The daughters of Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta state governor and PDP vice-presidential candidate, are out to vote at Omi primary school, PU 003, Ika north-east, Delta.
The sentence means Kelly could leave prison alive, when he’s about 80. Prosecutors had asked Judge Harry Leinenweber to sentence the 56-year-old Grammy Award winner to 25 years and have him start serving them only after he completed his earlier sentence. That would have been tantamount to sending him to prison for life.
They argued that the stiffer punishment was justified by the seriousness of the crimes and what they said was Kelly’s lack of remorse.
Kelly remained still and impassive, his eyes downcast, when the judge issued his sentence in a Chicago federal courtroom. His composure slipped slightly, however, when a representative read a statement written by “Jane,” a key prosecution witness.
“I was brainwashed by Robert and a sex slave,” Jane’s statement said. “It almost killed me.”
Kelly’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, said she was pleased with the judge’s decision.
“It’s the right outcome,” she told reporters following the hearing. “The judge was reasonable. He, I think, took into account both sides and ultimately was fair.”
Leinenweber said at the outset of the hearing that he did not accept the government’s contention that Kelly used fear to woo underage girls for sex.
“The (government’s) whole theory of grooming, was sort of the opposite of fear of bodily harm,” the judge told the court. “It was the fear of lost love, lost affections (from Kelly)’. … It just doesn’t seem to me that it rises to the fear of bodily harm.”
Leinenweber ordered that Kelly serve one year in prison following the racketeering sentence, imposed last year in New York.
A calm Kelly spoke only briefly at the start of the hearing, when the judge asked him if he had reviewed key presentencing documents for any inaccuracies.
“Your honor, I have gone over it with my attorney,” Kelly said. “I’m just relying on my attorney for that.”
Two of Kelly’s accusers asked the judge to punish him harshly.
In a statement read aloud in court, Jane said she had lost her early aspirations to become a singer herself and her hopes for fulfilling relationships.
“I have lost my dreams to Robert Kelly,” the statement said. “I will never get back what I lost to Robert Kelly. … “I have been permanently scarred by Robert.”
The woman was a key witness for prosecutors during Kelly’s trial; four of his convictions are tied to her.
“When your virginity is taken by a pedophile at 14 … your life is never your own,” Jane’s statement read.
Another accuser, who used the pseudonym “Nia,” attended the hearing and addressed Kelly directly in court. Speaking forcefully as her voice quivered, Nia said Kelly would repeatedly pick at her supposed faults while he abused her.
“Now you are here … because there is something wrong with you,” she said. “No longer will you be able to harm children.”
Jurors in Chicago convicted Kelly last year on six of 13 counts: three of producing child porn and three of enticement of minors for sex. Prosecutors did not get a conviction on the marquee charge: that Kelly and his then-business manager successfully rigged his state child pornography trial in 2008.
Kelly rose from poverty in Chicago to become one of the world’s biggest R&B stars. Known for his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and for sex-infused songs such as “Bump n’ Grind,” he sold millions of albums even after allegations about his abuse of girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s.
In presentencing filings, prosecutors described Kelly as “a serial sexual predator” who used his fame and wealth to reel in, sexually abuse and then discard star-struck fans.
U.S. Assistant Attorney Jeannice Appenteng on Thursday urged the judge to keep Kelly in prison “for the rest of his life.”
Kelly’s abuse of children was all the worse, she said, because he “memorialized” his abuse by filming victims, including Jane. She told the court Kelly “used Jane as a sex prop, a thing” for producing pornographic videos.
In prehearing filings, however, Bonjean accused prosecutors of offering an “embellished narrative” to get the judge to join what she called the government’s “bloodthirsty campaign to make Kelly a symbol of the #MeToo movement.”
Bonjean said Kelly has suffered enough, including financially. She said his worth once approached $1 billion, but that he “is now destitute.”
She also remarked that Kelly will be lucky to survive his 30-year New York sentence alone. To give him a consecutive 25-year sentence on top of that “is overkill, it is symbolic,” she said. “Why? Because it is R. Kelly.”
And she stressed that Kelly’s silence in the courtroom should not be viewed as a lack of remorse.
She said Kelly “very much” wanted to speak but she advised him not to because he continues to appeal his convictions and could face other legal action.
The Kogi State Government has called on Nigerians to ignore the interim forfeiture of some of its properties secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) describing it as a joke.
It accused EFCC chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa of “disgraceful fixation on the State in the pursuit of desperate political interests of its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa and his godfathers.”
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said in a statement on Wednesday that Bawa had shown like many Civil Society Organisations had pointed out, that his mandate at the EFCC was to bring down perceived enemies of those who planted him there at the expense of the nation’s integrity.
He said the fact that the EFCC could send out a press statement, titled: “Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of 14 properties linked to Kogi State Government”, showed clearly that uninformed minds had been picked to oversee the affairs of an agency as important as the EFCC, adding that the “forfeiture joke is clearly a desperate concoction of confused, unintelligent officials.”
According to him, for the avoidance of doubt, the Kogi State Government has no property that can be forfeited to the Federal Government under any guise, saying the said was a campaign of calumny taken too far.
Fanwo noted that it was clear that the EFCC had declared a tactless open war against the Kogi State Government, owing mainly to the Governor’s unflinching loyalty to the All Progressives Congress(APC) and not individuals, stressing that the Governor was not one that could be cowed once he believes in a cause.
“Nigerians, and indeed, the international community are not as ignorant as the convicted Bawa and his sponsors. They know, with the different onslaughts against the Kogi State Government, and its officials, that this is clear persecution by a desperate and power-drunk EFCC. In due course, Nigerians will confirm that the EFCC, under Bawa, is the capital of corruption amongst agencies in Nigeria,” the State Government said.
The Commissioner stated: “Unlike the convicted Bawa, who has no regard for the courts. We want to state clearly here that, from what we have read in the media, not one we witnessed, this is a forfeiture proceeding and the order is an order of interim forfeiture, which gives persons who allegedly own the properties rights to come to court to establish their ownership of the said properties. We will follow through with the courts.
“For now, it is clear the EFCC has declared a tactless open war against the Kogi State Government, owing mainly to the Governor’s unflinching loyalty to the All Progressives Congress and not individuals. We will prove our innocence in court. It is a matter of time.”
The state government thanked Nigerians for standing by what is right and pointing out the mess that had become of the fight against corruption under an “emergency chairman”.
“On this note, we advise the public to ignore Bawa’s EFFC’s latest naked dance in the market square as the desperate last kicks of a dying horse,” the statement said.
This joker @GovSamuelOrtom of Benue state actually used “Fulanis” to successfully fool many people. He’s one of the worst governors in Nigeria. A real opportunist. He doesn’t pay salaries, didn’t develop Benue and his only achievement are these funny hats he dons once in a while.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has granted the prayer of the Labour Party, LP, seeking an order to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from using the chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages, Musliu Akinsanya, better known as MC Oluomo, from distributing election materials in Lagos.
I am happy to announce that this morning, We successfully acquired an injunction barring INEC LAGOS STATE from dealing in anyway shape or form with MC Oluomo or any of his associated agencies.
I am grateful to GOD almighty and my legal team, and to the people of Lagos. #obidients
I am happy to announce that this morning, We successfully acquired an injunction barring INEC LAGOS STATE from dealing in anyway shape or form with MC Oluomo or any of his associated agencies. I am grateful to GOD almighty and my legal team, and to the people of Lagos. #obidientspic.twitter.com/iGJfuAvbjY
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Mustapha Salihu, north-east vice-chairman, for six months over alleged “anti-party activities”.
Salihu is said to be associating with Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Abdulkadir Abdullahi, Salihu’s ward chairman, was also suspended.
Notices of their suspension were signed by Abdulhadi Ahmed, vice-chairman of the Rumde ward, and Garba Mohammed, ward Secretary.
The decision to suspend the duo was taken at an emergency executive ward meeting on Sunday.
“The All Progressives Congress, Rumde ward working committee, Yola north LGA held an emergency meeting on Sunday 19th February, 2023 and considered among many other things before it, the immediate suspension of the north-east vice-chairman of the APC, Comrade Mustapha Salihu over glaring and proven anti-party activities, gross abuse of office and creating crisis within the ranks of the party at all levels which if left unchecked will affect the party at the forthcoming general elections,” the suspension notice to Salihu reads.
“Therefore, in compliance with the relevant provisions of the constitution of our great party, the members of the working committee have adopted and approved the suspension of comrade Mustapha Salihu for the period of six months with immediate effect so as to serve as a deterrent to others in the future.
“This committee is very much aware of the responsibilities vested on it by the party and will always ensure the supremacy of the party above any personal interest of any person or group of persons especially when that poses danger to the chances of the party at the polls.
“While appreciating the state working committee of our party for your continued support, we hope our resolution will receive accelerated treatment.”
Their suspension has been communicated to the party leadership in Yola north LGA for transmission to the state working committee.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and its precursor chemical, ephedrine going to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Cyprus at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and some courier companies.
At least three traders at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo area of Lagos: Nwudele Basil Christopher; Chiedu Ezenwani Francis and Donatus Nwojiji have been arrested in connection with attempts to export 52.10 kilograms of ephedrine, a precursor chemical and active ingredient for the production of methamphetamine, concealed in bunches of fishing threads and packed among other items in jumbo sacks that were intercepted at the SAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport on Sunday 31st January and Monday 1st February. It took the painstaking efforts of NDLEA officers and deployment of sniffer dogs to be able to discover the complex mode of concealment of the illicit substance.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, vigilant operatives of the Agency on Monday 13th February intercepted a 29-year-old Apeh Kelvin Ogbonna while attempting to board Turkish airline flight TK0624 going through Istanbul to Cyprus, with 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in false bottoms of his travelling bag. The suspect claimed he was running a boutique business in Enugu before he decided to travel to Cyprus for a degree in Business Administration.
At three different courier firms in Lagos, operatives intercepted two cocaine consignments weighing 400 grams each, going to United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. They were hidden in walls of cartons used for packaging. Two other consignments containing 500 grams and 100 grams of methamphetamine were also blocked from being shipped to New Zealand after they were discovered concealed in food items.
No fewer than 2,684,900 pills of tramadol and other pharmaceutical opioids were seized by operatives during interdiction operations in some states in the past week. In Adamawa, a total of 250,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 as well as 1800ml of codeine neatly concealed in the reserve fuel tank of a trailer from Onitsha, Anambra state were seized at Mubi and a dealer, Hussaini Ibrahim (a.k.a Bafu) arrested.
While a total of 279,000 pills of tramadol 200mg and 225mg were recovered from a suspect, Hammajan Suleman, along Okene-Abuja highway in Kogi, on Monday 13th February, 376 blocks of skunk weighing 229.36kgs and a Toyota Camry car used in conveying the consignment from Edo state enroute Kano by another suspect, Moses Alabi were handed over to NDLEA by a patrol team of the Nigerian Army, in Lokoja on Tuesday 14th February.
In the same vein, two suspects: Christian Nnachor, 23 and Chinonso Obiora, 20, arrested with 1,843,900 tablets of Diazepam and 300,000 pills of Exol-5 by soldiers along Abuja-Kaduna express road were transferred to the Kaduna State Command of NDLEA on Monday 13th February while Christopher Maduka, 43, was arrested with 10,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection by NDLEA operatives on Saturday 18th Feb. along Abuja-Kaduna highway.
In Kano, Ahmed Suraj Rabiu was nabbed with 89 bottles of codeine syrup in Badawa area of the state, while Amadu Musa and three others were arrested in Kofar Mata with 53 blocks of cannabis weighing 41.9kgs. In Niger state, a trans-border trafficker, Abdullahi Isah was arrested along Jebba-Mokwa highway with 188 blocks of skunk that weighed 107 kilograms, which he was attempting to take to Niger republic.
While 24kgs of Arizona variant of cannabis and 2,000 pills of opioids were recovered from Ibrahim Isiyaku along Nguru- Kano road in Yobe, no fewer than four suspects: Usman Abubakar, a Chadian; Muhammad Ali; Ibrahim Yahaya and Babagana Abdullahi were arrested in connection with the seizure of 61.45kgs of cannabis and 22.1kgs of exol-5 in Jigawa with follow up operations in Kano. The consignments were ordered by Usman with a view to taking them to Chad.
In his reaction to the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers, men and women of the MMIA, NAIA, DOGI, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, and Yobe commands for their commitment and vigilance. He urged them and their compatriots across the country to continue with the current working synergy with other security forces towards ridding Nigeria of the menace of illicit drugs.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja Sunday 19th February 2023
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has threatened to deal with the National and State Assembly candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state if they betray him and join those in Abuja, the Atiku Abubakar camp.
Wike made the threat when he spoke during the state Peoples Democratic Party campaign rally in Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State, the last campaign rally of the PDP in the state.
He said, “All the other candidates, the Senatorial candidates, my Deputy Chairman, Doctor Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, Chief Allwell Onyeso and Barinada Mpigi, and all the House of Reps candidates and the Assembly candidates, let me tell you people, if any of them like, let them go to Abuja and misbehave, we will teach them lesson as we are teaching these other people now.
“I want to sound it clear, all of them are listening to me, if they are not here, they are watching the television. If you follow this betrayal, we will place a colurse on you and you will suffer the way they are suffering, so if you have the mind to do that, be very very careful”.
Wike has been at loggerheads with some PDP chieftains in the state, following their resolve to support the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, after Wike lost to him at the party’s primaries last year.
Bashir Ahmad, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital Communications, has lambasted Governors Nasir El-Rufai and Abdullahi Ganduje for their angry outbursts over the decision of the regime and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to phase out old naira notes.
In a series of social media posts on Thursday, the presidential aide claimed both Governor El-Rufai and Ganduje are only angry because the money they have stolen and stashed are now worthless due to the regime’s stance that the old notes are no longer tenderable despite Supreme Court judgment temporarily stopping the plan.
Both governors have both filed a motion for their states, Kaduna and Kano, to be joined to an open suit brought by some other states in the country before the Supreme Court suit seeking to stop the regime from going forward with the plan.
The presidential media aide also dared both Governors to directly deposit the alleged stashed money they are claiming were legally gotten to CBN and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the legality of the money.
“They have stashed money and now they’re useless,” Mr Ahmad said in the series of posts.
He added: “That’s the reason for all the fuming. Ganduje and co don’t care about the masses. If the money Ganduje and friends are shouting about is legit, why don’t they deposit it to CBN, the EFCC and NFIU will wait for them to verify.”
Mr Ahmad’s words were in response to Messrs El-Rufai and Ganduje’s constant criticism of the regime’s plan to render the old N200, N500, N1000 notes an illegal tender ahead of the February 25 presidential election, with many speculating the policy was put to punish some candidates during the poll.
They have also ordered residents in their states to continue carrying out their day-to-day transactions with the old notes and even Mr Ganduje had threatened businesses in Kano, including commercial banks, with government sanctions if they refused to accept the currency.
On Thursday, Mr Buhari ordered the CBN to begin releasing only the old N200 note into circulation with the new one for next 60 days while reaffirming that the higher notes, N500 and N1000 are now illegal tender, a move that many including House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila characterized as “disregard” for rule of law.
The striker who is of Nigerian descent netted the lone goal for the German side in their win over Chelsea in the Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie on Wednesday.
“I eat a lot of African foods,” the German speedster told CBSSportGolazo in a post-game interview at the Signal Iduma Park when asked about the secret to his speed. “I have good genetics from my dad so I think it will be difficult.”
“It is called fufu, and it’s a Nigerian food which is very good,” he added when pressed further.
Adeyemi’s goal came during a period of sustained dominance from the visitors early in the second half, with the Germany forward pouncing on a clearance from a Chelsea corner.
He sensed the opportunity and ran the length of the field, rounding both Enzo Fernandez and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to give Dortmund the lead in the first-leg tie.
Dortmund captain Jude Bellingham told German TV when Adeyemi finds himself in space “not many players can really stop him.”
“He had a tough time coming here at the start – finding his feet – but now he’s flying.”
After the match, Adeyemi praised his side’s desire to fight for giving them an advantage ahead of March’s return leg in London.
“I had a little bit of luck, but I’m really happy about the goal,” he said.
“Everyone fought for everyone else – (the win) was really important for the return leg.”
The Germany forward was officially clocked as the fastest player in Bundesliga history in February.
While Chelsea looked certain to score in the 78th minute when Kalidou Koulibaly’s shot dribbled goalwards, Can intervened to clear the danger, booting the ball to safety before it crossed the line.
The Court of Appeal Lagos Division has set aside the result of the primary election in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, which stated that there was no candidate representing the constituency, thereby declaring Mr Francis Bartholomew Chima as the authentic winner and candidate.
In a unanimous judgment in suit No CA/LAG/CV/1222/2022 delivered by the three Justices of the Appeal Court: Onyekachi Aja Otisi who read the judgement and Fatima Omoro Akinbami and Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo, the court upheld the selection of the Appellant as the authentic winner and candidate of the 3rd Respondent arising from the validity held Primaries of the 3rd Respondent in the Ajeromi/felon Federal Constituency of Lagos State for the forthcoming general elections in 2023 into the Federal House of Representative is hereby upheld.
The appellate court also ruled that the Appellant’s name should be included in the Ballot papers in the forthcoming general elections in 2023 into the Federal House of Representatives for Ajeromi/ifelodunFederal Constituency of Lagos State.
The court further ruled that the judgment of the lower Court delivered on 7/12/2022, wherein the trial Court held that the 3rd Respondent did not have any candidate for the election of Member representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency for the general election is hereby set aside.
The Appellant, Mr Francis Bartholomew Chima had filed an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, Coram C.J. Aneke.
The respondents in the suit are Dr Wilson Oladipupo Diriwari, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Hon. Rita Orji.
The Appellant’s case was that the 3rd Respondent conducted primary elections to select and nominate the 2nd Respondent’s candidate for the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State ahead of the general elections in 2023.
The case of the Appellant was that the said election was conducted by the 3rd Respondent under the supervision of the 2nd Respondent on 23/5/2022. The 1st Respondent and the 4th Respondent were of the position that the said primary election took place on 22/5/2022, and not on 23/5/2022. Each of them claimed to be the winner of the primary election held on 22/5/2022.
The 3rd Respondent’s primary elections into the Federal Constituencies of Lagos State were initially slated to hold between the 22nd – 24th of May, 2022.
The Appellant’s case was that the said the primary election could not hold on 22/5/2022 in some of the Federal Constituencies in Lagos State including Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency due to late receipt of logistics and signal from the headquarters of the 3rd Respondent.
As a result, on 23/5/2022 and on 24/5/2022, primary elections into the remaining constituencies where the said primaries could not hold on 22/5/2022 were conducted by the office of the 3rd Respondent, under the supervision of officials of the 2nd Respondent.
The 3rd Respondent and the 2nd Respondent, respectively, issued reports of the said primary elections of 23/5/2022. It was the case of the Appellant that he emerged as the winner of the primary election, according to the result published by the 3rd Respondent.
Without formally cancelling the said primary election of 23/5/2022, the 3rd Respondent rescheduled another election for 6/6/2022, which could not hold due to protests or disagreements over the list of delegates. On the same 6/6/2022, the 3rd Respondent issued the Appellant with a Certificate of Return and forwarded his name to the 2nd Respondent as its candidate for Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State for the 2023 General Election. He was also issued with the INEC Nomination Form for members, of the House of Representatives.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment signed by S.D. Olafare, the Senior Registrar of the court, the appellate court said: “Having regard to the weight of the evidence adduced by the Appellant, and on the balance of probabilities, it was more probable that the 3rd Respondent held its primary election for the Ajeromi/lfelodun Federal Constituency on 23/5/2022, and the Appellant was declared winner therein. Further, from the said evidence, the 3rd Respondent decided to conduct rescheduled primaries on 6/6/2022 to assuage disagreements and disputes from some of the aspirants over the said primary conducted on 23/5/2022.
When the rescheduled primaries of 6/6/2022 for Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency did not hold as a result of disagreements between the aspirants, the 3rd Respondent fell back to the result of its primary election held on 23/5/2022 for the same Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency.
The fact that the Certificate of Return was dated the same day that the rescheduled primaries did not hold cannot, without more, affect its validity, more so when the 3rd Respondent has not challenged its validity. The point has been made that, it is only an authentic election result, and or a validly issued certificate of return, that can prove a candidate to be the winner of an election.
Therefore, the Appellant, who presented both documents to the trial Court, proved his counterclaim. The Issues 1 and 3 as distilled for determination by the Appellant, are resolved in his favour.”
Jakande Ward Chairman of Labour Party commendably reported an attack on his party members at Ilasan Division. Four injured persons have been given medical attention. DPO Ilasan has commenced preliminary investigations while SCID is to fully take over investigations.
The injured and other witnesses are assisting the Police with relevant information that would aid the apprehension and prosecution of the attackers.
This attack is reprehensible! It is verifiable that the Command had stationed, since yesterday, patrol vehicles and officers at the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of today’s rally. We had already secured the venue to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
The regrettable attack happened at about 15km away from the rally venue. As earlier stated, the SCID will take over investigations towards apprehending and prosecuting the attackers.
A man involved in a scheme that cost a Lexington woman approximately $200,000 was sentenced to 60 months in prison on Friday.
Adedunmola Gbadegesin, a Nigerian citizen, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy in September, according to court documents. A charge of wire fraud was dropped in the plea deal.
Prior to the final sentencing determination, Gbadegesin told the court he has accepted guilt for his actions and has moved on. He said he did what he did to feed his family but was apologetic for his actions.
Gbadegesin’s lawyer asked for a 36-month prison sentence while the prosecution recommended 63 months. U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell ultimately decided a 60-month sentence was appropriate along with a forfeiture of $38,000.
Gbadegesin was given credit for time served. He has been in custody since September 2021 when he was arrested in Nigeria.
Restitution for the case will be determined at a later date, as Caldwell wanted more time to review the entirety of the case.
Upon release from prison, Gbadegesin will be on supervised release for three years. It was also recommended that he participate in vocational programs while incarcerated.
Gbadegesin was part of a “romance scheme” that attempted to steal money from people on the internet. The conspirators would set up fake online profiles on dating websites then lure victims — many of them older women — into thinking they were in a relationship and milk them for money.
Three other conspirators, all of whom are from Nigeria but lived in the United States at the time, worked with Gbadegesin, who concealed the nature, source ownershop and control of the funds sent from the victims, according to court documents.
In one example of the scam, a Lexington woman in her 70s sent $200,000 to an account she believed was her boyfriend, but it was really one of the conspirators. She also took out a home-equity loan and wasn’t suspicious of the scam until the conspirator asked her to take out a second home-equity loan.
Another woman in western Kentucky lost $183,000 after being duped into believing her payments would qualify her for a grant.
Gbadegesin was indicted in October 2020. He was brought into federal custody in April when FBI special agents flew with him from Nigeria to Atlanta and then to Blue Grass Airport.
Three others have pleaded guilty in connection with the fraud: Ismaila Fafunmi, 36, who was sentenced to four years and three months in prison; Livingstone Otunuya Ineh Eqwem, who was sentenced to two years in prison; and Olatunbosun Oluwakayode Ajayi, 39, who was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.
Fafunmi lived in Indianapolis, Eqwem lived in Texas and Ajayi lived in Indianapolis and the Atlanta area at different times.
Federal authorities caution against sending money to people you’ve only had contact with by telephone or over the internet.
As part of ongoing efforts at ensuring that commercial banks comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive on the distribution of the redesigned Naira note, operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) last week Friday, discovered the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight Million Naira (N258m) stashed in the vault at the head office of Sterling Bank in Abuja.
This discovery followed one of the Commission’s operations at ensuring that commercial banks and other interest groups do not flout the apex bank’s directive.
When the ICPC monitoring team visited the bank and discovered the stashed new Naira notes in the bank’s vault, it was informed that the cash was the remnant of what the CBN had given the bank for onward distribution to its branches.
The team however found out that only the sum of Five Million Naira (N5m) each was distributed to their various branches.
Both the Regional and Service managers were arrested and later granted administrative bail while investigation continues.
We are setting up a Special Task Force in the state to clamp down on the excesses of Point of Sale (POS) agents, who charge arbitrary fees in the wake of the cash crunch caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s currency swap policy.
I disclosed this during an enlarged meeting with market women drawn from the state’s three senatorial districts, held at the Government House.
The Special Taskforce will include Central Bank of Nigeria, Department of State Services (DSS), other security agencies, government officials, members of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and market women.
As NDLEA seizes 75.75kg skunk from Canada; arrests pregnant woman, school teacher, others over 2 tons of drugs seized in 8 states
Attempts to export large consignments of illicit drugs especially cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ephedrine to Dubai, UAE and Europe through various disingenuous modes of concealment by desperate drug cartels via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos have again been frustrated by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who intercepted them and arrested those behind the bids.
Top on the list of those so far arrested in connection with the seizures is a Nigerian based in Athens, Greece, Iwuozor Edward Chinedu. He was debarked from an Ethiopian airline flight on Friday 3rd February after officers in the tarmac team of NDLEA intercepted two bags during a secondary check exercise at the foot of the aircraft.
When the bags were searched in the presence of Chinedu and other airport stakeholders, two big pellets wrapped with foil papers and some sprinkles of pepper were recovered from each of the two sides of one of the bags. The pellets were used to construct false walls at the sides of the bag.
The two parcels contained substances that tested positive to cocaine and heroin with a gross weight of 1.30kgs and 900grams respectively. During preliminary interview, Chinedu claimed he came to Nigeria three months ago to do a surgery, which he was not comfortable doing in Athens. He further claimed he was given the bag to deliver in Greece for a fee of two million naira (N2,000,000). Similarly, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the airport on Monday 30th January arrested a pregnant woman, Mrs. Sylvester Gloria Onome after 800grams of skunk were discovered concealed in two small radio sets she was sending to Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
On the same day, operatives also intercepted a consignment going to Congo Kinshasa, containing 111 bottles of body cream that were used to conceal 24.50kgs of ephedrine, a chemical precursor and active ingredient to produce methamphetamine. The cargo was later traced to a trader at Alaba trade fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos, Onyekachukwu Uduekwelu after the initial arrest of two freight agents. Another housewife, Mrs. Okpara Chizoba Victoria was arrested at her residence at 37 Obashola street, Ijesha area of Lagos on Friday 27th Jan. following the seizure of 300grams of skunk hidden in a bag of crayfish she was sending to Dubai, UAE through a freight agent.
In the same vein, operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the airport on Thursday 26th Jan. intercepted a sack of new clothes going to Sierra Leone. During a thorough search of the consignment, a parcel of white crystalline substance that tested positive to methamphetamine with a gross weight of 1kg, as well as 300grams of skunk and 100grams ecstasy (MDMA) were recovered. A freight agent, Mfonabasi Victor Joseph was already arrested in connection with the seizure.
No fewer than 255,500 pills of tramadol and diazepam were recovered from an Italy based suspect, Duru Josephat who concealed the drugs in two of the bags he was travelling with to Milan, Italy on an Ethiopian airline flight. He confessed he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state and was taking them to Italy to sell.
Barely a month after operatives at the Tincan seaport intercepted a consignment of 24.5kgs of cannabis indica concealed in used vehicles imported from Canada, they have again seized 75.75kgs of the same substance, which came from Montreal, Canada, hidden in a container of four used vehicles with number MSCU 5336680. Coincidentally, the consignment has also been traced to a suspect already in custody in connection with the earlier seizure, Steve Adigwe and his accomplice, Cedrick Maduweke who is still on the run.
In Bauchi state, a suspect Clement Ekweozor, was nabbed at Rafin Zurfi area, Bauchi town with 28,088 pills of tramadol and other opioids, while 12,000 capsules of the same drug were among others recovered from four suspects when their commercial bus marked UGH 978 KS was intercepted at Koka junction, Asaba, Delta state by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 1st January.
A 40-year-old secondary school teacher, Sani Isah was arrested by operatives at a house in Jekadefari area of Gombe on Thursday 2nd Jan. for dealing in new psychoactive substance, Akuskura. 2,198 bottles of the substance concealed in six bags were recovered from him while he claimed to have started the illicit business since 2018.
In Ogun state, 190kgs of cannabis were recovered from a dealer, Emmanuel Ibrahim in Lafenwa area of Abeokuta following credible intelligence, while three suspects: Mohd Sani Alasan, Yusif Musa and Musa Musa were arrested at Maidile area of Kano with 2,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup. Another dealer, Bako Ibrahim, 55, was also arrested on Saturday 4th February in Sharada area of Kano with 420 blocks of cannabis weighing 282kgs.
Another dealer of the same substance, Akeem Azeez, 39, was nabbed with 612kgs recovered from him in Akure, Ondo state. Following a follow up operation in Minna, Niger state, operatives of the Kogi state command of the Agency now have in their custody a suspect, Michael Ikechukwu Ofili, 30, over the interception of his consignment containing 106,800 pills of tramadol sent to him from Onitsha, Anambra state, along Okene-Lokoja highway.
While appreciating the efforts and commitment of the officers, men and women of the MMIA, Tincan, Bauchi, Delta, Gombe, Ogun, Kano, Ondo and Kogi state commands of the Agency towards ridding Nigeria of the menace of illicit drugs, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across the country not to relent.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja Sunday 5th February 2023
People Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has said that he is in touch with the presidential candidate of New Nigerian People Party (NNPP) Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for possible support.
In an interview with BBC Hausa service, Atiku said he is also holding talks with the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.
He said the duo of Obi and Kwankwaso are not in anyway a threat to his chances in the election.
“I see no threat because we are not together with them (Kwankwaso and Obi). We are in talk with them, one of them may possibly come,” he said.
On the lingering PDP Crisis, Atiku said, “Each party has its internal crisis, we are still talking with them. Most are neither in PDP nor in other parties and definitely that will not make us loose the election because we okay with the elections preparations for now.
“Elections now is not like in the past when a governor will dictate who to vote for, elections today is in the hands of the voters.”
The presidential candidate also promised to open all Nigeria’s borders if elected president.
Everton Football Club can confirm the appointment of Sean Dyche as the Club’s new Men’s Senior Team Manager.
Dyche has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2025 and will take charge for the first time for the Blues’ Premier League clash against Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday 4 February.
BREAKING: Multiple explosion rocks Galadiman, Kogo area, near Shiroro dam in Shiroro LGA, Niger state at about 1200hrs, January 24, 2023.
Information available indicates that the explosion was targeted at the Vigilante operatives in the area. Meanwhile, cause and casualties not ascertained as at the moment. Details later......
The Rabiu Kwakwanso Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has advised Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to adopt its candidate for the 2023 election.
Mr Kwakwanso is the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The Kwakwanso PCC’s Coordinator, South-South, Chief Precious Elekimah, gave the advice in a statement he made available to newsmen in Abuja.
He said the country currently “requires a president without baggages and with the capacity to hit the ground running,” which his party’s candidate represented.
He said that Kwakwanso was without blemish and that he remained the person with the capacity to address the nation’s many challenges.
“Nigeria needs a leader, who will be able to, within a year, balance the exchange rate because a country’s exchange rate is determined by its capacity to produce and sell.
“That is what our candidate will do, along with other measures to address existing challenges.
“To be candid, this country requires an urgent intervention, and that is where our candidate comes in,” he said. Elekimah:” we had a meeting on Saturday and about 13 coordinators from the PDP PCC attended.
“They expressed their fears that their efforts may be in vain in view of the weighty allegations against their candidate.
“We have assured them that we will accommodate them in the campaign structure and also in government when we win. “We also told them that even their principal will be adequately taken care of”.
Elekimah, therefore, expressed optimism that Kwakwanso would win the Feb. 25 poll.
Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has told the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, that his recent suspension of party members loyal to the G-5 Governors will not help the PDP in the forthcoming polls.
The Governor particularly described the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive committee of the PDP by the Ayu-led NWC as an act of tyranny that would be challenged in court.
He dared Ayu to suspend him or any of the G-5 Governors and warned that the resort to despotism by the Ayu-led NWC would compound the headaches of the party ahead of the polls.
The Governor spoke at the campaign inauguration by the State PDP Campaign Council in Bori, Khana Local Government Area on Saturday.
Wike explained the dissolution of the Ekiti State working committee would be challenged in court because there were still members of the PDP, who believed in the rule of law and that the party should respect its constitution.
The Rivers Governor, who referred to Ayu’s punitive measures as total rubbish, said they had gone beyond such decisions.
He said: “Let me also use this opportunity to say to Iyorchia Ayu and his team, your dissolving Ekiti State Exco will not help you in anyway. Your suspending people will not help you in anyway. The battle line has been fully drawn. As I speak to you, we will do everything legally possible to challenge any decision we know is illegal.
“So, don’t think you can threaten people by saying so, so persons have been suspended. Rubbish! Completely rubbish. We are above that level that you think you can threaten anybody, intimidate anybody with whatever illegal decision you have taken.”
The Rivers governor dared Ayu and his co-travellers to extend the despotic tendencies to the G-5 Governors and see if they could withstand the repercussion.
He said: “So, we are waiting for you to announce my own and any other of my friend. Like I have said, when a man says you will not sleep, he too, will he sleep? Will Ayu sleep? Will those his cohorts sleep? So don’t worry, we have the capacity to pay back. We have the capacity to tell you that enough is enough.
“You are doing what will give you more headaches as far as this election is concerned. We are watching and we are waiting for you to announce more of my friends. When a man says you will not sleep, will he sleep too? Will Ayu sleep?”
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sacked the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency of Imo State, Albert Agulanna.
The court, on Friday, in its ruling in a suit initiated by Uzoma Ugochukwu from Aboh Mbaise, ordered that a fresh primary be held in the constituency within the next 14 days.
Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency is the constituency of the immediate past governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha.
This came less than one week after the PDP candidate for Imo West senatorial district, Jones Onyereri, was sacked by the Supreme Court, according to a report by The Nation.
Ihedioha had been accused of masterminding the sacking of Onyereri, while the National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, was said to be behind the sacking of Agulanna.
According to reports, Ihedioha and Anyanwu are interested in the PDP governorship ticket for the November 11 in Imo State.
While some of the members of the party in the state expressed are worried over the internal crisis, the spokesperson, Collins Opuruozor, said, “Enemies of the party who were afraid of the PDP’s public acceptance were using the courts to knock off the PDP from the ballot.”
Politics › Re: Ifeanyi Okowa Votes In Delta (photo) by chisomkachy(op): 9:59am On Feb 25, 2023
