Crime

MAPOLY Student Bags Seven Months Jail Term for Impersonation

By Web News 1095

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of a 24-year-old student of Computer Science at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Adebowale Babatunde Ismail, to seven months imprisonment before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State for the offence of criminal impersonation.

The offence is contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the same Act.

The defendant fraudulently represented himself as Annabel Torrens to one John Dauherty through an email address: [email protected] in order to take advantage of his victim.

Upon his arraignment, he pleaded “guilty” to the one-count charge.

In view of the guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict and sentence Adebowale as charged.

Justice Agomoh, after listening to both parties convicted and sentenced the defendant to seven months imprisonment.

He also ordered that the convict pay the sum of one million, four hundred thousand Naira in restitution and forfeit one Toyota Rav 4 SUV and an iPhone 11pro mobile phone to the Federal Government.

Oluwakayode Banjo

Economy

Magu Charges Nigerians on Constituency Project Monitoring

By Web News 747

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has charged Nigerians to monitor closely delivery of constituency projects embarked upon by their representatives at the legislative arm of government.

Mr Magu gave the advice in Ibadan while offering his goodwill message at a town hall meeting jointly organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Titled: My Project, My Constituency, the event was aimed at sensitizing Nigerians on the need to task their representatives, members of the National and State Houses of Assembly, on efficient project delivery, and also enlighten them on how to go about the task.

The EFCC boss, who was represented by the Head of Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations Section (FAFIS) at the Commission’s Ibadan Zonal Office, Mr Olusegun Oloruntuyi, noted that the people must show interest in the process and quality of delivery of constituency projects to prevent misappropriation and other forms of abuse of public funds by their representatives.

While assuring the public of the EFCC’s commitment to its mandate of investigating, prosecuting and preventing economic and financial crimes in public and private sectors, Mr Magu insisted that winning the war against corruption is the country’s surest path to achieving the global sustainable development goals.

He applauded the organisers of the programme for its timeliness.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

EFCC Nabs 42 in Ogun over Internet-Fraud

By Web News 1256

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office on Friday, arrested 42 youngsters for alleged involvement in internet-related fraud.

The suspects, whose ages range between 18 and 33 years, were apprehended at different locations in Ilaro, Ogun State, following actionable intelligence earlier received on their alleged illegal activities.

The suspects are: Peter Fasuhan, Kareem Oladimeji, Adeleke Sodiq, Akinlolu Quadri, Popoola Lukeman, Faniyi Jamiu, Joseph Elijah, Idowu Afolabi, Laleye Olaoluwa, Olabode Olasunkanmi, Shoyola Joseph, Baura David, Janta Oluwafolabomi, Akintunde Wariz, Olukotun Abiodun, Kazeem Popoola, and Olaoye Akinyemi.

Others are: Adebanjo Olamide, Esiegbe Dare, Job Emmanuel, Idris Olarewaju, Bakare Sodiq, Popoola Waliu, Popoola Ibrahim, Balogun Tunde Daniel, Adegbite Richard, Owolabi Aderibigbe, Oniyide Benjamin, Sheye Oluwaseun, Enitan Babajide, Oguntayo Samud, Daramola Damilola, Adeniji Azeez, Shobola Adeolu, Odunbaku Tunde, Olamilekan Adedeji, Maja Toheeb, Giwa Olajide, Tolu Yusuf, Ashoregbabo Ayo and Adeosun Temitope.

Items recovered from them include eight exotic cars, mobile phones and laptops.

The EFCC said the indicted among them will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

EFCC Nabs Suspected Internet Fraudster with a Coffin

By Web News 669

A mini coffin suspected to contain fetish materials was found with a 38-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Azeez Adebowale, when operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, raided his house in Ibadan on Monday, March 2, 2020.

Adebowale, who claimed to be using the coffin as soap rack, was among the six persons arrested following weeks of piecing together intelligence tips received on their alleged involvement in internet fraud.

The suspects which included a lady, Toyinsola Bolumole, were picked up by men of the commission’s zonal office Ibadan around Oluyole and Alao-Akala Estates of the ancient city.

Others are Ifelowo Ololade, Sonuyi Ayodeji, Folarin Oladele Olayinka and Aluko Olawale.

Items recovered from them include four cars, various brands of sophisticated phones and an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

3 in EFCC Net For Defrauding Ibadan High Chief of N300m

By Web News 935

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, has arrested three persons – Babatunde Ologunja, Olusola Olaoye Babatunde and Olufemi Lawal – for allegedly duping the Otun-Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.

The suspects and others still at large were accused of conspiring to dispossess the revered Ibadan High Chief of sums running to about N300m (Three Hundred Million Naira).

The suspects with the cars found in their possession

Balogun, who is next to the Olubadan in the Olubadan-In-Council hierarchy, was a Senator representing the Oyo South Senatorial District under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy in National Assembly between 1999 and 2003.

His younger brother, Dr. Kola Balogun, who currently sits in his former position in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, had written an emotional petition to the EFCC as “a concerned member of the Aliwo family”, seeking the commission’s intervention in smashing the syndicate and ensuring that members are made to pay for their alleged crime.

The younger Balogun feared that the High Chief may have been charmed by the suspected fraudsters as he was still unable to come to terms with the reality of his situation.

“This request became necessary because we believe strongly that the victim has been hypnotized, he is not in a position to admit it and his health condition is deteriorating,” the Senator stated in the petition.

Preliminary investigations into the allegations revealed that for the past four years, the suspects have consistently collected various sums of money from the High Chief.

The sums, according to findings, were not attached to any particular projects and no receipts were issued to indicate the existence of any genuine transactions between the parties.

As the time of their arrest, the syndicate had received about N300 million (Three Hundred Million Naira) through bank transfers from the Ibadan High Chief.

The commission has designated for possible forfeiture four vehicles and six landed properties traced to their alleged fraudulent activities.

The EFCC is still on the trail of their fugitive partners, as further investigations are underway.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

NYSC, EFFC Collaborate to Fight Corruption

By Web News 1275

The Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has joined other zonal offices of the commission across the nation to engage Nigerian youths in its campaign against corruption.

Our staff reporter reports that a walk against corruption, involving over five hundred members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC and staffers of the EFCC was held in Ibadan this morning.

The walk tagged “Nigerian Youths Walk Against Corruption” and “Nigerian Youths Say No To Corruption” started from the EFCC Zonal Office at Iyaganku Quarters through Dugbe-Oke-Bola and back to the zonal office.

Speaking with journalists, Oyo State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mrs. Josephine Obi said it was imperative to engage youths in the fight against corruption because most crimes, especially internet fraud were perpetrated by youths.

Similarly, the Acting Head, EFCC Ibadan Zonal Office, Mr. Igeleke Bright noted that the youths were leaders of tomorrow, hence the need to make them ambassadors of the anti-corruption campaign.

NYSC Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs. Eniola Anbekebo said the NYSC would continue to collaborate with EFCC and other relevant agencies to reduce corrupt practices to the barest minimum.

Oluwakayode Banjo

Crime

EFCC Arrests Five Undergraduates, Twelve Others for Alleged Internet Fraud

By Web News 1015

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Monday, October 7, 2019, arrested 17 suspected internet fraudsters among whom were five who claimed to be students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti.

The suspects were arrested in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, following meticulous consideration of intelligence reports detailing their alleged involvement in internet fraud and other related offenses. 

Hitherto, operatives of the commission in the zone had conducted preliminary investigations to ascertain the merits of the allegations against them. 

After establishing substantive facts, the EFCC sprang into action and effected the arrest on Monday.

While five of the suspects claimed to be students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, others said they were into various vocations.

Some items used in perpetrating the crime were recovered from them and registered as exhibits to be tendered in court.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Nafiu Busari