Crime

Pastor Bags 2 year Jail Term in Ondo

By Web News 425

An Ondo State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, has sentenced a man, Friday Okeneji, to two years imprisonment for stealing some chemical substances worth N130,000.

The convict, who is a pastor of a popular church in Iwaro, Oka Akoko in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state was said to have committed the offence on July 2, 2023, in the town.

He reportedly broke into a chemical shop and stole the items.

He was however arrested and charged to court.

He was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of stealing.

The convicted pastor, who pleaded guilty when the two charges were read to him, told the court that he committed the offence for survival purposes.

He pleaded that he had no means of livelihood, adding that he had to pay N150,000 for his mother’s burial slated for August.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, said the pastor was guilty of the charges and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine.

He also advised the convict to turn a new leaf.

Punch/Adebukola Aluko

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Foreign

China’s Ex-Justice Minister Jailed for Corruption

By Web News 478

China’s former justice minister Fu Zhenghua, who spearheaded several corruption-fighting campaigns, has been jailed for bribery.

Fu pleaded guilty in July to accepting 117 million yuan ($14.7m; $16.5m) in gifts and money.

Chinese media reported he’d received a suspended death sentence to be commuted to a life sentence in two years.

His conviction comes amid a sudden crackdown on officials ahead of a key Communist Party congress next month.

China’s ruling party holds the event once every five years and this time President Xi Jinping is expected to be given a historic third term and consolidate his hold on power.

Fu’s jailing follows the sentencing of three former police chiefs this week. All four men are not only accused of corruption but also of being disloyal to Mr Xi.

They are all alleged to have been part of a corrupt political circle led by another ex-security figurehead, Sun Lijun, who is currently awaiting his sentence.

Fu was China’s justice minister from 2018 to 2020, after a career where he worked his way up from being a policeman to the deputy head of China’s Ministry of Public Security.

He led several high-profile investigations into corrupt politicians – including a probe which brought down Zhou Yongkang, one of the most powerful officials in recent years to be convicted of bribery.

In October last year, the party’s internal watchdog announced it was investigating Fu for “serious violations of discipline and national laws”.

He was dismissed from public office and then in March this year expelled from the Community Party. He was arrested a month later on corruption charges.

Prosecutors said he took advantage of his authority to seek gains for others and himself on business contracts, official positions and even legal cases.

BBC/Taiwo Akinola

Crime

Two Internet Fraudsters Bag Jail Term In Ibadan

By Web News 766

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Command, on Wednesday August 4, 2021 secured the conviction of two fraudsters, Adisa Adebayo Adegboyega and Ganiyu Sodiq Olalekan before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan for internet-related fraud.

Adisa, 23, who claimed to be an National Diploma ,ND holder from Oke Ogun Polytechnic Saki, Oyo state, was sentenced to six months community service; while Ganiyu,18 year-old artisan, bagged three months community service.

The charge against Adisa reads: “That you, Adisa Adebayo Adegboyega on or about the 17th of November, 2020, at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Eight Hundred United States Dollars ,$800 USD, only through gift cards from one Herby Ruiter by falsely representing to him that you are a 45 years old white American nurse working in Cyprus, who goes by the name Jennifer Joel and who is in love with him and ready to marry him, which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence”.

The offense is contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap.C38, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000 charges.

The judge also ordered Adisa to restitute to his victim; Herby De Ruiter the sum of Two Thousand and Forty-five United States Dollars ,$2,045 USD, only through the Federal Government of Nigeria, and to also forfeits his Techno Spark 4 mobile phone and one Dell Laptop to the Federal government of Nigeria.

Ganiyu was ordered to restitute the sum of $250USD ,Two Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars, to his victim; David Govann through the EFCC and forfeits an iphone 6x mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Kayode Banjo