Crime

40-year-old Anambra business man arraigned for online defamation

Published

5 months ago

October 28, 2025

A 40-year-old businessman, Ikenna Ezeume, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court 1 sitting in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State for online defamation of a former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Aniocha Branch, Okongwu Jideofor.

The defendant, who is standing trial over allegations of cyberbullying and defamation, was arraigned by the police in the case titled Inspector General of Police v. Ikenna Ezeume with the charge sheet marked MAN/336/C.

According to the charge sheet obtained by our correspondent on Monday, the defendant is facing two counts, summarised as follows:

Count 1: “That you, Ikenna Ezeume, between the 1st day of March 2025 and the 31st day of April 2025, within the Awka South Magisterial District, did publish a defamatory matter on the Internet and other social media platforms such as WhatsApp, alleging that one Barrister Okongwu Jideofor (m), Chairman Emeritus of the Nigerian Bar Association, Aniocha Branch, forged his WAEC result, which he allegedly used to study law at the Delta State University.

“You thereby published a statement you knew to be false, intending to injure his reputation and expose him to hatred, contempt, and ridicule, contrary to and punishable under Section 325 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, as amended.

Count II: “That you, Ikenna Ezeume (m), of Plot 2A, Green Ville Estate, Awka, on or about the 20th day of March 2025, within the Awka Magisterial District, did knowingly provide false information to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, through a written petition dated 20th March 2025.

“In the said petition, you falsely alleged that Barrister Okongwu Jideofor (m), Chairman Emeritus of the NBA, Aniocha Branch, forged his WAEC certificate used in obtaining his law degree from Delta State University, with the intent to cause the AIG to direct Sgt. Chidioke Alaeffia of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department, Zone 13, Ukpo, to act upon the false information to the detriment of the said Barrister Jideofor.

“This act is contrary to and punishable under Section 154(1)(b) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, as amended.”

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge read to him in open court.

The counsel for the defendant, A.C. Nwogbo, applied orally for bail, urging the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client.

However, the prosecution counsel, ASP Clement Iyah, opposed the bail application, arguing that the defendant had continued to make publications on social media concerning the matter while police investigations were ongoing.

He contended that releasing the accused on bail might enable him to continue making prejudicial or defamatory online statements.

In response, Nwogbo argued that his client was never invited for questioning by the Zone 13 Police Command and that the prosecution’s assertions were unfounded.

He further submitted that since the matter was now before the court, the magistrate had the authority to impose conditions restraining the defendant from further online publications related to the case.

After hearing both parties, the Magistrate, O.N. Ike, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1m with one suitable surety.

The magistrate said, “The defendant is hereby cautioned against making any further publications on social media concerning the matter; any violation of this order could lead to his remand in custody”.

The matter was adjourned to a later date for continuation of the hearing.

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Crime

Driver of Emir Sanusi’s wife remanded over alleged jewellery theft

Published

1 day ago

April 1, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

A Magistrate Court sitting at Nomansland in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State has ordered the remand of a driver and two others over the alleged theft of jewellery, cash, and a mobile phone belonging to the wife of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The defendants, Sulaiman Yakubu Kulkude, Idris Musa, and Abdullahi Usaini, were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property.

Prosecuting counsel, Barrister Abubakar Ibrahim, told the court that Sulaiman Yakubu, who serves as the driver of the Emir’s wife, unlawfully entered her room and made away with jewellery reportedly valued at N60 million, alongside cash and a mobile phone.

When the charges were read, Sulaiman pleaded guilty to all counts, while the two other defendants pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the defendants, Barrister A.A. Abdullahi, filed a bail application.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Halilu Abdurahman, granted bail to the defendants with conditions, including the provision of a surety who must be either a father or brother, a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, and a bail sum of N10 million each.

The case was adjourned to April 14 for further hearing, while the defendants were remanded pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.

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Crime

Suspected cult clashes leave two dead in Lagos, Ogun

Published

2 days ago

April 1, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Two adult males have been killed in separate suspected cult-related attacks in Lagos and Ogun States.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the first incident occurred on Saturday around the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, in Yaba, while the second took place in the Magboro area of Ogun State.

The victim in the Akoka incident was reportedly hacked to death after being attacked by about six suspected cultists.

A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak for the command, described the attack on Tuesday as a suspected reprisal.

“The victim was accosted along the axis leading to the school gate, and what started as a confrontation led to a fight. He was stabbed in the head in the process. It was later discovered that the assailants were suspected cultists,” the source said.

In a video seen by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the deceased’s body was lying by the roadside.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident, adding that one suspect had been arrested.

“One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident. Investigation is ongoing,” she said.

In Magboro, PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim in the Gas Line area was a suspected Eiye cult member identified as Cegaga.

According to insiders, he was stabbed to death during a clash involving rival cult groups in the community.

The incident, our correspondents gathered, occurred on Saturday around 11pm, following a disagreement between the deceased and a suspected Buccaneer member identified as Corner over money issues.

A suspected Vikings member, identified as Troup, who was reportedly at the scene, allegedly took sides in the dispute and stabbed the victim.

Residents said the victim’s body was discovered the following morning.

A resident who requested anonymity for security reasons said, “I didn’t witness the clash. I only came back to see that someone had been killed.”

Also speaking, a trader who asked not to be named said, “We had closed for the day.” It happened at midnight, and we only saw the body when we resumed work the next morning.”

It was gathered that tension had heightened in the community due to recurring cult-related violence in recent weeks.

Another resident, who identified himself as Suleiman, told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that such incidents had become frequent.

He said, “We have been experiencing a series of cult attacks in the area over the past few weeks. The one that happened on Saturday is just one of many incidents.

“We rarely experience situations like this, but it is now becoming regular. We need the intervention of the authorities before it escalates.”

The Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, could not be reached for comment, as calls to his telephone lines went unanswered.

A text message sent to him had not been replied to at the time of filing this report.

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Crime

PHOTOS: NDLEA Seizes Cocaine Hidden In Dry Fish, Arrests Grandpa With Meth

Published

4 days ago

March 29, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The operation, disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, followed intelligence on trans-border criminal activities.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a large shipment of cocaine hidden inside the heads of imported dry stockfish and arrested a key member of the syndicate linked to trafficking the drugs abroad.

The operation, disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, followed intelligence on trans-border criminal activities.

Babafemi said the intelligence led to a sting operation by operatives of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Strategic Command of the Agency at the Ojo area of Lagos on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

“In the course of the operation, three jumbo size bags were found in possession of the kingpin 36-year-old Akputa Dickson Ejike.

“A search of the bags led to the recovery of Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven (237) wraps of cocaine buried in the heads of imported dry stock fish locally known as ‘Okporoko.’

“The cocaine pellets have a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms. The consignment was intended for export to Delhi, India,” the statement read.

In a separate operation on Wednesday, March 25, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two consignments bound for the United Kingdom at a courier company in Lagos.

“In one of the shipments that originated from Cotonou, Benin Republic, 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine were found concealed in automobile filters while the second parcel contains 40 ampoules of Morphine Sulphate and nine ampoules of Fentanyl.”

Babafemi added that on March 26, a Special Operations Unit (SOU) raided the home of 46-year-old Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, known as “Iya Ghana,” at 13 Carter Street, Yaba, Lagos.

She and her associate, 31-year-old Sarah Zainab Agbabiaka, were arrested after operatives recovered 135 blocks of cannabis weighing 76.30 kilograms.

“Same day, the SOU operatives also arrested Anayo Lucky Ohabiro, 39, at Doyin bus stop, Surulere, Lagos following credible intelligence. A total of 78 blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 41kg were seized from him.”

In Ekiti State, the statement added that “an 80-year-old grandpa, Oke Samuel, was on Thursday 26th March arrested by NDLEA operatives during a special raid operation at Mosafuneto camp, Erinmo road, Efon-Alaaye Ekiti. A total of 2.2kg skunk and 1.8grams of methamphetamine were recovered from him.”

Another suspect, 37-year-old Enuwa Kehinde Kingsley, had 894.72 kilograms of skunk seized from an uncompleted building in Ogbese, Akure North, Ondo State.

Elsewhere, 35-year-old Saater Nyam was apprehended at Pevi village, Guma LGA, Benue State, with 116.7 kilograms of skunk on Tuesday, March 24.

In Edo State, a warehouse raid in Ekpoma town, Esan West LGA, on Monday, March 23, led to the arrest of 25-year-old Felix Donald and the seizure of 576.5 kilograms of skunk and 33 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

In Taraba State, Babafemi said NDLEA officers intercepted a truck carrying 100 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 135 kilograms concealed in animal feed bags from Garbachede to Gombe State on Tuesday, March 24.

Two suspects, 21-year-old Osama Mamuda and 22-year-old Auwal Umar, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

Babafemi noted that the agency has also continued its War Against Drug Abuse social advocacy, conducting sensitisation lectures in schools across Cross River, Adamawa, Oyo, Kano, and Lagos states.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended operatives from MMIA, SOU, DOGI, Ekiti, Ondo, Benue, Edo, and Taraba Commands for their efforts and praised all commands nationwide for balancing drug supply reduction with drug demand reduction initiatives.