
News
DATA: Proprietor, student arrested over ‘N1.23bn fraud’
Detectives from the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Lagos have arrested a 32-year-old student at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Timothy Oluwabukola Fashina and the Proprietor of Resign Regal Academy, Benin City, Edo State, Anthony Imonina Odemerho allegedly over a N1.23 billion airtime fraud.
The suspects were alleged to have fraudulently converted airtime valued at N1.227 billion to their personal use.
Their arrests were sequel to a petition to the police by one of the GSM operators in Nigeria following an Audit Report which showed discrepancies between Revenue Collection Accounts and Fulfilments.
Based on the petition, a team of detectives from PSFU were detailed to investigate the matter.
Investigation by the detectives revealed that between February and March 2024, Timothy Fashina, connived with yet to be identified 3rd-Party Web/Application Developers of the GSM Company, who used Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt their data.

It was learnt that with the aid of the encryption, the suspects were able to mask their IP addresses and compromised the Network of the GSM provider by utilizing authorization keys to gain entry into the Application Programme Interface (API) of the firm.
PSFU Public Relations Officer, SP Eyitayo Johnson, who confirmed the arrests, alleged that the suspects through the unauthorized key allowed the functionalities of the API to be manipulated by Timothy Fashina.
Johnson said the suspects allegedly repeatedly replicate N100,000 worth of airtime ticket which was genuinely bought on the network to obtain series of multiple airtime fulfilments to the tune of N1.23 billion unto some GSM numbers.
He said afterwards, Anthony Imonina, based in Benin City, Edo State, downloaded the Mobile App of the GSM provider from Playstore and signed in with the Phone Number of Timothy Fashina.
“Anthony used it to proceed to the dashboard of the App. Anthony requested an OTP from the GSM Provider which the network automatically sent as SMS to the phone housing/hosting the sim card as at the material time of attempt to log into the App.
“It is at this juncture that Anthony Imonina contacted Timothy Fashina who promptly provided the OTP before the request timed-out. Imonina imputed the OTP and was allowed entry into the GSM Mobile App of Timothy Fashina. Having gained access to the App and its features, Anthony Imonina proceeded to convert the fraudulently obtained airtime to data (using “airtime-to-airtime” options of the App) and shared/sold same (using “share-data” option of the App) to 52 innocent subscribers which included individuals and companies.
“The sum of N1.315 billion being payments received for the sold data was traced to the bank accounts of Anthony Imonina who forwarded N1.220 billion to Timothy Fashina, having deducted his commission of N87.5 million from the proceed of the sale of data.
“The proceeds of the fraud include 110 hectares of farmland at Iseyin, Oyo State valued at N40 million, uncompleted building at Oluwo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, valued at N6 million, 2-storey warehouse at Okeyeke, Abeokuta, Ogun State (value yet to be determined), inventory of stocks in warehouse valued at N50 million, towing/truck head valued at N24 million, crypto wallet 21,000 USDT, gift to friends N16 million, two Hiace buses, Toyota Sienna and a Volkswagen bus.
“The legal section of the unit has filed criminal charges against the suspects at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi – Lagos. Effort is being intensified to apprehend the 3rd-party developers who are members of the syndicate and to identify other assets acquired with the proceeds of fraud,” he said. (Daily Trust)
News
Gunmen on rampage in Awka: Popular media personality- Isaac Nwosu shot dead
• Police Commissioner visits family, vows to get perpetrators
By Chuks Collins, Awka
Some yet to be identified three-man assassins suspected to be cultists have k!lled a very popular media personality in Awka Sunday afternoon.
The popular public announcer and broadcaster/radio guest artiste, comedian -Isaac Nwosu, aka ‘Aiza Nwosu’, was according to eye witnesses shot point while on the steering on the street of the Anambra capital city of Awka.
He was said to have been shot alongside two other victims at separate locations, point-blank, gangster style.
The State Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Oji Ama, today 31st August 2026 after a 2-hour closed-door strategic meeting with the Command’s strategic and operational officers as part of ongoing efforts to reassess information from the public especially within Awka to strengthen security operations and sustain the fight against violent crime, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Nwosu.

In his reaction shortly after the visit, Ama vowed to fish out the assailants.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to journalists said the unfortunate acts were apparently by the same assailants on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Late Nwosu was shot along S.M. Okeke Street, Amaikwo area of Awka.
Whereas the other victims were shot dead along Capital City Road, Amaenyi area in Awka.
Eyewitnesses and residents believed the dastardly act. were cult related.
According to one of the witnesses, “The assailants, numbering about three and driving in a tinted vehicle, trailed the comedian from his home, double-crossed his vehicle and before attacking and shooting him dead.
“They left the victim in a pool of blood inside his car. As they drove some distance away, they also shot another victim d3ad by the roadside, dispossessed him of his belongings and fled.
“The assailants fired some shots into the air before leaving the scene in a commando-like manner, thereby creating tension in the area. After they left, the security operatives arrived at the scene and recovered the lifeless bodies of the victims.
“The security operatives later beefed up security around the areas following the incident.”
Some videos circulating online showed the lifeless bodies of the victims lying in pools of blood at different locations as onlookers gathered around the scenes.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, August 31.
News
Kano APC Chairman shot dead by terrorists
Terrorists have shot dead the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman of Rantan Ward in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Garba Buba, during an attack on the community.
Buba was killed on Sunday night, August 30, 2026, after terrorists reportedly invaded Rantan community and opened fire on residents. Another resident identified as Sulaiman Zunduma was also killed during the attack.
A resident of the community, Hamza Isah Rantan, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post, saying the attack forced residents to flee their homes in search of safety.
According to Hamza, the terrorists shot Buba inside his house before he was taken to a hospital for treatment. He, however, died from the injuries sustained during the attack.
Hamza also said Zunduma was shot during the invasion and died instantly. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims while praying for the recovery of those who sustained injuries.

“On Sunday night kidnappers attacked our town, Rantan, where they shot Alhaji Garab Buha, the APC ward chairman in Rantan, who later died in a hospital. They also killed another resident, Sulaiman Zunduma,” Hamza said.
The development was also confirmed by the Kano State APC spokesperson, Alhaji Auwalu Soja, who said Buba was killed on Sunday. He added that the party would issue an official statement on the incident.
The killing occurred less than 24 hours after another attack in the area, where three residents of Garun-Mallam were reportedly killed by unidentified attackers. The successive attacks have heightened concerns over the security situation in communities around the area.
The latest killing has further raised concerns over the safety of residents in Kano communities, with calls growing for security agencies to strengthen operations and prevent further attacks.
As of the time of this report, the identities and motives of those responsible for the Rantan attack had not been officially established.
News
Ex-Bayelsa Gov, Timipre Sylva dumps APC, gives reasons
Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, citing what he described as the party’s departure from its founding ideals.
Sylva, a founding member of the APC, announced his resignation in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He said he made the decision after consulting his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers.
Sylva also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it had disappointed most Nigerians and expressing confidence that voters would seek a change in the 2027 general elections.
In the letter, which was electronically delivered, Sylva said he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders appeared to believe that “all is fair in politics.”

He wrote, “Having consulted widely with my family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, I wish to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect.
“As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted.
“Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics;’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice.
“All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it. Unfortunately, this mentality appears to underpin virtually every action, and even inaction, of this administration.”
The former governor said the APC-led government had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, adding that he saw no realistic effort to change its direction.
“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” he said.
Sylva said he had therefore decided to leave the party rather than remain part of what he described as a “floundering ship.”
“I am therefore left with no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities. I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,” he stated.
Sylva also explained why he copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in his resignation letter.
He said he knew the decision could lead to increased scrutiny of him and his associates but was prepared to face the consequences.
“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take,” he said.
Copies of the resignation letter were also sent to the National Chairman of the APC, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC and the APC Chairman in Bayelsa State.
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