The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says its operatives have rescued 19 girls suspected to have been impregnated by a man in Abuja.

Binta Bello, NAPTIP director-general, spoke on Friday at a meeting with Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Bello thanked Dabiri-Erewa for NiDCOM’s support, especially in the recent rescue of 231 young Nigerians from Ghana.

She said tackling human trafficking requires joint action from government and key stakeholders, stressing the need for more awareness across all levels.

“We rescued last week 19 girls, all pregnant for one man, in an estate in Abuja; received nine girls from Cote D’Ivoire; and other sordid stories to mention here,” she said.

She commended the commission’s role in engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora and expressed her commitment to strengthening the NiDCOM-NAPTIP relationship.

Bello assured that the agency would continue to protect the rights and dignity of Nigerians against trafficking in persons.

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Dabiri-Erewa called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach against human trafficking in Nigeria.

While noting that progress has been made, she said more needs to be done, adding that traffickers should be named and shamed as a deterrent to other criminal actors.

She said NAPTIP cannot work alone and called for closer collaboration with NiDCOM, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and other sister agencies.

“We will continue to do our best to save these young ones and encourage safe and regular pathways for migration,” she said.

A Nigerian makeup artist has been sentenced to six months in prison for publicly tossing local currency during his wedding celebration, in violation of a law aimed at protecting the dignity of the naira, as reported by Africanews.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the sentence on Monday, saying the Federal High Court in Kano, northern Nigeria, convicted Abdullahi Musa Huseini, popularly known as “Amuscap” for what it described as the “abuse and defacement” of banknotes.

Huseini was seen throwing one hundred 1,000-naira notes (approximately $63 USD) during his December wedding, an act known locally as “spraying.” While the practice is a vibrant feature of Nigerian festivities, especially weddings and parties, it is technically illegal under a 2007 law that prohibits mishandling of the national currency.

In recent months, Nigerian authorities have cracked down on celebrities and influencers accused of violating the law. The EFCC’s campaign has reignited debate about whether the enforcement is selective and whether cultural traditions should be criminalized.

Last year, social media personality Bobrisky received a six-month sentence for a similar offense at a movie premiere, and actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was jailed for six months after a video surfaced of her spraying and stepping on naira notes at a party.

Critics say the law is being applied inconsistently, often targeting high-profile figures, while supporters argue it’s necessary to maintain respect for the naira as Nigeria grapples with inflation and a weakening currency.

africanews

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In a gripping tale from a Lagos community where the burden of housing costs weighs heavily on residents, a young lady named Victoria has come forward with a harrowing story.

She disclosed that, in a desperate bid to afford her living situation, she entered into a deeply troubling two-year agreement with her landlord—an arrangement that involved sexual favors in exchange for her exorbitant rent.

The issue of soaring rent prices in Lagos has reached critical levels, demanding immediate attention from both state and federal authorities to address the unreasonable increase that has affected countless tenants across the city. …Continue Reading.

Victoria, a single woman employed as a receptionist at a local firm, recounted how her landlord had been fixated on her since she first visited the apartment for a viewing.

It seemed that her presence had sparked something in him, and this fixation played a pivotal role in securing the lease.

Having settled the initial payment alongside various other fees, Victoria expected to establish a peaceful life in her new home.

However, just six months into her tenancy, she found herself ensnared in a troubling web of advances from her landlord, which began shortly after her move-in.

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Victoria lamented that her physical appearance—particularly her figure—became a source of undue attention, leading to a bizarre agreement where her landlord felt entitled to barter her body for rent, resulting in a two-year deal that would leave her both vulnerable and trapped in a shocking reality.

“He likes my boobs and my shape since I came into the house and he has been showing advances before I was advised to accept his wish by some close friends. But his apartment is very expensive. One room and sitting room without POP is 800k per annum, and since he wanted that and I don’t have a serious relationship yet, I had to accept for him because I know for tw years I will not pay a dime, and in fairness to him, he has been composing and caring but he told me it’s a transactional deal nothing attached.”

Asking if the agreement is legally signed, she said:
“He was on my body duty when he signed the agreement, and we both signed. He enjoyed means we have been cooling for over a year now. I think government need to look for urgent solutions to this, Nigerians are involved in different atrocities because of things like this,” she concluded.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says its operatives have arrested a producer of fake beverages in Rivers state.

In a statement on Wednesday, NAFDAC said the suspect, identified as Anthony Chidi, was apprehended at Mile 3 Market, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

The agency said Chidi was producing counterfeit alcoholic beverages in unsanitary conditions.

“He was caught inside a filthy shop washing used bottles of various alcoholic brands, which he refilled with unwholesome drinks for resale,” the statement reads.

“During the raid, officials discovered dirty empty bottles, ethanol, bottle caps, and packaging materials.

“Chidi admitted to running the illicit operation for about a year, sourcing labels from Aba and purchasing used bottles.”

The agency said operatives evacuated the shop, confiscating all items found on site for further investigation.

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In recent weeks, NAFDAC has embarked on a crackdown on fake drugs and products in Nigeria.

The agency embarked on a sweeping enforcement operation across the country’s three major open drug markets of Onitsha, Aba and Lagos.

The operation was executed in Ariaria and Eziukwu markets (Aba), Bridge Head Market (Onitsha), and Idumota drug market (Lagos).

TheCable

The FBI has arrested Nigerian Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi for conspiring with Osun monarch, Oba Joseph Oloyede, to defraud the U.S. government of $4.2 million COVID-19 relief funds.

Like the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Mr Oluwasanmi also submitted forged documents to apply for the COVID-19 loans meant to lessen the financial burden of struggling businesses during the pandemic.

Mr Oluwasanmi used his three companies Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings and Dayspring Transportation to obtain millions of dollars which he later diverted for his own personal expenses, in breach of U.S. federal laws.

The U.S.-based Nigerian pastor was indicted for fraud on a 13-count charge and arrested in Cleveland in April. The suspected clergy conman was later released on a $20,000 bail on the condition that he appears in court for trial and serve out his sentences if handed prison time.

In September 2020, Mr Oluwasanmi did a wire transfer of about $221,880 to pay for a commercial property on Soyth Freen Road, South Euclid in Ohio.

On October 26, 2021, he wired $1 million COVID-19 funds to Dayspring Transportation (his company) brokerage account.

Prosecutors already seized about $620,000 from the Nigerian pastor but were also seeking a forfeiture of the confiscated sum and other properties acquired with the proceeds of fraud.

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FBI seized $599,250 from Mr Oluwasanmi’s Dayspring Transportation account with Fidelity Investments ending in –5800 on April 5, 2024.

Almost $20,000 was seized in the Nigerian pastor’s Dayspring Property account ending with —3548 in Key Bank, on the same day.

Both Mr Olanrewaju’s U.S. and Nigerian passports were confiscated to guarantee his appearance for trial.

His name in the U.S. passport is Edward Olanrewaju Abiodun Oluwasanmi and his passport number is 58*****76 while that of Nigerian passport is A10****31.

Per his bail terms, he would be re-arrested if he missed any appearance at the court for his trial.

Mr Oluwasanmi and the Osun monarch’s fraud cases add to the already-long list of Nigerian fraudsters convicted and languishing in U.S. jails.

Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun’s associate, Bidemi Rufai, suffered a similar fate and was in December released from Fort Dix correctional facility where had served out his jail term for fraud.

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Peoples Gazette in December 2024 reported that suspected serial fraudster Omobolanle Bombata a.k.a Bobo Chicago was fighting to stay out of jail after allegedly hacking into the emails of several companies to steal millions of dollars.

Bobo Chicago implicated another Nigerian, Wale Ogundana, whose African Shrine nightclub licence got revoked over similar fraud charges.

Infamous Yahoo Boys Ramon Ray ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas and Mr Woodberry were languishing at Fort Dix over Internet fraud.

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Gunmen have kidnaped at least 10 persons and an imam in an attack on a mosque in Bushe community, Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto state.

The suspected bandits invaded the mosque on Thursday morning as worshippers performed the Subhi prayer.

Residents told Channels Television that the community has been under siege by bandits despite the presence of security operatives.

However, they said troops swiftly repelled the attackers and prevented further damage.

Ahmed Rufai, spokesperson for the Sokoto police command, confirmed the incident. He however said he could not ascertain the number of abductees due to telecommunication challenges in the area.

“Yes, the incident happened, but I can’t confirm the number of victims,” he told TheCable.

“I don’t have any update on the incident as I haven’t been able to reach the officer in charge for an update. There is a network problem in the area.”

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Source: TheCable