Police arrest 5 suspected ritualists in Ogun

The Police Command in Ogun, says it has arrested five suspected members of a ritual gang, which specialises in exhuming corpses from graves and removing body parts for rituals.

The Police Spokesman , Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this in a statement in Abeokuta on Sunday, said the suspects were arrested on Saturday in Odogbolu.

Oyeyemi gave the names of the suspects as; Oshole Fayemi, 60, Oseni Adesanya, 39, Ismaila Seidu, 30, Oseni Oluwasegun ,69 and Lawal Olaiya, 50.

He said the suspects were arrested following intelligence received by the Police at Odogbolu Divisional Headquarters, that the gang was planning carry out another round of human parts harvest within Ososa town.

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), of Odogbolu Division, Godwin Idehai, immediately mobilised his men and stormed the suspects’ hideout where five of them were apprehended.

“On interrogation, the suspects made confessional statements that they were actually into the business of exhuming corpses from their graves.

“They said that they usually sold the exhumed body parts to their clients who used them for money making rituals,” he said. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Frank Mba, has directed that the suspects be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and possible prosecution. (NAN)

L-R: National Commissioner of INEC in charge of North West, Prof. Abdullahi

A. Zuru presenting the certificate of return to a member elect representing Danbatta/ Makoda Federal Constituency of Kano state, Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim Cidari, during the presentation of Certificates of return to member of the National Assembly by INEC, at International Conference Centre, yesterday in Abuja.

Minna residents lament incessant youth attacks on communities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Residents of Minna metropolis and environs have lamented over the incessant attacks by the youths on the people and communities, leaving many injured and property destroyed.

Youths in their groups have continued to unleash havoc on the innocent citizens in various streets of Minna.

Areas affected included; Barkin Sale to Kpakungu, Stadium road, Limawa and Mobile roundabout among others.

Supreme Court recognises Lawal as Zamfara PDP Governorship candidate

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Supreme Court has affirmed Dauda Lawal as the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State.

This was contained in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that Lawal’s affirmation is coming over a week to the March 18 governorship election scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

In a unanimous judgment, the five-man panel of Justices dismissed an appeal brought against the nomination by another governorship aspirant, Dr Ibrahim Gusau.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, the Supreme Court upheld submissions of the Counsel to Lawal, Damian Dodo, that his client was legally and lawfully nominated in line with the provisions of the law.

Justice Jauro upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal Sokoto, which had on January 6, this year, endorsed the second primary election that produced the candidate.

Lawal had in the primary election polled 442 votes to emerge victorious over Dr Ibrahim Gusau and Other aspirants.

Justice Jauro held that a Federal High Court in Gusau which nullified the primary elections twice had no jurisdiction at the time it adjudicated upon the suit instituted by Dr Gusau.

The Court of Appeal Sokoto Division had in June 6 upheld the primary election, which produced Dr. Dauda Lawal, as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the March 11, 2023, governorship election in Zamfara State.

The first PDP governorship primary election held on May 25, 2022, was challenged at a Federal High Court in Gusau and was nullified.

The High Court in its judgment ordered fresh primary election, which was conducted on September 23, 2022, but was also quashed by the same court for irregularities.

Not satisfied with the High Court decision, Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare, Adamu Maina-Waziri, the Chairman Primary Election Committee; and retired Col. Bala Mande approached the Appeal Court for redress.

Reports revealed that due to the current attacks many people were injured, maimed, harassed and intimidated while property were destroyed.

According to findings, the well coordinated youth groups who are identified as political thugs usually came out for operations without the required counter attack from the security operatives appropriately.

When contacted, the Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Wasiu Abiodun said the four of the youths have been arrested in two locations of Morris and Stadium road in connection with the attacks, adding that police personnel have been deployed to the identified black spot areas in curbing the menace in Minna and environs.