News
Four Police officers facing trial for collecting N53k ‘egunje’ from ICPC chairman at checkpoint
Four policemen are facing trial and possible dismissal after they allegedly set up an illegal checkpoint in Abuja and extorted N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu (SAN).
The Commissioner of Police (CP) for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the incident on Monday while parading suspects at the FCT Police Command headquarters.
Sanusi said the four officers abandoned their official duty posts and gathered at an unauthorised checkpoint around the Wuse-Banex area, where they extorted money from unsuspecting motorists.
According to him, the officers did not know that one of the motorists they stopped was the ICPC chairman.
He explained that the policemen forced Aliyu to look for money before taking him to a Point of Sale (POS) operator, where N53,000, including transaction charges, was withdrawn and shared among them.
“They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of N53,000. He calmly cooperated with them, arranged for someone to transfer the money, and they took him to a POS terminal where the cash was withdrawn and shared among themselves,” Sanusi said.
The police commissioner said the ICPC chairman later reported the incident, prompting an intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of the gang leader and the other members of the group.
“We declared them wanted, arrested their leader, and during interrogation he confessed and identified the others. We tracked down and arrested the remaining members of the gang,” he added.
Sanusi condemned the officers’ actions, warning that the command would no longer tolerate personnel who abuse the powers entrusted to them.
“You have to choose to be one: either a policeman or a thief. You cannot be both at the same time. If you fail to choose, your actions will determine where you belong,” he said.
The CP also reminded officers of the Inspector-General of Police’s directive banning the indiscriminate search of citizens’ mobile phones.
He said no police officer has the right to stop people on the road and demand access to their phones over suspicions of cybercrime or internet fraud.
“A phone can only be searched as part of lawful investigation after a suspect has been arrested for a specific offence and brought to the police station. No officer should search phones on the road,” he said.
Sanusi urged residents to reject illegal demands from police officers and report such incidents immediately through the command’s emergency lines.
The police commissioner also gave updates on other security operations carried out by the command.
He said operatives foiled a kidnap attempt in Gawuraka along the Niger-FCT border and rescued a female kidnap victim who had been abducted in Karshi. A pistol, dagger, military camouflage and assorted charms were recovered during the operation.
Sanusi also announced the arrest of Umaru Danda, who was described as a major supplier of logistics to kidnappers operating around Mpape.
According to him, the suspect supplied hard drugs and other items to criminal gangs. His arrest led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, large quantities of tramadol, suspected cocaine, cannabis, cash, ATM cards and other exhibits from three hideouts in Niger State.
The command also arrested four suspects accused of hijacking Bolt and Uber vehicles after posing as passengers. The suspects — Ibrahim Ismail, Ahmad Umar, Riskwa Shehu and Umar Abubakar — were arrested with two stolen vehicles, a Toyota RAV4 and a Honda Civic.
In another operation, police arrested three suspected “one-chance” robbers after a chase along the Life Camp-Gwarinpa underpass. Officers recovered a knife, scissors, screwdriver, rope, mobile phones, a wig and suspected cannabis from them.
Sanusi further disclosed that operatives arrested suspected armed robbers following a distress call from Nyanya, where five armed men allegedly attacked a resident after breaking into the premises through the perimeter fence.
One suspect was arrested after investigators followed a trail of blood to his hideout, while another suspect and a chemist accused of treating the injured fleeing suspect were later arrested.
Recovered items included a toy gun, machetes, a military belt, counterfeit currency, jewellery, identity cards and assorted charms.
Sanusi said all the suspects would be charged in court after investigations are completed.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professionalism, discipline and intelligence-led policing.
“The successes recorded are largely due to information from patriotic residents. We urge members of the public to continue supporting the police because security is a collective responsibility,” he said.
By Prosper Olayiwola
A House of Assembly Candidate for Ikole Constituency 1 on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kayode Arewa Sanni, has called on his constituents, party members and supporters to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arewa Sanni made the call in Ikole-Ekiti while addressing party faithful and supporters at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in the constituency.
He said the 2027 elections present a defining moment for the people of Ikole Constituency 1 to chart a new course of inclusive representation, people-oriented legislation and accelerated development.
The candidate noted that disunity among party members and supporters remains the greatest obstacle to victory, stressing that only a united front can dislodge entrenched interests and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“I appeal to all our party leaders, members, supporters and well-wishers across Ikole Constituency 1 to put aside personal differences and work together as one family. Our strength lies in our unity,” he said.
Arewa Sanni said his candidacy was driven by a desire to give Ikole Constituency 1 a vibrant and responsive voice in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, with focus on youth empowerment, education, healthcare and rural infrastructure.
He assured constituents that if given the mandate, he would prioritise quality representation and ensure that government presence is felt in all communities within the constituency.
He also called on supporters of the ADC across Ekiti State to rally behind the party’s vision of good governance, transparency and accountability as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
The aspirant expressed confidence that with unity, commitment and collective effort, the ADC would emerge victorious in Ikole Constituency 1 and other constituencies across the state.
No fewer than six inmates have died within one week following a suspected cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano State.
Amnesty International raised the alarm in a post on its official Facebook page, calling on authorities to immediately declare an emergency at the correctional facility.
Amnesty said several other inmates were currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could be higher as the suspected disease continues to spread among prisoners.
It urged the authorities to immediately transfer critically ill inmates to hospitals for proper medical attention to prevent further deaths.
The organisation warned that failure to urgently intervene could amount to arbitrary deprivation of life, which it described as a serious human rights violation under international law.
Amnesty also expressed concern over the broader conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities, particularly the prolonged detention of inmates awaiting trial.
According to the organisation, detainees without financial means face greater difficulty having their rights protected, with some spending years in custody without being convicted of any crime.
It further said many inmates were being held in overcrowded and unhygienic cells without adequate food and healthcare.
Amnesty called for urgent reforms to improve conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and ensure compliance with international best practices.
Popular media personality and self-acclaimed relationship expert, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has reportedly lost her second son while remanded in custody.
The development was confirmed in an online appeal by Amira Agiye, head of the Isaamira Love Foundation, who spoke on Okoro’s behalf to request public financial assistance.
She said, “It is sad to announce to you all that Blessing CEO just lost her second son. My name is Amira Agiye.
“I’m here to appeal on behalf of Blessing CEO, who is currently in custody. I understand that people might have different opinions about her and the circumstances surrounding her case.
“And like every one of us, she deserves compassion and an opportunity for redemption.
She needs N20 million to meet the bail requirements. She also needs N36 million to pay the people she owes who brought the case against her.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive her for the sake of that boy who is still in the mortuary. With Blessing’s full consent and authorisation, I’m appealing to all Nigerians to help donate so we can help her out of this situation.”
Also speaking in a voice conversation played by Amira, Blessing, CEO, said, “My second son, Bryan, was full of life. While in custody, I lost Bryan.
I pray this turns out positive so I can leave this place, pick up the pieces of my life and pay my respects to him.”
Recall that the self-acclaimed relationship expert was remanded in Kirikiri Prison over an N69.15 million property fraud trial.
She was granted N20 million bail in July 2026, with two sureties in like sum, and each surety was required to provide three years’ proof of deposits valued at N20 million.
Following her inability to meet the bail conditions, Blessing CEO, remains in prison facility two months after she was granted bail.
House of Assembly Candidate, Sanni Urges Unity Among Ekiti ADC Members
Between Governor Soludo and Peter Obi: The Truth in Between
Six inmates die in one week amid suspected cholera outbreak in Kano prison
-
News17 hours agoHow AI Could Cause the catastrophic death of a Billion people — Billionaire Bill Gates Warns
-
Sports17 hours agoAFCON Qualifier: Nigeria Defeats Madagascar
-
News17 hours agoPolice Arrest Officer Who Said Igbo Man Can Never Be President
-
News17 hours agoPastor Adeboye Welcomes 105 Nigerians Repatriated From South Africa
-
News7 hours agoPDP group slams Zamfara Governor for attacking Wike, hails FCT Minister’s nationalistic position
-
Politics7 hours agoBefore dreaming of Aso Villa, APM should first find its feet-Ali Campaign Organization