The Police Command in Oyo State has arrested 11 suspects over alleged cultism, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms in various locations within the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade disclosed this to newsmen while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan on Monday.

Ayanlade said the exhibits recovered from the suspects were five guns—including a revolver pistol, a Beretta pistol, a pump-action gun, and a locally made cut-to-size pistol—along with four cutlasses.

He said that the arrest formed part of the ongoing investigations and operation of the Command in ridding Oyo State of crime and criminal activities, especially violent crime.

He disclosed that one of the arrested suspects was a very bright physics student of an institution in the state, who had won several awards, but turned out to be the leader of a cult group, Eiye confraternity.

The PPRO said that the student was arrested together with his colleagues in possession of a firearm, a cutlass, and ammunition.

He added that other arrested suspects were a syndicate who specialised in robbing unsuspecting Nigerians of their possessions, especially phones, in different locations within Ibadan and its environs.

He said the leader of the suspected armed robbers had earlier been arrested, prosecuted and currently in a correctional facility.

Ayanlade said that the suspected armed robbers were arrested as a result of painstaking intelligence gathering with the support and collaboration of members of the public.

He said that the suspects were arrested in their various hideouts by operatives of the command monitoring unit.

One of the armed robbery suspects, a 35-year-old, told journalists that his gang operated with cutlasses to instill fear in their victims before snatching their mobile phones.

The suspect said that the gang had snatched a total of 10 expensive phones, which were eventually sold for between N40,000 and N50,000.

Also speaking in an interview, the suspected cultist student said he was initiated as the leader of the group a year ago after graduating from an institution in Apata area of Ibadan.

The suspect said that he could not really say what pushed him into joining the cult group. (NAN)

Counsel to Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Ibrahim Waru, has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, to transfer an alleged $2.1m land deal suit involving Jordan Wike, son of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over concerns about the trial judge’s alleged family and community ties with the defendant.

Waru, in a letter dated October 7, sought the transfer of the suit, marked CV/008/2026, from Court 2 of the FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, to another court, citing what he described as a reasonable apprehension of bias.

An acknowledged copy of the letter, received by the Chief Judge’s chambers on October 8, was made available to journalists on Monday in Abuja.

Titled “Request for Transfer of Suit CV/008/26 between Safwan Garba GY & Another Vs Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom Wike from Court 2 on Ground of Reasonable Apprehension of Bias,” the letter said the application was intended to prevent circumstances that could raise concerns about the appearance of impartiality.

Waru wrote, “We respectfully write on behalf of our clients, the claimants, to request the transfer of the above-mentioned suit from Court 2 to another court within the FCT High Court.”

Explaining the basis for the request, he said the claimants’ concerns arose from social media publications which, in their view, suggested a close geographical, community and family affinity between the judge and Jordan.

“In particular, the Honourable Judge presiding over the matter is from the same area/community as the defendant, and there exists a close geographical/community and family affinity between His Lordship and the defendant,” the lawyer stated.

Waru, however, stressed that the request was not intended to impugn the judge’s integrity, impartiality or professional competence.

“Our clients do not equally allege actual bias against His Lordship, the presiding Judge.

“Rather, the request is founded on the need to avoid circumstances capable of creating a reasonable perception or apprehension that the matter may not be determined with the required appearance of complete impartiality,” he added.

Citing the principle that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done, the lawyer said the transfer would help preserve public confidence in the judicial process.

He urged the Chief Judge to exercise his administrative powers to reassign the case, arguing that such a decision would not constitute an adverse finding against Justice Oriji.

The letter read, “Our clients are particularly concerned that, irrespective of the actual state of mind of the Honourable presiding Judge, the existing circumstance may create an impression in the mind of a reasonable observer that His Lordship’s relationship and/or common community background with the defendant could potentially influence or be perceived as capable of influencing the adjudication of the matter.”

Waru added that transferring the case would enable the parties to approach the proceedings with confidence in the impartiality of the adjudication process.

The request comes amid an ongoing civil suit in which the claimants are seeking to recover $2.1m they allegedly paid Jordan in connection with a proposed real estate venture involving land in Katampe and Guzape, Abuja.

Jordan had denied receiving the money during cross-examination at the FCT High Court on September 30, insisting that his signature on a document linking him to the transaction was forged.

He also denied knowing one of the men the claimants alleged accompanied him during the purported cash payment.

When asked whether he had reported the alleged forgery to the police, Jordan answered in the negative.

The claimants are seeking an order directing Jordan to refund the sum of $2.1m, with 10 per cent interest from the date of judgment until payment, as well as N100m in damages and the cost of prosecuting the suit.

Jordan has denied the allegations, which remain before the court for determination.

Justice Oriji adjourned the case until December 1, 2 and 14, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

Social media platform, TikTok said it did not restrict access to its network in Northern parts of Nigeria.

TikTok’s Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa, Keagile Makgoba, said this in a statement on Monday, amid reports of difficulties accessing the service.

Makgoba said that TikTok was engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the reported access difficulties.

“We can confirm that this restriction was not implemented by TikTok,” she said.

Makgoba said that the company remained committed to ensuring access for its communities.

The coalition of civil society organisations called for an independent investigation into the reported disruption in parts of Northern Nigeria. 

The organisations said that users in Kaduna, Kebbi, Kano and Sokoto had experienced difficulties loading videos, viewing content and uploading materials since Sept. 14.

They urged relevant authorities and telecommunications operators to investigate the cause and publicly clarify whether any directive or technical issue was responsible. (NAN)