Education

Tech Developer Warns Youths against Cybercrime

By Web News 607

By Dayo Adu

A tech developer, Michael Mekulehi has charged Nigerian youths to shun cybercrime in their quest to attain financial and academic success.

Mekulehi gave the charge while delivering the 2023 Matriculation Lecture of the University of Ibadan.

Mekulehi, A first class graduate in Mechanical Engineering of the university, who spoke on the topic: “Integrity in the Technology Age“, explained that a data obtained by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, in 2021, two hundred and eleven thousand, seven hundred and thirteen  fraud cases were recorded while about two billion naira were lost by commercial banks to cybercrime.

The Ondo-born tech developer, who noted that Nigeria was ranked high in cybercrime, encouraged the students to deploy their energies and times on Artificial Intelligence skills which was in high demand globally to break even in their pursuit for financial freedom.

He advised them to be proactive, embrace principle of time management, synergize and combine skills with, and embrace positive criticism so as to be a force to reckon with in the scheme of things.

In his address to the matriculants, Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan Professor Kayode Adebowale, who spoke through the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Aderonke Bayeroju, admonished the students to strive for excellence and be law abiding in their sojourn in the citadel of learning.

Professor Adebowale, enjoined the three thousand nine hundred and eighty-three matriculants to take their studies seriously saying any student without seventy-five per cent lecture attendance would not be allowed to write exams in the school.

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Crime

Cyber-Fraud: EFCC Secures Three Convictions in Ibadan, Oshogbo

By Web News 801

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, June 2, 2022, secured the conviction of the trio of Matthew Jeff Efuwape, Sunday Oshinalke and Ajayi Babatunde Mateen before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State and Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of Federal High Court sitting in Oshogbo, Osun State on one count charge each of impersonation, contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

According to the statement, the charge against Efuwape reads: “That you, Matthew Jeff Efuwape ‘M’, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Joane Thomson on Google Hangout App via your Google Gmail account with an address: [email protected], with intent to gain monetary advantage for yourself and thereby the committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”

Also, the charge against Oshinalke reads: “That you, Sunday Oshinalke ‘M’ (a.k.a Mary Irene), sometime between 2018 and 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, impersonated one Mary Irene, a citizen of United States of America, by which you obtained benefits and gained  advantage, a pretext which you knew to be false and  you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section  22 (2) (b) (iv)  of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

Furthermore, the charge against Ajayi reads: “That you, Ajayi Babatunde Mateen ‘M’, on 10th day of October, 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired with one Ayomide Balogun and Adebunmi Adedeji Moses to impersonate a white woman with intent to gain monetary advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the same Act.”

Upon their arraignments, they pleaded ‘guilty’ to the respective charges filed against them by the EFCC.

Consequently, Justice Uche Agomoh convicted and sentenced Efuwape to one year, two months imprisonment and Oshinaike to ten months in jail.

In the same vein, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Ajayi to eight months imprisonment.

The courts also ordered the convicts to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

PR/ Kayode Banjo

Crime

EFCC Arrests Two Herbalists, 24 Others, For Alleged Cyber Fraud In Ibadan

By Web News 858

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command on Friday, October 29, 2021 arrested two self-claimed herbalists, Ajisafe Toheeb and Ogundayo Usman at Soka area of Ibadan over their alleged involvement in offences bordering on internet fraud.

They were arrested alongside twenty-four others, four of whom claimed to be students of Lead City University. 

Twenty two of the suspects have been indicted by the investigation, which is still ongoing.

The suspects are Soyinka Emmanuel Oluwafemi, Olaoti Fawaz, Omoke Ogbonaya, Okhiria Alex, Olamilekan Ibrahim, Olagoke Olalekan, Adeniran Ibrahim Adesina, Olasupo Temitayo Ayomide, Adeniran Basit, Ogunsetan Gbolahan Oluwasegun, Balogun Salam Omolade and Olamilekan Ibrahim.

Others are Ilesanmi Mayowa, Amao Emmanuel Abiodun, Olakanmi Babatunde Abdulrahmon, Olasile Jide, Dauda Sodiq, Hammed Ayomide Rasheed, Sodiq Olaide, Idris Damilola Yusuf, Abdulramon Mubarak and Ogunbiyi Segun.

They were arrested following verified intelligence on their alleged involvement in cyber fraud.

Items recovered from them include cars, mobile phones, television sets, Play Station5, laptops, among others.

Kayode Banjo

Crime

EFCC Advises Youths Against Cyber Crime

By Web News 605

As part of efforts to engage the student community in the campaign against cybercrime, the Ibadan Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Kanu Idagu, has advised the youth to desist from cybercrime, warning that it could ruin their lives.

 He gave this charge on Thursday, October 7, 2021, while delivering a lecture on Information and Communication Technology and Social Order at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan.

Kanu who was represented by the Head of Economic Governance of the Command, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, David  Nkpe, defined cybercrime as any form of an illegal act perpetrated by using the internet and other electronic means to obtain money from unsuspecting victims.

He advised the youths to focus on self-development and redirect their energy into positive activities that will benefit them and society. “It is better to start humble and grow steadily than spend time in jail. Be content, work hard and you will definitely get to the top,” he said.  

According to him, the EFCC is exploring all avenues to dissuade Nigerians from embracing corrupt practices in order not to dent the country’s reputation. He said the Commission was ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to find ways of encouraging the students to use their youthful energies in a positive manner, adding that there are enormous opportunities through the internet.  

He said the youths should realize that cybercrime has effects that could destroy their future.

Kanu expressed dismay that some families openly encourage the criminal activities of their children because of the benefits they derive from such activities and then justify it with the high rate of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria.

He assured that the Commission remains steadfast in its determination to reduce cybercrime to the barest minimum in the country.

The Head of Department, Professor E. Nwokocha thanked the EFCC for considering the invitation and bringing the practical lessons to bear in the students’ experience. “This will no doubt serve as warning shots and equip the students to steer clear of these crimes and serve as the vanguard for social order,” he stated.

Kayode Banjo