THREE of the eight accused persons alleged to have raped and murdered 24-year-old University of Ilorin student, Olajide Blessing Omowumi, on June 2, last year have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.

  The accused were arraigned before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin by the state government in suit No KWS/33c/c/2021 on 11-count charge bordering on armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and rape.

  In his judgment, yesterday, Justice Ibrahim Adebayo Yusuf found the three convicts guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death, conspiracies to commit robbery and murder.

  The three sentenced to death, Abdulazeez Ismail, Ajala Moses Oluwatimileyin (aka Jacklord) and Oyeyemi Timileyin Omogbolahan, were said to have conspired among themselves, “to rob one Olajide Gloria Blessing Omowumi also known as “Wumi” (now deceased) of her Samsung Galaxy A2 Core handset and carted away other items, including one black Acer Aspire, one series laptop, one Samsung drive, one pink wireless mouse, one white handheld mini sewing machine, one Infinix charger and one gold colour win touch tab, while armed with offensive weapon, including a black wooden pistol gun.”

  The prosecution also accused five others of aiding and abetting the receipt of stolen items, which include the Samsung Galaxy A2 Core handset and some other computer gadgets, being proceeds of armed robbery.

  The charge also accused Abdulazeez Ismail, Kareem Oshioyemi Rasheed and Abdulkarim Shuaib of stealing a sum of money from the GTB account of the deceased.

  Speaking on the judgment, the prosecution Counsel and former attorney general and commissioner for Justice in the state, Salman Jawondo, spoke to journalists after the court session: “The first, second and third defendants, who are the main culprits, were found guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to murder. They were accordingly sentenced to death.

  “That’s the maximum; there’s no discretion for the court to exercise by virtue of provision of the Armed Robbery Act. So also by virtue of section 221 of the penal code, it’s death sentence for culpable homicide. So, they were accordingly sentenced to death.

  “Although the third defendant, who was also convicted of rape, was sentenced to life imprisonment, but it’s neither here nor there, because when somebody is condemned, the life imprisonment does not ameliorate anything. 

  “With respect to the fourth and fifth defendants, they were found guilty of conspiracy to steal and stealing of money in the bank account of the deceased. You know, after killing her, they took her ATM card, SIM card and her phone. They changed her password, through instrumentality of the fourth and fifth defendants, who are experts in computer manipulation, collected some money through transfer, totalling about N149, 000.

  “They were convicted for conspiracy and stealing/theft and accordingly sentenced to three years imprisonment to run concurrently. For conspiracy, one year and for main offence, three years, commencing from the date of their arrest. They’ve spent about one and half years already in custody.

  “The other three- sixth, seventh and eighth- escaped by the whiskers, as they only assisted to dispose of property stolen.

  “The irony of it all is that all those involved are very young men of 19, 23 etc. It’s quite unfortunate and that tells that we have to work on our future in this country.”

  The eight accused persons are Abdulazeez Ismail; Ajala Moses Oluwatimileyin (aka Jacklord); Oyeyemi Timileyin Omogbolahan; Abdulkarim Shuaib (aka Easy); Kareem Oshioyemi Rasheed (Rashworld); Abdullateef Abdulrahman; Daud Bashir Adebayo (aka Bashman) and Akande Taiye Oladoja, 

  The state Police Command had earlier confirmed the suspected rape and murder of the 300-Level student in her residence located at Tanke area of Ilorin metropolis on June 2, last year.

  The deceased, said to be staying with her elder sister, Dr. Dupe Shittu, until her death, was a student of the Agricultural Science Department and hailed from Oke-Opin community in the Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

THE Igbo apex socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called for the arrest and prosecution of Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, over the recent killings and destruction in the Southeast following his (Ekpa’s) declaration of a five-day sit-at-home.

  The organisation’s Secretary General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said Ekpa should be arrested and repatriated to Nigeria for prosecution over the violence in the Southeast, saying he is one of those instigating the killings and destructions in the zone, despite IPOB distancing itself from Ekpa’s order and urging residents to go about their activities.

  Isiguzoro, in a statement, said Ohanaeze would liaise with the Finish Embassy and relevant authorities to ensure that Ekpa is arrested and repatriated to Nigeria to face the consequences of his actions, noting: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commenced the processes of making sure that those responsible for the pandemonium, destruction of public properties, killings, and civil unrest in the southeast will face the consequences of their actions, the incitement of chaos, and their contributions towards the insecurity challenges in the Southeast.

  “Ndigbo has identified Simon Ekpa as the overseas provocateur and instigator for the current killings in Imo state, the destruction of public properties in Enugu State, and disturbance of public peace and sporadic shootings in Ebonyi State.”

  “Ndigbo will liaise with relevant organisations, Finish Embassy in Nigeria and Nigerians in Diaspora to seek ways to bring Simon Ekpa back to Nigeria to face prosecution and trials over the killings of south easterners, burning of public properties and the disturbances of public peace.”

  Isiguzoro accused Ekpa of issuing evil decrees against the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in the Southeast, describing him as a criminal hiding under the Finish citizenship and Biafra agitation to wreak havoc and extort monies from Nigerians abroad.

  “The so-called self-acclaimed Biafran agitator is championing the disruption of election processes in the Southeast, with evil decrees against the collection of PVCs in the Southeast, and institute an illegal but violent Sit at homes, to undermine the economy of Ndigbo in this festive seasons and stimulate violence, massacres, and chaos as Christmas gifts for Ndigbo.

  “Ndigbo calls for the immediate arrest and repatriation of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria. He’s a trickery man and criminal hiding behind Finish citizenship and Biafra agitation to wreak havoc, extort monies from Nigerians abroad and influence the insecurity challenges against Ndigbo.

  “This is the height of deception and treachery against Ndigbo and the immediate arrest of Simon Ekpa will end up insecurity challenges in the east and serve as a deterrent to others, who might want to consider being a menace to the public, particularly to the people of the southeast,” the statement added.

THE Federal Government has announced that pre-arrival or post-arrival testing for COVID was no longer required for travellers, “irrespective of vaccination status.”

  According to a letter by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director General, Musa Nuhu, dated December 12 and addressed to airline operators, titled, ‘COVID-19 Travel Testing: Pre-departure and Post-arrival COVID-19,’ “PCR tests are no longer required for all passengers irrespective of vaccination status. PCR tests required for all passengers who are partially/not fully vaccinated have been suspended.”

  In addition to the suspension of COVID tests, wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory for passengers on board aircraft, but recommended for persons at risk of severe illness.

  “The wearing of face mask inside airport terminal buildings and on board aircraft by airport workers, passengers and crew members is no longer mandatory. Wearing of face mask by passengers on board aircraft or inside airport terminal buildings is discretionary, but recommended.

  “Persons aged 60 years and above, immunocompromised (e.g. due to organ transplant, cancer, etc), those with co-morbidities (e.g. heart disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, etc) are advised to use face masks, wash their hands with water and soap, use hand alcohol-based sanitizers, and avoid large gatherings.

  “Disinfection of bags at the entrance of terminal buildings is no longer required. Airlines are, therefore, required to resume serving catering (meals and drinks) on board aircraft.

  “Maintaining social distancing at airport terminal buildings is no longer mandatory. Facilities and conveyances are advised to maintain good environmental hygiene, good ventilation and encourage good hand and respiratory hygiene. The use of alcohol-based sanitizer by passengers and airport workers is recommended. Boarding and disembarkation protocols are to be maintained.

  Also, the declaration form travellers entering Nigeria are expected to fill on their health status has also now been replaced with a health questionnaire.

“Declaration form/permission to travel/QR code is no longer required. A simplified health questionnaire form (non-COVlD-19 specific) shall be completed by all passengers travelling to Nigeria preferably pre-departure on the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP).

  “Passengers who fail to fill the health questionnaire on the NITP pre-departure will be required to fill the health questionnaire either on board the aircraft prior to landing or at the airport terminal building upon arrival,” the letter stated.

THE Anambra State Police Command has arrested of a 75-year-old man, identified simply as Sunday, for allegedly impregnating a 13-year-old girl in the state.

  According to the Command spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, the victim and the baby had been rescued and in the safe custody of the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.

  The suspect, said to be the girl’s guardian, defiled the minor when his wife travelled, but was apprehended on the night of Sunday, December 11 by officials of the ministry.

  Sunday, who also allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl living with him, was reported to have denied fathering the child.

  The Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Ify Obinabo, promised that the ministry would see to it that the offender was prosecuted, noting: “Whenever a particular person is hurt, all of us are involved and in this together. I am assuring you that justice must be served,

  “If the man is claiming that he is not the person that impregnated her, fine, then the person that impregnated her must come out, because this baby didn’t come from the blues.

  “We must catch this person that is responsible and the person must be court charges.”

HUMAN rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has described the new cash withdrawal policy recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as illegal.

  The apex bank had on December 6, directed deposit money banks and other financial institutions to ensure that weekly over-the-counter (OTC) cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate entities do not exceed N100, 000 and N500, 000, respectively, with effect from January 9, next year.

  The policy has elicited varied reactions among Nigerians, with many describing the action as punitive.

  In his reaction, Falana, in a statement said the cash withdrawal limit was “illegal and null,” as it contravenes provisions of Section 2 of the Money Laundering Act, 2022, which limits cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate entities to N5 million and N10 million, respectively.

  Falana argued that since the Act has not been amended, the new CBN policy is illegal, insisting: “Since the Money Laundering Act, 2022 (which has fixed maximum cash withdrawal to N5 million) has not been amended, the limitation of cash withdrawal of not more than N20, 000 per day and N100, 000 per week fixed by the CBN is illegal, null and void in every material. We urge the Nigerian people to ignore the illegal announcement.

  “However, we are compelled to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the management of the CBN to withdraw the illegal guideline and stop announcing more policies that are designed to sentence poor citizens to more excruciating economic hardship.

Meanwhile, section 2 of the money laundering act 2022 states thus:

  “(1) No person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept cash payment of a sum exceeding- (a) N5,000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of an individual; or (b) N10,000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of a body corporate.

   “(2) A person shall not conduct two or more transactions separately with one or more financial institutions or designated non-financial businesses and professions with intent to- (a) avoid the duty to report a transaction which should be reported under this act; and (b) breach the duty to disclose information under this act by any other means.”

NIGERIAN senators, on Wednesday, December 7, expressed concern over the new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy on cash withdrawal, which they said might stifle the economy.

  The CBN’s new withdrawal policy pegged a restriction on maximum cash withdrawal over the counter (OTC) by individuals and corporate organisations per week at only N100, 000 and N500, 000, respectively.

   Senate Minority Leader, Phillip Aduda (PDP, FCT), had, during Wednesday’s plenary, drawn the attention of his colleagues to the new policy while seconding a motion that the nominations of Mrs. Aishah Ahmad and Mr. Edward Lametek Adamu as deputy governors of CBN be referred to the committee for screening. 

  Aduda cautioned against the cash withdrawal limit, saying the policy would affect the country’s economy: “Our commerce, I think, is not ripe for this and our economy cannot take this shock. There is need for us to speak about it because people are suffering and it is a very serious issue.”

  Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue) also urged the senate to debate the policy immediately for the sake of Nigerians, whom, he said, were extremely worried, adding: “My phone was inundated by calls from constituents who are outside the former sector. People are extremely worried. You should have allowed us to discuss this issue for the sake of Nigerians.”

  Responding, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, cautioned the CBN not to approach the policy by jumping into it at once, saying many Nigerians would be affected, saying there was the need to engage the CBN to get more details on the policy.

  He, therefore, directed the committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions to discuss the matter during the screening of the CBN deputy governors, noting that the new CBN policy would be thoroughly debate next Tuesday.

  “At the moment, I will advise that these two deputy governors had been in the CBN for the past four years. So, they are part of this system. They are not new people. This should be part of the major issues to be raised when they appear for screening.

  “I want us to be properly informed and guided. Most of us, if not all of us, have not had an engagement with that institution. My personal opinion is, if we want to be a cashless society, we should take time to be cashless society and not to jump on it at once. Most Nigerians will be out of business.

  “But we need to take the opportunity of the screening to be better informed on the policy,” he stated.

THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has reinstated Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia as a Judge of the Federal High Court.

  NJC said its decision was based on a court judgment that quashed a 15-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against her.

  The NJC had sanctioned the prosecution of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, following a petition, dated December 28, 2017, which accused her of engaging in various acts considered to be in breach of the Code of Conduct of Judicial Officers.

  Based on the recommendation by the Council, President Muhammadu Buhari, on November 7, 2018, in the exercise of his constitutional power under Section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, dismissed Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia as a Judge of the Federal High Court.

  However, owing to an application by Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, the trial high court, in a ruling on November 19, 2021, discharged the defendant of the charges against her.

  The court placed reliance on a judgment delivered on November 28, 2019 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/638/2018, which quashed the NJC report that indicted the defendant.

  Following that judgment, the NJC, at the end of a meeting held on December 1, okayed the reinstatement of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia to the Bench, a directive that has been complied with by the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

  Justice Tsoho, in a circular dated December 5, said Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s reinstatement was with immediate effect, adding: “Your Lordships are by this circular letter notified that at the meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on December 1, 2022, reinstated Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia as a Judicial Officer.

  “The reinstatement takes instant effect and there shall be consequential posting.”