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Alleged cybercrime: Whereabouts of 24 foreign hackers unknown, police tells court

The police, on Thursday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the whereabouts of 24 foreigner hackers being prosecuted on allegations bordering on cybercrime was unknown.

The police lawyer, Victor Okoye, told Justice Ekerete Akpan at the resumed hearing of their trial, after at least 85 of the defendants were recently convicted, fined and ordered to be deported.

Okoye said the 24 foreigners were yet to be apprehended by the security agency.

“My lord, the defendants are at large and we are yet to apprehend them,” he had said.

It will be recalled that Justice Akpan had, about two months ago, convicted 21 of the 109 foreign nationals being charged and fined them N1 million each, after they opted for a plea bargain agreement.

The judge, who alternatively ordered them to serve a one-year jail term, also ordered their deportation from Nigeria after meeting the judgment terms.

He further directed that all the gadgets used in the commission of the crimes should be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Akpan also, on Oct. 14, convicted a set of another 59 of the foreign hackers on the same plea bargain deal with the Nigerian Police Force, leaving 24 defendants who chose to face the trial.

The judge then adjourned the matter until Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 for trial of the 24 defendants.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, the defendants were not in court and the matter was adjourned until Thursday.

However, upon resumed hearing on Thursday, Okoye told the court that the defendants were still at large and that the police were yet to apprehend them.

The lawyer informed the court that he had an amended charge and that he was ready to proceed.

Justice Akpan told him that his amended charge cannot be taken when the defendants were not in court.

Okoye then sought an adjournment to do the needful and the judge adjourned the matter until Dec. 10 for hearing.

The Inspector General (I-G) of Police had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024, sued the 109 foreigners and were arraigned on six counts.

The defendants, include nationals of China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, had pleaded not guilty to the counts and were remanded in correctional centres.

Justice Akpan had, on Nov. 29, 2024, admitted them to a N1 billion bail with five sureties each.

The judge, who granted them bail, directed that the five sureties must have a landed property worth N200, 000 million each.

Justice Akpan directed that the sureties must deposit the original and verified documents of their landed property with the deputy registrar of the court.

The judge also directed the sureties to deposit their international passports.

While the male defendants were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, the court held that the female defendants should be kept at Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State pending the perfection of their bail terms.

The defendants, who had met their bail terms, were, in 2024, arrested by the police.

They were apprehended in their residence at Plot 1906, Cadestral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they were said to be engaging in cybercrime by allegedly promoting “a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”

In the six-count charge, the foreigners were charged with cybercrime, money laundering and unlawfully residing in Nigeria, etc.

In one of the counts, they were alleged to have aided, abetted, conspired among themselves “to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime.”

They were alleged to have commited the offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).

They were also alleged to have accessed a computer network and input with the intention that such inauthentic data will be considered or acted upon as If they were authentic or genuine.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).

Again, they were alleged to have removed “from Nigeria proceeds generated from operating a fraudulent and unregistered gambling platforms.

“These platforms are 9f.com, c2.top, 8pg.top and you thereby commit money laundering, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The defendants were also accused of entering “the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days duration and failed to leave the Nigerian territory at the expiration of the said permit.

The offence is contrary to the provisions of Section 4 (2) and punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 2015.”

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Police bust ‘baby factory,’ human trafficking syndicate in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a suspected baby factory and human trafficking syndicate operating in Ore, the headquarters of the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Olushola Ayanlade.

Ayanlade said the case, which originated from the Ore division, had been transferred to the Command’s Gender-Based Violence Unit for thorough investigation.

The discovery followed a report made on October 21, 2025, by a 17-year-old girl, identified as Vivian Peter from Akwa Ibom State, who told the police that she had been trafficked from her home state to Ore under the guise of securing a job opportunity.

Upon arrival in Ore, the teenager was allegedly taken to a facility posing as a clinic, which later turned out to be a baby factory.

There, she reportedly met other pregnant girls being held against their will.

She disclosed that the operator of the facility, Ada Clement, instructed her to be taken to another hospital for a medical scan, but she managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ore Police Division.

Acting swiftly on the report, police operatives from the Ore division, in collaboration with the gender unit, raided the facility, rescuing five pregnant girls and a baby boy.

One of the victims had already given birth and is currently receiving post-natal care at the General Hospital, Ore, while the others are in protective custody.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the prime suspect, Ada Clement, and some of her accomplices had confessed to operating the baby factory.

They reportedly admitted that the babies were sold to individuals seeking children, with male babies going for ₦600,000 and above, and female babies for ₦400,000 and above.

Ayanlade noted that the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, ordered a comprehensive and discreet investigation to ensure that all members of the syndicate are arrested and prosecuted.

He noted that detectives from the Command’s Gender-Based Violence Unit were already on the trail of other fleeing members of the ring.

Lawal reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in the fight against human trafficking, child exploitation, and all forms of gender-based violence.

Lawal assured the public that the Command would continue to protect the vulnerable and ensure justice for victims of such heinous crimes.

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Police deploy operatives to 3rd mainland bridge ahead of planned protest

Following a viral report of a planned protest by residents of Oworonshoki, the Lagos State Police Command has deployed operatives to strategic spots on the 3rd Mainland Bridge to prevent possible violence and disruption of traffic.

According to a Monday statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the command seeks to ensure the safety of all road users and to prevent all forms of obstruction or breach of the peace.

The statement reads, “The Lagos State Police Command is aware of information circulating regarding a planned disruption on the Third Mainland Bridge by some youths in the Oworonshoki area.

“The Command wishes to assure the public that adequate security measures have been put in place to maintain law and order across the state.”

It added, “Our officers are fully deployed to ensure the safety of all road users and to prevent any form of obstruction or breach of the peace. Members of the public are therefore advised to go about their lawful activities without fear and to cooperate with security personnel carrying out their duties.

“The Command remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property, and to ensuring the free flow of traffic across Lagos State,” the statement concluded.

Following the viral report suggesting that operatives of the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force attacked residents during a demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Task Force, the command described the report as “entirely false, mischievously published to misrepresent the facts and mislead the general public“.

This was disclosed in a Sunday statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Abimbola.

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Missing 3-year-old girl found dead in soak-away pit in Minna

A 3-year-old girl, Saudat Nasir, has been found dead in a soak-away pit a day after she was reported missing in Minna, Niger State.

Her lifeless body was recovered from the soak-away on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Her remains have been laid to rest according to Islamic rites at Kpakungu Burial Ground in Minna.

A Facebook user, Abdulazeez Akintola, who confirmed the sad development said the Sadat had disappeared while her mother, Hafsat, was praying during a visit to a friend that recently gave birth.

“Her mother, Hafsat, lives in Gbeganu area. Due to illness, she went to her family house in Soje B to recover. While visiting a friend who recently gave birth in the same area. Hafsat left little Saudat playing within the compound during prayer time. Sadly, by the time she finished praying, Saudat had disappeared to an unknown location. All efforts to trace her have been unsuccessful, despite reports made to the nearest police station and Prestige FM Minna,” he wrote.

“INNALILLAHI WAINNA ILLAHI RAJU’UN. With deep sorrow, we announce that little Saudat Nasir, the young girl we reported missing a few hours ago, has been found in a soakaway lifeless. No one can truly explain how it happened, but Allah knows best. She has immediately been laid to rest according to Islamic rites at the Kpakungu burial ground, Minna, Niger State. Include her in your du’a when this pop up your timeline. Jazakumullahu khairan.”

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