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Japanese Court Acquits 88-Yr-Old Death Row Inmate, Iwao Hakamada, After Over 50 Years In Prison

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In a landmark ruling, a Japanese court has acquitted Iwao Hakamada, the world’s longest-serving death row inmate.

The 88-year-old was found guilty in 1968 of a quadruple murder but was recently granted a retrial after doubts arose about the evidence used to convict him.

Investigators are now suspected of planting evidence that led to Hakamada’s wrongful conviction, making his case one of Japan’s most notorious and enduring legal sagas.

The acquittal has sparked widespread public interest in Japan, with hundreds of people lining up for seats in the courtroom during the proceedings in Shizuoka on Thursday.

In 1966, the former professional boxer was working at a miso processing plant when the bodies of his employer, the man’s wife, and their two children were discovered in the aftermath of a fire at their home in Shizuoka, west of Tokyo.

All four victims had been fatally stabbed

Authorities accused Hakamada of murdering the family, starting the fire, and stealing 200,000 yen in cash.

  • ‘Coerced’ Confession

Initially, Hakamada denied any involvement in the robbery and killings. However, he later confessed — a statement he later described as coerced following lengthy interrogations and beatings that lasted up to 12 hours a day.

In 1968, Hakamada was convicted of murder and arson and sentenced to death.

Some bloodstained clothes found in a tank of miso shortly after the bodies were discovered were tendered in evidence during the decade-long trial. Those clothes were used to incriminate Hakamada.

For years, Hakamada’s lawyers argued that the DNA on the clothes found at the crime scene did not match his, suggesting that the clothes could belong to someone else.

They also raised concerns that the police may have tampered with evidence.

In 2014, Hiroaki Murayama, a judge, agreed, stating that “the clothes were not those of the defendant” and that continuing to detain Hakamada was unjust, given the strong possibility of his innocence.

Hakamada was released and granted a retrial.

  • Mental Health Affected

However, the retrial did not start until last year due to a lengthy legal process.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, the court finally declared Hakamada innocent, ruling that prosecutors had fabricated key evidence.

Hakamada was absent during the court proceedings as decades of imprisonment, most of it in solitary confinement under the constant threat of execution, have severely impacted his mental health.

He has lived with Hideko, his 91-year-old sister, since his release in 2014.

Retrials for death row inmates are rare in Japan. Hakamada’s case is only the fifth of its kind since World War II.

Japan, along with the United States, is the only G7 country that still enforces capital punishment, with death row inmates receiving only a few hours notice before their execution.

BIG STORY

Two Criminals Who Robbed, Attempted To Kill Lil-Kesh In Lagos Arrested In Kano

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The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects linked to an armed robbery and attempted murder case in Lagos.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna, described the arrests as a major breakthrough made possible through intelligence gathering and community collaboration.

According to Haruna, the suspects — Mathew Adewole, 25, of Na’ibawa Quarters, and Mukhtar Muhammad, 31, of Unguwa Uku Quarters, Kano — were apprehended on September 11, 2025, at Na’ibawa Quarters.

During interrogation, Adewole reportedly confessed to assaulting one Lil-Kesh, a resident of Bera Estate, Chevron, Lagos, on August 19, 2025. The attack left the victim with severe injuries, including a deep neck wound.

Haruna further disclosed that the suspect compelled the victim to transfer ₦2,120,000 from his bank account via mobile phone to Muhammad’s account.

He added that, in line with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Kano Command has been strengthening its intelligence network and deepening community policing to outpace criminal elements.

The police spokesperson noted that the suspects have since been transferred to the Lagos State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, praised the officers for their professionalism and acknowledged the role of the public in supporting police operations. He assured that the command will sustain efforts to maintain law and order across the state.

“The command remains committed to maintaining law and order, working closely with other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach to combating crime,” the statement concluded.

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BIG STORY

How Police Tracked, Arrested Notorious Suspect John Samuel Who Shot, Robbed Gbenga Obama At His Epe Hideout

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Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a notorious armed robber and alleged hired assassin, John Samuel, 28, at his hideout in Epe.

The suspect, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, was picked up on September 19, 2025, around 2:00 pm, after weeks of surveillance.

Report has it that Samuel — recently released from prison on August 18 after serving a six-year jail term for armed robbery — had, the same day, shot and wounded popular Lagos socialite Gbenga Obama at Gbajobi Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja. He then robbed him of a gold necklace and other valuables in broad daylight.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Babaseyi B. Oluseyi, described Samuel as “vicious and notorious,” noting that he was known to shoot victims before dispossessing them of valuables.

Oluseyi said CCTV footage of the August 18 incident captured Samuel firing at Obama with an English pistol, before fleeing with an accomplice who waited on a motorcycle. Obama, who sustained serious gunshot wounds, has since been treated and discharged.

The suspect reportedly confessed to selling the stolen jewelry for ₦4 million — far below its market value. Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of his gang.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohudare Jimoh, commended the operatives for their gallantry and assured residents that the suspect would be prosecuted after investigations.

The command reiterated its commitment to the safety of Lagosians, warning that “the state has no hiding place for criminals.”

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BIG STORY

Road To 2027: We’re Ready To Join APC, Says Kwankwaso, Gives Condition

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The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed readiness to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but only on what he described as a “strong condition.”

Kwankwaso’s declaration ends months of speculation about his political future and has heightened tension within the ruling party and the wider political space.

The former Kano State governor made the remarks on Thursday while receiving Buhari Bakwana, a former political aide to ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who visited him alongside APC members from the 44 local government areas of Kano State.

He insisted that any talks of returning to APC or merging with it must clearly define what the NNPP stands to gain.
“If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain,” he said.

Kwankwaso maintained that while the NNPP was open to discussions, it would not accept being “used and dumped.” He reminded the delegation of his role in establishing APC in 2013, saying he and his allies endured political persecution at the time.

“We have gubernatorial candidates in all the states and full structures nationwide. What will you offer them if we join?” he asked.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.”

The former defence minister also recalled his frustrations with both APC and PDP in past alliances, accusing the two parties of breaching agreements.

“Eight years of APC under the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari gave us nothing, not even appreciation. In PDP, we asked for just a zonal party chairman, but they refused. We left peacefully, and today we are strong and have integrity,” he said.

His latest statement contrasts with his earlier remarks at the NNPP National Executive Council meeting, where he had pledged to remain with the party despite swirling rumours of his impending defection.

Reacting to Kwankwaso’s comments, the State Secretary of APC in Kano, Hon. Zakari Ibrahim Sarina, said the party would welcome him back if he abides by party principles.

“Kwankwaso can’t come to APC to control the party that has national spread. Remember, APC is not NNPP, which he established and controls,” Sarina said.

“We are ready to welcome Kwankwaso back to APC because his return is an added advantage to the ruling party. Another reason the party will be willing to have him is the peace and tranquillity in Kano. We need social and economic development in Kano,” he added.

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