Crime
PHOTOS: Court sentences three men to d3ath by hanging for ritual k!lling of Osun widow
An Osun State High Court sitting in Iwo on Thursday sentenced three men to d3ath by hanging over the m8rder a 53-year-old woman, Asiata Yekeen, for money ritual in Ile-Ogbo community.
The convicts—Muideen Tunji, Yusuf Muslim and Rabiu Fatai, were found guilty of conspiracy, m8rder and unlawful possession of human parts.
LIB reported that Yekeen was reported missing after efforts to reach her failed, prompting Suleiman Akorede and Yekini Suleiman to alert the police and the Osun Amotekun Corps in Ile-Ogbo.
The three men were subsequently arrested and arraigned on three counts bordering on conspiracy, m3rder and unlawful possession of human parts, offences contrary to Sections 324, 319(a) and 329A(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
They were first arraigned before Justice Fatimah Sodamade on January 31, 2023, in Suit No. HIW/IC/2023, and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecution counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Dele Akintayo, told the court that Tunji owed the deceased some money and lured her to his residence in Ile-Ogbo under the pretext of refunding the debt.
Akintayo said when Yekeen arrived at Tunji’s house, she met Muslim and Fatai, adding that the defendants forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
He further told the court that the defendants later strangled Yekeen to d3ath, dismembered her body, removed some vital parts and buried her remains in a shallow grave near Tunji’s residence.
According to the prosecution, residents who saw the deceased entering Tunji’s house raised an alarm when news of her disappearance spread within the community.
Akintayo also told the court that Tunji fled when he suspected that security operatives were closing in on the suspects, adding that he hid at Muslim’s residence, while Fatai kept some parts of the deceased’s body.
The prosecution called six witnesses, tendered 13 exhibits and presented the defendants’ confessional statements, urging the court to apply the full weight of the law against them
However, counsel for the defendants —J.D. Olaniyan, Adesina Olaniyan and Bayo Alade argued in their respective submissions that the evidence against their clients was largely hearsay and insufficient to secure a conviction.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sodamade held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and found the defendants guilty on all three counts.
She sentenced the convicts to four years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit m8rder, five years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of human parts, and d3ath by hanging for m8rder.
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The Lagos State Special Offences Court has granted social media influencer Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, bail in the sum of N20 million in her ongoing trial over an alleged N69 million fraud.
The court ordered that she provide two responsible sureties in the same amount, with each submitting a three-year bank statement or proof of a fixed deposit worth at least N20 million. The judge also directed that both Blessing CEO and her sureties be verified through the Lagos State Judiciary’s Bail Information Management System.
Her defence informed the court that her international passport had been lost, presenting an affidavit of loss and a public notice. The court subsequently ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to place her on a travel watchlist until the case is concluded.
The matter was adjourned to October 12, 2026, for continuation of trial. Blessing CEO is also facing a separate N36 million alleged fraud and theft case before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.
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A 39-year-old man arrested for allegedly posing as a medical doctor in Cross River State has confessed to treating at least 15 patients over the years.
The suspect, Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, was arrested by operatives of the Uwanse Police Division in Calabar South LGA following a complaint by Mrs Edemawan Samuel, who accused him of impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence and operating an illegal mobile.
Police alleged that Ekpeme fraudulently obtained N500,000 from the woman after promising to secure employment for her children at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
In his confession, the suspect said he dropped out of medical school but bought medical equipment with the hope of raising enough money to return and complete his studies.
“If I can raise money to return to medical school, I will. So I bought medical equipment for testing so that whenever patients come, I can use them to diagnose them. Often, when one patient sees that my treatment is effective, the person recommends another,” he said.
He claimed that between 2014 and 2026, he treated at least 15 patients despite not being a licensed medical practitioner.
The suspect also admitted collecting N500,000 from the complainant over the promised UCTH jobs but said he diverted the money to settle a debt of N700,000.
“I was already owing somebody N700,000 and they had been disturbing me to pay. They even seized my Android phone, so I used the money to offset the debt,” he confessed.
The complainant said she became suspicious when the suspect demanded an additional N40,000, claiming it was needed to facilitate banking transactions for the supposed employment.
“When he demanded the N40,000, I had a strong feeling he just wanted to collect the money and chop. I contacted my brother, who said he was a scammer, and we reported the matter to the police,” she said.
She further alleged that the suspect had administered several injections on her and her two children while presenting himself as a qualified doctor.
Confirming the arrest, the Cross River State Police Command said preliminary investigations showed the suspect falsely presented himself as a medical doctor and unlawfully obtained N500,000 from the complainant under the guise of securing employment for her children at UCTH.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said exhibits linked to the alleged offences had been recovered and that the suspect remained in custody.
Akata also cautioned members of the public against patronising unlicensed medical practitioners.
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