Crime
Lagos Yahoo Boy Karinate Pleads For Mercy In Court
In Lagos, a P2P crypto trader named Lawrence Success Karinate has narrowly avoided imprisonment by confessing to his involvement in a pig-butchering scam that yielded $2000.
Appearing before Justice Nicholas Oweibo at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on October 6, 2023, he swiftly pleaded guilty and was promptly convicted on the same day.
The EFCC disclosed that the pig-butchering scam involves duping victims through digital relationships, gaining trust, and persuading them to invest in cryptocurrency platforms.
Following his arrest in the Lekki area of Lagos State on May 26, 2023, Lawrence Success Karinate, alongside accomplices, had assumed a deceptive online persona as “Jessie Randall,” a purported female fashion influencer.
Prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, Karinate faced a one-count charge related to cybercrimes, specifically violating Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, 2015.
Admitting culpability, Lawrence Success Karinate pleaded “guilty” to the single charge brought against him. Subsequently, the EFCC’s counsel, Usman Abubakar Ahmad, summoned witness Taiwo Owolabi, an EFCC operative, to present the case’s details.
Owolabi affirmed that on May 26, 2023, the defendant, in the company of others, was apprehended in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
He said “Upon his arrest, he was brought to the EFCC office, where his iPhone and HP computer were analyzed. Fraudulent documents were printed out from his devices, and he made restitution to the tune of N100,000. ( One Hundred Thousand Naira).
“He was further interrogated and admitted to having engaged in a pig-butchering scam and benefitted the sum of $2000 (Two Thousand United States Dollars) from it.”
Usman proceeded to request the admission of the defendant’s extrajudicial statement, fraudulent documents from his iPhone and laptop, and the management cheque he issued.
Justice Oweibo accepted these as exhibits A, B, C, C1, D, and E, subsequently convicting Karinate as charged.
Despite the conviction, Karinate conveyed remorse for his participation in the criminal activity, pledging to the court that he would refrain from engaging in internet fraud in the future.
Advocating for leniency, Karinate’s counsel, Chikezie Kingsley, emphasized that the defendant was a first-time offender.
In the verdict, Justice Oweibo imposed a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) as the penalty for the conviction.
. . . As Operatives Recover Dangerous Weapons, Other Assets
As part of the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to emplace peace and public safety across Nigeria, operatives attached to the Imo State Police Command achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against terrorism.
The feat saw operatives neutralised three deadly terrorist kingpins associated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN), destroyed their camps and recovered weapons.
In a statement on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Saturday, the NPF wrote, “On January 24, 2025, operatives from the Command’s tactical Unit following credible intelligence launched a coordinated operation aimed at locating and dislodging the terrorist hideouts.
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“The police operatives located the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe LGA. Upon approach, the operatives came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists but demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
“The operation resulted in the neutralization of 6 members of the terrorist group, with 3 being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)— all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area, and the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with 8 operational motorcycles used by the group.
“Prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.
“The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination.
“The IGP charges police operatives across commands and formations to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at reducing crimes drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety.
“Members of the public are hereby urged to remain vigilant and work collaboratively with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and ensure a safer environment for all citizens.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of renowned gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.
Biztellers reports that Thankgod is facing allegations of involvement in a $345,000 fraud case.
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The arrest warrant had been issued by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court on January 16, 2025, following an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking to compel Thankgod’s appearance in court.
During a court session on Friday, EFCC counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, applied to withdraw the warrant, stating that the charges had already been served on Thankgod’s lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, SAN, during open court proceedings.
She argued that the warrant was no longer necessary.
Justice Owoeye granted the application and formally vacated the bench warrant.
Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, appeared in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday to challenge charges of N12.3 billion fraud.
Biztellers reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 13-count indictment against Otudeko, along with Olabisi Onasanya, former Managing Director of FirstBank Plc., Soji Akintayo, a former board member of Honeywell, and Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
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During the proceedings, the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), raised an objection, stating that the charge had not been properly served to Otudeko or his co-defendants.
Olanipekun emphasized this issue as a reason for protest in court.
The EFCC has accused the individuals and the company of fraudulently obtaining N12.3 billion under false pretenses.
More to follow………..
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