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Six Internet Fraudsters Bag Jail Terms In Calabar

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Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has convicted and sentenced six internet fraudsters to six months’ imprisonment each for criminal impersonation, love scam and identity theft.

The convicts are: Chibo Udoka (aka Zxoya Andric, Kelly Rose, Chimata Harry), John Inimfon Okpokpo ( Grace Boar),Emediong Ekerete Bassey (aka Thiwe Ploka), Otu Ginikachi  Samuel (alias Chris Hemsworth), Goodluck John Bassey (aka Tom Jones) and Asogwa Ifebuche Lukas (alias Daniela Crystal).

They were charged to court by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on  two-count separate charges, to which they pleaded guilty.

ALSO READ: EFCC Challenges Mompha To Prove Corruption Allegation

One of the counts reads: ‘That you, Otu Ginikachi Samuel (aka Chris Hemsworth) sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court fraudulently presented yourself as Chris Hemsworth (a United State of American Citizen) to Tymoshenko Anatoly Grihorovych (Ukrainian Citizen) on Facebook with fraudulent intent, gained advantage of the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) for yourself from the said Tymoshenko Anatoly Grihorovych and thereby committed the offence of identity theft contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (0) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention) (amendment) Act 2024 and punishable under 22 (b) (iv) of the same Act.

Another reads: ‘That you Chibo Udoka Mgborogwu (aka Zoya Andric, Kelly Rose Chimata Harry), sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as ZOYA ANDRIC,KELLY ROSE CHIMATA HARRY on Social Media platform (Whatsapp, Instagram) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b)0) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Amendment Act 2024 and punishable under Section 22(b) (iv) of the same Act”.

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them and based on their pleas,  prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmud prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly,  but the defence counsels Udeme Tom, Innocent Ekeize and Henry Effiong prayed the court for lighter sentences for the defendants, on the ground that they were first time offenders.

After listening to both the prosecution and defence counsel,  Justice Ojukwu, convicted and sentenced Emediong Bassey, Otu Samuel, Asogwa Lucas and John Okpokpo to six months imprisonment on each of the two count charges. The sentences are to run concurrently, while Goodluck Bassey and Chibo Mgborogwu were sentenced to six months jail term each on one count. The convicts were all given the option to  pay a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira only (N500,000) each.

Four of the convicts were ordered to restitute the following sums: Emediong Bassey One Thousand Five Hundred Rands (R1500); Otu Samuel One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00); John Okpokpo One Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars ($150 US) and Asogwa Lucas One Hundred United States Dollars ($100 US). The six convicts forfeited all gadgets used in committing the crimes to the Federal Government.

The convicts were arrested in Uyo between May and June 2024, following verified intelligence regarding their criminal activities on the internet.

Crime

Shock in Abia as NDLEA Arrests Two Grandfathers for Selling Drugs to Secondary Students

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men aged 84 and 75 for allegedly supplying illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State, in a shocking case that has stirred public concern.

The suspects, identified as Godfrey Orji (84) and Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora (75), were arrested in separate intelligence-led operations by NDLEA operatives over their alleged involvement in drug distribution within school communities.

Drugs hidden in patent medicine shop

According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Obiora was arrested on June 19, 2026, after credible intelligence linked him to selling illicit substances to students from his patent medicine store located at 4 Club Road, Umuahia.

SEE MORE: ‘They Beat Me Like a Criminal’— Ex-BBN Housemate Opens Up On NDLEA Nightclub Raid Ordeal

A search of the premises reportedly led to the recovery of 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
Babafemi stated: “Pa Obiora was arrested by NDLEA operatives following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store.”

Arrest at school exposes second suspect

In a separate operation, Godfrey Orji, a pensioner, was apprehended after he was allegedly caught supplying drugs to students of Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia.

Security guards at the school reportedly intercepted him and handed him over to the police, who later transferred him to the NDLEA.

One of the teenage students, a 15-year-old SS2 pupil, allegedly confessed during interrogation that the suspect regularly supplied him with drugs, which he also sold to other students.

Students moved to rehabilitation

The NDLEA confirmed that while the two suspects will face prosecution, the affected students have been placed under counselling and rehabilitation programmes as part of efforts to curb drug abuse in schools.

Nationwide crackdown continues

The Abia arrests come amid ongoing nationwide operations by the NDLEA, which also recorded major drug seizures across the country In Lagos, operatives intercepted 9.5kg of ADB-Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid concealed in a shipment from China.

Another raid uncovered 300 grams of cannabis (“Loud”) hidden in handbags at a logistics facility.

A drug dealer’s home in Ajah was raided, with codeine syrup and cannabis recovered.
In Kogi State, a suspect was arrested with 1.030kg of methamphetamine hidden in custard containers.

In Oyo State, operatives recovered 1,416kg of skunk during a major raid.

In Edo State, large cannabis farms were destroyed, with over 4,000kg of cannabis recovered or eradicated.

NDLEA vows stronger enforcement

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended operatives across multiple states for their coordinated operations and urged them to sustain the momentum.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to both enforcement and public sensitisation under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

The NDLEA says it will continue its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, especially those targeting vulnerable young people in school environments, as investigations and prosecutions continue in the Abia case.

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Crime

Shock in Kano as Popular TikToker Is Detained Over Boyfriend’s Death

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Belgian Government Ban Usage Of TikTok On Official Phones

Popular TikTok personality, Fati Cele, has been detained by the Kano State Police Command following the death of her boyfriend, Isma’il Makaye, at her residence in Kano State.

The development was confirmed on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna, who said the social media influencer is currently in custody while investigations continue.

ALSO READ: Facebook, TikTok, X Under Fire as NDPC Targets Privacy Violations

“Yes, it’s true, the TikToker is currently being detained over the death of her boyfriend, Isma’il Makaye,” Haruna said.

The police spokesperson, however, declined to provide further details regarding the incident, stressing that investigations are ongoing.

Fati Cele, who is originally from Borno State, resides in a rented apartment in the Danbare area of Kano.

She is a well-known content creator on TikTok, where she has built a following of more than 32,000 followers.

According to a source close to the deceased who spoke on condition of anonymity, the incident occurred after Cele allegedly raised an alarm from her residence, claiming there was a fire outbreak.

The source said Makaye was immediately rushed to Nassarawa Hospital for treatment but was later confirmed dead.

It was further gathered that officers attached to the Dorayi Babba Police Division subsequently took the TikTok personality into custody as part of ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The deceased, Makaye, was a cosmetics trader who lived in the Hotoro Tishama area of Kano.

Family associates disclosed that he was buried at Unguwa Uku Yan Awaki after his remains were released to relatives for burial rites.

The Kano State Police Command has yet to disclose the exact cause of death, maintaining that investigations are still underway.

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Fake Job Offer Exposed as Police Rescue Young Women from Alleged Sex Trade

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#Nigeria Decides: 10,000 Security Personnel Deployed In Plateau

The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered an alleged human trafficking scheme and arrested a woman accused of attempting to traffic three young women from Kaduna State to Ivory Coast for prostitution.

The victims, aged between 18 and 20, were reportedly lured from Kaduna to Lagos with promises of legitimate employment at a restaurant.

However, upon arriving in the Ajegunle area of Lagos on May 23, they allegedly discovered that the job offer was a cover for a plan to send them abroad for prostitution.

SEE ALSO: 50 Cent Breaks Silence On Sex Trafficking, Rape Allegations Against Diddy

According to information obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), one of the victims became suspicious after learning of the suspect’s alleged intentions and immediately objected to the arrangement.

A police source disclosed that the young woman informed the suspect that prostitution was never part of the agreement and that they had travelled to Lagos believing they were coming for genuine employment opportunities.

“She immediately told the suspect that prostitution was not what they had been told they were coming to Lagos for,” the source said.

The source further revealed that the suspect allegedly took the girls to a motor park in preparation for their movement out of the country.

“The suspect allegedly took the girls to a motor park with plans to facilitate their movement out of the country.

“Alarmed by the development, one of the victims approached the police and lodged a complaint.

“Following the report, detectives launched an investigation and subsequently apprehended the suspect,” the source added.

Following the complaint, detectives launched an investigation that led to the arrest of the suspect.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Tijani, subsequently ordered that the case be transferred from the Tolu Police Division in Ajegunle to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for a thorough investigation.

The case is currently being handled by the Anti-Human Trafficking/Gender Unit of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr. Dayo Akinbisehin.

Investigators are probing allegations of conspiracy, deception and human trafficking, while efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims reportedly being held by an accomplice and identify additional members of the suspected trafficking network.

The police source also disclosed that the victims were never informed about the alleged plan before leaving Kaduna and that one of them became alarmed only after learning of the intention to transport them abroad for prostitution.

Authorities said investigations have been concluded and the suspect is expected to be charged to court soon.

 

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