight people were reportedly feared dead when a one-storey building collapsed in the Kuntau area of Gwale Local Government Area, Kano State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred early Friday morning while labourers were working on the construction site.

Sources from the area reported that at least 15 individuals, including the owner, construction workers, and passersby sought shelter in the building during early morning rainfall.

Upon receiving the news, Sharu’s wife hurried to the scene, calling out for assistance. Neighbours and bystanders also mobilised to aid those trapped under the rubble.

It was learnt that seven people were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, and one person died on the way.

The source added that other victims were currently receiving treatment at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.