₦airaland Forum

The EFCC has arrested six internet fraud suspects that includes 22-year-old Sadiku Muniru Dolapo who has been on the Commission's wanted list.

They were picked up by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Commission. Arrested with Dolapo are Atanda Femi Benjamin, Atoyebi Samson, Olapade Oladimeji Solomon, Amoo Saheed and Lawal Opeyemi Mubarak.

They were rounded up in the early hours of Thursday, January 16, 2020 close to Kwara State House of Assembly, Ilorin, the state capital, following intelligence.

The Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS Delta), on Monday, January 13, 2020 handed over a motor vessel, MV Salvation and its nine crew members to the EFCC, Benin Zonal Office whom she arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering. The suspects are: Tamuno Abereniboye, John Gwuene, Simon President, Nice Bien, Daniel Aghovwieokpo, Prince Ogun, Jabu Kimidengiyefa, Daniel People, Olawale Bello. Captain AV Kujoh, who represented NNS Delta at the handing over of the suspects in Warri stated that the vessel and its crew members were arrested by Nigerian Navy Ship Zaria (NNS Zaria) around Escravos for transshipment of about 50,000 litres of suspected illegally refined automative gas oil, (AGO). Receiving the vessel and the suspects on behalf of the EFCC, Richard Ogberagha said the Commission would carry out further investigations and ensure that those found culpable were brought to book.

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The Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC, over the weekend, arrested eight suspected internet fraudsters in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The suspects, whose ages range between 17 and 30 were apprehended at different locations across the ancient city. They are Abdulrahman Qozeem, Umoru Ibrahim, Umoru Abdulahi Gregory, Famous Ose Itahma, Umoru Shaibu Pedro, Durrele Oyeniyi, Umoru Evidence and Judge Okoye.

Their arrest was sequel to series of intelligence received by the commission concerning their alleged involvement in internet-related crimes.

Items recovered from them include six exotic cars, various brands of phones, laptops, international passports and several documents suspected to contain false pretences. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Justice Mohammed Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court on Friday, January 10, 2020 sentenced Joseph Adebayo to seven years in prison without option of fine for defrauding one Ikemefune Sunny of N700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira). The convict was prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC on a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

Adebayo started his journey to prison following a petition submitted to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC in which the petitioner alleged that sometime in October, 2017 he purchased a plot of land, which hosted an uncompleted building located at the back of Christ High School, Odo-Ona Elewe area, Oluyole, Ibadan from the convict at the cost of N700,000.00 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira).

The EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested one Mark Obisesan, an ex-convict, for possession of suspected fake traveller’s cheque worth $10,100 (Ten Thousand, One Hundred United States Dollars).

The suspect, who had served a 12-month jail term for Internet fraud in the United Kingdom, UK, was arrested recently at his residence in Banana Island, Lagos, following intelligence from concerned members of the public about his alleged criminal activities.

At the point of arrest, a Ferrari 488 car, two iPhones, one Samsung phone, a laptop and Automated Teller Machine, and ATM cards were recovered from the suspect, whose investigation revealed he does not have any known source of livelihood.

The EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal office, on Monday, December 23, 2019 arraigned Mr. Suani Neewi, Managing Director of Bluekey Technologies Nigeria Limited and Cityclyk Bluekey Payment and his two companies before Justice I. M Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on three-count charges bordering on conspiracy, carrying out banking business without license and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of N5,084,491,253.92 (Five Billion, and Eighty Four Million, Four Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Three Naira, Ninety Two Kobo).

Specifically, Neewi allegedly opened his two companies as a pseudo bank, took deposits from members of the public and promised them 10% returns on their investments every week. The business went awry and the EFCC got wind of it and moved to salvage the situation.

Bluekey Technologies Nigeria Limited, Cityclyk Bluekey Payment Solutions and Neewi Suani sometime in 2019 in Port Harcourt obtained the Sum of N5,084,491,253.92 (Five Billion, and Eighty Four Million, Four Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Three Naira, Ninety Two Kobo) by inducing unsuspecting members of the public to invest with his companies, BlueKey Technologies Nigeria Limited, Cityclyk Bluekey Payment Solutions, Bluekey Woji Multipurpurpose Cooperative Society assuring them under a false pretense of making a 10 percent profit on all investments made, a representation he knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of same Act.

The EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office on Monday, December 23, 2019, secured the conviction of one Enoch Oluyode who was prosecuted on offences bordering on Internet Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences.

Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of a Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, the State Capital, convicted and sentenced Oluyode to six months imprisonment after finding him guilty on a one count amended charge levied against him by the EFCC.

Enoch Oluyode (Alias John Donnna) sometime in October, 2019 at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, did attempt to cheat by impersonation, when he pretended to be one John Donnna, a white Caucasian via Gmail account: johndonna777@gmail.com and in that guise, communicated with one Colin Wison vide Hangout, a representation he knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same Penal Code.

The EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Monday, December 16, 2019, arraigned one Malik Wakili before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a three-count charge bordering on impersonation, conspiracy and money laundering to the N3,106,216.00 (Three Million, One Hundred and Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixteen Naira).

The defendant allegedly impersonated a former Governor of Lagos State and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, with intent to gain monetary advantage to himself.

Malik Wakili and Abdullahi Umar (now at large) sometime in March, 2019 in Lagos, indirectly converted the total sum of N3,106,216.00 (Three Million, One Hundred and Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixteen Naira) being value of Air-miles Skywards account number EK248739282 of Mr. Babatunde with Emirate Airline. The offence is contrary to Section 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011as amended and punishable under Section (15) (3) of the same Act.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Kano zonal office on December 17, 2019 secured the conviction of one Abdullahi Sani before Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court Kano, on a one-count charge bordering on under declaration.

The charge reads: "That you, Abdullahi Sani, on or about the 31st December, 2018 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State within the judicial division of this honourable court (at the currency declaration desk), with passport No. 09PC66281 while traveling with the total sum of $207,000 USD to China and about to board Ethiopian Air with Flight No. ET940 failed to declare the sum of $121,000 USD to the Nigeria Customs Service, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(3) Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 2(5) of the same Law."

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, had arrested the convict at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport during a routine check, and upon a search on him, it was uncovered that he had a total sum of $207,000, but declared only $86,000 leaving the sum of $121,000 undeclared.

He was subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigations.

Upon arraignment by the EFCC on February 6, 2019 he pleaded "not guilty" to the charge.

In a dramatic manner, however, he changed his plea to "guilty" when the matter came up on December 16, 2019.

At the resumed hearing today, prosecuting counsel, Nasiru Salele, while reviewing the facts of the case, called a witness, Hassan Yahaya.

Delivering judgement, Justice Allagoa pronounced Sani guilty as charged and convicted him accordingly.

The trial judge, further ordered him to forfeit 40 per cent of the undisclosed sum of money to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The remaining 60 per cent and the disclosed $86,000 were however, ordered to be returned to him.

The EFCC has arraigned one Kelechi Nwaturuocha before Justice Darius Khobo of State High Court Kaduna on a two count charge bordering on impersonation and Cheating.

Kelechi sometime in 2019, disguised himself as a lady and a lesbian named Donna Walshak on the social media platform.

Upon assuming the identity, he began to defraud his victim, Vanessa Rose, who sent him Steam Cards worth $1900 which he converted to cash by selling same on internet.

The money according to investigation, was wired to him through the accounts of two Nigerian ladies domiciled in two new generation banks.

The EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office, on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, secured the conviction of one Temitope Bambo who was prosecuted on offences that borders on internet fraud and other fraud related offences.

Bambo was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by a Kwara State High Court Presided over by Justice Sikiru Oyinloye.

The EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office on Tuesday 17th of December 2019 secured the convictions of two persons charged before a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Offences bordering on internet fraud and other fraud related Offences.

The convicts are: Chibueze Meshak and Babatunde Muhammed Bashir. They were convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Court Presided over by Justice Sikiru Oyinloye on their separate charges.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal office secured the conviction of 15 fraudsters on 9th and 11th December, 2019 respectively before Justice I.N Buba of the Federal High court, sitting in Enugu, Enugu state on separate one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.

The convicts who were arrested at various locations at Enugu and Owerri, Imo State, are; Echebiri Vincent, Chinedu Ronald, Stanley Dike, Oledibe Osinachi, Ibegbulem Precious Chinedu, John Samuel Chukwuemeka, Kanu Ikenna, Daniel Chinedu Prince, Noolisa Chisom, Vincent Okafor, Uchenna Nwosu, Nnmadi Maduekwe, Odinachi Micheal Somtochukwu, Temple Samuel and Chisom Ezeala.

Their arrest follows intelligence obtained by the Commission that they were involved in internet fraud.

When the cases were separately called at their arraignments, all the convicts pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Commission prompting Justice Buba, who having reviewed the evidences presented by the prosecution, convicted and sentenced them to three (3), months imprisonment each.

One of the convicts, Stanley Dike created a fake facebook account using the false profile of Martinez and Menistz, a supposed United State military personnel and defrauded the duo of Telli Sandra and Jenifer Witzel whom he promised false marriage.

One of the charges read: That you, KANU IKENNA A.K.A JEFF ANDERSON sometimes in March 2018 at Owerri within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently presented yourself as Jeff Anderson, an American soldier purportedly serving in Kabul Afghanistan using a fake facebook account to wit: Jeff Anderson and in that assumed identity obtained the sum of $300 (three Hundred United State Dollars) only from one Kimberly Gilbert Titon, an American citizen and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3) (b) and punishable under Section 22(4) of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc ) Act 2015″.

They are to forfeit all their laptop computers and android phones to the federal government of Nigeria.

The EFCC, Enugu Zonal office secured the conviction of fifteen (15) fraudsters on 9th and 11th December, 2019.

They were convicted before Justice I.N Buba of the Federal High court, sitting in Enugu, Enugu state on separate one count charge bothering on Impersonation and Obtaining by False Pretenses.

The convicted internet fraudsters who were arrested at various locations at Enugu and Owerri are: Echebiri Vincent, Chinedu Ronald, Stanley Dike, Oledibe Osinachi, Ibegbulem Precious Chinedu, John Samuel Chukwuemeka, Kanu Ikenna, Daniel Chinedu Prince, Noolisa Chisom Vincent Okafor, Uchenna Nwosu, Nnmadi Maduekwe, Odinachi Micheal Somtochukwu, Temple Samuel and Chisom Ezeala. Their arrest followed intelligence obtained by the Commission that they were involved in internet fraud and living ostentatiously.

The Uyo Zonal Office of the EFCC, on Thursday December 12, 2019, secured the conviction of 5 cyber criminals, popularly called Yahoo Boys before Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court Calabar, in Cross River State.

The convicts are: Omengala Emmanuel (a.k.a.Frank Hoffman), Obonga Valentine ( a.k.a Patrick Seaman), Segun Dele Jude (alias Hal Burlington), Promise Nkanga and Omengala Paul (alias Christopher Mason).

Before they were convicted and sentenced, the convicts pleaded guilty to the one count charge preferred against them separately by the EFCC for their various involvements in cyber crimes.

Justice Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, convicted and sentenced two internet fraudsters to prison, after finding them guilty of charges filed against them by the EFCC, Ibadan office.

Onifade Gideon Idowu and Akinjobi Mumeen were arraigned on an amended charge following plea bargain agreement with the Commission.

The duo were brought before the court on a one-count amended charge bordering on fraudulent impersonation, contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.

Why nor dey smile? God will purnish.

Video:

https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/videos/656812178138370/

Massive Nigerian International Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Detailed in Federal Grand Jury Indictment that Charges 80 Defendants

LOS ANGELES – A 252-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges 80 defendants, most of whom are Nigerian nationals, with participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud schemes and launder the funds through a Los Angeles-based money laundering network.

The indictment was unsealed after law enforcement authorities this morning arrested 14 defendants across the United States, with 11 of those arrests taking place in the Los Angeles region. Two defendants were already in federal custody on other charges, and one was arrested earlier this week. The remaining defendants are believed to be abroad, with most them located in Nigeria.

The indictment alleges that the 80 defendants and others used various online fraud schemes – including business email compromise (BEC) frauds, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly – to defraud victims out of millions of dollars. According to a criminal complaint also unsealed today, co-conspirators based in Nigeria, the United States and other countries contacted the lead defendants in the indictment – Valentine Iro, 31, of Carson, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38, of Gardena, both Nigerian citizens – for bank and money-service accounts that could receive funds fraudulently obtained from victims. Once members of the conspiracy convinced victims to send money under false pretenses, Iro and Igbokwe coordinated the receipt of funds and oversaw an extensive money-laundering network, according to the 145-page indictment.

The indictment and criminal complaint allege that Iro and Igbokwe, who were among those arrested this morning, were involved in schemes resulting in the fraudulent transfer of at least $6 million in fraudulently-obtained funds – and the overall conspiracy was responsible for the attempted theft of at least an additional $40 million.

The fraudsters targeted victims in the United States and across the globe, including individuals, small and large businesses, and law firms. Some of the victims of the conspiracy lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fraud schemes, and many were elderly.

“This case is part of our ongoing efforts to protect Americans from fraudulent online schemes and to bring to justice those who prey upon American citizens and businesses,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “Today, we have taken a major step to disrupt criminal networks that use BEC schemes, romance scams and other frauds to fleece victims. This indictment sends a message that we will identify perpetrators – no matter where they reside – and we will cut off the flow of ill-gotten gains.”

“Today’s announcement highlights the extensive efforts that organized criminal groups will engage in to perpetrate BEC schemes that target American citizens and their hard-earned assets,” said Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Billions of dollars are lost annually, and we urge citizens to be aware of these sophisticated financial schemes to protect themselves or their businesses from becoming unsuspecting victims. The FBI is committed to working with our partner agencies worldwide to continue to identify these cyber criminals and to dismantle their networks.”

Iro and Igbokwe essentially were brokers of fraudulent bank accounts. According to the indictment, Iro and Igbokwe collected bank accounts, fielded requests for bank account information, provided that information to co-conspirators around the world, and laundered the money obtained from victims – all of this in exchange for a cut of the money stolen from victims of the various fraud schemes.

If a bank account with a specific business name was required to trick a business-victim into making a payment, Iro and Igbokwe often coordinated with “money mules” to open accounts that could receive funds obtained, according to court documents. In addition to making the fake business name mirror the name of a legitimate company, members of the conspiracy routinely filed fictitious business name statements with the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder’s Office that were presented to banks when the fraudulent accounts were opened.

Once a victim deposited funds into a bank account or a money services account, Iro and Igbokwe allegedly coordinated with others to further launder the funds. Members of the conspiracy sometimes wired funds to other bank accounts under their control; in other cases, they simply withdrew funds as cash or negotiable instruments such as cashier’s checks.

When stolen funds were withdrawn as cash, the defendants frequently used illicit money exchangers to move funds overseas, generally avoiding transferring the funds directly through banking institutions, the indictment alleges. To do this, Iro and Igbokwe coordinated the transfer of a victim’s funds from a fraudulent bank account they controlled to U.S. bank accounts belonging to illicit money exchangers. Those money exchangers, in turn, used a Nigerian banking application to transfer other funds in naira (₦), the currency of Nigeria, from Nigerian bank accounts they controlled to the Nigerian bank accounts specified by Iro and Igbokwe. This method was used to transfer millions of dollars to Nigerian co-conspirators without directly transferring funds overseas. The indictment alleges that Jerry Ikogho, 50, of Carson (who was taken into custody on Sunday), and Adegoke Moses Ogungbe, 34, of Fontana, were among those who served as illicit money exchangers for the conspiracy.

Each of the 80 defendants named in the indictment is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and aggravated identity theft. A number of the defendants also face substantive fraud and money laundering charges.

Additionally, Iro, Igbokwe, Ikogho, Ogungbe and three other defendants –Izuchukwu Kingsley Umejesi, 30, of Los Angeles, Tityaye Marina Mansbangura, 33, of Palmdale, and Obi Madekwe, 31, of Nigeria – are charged with operating illegal money transmitting businesses. Ogungbe and Mansbangura were also among those arrested this morning, and Umejesi is a fugitive currently being sought by authorities.

Iro, Igbokwe and Chuks Eroha, 39, face additional charges for attempting to destroy their phones when the FBI executed a search warrant in July 2017. Iro also is charged with lying to the FBI in an interview conducted during the search. The complaint alleges that, when the FBI arrived to conduct the court-authorized search at Iro’s apartment in Carson, Iro broke his phone in half, while Igbokwe and Eroha threw phones from a bedroom window of the apartment. While Iro claimed he previously had broken the phone during an argument with his wife, the complaint details how the FBI was able to determine that the phone was operational until seconds after the FBI knocked on Iro’s apartment door to execute the search warrant. Eroha is believed to have fled to Nigeria shortly after the FBI executed the warrant.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint and indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

This investigation is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the United States Department of State provided substantial assistance during the investigation.

Several agencies provided support during today’s takedown or during the investigation, including the United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the California Franchise Tax Board.

Many of the FBI’s Legal Attachés provided assistance throughout this investigation, as did the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, and foreign authorities around the world. In particular, the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office thank the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Osnabrück, Germany for their contributions.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anil J. Antony and Joseph B. Woodring of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.

The FBI in 2017 issued a report on the rise of BEC schemes, and published a recap of 2018’s Operation WireWire, which was an international effort to disrupt international BEC scams. An FBI public service announcement that warns of the dangers of BEC schemes encourages businesses to “trust but verify.”

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/massive-international-fraud-and-money-laundering-conspiracy-detailed-federal-grand-jury

Olodo

FBI punish abeg?

FBI dey catch em

Punish.

Punish.

God punish.

Gort.