News
Police Arrest Herbalist, 3 Others For Beheading Delta Resident, Dump Him In River
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested no fewer than four suspects for allegedly killing a man identified as Paulinus Okon over N30million business deal in Delta State.
It was learnt that the deceased was earlier declared missing and was later beheaded on the 8th of September 2024 at Otokutu area of the state.
Paulinus’ body was said to have been thrown into the river, while one of the suspects, a herbalist, took the head and buried it at his shrine in Otokutu.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda during a press briefing on Monday, identified the suspects as Okeimute Gaga, Efe Onoitiyi, Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30yrs old herbalist known as Lawrence Joseph.
The statement reads in part; “It involves the murder of one Paulinus Okon ‘m’ by his bosom friend One Efe Onoetiyi. Paulinus was reported missing on 8/9/2024 by his brother after he went out with his friend Efe Onoitiyi ‘m’ age 30yrs.
“The suspect Efe Onoitiyi who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus came to Paulinus’s house to ask his family of Paulinus, he was confronted that the deceased went out with him on that same date which he denied that the deceased did not go out with him.
“On a later date, Efe came back and demanded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) from the deceased’s brother that he would use the money to pay a herbalist who can tell them Paulinus’s whereabouts.
“Efe again came and informed the family that Paulinus was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of about twenty million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand naira (N20,715,000) from the deceased brother claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers. When it became obvious that Efe had something to hide, he was arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) State Headquarters, Asaba.
“On 28th November 2024, I directed the DPO Ekpan to take over the case and ensure that a discrete investigation is carried out to fish out those responsible as the main suspect Efe was not yielding.
“The DPO Ekpan carried out an intelligence led investigation that indicted one Okeimute Gaga ‘m’ aged 48yrs old. Okeimute gaga upon his arrest opened up and confessed that he could no longer hide what happened. Okeimute Gaga narrated how Efe brought Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu and requested that they kill him.
“The suspect further stated that on the 8th of September 2024 himself, Efe and Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30yrs old herbalist known as Lawrence Joseph tied Paulinus Okon to a stake at night close to Orere River and beheaded him alive. His body was thrown into the river while the herbalist took the head of Paulinus and buried him at his shrine in Otokutu. The DPO Ekpan Police station led police operatives to the shrine in Otokutu where the skull of Paulinus was exhumed and recovered.
“During interrogation, Efe was asked why he killed his friend Paulinus, Efe stated that he saw a building for sale at a cost of thirty million naira (N30,000,000) which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid him Thirty Million Naira (N30,000,000) in three instalments, but instead of buying the house, he diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands and was building a duplex for himself.
“He further stated that he did not know how to explain to the deceased that he had used his money hence he decided that killing him will save him the trouble. Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has nabbed a renowned business executive and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.
Her legal team made this known in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, her lawyer had reportedly told the Federal High Court in Abuja that she had already stated in her court documents that she would visit the EFCC today in connection with its ongoing investigation into an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to respond to allegations related to an ongoing investigation.
The court also directed that she must be present before it on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to continue proceedings in the matter.
The Chairman of Ward 1 of the Labour Party (LP) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Okasime Olowojoba, has been kidnapped while traveling along the Auchi-Benin-Ibillo Road.
The incident occurred on Saturday near Sasaro, a location notorious for frequent cases of abduction. Olowojoba, who also works as a realtor, was reportedly returning to Igarra after visiting Auchi to pick up his children following their holiday break.
According to reports, the assailants initially seized everyone in the vehicle — Olowojoba, his children, and a house help — but later freed the children and the domestic aide, taking only Olowojoba deep into the forest.
A family member speaking with Vanguard on Monday revealed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release.
The source explained, “Valentine Okasime Olowojoba was returning with his children when he was ambushed and kidnapped around Sasaro. The lack of network service throughout Saturday delayed any contact with the kidnappers until Sunday afternoon.”
“The attackers abandoned the vehicle at the scene and took him away. His brother later confirmed that a N50 million ransom has been demanded. We also heard reports of additional abductions in the same area on Sunday,” the source added.
Efforts to reach the Edo State Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, for confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Vanguard
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1 billion suit instituted against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele over the hardships that trailed the 2023 Naira redesign policy.
The judge threw out the suit instituted by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Uthman Isa Tochukwu on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution of the case.
In a ruling on Monday, Justice Ekwo said that he was convinced that the plaintiff had deliberately abandoned his own case due to his persistent absence in court without legal representation and any explanation.
The plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023 had dragged the former President, Attorney General of the Federation, former governor of the CBN, CBN and two commercial banks before the court claiming that they inflicted series of hardships on him during the redesign of the Naira.
In the suit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Bala Dakum, the plaintiff alleged that his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and dignity of his person were violently breached.
Specifically, the legal practitioner claimed his movement was curtailed while his money in the two commercial banks could not be assessed during the hardship occasioned by the redesign of the Naira in January and March 2023.
He therefore prayed the court to award N1 billion damages against the defendants to be paid to him for the breach of his fundamental rights.
However, at Monday’s proceedings, both the plaintiff and his counsel were not in court and did not offer any excuse for their absence.
Counsel to the 3rd and 4th defendants (Emefiele and CBN) Mr Chikelue Amasiani drew the attention of Justice Ekwo to the persistent absence of the plaintiff and his counsel in court during past proceedings.
He prayed the judge to strike out the suit and that the plaintiff can come back to revive the case when ready to show seriousness.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo agreed with the lawyer and struck out the suit.
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