News
Five Undergraduates Convicted For Internet-Related Fraud In Kaduna
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has achieved a significant breakthrough with the conviction of five undergraduates from various tertiary institutions in Kaduna for internet fraud.
These individuals were involved in creating fake accounts on social media platforms to deceive and cheat innocent victims, many of whom were foreigners.
During a well-coordinated sting operation in Kaduna, the authorities apprehended Chidebere Stanley Opara (also known as Avail Hollywood), Manasseh Sefa Ephraim (aka Felicia_dannyels), Victor Odeh (aka Christopher Anderson), Chukwukere Obinna Paul (aka Shaun Lee), and Enyogu Etim Ekpo (aka Henry Wilson; JASDAV7).
These young individuals were engaged in various acts of online fraud.Chidebere Stanley Opara was charged with impersonating an American citizen named Avail Hollywood on “Google Chat,” an online social media application.
Through this impersonation, he deceitfully cheated one Duke Hardy.
The offence falls under Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and is punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.Similarly, Victor Oche Odeh was accused of committing cheating by impersonation.
He falsely represented himself as Christopher Anderson, a white man from Denver, Colorado, USA, on ‘Facebook,’ another online social media application, to defraud one Rhonda Evans.
His actions are in violation of Section 57 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.
All five individuals pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
As a result, the prosecuting counsel, comprising E.K Garba, M. E Eimonye, and K.S Ogunlade, requested the court to convict them accordingly.
Subsequently, Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court handed down a verdict, sentencing each defendant to two years’ imprisonment.
In addition, they were given an option to pay a fine of N150,000 each.
The convicted undergraduates are not only facing imprisonment and fines but are also required to forfeit all proceeds of their criminal activities to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This measure aims to deter others from engaging in similar internet-related fraud and to compensate the victims who fell prey to their deceitful schemes.
As the fight against internet fraud continues, it is essential for individuals to be vigilant and cautious while interacting on social media platforms to protect themselves from falling victim to similar scams.
Aides, Allies Disown Him, Say You’re a Traitor, We’re not Leaving PDP
Barely two weeks after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crisis has enveloped the political camp of a member of the House of Representatives for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, Oluwole Oke.
Indeed, these are not the best of times for him as his defection to the APC is eliciting rejection from his close circles and constituency.
His key allies who he groomed into politics and government positions have rejected his calls on them to join him to defect to the APC.
A source said that in the last few days, key aides and allies of the lawmaker have rejected his movement to the APC, describing it as a political tragedy.
“With the way he betrayed PDP, Oluwole Oke is like the proverbial Leopard that can never change the spots on its body. He will also betray the APC. We are staying back in PDP while severing political links with him”, one of his allies, Bamidele Johnson said.
Some of his allies were said to have openly declared that the defection marks a political waterloo for the 6th term legislator.
For instance, some of Oke’s allies in his Local Government scorned his move as “a decision borne out of greed and selfishness.”
One of them described him as “an ingrate who betrayed a party on whose platform he got married in life as a lawmaker and on whose platform he gained all his material riches.”
The Northern Youths Consultative Forum for Justice (NYCJ) has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, law, and order.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kano, NYCJ President Dr Sanusi Rano described the situation in Zamfara as “organised abandonment of duty” by elected officials.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance. It is betrayal of the people,” Rano said, pointing to the absence of a functional state House of Assembly and allegations linking officials to criminal activities.
The group highlighted the suspension of 10 lawmakers who spoke out against the deteriorating security situation, arguing that their removal has left Zamfara without a legally recognised legislative body.
“This is a dictatorship of silence,” said Rano, adding that the lack of checks and balances has deepened the state’s crisis.
“The same hands that should protect Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Rano stated.
Calling for decisive action, the group demanded the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to rebuild the state’s institutions.
“If this is not done now, Zamfara risks becoming a permanent state of anarchy, which threatens our democracy,” Rano warned.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased ( his wife) on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge .
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel , Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)