A branch manager of Polaris Bank, identified as Mr Ossy, has been shot dead by suspected kidnappers after he reportedly resisted an attack within the premises of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening while the banker, who was based in Owerri, was reportedly taking his children to the university.

Two female students were also allegedly abducted by the fleeing gunmen during the incident.

Sources said the late banker had gone to drop off his children, who are students of FUTO, when he was accosted by the gunmen.

However, the bank, in a statement signed by the Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communication, Rasheed Bolarinwa, obtained by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, said the deceased was reportedly taking his children to the university, when he was attacked by hoodlums.

The bank said the children managed to escape from the scene, but the manager was not as fortunate.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our Branch Manager and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones during this difficult time.

“The unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday, when he was accosted by the hoodlums, and while the children managed to escape from the scene, he was not that lucky.

“We understand that the matter is being investigated by the relevant law enforcement agencies, and we trust that the circumstances surrounding the incident will be thoroughly established.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the deceased, and we respectfully urge the public to allow the authorities to complete their investigations,” the bank stated.

Meanwhile, the management of FUTO confirmed that a visitor was fatally shot within the university campus during the incident.

In a statement signed by the Registrar, Chinonso Uba, the institution stated that two female students were also abducted.

The statement read, “The management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri is deeply saddened by the tragic security incident that occurred on the university campus on Sunday, September 6, 2026, during which a visitor to the university was fatally shot.

“Two female students were also reportedly abducted during the incident. The circumstances are currently under investigation by the relevant security agencies, and management is engaging with the appropriate authorities regarding the safe recovery of the students.

“Management assures students, staff, parents and the entire university community that the safety and security of all members of the university community remain a top priority. Additional security measures are being implemented in collaboration with the relevant security agencies.

“Members of the University community are urged to remain calm and vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement and promptly report any suspicious activity.

“Further information will be provided as appropriate.”

The incident prompted the FUTO management to meet with the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, on Monday over the rising security concerns around the university and its host communities.

During the meeting, Bosso assured the university management of intensified security around the institution and neighbouring communities, particularly the Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Obinze and Nekede axes.

Meanwhile, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity said a proposed peaceful protest by some students over the killing had been cancelled following the university’s reaffirmation of its ban on unruly and rowdy gatherings after examinations.

The FUTO Senate had, at its 495th and 501st meetings held on August 31, 2023, and April 29, 2024, respectively, banned all forms of senseless celebrations after examinations, citing wanton destruction of university property, particularly by graduating students.

The university management also reaffirmed the prohibition at its seventh meeting held on Monday, September 7, 2026, warning students against activities capable of disturbing the peace of the institution and its host communities.

The prohibited activities include rowdy behaviour, public revelry, disorderly conduct, littering, indiscriminate disposal of waste, blocking or obstructing roads and entrances, and damaging or defacing university property.

The management also warned against any conduct that could threaten the safety and security of the university community.

The police have yet to announce any arrest in connection with the killing and abduction as of the time of filing this report.

Source: punchng.com

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday affirmed the conviction and 490-year imprisonment handed down to a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank, Robert Orya, over a N2.4bn fraud.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, unanimously dismissed Orya’s appeal challenging the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

The other members of the panel were Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche.

A statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Justice Danjuma, while delivering the judgment, held that the appeal lacked merit and affirmed the judgment of the trial court delivered by Justice F.E. Messiri on February 5, 2026.

“I have considered all briefs filed by counsel and have gone through the record of the trial court and adopted it, and the issues as formulated by this appellate court in resolving this appeal.

“I looked at each and every issue, and in my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favour of the respondent and against the appellant.

“This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026, in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed,” he was quoted as saying.

Orya was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after being arraigned in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud involving N2.4bn.

The trial court had found him guilty on all 49 counts after holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Messiri consequently sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, totalling 490 years.

The sentences are, however, to run concurrently.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Orya approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn his conviction and sentence.

The appellate court, however, rejected his appeal and upheld the findings of the trial court.

Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016.

He was appointed to head the bank on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.

Source: punchng.com

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The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, has arrested 53 suspects, including 21 undocumented foreign nationals allegedly residing in two apartments in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were among those paraded by the corps at its headquarters in Akure on Monday for alleged involvement in various criminal activities, including kidnapping, self-kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, burglary, stealing and cultism.

Parading the suspects, the state commander of the corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the 21 foreigners were arrested following intelligence provided by members of the Fulani community in the state.

Adeleye said the suspects claimed to have entered Nigeria from neighbouring West African countries to engage in menial jobs and phone repairs but could not produce documents authorising their stay in the country.

He said the command had observed an influx of foreigners moving through the state’s forests and cities under different guises in recent months.

The commander said, “I want to call the attention of the general public to the embarrassing way that foreigners traverse the state’s forests and cities under different guises.

“Consistently in the last three months, we’ve been having foreigners pretending to be selling phones, pretending to be repairing phones, living in hotels that what they came into the country for is not commensurate with.

“We’ve directed them to the relevant sister security agencies for scrutiny.

“Again today, we have 21 of them that rented only two apartments in Owo under the guise of coming in from neighbouring West African countries to do menial jobs and repairs of phones, being coordinated and assisted by indigenes.

“We found out that they don’t even have ECOWAS papers to guarantee their stay.”

Adeleye said the landlords of the apartments could also face scrutiny, alleging that they were more concerned about collecting rent than knowing the identities and activities of their tenants.

He warned that undocumented foreigners abandoned by their sponsors could become vulnerable to recruitment into criminal activities.

“Apart from being likely to be suspected illegal immigrants, most times when their sponsors abandon them, they become ready tools as criminals and accomplices,” he said.

The commander, however, said the 21 foreigners were being handed over to the appropriate government agency for further investigation and necessary action.

Meanwhile, Adeleye said the command had also uncovered a self-kidnapping syndicate involving four suspects who allegedly used social media to raise false alarms and demand money.

He said the suspects included a man who reportedly alerted the Amotekun Corps that his siblings had been kidnapped but was later found to be an accomplice.

According to him, investigators arrested two suspects and subsequently traced the purported kidnap victim to his home.

“We have four people here today that give self-kidnapping and raise false alarms using social media. We moved in and were able to arrest the first two.

“Upon detailed investigation, we found out that the man who rushed to the Amotekun Corps office to report that his siblings were kidnapped turned out to be an accomplice. And upon detailed scrutiny, he led us to his home where we found the man they claimed had been kidnapped,” he said.

Adeleye also disclosed that seven other suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping activities following collaboration with members of the Fulani community.

He said a military uniform was recovered from one of the suspected kidnappers during the operation, while two kidnapped boys were rescued.

According to him, one of the victims sustained machete injuries to his head and body during the attack but was rescued alive and taken for medical treatment.

He said, “With the cooperation we received from the Fulani community, we were able to jointly carry out an operation where a military uniform was recovered from one of the kidnappers, and we successfully retrieved the two kidnapped boys, though wounded.

“In an attempt to kill one of them, they macheted his head, his body and every part of him. We brought him back alive and he is now stable.”

Adeleye commended members of the Fulani community for their cooperation in identifying and apprehending suspected criminal elements within their community.

He also thanked the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for supporting the corps in its efforts to combat crime across the state.

Source: punchng.com

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