Metro
Kwara student murder: Three family members, one other arraigned
Four people including a final year student of Summit University, Offa, Adebayo Happiness were on Tuesday arraigned at a Kwara State chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin over alleged murder of a 21-year-old graduate of Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, Awesu Mojisola.
Mojisola was allegedly murdered inside the room of Whitefield Hotel, Ilorin, Kwara State capital by Happiness on August 10, 2024 after deceiving her to attend a botched post graduation party in Ilorin.
Charged along with Happiness were his two parents, Adebayo Adeniyi (51) and Bukola Adeniyi (49) as well as an accomplice, 24 year old Timileyin Kolawole.
PUNCH Online reported August 30, almost three weeks after the murder took place that seven suspects had been arrested in connection to the crime.
However, four were charged before the court for alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, theft, false personation, and causing disappearance of evidence contrary to sections 97, 221, 287, 179 and 167 of the Penal Code Law and computer related frauds contrary to sections 14(2) (3), 22 (2) (3) of Cybercrime Prevention and Prohibition Law 2015.
The prosecution led by Isaac Yakub ASP told the Court that on August 14, 2024, one Blessing Ogungbenro reported at Offa Police station that her roommate, Awesu Mojisola, a graduating student of Kwara state College of Health Technology, Offa was missing since Friday, August 9, 2024 she told her that she received a phone call from one Kolawole Timileyin joining her to one Adebayo Joshua Happiness ‘m’ a final year student of Summit University Offa Kwara State who was requesting Mojisola to follow him to his sign out party holding at Whitefield Hotel, Ilorin for a fee of N15,000.
“Awesu Mojisola later accepted the offer and left Offa to meet up with Adebayo Joshua Happiness at Ilorin lately and that while Awesu Mojisola was with Adebayo Joshua Happiness, she complains of being uncomfortable with Adebayo Joshua Happiness in the hotel room that she was lodged because Adebayo Joshua Happiness was smoking Hemp.
“Thereafter, Awesu Mojisola’s phone suddenly became unreachable and her whereabouts becomes unknown adding that immediate police action led to the arrest of Adebayo Joshua Happiness who was fingered in the sudden disappearance of Awesu Mojisola.”
He said further that, “During investigation it was revealed that Adebayo Joshua Happiness had deliberately lured Awesu Mojisola from Offa to Ilorin on the pretense of inviting her for a joint sign-out party of Summit and Al-Hikma Universities purported to be holding at Whitefield Hotel but it was fake.
“At the early hours of 10/08/2024 Adebayo Joshua Happiness killed ond abandoned the
lifeless body of Awesu Mojisola in the hotel room, locked the room and ran away with Mojisola Awesu iPhone 11pro and her sum of N15,600 to Offa.
“During discreet investigation, Adebayo Joshua Happiness confessed that he invited Awesu Mojisola to Ilorin from Offa deceiving her that there is a sign out party at Whitefield Hotel Ilorin, killed her abandoned the lifeless body of Awesu Mojisola in the hotel room, locked it and flee away with her money and her iPhone to Offa.”
The prosecution further told the Court that the mother of the prime suspect, Adeniyi Bukola later assisted Happiness to remove the sim card in the victim’s phone and hid it in a fence block far away from their residence at Ogunse area in Offa while Happiness father assisted in keeping the iPhone in a family car parked within their compound.
The court did not however took the plea of the suspects.
The defense counsel, Mr A. Iwalaye however pleaded with the Court to grant all the suspects bail adding that they would not jump bail and be regular in their appearance at the court proceedings and “they are ready to provide reliable sureties to stand for them in the court.”
But the prosecutor, ASP Isaac Yakub opposed the plea saying that the case was criminal and involved the termination of a life of a human being.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Wahab Saka then ordered the remand of the suspects at the Federal Correctional Centre, Oke Kura, Ilorin.
The case was adjourned till September 12, 2024 for further hearing.
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to prosecute 74 individuals apprehended for violating environmental regulations within the state.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the suspects were arrested during a coordinated enforcement operation by the state’s Taskforce in the early hours of Tuesday around 1 a.m., targeting key locations across the Lekki axis of Lagos Island.
The enforcement sweep covered areas including the Falomo Bridge, Eko Hotel Roundabout, Oniru Beach, Lekki Phases 1 and 2, and the 1004 Estate. A total of 72 men and two women were taken into custody.
Wahab explained that the operation aimed to restore order and sanitation in the affected areas.
He added that the suspects will face prosecution in accordance with state laws and urged residents to remain law-abiding and committed to maintaining a clean, orderly environment for all.
The police in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday arraigned 30 persons before a Benin High Court for alleged murder and cultism.
The 30 persons are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, cultism, armed attack, and belonging to unlawful society.
The defendants were arraigned in three batches with the same seven-count charges.
The defendants arraigned in the first batch are Paul Elekun 25, Muetinyan Osagbovo 25, Opkala Bernice 22, Nnajiofor Francis 23, Imuetinyan Osanogara 21, Christian Augustine 22, Aniyea Choice 33, Saturday Umukoro 20.
The second batch are Gmogbo Ufoha 22, Emoh Emmanuel 29, Olavwola Gchinamen 32, Eriator Osaihon 44, Isaac Michael 32, Festus Arihian 37, Tedius Jude 25., Emmanuel Okhie 29, Daniel Oyakhilome 29, John Umoren 28.
The third batch are Ogoigbe Richard 33, Omokwua Cliton 32, Solomo Peisi (No specific age), Ezebuke Bright 29, Okoloagu Chicks 45, Ajuja Frank 25, Onemu Oghenekome Michael 19,
Jerry Lazarus 27, Patrick Arneka Joshua 22, Daniel James 28, Moses Peter 37, and Ewalefoh Prosper Osamudiahen 20.
The Prosecutor, Polycarp Odion told the court that the defendants and others, allegedly on May 1, did conspire to commit a felony.
Mr Odion alleged that on the same day within Benin City, without lawful authority, the defendants allegedly carried out armed attacks against a section of residents of the Benin metropolis.
The defendants were also alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit murder.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants and others at large, at different dates within Benin City did conspire and belong to an unlawful society.
He said the offences contravened Sections 412 (2), 64, and 247 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in the Correctional Centre for an initial 14 days, pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Counsels to the defendants prayed the court to grant them bail as they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
According to the counsels, the defendants were picked in indifferent areas in the metropolis, which includes Ugbowo axis, Sapele road axis and Garrick Memorial College axis.
They said some were picked while they were eating, some inside the bus on their way home from work, some were arrested while driving and their vehicles impounded.
They said that the judge has the right to grant the defendants bail, urging the judge to exercise the same to grant the defendants’ bail.
They added that they all have reasonable surety to stand for their bail and ensure their presence in court on an adjournment date.
Among the defence counsels for the defendants who spoke were a former Chief Magistrate, Peter Asemota (retd), Ede Asenoguan, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin City Branch, Paul Badaki, J.E. Igunma, A.D.Ajeka, O.J.Odi, E.B.KiKa, among others.
The presiding judge, Justice Williams Azeigbemhin, however granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each with one surety in like sum.
Mr Azeigbemhin said both the defendants and surety must produce their NIN card, valid ID cards, and three passport photographs each.
He said that the surety must be a senior staff member of a recognised establishment.
He added that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and all information must be verified by the court registrar.
He then adjourned the case until May 19.
(NAN)
A fire outbreak on Monday afternoon engulfed a recycling facility operated by Jincheng Company at 11B Eric Moore Road, Surulere, Lagos.
The fire, reported at about 12:15 p.m., drew a prompt response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters from the Sari-Iganmu Fire Station were the first on the scene, but the intensity of the blaze required reinforcements from the Ajegunle Fire Crew.
Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, stated that the fire began at the rear of the main building and was suspected to have been caused by negligence.
The affected section reportedly housed large quantities of cardboard materials used in the recycling process.
Although the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, the facility—which spans three acres—suffered significant losses.
“No casualties have been reported so far,” Adeseye confirmed, adding that the situation was under control by the time of reporting, with damping down operations still ongoing.”
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