Crime

EFCC Docks Baale For ₦4.2M Land Scam in Ibadan

By Web News 2822

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, arraigned 82-year-old Chief Olagoke Samson Amoo-Onidundu, who claims to be the Baale of Onidundu area of Akinyele, Oyo State, before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan for alleged land fraud.

The octogenarian was docked on a four count charge bordering obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

The complainant alleged that he bought four acres of land from the defendant for four million, four hundred thousand Naira, ₦4,400,000 but he was later denied access to the land by some people who claimed to be the actual owners of the land.

One of the counts reads, “That you, Chief Olagoke Samson Amoo-Onidundu on or about the 19th August, 2020, at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of two million naira, ₦2,000,000.00, only from one Oluwagbemi Isaac Ashaolu by falsely telling him that the sum was part payment for the purchase of four acres of land you have secured for him, which you are in a position to deliver to him; which representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi asked for a date for the commencement of trial.

He also prayed the court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
The court adjourned the case till August 9, 2021, while the defendant was remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abolongo.

In a related development, Justice Yerima convicted and sentenced one Aremu Ridwan Kunle to six months community service after finding him guilty of a criminal charge filed against him by the commission.

Aremu was convicted on a six-count amended charge of obtaining money under false pretence contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code, 38 Cap. Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Consequent upon the ‘guilty’ plea, prosecution counsel, Dr. Ubi prayed the court to convict him according to the terms of a plea bargain agreement earlier made with the commission.

After convicting the accused, the judge ordered him to restitute his victims: Jason Arthur, Paul Jackson and John Geditz the total sum of Three Hundred and Sixty United States Dollars, $360 USD.

The court also ordered Aremu to forfeit one black and purple coloured Techno Spark 4 mobile phone and one silver coloured HP Laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
28 July, 2021

Crime

26-Year-Old Gets Jail Term Over Impersonation

By Web News 603

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, secured the conviction of one Oluwatobi Damilola Aina before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The 26-year-old who claimed to be a fashion enthusiast, was arrested on September 29, 2020, when the Commission got wind of his fraudulent activities and consequently charged to court on one-count charge bordering on impersonation.

The charge reads, “Oluwatobi Damilola Aina, sometimes between the month of January and October 2020 at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as a female known as Namita Cooling”.

Aina pleaded guilty to the charge.

In view his plea, he was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison.

The court also ordered him to restitute items recovered from him to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

Man Docked For Falsely Declaring Self Dead

By Web News 681

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dragged one Ajari Oghenekewe before a Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State for presenting self’s fake death certificate to escape justice. 

The commission’s prosecutor, Mr Muritala Usman, told the court that the defendant on February 17, 2020, with intention to deceive the EFCC, presented a false death certificate to the commission to escape justice, having been under investigation for fraud.

He was also said to have presented the fake death certificate through one Iyekute Felix to the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal office, an offence contrary to section 39(2)(a) and punishable under section 39(2)(b) of the criminal law.

Oghenekewe was also alleged to have forged a Mikano International Limited Identity Card with the name of one Emefiele Smart and presented it to the staff of Fidelity Bank, Ile-Ife with intention to falsely obtain money from the bank.

The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M 17 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Meanwhile, Oghenekewe pleaded not guilty to the three-count charges bothering on fraud, forgery and cybercrime preferred against him by the EFCC. 

His Counsel, Mr M. O. Benson, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, promising that he would stand his trial. 

Justice Emmanuel Ayoola declined the oral application directing the counsel to file a formal bail application and ordered that the defendant should be allowed to continue with the EFCC’s bail condition. 

He adjourned the matter to November 18, 2029 for ruling on bail application.

Adenitan Akinola

Crime

EFCC Arrests 32 “Yahoo Boys” In Ogbomoso

By Web News 2100

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Tuesday, arrested 32 young boys known as “Yahoo boys” for alleged involvement in internet fraud.

The suspects were apprehended during a raid on their hideout in Ogbomoso, Oyo State Officers of the EFCC swept on the location, after diligent analysis of series of intelligence gathered on their alleged criminal activities.

Three of the suspects claimed to be serving members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, 19 were undergraduates of various universities across the country, while the remaining 10 laid claim to sundry vocations.

The suspects are Oyebamiji Francis; Aremo Jeremiah; Ogbonnaya Prosper John; Anuoluwapo Matthew; Oladele Victor; Mumuni Waliyullah; Olawoyin Abiodun; Okuwatoyin Henry; Arisekola Shina; Babarinde Solomon; Samson Gideon; Joshua Ola Adebayo; Ajayi Joseph Ajibola; Garba Mojeed, Olatunbosun Tobiloba and Azeez Ridwan.

Others are Ajala Timilehin; Adebolapo Bakare; Alaba Gideon; Ogunkeye Olumide; Ogunleke Tolu; Olapade Emmanuel; Adegoke Aanu Abiodun; Job Ayantoye; Oyebode Pelumi; Babayanju Toluwani; Oladele Ayobami; Omonaiye Abubakar; Sattong Baking; Abisoye Kehinde, Iwajomo Nathan and Aniyikaye Tope.

At the point of their arrest, 12 exotic cars, several phones, laptops and some incriminating documents were recovered from them.

The suspects were subjected to thorough screening by medical officials of the EFCC, in line with the COVID-19 prevention protocols.

They would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

Fraudster Bags 20 Years over $22,300 Scam

By Web News 794

A 30-year-old fraudster, Gabriel Adekola Oluokun, was has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State for defrauding a Taiwanese to the tune of Twenty-Two Thousand, Three Hundred United States Dollars.

The convict was prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a six-count amended charge of obtaining money under false pretenses for which he was found guilty and convicted. 

Oluokun’s journey to prison started when the commission received a petition from one Nduka Lucious in which he alleged that the convict collected the sum of $22,300 from him in three instalments on the agreement that he will supply 100 metric tonnes of sesame seed to one Victoria Xhung, a China-based Taiwanese businesswoman, whom the petitioner represents in Nigeria. 

While the convict failed to deliver, he converted the sum to his personal use. 

On conclusion of investigations, he was arraigned on April 6, 2018 on a six-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences to which he pleaded not guilty and was re-arraigned on June 15, 2020 on a six-count amended charge for the same offence, for which he was convicted.

After reviewing the arguments of the prosecution team led by Dr Ben Ubi, and that of the defence team, Justice Abdumalik convicted the defendant on counts one to four of the charges, which contravene Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, sentencing him to five years on each of the four counts, which are to run concurrently and discharged and acquitted him on counts five and six.

Aside from the prison term, the convict is to restitute his victim, the sum of $22,300, with the caveat that the jail term will be extended by additional two years if he fails to make the repayment.

He also forfeited his Toyota Corolla saloon car to the Federal government.

Sunday Ogunyemi