Crime
JUST IN: Ogun Court Jails Five For Money Laundering, Impersonation
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentence of five fraudsters before Justice A.A. Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The convicts are Justine Chikeleze Onyedikachukwu, David Udoka Okafor, Godwin Favour Udoh, Ifeanyi Franklin Ogobue and Chinedu Mukolu Obed.
It was gathered that they were arraigned on July 12, 2024, on separate charges bordering on money laundering, contrary to Section 18 (2) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same law and Impersonation, contrary to Section 22 (2) (iv) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition and Prevention Act, 2022.)
According to the EFCC, they all pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: EFCC, Partners Mark 2024 African Union Anti-corruption Day With Walk Against Corruption
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Okongwu Ebuka and Ridwan Alabi, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.
Consequently, Justice Okeke sentenced Onyedikachukwu to two months imprisonment on each of the counts.
The sentences are to run concurrently and the iPhone 12 mobile phone and Samsung laptop computer recovered from him were forfeited to the Federal Government.
On his part, Favour was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment on count one of money laundering and three months on count two of impersonation.
The sentences are to run concurrently. The iPhone 12pro max and iPhone 11 recovered from him were forfeited also to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Similarly, was convicted and sentenced to one-month imprisonment on each of the counts.
The sentences are to run concurrently. The judge ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone XS Max to the Federal Government.
The judge also sentenced Ogobue to two months imprisonment on count one and two months on count two.
The sentences are to run concurrently. Justice Okeke also ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 12pro max to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
During his trial, Obed pleaded “guilty” to the amended two counts of money laundering and impersonation.
Though he was discharged on count one of money laundering, he was convicted on count two bordering on impersonation and sentenced to two months imprisonment.
His iPhone 12 Pro Max was forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet offences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order to arrest and detain six individuals suspected of orchestrating a cryptocurrency investment fraud worth over one billion dollars.
On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in favor of the EFCC’s ex parte application, allowing the agency to apprehend the promoters of Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX).
The judge emphasized the strength of the application presented by EFCC counsel, Fadila Yusuf.
READ MORE: EFCC Issues Arrest Warrant For Socialite Aisha Achimugu
“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant (EFCC). I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with exhibits thereto along with the written address. I am of the view, and I so hold, that the application is meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted as prayed,” Justice Nwite declared.
The six individuals named in the case are Adefowora Abiodun Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim.
All are accused of using their company, ST Technologies International Limited, to promote CBEX and mislead investors with promises of extraordinary returns.
According to the EFCC, intelligence received in April 2025 indicated that the suspects ran an elaborate scheme in which investors were urged to convert their digital assets into USDT, a stablecoin, and deposit them into CBEX’s wallet.
Initially, users were allowed to monitor their investments, but after accumulating deposits exceeding $1 billion, the platform reportedly became inaccessible.
The anti-graft agency’s preliminary investigation revealed that the investment platform, though promoted by a registered company, lacked proper licensing from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Additionally, the accused had allegedly vacated their known addresses in Lagos and Ogun States, making it difficult to track them down.
Fadila Yusuf, representing the EFCC, argued that the defendants’ actions violated several laws and that arrest warrants were crucial to advance the investigation.
She noted that the EFCC received actionable intelligence alleging various criminal activities involving the suspects, and stressed the commission’s responsibility in preventing and investigating financial crimes.
“The defendants are at large, and a warrant of arrest is required to arrest the defendants for proper investigation and prosecution of this case,” Yusuf said.
The commission has requested that the suspects be placed on the red watch list to facilitate their apprehension.
It maintains that granting the application serves the interest of justice and is necessary to proceed with prosecution based on the evidence gathered so far.
A TikTok content creator, Emmanuel Ajibade, appeared before an Akure Magistrates’ Court on Thursday over allegations of cyberbullying a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Taiwo Oniyere, the incident took place in the Higher Height Area of Orita Obele in Akure.
Oniyere explained that Ajibade, along with unidentified accomplices still at large, conspired to commit a series of offences including cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and criminal defamation.
READ ALSO: EFCC Re-Arrests Popular Kano TikToker For Naira Abuse
The prosecutor claimed that Ajibade used his TikTok account, checkers69, to circulate false information with the intention of causing public nuisance and targeting an FRSC official, Ibitoye Samuel.
“His action also resulted in intimidation, enmity and hatred, ill will and needless anxiety for Ibitoye Samuel, an official of FRSC in the state,” Oniyere told the court.
He added that the offences violated Section 27(b) and Section 24(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.
Based on these allegations, Oniyere urged the court to order Ajibade’s remand in a correctional facility under Section 269(2)(b) of the Nigerian legal code.
Ajibade’s legal representative, Mr. A. F. Awala, responded by requesting a short adjournment to enable the defence team to file a counter-affidavit.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Olateju Odenusi-Fadeyi ordered that the defendant be held at the SWAT Police Station rather than a correctional centre.
She also instructed the police to ensure Ajibade receives necessary medical care while in custody.
The case was adjourned until April 30, 2025, for mention.
A senior lecturer at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Dr Usman Aliyu, has been dismissed from his position following allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by a postgraduate student, Mrs Kamila Rufai Aliyu.
The decision was ratified during the university’s 96th regular council meeting held on April 11, 2025, and made public through the ATBU Herald (Vol. 39 No. 5, April 22), the institution’s official publication.
The dismissal came after the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee found Dr Aliyu guilty of misconduct.
READ ALSO: How Natasha Akpoti Made False Sexual Harassment Claims Against Me – Omokri
The disciplinary panel concluded that the lecturer engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Mrs Kamila Aliyu, a married student from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
According to the university’s dismissal letter, “Following the report of the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee that found you guilty of an indecent relationship involving a student of the university, Mrs Kamila Rufai Aliyu… the council has subsequently approved your dismissal from the services of the university with immediate effect.”
Mrs Aliyu had submitted a petition to the university in 2024, accusing Dr Aliyu of sexually harassing her and alleging that he threatened to jeopardize her academic progress if she refused his advances.
In response to the accusations, Dr Aliyu filed a defamation lawsuit against the student, her department, and the university. Despite the legal action, the university continued its internal investigation, which led to the eventual dismissal.
The university noted that the decision was in accordance with “Chapter 3, Item F, I (o) of the Senior Staff Conditions of Service of the University,” as stated in a release by the Senior Deputy Registrar, Senior Staff Establishment, Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman.
Furthermore, the lecturer has been instructed to return all university belongings in his custody.
“You are hereby directed to hand over all the property of the university in your possession to the Head of Department and your identification card to the Chief Security Officer of the university,” the letter added.
CVFF- House of Reps Backs Marine & Blue Economy Ministry
‘Na Dreadlock Dey Cause Insecurity?’ – Daddy Showkey Slams Gov Bago Over Arrest Order
$1bn Crypto Fraud: Court Authorizes EFCC To Arrest Six CBEX Promoters
Jude Okoye Freed After Two-Month Detention Over Alleged N1.38bn Fraud
Obi, Kwankwaso Helped Tinubu In 2023, Will Do The Same In 2027, Says Nigerian Activist
