Culture

Fraud Case: Govt. Announces Formal Action on Oba Oloyede

By Web News 743

By Funmi Ojo

The Osun State Government has announced plans to take formal action following the conviction of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, Latimogun I, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, who was recently sentenced to prison in the United States for fraud.

The decision was reached during the State Executive Council meeting in Osogbo, presided over by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The Governor directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to immediately initiate steps to address what he described as an ugly development.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Chief Kolapo Alimi, the state government said it would first obtain a Certified True Copy of the U.S. court judgment before taking further action.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has also been tasked to engage Ipetumodu kingmakers and stakeholders to ensure peace and stability in the community.

According to the government, the commissioner will review the legal standing of the throne under Osun’s chieftaincy laws, ensuring all steps comply strictly with due process to forestall disputes.

“The government remains committed to protecting the integrity of traditional stools across Osun State while taking necessary measures to preserve peace, order, and cultural heritage,” the statement added.

Oba Oloyede was in August 2025 sentenced to 56 months in prison by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio after pleading guilty to defrauding the American government of about $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

He was also ordered to pay restitution of $4,408,543.38 and placed on supervised release for three years.

The monarch, alongside a co-defendant, Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi, admitted guilt to charges of wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering.

Crime

13 Ex-Govs under EFCC’s Radar over N772bn Fraud Cases

By Web News 509

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reopened money laundering cases against 13 former governors and some former ministers, with the amounts involved running into over N853.8bn.

The amount at stake in the high-profile cases involving the former governors and ex-ministers was not less than N772.2bn, however, the anti-graft agency is currently investigating the N81.6bn that was allegedly looted in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

However, another $2.2bn was alleged to have gone missing through money laundering, fund diversion and misappropriation in recent times. The $2.2bn was allegedly diverted by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; late media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; and former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, and others.

According to the EFCC, the money was meant for arms procurement in support of the war against terrorists, but it was laundered, diverted, and misappropriated.

While Dasuki was in custody of the Department of State Services in 2015, the EFCC arrested Dokpesi, Bafarawa, Yuguda and others.

They were all arrested after being indicted by a presidential committee that investigated arms procurement under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The committee said about $2.2bn was diverted for purposes other than arms procurement.

The affected persons include two former Ekiti State governors, Kayode Fayemi and Ayo Fayose; former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle; two former Enugu State governors, Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime; former Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Adamu; former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Others are former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili; former Abia State governor, Theodore Orji; former Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje; former Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamako; former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva; and former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido.

Matawalle, who is currently serving as the Minister of Defence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, is being probed for alleged N70bn money laundering; while Fayemi, who served as Minister of Solid Minerals Development in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet from November 11, 2015 to May 30, 2018, before resigning to contest the governorship election for his second term, is being investigated for an alleged N4bn fraud, while Fayose, a two-term governor of Ekiti State, is being investigated by the anti-graft agency for an alleged N6.9bn fraud.

Nnamani is being probed for an alleged N5.3bn fraud; Chime is being investigated over an alleged N450m campaign fraud as part of the N23bn allegedly shared by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, while Adamu is under probe for alleged N15bn fraud.

Kwakwanso is being probed for alleged non-remittance of N10bn pension fund; Orji is being investigated over alleged N551bn money laundering; while Odili is similarly being probed for alleged N100bn fraud. It is not yet clear how the probe of the ex-Rivers State governor will be handled as he obtained an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and other security agencies from a Federal High Court in March 2008, which has not been vacated to date.

Goje is being probed by the commission for an alleged N5bn fraud; Wammako is being investigated for allegedly diverting N15bn; Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum under Buhari, is under probe for alleged N19.2bn money laundering; while Lamido is being investigated over an alleged N1.35bn fraud.

Diezani is being probed over several alleged money laundering cases running into several billions of naira and millions of dollars.

Sources privy to the development told our correspondent on Friday that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was reviewing all the high-profile cases, and had since his assumption of office reappointed investigators to take up the several probes without prejudice to the suspects’ social or political status.

“The chairman is reviewing all high profile cases, and he has ordered the investigators not to treat anyone differently, especially politically exposed persons, such as former governors and ministers, who were indicted for money laundering,” an impeccable source told Sunday PUNCH.

The EFCC had also recently commenced the probe of some former ministers, Olu Agunloye (power, mines and steel), Olu Agunloye, over an alleged $6bn fraud on the Mambilla Power Project; and Sadiya Umar-Farouk (humanitarian affairs), over an alleged N37.1bn fraud.

Agunloye and Umar-Farouq served under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, respectively. The EFCC is probing both former ministers and arraigned Agunloye, who was remanded in a custodial centre pending the perfection of his N50m bail.

The commission is also probing the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the embattled Coordinator of the suspended National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, over alleged N81.6bn fraud uncovered in the ministry.

EFCC was also probing the chief executive officers of several banks, civil servants, and contractors in connection with the humongous fraud uncovered in the ministry.

Olukoyede had on Friday declared that all high-profile cases would be reviewed and revisited, while noting that indicted former or incumbent public officials’ corruption cases would not be overlooked or abandoned by the commission.

He made the declaration in Abuja through the acting Director of Public Affairs, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, who spoke to journalists following a protest by members of the Zamfara Alternative Forum at the commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

Members of the group had urged the anti-graft agency to revisit the probe of the immediate past governor of the state, Matawalle, over alleged N70bn money laundering.

Responding to the request of the protesters, Uwujaren revealed that Olukoyede had reviewed all inherited high-profile cases since he assumed office, adding that the commission would proceed with the probe of every indicted high-profile person.

He said, “I want to assure you that, as far as the commission is concerned, nobody is above the law. What the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has done since assuming office is that he has reviewed all the high-profile cases he inherited.

“And the EFCC Chairman has asked me to assure you that this case, like others, will not be an exception. The case will be reviewed, and the chairman assures you that something will be done under the law, and no one is above the law and no case shall be swept under the carpet.

“Rest assured that these cases will be revisited because the EFCC believes that no case should be swept under the carpet. If you have done something wrong and if our investigation is able to establish that you have a case, we will proceed with the matter.”

On May 18, 2023, the EFCC, through its spokesman, Osita Nwajah, had said Matawalle was being investigated by the commission over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70bn.

He stated, “The money, which was sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors, who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

“The commission’s investigations revealed that more than 100 companies received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state.

“Some of the contractors, who had been invited and quizzed by the commission, made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States dollars.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Oyo Civil Servant Jailed for Financial Fraud

By Web News 516

By Oluwakayode Banjo

The Chief Magistrate Court 1, Iwo Road Ibadan, presided over by Magistrate Taiwo Oladiran has on Friday, convicted one Adeleke Ronke Mary of the Oyo State Ministry of Lands to a year imprisonment for official corruption.

The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) secured the conviction of Adeleke after it had investigated a case submitted against her by a victim from whom she dubiously collected the sum of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (#600,000.00).

The court also ordered that the convict to refund the said money to the victim within a month.

In a Press Statement signed by the Chairman, OYACA, Honorable Justice Eni Esan and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Friday, Adeleke was investigated by the agency and found culpable before her case file was handed over the State’s Ministry of Justice for prosecution.

“The Chief Magistrate Court 1, Iwo Road, Ibadan, Presided over by Magistrate Taiwo Oladiran (CM1) convicted today, Adeleke Ronke Mary, a civil servant of the Ministry of Lands for official corruption under the Section 22 of the OYACA Law and the court sentenced her to a year term of imprisonment.

“Also, the court ordered the convict to refund the sum of #600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) collected from the victim within one month.

“Adeleke Ronke Mary has since been handed over to the officers of the Nigerian Correctional Services,” the statement added.

Justice Eni Esan said OYACA in its commitment towards zero tolerance for corruption within the public service in Oyo State, is ready to rid the State of all forms of corrupt practices and to ensure that justice is served in all cases of corruption within Oyo State.

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Education

Tech Developer Warns Youths against Cybercrime

By Web News 629

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

Police Arraign Accountant, Mother for Alleged N1bn, $975,102 Fraud

By Web News 556

A chartered accountant, Omafume Ayinuola, and her mother, Lydia Ehrievuyere, have been arraigned by the police before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly laundering N1,072,254,411 and  $975,102.58.

The daughter and mother were arraigned alongside their company, Patridia Resources Limited, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, by the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

They are facing 15 counts, bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion of funds, money laundering, and fraud.

Police prosecution counsel, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between 2017 and 2021 at Trailer Park, in the Agbara area of Lagos State.

He said the defendants allegedly defrauded some companies

Animashaun also told the court that the funds allegedly stolen by the defendants were meant for the purchase and supplies of consumables for the office of the companies listed above.

However, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

52 in EFCC Net over Fraud

By Web News 569

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested 52 suspected internet fraudsters in Ogun State.

According to the EFCC in its post on Twitter, the individuals were arrested for computer-related fraud by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency.

Others include Aremu Ahmed Alabi, Akintosoye Tomiwa Pelumi, Fatoye Damilare Akanbi and Adio Emmanuel Oyebanji.Others are Adekoya Samuel, Adebayo Taiwo, Olawale Bayole, Emmanuel Benjamin, Omotosho Ayobami, Usman Boluwatife, Adewale Adeniyi, Obadina Olawunmi, Ashiru Abdullahi, Ahmed Mubarak, Idowu Kazeem, Olukoya Emmanuel,Yusuf Lukman, Agesin Eniola, Tajudeen Mustapha, Falola Olalekan, Usman Funsh, Bolaji Usman, Ayiyon Naoh, Mohammed Adeoye, Babatunde Seun, Afela Mustapha, Yusuf Habeeb Olanrewaju, Alao Ayomide, Oyeleye Uman Abduljelil Raji, and Adeniyi Abdulmojeeb.

The post stated that “the suspects were arrested during sting operations between Wednesday, June 7, and Thursday, June 8, 2023, following intelligence received by the Commission about the activities of some individuals involved in computer-related fraud in some areas of the state.

“Items recovered from the suspects include mobile phones, laptop computers and cars.

“The suspects will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

Punch/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

EFCC Arraigns Ondo Speaker, Others over Alleged Fraud

By Web News 388

By Kayode Animasaun

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Speaker, Ondo State House Of Assembly, Bamidele Oloyeloogun before the state High Court in Akure, over alleged fraud.

The arraignment on Tuesday marked the beginning of the official trial of the head of the state’s legislature.

Also arraigned before the court, was the lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency 2, Felemu Bankole and a civil servant Segun Oyadeyi Bankole

The Speaker alongside others was docked on a two-count charge involving fraud.

They however pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against them. 

During the trial,  the counsel to the EFCC, Kingsley Kudus asked the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Facility, though they had pleaded not guilty, the defendants were still in the hands of the court while the trial continues.

Reacting, counsel to the defendants, Femi Emodamore who told the court that he was fully prepared for the commencement and continuation of the trial, asked the court to strike out EFCC’s prayer for remand, saying the administrative bail application on the defendants was still active.

He explained that the second defendant (Oleyelogun) was having a health challenge that needed urgent medical attention.

Emodamore also asked the court to caution the nominal complainant and lawmaker ( Iroju Ogundeji) in the case for allegedly sending messages to the Speaker in an attempt to annoy him.

According to him, if Ogundeji did not desist from such action, he would be prosecuted as his actions towards the Speaker is against the law.

In his ruling, Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye asked the defendants to be enjoying their administrative bail till the next hearing as he adjourned the case till May 18 for a proper hearing of the trial.

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Crime

Court Convicts Corps Member, 38 Others for Fraud

By Web News 827

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of a Corps member, Osisi Ikenna Nicholas to one-month community service for his involvement in internet-related fraud.

Osisi was convicted alongside thirty – eight others on a separate one-count charge each before Justices Bayo Taiwo, Omolara Adeyemi, Ladoke Akintola, Mohammed Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan and Justice Opeyemi Sobowale of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta between November 21, 2022 and November 25, 2022.

The sentences range from a fine, one to six months of community service, and one-year imprisonment.

Other convicts are Christopher Ehiabhi Ogbidi, Odewale Johnson Olumide, Akinade Adeyeye Gbolahan Muyiwa, Chukwudi Emeka Samuel, Ehinmowo Stephen Segun, Emmanuel Oluchukwu, Aboaba Olawale Joshua, Akinba Oluwafemi Clement, Ayobami Temidayo Yusuf, Moshood Adeyinka Hammed, Gbolahan Oluwasegun Ogunseitan, Ojo Aduragbemi Emmanuel, Adeosun Amos Adeoye, Opeyemi Gbenga Omoyemi, Owolabi Gbadamosi Moses, Opeyemi Timilehin Akorede, Olawale Sodiq Adeniyi, Oluwaseun Samuel Aboaba, Abidemi Nasir Idris and Odewale Akindele Damilola.

The rest are Afolabi Jamiu Oluwadamilare, Adekomaya Adedoyin Eniola, Kazeem Babajide Remilekun, Mustapha Adewumi Ayoade, Ajani Quareeb Ajibola, Aineribhokun Abel Ernest, Isaac Chinedu Isaiah, Christopher Osarhemen Ivuogbe, Dauda Kareem Oladayo, Basit Azeez Akande, Atilade Stephen Ogunniyi, Temidayo Emmanuel Eyinla, Ajuwon Omobola Ibrahim, Adisa Ibrahim Olasunkanmi, Akande Damilare Peter and Salami Victor Gbenga.

They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them by the EFCC.

Upon their pleas, prosecution counsel, Modupe Akinkoye, Oyelakin Oyediran, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Chidi Okoli, Musa Galadanchi, Shamsuddeen Bashir, Mabas Mabur and Abbulrasheed Suleiman reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered several documents in evidence and urged the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Consequently, Ajuwon, Ogunseitan and Ogunniyi were convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment each, Akinba to three months imprisonment while Salami, Akande Damilare, Aineribhokun, Odewale Akindele, Nasir, Akorede, Owolabi, Ojo and Makinde bagged six months community service each.

Furthermore, Adisa, Basit Azeez, Ivuogbe, Ajibola, Moshood and Yusuf were convicted and sentenced to five months of community service each. Eyinla, Isaac, Omoyemi, Ogbidi, Oluchukwu, Afolabi, Adekomaya, Ayoade, Ayoade, Oloyede and Olawale Joshua were sentenced to three months of community service each while Oladayo bagged four months of community service.

Also, Adeoye was convicted and sentenced to one-month imprisonment and one-month community service, Akinade to two-months community service, Aboaba and Olawale to one-month community service each while Odewale Johnson, Chukwudi and Ehinmowo were convicted and ordered to pay N150, 000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine each.

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

Oluwakayode Banjo

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Crime

Osun Government Suspends Teacher for Fraud

By Web News 500

Osun State Government has suspended a teacher, Abimbola Olowookere for allegedly defrauding some recently recruited teachers to the tune of N30,000 claiming to influence their posting.

Reports got to the Osun State Ministry of Education that said Mr Olowookere has been collecting the money from the teachers in Osun East Education District so as to post them to their preferred school of choice anywhere outside the district.

Briefing newsmen on the matter, the State Commissioner for Education, Mr Folorunsho Oladoyin, who condemned the act, advised the recently recruited teachers not to listen to anyone who demands money or other gratification from them under the guise of influencing their postings.

He said the State Government had recruited the first batch of 1,000 teachers with the determination to post them to schools and towns where their services are basically needed.

The Commissioner stressed that the posting of the new teachers rests solely with the state Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, saddled with the official responsibility of knowing where the teachers are needed.

Mr Oladoyin however warned any teacher or official of government who is still in the act of collecting money before rendering one service or the other to desist from it or be ready to face the full weight of the law.

Temitope Mosadomi

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Crime

Court Remands POS Operator for Alleged Fraud

By Web News 531

An Osogbo Magistrate Court has remanded 22-year-old Kareem Hammed in Ilesa correctional centre over an alleged N.2 million fraud.

The State Police Command had arraigned the suspect on a four-count charge bordering on fraud and theft.

Police prosecutor, ASP Mustapha Tajudeen told the court that the defendant, who worked as a POS agent at Olori Area Ikirun, stole the sum of N294, 000 between September 10 and 11, 2022, from his customers.

He stated that the alleged offences contravened Section 383 and were punishable under Section 390 of Criminal code cap 34 vol.11 law of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

However, an emotional Hammed pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge slammed against him.

His counsel, Tunbosun Oladipupo, who urged the court to grant him bail, noted that the offences were bailable under the law.

The police prosecutor objected to his bail application.

He told the court that preliminary investigation revealed that the defendant was a notorious fraudster disguising himself as a POS operator.

While stating that more complaints were discovered while he was in police custody, he added that Hammed is not from Osogbo, therefore he might jump bail.

The presiding chief magistrate, O.A Ayilara refused the defendant bail and ordered him to be remanded in Ilesa correctional centre.

Ayilara adjourned the case to October 5 for mention.

Temitope Mosadomi

Crime

Court Remands AGF,Idris Others in Kuje Prison

By Web News 551

An FCT High Court on Friday ordered that the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and three others be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility over alleged N109.5 billion fraud.

Other defendants are Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on a 14-count charge of alleged misappropriation of N109.5 billion.

Justice O. Adeyemi Ajayi gave the order after the submission of all counsel in the matter.

She ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje correctional centre pending bail applications.

She adjourned until July 27 for hearing in the bail applications.

Earlier, Counsel to Idris, Chris Uche SAN prayed the court to allow the defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC.

Uche added that the EFCC has the defendant’s international passport, and as such they should be allowed to come back on Monday to take their bail application.

He urged the court to permit the defendants to come back on Monday and not remand them at any correctional facility.

However, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN said the administrative bail ended once the charge was filed.

The Nation/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Crime

Court Sentences Two to Jail For Fraud

By Web News 627

A Sokoto State High Court has convicted and sentenced two people to three years imprisonment each for committing an Automated Teller Machine fraud.

Abdulmajeed Habeeblah and Nana Hauwau Umar were convicted after pleading guilty to two counts of charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and theft by the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Mohammed.

The convicts were given an option of twenty thousand naira fine each on count one and thirty thousand naira each on count two.

The judge also ordered the convicts to fully return to their victim the sum of One Hundred and Forty-One Thousand Naira stolen from his bank account.

Nana Hauwau Umar

The criminals were arraigned by the Sokoto Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The spokesman of EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren said the convicts started their journey to the Correctional Centre when they stole the sum of one hundred and forty-one thousand naira from the Guarantee trust bank account of Maiyaki Hamza Usman in April 2021.

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule

Crime

Man Bags 235 Years Jail Term for Fraud

By Web News 742

Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo has convicted and sentenced a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji, to 235years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering.

Olatunji was arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial.

EFCC‘s counsel, Nwandu Ukoha opened the case on November 7, 2019 and subsequently tendered thirty-five(35) exhibits through four prosecution witnesses, which were all admitted in evidence against the defendant. He closed the case on January 29, 2021 for the defence to open its defence.

Both the prosecution and defence counsel adopted their written addresses in October 2021, before the court adjourned for judgment.

Delivering judgment on Monday, June 27, 2022, Justice Okeke convicted Olatunji on all the 45- counts preferred against him by the EFCC. Justice Okeke said that, “the evidence of the prosecution witnesses are consistent and the prosecution established the guilt of the defendant in the case of money laundering as it relates to count one to five of the charges. The prosecution also established the guilt of the defendant in the offence of cybercrime as it relates to count six to forty five of the charges. The prosecution, on the totality of evidence before this court, proved the charges against the defendant.”

The judge sentenced Olatunji to seven (7) years imprisonment on counts one to five, and five (5) years imprisonment on counts six to forty-five.

The sentence, shall, however, run concurrently with effect from the date of arrest.

The court also ordered that the money in the convict’s account be forfeited to Norwegian citizens through the EFCC.

Also, his properties: House No. 6, located on Road 2 West-end Estate, Ikota, Lekki, Lagos State and House No. 10, Donatus Odum Street, Ikate, Lagos State are to be sold by the EFCC and the proceeds restituted to the Norwegian victims.

EFCC/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Crime

EFCC arrests Ahmed Idris, Accountant General of the Federation for N80 billion fraud

By Web News 684

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 16, 2022 arrested serving Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80 billion, Eighty Billion Naira, only.

The Commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.

The funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.

Mr Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts.

EFCC Facebook page

Crime

BREAKING: Hushpuppi Commits $400k Fraud Inside U.S Prison — FBI.

By Web News 3006

New accusations have been allegedly filed against arrested detained Nigerian Instagram big boy, Hushpuppi, claiming that he committed fraud and laundered more than $400,000 while still in jail in the U.S.

However an American cybercrime expert, Gary Warner has debunked the circulating document, saying that it is “fake and intended to get people to visit a scammer EIP website”.

According to Gary, the document they showed was an edit of a June 2020 Affidavit.

The new evidence was alleged to have been brought to the United States District Court of California on March 16th, 2022, indicting Hushpuppi of fraud and money laundering at a U.S. Federal penitentiary institution.

According to documents, the accused, while in U.S Federal correctional facility, allegedly engaged in the acquisition and washing of Economic Impact Payment debit cards obtained unlawfully from stolen data of US individuals and residents.

According to the CARES Act, the US government provides financial assistance to U.S. citizens who relocate abroad.

Debit cards are a method of receiving Economic Impact Payments for qualifying US residents

To file for and get Economic Impact Payments debit cards, hackers used data from documents produced in court.

These EIP cards are sold to other cybercriminals in underground marketplaces.

United States authorities said that although prisoners had limited access to the telephone, video, internet, and computer use because of their right to privacy in a court filing like the rest of the detainees, Hushpuppi was granted access to the computer network as well.

However, between January 28 and March 4, 2022, security authorities at a Federal prison in the United States noticed that Hushpuppi was using the internet more often.

They secured an order to record Hushpuppi’s actions after learning that he had been detained for internet-related offenses and that the warrant would be used against him.

His activities were tracked over the course of seven days on a system built up just for him.

An underground cybercriminal marketplace was discovered to be selling EIP debit cards to Hushpuppi.

A total of 58 EIP debit cards, worth $429,800, were allegely purchased on the site by Hushpuppi while he was being filmed and laundered the money through one AJ.

FBI/ Olaolu Fawole

Judiciary

Ex-banker, Wife, Mother–In-Law Jailed Over Fraud

By Web News 632

A former bank cashier, Ebenezer Adeolu Alonge alongside his wife, Isakunle Olamide Oyinlola and his mother-in- law, Isakunle Eunice Moradeke were on Friday, July 23, 2021 convicted and sentenced to Sixty (60) years imprisonment by Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye of Ekiti State  High Court, Ado Ekiti on a 12-count charge of conspiracy and stealing contrary to section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Laws Cap 16 Laws of Ekiti State,2012  brought against them by the Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.


Justice Ogunmoye, in his judgement, ruled that the prosecution team led by  Abdulrasheed Lanre suleiman proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and that the convicts had failed to extricate themselves  from the self-evidenced proofs before the court.


EFCC, in the course of trial, called two witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove their case. 
The convicts were found guilty on all twelve count charges and sentenced to five years on each count. The cumulative sixty years prison terms will, however, run concurrently.


The journey to the dock started when the illicit activities of Ebenezer got exposed through a petition to the EFCC from one of the new generation banks alleging that one of her staff by name Ebenezer Adeolu Alonge was involved in fraudulent activities.
 
It was alleged that sometime in February 2018 the bank received a complaint concerning the financial impropriety of the sum of N62, 400.00 in respect of a customer’s account.
 
According to the petitioner, on February 15, 2017 a customer lodged the said sum into her account but the transaction could not be traced in the customer’s account even after the customer presented a copy of the slip signed by Alonge.
 
In the course of investigation, the said transaction was allegedly traced to Ebenezer Alonge’s wife’s account. Further investigation however, revealed that there was a turnover of over N21, 000,000.00 (Twenty One Million Naira) as deposit from other customers in his wife’s account.

Also, it was alleged that other sums were traced to his mother-in-law’s account, who was also a beneficiary of the fraudulent act.


The court also ordered Alonge to forfeit his house, which shall be sold and the proceeds used to restitute the bank.


Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
23 July, 2021
 
 

Crime

Former Army Officer, 33 Others Arrested for Suspected Internet Fraud

By Web News 1620

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office, in the early hours of Tuesday, arrested a former soldier, Adebisi Jamiu and 33 others for suspected internet fraud.

In a statement signed by the Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC says the suspects were picked up in different locations in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The statements explains that the 22-year-old former soldier, Jamiu and the other suspects were arrested on the strength of verified intelligence on their alleged involvement in cybercrime.

It lists other suspects to include Muritala Olaniyi Lateef, Wasiu Olajide, Wasiu Sadiq, Olaniran Abiodun, Ayodeji Tosin, Olaniran Tayo, Oginni Oluwaseun, Oginni Olatunde, Ojuade Oluwafemi and Ibrahim Wande.

Others are Oladiran Olayinka, Akinjobi Akinwunmi, Abayomi Aderohunmi, Olaoluwa Temitope, Idowu Olawale, Lawrence Taiwo, Ojo Gbenga, Tiamiyu Farouk, Oladele Seun, Akiniyi Boluwatife, Olaoluwa Mutiu, Olakunle Omolofe, Olalere Samad, Edbadon Johnson, Oketunbi Kayode, Gbeyide Tomiwa, Oluwanisola Elmuqsit, Bathlomew John, Ibikunle James, Olamide Oluwaseyi, Yusuf Mohammed, Adebola Ibrahim, and Ajayi Muyiwa.

The statement adds that the suspects have volunteered statements to the Commission and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Oluwakayode Banjo

Crime

EFCC Re-arraigns Woman, Boyfriend for Fraud

By Web News 577

The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned one Alice Peace John, alongside her boyfriend, Fadi Alloush before Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan for fraud in the sale of charcoal.

The duo were dragged to the court on three-count charges of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining the sum of Seventeen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only under false pretences. 

One of the charges read, “That you Fadi Alloush and Alice Peace John between the 18th October, 2019 and 23rd December, 2019 at Ibadan, within Ibadan Judicial Division of this honourable court, did commit an illegal act to wit: stealing of the sum of N17,500,000 (Seventeen Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira only), property of Coco-Dor Nigeria Limited and Houssam Nasreddine.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which prosecution counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, applied for a trial date, while defence counsel, Olukunle Kamisi prayed the court to allow the bail earlier granted the defendants to subsist.

Justice Taiwo granted the defendants’ prayer. 

According to the judge, “The bail shall subsist and that in the event where there is delay on the defendants’ part, their bail will be revoked.”   He adjourned the matter till October 8, 2020 for trial.

It could be recalled that the defendants were initially arraigned before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court on March 17, 2020 but had to be re-arraigned on Wednesday following the reassignment of the case to Justice Taiwo.

The defendants’ journey to the dock stretched from January to December 2019, when the victim, Houssam Nasreddine transferred a total sum of N17, 500, 000.00 to  the account of the first defendant, John, for the purchase of charcoal from Iwere lle, Oyo State for export, which the defendant bought and loaded in containers at the Hapag LLOYD Shipping Company, Apapa, Lagos for exportation, but rather than sell the goods in the name of the rightful owner, she allegedly connived with her boyfriend, Alloush and transferred the ownership of the goods and sold them off.

The petitioner added that all efforts he made to retrieve either the charcoal or his money were frustrated by the defendants.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

EFCC Nabs Siblings on Suspicion of Being Internet Fraudsters

By Web News 610

Operatives of the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, have arrested two pairs of brothers : Ayoola Timilehin, Olusola Timilehin, and Oladayo Fayemi, Tolulope Fayemi and three others suspected to be internet fraudsters.

They were arrested at their hide out on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at Alaka, Elebu area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The other three suspects arrested with them are Temitope Kumuyi, Babatunde Oyelakin and Olanrewaju Ibrahim. They are all between 20 and 30 years age range.

The suspects were arrested based on intelligence linking them with opulence without any identifiable means of livelihood. Items recovered from them, include: four cars, laptops, exotic phones and a stamp bearing the identity of the bursary section of Queensland University’s School of Medicine, Australia.

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

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

Cleric Arraigned for Alleged Fraud

By Web News 677

A 55-year-old man who identified himself as an Islamic cleric, Sheu Adewoye, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N5 million from a bricklayer on the pretence to secure a contract for him from Abuja. 

The cleric was arraigned on two counts bordering on obtaining by false pretence, fraud and stealing. 

The prosecutor, Mr Taiwo Adegoke told the court that the cleric committed the offence between December 2018 and April 2020 at Ido-Osun area, Osogbo. 

The charge sheet states that “Sheu Adewoye received the total sum of Five Million Naira from one Raheem Ajadi with the pretence that he wanted to assist him to secure building construction contract from Abuja through one Justice Adeleke, knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

He added that the offence contrary to and punishable under section 390(9) of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the two-count as he told the court that he was a cleric who prayed for people and owner of a Quranic school.

The complaint in the matter, Raheem Ajadi explained to the Magistrate that he was a bricklayer, cement dealer and trader in building materials in Ido-Osun. 

The Magistrate, Mr Opeyemi Badmus, granted bail to the defendant with the sum of N1 million and two sureties. 

He adjourned the case to 20 August 2020 for hearing. 

Adenitan Akinola

Crime

Court Sentences Two to Jail for Fraud

By Web News 775

Two middle aged men, Rasak Olayinka Balogun and Ayodeji Oliwaseun Olatona have been sentenced to jail for internet fraud.

The suspects, who were arraigned separately, pleaded guilty to the one count charge bothering on impersonation preferred against them.

Rasak Olayinka Balogun was sentenced to seven months in jail by Justice Mohammed Abubakar of Federal High Court, Abeokuta.

Aside the jail term, Balogun was also ordered to restitute Four Thousand United States Dollars to his victim, one Mantonia Duncan, and also forfeit his laptop, Samsung Galaxy S8 phone and iPhone 11 Pro Max to the Federal Government.

While Ayodeji Oluwsaeun Olatona, who appeared before Justice Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court Ibadan, was sentenced to six months in prison.

He will also restitute Five Hundred United State Dollars to his victim and forfeit his iPhone 7 to the Federal Government.

In a similar development, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, has found one Timilehin Awojoodu guilty of criminal impersonation, but reserved his sentence till July 21, 2020.

 Besides the conviction, the judge ordered Awojoodu to restitute the sum of Two Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars to his victim and forfeit his iPhone 7 and Infinix Hot 7 phone to the government. 

Sunday Ogunyemi