FBI Commends EFCC On Indictment Of 6 Nigerians For Cyber Crime

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June 22, 2020

The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for offering assistance to it in the investigation and prosecution of six Nigerians involved in Business Email Compromise (BEC) and wire fraud in the United States of America.

United States Attorney, Joe Kelly and Special FBI Agent, Kristi Johnson, in a release made available to the EFCC, commended the Commission for its “past and continued assistance in pursuing those that engage in Business Email Compromise and other fraud schemes”

Six Nigerians: Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh; Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin; Michael Olorunyomi; Felix Osilama Okpoh, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode and Nnamdi Orson Benson were indicted and sanctioned by the FBI for conducting elaborate fraud schemes involving alleged stealing of more than $6million from “individual victims and victim businesses both in Nebraska and other states”.

Also Read: N13.5bn Monthly School Feeding Premeditated Fraud — Group Alleges, Seeks EFCC’s Intervention

BECs are sophisticated cybercrimes involving electronic transfer payments or automated clearing house transfers. The six Nigerians indicted by the FBI are accused of “violations of federal laws: 1) Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000; 2) Identity theft and access device fraud, each punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000”.

The FBI described the EFCC as one of its “foreign colleagues abroad” and expressed appreciation for its “commitment to working together”. It would be recalled that the EFCC and FBI were involved in a joint field operation against cybercriminals in Nigeria in 2019 which yielded significant dividends.

The operation, codenamed “Operation Rewired”, was a hit against trans-Atlantic syndicates of cybercriminals operating in intricate, sophisticated networks. 167 Nigerian suspected cybercriminals were arrested and a total sum of $169,850( One Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars) and N92,000,000( Ninety-Two Million Naira only) were recovered from the suspects. The FBI also presented certificates to operatives of the EFCC that took part in the joint operation.

Court Jails 4 Internet Fraudsters In Abeokuta

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ABN TV EDITOR

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June 22, 2020

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Justice Ibrahim Watilat of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, June 22, 2020, jailed four internet fraudsters for criminal impersonation.

The convicts: Wariz Akintunde; Moses Olamilekan Dosumu, Richard Adegbite, and Smith Enitan Adetayo were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office.

Court Jails 4 Internet Fraudsters In Abeokuta

With all pleading guilty, the judge sentenced Akintunde and Adegbite to four months in prison, with an option of N100,00 each effective from June 22, 2020. Dosumu earned two months jail term with an option of N50,000, while Adetayo was sentenced to five months in prison without an option of fine, effective from June 22, 2020.

Also Read: Court Grants Bail To Chinese Nationals Who Allegedly Offered EFCC Officer N100m Bribe

The judge further ordered Akintunde, Dosumu, and Adetayo to restitute the sums of $700, $375, and N39,000 to their respective victims through the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Simon Ibekwute and Sanusi Galadanchi prosecuted the matter for the EFCC.

Fake Abba Kyari’s Wife Nabbed Attempting To Dupe Lai Mohammed, Gbajabiamila, Others

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ABN TV EDITOR

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June 22, 2020

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Mallam Aminu Ado, a 58-year-old man, has been arrested by men of the Nigerian police for allegedly impersonating the widow of Abba Kyari, late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ado, according to the police, has been duping unsuspecting Nigerians through the act.

The man also known as Al Amin Yerima, was paraded by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, in Abuja on Monday.

The Force PRO told journalists that after the death of the former chief of staff, Ado went on to impersonate the widow and reached out to prominent Nigerians asking for donations to enable him to organize special prayers for her husband.

“In the course of doing that some of the prominent Nigerians became suspicious and reached out to us. He has been cooperative with the investigation and held back no facts.

“He is 58 years old. He had also had a stint with EFCC in 2019. He was charged to an Abuja High Court and was convicted and imprisoned for three months as a result of the plea bargain he successfully initiated by his lawyers,” Mba said.

He said that Ado installed an app on his phone capable of changing his voice to that of a woman to which he used to perpetuate the criminal act.

Mba explained that Ado admitted doing it without the consent of any member of Kyari’s family.

Ado was quoted to have also admitted contacting the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong to collect money.

The suspect said he knew the politicians very well as he was also a politician and they have been talking.

“I am a politician and I have the ambition of being governor of Kano State 2023 Insha Allah,” he confidently said.

Abia Discharges 93 Coronavirus Patients

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Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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Ninety-three persons from Abia State were on Monday morning discharged from the state isolation centre in Amachara Specialist, Umuahia after they were treated and confirmed COVID-19 free.

The result of their sample sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory at Abakiliki, Ebonyi State returned negative as at the weekend, prompting the Task Force on COVID-19 in Abia State to release them.

The State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu who dropped this hint in a chat with the Daily Independent in Umuahia explained that more patients of COVID-19 who have been successfully treated of the virus would be discharged this week if their expected negative results from the NCDC laboratory are out.

On the latest report of the death of three COVID-19 patients in Abia State as published by NCDC on Sunday, Okiyi Kalu said that they died because their cases were bad before their arrival to the isolation centres, even as he used the forum to advise persons who may be having symptoms of the virus to submit themselves immediately for a test.

“If the number one citizen of the state can come out publicly to announce his status that he’s COVID-19 positive, I don’t see why any person can continue to hide his or her status, thereby infecting others”, he contended.

The Abia Information Commissioner announced that the state centres being established by the state government in Umuahia and Aba would soon take off, saying that officials of NCDC came to the state on Sunday to inspect the two different facilities at the Amachara and Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba and thereafter gave the places a clean bill of health.

Abia Discharges 93 Coronavirus Patients

By

Alex Enemanna

-

June 22, 2020

0

Ninety-three persons from Abia State were on Monday morning discharged from the state isolation centre in Amachara Specialist, Umuahia after they were treated and confirmed COVID-19 free.

The result of their sample sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory at Abakiliki, Ebonyi State returned negative as at the weekend, prompting the Task Force on COVID-19 in Abia State to release them.

The State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu who dropped this hint in a chat with the Daily Independent in Umuahia explained that more patients of COVID-19 who have been successfully treated of the virus would be discharged this week if their expected negative results from the NCDC laboratory are out.

On the latest report of the death of three COVID-19 patients in Abia State as published by NCDC on Sunday, Okiyi Kalu said that they died because their cases were bad before their arrival to the isolation centres, even as he used the forum to advise persons who may be having symptoms of the virus to submit themselves immediately for a test.

“If the number one citizen of the state can come out publicly to announce his status that he’s COVID-19 positive, I don’t see why any person can continue to hide his or her status, thereby infecting others”, he contended.

The Abia Information Commissioner announced that the state centres being established by the state government in Umuahia and Aba would soon take off, saying that officials of NCDC came to the state on Sunday to inspect the two different facilities at the Amachara and Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba and thereafter gave the places a clean bill of health.

“Buhari’s Govt, The Worst In Nigeria’s History” – Former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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Former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has while lamenting the persistent killings in Nigeria’s Northern region described the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government as the worst in the country’s history.

Dalung, in a trending video on his verified Facebook page, decried how innocent citizens were being killed across the Northern region despite huge security expenditure.

Solomon Dalung reminded President Buhari that more Nigerians residing in the North were being killed under his watch than at any time other time in history.

Speaking in Hausa language, Solomon Dalung, who served as a minister under Buhari from 2015 to 2019, described the regime as a failure.

He criticised the President for allegedly allowing security operatives to plunder the nation’s treasury without commensurate results.

He said, “Mr President, you have given these people more money, yet we continue to lose more lives.

“These people are only enriching themselves with public money Mr President.

“Sadly, you have once mentioned that they were disobeying your orders; I mean orders of the Commander-In-Chief, so why are you still tolerating them?

“Mr President, it’s high time you let go of them because their continued stay is only rubbishing your administration.

“I’m not a prophet but I can predict (that) if no action is taken on these traitors within your government, you’ll bitterly regret it by 2021.

“From Borno to Kwara and from Plateau to Sokoto, human life has become cheaper than that of a chicken.

“Take for example, how innocent souls are perishing, and needlessly so, in your own home state of Katsina.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Sue Buhari, Demands N50b Over Exclusion In Govt

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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The umbrella body of Ndigbo across the world, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has sued President Muhammadu Buhari for running a government that favours the Northern region alone.

ABN TV reports that Other plaintiffs in the suit are an Ijaw leader, Chief E. K Clarke, the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti and, a leader of the Middle Belt people, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.

Others include Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alaowei Bozimo, Mrs Sarah Doketri, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Air Commodore Idongsit Nkanga, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Prof Julie Umukoro, and Elder Stephen Bangoji.

The rest are Alhaji Tijani Babatunde, Mrs Rose Obuoforibo, Mr Adakole Ijogi, and Dr. Charles Nwakeaku.

They allege that Buhari has marginalised people of their regions in the appointments to security, quasi-security agencies and “strategic agencies” of government.

The 16 plaintiffs filed the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2020, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 8, 2020.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and the Federal Character Commission are the defendants sued in the suit.

The suit was instituted on behalf of the defendants by 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria comprising Solomon Asemota, Tijani Ayanlaja, Chuks Muoma, Albert Akpomudje, Tayo Oyetibo, Pius Akubo, Mrs Nella Andem-Rabana, Mike Ozekhome, Akinpelu Onigbinde, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.