A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 24-year-old man, Timothy Sunday, to eight months imprisonment for stealing two electricity prepaid meters.

Sunday, a resident of Karji area of Kaduna, was sentenced on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft, which he admitted.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, however, gave the convict an option of N30,000 fine, with a warning that he must desist from the life of crime.

Emmanuel also said that the electricity prepaid meters must be returned to the owners.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Insp Chidi Leo, had told the court that on May 2, Hassan Luka and Grace Stephen, of Ungwan Maigero Kaduna, reported the matter at Karji Police Station.

Leo said that the convict criminally trespassed into the complainants’ premises and stole the electricity prepaid meters, with values yet unknown.

He told the court that during police investigation and interrogation, the stolen electricity prepaid meters were recovered from the convict and that he also admitted committing the crime.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)

 The police on Thursday arraigned a 45-year-old man, Muritala Akinniyi before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court Ibadan over an alleged car theft.

Akinniyi, whose address was not stated, was charged with conspiracy and theft, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Insp Olagoke Adegbenro told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Feb.

He alleged that the defendant and others at large stole a Toyota Corolla car worth N1.85 million, belonging to one Sylvester Guobadia.

He said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Olasinmibo Sanusi-Zubair granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case until July 15, for hearing. (NAN)

Police Arrest 2 Wanted Fugitives Over Human Trafficking, Armed Robbery

 The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested two suspected internationally wanted fugitives over human trafficking and armed robbery.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Adejobi said that one of the suspects was a ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities while the second was a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang.

He added that the first suspect was the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation and had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice.

He disclosed that the notice was issued on Dec. 19, 2023, adding that the suspect was arrested in Benin, the Edo capital, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by police operatives.

The force PRO also said that the suspect was accused of trafficking young Nigerian women, including minors to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

He added that the victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging from £20,000 to £50,000 used to manipulate and control them.

According to him, the criminal network of the suspect involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remit proceeds to him.

”Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organisation leadership, the suspect fled to Nigeria.

”Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada.”

The police spokesman said the suspect has been scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin.

Adejobi said the second suspect was arrested by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State.

He said that the suspect was wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for series of serious crimes including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organised criminal activities.

He explained that intelligence had revealed that the suspect had continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria.

The force image maker disclosed that the suspect had been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall.

”The arrest is the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police,” he said.

Adejobi said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court. (NAN)