News

Gunmen abduct final year UNN student

Armed men have abducted John Udochukwu Elekwachi, a final-year student of Combined Social Sciences at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

It was gathered that Elekwachi, a campus blogger, was picked up by some yet-to-be-identified armed men last Monday at his lodge in the middle of the night a few days after he completed his final year examination.

Elekwachi’s elder sister, Uchendu, who confirmed the incident to Punch on Sunday, said she got a distress call that her brother was taken away by some men.

“I was in Port Harcourt on Tuesday when they called me. The landlady said some unknown men came to my brother’s lodge with four Hilux and one Jeep by 3 a.m. and took him away on Monday. Since then, we have not heard from him, and those people have not called since then,” she explained.

“I have gone to report in various places. We went to the Enugu State Criminal Investigation Department, the Department of Security Services, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to make complaints, but they said he was not there. I have not been myself since then.”

The Executive Council of the combined Social Sciences Students Association (Comssa), UNN chapter, confirmed the incident on Sunday in a statement co-signed by the President, Okonkwo Richard, and the General Secretary, Obolo Mmesoma.

“It is with concern that we announce that our classmate, Elekwachi John U (John El), has been reported missing. He was last seen on April 15, 2024, at his lodge in the Green House,” the statement read.

“An eyewitness gave an alleged account of John being taken away by armed men who arrived with four Hilux trucks, but the name of the agency was not disclosed.

“We are working closely with the authorities and John’s family to ensure his safe return. If anyone has any information regarding his whereabouts, please, contact UNN security or any federal agency immediately.”

News

Court denies Yayaha Bello bail

Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has dismissed the bail application filed by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is being tried for an alleged N110 billion fraud.

In her ruling, the judge held that Bello’s bail application was premature and incompetent as he filed it when he had not yet surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The however, admitted Bello’s alleged co-accomplice Umar Oricha, to bail in the sum of N300million with two sureties in the like sum.

In her ruling on Bello’s application, the judge said the former Kogi governor was only making an attempt to invoke the jurisdiction of the court too early.

She said, “Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”

The 16-count charge preferred against Bello has to do with conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

He is alleged have used state funds to illegally acquire properties, at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja , No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja, among many others.

News

Man arraigned for unlawful possession of human skull

A 52-year-old man, Akeem Rasheed, has appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, for alleged unlawful possession of a human skull.

The defendant who resides at Jegede area, Ibadan, was charged with two counts of improper interference with dead body and unlawful possession of human skull.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the police.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. David Adepoju, told the court that on Oct. 11, at 1.00 a.m., at Jegede Estate, Odeyale area, Ibadan, Rasheed improperly interfered with a dead human body.

He said that the defendant allegedly exhumed a corpse from its grave, removed the skull and burnt it.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant burnt the human skull into ashes for spiritual purposes.

He said the offences contravened Section 242 (1) (b) and 352(A) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant.

She , thereafter, adjourned the case until May 5, 2025 for hearing.

NAN

News

EFCC Arrests 22 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Abia State

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC, have arrested twenty-two suspected (22) internet fraudsters.

They were arrested on Friday, December 6, 2024 at Umuagu and Olokoro in Abia state in a sting operation.

Items recovered from them include six exotic cars, eight laptops and 36 mobile phones.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.