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Tag: Wilson Uwujaren

  • Internet fraud: EFCC returns $26,000 to Briton

    Internet fraud: EFCC returns $26,000 to Briton

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has facilitated the return of  $26,000 to Christine Brown, a British national and a victim of internet fraud.

    The EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja, added that the Benin Zonal Command handed over the money to the victim on Monday.

    According to him, Brown expressed gratitude to the Commission for its efforts which she said, has brought some succour to her after losing her life’s savings to the fraudsters.

    He said that the 70-year-old had petitioned the Commission after being defrauded by an internet fraudster through a romance scam.

    “Narrating her ordeal, Brown said she became a victim after she met a purported John Barrowman, an entertainer and citizen of America online.

    “Unknown to her, he was a fraudster.  Brown said they became romantically involved, and the fraudster began to demand money which she sent to him through wire transfers,  Bitcoin and  gift cards,” Uwajaren said.

    “Kanu Idagu, the Zonal Commander, while handing over the recovered fund,  said the Commission will continue to discharge its mandate to the betterment of the society.

    “We are doing a whole lot in ensuring that victims of fraud are restituted where possible, and we will continue to do more,” he said.

    He admonished the public to be circumspect in whatever they do online as fraudsters prowl the internet seeking to defraud unsuspecting victims.

  • EFCC arrests FMC staff

    EFCC arrests FMC staff

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal office, has arrested a staff of Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta in Ogun, and 47 others for alleged involvement in internet fraud.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

    48 suspects were arrested in Ogun and three in Oyo State.

    Uwujaren said that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday at Idi-Aba area of Abeokuta, following intelligence on their alleged fraudulent activities.

    He said that items recovered from the suspects included seven exotic vehicles, several mobile phones, laptops, hi and apple wrist watches among others.

    Uwujaren said that two suspects were arrested same day at Idi-Igba area of Ibadan in Oyo state, and two cars and other valuables recovered from them.

    He said that the Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police also arrested and handed over a cybercrime suspect to the EFCC.

    Uwujaren said that the suspect was arrested at his house on suspicion of involvement in fraudulent activities.

    He said that an Honda Civic car and mobile phones were recovered from him.

    Uwujaren said that all the suspects would be charged to court after completion of investigation.

  • EFCC officer dies ‘mysteriously’ after scuffle with colleagues

    EFCC officer dies ‘mysteriously’ after scuffle with colleagues

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the death of its operative, Inspector Abel Dickson, after a scuffle with his colleagues over the custody of some items recovered from a suspect.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the mysterious passing of Inspector Dickson during a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Uwujaren said that the deceased and two other colleagues, Assistant Superintendent Apata Odunayo and Inspector Ogbuji Tochukwu, were attached to the Sokoto State Command of the commission.

    The spokesman said the two suspects had been arrested and handed over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution.

    Uwujaren said the incident happened on May 5, 2023, while the victim died on May 7 at Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, where he was receiving treatment.

    ”There was nothing like shootout among the officers, it was just a scuffle among the three officers who disagreed over discrepancies in the items deposited in the suspects’ locker and the items include just medication and some cash,” he said.

    He said that the incident was the first of its kind and the commission would ensure that the erring officers are brought to justice.

    “They had disagreed over procedures for the custody of items belonging to a suspect in detention, leading to a fight, a conduct which the commission frowns at.

    “The two officers with whom he had a disagreement have been suspended by the commission and handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    “The latest information, is that a two-count holding charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide has been filed against them at a Chief Magistrate Court, Gwiwa in Sokoto.”

    According to him, both offences are punishable under Sections 60 and 191 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.

    “Without prejudice to the Police investigation, they will in addition, face further disciplinary measures in line with the Commission’s staff regulation,” he said.

    Uwujaren said the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was saddened by the incident, and had extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

    “He has, in addition, assured that the commission will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those implicated in the death of the officer are brought to justice.

    “He equally warned staff of the commission to ensure that their conduct at all times is moderated by the established code of behaviour as no act of indiscipline would be tolerated.

    “Meanwhile, the remains of the late officer were interred on Saturday May 13 in Jos, Plateau,” he said.

  • EFCC arrests 6 suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja

    EFCC arrests 6 suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja

    The Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja.

    EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that they were arrested on Tuesday in a sting operation at Jahi and Dawaki axes of the Federal Capital Territory based on credible intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.

    The suspects according to him, are: Emmanuel Ndubuisi, Solomon Tochukwu, Okotie Kingsley, Benedict Akor, Samuel Anosike and Samson Iffy.

    ”Items recovered from them include; one Mercedes Benz car; two Lexus RX350 and Toyota Camry.

    ”Others are, laptops, mobile phones, one international passport and an expensive wrist watch.

    ”They will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded, ” he said.

  • Guber Polls: EFCC to prosecute vote buyers – Uwujaren

    Guber Polls: EFCC to prosecute vote buyers – Uwujaren

    For today’s Gubernatorial and State Assembly election in the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, has given its men the go-ahead to storm polling units to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in vote buying.

    The EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, made the statement on Friday at the Federal Capital Territory FCT

    Uwujaren said the move was to make sure that the elections were devoid of financial malpractice, particularly the inducement of voters.

    He said the teams led by senior officers started arriving at their assigned locations earlier on Friday.

    According to him, a number of them, on arrival, held a consultation with officials of the INEC and other security agencies involved in election security.

    He said, “Officers of Kaduna Zonal Command led by ACEII Mustapha Abubakar, who are on an election monitoring mission to Niger State, also met the Commissioner of Police, J.A Ogundele, to register their presence in the state.

    “They also visited the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Niger State, Ahmed Yusha’u Garki.

    “Officers of the Abuja Zonal Command on election monitoring duty in Nasarawa State, led by ACE II Adeniyi Adebayo, also registered their presence at the Nigeria Police Command Lafia.”

  • EFCC denies raiding Tinubu’s home

    EFCC denies raiding Tinubu’s home

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied raiding the home of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate Sen. Bola Tinubu.

    EFCC’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the claim of raiding the home of the former governor of Lagos State by the commission was not true.

    “The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a report circulating in the social media, claiming that operatives of the Commission raided the home of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, standard-bearer of APC, in the forthcoming presidential election and recovered a humongous sum of N400 billion.

    “The Commission wishes to state that no such operation was carried out by the EFCC. The public is enjoined to disregard the report as fake news,” he said.

  • CYBER FRAUD: “Yahoo boys” to wash Osun school toilets for eight months

    Five Internet fraudsters have been convicted for cyber fraud by both federal and state high courts in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Osogbo, Osun State.

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a statement on Tuesday, by the Head- Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the cases were prosecuted by its Ibadan Zonal Command.

     

    A final-year student of Transport Planning Management at the Tai Solarin University, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Amusa Oluwasegunfunmi, was sentenced to eight months’ community service for fraudulent impersonation.

     

    Others are Ajisafe Olaide, Lawal Morenikeji, Osuolale Abiodun, and Olamilekan Taofeek.

    Cyber fraud

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the anti-graft agency said each of them was convicted for offences bordering on cyber-fraud.

     

    Upon their arraignment, they pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.

     

    In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

     

    Consequently, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, convicted and sentenced Oluwasegunfunmi to eight months’ community service.

    Cyber fraud

     

    He was required to clean the toilets at the Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, Osun State.

     

    Also, the court ordered that the convict’s attendance register be kept by the school principal and submitted on completion of his term.

     

    Similarly, Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, sentenced Olaide to six months’ community service for obtaining money under false pretences, contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38 Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

     

    In the same vein, Justice Omolara Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court convicted and sentenced Morenikeji to six months’ community service; Abiodun and Taofeek got one-week community service each, as their offences violated Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38 Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

     

    The courts ordered that the convicts restitute to their victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government.

     

    Yahoo Boys are young men, usually aged between 22-29 years, who specialize in various types of cybercrime. Many of them may be undergraduates or college dropouts whose distinct lifestyles of fast cars, wealth and ostentation is the envy of many of their age-mates.

  • EFCC arrests 17 internet fraud suspects in Benue

    EFCC arrests 17 internet fraud suspects in Benue

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday said it has arrested 17 internet fraud suspects in Benue State.

    EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this, explained that the alleged ‘Yahoo boys’ were caught in the state capital, Makurdi.

    He noted that the suspects will be arraigned as soon as investigations are concluded.

    They are Samuel C., Uvande A., Joseph G., Ageva A., Emmanuel O., Ochiwu M., Dominic O, Ikpema S, Otse A.
    Others: Aondowase T. Others are, Audu-war L., Terver J., Dav J., Moses V., Abdullahi A., Agehson O and Andoaver T.

    The young men were apprehended at different locations “following actionable intelligence on their alleged criminal activities”.

    Items recovered from them at the time of arrest include mobile phones, laptops, and several incriminating documents.