The operatives of the Kano State Police Command have recovered counterfeit banknotes valued at N129 billion and seized arms in an intensified crackdown on illegal activities, marking a significant step in the fight against financial crimes and insecurity.

Additionally, three suspects caught with counterfeit currencies in various denominations have been arrested as part of the operation.

According to the command, a breakdown of the currencies includes “3,366,000” in counterfeit US Dollars, “51,970” in counterfeit CFA francs, and “1,443,000” in counterfeit Naira.

One of the suspects, Nura Ibrahim, led to the arrest of his accomplices, Muhammed Muntari and Usman Abdullahi, following a preliminary investigation by the force in the Gwale area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer confirmed this on Tuesday through a statement posted on the agency’s social media platform.

Also arrested were three gunrunners along the Kaduna-Kano expressway in Kaduna State, just a day after the incident in Kano.

The suspects, Buhari Suleiman, Jamil Yakubu, and Aliyu Abdullahi, were alleged to have been involved in the illegal arms trade, supplying criminals and terrorists who have been disturbing residents in the area.

As gathered, the suspects were apprehended after police operatives observed their suspicious activities, which led to an investigation and the recovery of “216 rounds” of 9mm live ammunition and “one round” of AK-47 ammunition.

In a separate operation, operatives from the Kebbi State Command rescued 36 victims who had been kidnapped along the Mairairai/Bena Road in Danko/Wasagu LGA while returning from their farms.

Meanwhile, police operatives visited the community of the rescued victims to engage with its members, debrief the victims, and reassure the public of their unwavering commitment to ensuring safety and security.

Reacting to this commendable development by the police force nationwide, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the officers for their relentless efforts in combating crime.

Egbetokun also reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combatting all forms of crime and criminality, particularly economic saboteurs.

“The force remains vigilant, steadfast, and unforgiving towards those who would threaten the national security and economic progress of our dear country,” he said.

The trial of four bloggers: Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami, charged with allegedly blackmailing Guaranty Trust Holding Company and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, will continue on Thursday following the request on Tuesday of the defence counsel, A. Adeniyi, to call more witnesses

The four bloggers were dragged before Justice Ayokunle Faji by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos.

They are facing a 10 count amended charge for allegedly publishing false information about GTCO and Agbaje through various social media platforms.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were denied bail because Eze was accused of being a serial offender.

However, Justice Faji ordered an accelerated trial of the four bloggers.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on November 13 and 14, 2024, Justice Faji dismissed their bail applications, citing the serious nature of the alleged offences, which included charges that could lead to up to 14 years in prison.

The judge also held that Eze has shown the tendencies of committing the offence again if let out as he is currently charged with a similar offence in another court and was only out on bail when he went ahead to commit the alleged offence for which he is now standing trial.

He also highlighted the potential destabilising impact such actions could have on the banking sector, particularly since some of the charges involved cross-border activities on the internet.

He also noted that the defendants’ actions challenged the authority of regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, which had approved GTCO’s audited statements.

At the resumption of trial on Tuesday, the police witness, M. Yakubu, who was still under oath, was cross-examined by the defence counsel.

Adeniyi asked: “Are you familiar with international laws and practices that guide investigators and the implications of not adhering to such laws and practices?”

The witness replied: “I am aware,” adding that he had been an investigator since 2001.

On whether he knew that each column in a statement form has its importance to the investigator and the suspects and as well familiar with his right to guide and not induce or promise the suspect through the process, the witness replied that he was certainly aware.

Adeniyi further asked for the starting and ending time of each statement recording of the defendants from the 1st to the 4th and the reason for the process without the presence of their lawyers.

The witness replied that the maximum time spent in recording the statement of each defendant was an hour and it was done in the absence of their legal representatives, which he said was as the defendants agreed to do.

He further probed: “How many interrogation rooms do you have at your station?”

Witness replied: “We have only one.”

Defence counsel: “How did you record the statement of the four defendants?”

Witness: “It was done one after the other and I was the one who conducted it.”

Defence counsel: “Do you have an observation room at your station? How many?”

Witness: “We only have CCTV footage of the interrogation room which can only be viewed from the office of the CP, DSP and ACP.”

The defence counsel then prayed the court to give room for more witnesses for cross examination.

Opposing the application, the prosecution counsel, Chief Ajibola Aribisala (SAN), urged the court to reject the request or mandate the defence counsel to make available the list of witnesses before they appear in court.

In delivering his ruling, Justice Faji ordered the defence counsel to update the prosecuting counsel on the list of the witnesses that will be summoned at the next hearing slated for Thursday, December 12, 2024.

An Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, sent lawyer and activist, “Dele Farotimi”, back to prison after the police vehemently opposed his application for bail, accusing him of intimidating witnesses.

The magistrate adjourned the case until December 20 to rule on whether or not to admit “Farotimi” to bail, following the strong opposition from the police.

The police are prosecuting “Farotimi” on the allegation that he defamed legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, “Aare Afe Babalola”.

According to the police, the activist lawyer defamed “Babalola” in his book titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’

Following his arrest in Lagos State last Tuesday, the police took “Farotimi” to Ekiti State and arraigned him last Wednesday before the Ado Ekiti magistrates’ court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Last week, the magistrate, “Abayomi Adeosun”, rejected an oral bail application by “Farotimi’s” lawyer, insisting that a formal bail application should be filed and adjourning the case until December 10.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defence counsel, “Taiwo Adedeji”, urged the magistrate to admit his client to bail, noting that the offence against him was bailable.

“The alleged offences are bailable. Again, the defendant should be considered innocent until the contrary is proved.

“The defendant is a lawyer with a fixed address, a 25-year unblemished record, and his name is on the roll of legal practitioners of the Supreme Court and others. The defendant has undertaken to make himself available whenever his attention is needed,” Adedeji said.

He urged the court to discountenance all that was contained in the prosecution’s counter-affidavit and grant bail to the defendant.

But the prosecuting counsel for the police, “Samson Osodu”, vehemently opposed the bail application, contending that “Farotimi” would likely jump bail.

The police prosecutor also described the defendant as “a social media influencer, who, despite being brought to this court, has been intimidating our witnesses, nominal complainant.”

According to the prosecutor, “Farotimi” had also repeatedly said that he does not believe in the judicial system.

Furthermore, he argued that “The affidavit brought by the defendants is not competent because it was deposed to by a litigation clerk.”

Earlier, Osodu had opposed the appearance of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, “Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika”, to defend “Farotimi”.

After taking arguments from both sides, the chief magistrate, “Adeosun”, adjourned the case until December 20 to rule on the bail application.

Meanwhile, the planned protest slated for the Ekiti State Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, organized by the Take It Back Movement, failed to hold on Tuesday as no protesters were seen in sight.

A community leader and the Olotin of Ado Ekiti, “Chief Michael Osaloni”, had on Monday cautioned those planning to stage a protest in the state on Tuesday “to steer clear of Ekiti as they would not like the outcome, they should, in their own interest, shelve it or else face the consequences”.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Police Command, “Sunday Abutu”, had also earlier warned against protests in the state.

“The state here is peaceful, the metro here is peaceful. There is no protest here in Ekiti. As a matter of fact, nobody informed us officially that there would be any protest, we just heard it through rumour.

“Though protest is the right of everyone, when we heard about that, we warned that people should desist from unlawful protest. We are happy Ekiti is peaceful. We are glad and we appreciate the good people of Ekiti State for not joining any form of illegal protest to put the state in a state of chaos,” the PPRO said.

In his reaction to the court ruling, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, “Omoyele Sowore”, stated on his X handle, “The ruling on @delefarotimi’s bail application was today adjourned till December 20.

“@DeleFarotimi has been sent back to prison for the next 10 days. See what begging has done? #FreeDeleFarotimiNow,” Sowore stated.

Recall that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, “Mr Peter Obi”, had on Monday visited “Afe Babalola” in Ado Ekiti to plead with him over the case of “Farotimi”, a move Sowore condemned on his X-handle, saying, “I condemn those who went to beg Chief Afe Babalola today (Monday) over the unjust detention and persecution of @DeleFarotimi.”