by Admin | May 26, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Three Nigerian scammers who befriended many of their victims on dating sites have been slammed huge prison sentences by a Mississippi court after making tens of millions of dollars from their schemes. Oladimeji Seun Ayelotan, 30, was sentenced to 95 years in prison; Rasaq Aderoju Raheem, 31, was given 115 years and Femi Alexander Mewase, 45, got 25 years behind bars, according to a report. A court in the Southern District of Mississippi had in February found them all guilty of crimes including mail fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, credit card fraud and theft of government property. Ayelotan and Raheem were also found guilty of conspiracies to commit bank fraud and money laundering. Dating back to at least 2001, the scammers were involved in multiple internet fraud schemes, resulting in losses in the tens of millions, according to the Department of Justice. It claimed that they would befriend women on dating sites, establish a romantic relationship and then either get them to send money or have them participate in fraud schemes, usually without the victim’s knowledge. The unsuspecting women would sometimes be required to cash counterfeit checks and money orders; use stolen credit card details to purchase goods; and use stolen personal information to take over victims’ bank accounts. They were also apparently used to launder money via Western Union and MoneyGram, and re-package and re-ship goods obtained fraudulently. A whopping 21 defendants have already been charged in this ongoing case, 12 of whom have pleaded guilty to charges involving conspiracy and 11 of whom have been sentenced. The three Nigerians were among the six extradited from...
by Admin | May 26, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The US embassy in Nigeria, on Friday concluded training for 60 Nigerian anti-bomb policemen in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-month training included four sessions of 15 participants who will become Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) mentors. In his remarks, Mr Scoitie Blancett, the Regional Security Officer in the US Embassy, said they were happy to share their expertise with the officers. He expressed optimism that the effects of the training would bring about safety for people in the country. The training was facilitated by the American Embassy in Nigeria through the Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistant (ATA) in conjunction with the NPF. In his closing remarks, Mr Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police (I-G) said the officers would serve as trainers to other officers in their various commands. “The beneficiaries are expected to impart the knowledge acquired to other bomb technicians across the country in order to enhance EOD service delivery,” he said. Idris, who was represented by the DIG Operations, Mr Joshak Habila, expressed gratitude to the U.S. Consul General in Nigeria, the region security officer, US Embassy in Abuja and the facilitators for the training. He assured Nigerians that with the number of trained officers, there would be no vacuum in states and communities the military were leaving in the North East. “The training was designed to expose participants to current trends in rendering safe/disposal of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) through the application of EOD standard, practice and technique. “Participants were taken on overview of recent threat particularly in Nigeria and by extension, the Africa Bomb threat...
by Admin | May 26, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Appeal Court sitting in Kaduna on Thursday adjourned hearing till Nov. 9, in the appeal filed by former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema against his trial by a Katsina State High Court. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shema had approached the Appeal Court with an interlocutory application, to challenge the ruling of the high court. The Katsina High Court had on March 29, 2017 refused Shema’s motion seeking the court to quash his trial by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). The EFCC had arraigned the former Governor and three others before Justice Maikaita Bako for alleged fraud of N11 billion belonging to the State. However, Bako could not go on with the case following an application brought before him by the accused persons for a stay of proceedings on the trial. Counsel to Shema Akinlolu Kehinde had also told the court that the motion before the court of appeal had been assigned and scheduled for hearing on 25 May, 2017 and urged it to stay proceedings pending the decision of the appeal court. The prosecution counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, who did not oppose the application, however, filed an application for amendment of the EFCC charge before the court. Bako had granted the application for stay of proceedings but refused the prosecution’s application for amendment, saying it must wait until after the appeal court decision on the motion filed by the accused persons. At the resumed hearing of the Appeal on Thursday, May 25, Counsel to Shema, J.B. Daudu submitted an oral application seeking a subsitution of the motion submitted earlier to the...
by Admin | May 26, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Two soldiers have been arrested in Edo for allegedly disrupting the sitting of a mobile court at Oba Ovoranmen Square in Benin. The Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, DSP. Moses Nkombe, confirmed the arrest of the soldiers on Thursday in Benin. He said that the State Criminal Investigation Department had taken over the investigation of the matter. “It is true, soldiers went to the mobile court to free some suspects. Our policemen resisted them.” The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that five soldiers stormed the court on Wednesday, after a retired soldier failed to secure the release of his wife, who was arrested and was about to be arraigned before the court. Sources said that policemen attached to the mobile court resisted the soldiers, resulting to exchange of gunfire. The sources said the soldiers overpowered the policemen and scattered the court. All the seats and canopies were over-turned while arrested suspects were set free. The Acting Managing Director of the Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr Aiyamenkhue Akonofua, said that several people were injured in the stampede. Akonofua said that the presiding Magistrate, Ihenyen Aigbediofe, was whisked away to safety. Akonofua said that two out of the five soldiers were arrested and that the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr Haliru Gwandu, had assured that the law would take its course. source:...
by Admin | May 26, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Mr Fatai Owoseni, Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of two suspects over the alleged killing of an Inspector and two civilians in Ibeju-Lekki. Owoseni announced the arrest when he visited the area, following a bloody clash that left the officer and two other men dead during a festival on Saturday. The police commissioner warned members of the community, including traditional rulers, against causing breach of public peace. “We will make sure there is no reprisal attacks in the community but the traditional heads need to do something to stem the crisis. “Elders in this community should be ashamed of themselves. “The police helped you to settle clashes but you went ahead to kill an inspector,’’ Owoseni said. He charged religious leader to always preach peace among their adherents so as to stem the crisis “You should always use your wisdom and position to calm the community. “The Police will continue to do its best in chasing militants away from your community. “But you are starting an internal fight instead of joining hands with us to combat them.’’ The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the clash started when some youths from Ilagbo community and Oriyanrin town fought during the Kilajolu festival at Ilagbo. In the scuffle that ensued, two civilians and one Inspector of Police were killed while several houses, vehicles and property worth millions of naira were destroyed. source:...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in the early hours of Tuesday shot dead a notorious cultist during a gun battle in Sime community, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers. Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the division’s Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, made the disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Port Harcourt. He said that the deceased cultist was the leader of Dey Bam secret cult group fingered in extra judicial killings. He added that the late cultist was on the wanted list of Rivers Police command. Iliyasu said one suspected cultist was arrested while several others fled the scene with gunshot wounds in the operation that lasted several hours. “Troops of 29 Battalion deployed to Ebubu, Eleme LGA and the anti-robbery team deployed along Port Harcourt–Akwa Ibom road conducted a successful raid operation in Sime community. “During the operation, the troops engaged in gun duel with members of the notorious Dey Bam cult group led by one Mr Supreme, who has been on the wanted list of Rivers government. “Supreme was shot during the gun battle and later died as a result of excessive bleeding while several others (suspected cultists) escaped with gunshot wounds. “One SIGP228 pistol with registration number 299MME225 and ten rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered during the raid,” he said. Iliyasu said one suspected cultist was arrested and handed over to Rivers Police command for further investigation. The spokesman said the raid was part of the army’s clampdown on persons and groups involved in criminality in the state and its environs. According to him, the division has already deployed...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Justice Rifkatu Sha of Jos High Court on Tuesday warned an accused person, Tasiu Mohammed, 21, against threatening witnesses testifying against him. The warning came when Mohammed was caught making gestures indicating that he would slash the throats of the witnesses, while they stood in the dock. The police, witnesses and officials of the court, who noticed the threats, immediately alerted the judge, who warned Mohammed against such contempt. “You are only luck that the prosecuting counsel did not pray the court to convict you (accused) for contempt, otherwise I would have descended on you. “I will only warn you to desist from threatening witnesses in the court. If you repeat it, I will start by sentencing you to 14 strokes of the cane,” she said. Mohammed, along with two others – Saidu Mohammed, 19, and Umar Shehu 23 – were first arraigned on Feb. 13, charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, robbery and possession of firearms. The police prosecutor, Mr O. S. Osho of the State Criminal Investigation Department, at the arraignment, told the court that the accused persons committed the crime on Sept. 23, 2016 at Clark Quarters, Bukuru in Jos. Osho quoted the accused persons as telling the police, in a confessional statement, that they killed a man, who approached them for help. “The accused persons confessed that the deceased, who came into Jos at about 7 p.m. on the said date, approached them to direct him to where he could lodge, before proceeding on his journey the next day. “The accused persons said that they promised to help, but on realising that the...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The container intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday at the Tin Can Island port, Lagos, was loaded with 440 arms and ammunition of various sizes and designs, the Nigeria Customs Service has said. Monday Abue, Zonal Commander, Tin Can Island Command, said the container with registration number PONU 210024/1 was shipped from Turkey and routed through the Lagos port. Speaking after the seizure on Tuesday, Mr. Abue said the consignment was declared as Plaster of Paris by the importer, adding that it was intercepted by the Customs based on intelligence report and that investigations were ongoing to uncover the shipper. According to Mr. Abue, the intercepted 440 pieces of pump action rifles were manufactured in the United States of America and Italy. “They are pump action rifles of various designs and also the single barrel device that you are familiar with. “We have arrested one defendant but due to security reasons, we don’t want to make it public for now because such information could hamper investigations which are still ongoing,” he added. A source had earlier informed us that the container was impounded at the Ports & Cargo Terminal, inside the Tin Can Island port. “The truck carrying the container came out from Ports & Cargo gate before it was stopped at the second gate by Customs officials,” the source added. But Ports & Cargo Terminal responded Tuesday, through its parent company, Sifax Group, denying that the container was found at its terminal. The company stated that the arms-laden container was intercepted at a port access road near its terminal, and not within its premises....
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Hassan Fajitime, counsel to Rev. Jolly Nyame, former Taraba governor, on Tuesday begged an FCT High Court, Gudu, for an adjournment to enable him peruse documents admitted as exhibits on Monday. Fajimite asked for the adjournment to enable him study the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Financial Reports from the office of the Accountant General of Taraba. The reports were submitted on Monday by defence witness, Aminu Ayuba, the Acting Accountant General of Taraba. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said, “it is not fair for us spending two days on one witness.” Jacobs, who objected to the adjournment, told the court that the defence is privy to the certified true copies of the exhibits since Monday, adding that “They had been studying it since morning.” The judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, ordered that the photocopies of the exhibits be made available to the defence and adjourned the case until May 24. Before the application for adjournment, Fajimite led Ayuba in evidence, where he told the court that by virtue of his position, no query was ever given to Nyame relating to financial misappropriation. He said that he was at Taraba State Government House from 1999 to June 2005, and worked under two chief accountants, and never reported directly to Nyame on financial matters. He also said that every staff must duly sign the payment voucher, including the governor, as he was not exempted. Rev. Jolly Nyame is facing a 41-count charge of misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N1.64billion. source: today...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Katsina State Police Command has arraigned a chieftain of the PDP, Umar Tata, for staging a durbar to woo voters in Dutsi ahead of last Saturday’s bye-election for Mashi/Dutsi Federal constituency seat. Mr. Tata was arraigned on Monday before a Katsina Chief Magistrates’ Court on a one-count charge of holding a durbar without police clearance, thereby constituting nuisance to the public. Mr. Tata contested for the governorship of the state in 2015 under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Police First Information Report (FIR) stated that the accused committed the alleged offence on May 18, 2017 at about 4:00pm. According to the FIR, the accused, without clearance from the police, organized a durbar with other PDP supporters in Dutsi. “The accused at the same Dutsi town engaged in distribution of grains to electorates with the aim of seeking favour from them. “The accused took 250 bags of grains and was openly distributing the commodities to the voters,” the FIR said. The police prosecutor, Ibrahim Garba, a deputy superintendent, told the court that the offence contravened Section 119 of the state penal code law. Counsel to the accused, Uyi Ogunma, however, prayed the court to grant bail to his client, as the offence was bailable. “My Lord, my client is presumed to be innocent based on the provision in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “My client is a well known person in Katsina state and will never jump bail if granted to him,” he said The Chief Magistrate, Nuraddeen El-Ladans, granted bail to...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Kano State police Command, on Tuesday said it had arrested a total of 96 suspected rapists in the state between April and now. The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Magaji Majiya, said at an interaction with newsmen in Kano that 77 of the suspects had been charged to court, while eight cases were under investigation. He gave the average age of the suspects to be from 75 to 23. “It is disheartening to note that from April to date we have recorded 85 incidents of rape and other related offences. “A total number of 96 suspects were arrested and 77 cases have already been charged to court for Prosecution”. Majiya expressed regret that indecency and unnatural offences have been on the increase in the state. He said the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Yusuf, has made it a priority to ensure that all such cases were thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. The PPRO assured the public that the police would continue to apprehend all suspects involved in crimes. He urged parents and guardians to monitor the movement and behaviour of their children, so as to keep them away from criminal activities. Majiya appealed to religious leaders to collaborate with the command in sensitising the youth on the need to shun evil acts. He further called on traditional rulers, community leaders and other well-meaning residents of the state to join hands with security agencies to fight crime in their communities. source: today...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Department of State Services has accused businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd, Ifeanyi Ubah, of diverting about 80 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (commonly called petrol), kept in his custody by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The agency stated that Ubah shunned NNPC’s repeated demand for the product said to worth N11bn in order to cause an artificial scarcity of the product. It stated that Ubah’s action could plunge the country into widespread scarcity of PMS and economic chaos. According to the agency, the act amounted to economic sabotage punishable by death. These were stated in a counter-affidavit and written submissions filed by the DSS in opposition to an application by Ubah, asking a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, to set aside an order for his detention for 14 days. Justice Yusuf Halilu had granted the order to the DSS on May 10, 2017 allowing the agency to keep the suspect in custody for 14 days pending the completion of an ongoing criminal investigation against him. DSS’s lawyer, Mr. G. Agbadua, told Justice Halilu on Tuesday that Ubah was plotting to plunge the nation into economic and social crisis by creating artificial scarcity of petroleum product . The DSS’ counter-affidavit deposed to by one of the agency’s operative, Mr. Safwan Bello, stated, “The respondent (Ubah) was arrested on reasonable suspicion of his involvement in the commission of crime. He converted PMS belonging to the NNPC kept in the custody of his tank farm to his personal use. “The respondent refused to return the PMS to...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A 30-year-old woman, Bola Anifowose, in possession of eight-year-old twins, was arrested alongside seven others by operatives of Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, while attempting to cross the border to Agadez in Niger Republic, where they intended to move over to Libya and, finally, to Europe. The Comptroller of the Command, Alhaji Mohammed Rabiu, disclosed this in Katsina yesterday. He said they were arrested following intelligence information received by his men. According to him, ”luck ran out on them when they were trying to cross the Nigerian border through irregular route to Niger Republic and were intercepted by our operatives. “One of them is in possession of forged ECOWAS Travel Certificate. The remaining seven have no travel documents at all. “The suspected victims will be handed over to NAPTIP zonal office, Kano, for further action.” The twins were arrested along with a 30-year-old woman, who claimed to be their mother, and all are from Oyo State. The other victims arrested included four from Edo State and one from Delta State. source: today...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI An aircraftman of the Nigerian Air Force, Ben Kalu, who has been in custody for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Solape Oladipupo, at the NAF base in Makurdi, Benue State, will face a court-martial on Friday. Kalu, who had been in custody for over two months at the NAF Tactical Command, Makurdi, would begin the process of court-martial on Friday, after which he would be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution. Kalu had on Sunday, March 12, shot dead Oladipupo, popularly called Shomzy, in her apartment at the base, on the grounds that she was unfaithful in their romantic affair. The aircraft man, who met the lady at a parade ground some months before the incident, had afterwards left a suicide note, threatening to kill himself, before he was arrested by the NAF. Oladipupo was rushed to the NAF Hospital at the base and later transferred to the state hospital, where she died. The air force authorities had thereafter taken Kalu for psychiatric tests in the course of their investigation. A top NAF source, who disclosed the court-martial on Tuesday, said the long delay in Kalu’s prosecution was because he was attached to the Logistics Command, Ikeja, Lagos State, but served in Makurdi. He said, “The suspect is still in NAF custody. Everything has been going step-by-step. He will be court-martialled on Friday and by next week, he will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution. He is only serving physically in Makurdi, but his command is in Lagos State. So, the correspondence has taken some time too.” The NAF Director...
by Admin | May 23, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Lagos socialite, Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya, who was declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in connection with unlawful exportation of 1.595kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia three months ago, has reported at the agency’s Lagos Command. The anti-narcotics agency commenced investigation on Mrs. Ogbuaya after arresting one Odeyemi Omolara Morayo, also known as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, for drug trafficking. The suspect, during interrogation, implicated Ogbuaya. Several invitations, according to the NDLEA, to the socialite for questioning was not honoured. The agency’s head of Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, who confirmed Ogbua’s visit, disclosed that NDLEA had also secured an interim forfeiture order for several assets worth billions of naira traced to Mrs Ogbuaya. He said: “The suspect reported at the NDLEA office, weekend, in response to the manhunt organised for her in relation to the investigation of one Odeyemi Omolara Morayo, alias Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, who was caught with cocaine on her way to Saudi Arabia. “Subsequently, the Lagos residence of Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya was traced by a team of investigators but she was not at home. The suspect, for several months, ignored invitation from the Agency requesting her to clear herself in an ongoing cocaine investigation. “The Agency is working for a final forfeiture order on the landed properties worth several billions of naira traced to Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya in Lagos, Ogun and Osun states. “The assets include Arike Plaza, some plots of land and buildings in strategic locations. The Lagos socialite, a distributor of alcoholic drinks, who hails from Ilesa, Osun State, is needed by the NDLEA in the ongoing...
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