TheNewsGuru

Tag: fraud

  • Alleged $26,000 fraud: Police apprehend, arraign Lanre Smith after 5 years

    Alleged $26,000 fraud: Police apprehend, arraign Lanre Smith after 5 years

    A businessman, Mr Lanre Smith, was on Tuesday, arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over an alleged 26,000 dollar fraud against a U.S. citizen.

    Smith is being prosecuted by the Force Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police on a three-count charge of conspiracy, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity and fraud.

    The Prosecutor, Mr Mike Enejere, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in August 2016.

    Enejere said that Smith conspired with others, now at large to conduct a financial transaction from the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

    He said that the defendant deceived one Lindy Drake to deposit 26,000 dollars into a U.S. Wells Fargo account with the name Wilok Ltd.

    The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant’s action was with the intention to carry out a specified unlawful activity.

    Enejere also said that Smith also obtained about N10.1 million on the pretext that he had deposited the 26,000 dollars into the U.S. Well Fargo account.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 1(1)(a), 7 and 7(2)(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The defence counsel, Mr A. A. Apara made an oral application for the bail of the defendant which was objected by the prosecutor.

    Justice Ibrahim Kala, ordered defence counsel to file a written bail application before the court.

    He then adjourned the case until Feb. 5 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

    The charge was initially filed in 2019 but later struck out because the police could not produce Smith.

  • Trouble in Mr Ibu’s home as Police arrest son, daughter over wife’s petition

    Trouble in Mr Ibu’s home as Police arrest son, daughter over wife’s petition

    The Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos, has arrested  Onyeabuchi Okafor, son of popular Nollywood actor John Okafor (a.k.a. Ibu)  for alleged N50 million fraud against the actor.

    The department arrested Onyeabuchi alongside a woman identified as Jasmine Okekeagwu for the alleged fraud.

    The department’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Aminat Mayegun, confirmed the arrest on Thursday in a statement.

    Mayegun alleged that the actor’s son and the woman conspired and defrauded the actor of N50 million donated for his medical treatment.

    She said that the department had also recovered the said amount allegedly stolen from the actor’s medical fund raising bank account.

    The image maker said that, on Sept. 6, 2023, the defendant received a petition from Diamond Waves Law, on behalf of Mrs Stella-Maris Okafor (the actor’s wife), alleging the fraud.

    According to the official , investigation into the case established that, as part of efforts to fund the actor’s medical bills, he launched a public fund-raising initiative and attracted donations from many people of goodwill into a designated account.

    Mayegun said that the actor’s wife, Stella-Maris, was initially managing the funds to defray the medical bills of her husband and sustain their family.

    “However, along the line, the duo of Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu  manipulated Mrs Okafor, took possession of the actor’s phone and hacked into the banking details.

    “They, thereafter, re-installed the mobile banking applications of the actor on the phone of Onyeabuchi Okafor preparatory to the perfection of their preconceived fraudulent plans, and wiped off the banking applications originally installed on the actor’s phone.

    “They, thereby, took direct and full charge of banking activities of the actor in relation to the funds being donated by members of the public in support of his medical care,” she said.

    Mayegu added that through the alleged  fraudulent act, Onyeabuchi  and  Okekeagwu started transferring funds from the actor’s public fund-raising account to Onyeabuchi’s personal bank account.

    She alleged that  forensic analysis of the duo’s illicit financial dealings established that a total N50 million was  successfully and criminally transferred  from the account before  their arrest.

    The spokesperson said that investigation also revealed  text message,  via WhatsApp, between Onyeabuchi and Okekeagwu detailing, stage-by-stage, how they allegedly conspired and committed the fraud.

    “It was also established that the two suspects, Jasmine and Onyeabuchi, had a sham marriage at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, with plans to escape from the country to the UK, where they intended to settle with their proceeds of crime.

    “They already applied for UK Visa in furtherance to this plan, prior to their arrest.

    “During investigation, the stolen N50 million was traced to the bank account of Onyeabuchi.

    “It was discovered that they had squandered a total of N5 million on questionable transactions, while the balance N50 million was recovered from him.

    The official said that the suspects were charged to court on Thursday.

  • BREAKING: EFCC drags Obiano to court over alleged N4bn fraud

    BREAKING: EFCC drags Obiano to court over alleged N4bn fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has moved the former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, into Courtroom 5 of the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment.

    Obiano, dressed in a navy blue suit with a black cap, was escorted into the courtroom by more than 10 operatives of the anti-graft agency.

    According to DAILY POST, he was driven into the court premises around 8am in an 18-seater Toyota Bus marked ABC 573 KQ and kept inside the vehicle for some minutes before being moved into the courtroom.

    He was sandwiched in between four EFCC operatives who are preventing his followers and sympathizers from accessing him.

    At the time of this report, the identity of lawyers likely to defend him could not be ascertained.

    However, more than 50 lawyers are already inside the courtroom.

    Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo who is billed to take his plea in the criminal charges is being awaited but officials of the court are already on standby.

    Obiano is to face trial in a nine-count charge over alleged N4 billion fraud brought against him by the Federal Government through the EFCC.

  • Ex-Anambra gov, Obiano back in EFCC custody

    Ex-Anambra gov, Obiano back in EFCC custody

    Former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at its headquarters in Abuja, according to reports.

    The action of the anti-graft agency on Obiano is said to be preparatory for the arraignment of the former governor before a Federal High Court on January 24 in Abuja.

    Obiano was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.

    Obiano is to face trial in an alleged over N4bn corruption charges brought against him by the Federal Government through EFCC.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Slyvanus Tahir, has been assigned to lead the prosecution of the former governor on Wednesday morning in Abuja.

    EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed the development but declined detailed information.

    One of the Registrars of the court where Obiano is to be arraigned confirmed to our correspondent that he had sighted the charge but would not know the date of the arraignment.

    Some of the charges against Obiano are, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

    “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

    Obiano was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.

  • NCC sends strong warning to owners of SIM cards used for fraud

    NCC sends strong warning to owners of SIM cards used for fraud

    The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has said owners of SIM cards used for fraudulent activities would be made to face prosecution.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida made the disclosure during a special engagement with the media in Lagos on Thursday.

    The special media engagement was held to discuss Maida’s vision and strategy after spending 100 days in office.

    He noted that the commission would be stepping in, as a regulator, to see the common issues that consumers are complaining about and how to resolve such problems.

    “We are also going to see how we can improve the general security and integrity from the consumers’ perspective.

    “The commission plans to create a platform where consumers can verify whether lines they have not used for a long time are still active or not.

    “We have noticed that vicious people are targeting lines that are dormant for a long time to carry out fraud.

    “Also, we want to formulate a policy to ensure that any line used to carry out fraud, the owner of that line will be prosecuted.

    “So, if you are not using a particular line, it is advisable you block it,” Maida said.

    Maida said the commission would focus more on being data centric, as the world was in a digital age.

    He noted that as a regulator of the telecoms industry, it was necessary to leverage data to make informed decisions.

    “We will be driving the collection of a lot of data from our stakeholders to project the work that we are doing, so that we can have a high level of transparency and accountability.

    “Compliance is another driver we need to focus on, as a regulator that is  empowered by the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, we have the power to hold our licensees to their obligations.

    “We have laid down obligations for our licensees to meet and we will ensure they uphold those obligations.

    “Of course, this will require more work on the part of the regulator, so we will be deploying digitalisation, to enable us work efficiently.

    “For instance, renewing of licenses can be done digitally,” Maida said.

    On its licensees, he said the commission was looking at reviewing the operating standards and introducing better ones which would be more in line with international best practices and also in the area of corporate governance.

    He said NCC would be leveraging technology to review regulatory services and internal processes to improve their operations.

    “We are going to be doing a lot of advocacy in the areas of pushing the telecoms industry as a critical national infrastructure.

    “On the right of way charges, we are working with States government to either waive the RoW charges or stick to the N145/linear charge. We are also engaging states on the issue of multiple taxation,” he said.

    Maida said that the commission would also be aligning its goals with that of the minister’s blueprint.

    He said that NCC’s policy was to grow the industry by increasing its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “NCC is also focusing on job creation, especially for our youth, and facilitation of cross industries collaboration. We are going to enable other industries to innovate and grow,” he said.

  • Ex-minister in EFCC net over alleged N3.6bn fraud

    Ex-minister in EFCC net over alleged N3.6bn fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Ugwuh, over an alleged conspiracy and fraud to the tune of N3.6 billion.

    EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told NAN in Abuja on Monday that Ugwuh was arrested alongside Chief Geoffrey Ekenma on Jan. 11, in New Owerri, Imo.

    Ugwuh, an engineer, industrialist and a former President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), served as Minister of Commerce and Industry from July 2007 to October 2008.

    Oyewale said that the arrest followed a petition to the commission from a new generation bank on the alleged fraud perpetrated through a company, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., linked to the ex-minister.

    “Investigations revealed that Ugwuh, a former President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)  and Ekenma, Managing Director, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., allegedly obtained a loan facility from the bank for the purchase and production of polished rice.

    “However, the suspects, according to the petitioner, failed to meet up his obligations to the bank and all efforts to get him to repay the loan facility proved abortive,” he said.

    Oyewale said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

  • EFCC arraigns 11 OAU students for alleged Internet fraud

    EFCC arraigns 11 OAU students for alleged Internet fraud

    The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned eleven students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State for alleged involvement in internet fraud.

    The defendants were arraigned on different count charges, ranging from one to six charges as preferred  against them by the EFCC.

    They are: Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, Daniel Olashile Maiye, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji and Okesipe Tobiloba Paul.

    Nine of the defendants were arraigned on one-count charge each, while the remaining two: Micah and Obaro had six count-charges filed against each of  them.

    One of the counts reads: “That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah sometimes in 2023 in Osogbo, Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonated the name – Pies through your Whatsapp account phone number +1(414)367-9473 by claiming that you are an American Female in love with your victims in the United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

    Another count reads, “That you, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro on or about 1st November, 2023 at Ile-Ife, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by name Alex Stephens from United States of America to one Megan Johnson, through your Google Chat and your email address (alexsteps678@gmail.com) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

    Upon their arraignments, they all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.

    Consequently, prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni prayed the court for trial dates and the remand of the defendants at a Correctional Centre.

    In response, defence counsels to Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe informed the court of “motions for bail applications” filed on behalf of their clients which have been served on the prosecution, therefore urging the court to admit the six defendants to bail in the most liberal terms.

    Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, having listened to the prayers of both parties, admitted Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe to bail.

    Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Adeleye and Okesipe were admitted to bail in the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira only) each while Micah was granted bail in the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira only).

    Other bail conditions are: two sureties in like sum, first surety must be the defendant’s  father or mother, second surety must be a relative, sibling, clergy or civil servant with the Osun State Government; the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means and both residential and office addresses of the sureties, as well as their statuses must be provided and verified by the court registrar.

    The judge adjourned the matters to November 29 and December 12, 2023 respectively for commencement of trial and remanded the defendants at the Ilesha Correctional Centre, Osun State pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

    The defendants were among the sixty-nine (69) suspected internet fraudsters arrested on Wednesday, November 01, 2023 at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife in Osun State following actionable intelligence on their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.

  • N24.3 million fraud: EFCC arraigns oil magnate

    N24.3 million fraud: EFCC arraigns oil magnate

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an oil magnate, Azubuike Uzoma before Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Uzoma was arraigned by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Command of the EFCC for an alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products to the tune of N24.3 million.

    He was arraigned on October 25, 2023 on three-count charges bordering on money laundering and illegal dealing in petroleum products.

    One of the count charges reads:

    “That you,  Azubuike Uzoma  (Trading under the name & style of ALVIN D INTERNATIONAL) sometimes in June, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court took possession of the aggregate sum of N23,310,000.00 (Twenty Three Million, Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira) paid into your account with Keystone Bank Limited, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity, to wit: Illegal dealing in petroleum products and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act”.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

    In view of his plea, prosecution counsel Abdulrahman Abubakar, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and for  the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Service.

    Counsel to the defendant, C .J. Nmerem, did not oppose the prayers of the prosecution, but urged the court to grant his client bail to enable him prepare for his trial.

    Justice Mohammed thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira), and two sureties in like sum.

    One of the sureties must be a civil servant with the Rivers State government not below grade level 14, and the other surety shall be a family member of the defendant. The sureties must deposit two recent passport photographs with the court and must have verifiable addresses

    The judge adjourned the matter till January 22, 2024 for commencement of trial.

    Azubuike’s case started when operatives of the Commission arrested him at Ndoni Community of Onelga Local Government Area of Rivers State for alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products and money laundering.

    Investigations showed that the defendant is into a fraudulent oil business by defrauding his clients into paying several amounts of money for the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Warri depot.

    He neither supplied the products nor returned the clients’ money to them.

  • Court orders EFCC, CBN to transfer Andrew Yakubu’s confiscated funds to registrar’s account

    Court orders EFCC, CBN to transfer Andrew Yakubu’s confiscated funds to registrar’s account

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately transfer the sums of $9.8 million and £74,000 recovered from Mr Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to an account under the control of the chief registrar of the court.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that he found that the EFCC and CBN had not been forthright concerning the whereabouts of the sums for which the suit was centered.

    He said: “Therefore, the proper order to make in this case is that which can assure all parties that the sums are in the custody that can make them retrievable by any of the parties entitled thereto eventually,” pending the determination of the appeal lodged by the Federal Government against the decision of a sister court in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CR/43/2017.

    Yakubu had sued the commission, CBN and the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively over an alleged refusal to release his $9,773,200.00 and £74,000.00 after a court judgment acquitted him of fraud charges.

    On February 3, 2017, operatives of the EFCC raided the property of the former NNPC chief in Kaduna and recovered $9.8 million and £74,000 stashed in a fire-proof safe.

    He was alleged to have omitted the monies from the EFCC asset declaration form given to him to fill in 2015.

    Yakubu was arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a FHC, on March 16, 2017, on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and false declaration of assets.

    However, in March 2022, the judge, discharged and acquitted Yakubu of the charges.

    Meanwhile, in the originating summons, marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/231/2023, and filed before Justice Ekwo, another judge, Yakubu through his counsel, Ahmed Raji, asked the court to determine whether the EFCC ought to still have in its custody his seized monies after the judgment

    He prayed the court for an order directing the defendants to immediately release the monies to him pending the determination of the EFCC’s appeal.

    Alternatively, Yakubu wants an order directing the defendants to immediately transfer the said monies into an account under the control of the FHC’s chief registrar or into an account to be operated by the chief registrar, the EFCC, and him, pending the determination of the appeal.

    Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo held that the order that any sum of money be paid into account maintained by the chief registrar of the court was usually made following the facts and circumstance of the case.

    “Such order does not by any measure give advantage to any of the parties.

    “It is neither res novo nor new law for the court to make an order for any sum of money in contention between the parties to be kept in a neutral account pending conclusion of proceedings.

    “Parties who truly seek justice in their matter are more assured where the court makes an order that ensures the neutrality of the custody of the funds which form the res of the cause of action,” he said.

    According to him, the justice of this case demands that the 1st and 2nd defendants produce the sums in contention in this case and place same in the custody that assures everyone of its existence, safekeeping and accessibility by any person so entitled at the conclusion of the appeal.

    “It is on this ground and the other grounds which I have considered in the cause of this judgement that I find that the plaintiff has made a compelling case on the merit and ought to succeed and I so hold,” he said.

  • N5bn fraud: Court shifts Stella Oduah, CCECC case

    N5bn fraud: Court shifts Stella Oduah, CCECC case

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, rescheduled the trial of Sen. Stella Oduah, a Chinese construction giant, CCECC, and others on alleged N5 billion fraud charges for Nov. 14.

    The matter, which was on number three on the cause list could not be heard by Justice Inyang Ekwo.

    Although counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Offem Uket, was in court, the defendants, including Oduah, were not in court.

    Recall that Justice Ekwo had, on July 21, ordered the EFCC to produce persons behind breaching his privacy through text messages on his phone and another group who petitioned the chief justice of Nigeria regarding the ongoing case.

    The judge, who adjourned the matter until today, directed that the anti-corruption agency must produce the those persons in court.

    “I will give a date for trial and make a consequential order because you have allowed this matter to degenerate this way.

    “Do you think you can shield any of these persons who have interfered in these proceedings?” he asked rhetorically.

    Oduah, a former senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, and others were arraigned on July 21 on 25-count charge.

    She was arraigned alongside CCECC Nigeria Ltd, the Nigerian subsidiary of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) established by the Chinese government to execute international contracts and economic cooperation.

    Also joined in the charge are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

    Others include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd and Sobora International Ltd.

    They all pleaded not guilty to the counts and were admitted to bail in terms of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the anti-graft agency.

    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020 and filed by the EFCC on December 17, 2020, the defendants are being accused of laundering various sums of money totalling about N5,052,415,984 between February and June 2014.

    The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiracy to commit money laundering, transferring, taking control and taking possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and opening anonymous bank accounts.

    Specifically, the prosecution alleged in two of the 25 counts that Oduah, a former Aviation Minister, and Odita opened anonymous “Private Banking Nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank Ltd, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 11(4) (a) of the same Act.

    In the charge, CCECC Nigeria Limited was alleged to have transferred over N2.5 billion into the naira account of a Private Banking Nominee between March 31 and June 6, 2014.