A High Court in Plateau State on Wednesday sentenced two persons, Thomas Danboyi and Pam Lang, to death by hanging for their roles in the killing of one Chung Bot.

The verdict was delivered by the state Chief Judge, Justice David Gwong Mann, at the High Court in Jos on Wednesday.

In the case, State vs. Thomas Danboyi & Pam Lang (Charge No. PLD/J112C/2010), the court found the defendants guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

He said the  offences were punishable under the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria, 1963 (then applicable to Plateau State).

According to the prosecution, led by the Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, P.A. Daffi and a team of lawyers, the crime occurred on April 26, 2010, at Tahai Gyel Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area.

The prosecution had told the court that the victim, Chung Bot, and his family had gone to their farmland in Ta Hei, Gyel, to cultivate when they were attacked by the accused persons with other persons (now at large).

Evidence presented before the court revealed that the first accused, Thomas Danboyi, restrained the victim by holding his hands behind his back while the second accused, Pam Lang, repeatedly struck Bot on the head with a stick.

It was learnt  that the victim was later rushed to the Plateau Hospital, Jos, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

The court found both defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to their conviction.

According to Justice Mann, the evidence before the court was “overwhelming” and that the prosecution through its witnesses and Exhibits tendered “established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendants conspired to commit this crime and intentionally caused the death of the victim.”

Following their conviction, their counsel both pleaded that the court to temper justice with mercy, being that the convicts are responsible family men and had been of good conduct in the course of their trial.

Justice Mann exercised his discretion only in respect of the criminal conspiracy by handing out the sentence of three years imprisonment.

However, on the offence of culpable homicide, Justice Mann handed over the mandatory sentence, which is the death penalty as he had no discretion to reduce the penalty.

The case has drawn significant attention, given its prolonged duration since the crime was committed in 2010.

The judgment is seen as a strong statement against violent crimes and resort to self-help by the public in Plateau State and reinforces the commitment of the judiciary to ensuring justice is served.

Legal experts note that the convicts still have the right to appeal the judgment to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court as the case may be. However, unless a higher court overturns the verdict, the sentence will be carried out as prescribed by law.

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday granted an order for Abdulrahman Bello, the suspected killer of Hafsoh Lawal, a final year student of Kwara State College of Education and his co-defendants to be returned to the the custody of the Department of Security Service for further investigation.

TheNigerian Metro gathered that the suspects in the alleged gruesome murder of Hafsoh had been moved from the Nigeria Correctional Service facility, Oke-kura, IIorin by the DSS as against the speculation going viral that they had been moved to Abuja.

However, on Thursday,  March 20, 2025, the trial began at exactly 9.12 am at the Magistrate Court 8, Ilorin before Magistrate S.B. Mohammed and ended at exactly 10.20 am (approximately 1hr 8mins).

Mohammed however urged the defendants to express their legal rights appropriately if they were dissatisfied with the order.

Our correspondent confirmed that all the defendants were present in court with their lawyers except for the principal suspect, Abdulrahman Belo, who had yet to have any legal representation.

Arraigned along with Abdulraham were Ahmed Abdulwasiu ‘M’, 41 years of Zone C, No 47, Adualere Area, Ilorin; Suleiman Muyideen, ‘M’, 28 years, Neolife Business, No. 7 Adualere Area, Amilengbe, Ilorin; Jamiu Uthman ‘M’, 29 years, a phone repairer at Adualere Area, Ilorin and Abdulrahmon Jamiu, ‘M’, 31 years, farmer of Elemere Village via Malete Town in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

They were brought to the court in a white Toyota Hilux by operatives of the DSS amidst tight security.

Announcing his appearance before the court, the Chief State Counsel, Issa Zakari, said: “My Lord, after the last adjourned date, we received an intelligence security report pursuant to which we approached Your Worship that the defendants had been moved to the custody of the Department of Security Service for further investigation and it was on this note you accepted the request. As we speak, an investigation is ongoing and it is at an advanced stage.

“We hereby wish to seek the adjournment of this case till a later date when the investigation would have been concluded.”

Counsel for the 2nd and 4th defendants, A.S. Oseni, however, raised an objection saying: “During the last sitting, it was said that investigations had been concluded and sequel to that prosecution and the charge that was served on the High Court, a date has been communicated to us which is 15th April 2025. Coming to you behind the back door to seek another order, My Lord, the order is something that this Honourable Court does not have the right to hear and it is beyond Your worship.

“The high court has already seized this case. I hereby urge this Honourable Court to vacate such order and return the defendants to the prison forthwith. My Lord, these are copies of the charges served on the defendants for clarification.”

Similarly, counsel for the 3rd defendant in his submission argued that “No single provision of the law empowers the prosecution with such power to make such an order and aligned himself with the position of A.S. Oseni and urged the court to vacate the order describing it as barbaric, null and void.

He added, “This court lacks the power to determine such order because the High Court has seized the case.”

Also speaking, counsel to the 5th defendant, also aligned with the submission of other defense Counsels and urged the court to vacate the order in the interest of justice and fair hearing.”

However, Chief State Counsel, Zakari said: “I most humbly submit that the arguments by the legal representatives of the defendants is an attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill. We have informed Your Worship about the sensitivity and nature of the case which was later communicated to vide an ex parte order that investigation still needs to continue.

“Also, the defendants are yet to be arraigned before that High Court and more so, their case is yet to be mentioned there and they are even yet to take a plea before the court. The law that empowers us to mention this case before you also empowers you to sit on such an order and determine it. If the defendants or any party has any grouse over this order, they can approach the Court of Appeal to challenge such.

“Therefore, there is no condition that can stop you from granting such an order. Justice is a tripartite legal arrangement; Justice to society, justice to the victim and justice to the defendants themselves. On this note, I urge Your Worship to discountenance their position and see it as an aberration and attempt to escape from justice.”

Recall that Hafsoh, a final year student of Kwara State College of Education was allegedly killed and dismembered by AbdulRahman, a situation that was described by the people as th height of wickedness.

The case was however adjourned till Wednesday, April 9, 2025, for the continuation of hearing by the court.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested 17 suspects linked to a recent attack on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.

The arrest was stated in a statement signed by the corps spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, on Monday.

According to the statement, the operation, which took place in the early hours of March 6, 2025, led to the apprehension of individuals believed to be responsible for the murder of Assistant Superintendent Umar Aliyu with Service number 6363 and the theft of a speedboat from Tantita Security Services.

The Head of the Squad, Commandant Apollos Dandaura, noted that the coordinated operation, carried out in synergy with other security agencies, targeted the suspects in the Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“Earlier in January 21st, 2025, there was an attack against the Joint Task Force combining operatives of the NSCDC and Tantita Security Services at their Base in Torugbene II unit at Ekeremo LGA in Bayelsa State by suspected vandals and Sea pirates who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons.

“Upon arrival at the base, they shot sporadically at the officers and innocent civilians which led to the killing of ASC Umar Aliyu, his Ak 47 official Riffle was carted away, Ebikame Seimeneyefa of Tantita Security was shot and Tantita Speed Boat was also hijacked and stolen,” Dandaura was quoted saying.

After an intensive undercover investigation, the CG’s SIS team tracked down and apprehended the criminals, including the notorious leader Ziakede Amatu.

“We mounted a round-the-clock and relentless onslaught against the suspects in collaboration with sisters security agencies and the Tantita Security and succeeded in smashing the 17 deadly Sea pirates led by a notorious vandal, kidnapper and armed robber called Ziakede Amatu, who hails from Norgbene community in Ekeremo, Bayelsa State and has been terrorizing the community and all neighbouring states,” the statement added.

The statement noted that Amatu, originally from the Norgbene community in Bayelsa, had been terrorising the region and had even previously attempted to infiltrate the Tantita Security Services.

Authorities revealed that Amatu and his group were behind multiple criminal activities, including illegal refining and attacks on oil installations.

Further investigation revealed that Amatu’s group had planned the attack on the NSCDC and Tantita operatives as part of a larger effort to disrupt the security operations and gain control over oil facilities.

They reportedly sought to destroy the reputation of Tantita Security Services and disrupt the progress made by the organization in securing oil and gas pipelines in the region.

The suspects confessed to their involvement in illegal refining activities in Abonima, Rivers State, in 2023. They also admitted to stealing sophisticated firearms and using them to protect their illegal operations.

The stolen rifles were hidden in a forest and later brought out by Amatu after he received advice from local elders to use them for community protection.

In a bid to disguise their true intentions, the group procured uniforms from Tantita Security Services, attempting to mislead the public and law enforcement during their attacks.

“Further confession revealed that the suspects embarked on this mischievous blackmail against the Tantita Security Chairman, Ekpemupolo Owiezide Government aka Tompolo since they could not infiltrate and get some Surveillance contracts sublet to them; hence the move to vandalise Oil and Gas Installations and this culminated to the attack on NSCDC and Tantita Operatives, leading to the killing of the late officer,” the statement revealed.

Among the suspects arrested were individuals identified as Aaron Ekogbene, Ebimene Adeseotu, Toukekenme Emmanuel Police, Ken David, Timiprey Ekogbene, and Isaac Pius, among others. During the operation, investigators recovered an AK-47 rifle, several empty magazines, and multiple Tantita Security uniforms, including boots and shirts.

The statement added that Dandaura commended the support of NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, for “enabling the Squad to carry out her responsibilities with necessary logistic support which has engendered its remarkable achievements in fighting crimes and criminalities, combating illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, carrying out Investigative operations and dislodging criminal-minded persons from their hideouts.”

A Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, on Thursday, reserved judgment in the case against a Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Ominikoron, accused of raping and murdering a 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, in 2022.

Justice Sherifat Sonaike fixed May 2, 2025, for the judgment after the prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses.

Defence counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, while adopting the final written address, argued that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove Ominikoron’s guilt.

He insisted that none of the testimonies from the nine prosecution witnesses directly linked the defendant’s actions to Ayanwola’s death.

Omotubora also dismissed a voice note reportedly sent by the deceased to her friend as inadmissible hearsay, stating that the prosecution failed to call the friend as a witness.

Challenging the prosecution’s reliance on the “last-seen” doctrine, the defence counsel stated that mere suspicion is not enough for a conviction without strong circumstantial evidence.

He also argued that the testimony of a prosecution witness, who alleged she was a previous rape victim of the defendant, required corroboration.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, in his final address, urged the court to convict the defendant and pronounce him guilty based on the testimonies of prosecution witnesses three, seven, and eight.

Martins stated that the corroboration is not required in rape cases under Nigerian law.

He pointed out that the defendant was last seen with Ayanwola and fled to Ososa, Sagamu, Ogun State, instead of reporting to the police an action he described as suspicious.

Martins added that Ominikoron was later arrested by the Department of State Services in 2022.

Regarding the voice note from the deceased, Martins cited Section 34 of the Nigerian Evidence Act, which allows the court to evaluate and assign probative value to dying declarations.

Ominikoron is facing four counts bordering on conspiracy, rape, and murder preferred against him, by the Lagos State government.

He was arraigned in March 2022, before the court over the rape and murder of his passenger, on February 26, 2022, at the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.

The prosecution told the court that Ominikoron conspired with others now at large to rape and murder his 22-year-old passenger.

The prosecution said the defendant had sexual intercourse with Ayanwole, without her consent, and murdered her, at about 7 p.m., between Lekki-Ajah Expressway and Carter Bridge, on February 26, 2022.

According to the prosecution the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, Ominnikoron pleaded not guilty, to the charges against him.

The Edo State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the gruesome murder of a seven-year-old boy, Evans Okojabhole, whose mutilated body was found dumped near his home in the Irrua area of the state.

The suspects, identified as 45-year-old Pastor Ijebor Simon and 23-year-old Destiny Okojabhole, were apprehended after preliminary investigations linked them to the horrific crime.

The shocking discovery reportedly sent shocking waves through the residents of Irrua after the missing child was found with his stomach ripped open, his feet severed from the ankle, and several fingers cut off.

Disclosing the arrests on Wednesday via his X.com handle, the police command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, described the incident as a heinous crime.

“The Edo State Police Command received a case of murder reported by one John Okhojibole of Jehovah’s Witness Road, off Elebesunu Street in Irrua,” Yamu stated.

According to the police, Evans Okojabhole was reported missing around 1:45pm on February 22, 2025, before his lifeless and dismembered body was discovered in a bush 24 hours later.

Following an investigation, the two suspects were detained and transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department in Benin City for further interrogation.

“The suspects were taken into custody by officers from the Irrua Divisional Headquarters. They have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department in Benin City for further interrogation,” the statement read.

While the state reeled from the horror of the child’s killing, tragedy struck again when suspected herdsmen ambushed and killed a 50-year-old vigilante commander, Victor Ogedengbe, at his farm in Erah Camp, Owan East Local Government Area.

The attack, which occurred around 7:30 am on Tuesday, prompted swift action from security operatives.

Yamu named the three suspects linked to the vigilante commander’s murder as Ibrahim Agboje (King), Yakubu Abdulkareem, and Kareem Audu.

“His brutal murder prompted swift action from security operatives, leading to the arrest of three suspects: Ibrahim Agboje (King), Yakubu AbdulKareem, and Kareem Audu, all from Erah Community.

“They have also been handed over to the State Criminal Investigations Department for further probing,” the statement partly read.

In the wake of these chilling crimes, the command announced that it had ramped up security in Uzanu and surrounding areas, where two other men were recently killed on their farms in Okpekpe Community by suspected herdsmen.

The Commissioner of Police, Betty Enekpen Otimenyin, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to public safety.

Yamu quoted the CP as saying, “The Command has reviewed the security deployment in Uzanu and environs regarding the killing of two men by suspected herdsmen while in their farms in Okpekpe Community, to apprehend the perpetrators and forestall a recurrence.”

She urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies, stressing the importance of community involvement in tackling crime.

“The CP wishes to reiterate the Command’s commitment to a safer Edo State, appreciates the support from the general public, and appeals for more cooperation from the good people of the State to ‘See Something and Say Something.’”