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FBI declares Nigerian wanted for $30m COVID-19 fraud

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• Obasi allegedly posed as ventilator seller

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has declared a Nigerian, Chidozie Collins Obasi, wanted over $30m fraud.

According to the FBI, Obasi was indicted and wanted for defrauding New York State more than $30 million by posing as a ventilator seller during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also said that aside from posing as ventilator seller, the suspect targeted Americans through a spam email campaign offering illegitimate “work from home” jobs, adding that the 29-year-old Obasi perpetrated the fraud from Nigeria, with the help of co-conspirators in Canada and elsewhere.

A statement by the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, US Attorney Jacqueline Romero said the suspect was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, six counts of mail fraud, and 16 counts of wire fraud.

The statement read: “The defendant and his co-conspirators are alleged to have obtained more than $31,000,000 through this multi-faceted fraud scheme, with the overwhelming majority of that money – more than $30 million – coming from the State of New York for the intended purchase of ventilators.

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“The scheme alleged in the Indictment began in September 2018, with a spam email campaign that offered phony “work from home” jobs. When a person responded to the phony job offer, Obasi or a co-conspirator posed as a representative of a legitimate company, often a supposed medical equipment supplier based outside the United States, and offered the person a job as the company’s U.S. representative with responsibilities including collecting on outstanding invoices.

“A co-conspirator in Canada then sent the new “employee” counterfeit checks purportedly from customers of the company, and the new “employee” deposited the checks, took a commission, and wired the rest of the money to a foreign bank account ostensibly owned by the fake company. As alleged in the Indictment, Obasi and his co-conspirators obtained more than $1 million in this manner.

“The Indictment further alleges that in approximately March 2020, soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States and ventilators were in high demand, Obasi posed as a representative of an Indonesian-based medical supply company offering ventilators for sale, and claimed to have a large stockpile of ventilators manufactured by a German company whose headquarters was in Telford, PA.

 The defendant allegedly convinced a medical equipment broker in the U.S. to broker sales of these non-existent ventilators, and ultimately deceived the State of New York into wiring more than $30 million for the purchase of ventilators that did not exist.

Obasi continued to target other potential customers with this same scam, including hospitals.

“Later, in approximately June 2020, the Indictment alleges that Obasi and his co-conspirators took advantage of the EID Loan program by using stolen identities of U.S. citizens to apply for and obtain more than $135,000 in EID Loan proceeds.

“Obasi is presently a fugitive, and the United States is seeking to locate and arrest him. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts should contact their local FBI Office.

“If caught and convicted, Obasi faces a maximum sentence of 621 years in prison, a five-year period of supervised release, and a $5,750,000 fine. Obasi also will be required to make full restitution of the more than $31,000,000 that he obtained by fraud.

“The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael S. Lowe.”

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BREAKING: JAMB releases first batch of 2026 UTME results, warns against score manipulation

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Thursday.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Friday.

According to the Board, candidates can now access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to either 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number registered during the examination process.

At this stage, only result viewing is available, as printing of result slips has not yet been enabled.

JAMB emphasised that the UTME exercise is still ongoing, adding that additional batches of results will be released progressively as marking and processing continue.

The Board also issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or falsify results.

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It cautioned candidates against altering SMS messages received from its official platforms to misrepresent their scores to others, including parents and guardians.

JAMB Releases Results of 632,788 Candidates from Day One of the 2026 UTME
The results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, candidates should send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026

Describing such actions as a serious criminal offence, JAMB disclosed that it has already taken action against offenders. “Two candidates and one parent are currently in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement revealed.

The Board reiterated that anyone found guilty of such misconduct would face the full weight of the law.

JAMB urged candidates to adhere strictly to official channels and maintain integrity throughout the examination process, as it continues efforts to ensure a credible and transparent admissions system in Nigeria.

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Arewa APC Forum withdraws support for Tinubu citing nepotism, incompetence

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The Arewa APC Forum, Kano State chapter, has announced the withdrawal of its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns over governance and leadership direction.

In a statement dated April 17, 2026, the forum said its decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on the state of affairs at the federal level.

The group stated that it could no longer, “in good conscience,” continue to support the current administration, which it criticised over alleged issues including nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.

“We believe that leadership must inspire confidence, uphold fairness, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity, institutional integrity, and responsible governance,” the statement read.

It added that where such values are persistently undermined, “silence becomes complicity.”

The forum further declared that its confidence in the current political direction has been withdrawn, urging its members to align with this position in future political engagements.

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The statement was signed by Sallah Hakilu Kibiya, chairman of the forum in Kano State.

The development signals potential cracks within support structures linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the northern region, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.

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Sen. Ngwu donates security gadgets to Forest Guards, lauds Mbah’s investment in security

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The Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu, has donated critical security equipment to the Enugu State Forest Guard to bolster its operational capacity and sustain the state’s strides in combating insecurity.

The donation, made on Friday at the Forest Guard Command headquarters in Enugu, included tested body armour, bulletproof vests and helmets, long-range binoculars, communication radios, and first aid materials aimed at improving field efficiency and personnel safety.

Speaking during the presentation, Senator Ngwu commended Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as unprecedented investment in the state’s security architecture, noting that Enugu has emerged as a reference point in security management.

“To the glory of God, we have a governor who is overperforming and understands what governance entails across all sectors. Particularly in security, only a few people know that the Command and Control Centre in Enugu is currently the best in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the level of sophistication of the centre surpasses what is obtainable even at the federal level, stressing that the infrastructure has significantly strengthened efforts to safeguard lives and property.

The lawmaker explained that his intervention was inspired by the governor’s commitment to security, emphasizing that governance requires collective responsibility.

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He called on citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible information.

“There is a saying in security: if you see something, you must say something. Without information, the work becomes more difficult,” he noted.

Ngwu also acknowledged that insecurity can heighten during election periods, sometimes driven by political activities, but maintained that a responsible government must remain proactive in tackling threats and ensuring that criminal elements are brought to justice.

Highlighting the state’s Security Trust Fund, he noted that it supports multiple security agencies, including the police, army, DSS, neighbourhood watch, and the Forest Guard, adding that his donation was a modest contribution to complement the governor’s efforts.

Reacting, the Chairman of the Enugu State Forest Guard Board, Col. Daniel Chukwu (rtd.), described the donation as timely, recalling that the agency initially met a “broken and dysfunctional system” which required rebuilding from the ground up.

“We thank the governor for the enabling environment and unwavering support. Every proposal aimed at improving operations and welfare receives prompt approval,” he said.

Chukwu disclosed that the first batch of personnel had been trained in Osun State, with positive results already evident, and urged other stakeholders to emulate the senator’s gesture.

Also speaking, the Commander of the Forest Guard, DCP Olasoji Akinbayo (rtd) described the donation as a morale booster, noting that it would enhance ongoing operations across the state’s forests.

“You have set the ball rolling with this uncommon act. We expect more support from citizens so that we can do more,” he said.

He further revealed that the state government had procured over 1,000 sophisticated rifles for the outfit, enabling operatives to intensify efforts in tackling crime and securing forested areas.

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