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N450m Diezani Bribe: Ex- Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, Two Others to Spend 6 Years in Prison

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Command, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, secured the conviction of a former Minister of Water Resources in the administration former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sarah Ochekpe. Ochekpe was convicted along with two others, Evan Leo Sunday Jitong and Raymond Dabo, deputy director for Goodluck/Sambo 2015 election campaign and former Acting Chairman of PDP, Plateau State respectively.

The trio were convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment each by Justice H. M. Kurya of the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State, on an amended three – count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

They were alleged to have received the sum of N450million from Fidelity Bank Plc through cash and wire transfer by some oil companies and former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

Investigation had showed that on 26th March, 2015, the sum of N450million were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, by Fidelity Bank Plc, Jos main branch and it was handed over to the defendants in cash after they signed for collection.

Though the defendants claimed that they handed over the money to late Senator Gyang Pwajok, the Plateau State PDP Governorship candidate in 2015, they however failed to provide any evidence to support the claim.

The defendants were convicted on count one, bordering on conspiracy to accept cash payment above threshold under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012 (as amended) and sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment with an option of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) fine each.

On count two, the defendants were convicted and sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment with an option of N2, 000,000 (Two Million Naira) fine each. The sentences are to run consecutively.

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Crime

Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 11 Victims in Lagos

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The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a trans-border child trafficking syndicate, rescuing 11 victims and arresting four suspects allegedly involved in recruiting and transporting young Nigerians to Ghana for prostitution.

The Command said operatives from the Ilemba Hausa Division intercepted one Mustapha Abubakar on August 13, 2025, while he attempted to traffic a 15-year-old girl to Ghana. The case was later transferred to the Special Squad I, which launched a manhunt based on credible intelligence.

The operation led to the arrest of three other suspects: Charles Chima (54) in Amuwo Odofin, Emmanuel Nwaka (36) along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, and Princess John (21) at Ojota. Investigations revealed they belonged to a wider criminal network engaged in cross-border trafficking of young women.

Ten additional victims, aged between 21 and 29, were subsequently rescued and are receiving protective care and support, with arrangements being made to reunite them with their families.

The suspects are in police custody and cooperating with investigators to identify other members of the syndicate.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the operatives for their swift response and reiterated the Command’s zero tolerance for human trafficking. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

 

 

 

 

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Crime

Court Remands Woman for Alleged Theft of Day-Old Baby in Ekiti

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An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of a 34-year-old woman, Ayeni Deborah, at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre for allegedly stealing a day-old baby from the Local Government Health Centre, Oke-Iyinmi, Ado-Ekiti.

Prosecutor Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi told the court that there was probable cause to suspect the defendant, noting that the incident, reported on August 4, 2025, had drawn public concern due to the rising cases of child theft in the state.

Oriyomi said the offence, committed within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District, contravenes Section 292 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021. He added that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

The defendant, represented by Barrister Stephen Ademuwagun, was ordered by Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun to remain in custody pending further hearing. The case was adjourned until September 12 for mention.

 

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Police Arrest Six Suspected Kidnappers, Armed Robbers In Nasarawa

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The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested six suspected kidnappers and armed robbers allegedly involved in multiple criminal activities across the state.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement, saying the suspects were apprehended during a raid on a hideout in Yelwa Ediya by operatives of the Doma Division.

The suspects were identified as Darda’u Shehu, Yunusa Malami Hashimu, Musa Abubakar, Ibrahim Musa, and Mohammed Musa, all from Yelwa Ediya Village in Doma Local Government Area.

According to Nansel, the suspects confessed to kidnapping a serving councillor on May 26, 2025, during which they stole two mobile phones — an Infinix Note 30 valued at ₦250,000 and a Tecno handset worth ₦20,000. They also admitted to mounting a roadblock along the Doma–Yelwa road on July 19, 2025, where they attacked a man and stole his Bajaj motorcycle worth ₦970,000, later selling it through one of the suspects.

During the raid, police recovered ₦100,000 — proceeds from the motorcycle sale — which had been buried in a bush, along with a Bajaj motorcycle.

In a separate operation, police arrested a 20-year-old armed herder, Suleman Mohammadu, in Keana Local Government Area and recovered an AK-47 magazine loaded with six live rounds of ammunition.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Shettima Jauro Mohammed, has directed that all suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation and prosecution.

 

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