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Author: Onyeje Abutu

  • Court remands 39-year old farmer for alleged murder

    Remand

    By Onyeje Abutu-Joel

    Makurdi, June 25, 2024 (NAN) A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of a 39-year old farmer, Joseph Awua, at the Correctional Centre Makurdi, for alleged murder of one Alexander Terver.

    Awua, who lives at Angbaaye in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, is being tried for alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and acts of terrorism.

    However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun, who did not take his plea for want of jurisdiction, ordered his remand at the correctional facility and
    adjourned the matter until Aug 12, 2024 for further mention.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Godwin Ato, told the court that the case was reported at the State CID, Makurdi on June 3, in a petition written by Mrs Lucy Terver, widow of the deceased.

    The petitioner stated that some armed men had invaded their house at Pass-Brothers Community, Gboko Road in Guma on May 30, 2024 and attacked her family.

    She said that the armed men shot sporadically at her husband’s room windows, which forced him to come out  and he was killed on the spot.

    The prosecutor said that a mobile phone belonging to one of the attackers was recovered from the crime during police investigation.

    According to the petitioner, further investigation led to the arrest of the defendant while others are still at large.

    Ato said that the offences contravened Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004, and section 4{2} of the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law of Benue, 2017.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    ONA/KOO/IU
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    Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa / Isaac Ukpoju

  • Court remands man, 44, for alleged impersonation, fraudulent dealings

    Court remands man, 44, for alleged impersonation, fraudulent dealings

    Impersonation

    By Onyeje Abutu-Joel

    Makurdi, June 24, 2024 (NAN) A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday, ordered the remand of a 44-year old civil servant, Terngu Utaver at the  Correctional Centre, Makurdi, for allegedly cheating traders to the tune of N5 million.

    Utaver who lives at number 43, Uke Wende Street, High Level, Makurdi, was charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, impersonation and cheating.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun did not take his plea for want in jurisdiction.

    Mbanongun adjourned the matter until Aug. 28, 2024 for further mention.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Godwin Ato told the court that on June 14, a team of the Benue Board of Internal Revenue Service, arrested and brought the defendant to the police station for fraudulent dealings.

    “The team told the police that the defendant and his cohorts, who are still at large, on a daily basis collected revenues from unsuspecting citizens at Timber Shade, North Bank, Makurdi.

    “The team said that the defendant and his partners in crime had collected revenues from business owners to the tune of N5 million.

    “He said they pretended to be staff of the above government body and converted the monies to their own personal use before luck ran out on them,“he said.

    The Prosecutor said the defendant confessed committing the crime during a police investigation.

    He said the offences contravened sections 97, 353, 326 and 325 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ONA/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh

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  • NSCDC nabs 8 for alleged vandalism, stealing in Benue

    Vandalism
    By Onyeje Abutu-Joel
    Makurdi, June 4, 2024 (NAN) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Benue Command on Tuesday paraded eight persons over alleged vandalism of national assets, stealing and other crimes in the state.
    Parading the suspects in Makurdi, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Michael Ejelikwu, said that other crimes committed by the suspects included: possession of vandalised items and cheating.
    Ejelikwu said that one of the suspects, a 38-year-old scraps/iron dealer, was arrested for allegedly being in possession of vandalised NNPC pipes.
    He said that the suspect was arrested on May 26 while driving his Ford Focus car, with registration number: ABUJA: AR 511 GWA, which contained the vandalised pipes.
    Ejelikwu said that the suspect attempted to bribe the NSCDC personnel with the sum of N500,000 which they, however, resisted.
    He said that the suspect had been a buyer of vandalised items from the other suspects arrested.
    “If there is no market to sell the vandalised items, those boys will not continue to destroy government property and stealing them to go and sell,” he said.
    The spokesman further said that four other suspects were arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy, willful destruction of high tension earth cables, vandalism and sabotage.
    He said that the suspects, who were indigenes of different local governments in the state, were arrested on May 30 in Makurdi while committing the crimes.
    Ejelikwu added that the other three suspects were arrested on same day at Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state for allegedly stealing a Honda C80 motorcycle.
    He said all the suspects would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigation.
    The spokesman reiterated the command’s commitment to guarding against vandalism in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    ONA/AH/WAS
    Edited by Abdul Hassan and ‘Wale Sadeeq