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Retired Police Officers Ask Court To Send IGP To Prison

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Some retired officers of the Nigerian police have asked the National Industrial Court (NIC) to commit the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to prison for alleged disobedience to the order of the court which reinstated them back into Force.

The officers, in a statement issued Monday, alleged that they were forcefully retired from the Force despite the court judgment that ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission (PSC) not to retire them when some of them have not reached the 60 years, while some were yet to spend 35 years in the police force.

The statement issued by one of the aggrieved officers, Mr. Emmanuel Idris, on behalf of other concerned officers, alleged that the IG was yet to obey the judgment to reinstate them into the Force.

Idris claimed that the court delivered the judgment in April 2022 and the defendants were yet to implement the judgment, which was delivered by Justice Oyewumi Oyebiola of the NICN.

According to the statement, “We are members and graduates of Course 33, 34, and 35 of the Police Academy; we were forcefully retired from the force when we were yet to attain the age of 60 years, and some were retired when they were yet to spend 35 years in the police force. We approached the National Industrial Court in Abuja to challenge the action of the Force against us and the court presided over by Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyebiola gave an order that we should be reinstated, but to our surprise, the police authorities have not obeyed the court judgment till today.

“It could be noted that the police took the action against us because of the issue on our date of first appointment. and the issue has been cleared by the court and there was no appeal on the court judgment. Incidentally, the police authorities had implemented the earlier judgments of the same court involved other police officers, but for inexplicable reasons, the authorities have refused bluntly to obey the judgment involving courses 33, 34, and 35.”

Also, the aggrieved police officers, through their counsel, Mr. Godwin Okoro, asked the IG, the PSC, and Force Secretary to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for their refusal to obey the court order that reinstated the officers who were forcefully retired from the service when they have not spent 35 years in service or attained 60 years of age.

The Industrial Court presided by Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi had in suit No: NICN/ABJ/281/2021 filed by Messrs Egong Egwu Egong, Omeh Felix Okechukwu, Paul Obot Umoh, and Galadima Bello urged the IG, the PSC and the Force Secretary of the Police to reinstate the officers who were forcefully retired from office.

The police officers had through their counsel approached the National Industrial Court seeking an order to nullify their retirement from the service by the Nigeria Police Force and the PSC.

The court consequently restrained the defendants — the IG, the PSC, and the Force Secretary of the Nigeria Police — from retiring the officers compulsorily.

However, since April 19, 2022, when the judgment was delivered, the IG and other defendants were yet to obey the court order reinstating the officers of the courses who joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1996, 1999, and 2000.

In form 87 filed by the retired police officers, they asked the IG and other defendants to appear in person to show cause why an order for their committal should not be made for the disobedience to the order reinstating officers of courses 33, 34, and 35 who graduated from the police academy between 1996 and 2000.

In a copy of the letter addressed to IG Baba, signed by the court registrar, Mrs. Rufai Zainab Ahmed, and dated January 23, 2023, they warned the IG and other defendants against disobeying the court judgment or face the consequences which is imprisonment.

The notice read: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the certificate of the judgment of the court dated April 19, 2022, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

BIG STORY

Court Jails Gospel Singer Moses Otitoju, Eight Others For Cybercrime

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The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced Moses Otitoju, a self-proclaimed gospel singer, and eight others to prison for crimes linked to cybercrime, conspiracy, and misuse of funds.

Otitoju was sentenced along with Ayodele Joseph, Adeoye Joseph, and Abubakar Abdulmalik, all charged with similar offences by the anti-corruption agency.

The charges were filed by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a statement issued Friday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the 31-year-old gospel singer from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State was sentenced to six months in prison by Justice Abimbola Awogboro without the option to pay a fine.

Otitoju was convicted for keeping over N8.4 million in his bank account, which was traced to illegal activities.

One of the charges read, “That you, Otitoju Moses Sesan, sometime between October 2024 and December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did retain control of the gross sum of N8,404,339 in your account, being proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”

Ayodele, who had N243,750 in his account, received an eight-month jail sentence without an option of fine.

His Tecno 19 phone was confiscated by order of the court and handed over to the Federal Government.

Adeoye, a native of Okene LGA in Kogi State, was also sentenced to eight months without the option of a fine.

He forfeited $220, an iPhone 13, and a Tecno Pop 9 phone to the Federal Government.

Abubakar was handed a six-month prison term. His iPhone 16 and Samsung S10 were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

EFCC prosecutors Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama led the cases, presenting statements, exhibits, and recovered funds as evidence, all of which were admitted in court.

In another case, Justices Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court found Emeka Achi, Isaac Oluwafemi, Afolabi Olatoye, Zubeiru Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek guilty of cybercrime and diversion of funds.

Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulkadir to three years in prison with an option to pay a N500,000 fine, and ordered that N800,000, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Saleeman sentenced Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi to six months in jail each, with the option to pay N100,000 as a fine.

In addition, Emeka was ordered to repay N3.35 million within three months and report to the EFCC every two weeks alongside his parents until full payment is made.

Tunde Oyekola

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BIG STORY

Kogi University Lecturer Dies During Sex Romp In Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

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A senior lecturer at Kogi State University, Anyigba, named Dr. Olabode Abimbola Ibikunle, reportedly died in a hotel room following a sexual encounter with a 22-year-old student in her second year.

It was reported that the event happened on Tuesday, July 15, and the police at Anyigba were alerted shortly after. The student involved was taken into custody for questioning.

The lecturer, known across the university for his strict approach, was allegedly infamous for taking advantage of female students in return for academic favours.

Sources claim Dr. Ibikunle, who was married with children, had booked a room in a hotel alongside the student, who is studying Social Studies Education.

According to those familiar with the situation, the lecturer consumed several energy drinks prior to the incident, presumably in anticipation of vigorous activity.

Unfortunately, the lecturer collapsed and passed away during the act.

The Kogi State Police Command verified the incident to SaharaReporters on Friday, labeling it as unfortunate.

In a statement to SaharaReporters, the Command’s spokesperson, SP William Ovye Aya, stated that the student had been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for deeper inquiry and potential charges.

Aya explained: “The report was received on July 16, but the unfortunate incident happened on July 15, 2025. It was the manager of the hotel (name not disclosed), who came to the police station at Anyigba and reported about his guest, the lecturer who had lodged in their facility with a 22-year-old 200-level student, 22 years old, named Gloria Samuel.

“According to the manager, the girl on that fateful day rushed to the reception and complained that the lecturer took her to the hotel, and after they had sex, the man slumped.

“So the manager rushed and informed the DPO, and the DPO rushed to the scene, and they moved the man to the hospital. On arrival, a doctor on duty confirmed the lecturer’s death.

“So the girl in question has been transferred from Anyigba Police Division to the State CID for further investigation and prosecution. An autopsy has been conducted, but right now I don’t know whether the result of the autopsy is out because I haven’t spoken with the SCID.”

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BIG STORY

FULL LIST: Tinubu Appoints IBB’s Son, Muhammad Babangida Chairman Bank Of Agriculture, Others As Heads Of Govt Agencies

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Babangida, the son of the former military President, as chairman of the revamped Bank of Agriculture.

President Tinubu approved the appointment today, along with seven others. Some of them will serve as chairmen or directors-general of Federal agencies.

Muhammad Babangida, 53, is an alumnus of the European University in Montreux, Switzerland, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Business Communication. He later attended Harvard Business School’s Executive Program on Corporate Governance in 2002.

Others appointed by the President are:

Lydia Kalat Musa (Kaduna State) Chairman, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA).

Jamilu Wada Aliyu (Kano State) Chairman, National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

The Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa (Kano State) is the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) chairman.

Sanusi Musa (SAN, Kano State) is the Chairman of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution(IPCR).

Prof. Al-Mustapha Alhaji Aliyu (Sokoto State) is the Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA).

Sanusi Garba Rikiji (Zamfara State) is the Director-General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN).

Mrs Tomi Somefun (Oyo State) is the Managing Director of the National Hydro-Electric Power Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC).

Dr Abdulmumini Mohammed Aminu-Zaria (Kaduna State) has been appointed Executive Director of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC).

 

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

July 18, 2025

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