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Internet Scam: EFCC secures over 20 convictions in one week
Internet fraudsters have continued their criminal activities across the country in spite of the intensification of crackdown by anti-graft agencies.
There has been a spike in the activities of internet scams with some concerned Nigerians especially within the security agencies canvassing stiffer penalties for the culprits, arguing that the imposition of fines as an option for court sentences, does not deter the culprits.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured over 20 convictions last week as captured in the reports below:
Adamawa courts jail twelve internet fraudsters
Justices Kayanson Samuel Lawanson, Hammed Isha , Benjamin Manji Lawal and Mohammed Ibrahim Tola of the Adamawa State High Court, Adamawa State have convicted and sentenced twelve internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
The convicts are: Oladele Pius, Emmanuel Bulus , Elijah Elisha , Alamin Mohammed Bappa , Jamilu Usman ,and Enoch Solomon
Others are : Emmanuel Anthony, Enebeli Samuel Isreal , Dimas Hyellabulatin, Emmanuel Dike , Joshua Umoru and Dan Eden Sunday ..
They were separately arraigned between November 6 and 7, 2024 on a one count charge of cheating and impersonation by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.
The charge against Alamin Muhammad Bappa reads: “Alamin Muhammad Bappa sometimes in September, 2024 at Sangere area of Modibo Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud one Amity Shane and other unsuspecting foreign nationals, created some fake Gmail’ and Facebook accounts using the name Jacob sermon to pose as a cybersecurity professional that helps people to recover their compromised or blocked Facebook accounts for a service fee of $20 each and thereby committed an offense of cheating by impersonation contrary to Section 314 of Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018 and punishable under Section 315 of the same law”.
The charge against Oladele Pius reads: “ that you Oladele Pius sometimes in September, 2024 in Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being a student of Modibo Adamawa University of Technology Yola, with intent to defraud, did cheat by Impersonation, Having created and operating one Mr. Legit Hassan Abbadin a foreign national with Whatsapp account No. +1 (842) 921332016, through your Your iphone 11 Model No. MWNC2CH/A for ” a virtual funds transactions” with a motive of gaining a financial advantage from other unsuspecting internet users and thereby committed an offense of cheating by impersonation contrary to Section 314 of Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018 and punishable under Section 315 of the same law
Upon arraignment , the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting prosecution counsel Saad .H Sa’ad and M.D Aliyu to pray the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly; however, counsels to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy .
Justice Lawanson thereafter convicted and sentenced Bulus , Elisha , Usman and Israel to ten years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each. However, Hyellabulati bagged five years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000
Justice Tola convicted and sentenced Dike , Umoru , Sunday and Pius to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N2,000,000( Two Million Naira )each
Justice Lawal convicted and sentenced Bappa and Solomon to five years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each .
Justice Isha convicted and sentenced Anthony to ten years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000 (Three hundred thousand Naira)
The Judges ruled that the mobile phones recovered during investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria .
In addition, Justice Lawal ordered that the sum of $20 recovered during investigation from Bappa and being proceeds of crime, be returned to the victim.
The convicts were arrested on September 24, 2024 around Modibo Adamawa University of Technology area of Yola, Adamawa State by operatives of the Commission following actionable intelligence linking them with cybercrimes activities. They were charged to court and convicted.
Court jails four internet fraudsters in Cross River
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar has convicted and sentenced the quartet of Itoro Eno Akpan, Abasifreke Uwem, Elisha Asuquo Nnah (a.k.a Jong Seck) and Ezinwa Emmanuel Ikenna to various jail terms for internet fraud.
The convicts were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate on two-count charges bordering on cybercrime, money laundering and impersonation.
The charge against Akpan reads: “That you Itoro Eno Akpan, sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did take possession of the sum of $400 (Four Hundred Dollars) which you reasonably ought to have known forms proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
That of Nnah reads: “That you, Elisha Asuquo Nnah (a.k.a Jong Seck) sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court took possession of $300 (Three Hundred US Dollars) knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022”.
They all pled “guilty” when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Kharmis Mahmud to review the facts of the cases, tendered the statements of the defendants , print out fictitious and misleading information from their communication devices, all of which were admitted in evidence and prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Ojukwu convicted and sentenced Akpan and Uwem to one year jail term on each of their two counts, which is to run concurrently. Furthermore, Akpan is to restitute the sum of $400 USD to his victim and Uwem to restitute $200 USD to his. Nnah and Ikenna were convicted and sentenced to two years jail term each on either of the two counts. In addition, Nnah is to restitute the sum of $300 to his victim while Ikenna is to restitute the sum of $800 to his. Furthermore, all their mobile devices are to be auctioned and the proceeds deposited into the federal government’s Treasury Account, while all the restitutions from the convicts would be lodged in the federal government treasury if the victims were not located.
The convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet fraud. They were charged to court and convicted.
Internet fraudster, one other jailed for N9.4m scam in Borno
Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court, Maiduguri, on Monday, November 18, 2024, convicted and sentenced one Mpada Ishaku Dzarma to nine years imprisonment.
Dzarma was first arraigned on May 4th, 2024 by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering and cybercrime to the tune of N 9,000,000.00 (Nine Million Naira).
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Mpada Ishaku Dzarma between 2023 and 2024 at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly take possession of aggregate sum of N9,000,000.00 (nine million naira) only into your Access Bank with Account No. 1233383458, Mpada Ishaku Dzarma being the naira equivalent value of the Cash App, Pampay, and Gift Cards denominated in United States of America Dollars which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known is proceeds of your fraud or form part of an unlawful act to wit: falsely representing yourself to unsuspecting foreign nationals amongst who are; Nils Kaptur with social media account @nilf_kpt, Grace Wamalwa, @ejstorm53 e.t.c as a software engineer based in Holly wood, Texas and could unblock and activate blocked tiktok account and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty, which set the stage for the commencement of trial.
Similarly, at the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant through his counsel H. M Dauda prayed the court to change his plea.
Thereafter, the charge was read to him and he pleaded “guilty” to all the count charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
Justice Dagat thereafter, convicted and sentenced Dzarma on count one to four years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200,000.00 ( Two Hundred Thousand Naira only) and on count two he was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200,000.00.
The Judge further ordered the forfeiture of iPhone 14 pro max, Android phone Redmi 4C model, used Toyota Corolla 2008, five pieces of Blink necklace and one blink penchant to the Federal Government of Nigeria that were recovered from him in the course of investigation.
The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested by operatives of Maiduguri’s Zonal Directorate of the EFCC for internet-related offences. He was charged to court and convicted.
In another development, one Amuda Ayuba was arraigned on Monday, November 18, 2024, before Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court, on a one-count charge for the offence of Money Laundering to the tune of N 401,006.98 (Four Hundred and One Thousand, Six Naira, Ninety-eight kobo).
The lone count reads: “That you Amuda Ayuba sometime in 2021, in Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst being a POS Operator did accept the transfer of a total sum of N 401,006.98 (Four Hundred and One Thousand, Six Naira, Ninety-eight kobo) into your first and second POS account No. 1040660023 and 1040906053, account name Amuda Ayuba domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc from a customer whose identity you fail to verify and undertake due diligence of the customer before carrying on transaction of electronic money transfer and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4(1)&(2) and Section 19(1)(F) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.
Counsel to the prosecution Faruk Muhammad prayed the court for a trial and date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.
Justice Dagat adjourned for the commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in prison custody.
The defendant’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested by operatives of Maiduguri’s Zonal Directorate of the EFCC for failing to verify and undertake due diligence before carrying on the transaction of electronic money transfer.
• Ogalla: Mbah making unprecedented marks
• South East making tremendous progress – Gen. Musa
Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (rtd), has been described as a patriot, a man of courageous, and exemplary officer whose career was defined by selfless service to Nigeria and an enduring commitment to national security and human capital development.
The encomiums were poured on the ex-service chief during a reception organised in his honour by the Enugu State Government to mark the successful completion of his tenure as Chief of the Naval Staff.
Speaking at the event, which took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, at the weekend, Governor Peter Mbah said that the former service chief earned the love of his people and colleagues through impactful leadership that transcended the ranks he wore and the offices he occupied.
“Rank gives you authority. It does not automatically earn devotion. Office can command respect. But neither can command love. That is earned quietly, over time, through relationship and by the way you treat people when no one is watching,” he stated.
He commended Ogalla’s commitment to security and human capital development, highlighting the establishment of a naval base at Ogurugu, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, and Navy Secondary School, Umuopu, both in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State.
“An operational naval base strengthens security today, and a naval school will help shape tomorrow’s leaders. One protects the present. The other invests in the future,” he said.
Mbah urged Nigerians to emulate the Ex-Naval chief’s exemplary service at their various levels of leadership.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), stressed that Ogalla’s military career was marked by professionalism, discipline, courage, innovation, patriotism and unwavering commitment to peace, repositioning the Navy as strategic partner in protecting the nation’s maritime interests.
“He is someone that transforms. His genius, integrity, discipline, and commitment to excellence earned him the respect of colleagues, supporters, and the nation,” Musa stated.
The minister emphasised his faith in the strategic import of the South East to Nigeria and commended the progress made by the region in general and Enugu State in particular under Governor Mbah’s leadership in the last three years.
“We are proud of the South East. And my joy is that South East is getting it right. Within three years, we have seen massive changes across South East,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described Ogalla as a calm, humble, highly intelligent and dedicated officer whose exemplary leadership and professionalism had set a high standard in the Nigerian Navy.
Recalling their days together at the Nigerian Defence Academy and their decades of military service, Aneke said the former service chief’s character and achievements had inspired younger officers, noting that the outpouring of emotion during his pulling-out ceremony was a testament to the kind of leader he was.
“Sir, I want to thank you on behalf of the good people of Enugu State; you fought the good battle. You represented us well and we’re proud you’re our own,” he said.
He also commended Governor Mbah for organising the reception, saying, “If you don’t celebrate your own, nobody would do that for you.”
Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, commended Governor Peter Mbah for fulfilling his promise to honour Ogalla and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chief of the Naval Staff.
As the traditional ruler representing Ogalla’s senatorial zone, Igwe Asadu stressed that the event was a powerful demonstration of gratitude, noting that there was no virtue greater than honouring those who had served their people and country faithfully.
Responding, Ogalla expressed immense gratitude to Enugu State, his family, military constituency, and friends for the love shown to him.
“I must specifically thank the Governor for organising this event. I must say that I am overwhelmed by what I have seen here today,” he stated.
He commended Mbah for his massive development strides and for adopting both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in the fight against insecurity.
“I believe that what our Governor is doing is unprecedented. And I believe that we need to give him maximum support to do for the people of Enugu State and Nigeria to grow.
“The modern concept of security is not just military might and weapons, but also human security, improving the capacity of the citizens, providing employment, providing education. And these are exactly what the Governor is taking as his priorities,” he emphasised.
He expressed special gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to rise to the pinnacle of his career and to actualise his dream to take the Nigerian Navy to greater heights.
The event was attended by serving and retired military chiefss and prominent leaders, including former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani; former Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (Retd.); former Chief of the Army Staff and former Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.
Suspected bandits have launched a deadly attack on Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing a woman, abducting another resident, and leaving several others feared dead.
According to multiple residents who spoke with Sahara Reporters, the attack was carried out on Sunday morning after the heavily armed assailants stormed the community, firing indiscriminately, which forced residents to flee into nearby bushes and other safe locations.
The residents decried the absence of security personnel, accusing the authorities of failing to protect the community despite repeated appeals over persistent security threats in the area.
One of the residents said, “Lata Nna is currently under attack right now by bandits.”
The latest assault comes barely a day after a resident identified as Mohammed Abubakar Ndakpada Lata was abducted by suspected bandits while returning from his farm, with his captors reportedly demanding ₦100 million ransom for his release.
A resident said the attackers killed villagers, adding that the exact number of casualties had yet to be established.
“Some people were killed. The victims were at the back of the village. They were just killed there,” the source said.
“As I’m speaking with you, I have not yet confirmed the total number of people killed. However, I can confirm that one Nupe woman was killed. She had gone behind the village to fetch firewood and was attacked.
“The woman is dead. People are now searching the area, and we will know later if there are more victims. As I’m talking to you, I cannot confirm that yet.”
The resident narrated how the attack caught the community by surprise, noting that there was no security presence when the gunmen struck.
“I was in the town when I suddenly heard gunshots. I was wondering what was happening because there is no security presence in our village,” the resident said.
“The gunshots were not from locally made guns. We believe the attackers came unexpectedly. The vigilantes responded, but before they got there, they confirmed that one woman had already been killed.”
The resident lamented that the latest attack was only one in a long series of invasions that have turned life in the community into a nightmare, saying kidnappings and killings have become almost a daily occurrence.
Responding to a question on whether the attack was the first on the community, the source said: “Just the day before yesterday, my uncle was kidnapped while returning from his farm. The farm is less than two kilometres from the village. Yesterday, the kidnappers called and demanded a ransom of ₦100 million.
“Yes, he is still in their custody. These attacks happen almost every day. We have repeatedly appealed to the government to establish a military camp in our community, but they keep telling us the process is ongoing. Meanwhile, people are being killed and kidnapped every day. I don’t know what is going on.”
Residents said the continued attacks have left the community living in fear, as armed bandits reportedly move freely through the area while villagers remain vulnerable to repeated kidnappings and killings.
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three women for their alleged involvement in child trafficking and the sale of a four-year-old boy for N2m.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspects, Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, were arrested by operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters at a motor park in Onitsha.
Ikenga alleged that the suspects belonged to a child trafficking syndicate that specialised in trafficking children and selling them to buyers for various sums of money.
According to him, the suspects were arrested during a raid on their hideouts on Saturday evening, while other members of the syndicate escaped. He added that some children were rescued during the operation.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command, on the evening of July 11, recorded another breakthrough in its sustained fight against child trafficking with the arrest of three female suspects, Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, at a motor park in Onitsha by police operatives attached to Awada Divisional Headquarters.
“Preliminary information revealed how Chinasa Daniel allegedly brought two children, a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child, on two separate occasions between June and December 2025 and handed them over to Hannah Ugah.
“Chinasa further disclosed that the four-year-old child was subsequently handed over to Florence Nnakuzie and allegedly sold for the sum of N2 million, while the two-week-old baby was allegedly sold to another woman, who is currently at large.”
According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, described child trafficking as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity and directed the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for a comprehensive and discreet investigation.
“The CP has also ordered operatives to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend every member of the trafficking syndicate and to commence coordinated operations aimed at locating, rescuing, and reuniting the trafficked children with their biological families.
“The Command appreciates members of the public whose timely and credible information led to the successful operation and urges residents to continue supporting the police with useful intelligence,” the statement added.
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