Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, in a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have arrested three suspected drug traffickers, recovering illicit substances and approximately 80,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

Information from the security agency said the arrests and seizure were made in two separate anti-crude oil theft joint operations involving the Navy and the NDLEA teams in the Niger Delta creeks between Monday and Tuesday.

The Navy, in a statement, said, “The first operation, which was carried out in Oteghele community, resulted in the discovery of a large dug-out reservoir containing 30,000 litres of crude oil, while the second operation resulted in the discovery of another 50,000 litres of crude oil in the Delta community of Obodo Omadino”.

Personnel of the NNS Delta and the NDLEA also conducted a joint operation against suspected illicit drug activities in the Warri general area and its environs, resulting in the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of 15 kilogrammes of cannabis, some cocaine and crystal meth, among others.

The navy added in the statement, “The suspects and recovered items are presently in custody of the NDLEA for further investigation and necessary action”.

Commenting on the incident, the Commander, NNS-Delta, Commodore Shehu Tasiu, noted that the combined operation demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s ability to address multiple dimensions of maritime and coastal insecurity, from crude oil theft and illegal petroleum activities to illicit drug trafficking.

While describing the development as a significant operational success in the fight against oil thieves and all forms of criminality in the Niger Delta region, the commander said, “Criminal activities in the NNS Delta operational area, and the entire Niger Delta region, will be met with the best professional method under the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.”

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

The General Court Martial sitting over the alleged coup plot involving some military officers has again postponed its ruling on the admissibility of statements made by the accused persons.

The ruling, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, has now been fixed for Monday, October 5.

The court is presided over by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji of the Nigerian Air Force and sits at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja.

A notice issued to members of the court and other concerned parties said the sitting earlier adjourned to Wednesday had been postponed.

“The GCM sitting earlier adjourned to Wednesday, 30 September, 2026, has now been postponed to Monday, 5 October, 2026.

“The new sitting is scheduled to commence at 10 am at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja,” the notice stated.

The notice, signed by the Liaison Officer, Maj. M.U. Ardo, did not give reasons for the latest postponement but expressed regret over the inconvenience caused.

The latest development marks the fourth time the ruling has been deferred.

The ruling is expected to determine whether statements allegedly obtained from some of the accused officers can be admitted as evidence in the ongoing trial.

The defence had challenged the admissibility of the statements, alleging that some of the officers were coerced by officials of the Defence Intelligence Agency into making or reproducing statements containing information they described as false.

The dispute over the statements led to a trial-within-trial, during which the defence called evidence to challenge the circumstances in which the statements were obtained.

Defence lawyers argued that the statements failed to meet the legal requirements for admissibility.

Among other things, they alleged that lawyers or witnesses chosen by some of the accused were not present when the statements were made.

The defence also questioned the absence of video recordings showing some of the officers writing their statements in the presence of their chosen witnesses, as required under relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The lawyers further alleged that some of the accused officers were neither properly cautioned nor adequately informed of their rights before making the statements.

The prosecution, however, presented evidence aimed at establishing that the statements were made voluntarily and without improper pressure.

Some of the accused officers gave contrary accounts during the trial-within-a-trial, alleging that they were subjected to coercion, intimidation, inducement and physical abuse while in detention.

According to evidence before the court, some of the officers alleged that they were made to believe that reproducing particular statements would facilitate their release.

They further claimed that some statements had already been prepared by intelligence officials and that they were compelled to copy or sign them despite allegedly not knowing some of the matters contained in the documents.

Some also told the court that they did not personally originate or write the statements attributed to them, alleging that they were forced to reproduce pre-written documents containing claims or admissions they considered false or unrelated to their knowledge.

The ruling on the admissibility of the disputed statements is expected to determine whether the prosecution will be allowed to rely on the statements as part of its evidence in the ongoing proceedings.

The postponement therefore further delays the court’s determination of a key evidentiary dispute in the military trial.

The coup plot trial involves several Nigerian military officers accused of conspiring to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu on October 1, 2025.

The case arose from allegations investigated by the military authorities, leading to the officers’ arrest and prosecution before a General Court Martial in Abuja.

The accused officers have denied the allegations, while the trial has featured disputes over the circumstances in which some of their statements were obtained, including defence claims of coercion and other forms of improper treatment.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM