News

Court jails 26 internet fraudsters in Benin City

The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, between Friday, March 22, 2024 and Tuesday March 26, 2024 secured the conviction and sentence of 26 internet fraudsters before Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.

The convicts are Balogun Oladipupo, Ehigiamusoe Desmond, Jeffery Enogieru, Awoke Godstime ThankGod, Gabriel Ugolo, Erhabor ThankGod Idahosa, Obaretin Osahebrunwen Samuel, Ilevba Endurance, Ilevba Isowanmwen, Osakhuwomwen Osayende, Eruangu Salvation, Destiny Osasenagu Osafanmen, Emmanuel Osafanmen, Azuka Victory Nzel, Enehizena Michael, Emmanuel Oladotun Oladotun, Abdulsalam Enakhe.

Others are Cyril Nowanmagbe Ojo, Wisdom Desmond John, Samuel Joseph, Ime Joseph Etim, Imafidon Kelvin, Sylvester Gabriel, Victor Jonathan Chika, Ejike Favour Madukaku and Abdullahi Rahman
They were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents upon arraignment by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

The charge against Ilevba reads: “that you Endurance Osahon Ilevba sometime in 2023 in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be Jason Statham, an American actor and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 384 (1) of the criminal Law of Edo State Law 2022.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, F. A. Jirbo. I. M. Elodi, I.K Agwai, K.Y. Bello, Bala-Ribah and Salihu Ahmed to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stressing that they have become remorseful for their actions.

The duo of Ilevba and Endurance Osahon Ilevba bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each while the quartet of Idahosa, Oladuton Cole, Michael and Abdullahi got two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each. Twenty others were sentenced to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each.
The judges ordered that the convicts forfeit their phones, laptops, three Mercedes-Benz vehicles, balances in their various bank accounts including the sum of Four Million, Fifty Two Thousand, Fifty Two Naira, Fifty Three kobo (N4,052,052.53) in the account of Ilevba being instrument and proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria while Abdullahi was ordered to refund N480,000 to his victim. All the convicts are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour afterwards.

The convicts’ road to the Correctional Centre began following their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission based on actionable intelligence regarding their involvement in internet- related fraud.

News

No tenure extension for IGP Egbetokun – Police

The Nigeria Police Force High Command has clarified the rumoured tenure extension for Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stating that there was no extension granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Instead, the law governing the tenure of the IGP’s office was properly applied.

This clarification was made in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The statement reads, “the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.

“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.

This letter, dated 3rd November 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

” It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment

“The ongoing circulation of false information is clearly the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains.

” Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence.

This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.

” We urge the public to disregard the unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force.

In clear terms, IGP’s tenure of office is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of perennial distraction to policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”

News

EFCC grabs 44 for internet fraud in Kwara

Forty-four (44) suspected internet fraudsters were arrested at different locations in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on Friday by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Spokesperson for EFCC, Dele Oyewale said in a statement on Friday that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

“They were arrested on Friday September 6, 2024 at Sango, Kulende, Taxaco and Harmony Estate, all in Ilorin, following credible intelligence over their alleged involvement internet- related offences,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

He listed items recovered from the suspects to include six different brands of exotic cars, laptops, smart phones and charms.

The suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Ilorin Directorate of the anti-graft agency had also arrested 56 suspected internet fraudsters two days ago.

News

Olubadan elevates 4 senior chiefs, 1 junior in Balogun line

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, on Friday, promoted four senior Chiefs and one junior Chief in the Balogun line.

The promotion is in line with the tradition of ascendancy to the Olubadan stool.

The ceremony was done by the Olubadan in his palace at Oke Aremo, Ibadan.

The traditional rites were performed by the Oluwo of Ibadanland, Chief Wahab Popoola Labosinde who decorated the elevated Senior Chief and the junior Chief with the traditional Akoko leaves.

Those who were promoted were; Senior Chief Samuel Adegboyega Adeniran, who was elevated from Ekefa Balogun to Abese Balogun, Senior Chief Taiwo Anthony Adebayo Oyekan (absent ) who was promoted from Agbakin Balogun to Maye Balogun, Senior Chief Raufu Amusa Eleruwere who climbed the ladder from Aare Alaasa Balogun to Ekefa Balogun, Senior Chief Emiola Onideure who advanced from Ikolaba Balogun to Agbakin Balogun and Chief (Barrister) Tirimisiyu Arowolo Obisesan (absent) who rose from Asaaju Balogun to Aare Alaasa Balogun.

The traditional ruler congratulated the new chiefs on their elevation and charged them to use their rise in position for the progress, unity and development of Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria at large.

Olakulehin admonished the newly elevated traditional title holders to rededicate their lives to the preservation of the Yoruba culture as well as improving the quality of lives of residents and indigenes of Ibadan land.