Security
We Have No Evidence That Oromoni Was Bullied, Assaulted- Police
A Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Bamidele Olusegun on Tuesday confirmed to the Lagos State Coroner’s Court probing the circumstances surrounding the death of Sylvester Oromoni, that nothing in his investigation confirmed or said the deceased was beaten or bullied.
Olusegun while being cross-examined by Dowen College’s lawyer said that he found nothing in his investigation that indicted the five students that were accused to have assaulted him.
The police officer stated that nobody came forward as an eyewitness to the alleged assault and no evidence was produced by the school, students, parents of the deceased or members of the public to indict the school.
He added that part of his report stated that although the three housemasters were negligent, passive when cases of inadequate behaviour are reported to them in the past yet the same report also stated in another paragraph that he found nothing in his investigation regarding the murder case of the deceased against the house masters.
CSP Olusegun also told the court that the suspected students were in custody for fourteen days but he only visited them once.
He also said that none of them confirmed to him during the interrogation that the deceased was beaten or bullied on the 21st of November.
While answering questions from Magistrate Kadiri on whether he conducted a thorough investigation, the witness answered in the affirmative.
He added that when he visited the deceased room at Dowen College, he recalled that it had seven occupants, however, he could not interview all the students because the school was closed.
“I was able to speak to only four of Dowen students in the room, other students could not be interviewed because their parents said they were traumatized by the incident and cannot come to the police station.’’
Also during the Tuesday proceedings, a medical doctor with Dowen College, Dr Mojisola Bisiriyu narrated how she treated Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. for hip pain and not leg injury.
Dr Bisiriyu stated that the deceased did not have any leg injury when she saw him. She said leg injury is quite different from leg pain because he does not have any visible injury.
The medical doctor who stated she has worked with Dowen College for over five years made this revelation in the ongoing inquest into the death of a 12-year-old student of the Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr while being cross-examined by Mr Femi Falana, SAN.
Bisiriyu said, “As the school Doctor, I must take care of students in the school and for whatever we see that demands attention, we usually call the parent.
‘’I saw the deceased on November 22, 2021, he came in with pain on his right side and that was what I saw him for. He came with a limp and no other complaints.
“I spoke with the deceased’s mother, Mrs Oromoni to come and pick up her son for further treatment and they came the next day. I didn’t refer him to our partner hospital in Lekki because his case was not considered an emergency.’’
The doctor, however, said she was surprised that the deceased parent didn’t take him to any hospital after they took him away from the school.
The Inquest has been adjourned till February 28 for the continuation of the hearing
President Bola Tinubu has given marching orders to security agencies to fish out those behind the killing of some travellers in Edo State.
The victims, who were said to be travelling from Port Harcourt to the northern part of Nigeria, were allegedly killed by a mob in Uromi, Edo State, on Thursday.
While reacting to the incident, President Bola Tinubu described it as dastardly.
“The President, who expressed shock at the dastardly act on Thursday, directed Police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Friday.
The President noted that jungle justice has no place in Nigeria, and all Nigerians have the freedom to move freely in any part of the country.
Tinubu condoled with the families of the affected people and assured them “that criminals would not be allowed to shed the blood of innocent Nigerians in vain”.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has visited the community, condemning the killing of the travellers.
The governor described the incident as barbaric, according to a statement from his spokesman Fred Itua, and ordered a full-scale investigation into the killing.
“The Governor directed the State Police Command and other security agencies to conduct thorough and speedy investigations into the matter and bring those found culpable to book. He also charged the community to work with the security agencies to fish out the culprits,” Itua said in a statement on Friday
“Governor Okpebholo also commended community leaders, especially the leadership of Arewa community in the area, for deescalating tensions and handling the situation with restrain.”
The governor promised justice for the victims and maintained that there is “no excuse for the vigilante members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies”.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Sirajo Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State for alleged N70 billion fraud.
He was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 alongside Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, an unlicensed bureau de change (BDC) operator and Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a Point of Sale (PoS) operator.
They were arrested in connection with investigations of money laundering, diversion of public funds and missapropriation to the tune of N70 billion.
The Commission is investigating the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, regarding the matter.
The EFCC said investigations showed that cash withdrawal of N59billion had been made through various bank accounts opened and operated by the Accountant General on behalf of the state government.
The money was allegedly moved to Abubakar and Sambo, who in turn made cash payments to party agents and associates of the governor.
The BDC operator, Abubakar, earlier jumped bail and has now been rearrested.
The Akwa Ibom police Command has arrested one Victor Okon, 42, for the alleged gruesome murder of his wife, Victoria Okoh, 38, at their residence in Oron.
The police public relations officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo, the state capital, on Monday.
Ms John said the command’s operatives swiftly responded to a distress call from concerned residents at 05:20 p.m. about the incident.
“On arrival at the scene, the officers discovered the mutilated body of the deceased lying outside the house she shared with her husband,” Mr John said.
She said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had allegedly attacked his wife with a machete over accusations of infidelity.
Ms John said further reports indicated that the suspect hid in the ceiling of the house in an attempt to evade arrest.
The PPRO said the officers went into the building and apprehended the man.
“The machete used in committing the crime was recovered by the police, and photographs of the scene were taken for investigation purposes,” she said.
Mr John said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the state’s General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
She said the suspect would be charged to court soon.
Ms John quoted the commissioner of police, CP Baba Azare, to have condemned the act and assured the public that justice would take its full course.
Mr Azare warned against all forms of domestic violence and called on residents to seek lawful means of resolving disputes rather than resorting to violence.
He pledged the commitment of the command toward ensuring the safety of citizens.
Mr Azare also urged the members of the public to promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.