We are battle ready to stop crime this year – Manko

by PATIENCE OGBO on Jan 3, 2015 | No comments
Posted under: People

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Police boss Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Onikan Lagos , Umar Manko assured residents in Lagos and Ogun states that the police are battle ready to stop all crime and criminality in the New Year and as the General elections approaches.
In order to have maximum security in Ogun and Lagos states, . Mr. Manko who also spoke about other issues concerning the Nigeria Police Force urged residents to go about their lawful business as the police in the Zone are not resting on their oars in ensuring that residents and visitors are protected from men of the underworld.
“ The police in the Zone 2 Police Command are working hard to ensure safety of lives and property in Lagos and Ogun States. We are going to provide a level playing ground for all the politicians and political parties .
We however want the politicians to play by the rules of the game so that there will be peace . We are always ready to nip crime in the bud .I have been to the Ogun and Lagos state police commands where we discussed the security situation in the states .
We have been having series of meeting with the Divisional Police Officers , Areas commanders and other senior officers and I told them that we do not have to wait for festive period to provide maximum security. We are always providing the best round the clock security for Nigerians and visitors .
Every policeman has been placed on high alert so we can have a crime -free New Year and the during the forthcoming general elections”.
Mr. Manko also assured residents that the recently reintroduced Gender Desk in the Nigeria Police Force will handle issues of rape , domestic violence and other related issues with the professionalism required adding that rapists will be made to face the full wrath of the law under his watch.
“Establishing the Gender Desk is a directive and a mandate from the Inspector General of Police. Essentially, the Gender desk will take care of issues that concern both men and women. Some people think that Gender is all about women but gender also includes men. Issues like domestic violence against men and women in Lagos and Ogun States will be handled by the Gender Desk.
In some cases, you find out that the woman is stronger and she can beat up the men. Issues like rape, defilement , molestation among others will be pursued vigorously by the Desk.
The Gender Desk in the Zone is to coordinate the activities of the Gender Desks in the state commands and we are prepared to carry out this function .Already, the two state commands, Lagos and Ogun states have complied with the IGP’s order .
We are following the directives to ensure that the Gender Desk is functioning . Also, at the Zonal Command, we are establishing a mini GENDER DESK that will be manned by competent officers who are trained for such duties .
The Gender Desk at the Zonal Command will supervise the ones at the state commands. Our major function is to supervise the commands and I am assuring that issues that affect women and the girl child will receive the best attention under my leadership.
We are reorganizing the Special Anti robbery Squad too . We are making things better at the Zonal command level so that issues that are brought here receive the best attention”. AIG Manko also spoke about the clashes between the Police and the Civil Defence Corps over the protection of pipelines in Ogun and Lagos states .
He also spoke about allegations linking police men to pipeline vandalism adding that residents should cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to nip crime in the bud and report all suspecting persons . “It is unfortunate that there were clashes between the police and the Civil Defence Corps.
The Civil Defence Corps has the statutory responsibility of protecting critical federal government installations and the police have the duty to protect lives and property and ensure public safety so there should be no misunderstanding if every service plays their roles.
The IGP’s Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit is headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police and the IGP has mandated the Unit to ensure that they carry out their duty without causing friction so as to prevent clashes .
Also, all the field Commanders are known to me and under my watch, clashes will not happen again. I will ensure that they carry out their duties without causing any friction.
The police recently arrested some persons suspected to be pipeline vandals after months of surveillance. We arrested some persons who buy the proceeds from vandalized pipelines and we recovered 224 Kegs of what we suspect to be Petrol Motor Spirit .
The police also recovered 112 empty kegs from the nefarious activity. The Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate officers involved in any shady operation with vandals .
If such a policeman is arrested, they will be made to face the full wrath of the law”. AIG Manko also addressed growing concern over the behavior of some policemen who involve themselves in domestic violence to the extent that they end up killing family members , friends and neighbours and in some cases, inflicting injuries on others over minor misunderstanding.
He said such behaviours are isolated cases and not the character of Nigeria Police Force . AIG Manko also cautioned policemen to abide by the dressing code of the Force as the Police high command is poised to instil discipline in the officers and men of the Force.
“I need to reiterate that such behaviours( fighting and killing by policemen) are not acceptable in the Nigeria Police Force and it is not a way of life for policemen. This is just individual differences.
It is totally based on the individual and not a way of life for policemen and therefore should not be ascribed to the police. I feel any policeman who behave in this manner should be taken for psychiatric evaluation.
A policeman who kills another person will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law as we will not tolerate such behavior among our officers and men”. Concerning the issue of dress code for policemen, I would like to state that nobody has asked the policemen to stop wearing the black uniform.
The blue and the camouflage are additions to the black uniforms . The IGP Suliaman Abba has not issued any directive in that regard.
Those officers who are saying that they have been asked to stop wearing the black uniform are misinformed ; The Nigeria Police Force has a code of dressing and the officers and men are advised to abide by this code .The problem of police accommodation is not new and previous Inspector General of Police have in their own way addressed this issue .
The present IGP is also looking into this issue and he has assured that the welfare of police officers and men will be taken care of not just when they are in service but after they have retired . The IGP is also looking into other issues confronting the police Force.
If a policeman has decided to commit any offence, he or she should not expect to receive the same treatment as members of the public.
This is because a policeman is under oath to protect lives and property. What do you think will happen to a policeman that assisted armed robbers? or those who are accused of rape ? When such a policeman is arrested, he will face the Orderly room trial and from there if he is found wanting then he will be dismissed and prosecuted .
A policeman is paid with tax payers’ money and the highest responsibility and conduct are expected of him. I will not tolerate any bad behaviour from policeman. If they are found wanting they will be dealt with accordingly and if they are innocent of the crime then they will be set free.
We will not take the matter with levity because the person that is accused is a policeman, rather we will look into the allegation will all seriousness so we will not allow bad eggs to remain in the Police Force.

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Police arrest serial car thief

by PATIENCE OGBO on Jan 10, 2015 | No comments
Posted under: Crime Watch

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Policemen attached to the Special Anti Robbery (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State, have arrested a suspected car thief who specialises in stealing cars where their owners parked them using fabricated Master Key.
The suspect, identified as Kazeem Kosemoni, was recently released from prisons after spending eight months for similar offence.
Kosemoni, 37, was later granted bail which ensured his release from prison after his uncle had facilitated it.
But immediately he was released from Kirikiri prison, it was gathered that his uncle and entire relations wanted to have nothing to do with him and so left him to his own fate.
From then on, Kosemoni rather sought legitimate means of livelihood, went back to his old ways. So, with the N12, 000 he could muster, Kosemoni teamed up with a friend from whom he purchased the Master Key with the amount.
It was gathered that Kosemoni would survey an exotic car of his choice in the day where they are parked and at night, come to open the vehicle with the key and carted it away.
According to Kosemoni, “Yes! I spent eight months in Kirikiri prison, but I still came out to continue stealing cars. I was arrested last year for snatching cars and I was granted bail by the court, through the intervention of my uncle.
“After my bail, my uncle and my family abandoned me. My uncle refused to house me , and I was forced to sleep in buses in garages and this made me helpless.
He was arrested for the second time when the Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), SP Abba Kyari led a team of policemen to the suspect’s hideout through a tracking device in the car that the suspect’s friend, Ayeke gave to him to sell. A police source said: “The suspect is a one-man car stealing gang.
He said he had removed only five vehicles, but we believe he has removed more than that which is still under investigation.
“He spent eight months in prison, but he did not learn anything from his incarceration. Immediately he was granted bail, he went back to his old ways.”

Failed attempts to get medical treatment leads to death of  32- year - armed robbery victim.

by SEGUN ADIO on Jan 10, 2015It is still unclear to family and relations of one Veronica Ezugwu, what actually led to her untimely death. For the Ezuguwus, the death of their daughter would not only take a lifetime to forget, but the way it happened made the whole matter confounding.
Veronica, 32, a teacher in Lagos, was among the herds of people that thronged the ancestral roots to celebrate the last Yuletide season.
It was gathered that some days before Christmas, Veronica left Lagos for Nkpologu community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State to celebrate the season which her aged parents.
It was gathered that on the day she left Lagos, Veronica made series of telephone calls to her family intimating them of her movement.
At one point, she reportedly called to say she was just some minutes to get home, which made her father and younger ones to began to rejoice for the reunion of their returning daughter. Sadly, Veronica never got to her destination before she was gunned down by yet-to-e identified gunmen.
It was gathered that around Camp Bus Stop which is some thousand yards to her home, some gunmen, appeared from the bush and rained bullets on the bus she was travelling in. the attack on the bus left Veronica seriously hit in the head by bullets. Some other commuters in the bus too were also badly hit.
While the gunmen fled through the bush path, some Good Samaritans rushed Veronica to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu for medical attention. Veronica was not as lucky as doctors in the hospital were said to be on industrial action. It was also gathered that she was rushed to another hospital in the metropolis.
Narrating the events that led to his daughter’s death, Mr. Ama Ezugwu, claimed the deceased was some few kilometers away from home when news filtered in that the bus she was traveling in was attacked and hit by bullets.
According to Mr Ama Ezugwu, “My daughter was coming back home to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivals with us and was already some distance away from home before the armed robbers accosted them at Camp Bus Stop and shot her.
“She was quickly rushed to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu for medical attention but unfortunately we get there we were told that the doctors were on strike.
Ama Ezugwu also claimed that when the deceased could not be admitted at UNTH, she was rushed to another hospital where doctors demanded a deposit of N700, 000 before they could commence treatment on her.
He, however, said that the family could only muster N300, 000 after which the doctors there commended treatment on her. Painfully, however, Veronica could not make it as she gave up the ghost on New Year ’s Eve.
Veronica’s younger sister, Uju, also explained the agony of the family and efforts made at saving her sister’s life. “When we rushed my sister to the second hospital after we would not get treatment for her in the first one we took her to, but the money they demanded there was outrageous.We ended up getting some equally big amount and she was attended to but she could not make it. I don’t think we can recover from this”, she said.
She, however, blamed the hospital for slow response to the situation of the deceased

How armed robbers target estates

by PATIENCE OGBO on Jan 10, 2015

When Ada Johnson (not real name) was looking for an apartment to rent in Lagos state; she was particular about getting a befitting and secured place in one of the numerous estates in the state.
Aside her desire to rent an apartment close to her place of work at Ajah area of the state, Ada was also deeply concerned about security and therefore felt that a secured, serene estate with gigantic gates and uniformed security personnel manning the gates would keep any intruder at bay.
Ada had barely moved into her dream apartment at the Ikate Model Estate at Elegushi in October 2014 when two suspected armed robbers broke into her home and made away with property worth millions of naira and hard currencies.
Ada who lived alone with her gate man had gone to work that fateful morning in December 2014 like any other day but few hours later, her gate man called her to come back as her home has been burgled.
Ada said she rushed home and to her greatest shock she discovered that her property which include Plasma Television, Home theatre, laptops, hard currencies , wristwatches , jewelries, clothes and other home hold goods had been carted way.
Narrating her ordeal, she said “That fateful morning, I left for work about 7.30am but about 10am, my security man called me that there was problem at home. I rushed back and to my greatest shock, I found out that my house had been burgled. My Plasma TV, Home theater, laptop, wrist watches, clothes, and other jewelries were carted away.
Some of my house holds property and hard currencies too were stolen. I was still in shock as I looked round the house. I told myself “but this is the same house I left this morning?” “How it is that barely some few hours, the robbers can cart away my property” I was in that state of thinking when I noticed that the key of my gate was not broken.
It means that the thieves entered the house without any resistance. It means the gate to the house was opened for them to do what they did. What about my estate gate? I was sure they packed the property in a van so how is it that the security men at the estate gate did not see them? I was in that confused state and was very scared because the armed robbers know my movement.
I went to the police and reported the incident and the case was later transferred to the Special Anti- Robbery Squad Ikeja for further investigation. My gateman was arrested and quizzed but he denied knowing anything about the robbery. I was so scared that I relocated from the house.
I hurriedly took my leave from my office and I left the country because the entire incident was very frightening and I didn’t know if those men from the underworld were trailing me “While Ada is alive to relive her ordeal, other Lagos residents residing in estate have lost their lives from deadly robbery attacks while living in estates they felt was supposed to be safe and secured.
One resident in Lagos state who was killed in such attacks was Bar. Kunle Fadipe. Barrister Fadipe was a former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and a member of the Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspaper in Lagos. According to police reports, the suspected armed robbers attacked Mr. Fadipe in his room at Harmony Estate, College Road, Ogba, Lagos.
Reports said the suspected robber stabbed the deceased’s man’s son, Folarin, while he went outside the apartment to switch off the generating set. The lone robber held Folarin hostage and force the lad to take him upstairs to see his parents.
A police source said “The suspected armed robber gained access into the home by scaling the fence and hide himself in the premises before coming out in the dead of the night to attack Folarin who had opened the door to switch off the generator.
The police source said further stated that “The robber demanded the sum of N500, 000 from Bar. Fadipe but he did not have such amount at home and he offered him a lower amount and any other personal effects including the mobile phones.
The robber however succeeded stabbing Fadipe on the left side of the neck as well as the left side of the armpit, and the stomach. He lost a lot of blood and died but the police arrested and took the suspect to the Olowosokedile Police Station”.
While armed robbers usually use the cover of the night to perpetrate their crime, others are however daring as they attack their victims during the day like the experience of Ada.
Investigations further reveals that residents residing in estate are falling victims to armed robbers who have made it a habit of monitoring the residents and attacking them in the dead of the night. This was the case also in December 2014 when suspected armed robbers raided about five houses at the Ogunrobi Estate in Idimu Lagos.
This time the armed robbers targeted a mother of three and almost raped her but she was lucky as they changed their minds and instead made away with her cash. Narrating the incident the woman who requested anonymity said “I cameback from office very tired.
I rent chairs and canopies and I am intoevent planning and you know that December is our peak business season. So that day I was tired and I went to sleep. About 1.00am, I went out to put off the generator but to my shock, I saw a man in my bedroom.
I was alone in the room because my husband had travelled to Abuja. When I sighted the man, I was scared and I almost shouted but he told me to keep quiet or he will shoot me with the gun he was carrying. Before I knew it, he opened the door and three other men came into my house.
The robber told me that he has been hiding in my room since noon and they know my movement and that I did some businesses which brought in good cash. The men ordered me to bring out the money but I told them that I do not have money at home. They became very angry and said since I am lying, they are going to take turns to rape me.
They had almost succeeded when I pleaded with them that I am asthmatic and I pointed my drugs to them. I told them I have N20, 000 to give them which was the money I made from the rentals that day.
They angrily took the money and went away. I am very glad that God intervened and touched their hearts. What would have happened if they had raped me? I learnt that they went to three other houses in the estate that day and they raided families.
One particular woman whose husband was not at home saw hell in the hands of the robbers as they locked her and her children up in the toilet and stole their money and other house hold items”
A resident in the estate who simply identified himself as Richard Nelson said the armed robbers take advantage of the serene environment in the estate to commit crime. “ Well you know that it normally feels that the estate should be safer because of the gates and other security measures put in place but the armed robbers are taking advantage of this serenity to commit crime in estate.
They can come during the day when nobody is around to monitor the houses they want to attack and even hide there. They can get information from the security men about whom and who is living there and their wealth. What they usually do is to get into the houses and wait for the target.
They usually strike when residents come out to switch on or off their generating sets so you can see that they are well organized and they take advantage of the serenity of the estate” Another tactics used by armed robbers is monitoring people attending vigil and attacking them when they are returning home. This was the case recently when suspected armed robbers stormed the Beckley estate at Abule-Egba area of the state.
The armed robbers numbering eight stormed the home of a resident who requested anonymity and almost killed her and her children. Narrating her ordeal in the hands of the armed robbers, the woman in her 60’s said. “I just returned from church vigil on that Friday. We usually leave the gate unlocked but visitors do not know this.
But after I returned home I went to the back of my house to check my fishes but I felt somebody was behind me. The person picked a knife and as I turned he held a gun to my fore head but God helped me I did not panic. He told me to lead him to my bedroom.

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Borno’s economy groans under the yoke of Boko Haram insurgency

Ali Inuwa, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Published: September 19, 2014

A couple of years ago, Alhaji Mohammad Asheikh, 52, used to be a major transporter in Gamboru, headquarters of Gamboru-Ngala Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno.
His company — Gamboru Transport Company – then had about 15 trucks in its fleet.
However, Asheikh is now a pauper living on charity, as his once-thriving business has collapsed; thanks to the Boko Haram insurgency.
Recounting his ordeal, Asheikh said that his business nosedived after suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched several attacks on his vehicles on different routes.
“I used to be a major transporter in Gamboru; I had about 15 vehicles, mostly trailers and articulated lorries.
“Unfortunately, I lost everything within a very short time to Boko Haram attacks,” he said.
Asheikh said: “It all started in November 2013 when I lost three trailers conveying goods from Kano to Maiduguri during an attack in Benishiekh, the headquarters of Kaga LGA.
“The trailers were destroyed in an early morning attack by the insurgents, who also killed the drivers.”
He said that he lost another trailer in December 2013 in another attack within the same vicinity in Benisheikh.
“When the November attacks occurred, we asked our drivers to hold on for a while but as soon as they started operation in December, one of my trailers was attacked again in Benisheikh,” he moaned.
Asheikh said that he lost three other vehicles in a row in Mafa in January 2014.
“In January this year, I lost three articulated vehicles conveying cement to the Republic of Cameroun during an attack in Mafa, headquarters of Mafa LGA.
“I also suffered another huge loss in May when I lost three trailers at the Ngala park,” he said, adding: “The trailers were burnt while they were loading cows for transportation to the southern part of the country.
“As it is now, I have lost everything but I thank God that I am still alive,” he added.
Asheikh, who is currently taking refuge in a friend’s house in Maiduguri, said that he had been surviving on the goodwill of his friends and former associates.
He, however, noted that a number of people similarly had a harrowing experience as a result of the insurgency.
“So many people have lost their means of livelihood to the insurgency; we believe that the whole thing is a trial from God and it will end one day,” he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Alhaji Bello Maduganari, the Chairman of the Maiduguri chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said that several members of the union suffered a similar fate.
He specifically said that the Boko Haram violence had destroyed the livelihood of over 1, 000 members of the union in the last few years.
“We lost over 50 members between January 2013 and August 2014, due to attacks on major roads by the insurgents.
“Besides, more than 1,000 commercial vehicles were destroyed during the Boko Haram attacks,” he said, adding: “In Bama alone, over 200 commercial vehicles were destroyed.”
Maduganari, however, noted that the situation was not different in other places like Damboa, Konduga, Mafa, Dikwa and Marte, among others.
“We have large number of members who are now unemployed, as their vehicles were destroyed in the attacks.
“At present, most of them have nothing to do because they have lost their means of livelihood,” he added.
The NURTW leader said that some of the union members had resorted to begging, all in a desperate need to eke out a living.
‘In all honesty, the situation is quite terrible but we thank the state government for providing occasional aid for our members, particularly during festivities.
“Last Sallah, the state government donated bags of rice, sugar and other food items to the union; we shared out these items to our members in need,” Maduganari said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Modu Bukar, the Chairman of the Monday Market Traders Association, said that the insurgency had virtually destroyed the economic base of the state.
“As I am speaking to you now, over 3,000 traders have been pushed out of business in Maiduguri alone. Traders from Bama, Gamboru, Biu and other towns have also suffered huge losses,” he said.
Bukar, nonetheless, noted that traders in the Monday Market were quite lucky to have survived several attempts to set the market ablaze.
“The Bama market was set ablaze in 2011 and the entire structure was reduced to ashes.
“Although government awarded a contract for the market’s reconstruction, the insurgents returned several times to destroy the new market under construction,” he added.
Bukar said: “In Beneshiekh, Marte and other places, several lock-up shops constructed by the government have been completely razed.
“Even in places like Baga and Konduga, fishing villages were attacked on several occasions and hundreds of people were killed.”
Bukar lamented that the development had created an army of unemployed persons across the state.
He appealed to the Borno State Government and the Federal Government to initiate an economic empowerment programme to tackle the growing unemployment crisis.
Commenting on the issue, Dr Ibrahim Umara of the Department of Political Science, University of Maiduguri, described the situation as pathetic.
He stressed that the Borno State Government must initiate a holistic approach towards revamping the state’s economy after the end of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Reacting, Gov. Kashim Shettima said that his administration was aware of the economic problems created by the Boko Haram crisis.
Shettima said that the government was working on plans to secure a N2 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for small-scale industrialists in the state.
He said that the rationale behind the move was to kick-start the state’s economy by providing soft loans to entrepreneurs whose businesses were affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
“The CBN has accepted to provide a N2 billion loan to small-scale industrialists in the state.
“Part of the money will be distributed to our businessmen in different parts of the state as loan to enable them to revive their businesses, which were destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgency,’’ he said.
Shettima said that the government will also look at the possibility of extending the loan to members of the state chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) because of their role in maintaining the state economy.
“We are also making contact with the Bank of Industry to secure a N1 billion loan for our industrialists to enable them to replenish their business,’’ he added.
The governor, however, expressed some reservations on the interest rate being charged on loans by the country’s financial institutions.
“My fears on these loans have to do with the interest element; if the interest rate goes beyond two digits, it will be difficult for industrialists to break even and still pay back the loan,’’ he said.
Nevertheless, Shettima said that the state government would take the responsibility of paying the interest on the loan, while the beneficiaries would be expected to pay back the loan only.
Also speaking, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, the Deputy Governor, said that plans were underway to distribute 500 buses to NURTW members in the state on loan basis to cushion the effect of the insurgency.
Mustapha told newsmen in Maiduguri that the state government would also subsidise the vehicles by 50 per cent to enable the beneficiaries to achieve a breakthrough and make profits.

Police can’t find kidnap victim despite arrest of abductors

City Voice Published: September 25, 2014

Weeks after four members of a kidnap gang were arrested by operatives of Edo State Police Command, the whereabouts of their victim still remain unknown to the police. 

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, made this known on Tuesday in Beninwhile parading 46 suspects arrested for various crimes ranging from armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, kidnapping, stealing, rape to defilement.

The four suspected kidnappers, Lucky Ogbeifun, Augustine Patrick, Okundia Austin and Vincent Aighobhi, allegedly abducted their victim, a woman whose identity was not revealed, with her driver on 2 September, in Delta State.

“The woman’s Toyota Prado Jeep was also driven away. Through covert itelligence, the operatives of Edo command recovered the Prado Jeep and two other vehicles and arrested four suspects. The suspects confessed to the crime,” Adebanjo said.

A police source said runaway members of the kidnap gang had demanded N80 million ransom from the victim’s family.
Also commenting on the 50 year-old man who hacked two children to death with a machete at Okha II community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state last week, Adebanjo said effort was on to get the fleeing murderer arrested.
Adebanjo who thanked the media and the people of the state for their support, called for more collaboration from all to make the state safer.

Items recovered from the suspects were 20 assorted guns, 192 live Cartridges, nine vehicles and 12 machetes.

Police arraign 5 brothers over N91.5m land fraud

City Voice Published: September 25, 2014

The police on Wednesday arraigned five brothers in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with N91.5 million land fraud.

The brothers are Nojimu Alonge; 65, Mohammed Alonge; 60, Tawakalitu Alonge; 65, Dalili Alonge; 54 and Bariu Alonge; 54, facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money on false pretext, stealing and forceful entry.

The prosecutor, Insp. Daniel Akpochi, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in 2011 at No. 1, Stone House, Oko-Ado, Ajah, Lekki Expressway, Lagos.

He said the brothers induced one Chief Stephen Ajose to part with N91.5 million on false pretext as they made him to believe that they would assist him to secure 125 acres of land at Oreki village, on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Akpochi said that the accused never fulfilled their business obligations to Ajose and all efforts by the complainant to recover his money proved unsuccessful.

The offences contravened the provisions of sections 52, 285(a)(b)(c), 312(b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 312 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of obtaining something on false pretext.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, granted bail to the brothers in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case to Oct. 27 for mention.