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Influencer Blessing CEO remanded over N36m fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday said a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, had remanded social media influencer, Okoro Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, in its custody over an alleged N36m fraud.

In a statement obtained by Saturday PUNCH, the commission said the defendant was arraigned by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

According to the EFCC, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.

The commission stated that during the proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had refunded N24m to the nominal complainant and sought a short adjournment to allow both parties resolve the outstanding balance.

“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24m out of the N36m.

“We are asking for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance. The nominal complainant agreed that if the balance is paid, they can prevail on the EFCC to drop the case,” said the statement.

However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, told the court that the Federal Government was the complainant in the matter and that the prosecution was not aware of any arrangement between the defendant and the petitioner.

The statement noted that the court held that any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant would not affect the proceedings and directed that the defendant takes her plea.

The EFCC in the statement says “One of the counts alleged that the defendant, between July 14 and 17, 2024, obtained N36 million from one Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex in Lekki, Lagos, which representation she allegedly knew to be false.

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“Another count, according to the commission, accused her of fraudulently converting the said sum to personal use,”.

Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

Defence counsel, however, urged the court to remand her in EFCC custody, noting that she had just been served with the charges and was still perfecting her bail application.

Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.

The case was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial, the statement added.

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Crime

Ekiti CP orders probe as man allegedly kills wife during marital dispute

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The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, has ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged killing of a 25-year-old woman, Kehinde Onizeokaraga, by her husband, Sodiq Ibrahim, during a marital dispute in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Ibrahim, a meat seller, allegedly attacked his wife with a machete during an attempt to resolve their marital disagreement on Wednesday.

Sources who spoke about the incident on Thursday said the couple, who hailed from Kogi State, had been experiencing domestic challenges before the disagreement reportedly culminated in the fatal attack.

One of the sources said the deceased had previously left her husband’s home following what was described as irreconcilable differences between the couple.

The source said, “I am aware they had issues in the marriage to the extent that the lady had left the man’s house due to some irreconcilable differences.

“But recently, there were efforts by the suspect to resolve the issue with her, which the deceased was not comfortable with.”

The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation during which Ibrahim allegedly attacked Kehinde repeatedly with a machete, inflicting severe injuries that led to her death.

The suspect reportedly fled the scene after the incident and remained at large as of Thursday.

The deceased’s body was said to have been deposited in a mortuary.

A cousin to the deceased, Yussuf Lawrence, said the family was devastated by the incident and appealed to the police and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts to apprehend the suspect.

Lawrence said the killing occurred during an attempt by some individuals to mediate in the couple’s marital dispute.

See also  Ogun police nab 2 suspected kidnappers linked to Edo State murder

He said, “While Kehinde was preparing to leave Ado Ekiti, she was invited to the residence of her father’s friend, who they said wanted to see her. Kehinde went to the residence on Wednesday morning, unaware that her husband would also be present.

“An attempt to resolve the couple’s marital disagreement subsequently degenerated into the fatal attack.”

Lawrence alleged that some persons had been taken into police custody in connection with the incident, although Ibrahim was still at large.

He also alleged that Ibrahim fled with Kehinde’s mobile phone, which he said the family believed could contain information that might assist the police in their investigation.

“We want Sadiq (Ibrahim) to be found and arrested. We want justice for Kehinde. Her parents are in pain, and my family is in serious agony. She didn’t deserve this,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police had ordered a thorough investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to justice,” Abutu said.

Source: punchng.com

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Apapa Customs intercept N43.58bn drugs, expired goods

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The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, said it had seized 13 containers of hard drugs and expired goods with a total duty-paid value of N43.58bn.

Addressing journalists at the command while showcasing the seized containers, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, explained that the contents fell into three categories: “narcotics and controlled pharmaceuticals, security-sensitive equipment, and expired goods intended for human use.”

“The total duty-paid value of the seizures is N43.58bn,” Adeniyi said.

Giving details of the seizure, he said a 40-foot container with registration number HAMU 3086682 was carrying 4,777 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 2,388.5kg, packed in two cartons, 48 jumbo bags and 40 drums, alongside assorted automobile spare parts, one carton of coffee mix, eight cartons of oats and three vehicles.

He added that another 40ft container with registration number FANU 1933352 was carrying 8,287 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 4,145kg, packed in 162 bags and three vehicles.

The CGC pointed out that a 20ft container with registration number MSKU 3941778 was intercepted with 2,181 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,090.5kg, packed in five cartons, 148 bags of foreign parboiled rice, assorted automobile spare parts, two boxes of lithium batteries, one carton of PV combiner box, 19 cartons of turmeric, 33 cartons of mangala fish and 11 cartons of butterfly fish.

“Others include a 40ft container with registration number TCKU 7653306 carrying 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup, concealed under household items.

“Another container with registration number MSKU 9282528 was carrying two cartons containing 108 units of high-definition dual-camera drones, extracted from the container. A 40ft container with registration number MRKU 6185100 conveying 425 bales of used clothing. A 40ft container with registration number SEKU 4685299 was carrying 422 bales of used clothing,” he said.

Adeniyi said the command also intercepted five containers loaded with expired tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.

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He emphasised that the three narcotics containers together were carrying 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg, while the used clothing amounted to 1,282 bales.

Adeniyi warned that the abuse of prohibited substances like codeine among young Nigerians had been a national concern for years, adding that its connection to violent conduct, family breakdown and the loss of productive lives was well documented.

According to him, a single container of this size would have supplied the trade for a considerable period. He said the cannabis interceptions resulted from inter-agency work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, supported by intelligence from international security partners.

Adeniyi added that the service also extracted 108 units of high-definition dual-camera drones from an intercepted container.

“Drones have lawful uses, and the service has no quarrel with them. But equipment of this kind, in the wrong hands, becomes a means of surveillance, of reconnaissance and of delivery, and our security agencies have already met it in that role in the field,” he stressed.

He maintained that consignments of security-sensitive equipment arriving without necessary documents would be detained. “Our ports will not be a route through which capability reaches those who are working against the security of this country,” Adeniyi warned.

He disclosed that the seized items would be handed over to the relevant narcotics agencies for further action and closure.

Source: punchng.com

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Family begs IG to probe Anambra nursing student’s death

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The family of the late Chiamaka Chilaka, a student of the College of Nursing Sciences, Alor, Anambra State, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order a fresh investigation into her death, alleging foul play.

Chilaka reportedly died on June 14, 2026, in circumstances the family believes may have involved murder at a compound where she lived in Anambra State.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the family’s legal representative, Euphemia Eleonu, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the investigation by the Anambra State Police Command.

Eleonu particularly faulted the release from detention of a prime suspect in the case, Ogochukwu Ugoeze, while, according to her, the investigation had yet to be concluded.

The family also alleged bias and compromise on the part of the investigating police officer, Supol Nwaije Francis of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, and his immediate superior, CSP Ayorinde David, who is in charge of the Homicide Section of the SCID.

The allegations have not been independently verified.

The family further expressed concern that the police had not invited them to brief them on the progress of the investigation since Chilaka’s death.

Eleonu called for the two officers to recuse themselves from the case and for a new investigation team to be constituted.

She said, “In the interest of justice and to preserve the integrity of the investigation, we respectfully request that the following steps be taken: That in reference to the letter dated July 21, 2026, to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, and duly acknowledged on July 27, 2026, the Investigating Police Officer, Supol Francis, based on shown bias and interest in the matter in favour of the suspect, Mr Ogochukwu Ugoeze, should recuse himself and the case be reassigned to another IPO/team.”

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The lawyer also asked the police to give the deceased’s immediate family a briefing on the status of the investigation, subject to legitimate investigative confidentiality.

She further urged the authorities to preserve all physical, forensic, documentary and electronic evidence relating to Chilaka’s death in accordance with proper chain-of-custody procedures.

Eleonu stressed that the determination of criminal responsibility should ultimately be made by a competent court based on admissible evidence.

She said, “Ultimately, the question whether any person is criminally responsible for Chiamaka’s death should be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction on admissible evidence and in accordance with the Constitution and not by media trial or administrative body.”

She also called for Ugoeze to be rearrested, arguing that suspects should not be treated as guilty or innocent outside the judicial process.

The lawyer said the family had suffered a devastating loss and deserved answers about the circumstances surrounding Chilaka’s death.

Eleonu said the family wanted to know what happened to their daughter, how she died, who was responsible and whether every reasonable line of investigation had been pursued.

“For this reason, we respectfully urge the Nigeria Police Force, the Anambra State Government, the relevant prosecutorial authorities and the media to approach this matter with restraint, utmost professionalism and humanity,” she said.

Eleonu expressed confidence that the Inspector-General of Police would intervene and direct a fresh investigation.

“We have 99 per cent confidence in the IG to direct that the Police Commissioner of Anambra State Command directs that the IPO recuse himself and disband the entire team investigating this case,” she said.

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The deceased’s elder brother, Ikenna Chilaka, said the family had been devastated since her death and appealed to the IGP to intervene and help them secure justice.

He said, “I call on the Inspector-General of Police to come to our aid, to help us find justice for my sister. All suspects should be re-arrested. Every suspect should be in custody.

“The court is the only one that has the authority to exonerate or release anybody. I am not happy with the way the investigation has been going.”

Source: punchng.com

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