Wednesday 29 November 2017

Court Remands Two For Gang-Raping, Impregnating 17-Year-Old

Two friends, Hassan Ibrahim, 50 and Adamu Idris, 60, who allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl, were on Tuesday remanded in Katsina Prison on the orders of a senior magistrate, Falila Dikko.

Ibrahim and Idris, both residents of Unguwar kasha Village in the Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, were accused of being responsible for their victim’s seven months’ pregnancy.

The senior magistrate directed that the duo should be remanded in the prison custody till January 24, 2018 when their case will come up for mention.

The two men are facing charges of criminal conspiracy and rape, which the police said are contrary to sections 97 and 283 of the Penal Code.


The rape was said to have been reported at Kafur Divisional Police Station on November 10, 2017 by the victim’s elder brother, Sirajo Aminu.

The police told the court that the accused “criminally conspired and forcefully had sexual intercourse with the victim, 17 years, of the same address. As a result, she is now seven months’ pregnant.”

Police prosecutor, Inspector Sani Ado, told the court that investigation was still in progress and pleaded  for an adjournment.

Boko Haram founder Yusuf’s home to become museum

The home of the founder of the Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf, is to be turned into a museum in order to boost tourism in the area.

Borno State government is also considering plans to transform the Sambisa forest – the group’s base – into a tourist centre, the BBC reports.

But critics said the plans risk immortalising Yusuf, who was killed by police in 2009.


About 20,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram’s eight-year insurgency, with dozens still dying in deadly attacks on a regular basis.

“They should look for a place like the police college, which the group destroyed,” human rights lawyer Anthony Agholahon told the BBC.
“They should not be using the house of someone who killed people.”

Yusuf formed the group in 2002 and focused on opposing Western education.

Seven years later, Boko Haram launched its military operations in an attempt to create an Islamic state.

Since then, the group, which officially is called Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, meaning “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad,” has spread into neighbouring countries.

However, the Nigerian government said it is winning the war against the group, and it seems officials in Borno State, one of the worst affected areas, are looking to the future.



Borno State commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Mohammed Bulama, told journalists the house in Maiduguri would become a museum “where all the things that had happened relating to the insurgency will be archived.

Man who cut off his pregnant ex-girlfriend’s nipples, sentenced to 45 years in prison


A man accused of using scissors to mutilate his ex-girlfriend’s breasts was sentenced Tuesday to 45 years in prison, the maximum sentence possible.

Tony Deval Ledbetter, 46, pleaded guilty in August to three counts of aggravated assault for choking and strangling his ex-girlfriend and using scissors to cut her nipples.
The survivor gave a powerful, gruesomely detailed statement of what happened that night during Tuesday’s court appearance in Lincoln County, and she shared how her injuries have affected her physically and emotionally.
“He told me he was a nice guy,” she said. “Nice guys don’t do this.”
She addressed Ledbetter directly at one point, saying, “Do you feel like a man?” 
He did not look up at her during her statement.
Ledbetter also gave a statement of apology, and he once again admitted his guilt.
“I apologize to the court and to (the victim),” Ledbetter said. “I don’t believe in violence. … It’s hard to fathom this happened. It will never happen again. I don’t seek violence.”
Ledbetter was arrested in October 2016 after he assaulted the woman, who was pregnant with his child. He admitted the assault to police but said it was in self-defense.
Ledbetter had asked to speak with the victim about their relationship at her apartment. She had agreed to speak with him before a friend came over to check out her new apartment, she said to the court.
The two had been arguing about their relationship when Ledbetter punched her and slammed her head on the ground, police said. He also tried to stop her screaming by pushing on her throat with his forearm and stuffing a blanket in her mouth.
Then, while she was unconscious, he grabbed a pair of scissors and cut off one of her nipples. She awoke to see Ledbetter take the scissors and cut her other breast, she said. She was able to break free and go to the hospital, where she learned the unborn baby was OK.
Ledbetter knew she wanted to nurse the child, the survivor said.
The victim in her statement shared tendencies of controlling, obsessive behavior from Ledbetter. She said he would not move out of her apartment when asked and constantly had to know where she was. He had even driven by her work to check her location.
“Because I was strong enough to say, ‘Enough is enough,’ I almost paid the ultimate price. I was nearly killed for what? Asking for my space?” she said in her statement to the court. 
Judge Doug Hoffman shared details regarding some of Ledbetter’s past arrests, involving breaking into women’s homes, damaging their property, vandalizing their cars and using their credit cards.
Hoffman went against the plea agreement of a 30-year cap and imposed the maximum 45 years and ordered no contact with the victim and her child, saying he felt it was the most appropriate for the community and the survivors.(USATODAY)

Woman kills church member with her car while answering phone call in Isolo


Nigerian woman by name Mrs. Obiageli Ezeanowiyi is in serious trouble after she reportedly killed her fellow church member in an accident while she was allegedly driving and receiving phone call.

According to PM Express, Ezeanowiyi lost control of the car and killed the victim known as Madam Chichi on their way to church. The tragic incident took place at Jakande Estate junction at Okeafa, Isolo close to St. Peters Catholic Church where both were members and belonged to the Adoration Ministry organised by a popular Catholic priest.
The suspect has been arrested and detained at the police station and she is now facing murder charge because of the manner the accident happened.
It was gathered that the late Madam Chichi who ran a popular joint and lived at Isolo, was going for Sunday adoration service before the incident happened. The deceased was said to have got to Jakande junction and was trying to get another tricycle that will take her to the church.
However, while she was still standing at the bus stop, Mrs. Obiageli who was driving her Nissan Pathfinder SUV ran into her and killed her instantly.
Eyewitnesses at the scene of the incident alleged that Mrs. Obiageli was answering phone call while driving which made her to lose control and hit the woman while driving to the church.
Meanwhile, her corpse has been taken to Isolo mortuary for autopsy report while Obiageli reported herself to the police who detained her at the police station. The Pathfinder SUV which Obiageli used to kill Chichi was also recovered and parked at the Ejigbo Police Station as exhibit.
The suspect, Obiageli is still being detained at the Ejigbo police Station as police detectives prepare necessary papers to charge her to court for murder.
However, members of the church, both relations and neighbours were seen around the station trying to find a peaceful solution to resolve the matter.
The late Madam Chichi hailed from Mbano in Imo State and had three children before she died on Sunday.

Ekweremadu Bags World’s Rotary International Outstanding Citizen Award

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has emerged Rotary Club’s Outstanding Citizen of the World 2017.

Rotary International, Enugu City Centre Rotary District 9142, made the disclosure at a briefing in Enugu, yesterday. The District President, Prince Okezie Nwanjoku, said the award will be conferred on Ekweremadu on December 2.

Nwanjoku said 150 people were shortlisted across the globe for the honour, adding that after a vigorous scrutiny, Senator Ekweremadu was unanimously adopted