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Tag: fraud

  • Alleged N7.1bn fraud: Court stops EFCC from retrying Orji Uzor Kalu

    Alleged N7.1bn fraud: Court stops EFCC from retrying Orji Uzor Kalu

    The Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, stopped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) from retrying former Abia Governor, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu over alleged N7.1 billion fraud.

    The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order while delivering judgment in an application filed by the former governor seeking an order of court prohibiting the Federal Government through the EFCC from retrying him on a charge for which he had already been tried and convicted.

    “An order is hereby made prohibiting the Federal Government through the EFCC, her agents, officers, servants, other agents and any other person or bodies deriving athouriry from the Federal Government from retrying the applicant (Kalu) on charge no. FHC/ABJ/CR/56/2007 FRN vs Kalu and two others on or any other charge based on the same facts, the said applicant having been tried, convicted and sentenced by the judgment of this court dated Dec. 5, 2019 by Justice M.B Idris.”

    Justice Ekwo held that since Kalu was not mentioned in the judgment of the Supreme Court, which voided his earlier conviction and sentencing and ordered a retrial, the judgment did not apply to him.

    Justice Ekwo ruled that it was only the former Commissioner of Finance in Abia Government House, Jones Udeogu, that could be re-tried as only his name was mentioned in the Supreme Court judgment.

    The judge rejected the argument of the prosecution that having benefited from the judgment of the Supreme Court, Kalu and his firm could not claim the order for retrial would not apply to them.

    Kalu was charged alongside his frim, Slok and Udeogu, and while the duo were convicted and sentenced for 12 years, the company was wound up.

    Udeogu, however, appealed the judgment and the Supreme Court set aside their trial and conviction in a judgment on May 8, 2020 on the grounds that the trial judge, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal, ought not to have continued to hear the case.

    In the judgment given in an appeal, marked: SC/62C/2019 filed by Udeogu, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in the case.

    Following which the EFCC applied for a retrial and Kalu and his firm sued to challenge the application for a retrial and argued among others that a retrial would subject him to double jeopardy.

    Kalu, who is the Chief Whip of the Senate representing Abia North Senatorial District argued that he had already been tried, convicted and imprisoned and the constitution provides that one could not be tried twice on the same charge.

    Kalu’s counsel, Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN, while adopting his processes had informed the court that Kalu stood for trial for 12 years and got the judgment that convicted and jailed him for 10 years.

    The senior lawyer cited Section 36 (9) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that no Nigerian shall be subjected to double jeopardy to support his arguments.

    The lawyer insisted that the former governor, having served time in prison, would be made to suffer double jeopardy if the court ordered the EFCC to retry him.

    In an interview with newsmen, Awa Kalu said that the judgment was a victory for the law.

    For his part, the EFCC counsel, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe wondered why Kalu would benefit from the Supreme Court judgment while Udeogu would not benefit from it.

    Atolagbe said that he would consult with his employer to know the next cause of action, he however, added that an appeal was not off the table.

    The retrial of Udeogu was fixed for Jan. 11, Jan. 12 and Jan. 13, 2022.

  • Owners of hotels used for fraudulent activities wil spend 15 years in jail- EFCC

    Owners of hotels used for fraudulent activities wil spend 15 years in jail- EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has cautioned hotel owners across the country to be wary of allowing internet fraudsters to congregate or hibernate around their facilities.

    According to the Commission on Tuesday, there has been a worrying pattern of cold complicity by hospitality entrepreneurs who appear to be hands-in-gloves with suspected fraudsters by housing them over long spells and making internet facilities available to them.

    The caution follows the recent operation by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the agency that led to the arrest of 56 suspected internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

    The officials of the command had apprehended the suspects in their hideouts in a popular hotels in the ancient city.

    “The operation which was based on verified intelligence backed by weeks of surveillance was nearly frustrated by the hotel owners who employed various antics, including shutting down power supply, to enable some of the suspects to escape arrest,” it said.

    The suspects include: Garfar Olamide Taiwo, Fadimaye Habeeb, Badmus Idris, Samuel Victor, Seun Fuad, Alli Isaac, Oyeleke Mubarak, Bolu Soetan, Koleosho Eniola, Saheed Abidemi, Olaewe Tosin, Ayedun Idowu, Oniyitan Ayomide, Akinlabi Precious, Gbadebo Sultan, Adeyemi Habeeb, Balogun Hassan, Sulaimon Ayub Damilare, Akinsola Usman,

    Others are; Ajibola Femi Sodiya, Ridwan Alani, Olusesi Lanre, Eniatimo Oludare, Taiwo Opeyemi, Akindele Kabiru Johnson Hammed, Idowu Gabriel, Adekanmi Adejumo, Peter Babatunde, Okeowo Sunday, Abudu Habeeb, Sabair Rasaq, Ademuyiwa Basit, Toriola Opeyemi, Babayode Abiola, Agbaje Habeeb, Sorinola Oluwatobiloba, Abiodun Elegbede, Kayode Daniel ,Lawal Alabi, Oyewole Korede, Aberuagba Gafar, Adekunle Emmanuel, Okunade Azeez, and Ojediran Sodiq.

    The Commission explained that while the argument is being made in certain quarters that hoteliers as business people have no means of determining who a fraudster is before allowing them to lodge in their facilities, that position runs counter to the law.

    It said, “Despite the lack of cooperation by the hotel owners, the operatives demonstrated professionalism in ensuring that no one was hurt nor property damaged during the operations, contrary to the narrative in a section of the media.

    “Nevertheless, the action of the hoteliers amounts to deliberate sabotage and obstruction of law enforcement officers, an offence punishable by Section 38 (2) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

    “Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Related Offences Act, 2006 provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offence under the Act.”

    The Commission noted that it will not tolerate situations where hotel owners or managers not only permit fraudsters to use their facilities but also deliberately shield them from arrest by frustrating law enforcement on such premises.

    “If the hoteliers are not enablers of the alleged crimes, as some have demonstrated by offering information to the Commission, they are under obligation to cooperate with law enforcement officers carrying out their lawful duties. To act otherwise would tantamount to willingly becoming enablers to fraud.

    “Meanwhile, ten exotic cars, dozens of mobile phones, laptops and several incriminating documents were recovered from the suspected fraudsters arrested in Abeokuta.

    “They will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” it said.

  • Mike Ezuruonye reacts to fraud allegation

    Mike Ezuruonye reacts to fraud allegation

    Popular actor, Mike Ezuronye has slammed his critics amid allegations of fraud against him.The movie star had been in the public eye on many occasions over claims by some people that he allegedly defrauded them.

    In an Instagram post, the actor said he is tired of explaining to people that his impostors are those organizing such fraudulent activities.

    Ezuruonye noted that he has been trolled severally by his accusers while his family members and friends have also been insulted.

    The movie star promised to take on those peddling such allegations against him, adding that he would not stomach such like in the past.

    “Now I’m angry. To all those silly women who have been severally explained to that it ain’t me but impostors who scammed them and they go further trolling I, my family members, my friends, their KIds, I mean children, with steady insults,” he said.

    “I’m done having compassion for you stupid lot, explaining sh!t. How much una get wey I wan scam una f**k all of you. Talk rubbish, I will clap back. I’m now out for you old freeky idiots.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that back in September last year, Ezuruonye had a feud with Kunle Afolayan, a movie producer, after he accused the filmmaker of tribalism.

     

  • Two Nigerians Ogunlana, Oguntuyi plead guilty for theft in Baltimore

    Two Nigerians Ogunlana, Oguntuyi plead guilty for theft in Baltimore

    Two Nigerians, Johnson Ogunlana and Samson Oguntuyi, have pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges on the eve of trial, Maryland’s U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

    Ogunlana , 25, of Edgewood, and Oguntuyi, 29, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty for stealing personal information and credit cards from the mail and opening false accounts using personal information taken.

    The two Nigerians stole over $500,000 using information taken from the mail one of them was supposed to deliver.

    According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ogunlana was a postal carrier with the U.S. Postal Service in Brooklyn, Maryland. He stole bank checks and credit and debit cards from the mail, sending photos of the mail and cards to Oguntuyi and others, who would use the personal identifying information from them to activate the cards and obtain new cards for their own use.

    The two also opened fraudulent business bank accounts using the names of businesses they took from the mail and would even register them with the the state government — using the names of victim businesses and postal customers as the agents and incorporators of the fake businesses, according to the office.

    “Ogunlana also stole checks payable to victim businesses, whose mail was serviced out of the USPS facility where Ogunlana worked, by intercepting their mail,” the office stated. “Oguntuyi and Ogunlana then endorsed some of the checks by forging the signatures of identity theft victims and deposited the checks into the fraudulent business bank accounts the conspirators opened in the names of the victim businesses.”

    At least $565,000 was stolen from two businesses and at least eight postal customers were victims of identity theft between July 2016 and February 2019, the office stated.

    “Ogunlana and Oguntuyi each face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud.

    “Oguntuyi also faces a maximum of 30 years for bank fraud.

    “Ogunlana faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for access device fraud and a maximum of five years in federal prison for theft of mail by a postal employee,” the office stated.

    The full statement by U.S. Justice Department

    Baltimore, Maryland – Two Nigerian nationals, Johnson B. Ogunlana, age 25, of Edgewood, Maryland, and Samson A. Oguntuyi, age 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty on the eve of trial to federal charges related to schemes to defraud financial institutions, retail establishments and other business victims, often using the stolen personal information of individual victims. Specifically, Ogunlana pleaded guilty on August 23, 2021 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of mail by a postal employee. Yesterday, Oguntuyi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

    The guilty pleas were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Imari R. Niles of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division.

    According to their plea agreements, Ogunlana was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in Brooklyn, Maryland. Ogunlana knew that his duties and responsibilities as a letter carrier included handling, sorting, collecting, and delivering letter and parcel mail to postal customers residing and conducting business on his assigned postal delivery routes, and preserving and protecting the security of all mail in his custody.

    Ogunlana and Oguntuyi acknowledged that between July 25, 2016 and February 5, 2019, they conspired together and with others to steal bank checks and credit and debit cards from the mail, open fraudulent business banking accounts using the names of victim businesses and the stolen identities of victim postal customers to negotiate the stolen checks by depositing them into the fraudulent bank accounts, and then conduct transactions with stolen payment cards and with money derived from the stolen checks.

    For example, Ogunlana intercepted and stole mail pieces containing credit cards addressed to individual victims and sent photos of the stolen mail pieces and credit cards through a messaging application to Oguntuyi and other conspirators. Oguntuyi then used the victims’ personal identifying information (“PII”) to activate the stolen credit cards and to obtain new credit cards the victims never requested or applied for. Once the stolen credit cards were activated, members of the conspiracy used the credit cards to make retail purchases.

    As detailed in their plea agreements, members of the conspiracy registered fraudulent businesses with state government agencies using the names of victim businesses and the names and identifying information of postal customer identity theft victims as the agents and/or incorporators of the businesses. Ogunlana and others used stolen payment cards issued to identity theft victims to pay fees to register some of the fraudulent businesses. Ogunlana also stole checks payable to victim businesses, whose mail was serviced out of the USPS facility where Ogunlana worked, by intercepting their mail. Oguntuyi and Ogunlana then endorsed some of the checks by forging the signatures of identity theft victims and deposited the checks into the fraudulent business bank accounts the conspirators opened in the names of the victim businesses. The conspirators then withdrew the money from the accounts through cash withdrawals, debit card purchases and cash back transactions at retail merchants, wire transfers, and by writing checks drawn on the accounts.

    As detailed in their plea agreements, at least $565,000 was stolen from two victim businesses and at least eight postal customers were victims of identity theft.

    Ogunlana and Oguntuyi each face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud. Oguntuyi also faces a maximum of 30 years for bank fraud. Ogunlana faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for access device fraud and a maximum of five years in federal prison for theft of mail by a postal employee. Both defendants face a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not yet scheduled sentencing for the defendants.

    Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation and thanked the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for its assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Maddox and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio, who are prosecuting the case.

  • BEWARE: First Bank accounts easiest to hack, says fraudster after stealing from lots of bank’s customers

    BEWARE: First Bank accounts easiest to hack, says fraudster after stealing from lots of bank’s customers

    A 46-year-old suspect, Zakarriyah Yahaya, also known as “His Excellency”, has revealed how and his gang emptied the bank accounts of many Nigerians using lost or stolen SIM cards.

    Yahaya, among 39 suspects paraded for various crimes at defunct headquarters of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja on Monday by the Nigerian Police, revealed that the easiest bank account to hack is that of First Bank.

    He explained that bank accounts of many Nigerians receiving alerts are easy to access by using their account and phone numbers.

    The suspects were arrested across the country by Force Investigation Bureau of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by Tunji Disu, who took over recently from the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.

    Speaking to journalists, the suspect said, “My name is Zakarriyah Yahaya, I was born and brought up in Jos. I was arrested last month in Mabushi here in Abuja. I used to reset any SIMs that receive bank alert. I will reset it and steal all the money inside the bank account.

    “I do reset it with victim’s bank account number through bank code from the first to the last number. Any bank that we get, we first use it to buy recharge card, from there, they will send us the alert. From the alert, we will now get the account number.”

    When asked for the banks they are mostly interested in, he said First Bank, among others is the easiest to reset.

    He disclosed that they started the job in the last two years and no fewer than eleven members of the gang are working for him, adding that they are operating in three main cities: Kano, Plateau and Abuja.

    He said he could not recall the exact numbers of bank accounts they’d stolen from but they had once removed N800,000 from one of the accounts.

    Explaining how they operate from the police’s investigation, the force spokesman, Frank Mba said the criminals do acquire SIM packs in large numbers and re-activate old phone numbers people don’t use again and explore any bank account’s details.

    Mba said, “Yahaya Zakari controls multiple gangs of cyber crooks whose talk-in-trade is to go after SIM cards, phone numbers of innocent Nigerians, breaking into their privacy, steal their banks’ IDs, and steal monies from the accounts.

    “They have two main modus oprandi. The first is to go and purchase or acquire MTN lines, the new starter kits in large numbers. When they get these, they tried to hack BVN.

    “Experience has shown them that at this stage, some of our service providers are recycling old numbers. Persons who had used phones and probably for some reasons have travelled out of the country, or for any other reason chose not to use the number again, and those numbers are dormant and currently being recycled and being re-issued to persons as new numbers.

    “They are very skilful and they have ways of knowing or decoding old numbers. So, when they put on their MTN starter packs, and they are given options to select numbers, they select old numbers, and at random, they tried to explore and see if they could get bank details from those old numbers. That is their first modus.”

    The senior police officer also said the criminals do attack their victims physically, collect their phones and target their SIM, adding that they are not interested in the phones but the SIM cards.

    He, however, appealed to Nigerians to guide their phones jealously and quickly report to their banks and service providers if their phones get lost.

    According to him, “The second, which is very dangerous where they sometimes hurt innocent citizens both physically and financially, is through deploying gangs that attack innocent citizens, forcefully snatch their phones, or sometimes get these phones stolen via pickpocketing.

    “Once they get these phones, their target is not the phone, no matter how expensive your phone is, they are not interested in that phone, that’s not the main target. That could actually be a by-product or a side benefit from the crime, but the major target is your SIM card.

    “And once they get your SIM card, they tried to play around with it, and see if they could find anything that can link them or take them straight into victims’ accounts, and they had done these successfully.

    “With that, if they get access to your bank details, they go straight to steal your money. The lesson for all of us here is that, we must guide our phones jealously. Even when you lose a phone or a number and you think you’ve got two or three other numbers or lines, don’t let your number go back to strange hands, go back to your service providers and do all what’s necessary, re-activate and re-claim your lines.”

  • Female Micro Finance Bank Managing Director to spend five years in jail for fraud

    Female Micro Finance Bank Managing Director to spend five years in jail for fraud

    Justice M.M. Abubakar of Bauchi State High Court, Bauchi on August 11, 2021 convicted and sentenced Sarita Aliyu Bello, Managing Director of Workman Microfinance Bank, Bauchi, to five years imprisonment on a two-count charge bordering on misappropriation and forgery brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The offence is contrary to Section 308 and 363 and punishable under Section 309 and 364 of the Penal Code Law.

    Bello was said to have sometime in 2020 as the Managing Director of the Microfinance Bank misappropriated the sum of N4,786,700.00.

    Using the password of the Head, Credit Unit of the bank, she created fictitious names, generated fraudulent loan requests, approved and paid the same to herself.

    When confronted with evidence of her crime, she pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her and was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

    The defendant was ordered by the court to pay the sum of N3,786,700 to the bank through the EFCC.

  • Three staff of AIICO Capital arraigned for stealing 1.4bn

    Three staff of AIICO Capital arraigned for stealing 1.4bn

    Three staff members of AIICO Capital Ltd were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Special Offences Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defrauding their employer, an investment company, of N1.4 billion.

    The staff members: Harriet Onome, Olajumoke Akano and Olabode Ogunlere, were charged with four counts of conspiracy and stealing.

    They however denied the charges.

    According to the EFCC prosecutor, Miss Chinenye Okezie, the defendants had sometime in 2020 in Lagos committed the offences alongside one Olanrewaju Fabunmi who is now at large.

    “Onome sometime between November and December 2020 converted to her own use the aggregate sum of N419.9 million.

    “Akano, within the same period, dishonestly converted to her own use the aggregate sum of N167 million.

    “Between October and November 2020, Ogunlere fraudulently converted the aggregate sum of N65 million to his personal use.

    “The said sums are property of AIICO Capital Ltd,” she said.

    According to the anti-graft agency, the offences contravene Sections 287(8) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Following their arraignment, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Onome’s defence counsel, and Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), counsel for Akano and Ogunlere, applied for the defendants’ bail to be granted in liberal terms.

    Okezie, however, opposed the bail applications.

    According to her, Onome is a flight risk who has a two-year valid visa to the United Kingdom.
    “If the court should consider granting the defendants bail it should be on stiff conditions that will ensure the defendants attendance in court,” she said.

    Responding, Oyetibo told the court that Onome was not a flight risk because her international passport was with the EFCC and had applied that her international passport be deposited with the registrar of the court.

    Olumide-Fusika in his submission said that Akano is a nursing mother and had never jumped the bail which was granted to her by the EFCC when she was being investigated.

    He also noted that although Ogunlere was initially detained by the EFCC for five-days over the alleged fraud, he always honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation after he was granted bail.
    Delivering a ruling on the bail applications, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo granted each of the defendants N50million bail with two sureties in like sum.

    “One of the sureties must be a land owner and the Registrar of Titles shall verify the location of the land.

    “The other surety shall be a close relative who must be resident in Lagos. The identities of the sureties must be verified by the court,” she said.

    The court adjourned the case until October 12, for trial.

  • Explainer: How Abba Kyari is involved in Hushpuppi’s fraud case

    Explainer: How Abba Kyari is involved in Hushpuppi’s fraud case

    Celebrity Internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known by his social media handle of Ray Hushpuppi recently involved Abba Kyari, Nigeria’s celebrated policeman in his fraudulent acts.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kyari was involved in Hushpuppi’s fraudulent acts after the fraudster had a fallout with his co-conspirators.

    According to an affidavit filed in the court Kyari contracted to arrest a co-conspirator of Hushpuppi and was paid hugely.

    Kyari also allegedly sent Hushpuppi bank account details into which Hushpuppi could deposit payment for the arrest.

    How it all started

    A federal grand jury indictment unsealed this week alleges an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar – and the subsequent laundering of illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.

    The three-count indictment returned on April 29 and unsealed Monday charges three U.S.-based defendants who were arrested last week – as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa – with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

    The criminal complaint that initiated the prosecution in February was also unsealed Monday, revealing that Ramon Olorunwa Abbas – also known by his social media handle of “Ray Hushpuppi” – was initially charged in this case.

    Court documents ordered unsealed on Wednesday show that Hushpuppi, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20.

    A version of Hushpuppi’s plea agreement filed late Tuesday outlines his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses.

    “The defendants allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off,” said Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison.

    “Mr. Abbas [Hushpuppi], who played a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means.

    “In conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we will identify and prosecute perpetrators of business email compromise scams, which is a massive and growing international crime problem.”

    “Mr. Abbas [Hushpuppi], among the most high-profile money launderers in the world, has admitted to his significant role in perpetrating global BEC fraud, a scheme currently plaguing Americans,” said Kristi K. Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

    “His celebrity status and ability to make connections seeped into legitimate organizations and led to several spin-off schemes in the U.S. and abroad. Today’s announcement deals a crucial blow to this international network and hopefully serves as a warning to potential victims targeted with this type of theft.”

    According to the indictment, Hushpuppi allegedly conspired with Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul,” 28, of Kenya, and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, of Nigeria, to defraud the Qatari businessperson by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance construction of the planned school.

    Juma allegedly posed as a facilitator and consultant for the illusory bank loans, while Hushpuppi played the role of “Malik,” a Wells Fargo banker in New York, according to court documents.

    Vincent, in turn, allegedly provided support for the false narratives fed to the victim by, among other things, creating bogus documents and arranging for the creation of a fake bank website and phone banking line.

    Yusuf Adekinka Anifowoshe, a.k.a. “AJ,” 26, of Brooklyn, New York, allegedly played a role in the fraud, assisting Hushpuppi with a call to the victim posing as “Malik.”

    Special agents with the FBI arrested Anifowoshe in New York on July 22.

    The conspirators allegedly defrauded the victim out of more than $1.1 million.

    The proceeds of the fraud allegedly were laundered in several ways.

    According to the indictment, Hushpuppi was assisted in laundering the proceeds of the fraud by Rukayat Motunraya Fashola, a.k.a. “Morayo,” 28, of Valley Stream, New York, and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka, a.k.a. “Bolamide,” 34, of Linden, New Jersey. These two defendants also were arrested on July 22 by FBI agents.

    Approximately $230,000 of the stolen funds allegedly were used to purchase a Richard Mille RM11-03 watch, which was hand delivered to Hushpuppi in Dubai and subsequently appeared in Hushpuppi’s social media posts.

    Other illicit proceeds from the scheme were allegedly converted into cashier’s checks, including $50,000 in checks that were used by Hushpuppi and a co-conspirator to fraudulently acquire a St. Christopher and Nevis citizenship, as well as a passport for Hushpuppi obtained by creating a false marriage certificate and then bribing a government official in St. Kitts.

    Court documents outline a dispute among members of the conspiracy, which allegedly prompted Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Hushpuppi and Juma were engaged in fraud.

    After this contact, Hushpuppi allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Kyari.

    According to the affidavit, Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Hushpuppi’s behest, and then sent Hushpuppi photographs of Vincent after his arrest.

    Kyari also allegedly sent Hushpuppi bank account details for an account into which Hushpuppi could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.

    Anifowoshe, Fashola and Agbabiaka were arrested in New York and New Jersey on July 22, and they are expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles in August. All three are currently free on bond.

    A criminal complaint and an indictment contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Both conspiracy counts alleged in the indictment carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison term.

    The FBI is investigating this matter as part of Operation Top Dog.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.

    The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in this matter.

    However, Kyari has denied complicity.

  • Fraud: NGO slams N4bn lawsuit against First Bank of Nigeria

    Fraud: NGO slams N4bn lawsuit against First Bank of Nigeria

    An Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice Chukwunweike Ogbuabor on Thursday adjourned till Oct. 14 for pre-trial of a N4 billion lawsuit filed against First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

    The suit was instituted by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), called Incorporated Trustees of International Vocational Centre (IVC) and Dr Pedro Manuwa.

    The adjournment by Ogbuabor followed the Valedictory Court Session in honour of late Mr Godfrey Oguagha holding in the court premises.

    The plaintiff’s counsel, Mr Chikadibia Anosike revealed that both counsels had already filed their necessary papers.

    “The court would have held today but because of the Court Valedictory Session, the presiding judge read only judgement readily to be delivered.

    “He asked us to pick a new date. Ordinarily, court would not have sat today but because of the need for those judgements, it sat,” he said.

    The judge however, adjourned the matter till Oct. 14, 2021 for pre-trial.

    Anosike said the reason for long date was because the court would be going for annual vacation between August and September.

    In their statement of claim, he said his clients had in the last five years maintained two accounts with the defendant to wit: 2027073629 (Current Account) and 3091251391 (Savings Account) with the name International Vocational Centre.

    They averred that on Feb. 4, 2019, it issued First Bank cheques to several beneficiaries of their education fund but the defendant negligently paid one of the beneficiaries Ñ150, 000 as against N15, 000.

    “There have been incidences of negligence by the defendant in handling the plaintiff’s account which had led to several losses, ridicule and untold hardship on the plaintiffs.

    “On account of the said over-payment, some of the cheques issued to those beneficiaries were returned unpaid.

    “Some person(s) colluded with the defendant and have opened account number 3141684991 with the name International Vocational Centre, Niger State chapter,” he said.

    The claimants alleged that such person(s) had been demanding and receiving money from the public and prospective beneficiaries of the scholarship funds, thereby, tarnishing their image.

    The lawyer said that the plaintiffs had made complaints to the defendant’s Enugu Branch, demanding for the closure of the said account but every complaint fell on deaf ears.

    “Many prospective students have been duped by reason of the said illegal account and the plaintiff’s image has been ridiculed and brought into disrepute globally by the reason of the action,” the plaintiffs claimed.

    When the matter was called up in the last adjourned date, the defendant was not in court.

    The judge then gave the defence counsel seven days to amend the statement and serve it to counsel to the plaintiff.

    The application was not opposed by the counsel to the plaintiff, Anosike.

    In an interview, the plaintiff’s counsel said he did not oppose the motion sought by the counsel to the defendant because it was allowed in law once it was filed before hearing of the case.

    “By the rule of law, they can amend if they want. So, we are not opposing their application. Fortunately, their motion for amendment was moved and granted.

    “The court gave them time within which to serve us the amended copy of their statement of defence.

    “They have seven days to serve us the amended copy of their defense, and we have 14 days to file our reply to their statement of defence,” he said.

    Anosike, however, noted that the motion should have been filed earlier in order to ensure accelerated hearing of the matter.

    He reiterated that his client, International Vocational Centre, had a good case considering the fact that the bank infringed on the right if its client.

    We have come to the court to seek redress and we believe that our case is good enough to get the relieves we are seeking for,” Anosike added.