The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), appears to be leaving no stone unturned in the bid to forestall brewing mass protests against its operations.

This was gleaned in statement on its verified handle on X, signed by its Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale on Thursday.

According to Oyewale, the EFCC wishes to alert the general public on the plan by a shadowy group to instigate a “protest” against the Commission.

He added, “In the last couple of days, the group has been actively campaigning in the social media, recruiting impressionable young Nigerians, including students to take up “arms” against the EFCC.

“This insidious campaign is being promoted as resistance to the operational activities of the Commission especially in respect of the enforcement of the laws dealing with cybercrimes.

“The Commission, while not averse to protests by citizens, is alarmed by  emerging evidence that  suggest a grand design by corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution by the Commission to exploit the so-called protest to orchestrate a national uprising that may threaten the peace and security of our dear nation.

“As a responsible law enforcement organisation, the Commission will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order anywhere in the country especially around its office locations across Nigeria.

“EFCC, working in concert with sister security agencies, is therefore taking necessary measures to deal with possible threats to the peace and security of Nigeria.

“The Commission, however, appeals to parents, guardians and heads of tertiary institutions to take responsibility in ensuring that their wards are not recruited to be used as cannon fodder in a proxy war against the Commission by vested corrupt interests.

“The war being waged by the Commission against corruption and cybercrime is to protect the future of the youth of this country. That future is imperiled if Nigeria degenerates further in global reckoning as a den of fraudsters.”

A secondary school student in Adamawa State has been remanded in custody for allegedly raping a mentally ill woman on three occasions.

Idris Alex Emeka, a 20-year-old student of Capital Government Day Secondary School, appeared before Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola and pleaded guilty to the charge of rape.

The presiding judge, Magistrate Musa Alhaji Adamu, ordered Emeka’s remand following his admission of guilt.

According to the prosecution, Emeka was caught in the act with the woman on June 26, 2024.

The First Information Report presented in court detailed that the defendant had engaged in sexual intercourse with the woman on three separate occasions.

Inspector Galeon Nimrod, the prosecuting officer, recounted that Habu Jibrilla reported the incident to Karewa Police Station.

Jibrilla, a resident of the State Low-Cost Housing Estate in Jimeta, apprehended Emeka at approximately 6:40 a.m. while he was having sex with the woman on the street and promptly handed him over to the police.

Justices Darius Khobo and A.A Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court and Hawau Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna have convicted and sentenced Abubakar Shettima (a.k.a Dennis Hueber), Timileyin Akinsola (a.k.a James Smith), Favour Onoja (a.k.a Dean Leon), Naphtali Bako (a.k.a Benjah), Suleiman Ibrahim (a.k.a Rico_Mod2) and Festus Gabriel (a.k.a Sandra Will) to various jail terms for internet fraud.

The six convicts were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on separate one-count charges bordering on cheating and impersonation.

The anti graft agency made the disclosure in a statement on its verified handle on X on Wednesday.

According to the tweet, Akinsola’s charge reads: “That you Timileyin Akinsola (a.k.a James Smith), male between January and May, 2024 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one James Smith, a United States of American citizen on Instagram (an online Social media application) and in such assumed character cheated one Larry Fletcher of the sum of One Hundred and Twenty-Five United States Dollars ($125USD) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

The count against Bako reads: “That you Naphtali Bako (a.k.a Benjah), sometime in April 2024 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, represented yourself as one Benjah (a musician from United States of America) on Facebook (a social media platform) and in such assumed identity cheated one Alois Whitfield the total sum of N60,000.00 (Sixty Thousand Naira), only and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.”

All the convicts pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Kehinde Ogunalde, Musa Usman Gadaka and Kehinde Ogunlade to urge the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced Shettima to three years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira), and sentenced Timileyin to five years imprisonment or a fine of N450,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand and Fifty Thousand Naira).

Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced Onoja to five years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira), while he handed a seven years imprisonment to Bako or pay a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira).

Ibrahim and Gabriel were convicted and sentenced by Justice Buhari to 14 and four years imprisonment respectively. Ibrahim is to pay a fine of N 300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), while Gabriel was given N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) option of fine.

The convicts, in addition forfeited their communication gadgets, being the tools of their crimes to the Federal government.

They all bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet-related offences. They were charged to court and convicted.