News

Courts Jail 59 Internet Fraudsters in Oyo, Ogun, Osogbo

The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of fifty nine (59) internet fraudsters to various jail terms before five State High Court Judges and a Federal High Court Judge.

The convicts are, Adekola Mohammed Bidemi, Raheem Toheeb Olalekan, Nduneri Kelvin Precious, Adekola Akinsola Iyanuoluwa, Adegoke Tomiwa Olalekan, Akintade Isaac Temitayo, Olaolu Abdulsomad Olamide, Akanni Oluwapelumi Anuoluwapo, Omogbolahan Arikuyeri Joseph, Adedimeji Olaitan Ojo, Jamal Olawale Hamzat, Ajana Abidemi Oluwapelumi, Jamiu Quadri Abayomi, Isaac Adejare Moses, Bamidele Williams, Olafisoye Oluwatobi Opeyemi, Alex Mayowa Precious, Olajide Deji Emmanuel, Folayan Temitayo Oluwajuwon, Kolade Paul Olaseinde, Eniola Lazeez, Ayeni Bisola Charles, Owoyemi James Abidemi and Hammed Akolawole Yakubu.

Others are: Sunmonu Sheriff Olabanji, Michael Blessing Seyi, Adebayo Babatunde Benedict, Afeez Oluwaseun Abdulwahab, Azeez Folorunso Akinremi, Ariku Victor Olawande, Fapetu Daniel Temitope, Owoyemi Kayode Ayobami, Adekunle Toluwanimi Micheal, Idowu Mayowa Victor, Olaoluwa Posi Ejisun Kehinde, Olawale Ibrahim Boluwatife, Oreoluwa Oyeyemi Oladipo, Ayomide Sunday Owoshakin, Aare Sodiq Olanrewaju, Waheed Abeeb Olamilekan, Oluwatunbosun Stephen Fafore, Alamu David Dolapo and Ridwan Olabisi Onifade.

The rest include: Osifeso Tijesunimi David, Ogunrinde Taiwo Oluwaseun, Ogunrinde Idowu Ebenezer, Ayoola Olayinka Gaffar, Sodiq Alamu Olumide, Adegoke Idowu Oluwaseun, Adebayo Daniel Sunday, Olabode Samson Opeyemi, Alade Kehinde Matthew, Folaranmi Olukorede Martins, Akinola Bolarinwa, Abimbola Ayodele Olajide, Adekunle Iyanuoluwa Ayomide, Akinyemi Olalekan Opeyemi, Job Innocent and Okoro Justine Uzoma.

They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining by false pretence.

The charge against Uzoma reads: “That you, Okoro Justine Uzoma sometimes in February, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a female as Cory Spencer Smith from the United States of America to one Collette, by creating a fake Facebook account with intent to gain an advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amended) Act, 2024.”

The charge preferred against Bidemi reads: “That you, Adekola Mohammed Bidemi on or about April 2024, at Ede, Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself did impersonate one Mary Kate, the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amended) Act, 2024.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them, upon which prosecution counsel: Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Modupe Akinkoye, Oyelakin Oyediran, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen, Umar Abiso, Abiddeen Muhammad, Adamu Sahabi, Fatima Baba, David Olubode and Favour Adewunmi prayed the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice M. Salisu of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Temitayo and Olamide to one year imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N1, 000, 000.00 (One Million Naira) each. Temitayo forfeited one grey Toyota Camry 2007 Model car while Olamide forfeited N1, 450, 000.00 (One Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and a grey colour Toyota Camry 2011 Model car.
Also, he convicted and sentenced Akinsola Iyanuoluwa, Tomiwa Olalekan and Toheeb Olalekan to one year imprisonment each or a fine of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each, Williams and Mayowa Precious to one year jail term each or to pay a fine of N400, 000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) each, while Joseph, Ojo, Bidemi, Abayomi and Moses bagged eight months jail term each or to pay a fine of N400, 000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira), N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), N400, 000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira), N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and N700, 000.00 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) respectively. Moses forfeited one black- coloured unregistered Lexus GS 350 to the government.

Justice Salisu also convicted and sentenced Opeyemi to seven months imprisonment or to a fine of N400, 000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) while Kelvin Precious, Anuoluwapo, Hamzat and Uzoma bagged six months jail term each or to pay a fine of N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) each.

Oluwapelumi was sentenced to three months imprisonment or a fine of N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).
Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Oluwajuwon, Olaseinde, Lazeez, Charles, Abidemi, Yakubu, Olabanji, Seyi, Benedict, Abdulwahab, Olawande, Daniel Temitope, Ayobami and Toluwanimi Micheal to six months imprisonment each.

They were however, given option of N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand), N250, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira), N250, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), N250, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) and N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) respectively.

Daniel Temitope forfeited a grey- coloured Toyota Camry car , Benedict; one blue -coloured Lexus ES 350 car and Lazeez; one grey- coloured Toyota Camry 2006 Model vehicle.

Also, he convicted and sentenced Deji Emmanuel, Akinremi and Innocent to three months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N100, 000. 00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira), N250, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) respectively.

Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Onifade to one year imprisonment or to pay a fine of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) and forfeited a grey- coloured Toyota Rav4 Sports Utility Vehicle while Owoshakin bagged six months jail term or a fine N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
Also, he convicted and sentenced Ayomide to six months community service or a fine of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira), Fafore and Dolapo to six months community service each or to pay a fine of N40, 000.00 (Forty Thousand Naira) each and David to six months community service or to a fine of N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira).

Justice Akintola also convicted and sentenced Boluwatife, Sodiq Olanrewaju, Bolarinwa, Olajide and Oluwaseun to three months community service each or to pay a fine of N30, 000.00 (Thirty Thousand Naira) each, and Olalekan Opeyemi to three months community service or a fine of N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira), while Oladipo and Ebenezer bagged three months jail term each or N25, 000.00 (Twenty-five Thousand Naira) each.
Also, he convicted Abeeb Olamilekan and Martins and sentenced them to pay a fine of N20, 000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) each.

Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan convicted and sentenced Idowu Oluwaseun to five months community service, Olumide, Sunday and Kehinde Matthew to four months community service each without an option of fine. Also, Samson Opeyemi bagged two months community service.

Justice U.E. Akpan of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State convicted and sentenced Mayowa Victor to one year imprisonment or a fine of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and Ejisun Kehinde to six months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).
Justice A.A. Okeke of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta convicted and sentenced Gaffar to one month imprisonment without an option of fine.

The convicts forfeited all items recovered from them to the Federal Government.
All the convicts began their ways to the Correctional Centres when they were arrested for internet-related offences. They were charged to court and convicted.

News

IGP orders arrest and investigation of officer caught on tape making unauthorized political comments about Edo guber election

The Nigeria Police Force says it is aware of a recent video evidencing political comment by an individual dressed in a Spy Police uniform regarding the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial elections, which has been circulating on social media platforms.

In a statement released, the spokesperson of the police force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the NPF strongly condemned this act and clarified that the individual is not a regular officer of the Nigeria Police Force, but a Supernumerary (Spy) Police Officer employed by a private company.

“Supernumerary Police Officers are private individuals trained by the Nigeria Police for specific security functions, primarily within their place of employment.

“They are not on the payroll of the NPF and do not swear to the oath of allegiance like sworn regular police officers, thus they have the right to belong to any political party of their choice and freedom of expression.

” In this extant case, the Police frowns at the wearing of his official SPY uniform and engaging in political activities.

The individual involved has been arrested for further investigations. We reiterate that his political comments do not reflect the views of the Nigeria Police, and the public is urged to disregard any such statements and trust in our continued commitment to professionalism, neutrality, and the rule of law.” Adejobi said

In the viral video, the officer could be heard saying ;

“They want to make the governance of our state a family affair, an affair between two friends and we Edo people will not allow that to happen and this is the time to bring Obaseki to justice.

” He has committed a lot of crimes against Edo people. We have spared him because of the immunity given to him by the Constitution. Very soon, he will not have immunity, he will be free and the Edo people will deal with him as we please”

News

UAE deports 400 Nigerians

Four hundred Nigerians including 90 females and 310 males have been deported from the United Arab Emirates, UAE, the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, reports.

They were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the office of the National Security Adviser alongside the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders.

It was gathered that a total of 103 Nigerians deported from the Republic of Turkiye, recently, were received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders.

The deportees who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday at 7:00 pm through the pilgrims wing of the airport were received by Federal Government officials led by NEMA personnel.

News

#Endbadgovernance: Court grants N10m bail each on 10 protesters

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday slammed N10 million bail each on the
ten members of the #endbadgovernance# protesters who were charged with attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 this year.

Justice Emeka Nwite admitted them to bail while delivering a ruling on their bail applications.

Among others, the protesters are to produce one surety each in the same amount while the sureties must be residents in Abuja.

Besides, the sureties must be property owners in Abuja and must deposit documents of the properties to the court in addition to swearing an affidavit of means.

Also, both the defendants and the sureties must deposit their international passports and three recent passport photographs with the court.

Justice Nwite, while rejecting the objections of the Inspector General of Police against the bail request, ordered the defendants not to participate in any public rally throughout their trial.

Pending the perfection of their respective bail conditions, the Judge ordered that they be remanded in prison custody.

Meanwhile, September 27 has been fixed for the commencement of their trial.

The accused persons were said to have committed the treasonable offence during their one-week nationwide protests when they allegedly levied war against Nigeria.

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, who brought the charges against them alleged that the accused persons broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.

He also alleged that they attempted to force their way into the seat of power during which they allegedly burned down a police station and injured police officers.

They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties including a Police station, High Court complex and National Communication Commission, NCC facilities.

The accused persons are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair.