Crime
Woodberry Sentenced To 8 years Imprisonment, Others
A federal judge in the United States has handed down a sentence of eight years and three months in prison to Jacob Olalekan Ponle, also known as Mr. Woodberry, for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme worth millions of dollars.
The sentencing took place on July 11 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago, as revealed in court documents obtained by Peoples Gazette.
According to Judge Robert Gettleman, “The defendant is hereby ordered to serve a total term of 100 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for the specified count.”
Mr. Ponle was convicted on one count of fraud, while seven additional counts were dropped as part of a plea bargain made in April, which had been previously reported by The Gazette.
Upon sentencing, Judge Gettleman directed Mr. Ponle to present himself to the U.S. Marshal Service for transportation to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut.
In Danbury, he will have the opportunity to receive visits from his family members, particularly his American fiancée.
Furthermore, the judge specified that following his imprisonment, Mr. Ponle would be transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immediate deportation.
As part of the restitution process, Mr. Ponle will be required to compensate seven victims approximately $8 million. The court determined that he possesses the means to fulfill the full payment, but he has waived any interest on the restitution amount.
Previously, American prosecutors had requested on June 29 that Mr. Woodberry be sentenced to 14 years in prison for his involvement in the fraudulent activities that occurred between January and September 2019.
In addition, the prosecutors had requested court authorization to sell Jacob Olalekan Ponle’s 152 bitcoins, but with the condition that a public notice be issued for a period of 30 days.
This notice would allow anyone with a legitimate interest in the assets to come forward and file their claims. However, as of the time of Mr. Woodberry’s sentencing, no individuals with valid claims had emerged.
Furthermore, the prosecutors recommended that Mr. Woodberry, who was known for showcasing his extravagant lifestyle on social media, surrender certain items currently held by the Dubai police.
These items include a Rolls Royce, Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG G55, four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, and three Audemars Piguet watches.
Additionally, Mr. Woodberry will be required to forfeit three rings adorned with gold and diamonds, five gold bracelets and two gold bracelet keys, six gold neck chains, one necklace embellished with gold and diamonds, a small gold nugget, two bank cards, approximately $1,835 in Emirati dirhams, and roughly $15.45 in South African rands.
It is worth noting that Mr. Woodberry was apprehended on June 10, 2020, along with Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, who was previously sentenced to 11 years in prison in the United States for his involvement in internet fraud, towards the end of last year.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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