How Jilted Lover Bathed Spa Worker With Acid In Lekki

    

A female spa worker in the Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State, Olorunseunfunmi Awosogbon, is receiving medical treatment after she was reportedly attacked with a corrosive substance suspected to be acid in an incident linked to a dispute involving her employer.

It was gathered that Awosogbon, popularly known as Ajoke, had been assigned to a client who booked a home massage session on October 25, 2025.

The appointment was scheduled for Lakowe Golf Gate, near Utmost Care Hospital, Lakowe, where the incident occurred.

She was said to have arrived at the location in a ride-hailing vehicle when a man, identified in court filings as 37-year-old Ziaulihak Zakari, allegedly approached and poured the substance on her.

According to court documents and the spa owner, Olorunmaye Ifeoluwa, the suspect was allegedly engaged by a 25-year-old man, Owolabi Daniel, following the breakdown of a personal relationship between Ifeoluwa and Daniel.

Recounting events leading up to the incident, Ifeoluwa said she met Daniel earlier in 2025 when he booked a massage session at her spa.

“He requested that I attend to him personally. After that, he kept in touch and expressed interest in a relationship,” she said.

She explained that the relationship lasted a few months and was marked by disagreements.

“I later told him I needed space and that the relationship would not work. He continued to reach out, but I made it clear I did not want to continue,” she added.

According to her, she subsequently began receiving threatening messages from unknown numbers.

“The messages contained threats to my life. I reported the matter, but the numbers could not be traced at the time,” she said.

She also noted that suspicious home-service bookings had been made shortly before the attack.

“On one occasion, a client stopped responding after my staff arrived at the location. A similar booking came in later for the same area,” she said.

Describing the day of the incident, Ifeoluwa said, “Awosogbon called me in distress, saying a substance had been poured on her and that it was suspected to be acid. I immediately arranged for her to be taken to the hospital.”

Awosogbon was initially treated at a medical facility in Lekki before being transferred to another hospital in Ikeja for specialist care.

Ifeoluwa alleged that threatening messages continued after the attack.

“The sender indicated that the attack was not the end and that I was still being targeted. ‘I’m going to kill you soon. You deserve to be in a grave,’ among others,” she said.

She added that a private investigation later linked the messages to a known individual, after which the matter was reported to the police and an arrest made.

Undated charge sheets filed at a Magistrate Court in Ebute-Metta indicate that Zakari and Daniel are facing counts including conspiracy, alleged threats to life, and causing bodily harm.

One of the counts states that the defendants “conspired to commit a felony” under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Another alleges that Daniel sent threatening electronic messages, while a third states that the victim sustained injuries after a chemical substance was poured on her.

Efforts to speak directly with Awosogbon were unsuccessful as she was said to be undergoing medical procedures.

However, Ifeoluwa expressed concern over her safety, noting that Daniel had been granted bail.

“I am worried about my safety and that of my staff,” she said.

The victim’s lawyer, John Olobayo, criticised the handling of the case, arguing that the charges did not reflect the severity of the allegations.

“Based on the available information, we believe more serious charges should be considered,” he said, adding that petitions had been submitted to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Justice.

When contacted, the father of one of the suspects, Mr Owolabi, declined to comment in detail and referred enquiries to his lawyer.

“Everything we did was through the lawyer,” he said, adding that he had contributed financially to the victim’s treatment.

Responding to questions about an alleged N60m payment for the victim’s surgery, he said in Yoruba, “Everything we have done was through the lawyer. I sold my house to pay the money. I don’t know what more is expected of us.”

When informed that journalistic ethics do not permit disclosure of sources, he declined further comment.

 

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Court Fixes June 22 For Judgement On The Murder Of Sound Engineer David Imoh At Lekki

Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Igbosere has fixed June 22, 2026, for judgment in the trial of commercial motorcyclist

Dahiru Ayuba and five others accused of killing sound engineer David Imoh.

The judge adjourned the matter on Tuesday after counsel for both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.

Imoh was allegedly lynched and burnt to death on May 12, 2022, at NITEL Junction, Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, following a dispute over a N100

transportation fare balance with a commercial motorcyclist.

The 37-year-old was reportedly attacked by a mob and set ablaze during the incident.

The defendants — Dahiru Ayuba, Susan Moses, Chigozie Anthony, Christopher Dauda, Joseph Tella and Sunday Azi — were arraigned on October 20, 2022, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder and infliction of grievous harm, preferred by the Lagos State Government.

At the resumed proceedings, the court granted applications by defence counsel seeking extension of time to regularise their final written addresses, which

had been filed out of time.

Counsel for the first defendant, A.O. Idowu, told the court that his client’s address, dated April 17, 2026, urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s

case and acquit him.

Similarly, counsel for the second defendant, Steven Eluwa, said his address, dated February 16, 2026, asked the court to discharge and acquit his client

on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

“In response to the prosecution’s address, we filed a reply on points of law dated May 4, 2026. We urge the court to discharge and acquit the second defendant,”

he said.

Counsel for the third defendant, Sylvester Effiong, whose address was filed on March 30, 2026, also urged the court to resolve all issues in favour of

his client and discharge her.

Olayinka Lawal, counsel for the fourth defendant, argued that evidence before the court showed that some defendants testified they did not see his client

at the scene of the crime.

He also challenged the prosecution’s claim that all defendants made confessional statements, adding that the police failed to investigate his client’s

alibi.

“When the fourth defendant was arrested, he stated that he was with one Mr Elias, but neither the police nor the prosecution investigated that claim,”

Lawal submitted.

Counsel for the fifth defendant, Yusuf Temilola-Nurudeen, argued that none of the prosecution’s six witnesses directly implicated his client in the alleged

offences.

“The video evidence tendered by the prosecution did not feature the fifth defendant. The only allegation is that he took active part, but in what exactly?”

he said, urging the court to acquit him.

He also asked the court to expunge parts of the testimony of the fourth prosecution witness.

Counsel for the sixth defendant, A.O. Olayinka, urged the court to deem her address, dated March 3, 2026, as properly filed and to discharge and acquit

her client.

In response, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Bajide Martins, urged the court to convict the defendants, submitting that the evidence before the

court established their involvement in the mob attack.

“My Lord saw the witnesses and observed their demeanour,” he said.

After hearing the submissions, Justice Harrison adjourned judgment until June 22, 2026.

At the arraignment, the prosecution had alleged that the defendants unlawfully caused Imoh’s death by beating him and setting him ablaze.

They were also accused of attempting to murder Frank Olatunji and keyboardist Philip Balogun, who were reportedly assaulted during the incident.

All six defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During the trial, Balogun, one of the victims, told the court that he sustained injuries to his head and ear and was hospitalised for five days at the

Federal Medical Centre, Yaba, and Evercare Hospital.

He added that he is still receiving eye treatment in Ikeja.

The witness identified the second defendant as one of his attackers and alleged that the third defendant, Susan Moses, pointed out where Imoh was hiding

before he was dragged out and attacked.

  

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Popular Lagos Socialite Jailed 15 Years For Drug Trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced Lagos socialite, Mrs Funmilola Ogbuaya, popularly known in social circles as “Ariket,” to 15 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, aiding, and abetting the trafficking of cocaine.

The conviction comes nine years after her co-conspirator, Odeyemi Omolara, also known as Ariyo Olabisi, was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for her role in the same drug trafficking operation.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu, who delivered the judgment on Wednesday, held that the prosecution had successfully established its case against Ogbuaya beyond reasonable doubt.

After reviewing the arguments of both parties, the judge found her guilty of conspiracy, aiding, and abetting the attempted illegal export of 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

“The prosecution has proved all the essential ingredients of the offences charged against the convict,” Justice Dipeolu held.

He subsequently sentenced Ogbuaya to 15 years’ imprisonment but ordered that the term should run concurrently with the earlier 25-year sentence already imposed in connection with the matter.

The court further ruled that the jail term would take effect from May 19, 2017.

The case dates back to 2017, when Ogbuaya and Omolara were first arraigned before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of cocaine, aiding and abetting, and attempted export of the prohibited drug.

While Omolara faced charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession, and attempted exportation of cocaine, Ogbuaya was specifically charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and procuring Omolara to traffic the narcotic substance.

Both convicts initially pleaded not guilty and were granted bail on varying terms.

However, midway into the trial, Omolara informed the court of her decision to change her plea.

Following a re-reading of the charge, she pleaded guilty to attempting to illegally export the narcotic drug to Saudi Arabia

Justice Rabiu-Shagari subsequently sentenced her to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Omolara had challenged the conviction at the Court of Appeal, but her appeal was dismissed on February 26, 2021.

A three-member appellate panel, led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, affirmed the lower court’s decision and held that the appeal lacked merit.

The prosecution, led by NDLEA counsel Abu Ibrahim, thereafter proceeded with Ogbuaya’s trial, calling nine witnesses and tendering several documentary exhibits, including the seized cocaine, all of which were admitted in evidence.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, Ogbuaya opted to file a no-case submission instead of opening her defence.

Arguing for the no-case submission on February 26, 2025, her counsel urged the court to discharge her on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.

But in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2025, Justice Dipeolu dismissed the application.

“From the evidence adduced by prosecution witnesses one to nine, a prima facie case has been established against the defendant. There is a need for the defendant to open her defence against the charges against her,” the judge ruled.

Following the dismissal, Ogbuaya opened her defence, after which both parties filed and adopted their final written addresses.

The matter was then adjourned to April 28, 2026, for judgment.

Delivering the final verdict, Justice Dipeolu upheld the prosecution’s submissions and pronounced the socialite guilty as charged, but she was not sentenced until Wednesday.

The charges against Ogbuaya and her co-convict stated that they conspired on February 23, 2017, to export 1.595 kilograms of cocaine, contrary to Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act.

  

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EFCC Declares Abuja-based Lagos Woman Wanted Over Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a Lagos indigene identified as, Halimat Tejuosho, wanted over an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence.

In a notice issued by the anti-graft agency, and signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, the Commission said 41-year-old Tejuosho, is being sought in connection with the alleged offence.

“The public is hereby notified that Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence,” the notice read.

According to the EFCC, the suspect’s last known address is House A26, Aso Grove Estate, Maitama Extension, Abuja.

The agency called on members of the public to assist with information that could lead to her arrest.

“Anybody with useful information as to her whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices,” the statement added.

It also urged the public to reach out through its official communication channels or report to the nearest police station and other security agencies.

  

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Man Punches Wife To Death In Satellite Town

A 41-year-old man, Uchenna Aghoha, has allegedly punched his wife, Esther, to death during a domestic altercation in the Satellite Town area of Lagos State.

According to Punch Metro, the incident occurred on Friday.

It was gathered that the deceased had been subjected to domestic violence in the marriage before the day the incident happened.

The altercation that ensued on the day of the incident was said to have started with an argument that later degenerated into a fight.

A source who was privy to the incident but did not want to be named said Aghoha threw punches at Esther in the process, leading to her death.

“We are aware that she had been a victim of abuse in the marriage, but the altercation that happened on Friday morning appeared to be one of their regular fights.

“It was later that the daughter ran out of their home and raised the alarm that her mother had collapsed after being punched by her father. We rushed there and discovered that she was motionless,” the source narrated.

A police source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not permitted to discuss the incident, said the couple’s daughter reported the case at the police station.

The source added that the victim was rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

“The couple’s 14-year-old daughter reported to the police in the afternoon and narrated what happened. Our men were deployed to the scene of the incident and discovered that the victim had been rushed to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Ojo, where the doctor on duty confirmed she was brought in dead,” the source disclosed.

The police source added that operatives who visited the scene also took photographs of the deceased.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident.

She said, “The suspect has since been arrested and is currently in police custody. The body was subsequently deposited at the General Hospital, Yaba Morgue, for autopsy. The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation.”

  

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How Couple Beat Adopted Daughter To Death In Igando

Residents of Jemesi Papa Street in the Igando area of Lagos State were thrown into shock on Sunday following the alleged torture and murder of a 10-year-old girl, identified as Faith, by her foster parents. 

The suspects, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna, were apprehended by angry youths and subsequently arrested by the police for allegedly beating the ailing child to death after weeks of persistent abuse.

According to eyewitness accounts, the 10-year-old victim had been subjected to consistent maltreatment, including frequent physical assaults and being forced to perform strenuous errands despite her age.

A resident and state coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Adekunle Taofeek, revealed that Faith had been ill for approximately two weeks prior to her death, yet the couple allegedly continued to assault her.

“I was informed that the girl had been sick for about two weeks, yet the abuse continued. Yesterday, both the husband and wife allegedly beat the child severely despite her condition, and sadly, she died,” Taofeek stated.

Following the child’s death on Sunday, the couple reportedly kept the corpse in their room and attempted to carry on with their daily routines to avoid suspicion.

Sources familiar with the matter revealed that while Adline Ogbonna was seen cooking in the kitchen on Monday morning as if nothing had happened, her husband, Paul, had allegedly left the house to procure a tricycle to secretively dispose of the girl's body.

The alarm was raised by vigilant neighbors who questioned the girl’s whereabouts. Youths in the area intercepted the couple before they could move the body and handed them over to the Igando Police Division.

During police interrogation, the suspects claimed that the girl died while receiving treatment at a hospital. However, medical evidence and preliminary police findings have debunked these claims.

A police source confirmed that the child was already dead before she was brought to the clinic. Taofeek further corroborated this after speaking with the attending physician.

“The doctor confirmed that a child was brought to the hospital, but she was already dead on arrival,” he added.

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigation.

This gruesome incident mirrors a similar case in April 2025, where a man allegedly beat his daughter to death in the Ojo area of the state, highlighting a disturbing trend of lethal domestic violence against minors in Lagos.

Efforts to reach the State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

  

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Drug Trafficking: Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Okota Mansion

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a property located at 14, Okechukwu Madueke Street, Star-Times Estate, Okota, over its alleged link to proceeds of drug trafficking.

The order was made on Thursday in Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/1342/2025, following an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Moving the application, NDLEA counsel Ibrahim Abu, a commander of narcotics, told the court that the motion was brought pursuant to relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.

He said the application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Okonkwo Ebuka Anthony, a litigation officer in the NDLEA’s Prosecution and Legal Services Unit at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Strategic Command.

“The property sought to be forfeited is reasonably believed to have been derived from unlawful activities, to wit: drug trafficking,” Abu submitted.

He further informed the court that an interim preservation order had earlier been granted on December 10, 2025, and published in a national newspaper in compliance with the law.

“The said order was advertised in PUNCH Newspapers of December 18, 2025,” he said. “Since that publication, no individual or entity has come forward to lay claim to or show interest in the property.”

According to him, the absence of any objection or claim reinforced the agency’s position that the property was liable to final forfeiture.

In a supporting affidavit, the deponent traced the investigation to the arrest of a freight agent on February 10, 2024, with 49.70 kilograms of heroin concealed in cutting machines.

“That in the course of investigation, one Chidibest Ibewuike was identified as a member of the drug trafficking syndicate,” the affidavit stated. “He has since remained at large, and all efforts to apprehend him have proved abortive.”

The affidavit further linked the property to the suspect, noting that “the property is reasonably suspected to belong to the said Chidibest Ibewuike and to have been acquired from proceeds of drug trafficking.”

It added that investigations at the Lagos State Lands Bureau failed to establish registered ownership of the property.

“Investigations at the office of the Registrar of Titles did not reveal the ownership of the property,” the deponent averred. “No objection or interest has been shown by any person since the publication of the interim forfeiture order.”

Granting the application, Justice Kakaki held that the NDLEA had complied with all statutory requirements and established its case on a balance of probabilities.

“The applicant has satisfied the requirements of the law. There being no contest to the interim order and sufficient evidence linking the property to unlawful activities, the application for final forfeiture succeeds,” the judge ruled.

The court consequently ordered that the property be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of drug trafficking.

  

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Woman Who Failed To Return N2k Mistakenly Paid Into Her Account Gets Bail Of Half A Million Naira

As Lagosians are confronted with the increasing incidents of people refusing to return money mistakenly paid into their bank account, the attention of the banking public has been drawn to a developing story from nearby Oyo state in which a woman is facing criminal charges for the same reason, and has been granted bail in the sum of half a million naira. A 40 – year-old woman, identified as Isoken Idunueko was on Friday arraigned on a one-count charge of theft for failing to return N2, 040 mistakenly sent to her bank account from a third party.

Idunueko was arraigned before Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court in Ibadan

The prosecutor, ASP Foluke Adedosu, told the court that the defendant in February at Oke – Itunu, Mokola area, Ibadan, stole N2, 040, which was mistakenly sent to her Zenith Bank account No: 2111699080.

Adedosu alleged that she refused to return the money back to the owner when the complainant, Sandra Okwueze l, contacted her.

She said the offence contravened section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

The defendant, who lives in Elebu area, Ibadan, is charged with theft.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Oyediji admitted her to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Oyediji said one of the sureties must be landed property owner who lived in the house.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter until June 2, for hearing.

The case has sparked nationwide interest, especially in Lagos state, where cases of people refusing to return money mistakenly paid into their accounts, are a regular occurrence.

  

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How Murder Suspect Fled Lagos To Murder Lover In Cross River

    On Sunday, March 29, a 30-year-old man, Sunday Ejor, of Nwang community, Ekajuk Ward 2 in Ogoja Local Government Area of Northern Cross River State, allegedly butchered his live-in lover, Lucy Moshe Igu, 26, a native of Abrumbede, Ibil, also in Ekajuk, and hid her body in the bush.

The suspect, a peasant farmer, was allegedly previously accused in Lagos where he was resident also for murder and involvement in illicit narcotic substances, escaped and went back to his Nwang community, three years ago, where he met and fell in love with the victim.

The relationship, according to villagers in Nwang, was checkered owing to frequent fights because of accusations of infidelity against Lucy by Sunday even as he failed to undertake the proper marital process for his so-called lover to become his wife. He frequently accused the lady of cheating on him with three of his friends, names withheld.

On the day of the murder, Sunday began attacking the lady at night and early in the morning, allegedly dragged her to a nearby stream and inflicted her with severe cuts on her head, face and neck which led to her death.

To conceal the murder, he allegedly wrapped her body in the wrapper she was tying and dragged her into the bush.

The absence of the woman from home for several hours, it was gathered, raised suspicion from some youths who accosted the suspect and, after threats, he led them to where he dumped the lady’s body. The youths were about to lynch him when someone called in the police who rescued the man and took him into custody.

When Sunday Vanguard visited Ibil village, a cousin of the deceased, Joy Philip, said: “The man brutally killed my cousin in the farm even though he is yet to pay the bride price or even bring the customary drink to the family as culture demands”.

She lamented that the incident happened months after her eldest brother drowned in the local river at midnight.

“These frequent deaths have become too many in my family.  Moshe, may your spirit not rest while your killer is still breathing. Make sure peace is far from him until you get the justice you deserve and find rest in peace”, the cousin said as tears ran down her cheeks.

After the arrest of the suspect by policemen from  the Ogoja Divisional Police Station, women from both communities who thronged the police station in large numbers clashed at the police station.

While Ibil women demanded for the release of the man to them “to handle him in our own way”, Nwang women insisted that the right process must be followed to get justice for the victim.

“Cruelty like this exists because the system has failed us. No one cares about what the law says, everyone has become a judge of his own insanity so we are ready to do justice to this cruelty”, Uduma, one of the protesting Ibil women, told Sunday Vanguard. 

She said the man took life out of another human being and as such ”does not deserve to live”.

The Nwang women, for their part, insisted that the killing “was an accident and due process must be followed for justice to prevail”.

“Do two wrongs make a right? The killing may be an accident or in self-defense. It could be that the girl attacked her husband first and these Ibil women are asking the police to release our son to them to kill him. Is that the right thing to do?” Madam Agnes Abu, the leader of the Nwang women, said while defending their son.

According to her, the lovers lived in Nwang community and everyone knew that the lovers were frequently involved in fights.

Cross River State Police Command said the man had been arrested.

Confirming the arrest, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, police spokesman, said sources alleged that the suspect carried out the attack due to suspicions of infidelity.

“Police operatives swiftly responded upon receiving the report and visited the scene of the incident and the suspect was apprehended and rescued from an attempted mob action by youths. He is in custody for his safety and ongoing investigation”, he added.

The spokesman further disclosed that the victim’s remains had been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Ogoja. He concluded that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

 Culled from Vanguard  

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Twin Brothers Jailed 14 Years For Armed Robbery

    Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday sentenced four men to 14 years imprisonment each for armed robbery, following a plea bargain agreement.

Amongst the convicts are two twin brothers a 34-year-old driver, Taiwo Ojomo, 34-year-old security guard, and Kehinde Ojomo.

The other convicts are 34-year-old rewire, Emmanuel Bamidele (a.k.a. “DPO”); and 27-year-old cobbler, Peter Samuel (a.k.a. “Mogaji”).

They were sentenced by Justice  Abike-Fadipe after they admitted guilt to amended two-count charges bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.

The Prosecution told the court that the convicts while armed with guns, robbed one Sodiq Abiodun Ezekiel of Android phone, iPhone, ATM card, the sum of N15,000 and a blue-coloured 2005 Toyota Sienna with registration number LSR 771 GG.”

The court was told that the incident occurred on June 5, 2020, at about 23:30, at Oshodi Bridge, Lagos, when the convicts boarded a blue 2005 Toyota Sienna with registration number LSR 771 GG, driven by Sadiq Abiodun Ezekiel.

According to the prosecution, the men pretended to be stranded and requested a ride, but after entering the vehicle, they allegedly pulled out a gun and attacked the driver.

They were said to have dragged him to the back seat, beaten him, and robbed him of an Android phone, an iPhone, ATM card, and N15,000 in cash before dispossessing him of his vehicle.

The prosecution said the stolen vehicle was later recovered the same day at Ikeja Shopping Mall and returned to the victim.

It was further revealed that during inspection of the recovered vehicle, the complainant discovered a double-barrelled locally made pistol with four cartridges, which he immediately handed over to the police.

The convicts were initially arraigned in 2020 and pleaded not guilty.

However, they later changed their plea following an amended charge filed on April 14, 2026, which reflected a plea bargain agreement reducing the punishment exposure from 21 years to 14 years imprisonment.

Justice Abike-Fadipe confirmed that the convicts entered the agreement voluntarily.

“The court is satisfied that the defendants understood the terms of the plea bargain and entered into it without coercion,” she said.

State counsel, Director J.A. Ogunode, urged the court to adopt the plea bargain terms and sentence the convicts accordingly.

However, the judge noted that the court was not strictly bound by the terms of a plea bargain agreement.

“The court retains the discretion to ensure that sentences imposed meet the ends of justice,” Justice Abike-Fadipe held.

She thereafter sentenced each of the four men to 14 years imprisonment.

She ordered that the sentence shall take effect from the date they were first remanded in custody at the correctional facility.

  

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How Suspected Cultists Killed Ikorodu Monarch's Teenage Son

A teenager identified simply as Quadri has been beaten to death by suspected cultists in the Itunmeko area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

It was gathered from sources in the community on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Saturday.

According to sources, the violence erupted after a disagreement between some youths, believed to be suspected cultists, in the community.

The deceased, who was also the son of the Alashe of Itunmoja in Ikorodu, was reportedly called from his residence to the scene of the dispute to intervene.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the incident, said the situation escalated quickly and resulted in a violent attack on the victim and one of his friends.

“That night, there was an issue between Quadri’s friends and some boys in the area. The moment it degenerated into a confrontation, one of Quadri’s friends called him to inform him of what was going on.

“So Quadri went there to intervene, but the issue further escalated, and the boys descended on him and beat him until he became almost unresponsive,” the resident said.

A police source, who also requested anonymity due to a lack of authorisation to speak on the incident, said Quadri was left at the scene until some residents rushed him to the hospital for medical attention.

“He was attended to when taken to the hospital, but later died due to the severity of the injuries he sustained during the attack,” the source disclosed.

Meanwhile, an anti-cultism platform, Naija Confra, in a post on Monday, stated that the area was dominated by Eiye cultists, adding that Quadri was not a member.

“Yesterday, Naija Confra reported an incident in Ikorodu, Lagos State, where the son of a traditional ruler was killed.

“The incident occurred around midnight on Saturday in Itunmeko, Ikorodu, an area dominated by Eiye.

“The attackers targeted some young boys, including a boy named Quadri, who was the son of the Alashe of Itunmoja in Ikorodu.

“Quadri was described as a rugged street boy who was also a Yahoo boy and had many Eiye friends, but he was not a cultist,” the platform wrote.

It further noted that Quadri’s friend, identified simply as Adio, was also beaten during the attack but survived.

“Quadri and another friend named Adio, alias Ogbara, were seriously beaten. Quadri was rushed to the hospital, where he later died, while Adio was said to have survived,” it stated.

Although the police have yet to officially respond to the incident, Naija Confra revealed that some suspects had been arrested in connection with it.

When contacted on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, told the Punch that she was not aware of the incident and promised to revert.

However, she had yet to do so as of the time this report was filed.

  

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Man Bags 7-Year Jail Term Over N28 Million Fraud

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a businessman, James Onyejekwe of Kainos Exploration and Producing Company Limited, over a N28m fraud.

The judge also ordered that Kainos Exploration and Producing Company Limited be wound up, with its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, had filed a five-count amended charge bordering on stealing, issuance of dud cheques, and obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the prosecution, the convict, in February 2018, obtained N10m from the nominal complainant, Mrs Augustina Ofoegbu, under the guise of an investment in the company, with a promise of a 250 per cent return within 60 days.

“The representation made to the complainant was false, and Onyejekwe knew it was false,” the prosecution told the court.

The court also heard that in May 2018, the convict and his company dishonestly converted N10m belonging to the complainant to their personal use.

In addition, Onyejekwe and his company were accused of issuing three dud cheques valued at N10m, N10m, and N5m through a United Bank for Africa account, which were returned unpaid due to insufficient funds.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Dada found the convict guilty on all counts.

The judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

She subsequently sentenced Onyejekwe to three years’ imprisonment on count one for stealing, while imposing two years’ imprisonment each on counts two, three, and four for issuing dud cheques.

On count five, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, the court handed him a seven-year jail term.

The judge ordered that the sentences shall run concurrently, bringing the effective term of imprisonment to seven years.

Justice Dada also directed the convict to restitute the sum of N8m to the complainant through the EFCC.

In addition, the court ordered that Kainos Exploration and Producing Company Limited be wound up, with its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The company is hereby wound up and all its assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the court held.

  

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Lagos Taskforce Arrest Two Omotaku Urchins

OPERATIVES of the Lagos State Taskforce have arrested two suspected street urchins, popularly known as Omotaku, along the Oshodi–Agunlejika–Apapa Expressway for allegedly extorting motorists.

The suspects, AbiodunAjasa, 44, of No. 18 Jimoh Meji Street, off Agunlejika Street, and JunaidFolami of No. 12 Agunlejika Street, Itire-Ikate, were alleged to have targeted motorists whose vehicles developed mechanical faults, demanding money before allowing them to continue their journey.

Their arrest followed a tip-off from a civil society group, ICU – To Save A Soul. Acting on the intelligence, taskforce operatives apprehended the duo while they were allegedly attempting to extort a motorist. The suspects initially claimed to be a bystander and a revenue collector, respectively, but investigations later linked them to a group accused of illegal revenue collection activities.

Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP AdetayoAkerele, said the suspects had been on the agency’s watchlist following numerous public complaints about a syndicate allegedly involved in unlawfully arresting motorists and negotiating financial settlements for the release of their vehicles.

“I receive numerous calls and online complaints from residents who report that these individuals operate deceptively and appear legitimate, making them difficult to apprehend,” he said.

During interrogation, Ajasa reportedly confessed that their targets were vehicles transporting goods from Apapa Port that broke down along the expressway. He said they approached such motorists under the guise of revenue collectors, claiming to protect them from rival groups, before threatening vehicle impoundment unless certain sums were paid.

The second suspect was said to have admitted that his role involved preventing drivers from accessing their vehicles in order to create fear and compel them into negotiations.

Akerele assured the public that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, urging residents to continue reporting suspicious activities to security agencies for prompt action.

 

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Army Arrest Fake Major General In Lagos

The Nigerian Army has arrested one Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf for allegedly impersonating a retired Major General and misleading the public while abusing the prestige of the military institution.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anele, said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army at any time, nor did he attain the rank of General or retire from the service in any capacity.

According to Anele, further findings showed that Abdul Rauf also falsely claimed to have attended the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and fraudulently asserted that he was a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

“All these claims have been conclusively confirmed to be entirely false and fabricated,” she said, adding that no retired Army General bears the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf.

The Army spokesperson disclosed that the impostor consistently exploited the false credentials to intimidate unsuspecting members of the public, including during court proceedings where he presented himself as a retired senior military officer to command undue respect, sympathy and influence.

She added that during interrogation, media reports published in two nationally recognised newspapers were recovered, in which Abdul Rauf was repeatedly described as a “retired Major General.”

“These misrepresentations, now established to be false, further demonstrate the extent to which the individual sustained his deception within the public space,” Anele said.

According to her, one of the publications identified the suspect as “Major General Abdul Rauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit instituted against the Lagos State Government and other respondents, in which he sought ₦8 billion in damages. Another report, dated November 9, 2020, similarly referred to him as a “retired Major General” while reporting his appeal against the dismissal of the same suit, which the court had earlier described as a gross abuse of court process and incompetent in law.

“The Nigerian Army categorically states that no retired officer of the Nigerian Army bears the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, nor has any officer with such identity ever held the rank of Major General or above within the service,” she said.

Anele strongly condemned the act of impersonation, describing it as a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of officers who have genuinely served the nation with distinction.

She reiterated the Army’s commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of its ranks, honours and institutions, adding that it will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that impostors and fraudsters are brought to justice.

“The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in upholding professionalism, integrity and accountability in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she said

 

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Another Romance Scam: Court Remands Man Over N10.5 Million Fraud

Operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Annexe, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, arraigned a suspected Internet fraudster, Samson Onaolapo, over an alleged romance scam involving the sum of $7,000 (about N10.5 Million).

Onaolapo, popularly described as a “Yahoo boy,” was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Alexander Owoeye.

The defendant was arraigned on four counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and impersonation, preferred against him by the police.

The defendant, who resides at 34 Association Crescent, Abimbola Awoniyi Estate, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him in court.

The prosecution counsel, Williams Tijani, told the court that the defendant allegedly used his email address, ScothSparks@yahoo.com, to fraudulently impersonate an American citizen, Scott Spark, in order to defraud two victims, Patti Anna and Linda Morgan, of the sum of $7,000.

Tijani further informed the court that the defendant allegedly acquired, retained and took possession of the said sum, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

The prosecutor told the court that  the offences were committed between 2019 and 2024.

According to him, the offences committed contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006; the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024); the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended); and Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Following the defendant’s not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and urged that the defendant be remanded in custody pending the determination of the case.

However, defence counsel, Olalekan Ogunbunmi, told the court that he had just been briefed on the matter and requested a short adjournment to enable him to file a formal bail application on behalf of his client.

In his ruling, Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter to May 27, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

 

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Lagos Based Company Convicted For Stealing Over N30.6 Million Belonging To Chevron Staff

A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted a company, AAC Consulting Limited, for stealing over ₦30.6 million belonging to contract staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, ordering the firm to pay a ₦5 million fine or face winding up.

Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the judgment yesterday after finding the company guilty of dishonestly converting the sum of ₦30,564,635.81 entrusted to it for the benefit of the affected workers.

AAC Consulting Limited was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 12 January 2026 on an amended one-count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. 44, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The case dated back to 5 June 2023, when the company and its Managing Director, Anthony Adeoye, were first arraigned on a 50-count charge of stealing and issuing dud cheques. Both defendants initially pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by I. O. Daramola, called two witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits, all of which were admitted by the court.

However, following the repayment of the disputed sum to the petitioner in December 2023, the defendants opted to change their plea. The EFCC subsequently amended the charge, and the company pleaded guilty to the lone count of stealing.

The charge stated that AAC Consulting Limited, on or about 27 April 2013, within the Ikeja Judicial Division of Lagos State, dishonestly converted to its own use the aggregate sum of ₦30,564,635.81, being funds belonging to contract staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

In his judgment, Justice Oshodi held that the company’s decade-long delay in refunding the money underscored the criminality of the act, notwithstanding the eventual repayment. He consequently convicted AAC Consulting Limited and imposed a ₦5 million fine, to be paid within 14 days.

The judge warned that failure to comply with the order would result in the winding up of the company, stressing the need for corporate accountability and deterrence in financial crimes.

 

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Supreme Court Dismisses Al-Mustapha’s Trial For Kudirat Abiola’s Murder After Lagos Abandoned Case

The Supreme Court has dismissed the trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in the murder of the late politician, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

Kudirat Abiola was the wife of the late businessman and politician, Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was annulled by former President Ibrahim Babangida.

She was murdered in Lagos during the nationwide crisis that followed the annulment and in the course of her persistent struggle to have the annulment reversed by the military.

The trial of Al-Mustapha in the murder charge brought against him by the Lagos State government was put to rest on Thursday by a five-member panel of Justices of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji.

At the proceedings, where Lagos State was slated to re-open the trial, no legal representation appeared, and no process had been filed since 2014, when an order to re-open the case was granted in its favour.

Paul Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing Al-Mustapha, informed the Justices that Lagos State had not taken any steps to implement the 2014 order to reopen the trial.

He said that not even a notice of appeal had been filed by Lagos as the appellant to demonstrate its seriousness in prosecuting the trial.

Daudu noted that when the order to reopen the trial was granted in 2014, Lagos State was issued a 30-day ultimatum to file its notice of appeal.

He explained that more than 11 years later, nothing had been done to comply with the order.

He therefore urged the Court to hold that the appellant had abandoned the case and should have it dismissed in its entirety.

Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, who presided over the matter, sought to know if Lagos had been served with the hearing notice, a question answered in the affirmative by the Registrar of the Court.

In a brief ruling, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, agreed that Lagos had lost interest in the matter and had consequently abandoned it.

Justice Aba-Aji held that nine years was long enough for the appellant to have filed a notice of appeal and the brief of appeal.

The Court also expressed disapproval that no legal representation had been made by the state government, while no information was provided to the Court or the respondent, despite being served with the hearing notice since 2020.

Consequently, the matter marked SC/CR/45/2014 was dismissed. Another matter by the Lagos governor, marked SC/CR/6/2014, on the same trial was also dismissed on the same ground.

The Supreme Court had in 2014, in a ruling on Lagos State’s application for permission to re-open the case out of time, granted the request to challenge the Court of Appeal decision of July 12, 2013, which discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha in the murder case.

The then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, in a ruling of a seven-member panel, ordered Lagos State to file its notice of appeal within 30 days.

The decision followed the consent of Al-Mustapha’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu SAN, not to oppose the application, which was argued by Osunsanya Oluwayemisi, a Senior State Counsel in the Lagos Ministry of Justice.

The Acting CJN had said that by the decision of the apex court, the time for Lagos to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s findings on the high-profile murder case had been extended from July 12, 2013, when the Court of Appeal judgment was delivered, until January 7, 2014.

By the permission granted in 2014, Lagos was cleared to challenge the not-guilty verdict granted in favour of the military officer by the Court of Appeal in 2013.

In the attempt to re-open the case, Lagos State had sought to file a notice of appeal out of time at the Supreme Court, asking for permission to challenge the Court of Appeal’s findings by Justices Amina Adamu Augie, Rita Nosakhare Pemu, and Fatimo Omoro Akinbami, on the grounds of miscarriage of justice.

The state had prayed the apex court to allow it to exercise its constitutional right to test the validity and correctness of the Court of Appeal decision.

It argued that it wanted to raise grounds of appeal on arguable legal and factual issues, especially regarding whether there was any direct or circumstantial evidence establishing Al-Mustapha’s guilt in the murder case.

Lagos State explained that the delay in filing the appeal was due to setting up two legal teams to review the circumstances of the case and the Court of Appeal verdict.

The government said it took time for the two legal teams to present their findings and recommend that an appeal could be filed and sustained.

The state government said it would ask the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal judgment, which discharged and acquitted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha in the murder case of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

It intended to urge the apex court to uphold and restore the death sentence by hanging imposed on the former CSO to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, by a Lagos High Court on January 30, 2012.

Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha, and one Lateef Shofolahan were arraigned before a Lagos High Court on a two-count criminal charge of conspiracy to commit murder and the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996, in Lagos State.

In a judgment delivered on January 30, 2012, by Justice Moji Dada, the accused were found culpable as charged and sentenced to death by hanging.

However, in an appeal approached by Al-Mustapha on April 27, 2012, the three-member Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment on July 12, 2013, set aside the high court decision, discharged, and acquitted the accused on the grounds that the evidence against them was insufficient to warrant the death sentence.

 

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