The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, has arraigned a businessman, Shitta Waliu Aderibigbe and a firm, Fanzine Educational Consult, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Jabi for alleged visa fraud and marriage scam.

The suspect was also accused of giving false information to the British government.

Aderibigbe and the firm were arraigned on a two-count charge.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The accused were said to have engaged in the visa scam on January 19, 2023.

According to the charge dated April 9, 2024, Aderibigbe allegedly gave false information to the British Embassy, stating that one Emmanuel Makinde Opeyemi is married to one Dolapo Afussat Yusuf.

The police further said in the charge that as a result of the false information, the said Emmanuel Makinde Opeyemi is facing deportation back to Nigeria.

In the charge sheet, the police said the accused person knew that the act is unlawful, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Act, CAP 98 Law of Northern Nigeria.

After Aderibigbe pleaded not guilty to the charge, the presiding judge, Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million.

He was also directed to produce two sureties who must be civil servants not below level 9 in the Federal Civil Service.

The judge ordered that the sureties must deposit their passport photographs at the court registry and must be residents of the FCT.

The two count-charge against the accused persons read, “That you Shitta Waliu Aderibigbe ‘m’, Fanzine Educational Consult of No. 12 Evans Street, Idiroko, Along \jede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos state, and Miss Dolapo Afussat Yusuf ‘f’ (at large), sometimes in January, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Giving false information to a Public servant, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Act (1990. CAP 532).

“That you Shitta Wallu Aderibigbe ‘m’, Fanzine Educational Consult of No. 12 Evans Street, Idiroko, Along ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos state, and Miss Dolapo Afussat Yusuf ‘f’ (at large), sometimes in January, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did give False Information to the British Embassy, that one Emmanuel Makinde Opeyemi is married to one Dolapo Afussat Yusuf, the information that has threatened the deportation of the said Emmanuel Makinde Opeyemi back to Nigeria, an act you know to be unlawful and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 140 of the Penal Code Act, CAP 98 Law of Northern Nigeria.”

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old woman, Fatima Salisu, suspected of trafficking a large cache of ammunition across state lines.

The suspect, a native of Funtua in Katsina State, was apprehended in the Azuba area of Lafia following a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. Acting on credible intelligence, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima J. Mohammed, ordered the immediate interception of the suspect as she allegedly attempted to ferry the ammunition through Keana and Doma Local Government Areas en route to criminal groups in Katsina.

During the operation, officers recovered 400 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and 81 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition concealed in her possession.

Spokesperson of the Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday, noting that the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing intensive interrogation.

Investigators are working to unravel the full extent of the arms trafficking network and its possible links to armed banditry and terrorism in the region.

“This arrest is a major milestone in our efforts to disrupt the illegal flow of weapons fueling insecurity in the country,” Nansel said.

“The Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and urges the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement through timely and accurate information.”