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.
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly torturing his five-year-old son in the Gwalangan Mayaka suburb of Bauchi metropolis.
According to CSP Ahmed Wakil, the command’s spokesperson, a good Samaritan reported the incident to the Police after finding the boy unconscious and shackled.
A team of detectives led by CSP Mubarak S. Baba rescued the boy, who identified himself as Hussaini Abubakar and revealed that his father had treated him inhumanely and confined him without food for three days.
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The father was arrested for alleged child abuse and claimed he was trying to prevent the boy from stealing from their neighbour.
Wakil said, “During an interview, the victim Identified himself as Hussaini Abubakar. He revealed that he was treated inhumanely by his biological father.
“The boy further stated that he was incarcerated with the exception of all humane treatment by the father for many days which he cannot specify and also spent three days without eating.
“That his father was advised to do so by his friend. The police criminal investigation department would investigate discreetly to get to the crux of the matter and other motives surrounding the dastardly act.”
The police spokesperson expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation and vigilance in helping to identify and bring to justice individuals engaging in harmful behavior.
In addition to the arrest of the 50-year-old man for child abuse, the command has also apprehended two suspects for alleged rape in the Bauchi metropolis.
The suspects, aged 28 and 67, allegedly committed sexual assaults on minors, including a 9-year-old girl and two teenage girls aged 17 and 16.
The suspects, according to CSP Ahmed Wakil, have confessed to the crime during interrogation, corroborating the victim’s statement.
He added that the investigation is ongoing, and upon completion, the suspects will be charged in court.
The weekly public enlightenment campaign of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) would be focusing on women, this Friday.
Biztellers reports that the President, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Prof. Rosemary Ogu would be leading the discussions.
According to a statement on the verified X handle of the NDLEA, the conversations would be on the subject, “Substance Abuse in Pregnancy: Signs, Symptoms, Effects and Remedies”.
It was gathered that the Agency had resorted to public enlargement as a way of discouraging abuse of substances among the people.
It wrote, “The President, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Prof. Rosemary Ogu will lead the 102nd edition of our weekly X Space conversation this Friday at 3pm.
“Let’s prepare for this engaging and informative experience.”
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.”
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