₦airaland Forum

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters along Calabar-Itu road in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The acting head of media and publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale disclosed this in a statement obtained by our correspondent in Uyo on Monday.

Oyewala revealed that the suspects were arrested at the early morning sting operation on Thursday, October 5, 2023, following intelligence linking them with suspected internet-related activities.

He mentioned them to include; Udenze Benjamin, Godwin Atike, Emmanuel Francis, Adebe Oluwademilade, Anietie Brownson and Sabastin Obioma.

The statement noted that some items were recovered from them such as phones and laptops noting that they would be charged to court at the end of the investigations.

The statement in parts, “Operatives of the EFCC, have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters along Calabar-Itu road in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following intelligence. Some items recovered from them include phones and laptops.

“They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, has convicted and sentenced one Kolawole Erinle, Managing Director of Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, to 12 years imprisonment for defrauding Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, (KCUMB), United States, of about $1.4 million.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Dele Oyewale.

The statement revealed that Erinle was convicted by Justice R.A Oshodi on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and obtaining money under false pretence.

According to the statement, two of the charges read, “Kolawole Adedayo Erinle and Edward Dada (still at large), sometime in 2019, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to falsely represent yourselves as J.E. Dunn, a local construction company in America, with intent to gain monetary advantage in the sum of $1,410,000 (One Million Four-Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars) by creating a fake domain name jedunn.org and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No 14, 2006.

“Kolawole Adedayo Erinle, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited and Edward Dada (still at large) on or about the 3rd day of May 2019, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retain the control of $1,410,000 (One Million Four-Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars) in your Access Bank account, which sum you knew to be proceeds of various internet and cybercrime.”

In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, T.J. Banjo, presented evidence to prove that Erinle was an ex-convict in the US for bank fraud.

Erinle earlier pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, although he admitted that he was indeed an ex-convict in the US, and spent 23 months in prison.

He also expressed a readiness to pay restitution to his victim, saying, “I am sorry.”

Delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi declared the defendant and his company guilty as charged, and also held that the prosecution effectively proved the case against them beyond every reasonable doubt.

Justice Oshodi held that, as argued by the prosecution, Erinle, “spoofed the email address of the financial controller of J.E. Dunn, by faking the domain name of jedunn.com to jedunn.org“, an act which was “premeditated”, so that “when KCUMB was about to pay J.E. Dunn, you provided Bank of America details in the name of E. Dada Autos, and after the wire transfer of $1,412,509.40 into it, in March 2019, you caused the money to be transferred in tranches of $850,000 and $460,000 into the second convict’s account, which you also control”.

The trial judge further hels: “The evidence shows that you transferred the proceeds of your crime to your nominees, including your mother, and your wife, and also acquired vehicles and other properties captured in exhibit P to P1.

“I have considered the prosecution’s submissions that you have a prior conviction for bank fraud in the United States of America, US.

“I have considered the fact that notwithstanding your prison term, which you have confirmed to me as sentencing for 23 months, you have not changed.”

Thereafter, Justice Oshodi sentenced Erinle to five years on count two, and 12 years on count three.

The sentences are to run concurrently from February 10, 2023, when he was remanded by the court.


The company, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, was fined N50 million, and also ordered to be wound up by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, with the proceeds forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The convicts were also ordered to make restitution to the victim.

The judge further ordered that all the properties and vehicles recovered from them by the EFCC be sold and applied as restitution to the victim through the FBI.

The funds standing to his credit as recovered by the EFCC, and the company, the court added, “shall be applied as restitution for the victim by the FBI; this is without prejudice for the prosecution and the victim to secure a full restitution”.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, visited the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he sought collaboration in the planned setting up of a directorate of women affairs in FCT.

The minister, who was accompanied by the minister of state for FCT, Mariya Mahmood, said the collaboration was necessary “in view of the fact that there is no directorate for women affairs in the FCT.”

“We want to collaborate with her on how to take care of women, and work with her to ensure that the Renewed hope agenda is achieved. The FCT wants to play its own role in that agenda.”

The minister, while seeking other areas of collaboration, expressed readiness of his administration to partner with the office of the First Lady towards the drive to actualize the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Applauding the minister for placing premium on women inclusion, the First Lady said the efforts by the FCT administration to also develop agriculture, one of the priority areas for the Renewed Hope Initiative, was a cheering development with a lot of prospects to be exploited.

“Just this morning, I saw a newsflash that the FCT Minister is collaborating with Israel on agriculture and I said I would love to discuss agriculture with the honorable minister.

“Although women and children is what we do, but it is not just women. We went as far as Belarus to study what they are doing. They have so much to offer in different areas and they are willing to assist, going as far as offering us scholarships at the Renewed Hope Initiative.

“What you have done today has really brought a lot of ease to our work because once you have the directorate there, we would know how to reach them. That is why I think that God has a hand in what we are doing. You have really lightened my burden.”

Senator Tinubu stressed that a broad based implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of “must not only include strategic development of the agricultural sector, but must also recognize the role of women and create an atmosphere that empowers them.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHir7LJ8LIw


The Department of State Security, DSS, has allegedly arrested 23-year-old Fildausi Musa Ahamadu after she threatened to commit suicide and kill all those “responsible for the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Kano, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the arrest of Ahamadu.

The suspect had claimed to be fighting for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP in a viral video clip circulated in the city.

In the viral clip, Fildausi was overheard attacking the lead judge in the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, warning that anywhere she sees her, she won’t mind holding her with a bomb.

In the same vein, Ahamadu, who was wearing a red cap, warned Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna the APC governorship candidate that, “you dare not indicate your location, otherwise, I don’t mind striking you with bomb vest to commit duicide”.

She also attacked Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, blaming him for the court predicament of the NNPP in Kano.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday said it neutralized several Boko Haram/Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in air strikes in the Tumbuns on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the air strikes obliterated the terrorists’ hideouts, destroyed their structures and strategic logistics’ base in the region.

He said that Tumbun Fulani and Tumbun Shitu were struck between Sept. 27 and Sept. 30 after confirmation of the terrorists’ activities which constituted a threat to military formations and law-abiding Nigerians residing within the locations.

At Tumbun Fulani, terrorists were observed loading jerricans in two guntrucks concealed under shrubs.

Subsequently, NAF aircraft were scrambled to interdict the location, believed to be a major logistics base.

According to him, after the strike, Battle Damage Assessment revealed several terrorists were neutralised and the guntrucks destroyed.

He said that similar strikes were also undertaken at Tumbun Shitu after structures believed to be terrorists’ hideout were observed tucked under thick foliage.

NAF spokesman said that three gun trucks with terrorists were sighted moving into the location, adding that the need to strike the location thus became imperative.

He said the aftermath of the air strike revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and the trucks destroyed.

“The determination of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to significantly limit the activities of terrorists in the Northeast and indeed other parts of Nigeria remains on course.

“Operational gains by the AFN are indicative of improved synergy and cooperation by all security agencies as well as the unwavering support of all Nigerians,” he said.

The organised labour on Tuesday signed a 15-point memorandum of understanding with the Federal Government.

The agreement was signed as a last minute effort to avert the planned nationwide strike.

It came after a meeting held between both parties, the second one in 24 hours.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by the representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and the Federal Government.

Details below:

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REACHED BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) AND TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) AS A RESULT OF DISPUTE ARISING FROM WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDY ON THE PRICE OF PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT (PMS) ON MONDAY, THE 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023

Arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government and the resultant increase in the price of the commodity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a strike notice which had elapsed and they were poised to embark on a strike billed to commence on Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023. Consequently, a meeting was called by the Federal Government to avert the strike and after much discussion, the following agreements were reached:

1. The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning from the month of September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

2. A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.

3. Federal Government suspends collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months beginning from October, 2023.

4. Federal Government accepts to vote N100 billion for the provision of high capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. Provisions are also being made for initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick start an auto gas conversion programme, whilst work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.

5. The Federal Government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for private sector and the general public.

6. On the leadership crises rocking the NURTW and the purported proscription of RTEAN, the Federal Government commits to handling Labour matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts. A resolution of the ongoing impasse is expected by or before October 13.

7. The issue of outstanding Salaries and Wages of Tertiary Education workers in Federal-owned educational institutions is being referred to Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.

8. The Federal Government commits to pay N25,000 per month for three months starting from October, 2023 to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.

9. The Federal Government will increase its initiatives on subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country.

10. The Federal Government should urge State Government through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum to implement wage award for their workers. Similar consideration should also be given to local government and private sector workers.

11. The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds as announced by the President on the 1st of August broadcast to the Nation for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises. The MSMEs beneficiaries should commit to the principle of decent jobs.

12. A joint visitation will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.

13. All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of Social dialogue in all our future engagements.

14. The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite Nationwide strike scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.

15. This Memorandum shall be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as consent judgment by the Federal Government.

Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has advised Nigerians to explore the path of dialogue in resolving the country’s numerous challenges.

He said this at a public lecture/special Jummu’a prayer held in Abuja, as part of activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary.

The Minister, represented by Mr Danlami Ihayyo, the Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat in the FCT, said Nigeria had been faced with many challenges since independence, saying however, that President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, marked a new beginning for the country.

He said that the 63rd anniversary would serve as a new beginning for the country in line with Tinubu’s agenda.

Wike, who was the guest speaker, underscored the need to key into the agenda to address the nation’s socio-economic challenges.

While describing the topic as apt, the minister said, “It underscores the importance of addressing the socio-economic challenges our nation faces.

“And, hopefully, it would present a new perspective and a renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“Nigeria is still waxing strong in terms of successes recorded across all sectors of the economy, in spite of numerous plights.”

He, however, advised Nigerians to acknowledge the persistent challenges ranging from poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure and insecurity as tools to revitalise the country and to impact on Nigerians positively.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has nabbed 18 suspected kidnappers from different locations within the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, made the disclosure during a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital, on Friday.

Nansel revealed that two suspects were apprehended while attempting to acquire additional ammunition and firearms, maintaining that the law enforcement’s proactive approach to curbing criminal activities led to the success of the operation.

Most of the suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crimes and are actively cooperating with the police.

Ramhan further noted that investigation has led to the discovery of a criminal hideout in Wassa village in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where arms were successfully recovered.

He added that, based on intelligence, the police have arrested suspected kidnappers operating in Nassarawa-Eggon, Akwanga, and Kokona Local Government Areas of Nasarawa state.

The police also paraded four others for suspected involvement in cult activities. Four guns, 11 rounds of ammunition, and a vehicle were among the exhibits recovered from criminal hideouts.

The PPRO attributed this successful operation to the collective support received from members of the public, traditional rulers, other security agencies, and the media.

He, however, said that investigations are ongoing and upon conclusion, the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has apprehended one Mr. Adamu Sani for allegedly raping two of his nieces, aged 10 and 4, in the Karu Local Government Area of the state.

DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, made the disclosure during a press conference held in Lafia on Friday.

The announcement was made while parading 29 suspected criminals apprehended for various crimes across the 13 local government areas of the state.

Ramhan explained that the arrest was carried out after the Mararaba ‘B; Division received a complaint about the rape of two minors.

“Recently, a complaint was lodged at Mararaba ‘B’ Division, detailing a harrowing incident where two young girls aged Ten (10) and Four (4) years were allegedly raped by their Uncle.

“The girls were left in the custody of Mr. Adamu Sani, the younger brother of the complainant, while their parents were out trying to make ends meet. The perpetrator warned them not to inform their parents about the assault.

“In response to the complaint, Police operatives swiftly swung into action, apprehending the suspect. The investigation into this distressing matter is currently ongoing.”

Nansel, while parading other suspected criminals, disclosed the arrest of two other suspected rapists who allegedly raped an 8-year-old girl in an uncompleted building in the Akwanga LGA of the state.

He added that their arrest was possible due to painstaking efforts by officers of the Command.

“On 05/09/2023 at about 3 pm, a complaint was lodged at Akwanga Division that, the duo of Abdullahi Ibrahim and Muhtari Abdullahi conspired and lured an 8 years old girl into an uncompleted building where they took turns to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

“Reacting to the unsavory development, Police operatives immediately launched a manhunt for the suspects and got them arrested. They have confessed to the crime.”

The Police spokesman warned all criminal elements in the state to leave without further delay, adding that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Jigawa State Government has declared Thursday, September 28, 2023, as work free day to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

This was contained in a statement signed by the State Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammad K. Dagaceri, made available to .ng by the Public Relations Officer, Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Ismaila Ibrahim Dutse.

He enjoined workers in the State to utilize the period and pray for Allah’s protection and guidance to leaders and for peace and progress of the State and the country in general.

This is coming after the Federal Government declared Wednesday 27th September as public holiday in commemoration of this year’s Eid-ul-Maulud celebration.

A Kaiama Magistrate Court in Kwara North Senatorial District has sentenced a 24-year-old man, Tashiu Aminu Lulu to five years imprisonment.

Magistrate Abubakar Ahmed Boro convicted Tashiu for criminal charm, assault, force and gross indecency on an 18-year-old girl, Halirat Ismaila.

He reportedly committed the act on September 20, 2023, at about 16.25 hours in Woro Community of Kaiama Local Government in the state.

The convict was arrested by the personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Kaiama Division, based on a complaint from one Halirat Ismaila who accused the suspect of criminal charm, assault and gross indecency.

According to Halirat, “The suspect called her on phone to come over to his house, she allegedly left her house unconsciously and on getting to the suspect’s house, he ordered her to pull off her clothes which she did unconsciously too.

“The suspect thereafter took a razor blade and cut some hair from her head, armpit, and private part. He commanded her to do some incantations with a calabash in her hands and thereafter had sex with her.

“She alleged that since then, she has been having terrible dreams.”

The state Commandant Umar J.G Mohammed ordered a thorough investigation into the matter and in the cause of interrogations, the suspect confessed to the crimes. The matter was handled at the Kaima division of the Command.

The suspect was prosecuted for Criminal Charm (217), Criminal Assault and Force (268) and Gross Indecency (285) of the Penal Code respectively.

The suspect pleaded guilty and was handed a 5-year imprisonment at Okekura correctional service, Ilorin, the state capital while his charm was publicly destroyed and burnt at the court premises.