Crime
Lagos Yahoo Boy Karinate Pleads For Mercy In Court
In Lagos, a P2P crypto trader named Lawrence Success Karinate has narrowly avoided imprisonment by confessing to his involvement in a pig-butchering scam that yielded $2000.
Appearing before Justice Nicholas Oweibo at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on October 6, 2023, he swiftly pleaded guilty and was promptly convicted on the same day.
The EFCC disclosed that the pig-butchering scam involves duping victims through digital relationships, gaining trust, and persuading them to invest in cryptocurrency platforms.
Following his arrest in the Lekki area of Lagos State on May 26, 2023, Lawrence Success Karinate, alongside accomplices, had assumed a deceptive online persona as “Jessie Randall,” a purported female fashion influencer.
Prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, Karinate faced a one-count charge related to cybercrimes, specifically violating Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, 2015.
Admitting culpability, Lawrence Success Karinate pleaded “guilty” to the single charge brought against him. Subsequently, the EFCC’s counsel, Usman Abubakar Ahmad, summoned witness Taiwo Owolabi, an EFCC operative, to present the case’s details.
Owolabi affirmed that on May 26, 2023, the defendant, in the company of others, was apprehended in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
He said “Upon his arrest, he was brought to the EFCC office, where his iPhone and HP computer were analyzed. Fraudulent documents were printed out from his devices, and he made restitution to the tune of N100,000. ( One Hundred Thousand Naira).
“He was further interrogated and admitted to having engaged in a pig-butchering scam and benefitted the sum of $2000 (Two Thousand United States Dollars) from it.”
Usman proceeded to request the admission of the defendant’s extrajudicial statement, fraudulent documents from his iPhone and laptop, and the management cheque he issued.
Justice Oweibo accepted these as exhibits A, B, C, C1, D, and E, subsequently convicting Karinate as charged.
Despite the conviction, Karinate conveyed remorse for his participation in the criminal activity, pledging to the court that he would refrain from engaging in internet fraud in the future.
Advocating for leniency, Karinate’s counsel, Chikezie Kingsley, emphasized that the defendant was a first-time offender.
In the verdict, Justice Oweibo imposed a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) as the penalty for the conviction.
Crime
N1.3trn Fraud: EFCC Arrests Ex-Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds intended for Delta State during his tenure.
Okowa, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, was detained after he voluntarily appeared at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate on Monday in response to an official summons.
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According to an EFCC source, Okowa is accused of failing to account for the N1.3 trillion derived from the federation account, as well as an additional N40 billion he allegedly invested in shares of UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The investigation suggests that Okowa acquired an 8% stake in a major Nigerian bank to support the offshore LNG venture, with funds purportedly misallocated from state resources.
Beyond the LNG shares, investigators are probing whether Okowa redirected state funds to acquire high-value properties in Abuja and Asaba.
Okowa is currently held at an EFCC facility in Port Harcourt as the inquiry continues.
The high-profile arrest comes as Okowa, who was the vice-presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, faces scrutiny over his financial conduct in office.
Crime
Court Orders Arrest Of Dana Air CEO In N1.3bn Fraud Case
Amid repeated absences from court, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy tied to alleged misappropriations totaling N1.3 billion.
The ruling, handed down Monday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, calls for Ranesh’s immediate arrest following his failure to respond to multiple court summonses.
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Justice Egwuatu cited Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), empowering the court to issue an arrest warrant against defendants who evade appearance.
“The defendant is legally obligated to appear, and the court is authorized to issue a warrant for arrest if he does not,” Justice Egwuatu said, setting January 13, 2025, as the next court date, adding that no objections will be considered unless Ranesh is present.
Ranesh and two Dana Group subsidiaries—Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd—face serious allegations from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018, Ranesh and his companies engaged in fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of industrial generators valued at N450 million, which had been pledged as collateral in a debenture agreement.
Additional charges allege the misappropriation of N864 million from bond funds meant for operations at the Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, and a N60.3 million transfer to an external account without authorization.
The charges, filed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Moshood Adeyemi, cite violations under the Criminal Code Act.
In court, government lawyer Mojisola Okeya-Esho argued for the arrest warrant, stating that Ranesh had disregarded court orders to appear for arraignment.
Defense counsel B. Ademola-Bello challenged the prosecution, contending that jurisdictional issues must be addressed before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed these objections, underscoring that Ranesh’s presence in court is required before other arguments can be entertained.
The matter is now adjourned until January 13, 2025, with the warrant remaining active until the defendant is brought to court.
Crime
Gunmen Attack Police Facility In Owerrinta, Female Detainee Killed
In a shocking act of violence, armed assailants targeted the Police Rapid Response Squad facility in Owerrinta early Monday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a female detainee.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.
READ MORE: Edo Deputy Gov, Omobayo Ordered To Court Over Refusal To Vacate Office
State Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed the incident, revealing that the gunmen arrived in three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on the police facility.
“Our personnel successfully repelled the attack,” Isa stated.
However, the attackers resorted to using dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and exposing the detainees inside.
During the chaos, the gunmen attempted to free detainees, leading to the fatal shooting of the female suspect.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she was in custody related to a child trafficking case.
In the aftermath of the attack, police swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, employing advanced technical methods to track their movements.
Commissioner Isa announced the arrest of one suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the identities of additional accomplices.
“We are making significant progress in our investigation,” he affirmed.
Authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as the investigation continues.