What is a city without crime? thisislagos.ng descends into the Lagos underground to search out the baddest guys the craziest crimes in LasGidi.
Lagos govt vows tough penalties for environmental offenders (Guardian)
The Lagos State government yesterday issued a stern warning to residents who persistently flout environmental laws, stating that henceforth, the full force of the law would be applied against offenders.
Speaking during a media briefing, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said a stiff penalty of about N250,000 or three months imprisonment awaits anyone caught dumping refuse illegally or littering the environment, as stipulated under the Lagos Sanitation Environmental Laws.
He added that repeat offenders would face even harsher penalties. The commissioner warned those in the habit of dumping refuse or solid waste in drains, medians, or road setbacks to desist, emphasising that such actions contribute to flash floods, endanger public health, and deface the city. (Read more)
Customs seizes bulletproof vests, prohibited goods worth N1.2b in two weeks (TheNation)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, has intensified its anti-smuggling campaign, seizing goods valued at over ₦1.2 billion and arresting seven suspects linked to 46 seizures within the past two weeks.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, the Controller of the Unit, Mohammed Shiaibu, said the operation was driven by renewed intelligence-led strategies aimed at combating smuggling and economic sabotage.
“These seizures are the result of our renewed vigour to fight smuggling and criminality. Our operatives have inflicted substantial losses on economic saboteurs who are bent on undermining our economy,” Shiaibu said. (Read more)
Scrap dealer jailed 12 years for sexually assaulting four-year-old (Punch)
A scrap seller, Nasiru Usman, was on Monday convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, for sexually assaulting and indecently treating a four-year-old baby (name withheld) in his shop.
Justice Rahman Oshodi handed down the verdict following Usman’s plea bargain agreement to the amended three-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault and indecent act.
The judge, in his judgment, held that he was satisfied that the convict understood the nature of the offences he had pleaded guilty to. (Read more)
Alleged Internet fraud kingpin, Friday Audu, re-arraigned in Lagos court (TVC)
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has fixed Tuesday, to rule on the bail application filed by an alleged kingpin of an internet fraud syndicate of about 792 suspects arrested in December, Friday Audu.
He is standing trial alongside a company, Genting International Ltd, on an amended forgery charge of eight counts, bought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
At Monday’s proceedings, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, counsel asked that the amended charge be read to the defendants for their pleas to be taken. (Read more)
Police nab 3 suspected cultists, recover firearm in Ikorodu (Guardian)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three suspected cultists, Adenuga Tosin, Jesutofunmi Ezekiel, and Adeniji Juwon, who were found in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The command stated that the arrest and recovery resulted from a credible tip-off, which led to a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation by one of the command’s tactical teams along the Owode-Ikorodu axis.
During the operation, the suspects were discovered with a locally made pistol and six live cartridges. Investigations revealed that they are active members of a cult group known for engaging in violent crimes. (Read more)
6 suspected gang members arrested in Lagos (Punch)
Six suspected members of a notorious criminal gang have been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command during a routine patrol, police authorities confirmed on Monday.
The arrests were made on Thursday during a stop-and-search operation after officers intercepted an unregistered vehicle behaving suspiciously in the Lagos metropolis. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of two locally made pistols, 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 17 live cartridges, and an unregistered 1999 Toyota Camry believed to have been stolen.
The suspects have been identified as Yakubu Oke, 48; Teslim Balogun, 33; Emmanuel Osas, 33; Joseph Abah, 34; Idris Adewunmi, 32; and Opeyemi Kolawole, 28. (Read more)
NIS hands over fleeing Enugu ritualist to Lagos Police (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has handed over Enugu State-based native doctor Obi Obieze to the Lagos State Police Command after he was arrested on Wednesday at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme Expressway in an attempt to flee the country.
The suspect, who was brought in by NIS operatives yesterday, was seen wearing a mask and restrained with both hand and leg cuffs during the handover to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, at the Command headquarters.
Selected journalists invited to witness the handover were not permitted to speak with the suspect. Recall that Obieze had earlier been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force for his alleged involvement in kidnapping and ritual killings. (Read more)
23 teenagers terrorising Lagos community to face trial (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said it would prosecute no fewer than 23 teenagers who were arrested for allegedly terrorising the Ishaga, Awolowo and Ojuwoye markets in the Mushin area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Hundeyin, the police had received complaints from members of the public that some young persons were terrorising traders and residents alike in the areas. (Read more)
Man arraigned for N23.5m visa scam in Lagos (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, arraigned one Ewulum Chimeze
Felix, before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly scamming a man of N23,500,280 under the pretence of helping him with a visa and other travelling documents.
Felix, who was docked before Justice Mojisola Dada, is facing 11 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents, and forgery, preferred against him by the EFCC. (Read more)