Crime
Two Nigerians Receive 20-Year U.S. Prison Terms For $560,000 Romance Scam
The U.S. court has sentenced two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, to up to 20 years in prison for masterminding a $560,000 romance scam that defrauded a victim in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez and FBI Albuquerque Field Office Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda announced the convictions after a federal jury found both men guilty following a four-day trial.
READ MORE: UK Extends ETAS To US, Canada, Australia
The federal jury took less than three hours to deliberate before finding the pair guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that Ogunlaja and Daramola, along with other accomplices, initiated the scheme in January 2016 by creating a fake identity, “Glenn Brown,” on the dating website eHarmony.com.
Using this fabricated persona, they developed a romantic relationship with the victim and manipulated them into transferring large sums of money.
“Throughout the fraud, the victim was led to believe that their financial assistance was necessary for ‘Glenn Brown’ to complete a purported construction project in Malaysia and return safely to the United States,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.
Between January 2016 and April 2017, the victim sent approximately $560,000 to accounts in the United States, Canada, and Malaysia. On September 27, 2016, the victim wired $28,000 to an account in the name of “Daramola Cars” at Woodforest Bank.
Court documents showed that Daramola transferred $18,000 of these funds to a seafood importer in Denmark and issued a $14,000 check.
Daramola denied involvement in the scam, but evidence obtained from text and WhatsApp messages on his phone revealed his role in supplying bank accounts used to launder fraudulent funds.
Ogunlaja’s involvement was similarly uncovered, with prosecutors presenting evidence that his Bank of America account was used to receive funds from the victim.
According to the FBI, “Glenn Brown” instructed the victim to deposit $20,000 in cash into Ogunlaja’s account on two occasions in March 2016. Ogunlaja then withdrew the funds and transferred them to Daramola’s account.
“This case demonstrates the lengths fraudsters will go to exploit the vulnerable,” said Special Agent Raul Bujanda. “We will continue to pursue justice for victims of financial crimes.”
The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned Stella Nwadigbo, female, aged 45, on charges of indecent treatment and assault of a child.
This was revealed in a statement on its verified handle of micro-blogging site, X, on Thursday afternoon.
ALSO READ: Mahama Sworn In As Ghana’s President, Refers To Tinubu As ‘President of Ghana’
The statement reads, “The suspect, who was arraigned in Magistrate Court 1, Ogba today, January 9, 2025, had been captured in a viral video indecently treating and assaulting a three-year-old pupil of a primary school in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
“Following receipt of the video, the Family Support Unit (FSU) of Ikorodu Police Division promptly arrested the suspect on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 and transferred her to the Gender Unit of the Command Headquarters same day after preliminary investigations. The victim was taken to a medical facility for adequate medical attention.
“The suspect has since been remanded to Kirikiri Correctional facility till February 18, 2025 when the case comes up for continuation of hearing.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, psc(+), mnips, while commending Nigerians for promptly alerting the police to the situation, assures them of the ever-readiness of the Command to respond quickly and appropriately to situations towards ensuring the safety and security of resident and visitors to Lagos State.”
The continuing efforts to sweep the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), clean of corrupt tendencies, have seen officers of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission, being detained for investigation of some missing items.
This was disclosed in a statement on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: EFCC Fires 27 Officers Over Fraud, Misconduct
Biztellers reports that the officers, who were arrested last week on the directives of the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede are answering questions related to the theft of some operational items that they could not account for.
It was gathered that investigators are making good progress and those found culpable will be subjected to internal disciplinary processes.
The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has assumed jurisdiction to hear allegations of corruption and fraudulent practices against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The charges, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), include claims of gratification, corrupt demands, and receiving property fraudulently obtained.
Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Rahman Oshodi declared that the court has territorial jurisdiction to entertain counts 8 to 20 of the 26-count charge filed against Emefiele.
READ MORE: PETROAN Expects Retailers To Commence Loading From PHRC This Week
According to the judge, the EFCC successfully demonstrated that the court is competent to handle these counts based on evidence provided.
“The prosecution has established a sufficient territorial nexus to compel Emefiele to answer the charges,” Justice Oshodi ruled.
However, the court struck out counts 1 to 4 of the charges, agreeing with Emefiele’s lawyers that these counts were unconstitutional as they were not based on any existing laws in Nigeria.
The dismissed charges related to allegations of abuse of office and allocation of foreign exchange without bidding.
“While counts 1 to 4 relate to the general offence of abuse of office as defined by criminal law, the specific conduct alleged in those counts is not defined as an offence in any written law,” Justice Oshodi explained.
Emefiele was arraigned on April 8, 2024, on a 26-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, irregular allocation of $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion, and conferring corrupt advantage.
The charges include violations of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Justice Oshodi clarified that his ruling on jurisdiction does not address the merits of the allegations but focuses on whether the court has the authority to hear the case.
“This finding is limited solely to the jurisdictional objection and does not address the merits of the allegations,” he stated.
The court adjourned the case to February 24 and 26, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
Adeleke Distributes Relief Materials To Disaster Victims In Osun State
NANS Protests Appointment Of Éric Sékou Chelle As Super Eagles Coach
Rewane Backs Telecom Tariff Hike, Says It Will Reduce Inflation
Ideye’s Goal Helps Enyimba Defeat Nasarawa United 2-1 In Aba
Police Arraign Nwadigbo Over Child Abuse
Ganduje Accuses Peter Obi Of Libel, Incitement Against APC Spokesman
OSSG Raises Alarm Over Murder Plot By APC Chieftain
NCC, SMEDAN, NAICOM, SEC, Others Set for SUPERNEWS SMEs Conf June 13
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
