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U.S.-based Nigerian jailed 115 months for money laundering, romance scam

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A Nigerian man, Charles Nnamdi Emesim, has been sentenced to 115 months in prison in the United States for conspiracy to commit money laundering linked to a decade-long romance and internet fraud scheme that defrauded at least 23 victims of more than $700,000.

The sentence was handed down on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The statement said Emesim, 53, who is legally resident in Newark, New Jersey, was convicted for conspiracy to commit money laundering after authorities found that he received and laundered proceeds from “internet- and telephone-enabled scams,” including romance scams, lottery scams, inheritance scams, investment scams, government imposter scams, and medical expense scams.

According to the department, between December 9, 2013, and June 28, 2024, Emesim operated at least 17 bank accounts under his name and the names of his companies, Chadon Export and Chadon Trucking.

Investigators said at least 23 victims across the United States were defrauded into sending more than $700,000 through cash deposits, cashier’s checks, money transfers, and wired payments into accounts controlled by Emesim.

One of the victims, described as “a senior citizen and widow living in the Eastern District of Kentucky,” was allegedly deceived through a romance scam involving a man identified as “Michael Oliver.”

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The victim was reportedly made to believe she was in a romantic relationship and was introduced to a supposed “customs agent” identified as Samuel Rock to facilitate a transfer of wealth.

According to the statement, the victim later travelled to Lexington airport in Kentucky, where she met the supposed Customs agent in person, handed him additional money, drove him to a local store, and bought him a computer tablet.

“The Court found that Emesim was the individual who impersonated ‘Customs Agent Rock’ when meeting with this victim in person,” the statement added.

Authorities said the victim lost “tens of thousands of dollars” through cash payments, cashier’s checks, prepaid debit cards, and gift cards sent to Emesim and his associates.

The Justice Department further stated that Emesim frequently withdrew victims’ funds in cash or transferred the money into accounts belonging to relatives, businesses, or family members in Nigeria.

Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, described romance scams and financial fraud schemes as “predatory crimes” that rely on “deception, emotional manipulation, and calculated exploitation.”

He said the defendant “spent years helping funnel stolen money from hardworking Americans,” including an elderly victim who “was manipulated into believing she was building a genuine relationship.”

“These criminals do not see victims as people—they see them as targets,” Parman said, adding that authorities would continue to “aggressively pursue and prosecute those who exploit trust, devastate families, and profit from fraud.”

Also commenting, Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Field Office Special Agent in Charge, Olivia Olson, said Emesim “preyed upon trusting men and women” for more than a decade.

She added that the sentencing shows that law enforcement agencies remain committed to pursuing “criminals who operate financial scams at the expense of innocent Americans.”

During the sentencing hearing, the court described Emesim’s conduct as “heartless and unquestionably reprehensible,” saying the crimes caused severe financial, emotional, and psychological harm to victims.

Under U.S. federal law, Emesim is required to serve 85 per cent of his prison sentence and will remain under supervision for three years after release.

The case was investigated by the FBI, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf prosecuted the matter on behalf of the United States government.

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Security guard kidnaps employer’s two children, demands ransom

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The abducted children
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A private security guard has escaped with two kids from his employer in Minna, with the police suspecting abduction.

The security guard, named Sani Abdulrahaman, a Fulani by tribe, on Sunday, reportedly took Umaru and Anas, both six years old, on Sallah picnic without the knowledge of their father, Alhaji Danjuma, a businessman, and failed to bring them back home.

The father of the children raised the alarm asking the public and security agencies to help him locate the fleeing security guard and his children.

Danjuma said someone called him on Sunday evening and said he was in Erena forest in Shiroro Local Government Area with the children.

According to him, the caller asked for undisclosed ransom before his children who were in their custody would be released.

When contacted, Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred about one o’clock on Sunday, May 31.

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Abiodun explained that the security man pretended that he was taking the children for Sallah celebration in the town, but did not return.

He said the police suspected abduction but disclosed that “investigation has commenced and efforts to locate the children are ongoing.”

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Police arrest suspect behind AI-generated Tinubu voice note

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Ifechukwu Dennis, the suspect
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The Nigerian Police Force has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis, the man identified as the originator of an AI-generated voice note that was widely circulated online as a leaked recording of President Bola Tinubu.

Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the arrest on Thursday in a post on his official X account.

“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice,” he said.

The arrest closes a week-long controversy that began on May 27, 2026, when a video of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, went viral.

In the clip, an AI-generated voice resembling Tinubu’s was heard making inflammatory statements — including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had pressured Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2023 election, and that he was indifferent to Nigerians’ suffering.

Investigations by multiple news organisations, however, established that VDM had not posted the doctored audio.

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An unidentified individual had extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and superimposed the AI-generated voice notes before recirculating the manipulated version online.

Despite this, the Presidency had initially called for VDM’s prosecution.

Onanuga had described the incident as “a clear case of egregious abuse of the social media platform,” drawing criticism after fact-checkers confirmed VDM’s original video contained none of the fabricated audio.

Further details on the circumstances of Dennis’s arrest and the charges he may face were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.

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Five abducted Kwara worshippers killed, one escapes, others still held

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Terrorists have killed five out of the eight worshippers abducted at ECWA Church Omugo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state, says one escaped abductees.

Rev Sunday Omole had urged federal government to expedite action on the release of the abductees from the captivity of the terrorists.

The clergyman said government intervention had become necessary after the community paid the terrorists N20 million and provided additional items worth more than N300,000, yet the abductors refused to release the worshippers and instead demanded an additional N300 million ransom.

He added that from the action of the terrorists it was clear that they just wanted to be exploiting the community.

Recall that eight of the worshippers including the Pastor’s wife were kidnapped in the morning of March 22,2026 during a Sunday service.

The death of the five worshippers including the Pastor’s wife was disclosed in a statement issued by the Pastor of the church, Rev Sunday Omole, Wednesday evening.

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The statement reads:

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I inform the church, families and individual concerned in regard to the 8 people that were abducted from ECWA OMUGO on 22nd of March, 2026.

“We received one of our son’s, Mr Sunday Bakare also abducted over a month ago, he escaped and brought the following news that only 3 out of 8 of our people are remaining with the kidnappers. The remaining 5 have gone to be with the Lord.

“They are; Elder Chief David Omopariola,
Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun,
Mrs Iyabo Aniyi,
Elder Joshua Akanbi Adeyemi and
Mrs. Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole(his wife).

“Brethren, let’s know that God knows why He allows this to happen. The great comforter will comfort us in Jesus name, amen.

“The prayers of the saints in the beginning of the church also worked and answered still they had martyrs. John 16:33 says (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Heaven is our home and Gain. Let’s reason as child of God as we navigate this moment. God bless you, and comfort you all in Jesus name, amen.”concluded the statement.

It was also gathered that the three remaining worshipers are in terrible health condition, while a member of church who escaped from the terrorists captivity is currently receiving an urgent medical attention in a private hospital in OmuAran.

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