By Editor
Police arrest monarch, pastors for alleged kidnapping, rape in Imo
A 38-year-old teacher, Ifeanyichukwu Nwasike, yesterday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling a four-year-old pupil.
Nwasike, who resides at No. 13, Mofowoku Street, Akoka, Lagos, was charged with defilement. The prosecution counsel, ASP Nurudeen Thomas, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in March at his residence.
Thomas said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Ruling, Chief Magistrate P.E. Nwakpa admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until August 17 for hearing.
Meanwhile, a traditional ruler in Awara community, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Andrew Okwuegbunwa, and a pastor, Caleb Agu of Umuoni Agwa in Oguta LGA, have been paraded by the state police command for alleged involvement in kidnap and armed robbery activities.
The police also paraded a pastor of the Winners Chapel in Okwudor, Njaba LGA, Joseph Anthony, for alleged defilement of 11-year-old daughter of a fellow pastor.
The monarch’s gang had kidnapped Louis Obodo at Mgbala Agwa and Inspector Oscar Mbaeri in Agwa in Oguta Local Government; Chigozirim Nnaji in Egwedu Atta, Njaba Local Government; Desmond Okonkwo in Oru West Local Government Area; and Anyanwu Amarachi on July 19, 2020 after which the police gave them a hot chase.
Okwuegbunwa, who hails from Obor village in Awara, confessed to providing his Lexus 330 SUV for kidnap activities of the syndicate.
The state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, said the syndicate had abandoned the vehicle during an exchange of gunfire with operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Anti-kidnapping units of the command.
The monarch said the syndicate paid him N3 million in lieu of his abandoned Lexus 330 with registration number URM 404 EL Edo State, which turned out to be fake.
The traditional ruler said: “My Nephew took my vehicle to do kidnapping. I am not one of them. Though they have used my vehicle about four times, and they gave me money.”
On his part, head of the syndicate, Pastor Caleb Agu, said he only provided spiritual guide for the gang.
The gang had Ikechukwu Njoku as protocol officer; Ebenezer Obioha as operational commander and executor of the gang; Fabian Obioha as the gang armourer; while Bernard Uzoma as the native doctor provided protection from operational hazards and arrests.
The police boss disclosed that the gang had ambushed and attacked a team of the NDLEA, during which they killed one operative instantly and left two operatives seriously wounded and absconded with their rifles on May 15, 2020.
On the rape allegation, Pastor Joseph Anthony denied complicity, but admitted that he was tempted to commit the act.
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