Justices M.S. Abubakar and R.J.Egbe of the Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State have convicted and sentenced 20 internet fraudsters to various jail terms.The convicts are: Abdulazeez Musa, Akpam Demetrius Oderdoo, Idris Musa Oguga, Godwin Chibuike Dimoji, Egbo Emmanuel Chimezie, Godwin Nnamdi Marcus, Cyprian Okafor, Adewale Lukman, Henry Ifebuche Thomas, Ikper Tavershima Francis and James Inalegwu Godwin. Others are: Ugochukwu Hycinth Emeka, Kingley Chukwuemeka Kalu, Joseph Christopher Aondowase, Daniel Ugwu Chidubem, Ahar Aondongu Joseph,Terna Moses Velumun, Peter Chigozie Alliswell, Kelvin Akor Oche and Apine Terver.They were prosecuted by the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charge that bordered…
Author: Kunle Edun
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Olowookere Temitope to six months imprisonment for internet fraud. The convict was prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a one-count charge that bordered on cheating by personation. The charges reads: “That you, Olowookere Temitope, sometime between 2023 and 2024 in Offa, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by personation when you pretended to be unsypathisch, a verified streaming app, and in that guise induced one psychological wolf, via your discord…
Justices A.N. Erhabor and W. I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Courts, sitting in Benin City have convicted and sentenced 29 internet fraudsters to various jail terms. The convicts are: Edeyibo Rukewe Hope, Igbafe David, Emakhu Bonfrey, Genesis Ndujifor, Okolosie Godstime, Chukwu David, Ebuka Emmanuel, Akhere Akahomhen, Odiniru Emeka Vet, Obiora Mike Kelvin, Stephen Eghosa, Osagioduwa Samuel Aivihenyor, Lucky Ekhator, Ekechukwu Chima Stanley, Lucky Moses, David Odiniru, Christopher Alex, Orovirie Sunny, Abraham Ifeanyi and Aisosa Vincent. Others are: Agbede Shola Harrison, Endurance Ebalukpe, Igbiniken Osarvmwense, Okonoboh Senator Odiegie, Joseph Imhangbegbe, Orion Aigbona, Godstime Adebor, Ambrose Otsemeuno and Mattew ObayuywanaThey were prosecuted…
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State has sentenced one Musa Buba to 300 (Three Hundred) hours of community service at the rate of five hours of work per day for operating bureau de change without a valid licence. The sentence is without an option of a fine. Similarly, he sentenced one Akinwale Olamilekan from Owena Ijesha in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State to 300 (Three Hundred) hours of community service, also at the rate of five hours of work daily for commiting internet fraud. The sentence is without an option of a fine. Both convicts were arraigned on March 20, 2025 by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC…
The President, Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, and Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has stated that the challenge posed by corruption in West African member states and in the region was surmountable. He stated this on Thursday, March 20, 2025 in an insightful opening address as NACIWA President as he led a regional dialogue on combating corruption and addressing instability across West Africa and the Sahel regions. “While the challenges we face are formidable, they are not insurmountable. It is essential that we maintain our focus on pragmatic, non-political approaches that emphasize technical solutions and shared best practices over partisan differences,” he said.…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 20, 2025, re-arraigned the duo of Chinyere Monye and Ajayi Justina for an alleged N20m fraud before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. They were re-arraigned alongside a company, AER Global Investment LTD., on a five-count charge bordering conspiracy to steal, stealing and obtaining under false pretence to the tune of N20m. One of the counts reads: “That you, Chinyere Monye, Ajayi Justina, AER Global International, Pastor Owolabi (still at large), Ciolanky Concepts (still at large) Idudalovert (still…
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 adjourned the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman to April 7,10, 14 and May 2, 2025 for trial within trial. The court while delivering ruling on the objection by defence counsel, Femi Atte, SAN alleging that the confessional statement made by Mamman at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on February 20, 2024 was not voluntarily made, held that the issue of involuntary statement and other grounds of objections raised by the defence counsel can only be resolved by conducting a trial within trial to ascertain their veracity. “Consequently I thereby order for trial within trial to determine…
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, has sought the collaboration of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on knowledge sharing and forensic analysis of documents to combat pension fraud. This request was made in Abuja on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 by the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Tolulope Odunaiya while on a Courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters Odunaiya emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two agencies to address challenges in the pension industry. She proposed continuous engagements to exchange knowledge on new developments within the pension…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, arraigned a former Deputy Director , Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed of the Department of Highways and Planning before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja. They were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds amounting to N1,936,961,649.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira ). The alleged offence is contrary to Section 19 of…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 charged trainee Detective Superintendent Cadets Course 10 members to see their training as an investment by Nigeria and should strive to repay the gesture by serving with loyalty and dedication. He made the call at the flag-off of the first set of Detective Superintendent Course-10 under his watch as the EFCC’s boss. He enjoined the Cadets who are being trained at the EFCC’s Academy to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Commission, their parents or guardians and acquit themselves well…
The Director General of the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, Professor Abdulqadir Ibrahim Abikan has applauded the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede on his rising success in breaking the scourge of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. He gave the plaudits in Abuja on Tuesday March 18, 2025 when he led the management team of NIALS on a courtesy visit to Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. According to him, the EFCC under the watch of Olukoyede is making impressive progress, with greater prospects on the horizon for Nigeria…
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, March 17, 2025, ordered Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko to appear in court for his arraignment over an alleged N12.3bn fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC. Otudeko was to be arraigned alongside a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya; a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited, on a 13-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12.3 billion. The defendants, however, are seeking to…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 17, 2025, presented its First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Peter Omokaro, a former Assistant General Manager, Treasury, Union Bank of Nigeria, in the trial of a former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON, Ahmed Kuru and four others for allegedly defrauding Arik Airline N76 billion and $31.5 million, respectively, before Justice Mojisola Dada of Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. Other defendants are, former Receiver Manager of Arik Airline Ltd., Kamilu Omokide; Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu; Super Bravo Ltd. and Union Bank Plc.…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has called on Nigerian Missions abroad to collaborate with the EFCC in tackling corruption and enhancing the nation’s image on the global arena. He made the call in Abuja on Monday, March 17, 2025 while delivering a Keynote Speech at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria. The Chairman who spoke through the Director of Public Affairs, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren pointed out that Nigeria’s image in the international community was largely influenced by factors such as population, natural resource endowment, military strength, political stability,…
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday March 17, 2025 arrested Kelly Okungbowa (a.k.a Ebo Stone) for alleged naira abuse.Okungbowa, who until recently was the coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team , PSRT, now suspended by the State Government, was arrested owing to a viral video where he was seen spraying and mutilating the Naira at a bar on March 9, 2025. He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity March 17, 2025 Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes…
Operatives of the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, March 15, 2025 arrested 21 suspected internet fraudsters in Bauchi, Bauchi State. The suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet-related fraud at Kaure New Government Reservation Area, GRA, Bauchi and Awala, Maiduguri road, Bauchi state. Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include one BMW and Toyota Camry cars, three play station 5, 30 expensive phones, one flat screen television set, six Point of Sale, POS, machines, four ipads, and five laptops. The suspects will be…
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 17, 2025 arraigned one Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court Maiduguri. The defendant was arraigned on a four -count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation and cheating by impersonation to the tune of N6, 815,300.00 (Six Million Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Naira only). Count one reads: “That you Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu between the period of June, 2023 to August, 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with…
Operatives of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, have arrested popular TikTok influencer, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, for allegedly abusing and mutilating the Naira. Specifically, Kunya was arrested for allegedly spraying Naira notes for fun during her stay in a hotel room at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano. The arrest followed her diligent pursuit by EFCC operatives after she jumped an administrative bail granted her by the Commission over one month ago. She was initially arrested in January 2025 for violating the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Act which prohibits the abuse and mutilation…
Rising from a three-day Management Retreat, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has restated its commitment to enhanced professionalism and integrity in driving the nation’s fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. This resolve was made in Uyo, Akwa-ibom State on Saturday, March 15, 2025 by top brass of the Commission led by its Executive Chairman , Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the end of a three-day Retreat for Directors of the EFCC. Speaking on the theme of the Retreat, “EFCC: the Journey So Far, Ensuring Professionalism and Integrity”, Olukoyede pointed out that” professionalism and…
The trial of Wawe Eseoghene Nelson, a.k.a James Andrew Shmit and Philip Bradley before Justice Aliyu Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja commenced on Thursday, March 14, 2025 with the presentation of the First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Kathleen Sharp by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Nelson, arraigned on February 11, 2025 is facing prosecution by the EFCC on 11 count-charges bordering on advance fee fraud, impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence to the tune of $968,000 (Nine Hundred and Sixty-eight Thousand Dollars), allegedly obtained from two US victims, Sharp and Holly Stamm. Count one of his charge reads: “That you, Wawe Esoghene Nelson (a.k.a James Andrew Smith) sometime in 2023 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with…