Crime
Courts Jail Six For Internet Crimes In Kaduna
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.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has issued a public summons for former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, requiring him to appear in court on October 24.
This summons follows the filing of a 16-count charge of alleged fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC has accused Bello, alongside two others—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—of criminal breach of trust involving a staggering sum of N110.4 billion.
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The public summons was issued by Justice Maryanne Anenih on Thursday, after the EFCC reported difficulties in serving Bello with the charges.
Bello’s absence led to the postponement of his arraignment, which was originally scheduled for Thursday.
This latest development follows prior efforts to compel Bello to attend court, including a May ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite that mandated his physical presence, as well as a recent order from the Court of Appeal.
Darius Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, has been granted bail of N150 million by a high court in Maitama, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ishaku appeared in court on Monday alongside Bello Yero, the former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, facing serious allegations including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds.
The two defendants pleaded “not guilty” to a total of 15 charges during their arraignment.
In a court session on Thursday, their legal teams presented bail applications, which were not opposed by the prosecution.
Rotimi Jacobs, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stated that he had no objection since the defendants had previously been granted administrative bail.
Judge Sylvanus Oriji approved the bail, requiring each defendant to provide two sureties in the same amount as the bail.
The sureties must be responsible citizens residing in the FCT, with verifiable office and residential addresses.
Additionally, at least one surety for each defendant must hold a director-level position in the civil service.
The court imposed restrictions on both men, preventing them from traveling outside the country without prior approval and mandating that they deposit their travel documents with the court.
Ishaku, 70, who governed Taraba from 2015 to 2023, was previously invited by the EFCC in July 2023 regarding financial transactions during his tenure, resulting in his initial release on bail.
However, both Ishaku and Yero were arrested and detained by the EFCC on September 27, 2024.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 33 individuals suspected of involvement in internet fraud during a recent operation in Port Harcourt.
The agency announced the arrests via its X account (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
The suspects were apprehended in a sting operation in the Iwofe and Ogboro areas of the city, following credible intelligence regarding their alleged criminal activities.
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Along with the arrests, the EFCC seized a range of items, including several mobile phones, laptops, and boxes containing counterfeit United States dollars.
The operation also revealed fake stamps from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Customs, airport clearance, DHL, and FedEx, as well as two vehicles.
The suspects are currently in custody and will face charges in court upon the completion of ongoing investigations.
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