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‘Naira abuse’: EFCC secures 31 convictions in Kano

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170 currency racketeers arrested, 23 jailed in one month – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives in Kano have secured the convictions of 31 individuals involved in illegal currency trading and abuse of the naira.

The anti-graft agency said the culprits were arrested by the special task force on illegal dealing and mishandling of the naira, between March and May 2024.

In a statement published on its website, EFCC said the offenders were arrested at various locations in Kano including Wapa BDC market, Grand Central Hotel, and  Lagos street adjacent to CBN office.

The anti-graft agency did not provide details of the sentence imposed by the court but stated that the offenders “got jailed”.

“In an unprecedented display of regulatory enforcement, the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured 31 convictions of individuals involved in illegal currency trading and the abuse of the naira,” the statement reads.

“The convicts include; Munkaila Sani, Mohammed Sani, Muhammad Tijjani, Abubakar Yakubu Garba, Umar Mohammed, Sadiq Ahmad, Amiru Ibrahim, Usman Mahmoud Aminu, Auwal Sharubutu, Abubakar Usman, Salisu Idris, Zarahdeen Sale, Yahaya Isa, Michael Oladipupo, Rose Mabe Akogu, Salako Gboyega, Muktari Haruna, Ibor Ibn Mohd, Onuche Attai, Ibitoye Olanrewaju, Matthew James, Isah Ahmad, Abdullahi Isah Musa, Sagir Musa, Murtala Gambo, Abdulrahman Hassan, Nazifi Musa Isah, Usman Muhd Muhd, Najeeb Abalan, Dickson Egbuka and Habib Abba.”

WHAT THE CBN ACT SAYS

Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act frowns at abuse of the naira in the form of tampering, stepping on, tearing, spraying, and hawking.

Section 21 of the act states: “(1) A person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“(2) A coin or note shall be deemed to have been tampered with if the coin or note has been impaired, diminished or lightened otherwise than by fair wear and tear or has been defaced by stumping, engraving, mutilating, piercing, stapling, writing, tearing, soiling, squeezing or any other form of deliberate and wilful abuse whether the coin or note has or has not been thereby diminished or lightened.

“(3) For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.

“(4) It shall also be an offence punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the Naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the Bank

Recently, the EFCC has been going after celebrities who allegedly abuse the naira.

On April 12, a federal high court in  Lagos sentenced Bobrisky, the social media celebrity, to six months in prison for abusing the naira.

The crossdresser was arraigned on a six-count charge by the EFCC.

On April 16, the EFCC filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the nightlife promoter, for alleged abuse of the Nigerian currency.

Kehinde Ogundare, a judge of the federal high court in  Lagos, thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

Source: TheCable.ng

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NAFDAC arrests fake alcoholic beverage producer in Rivers

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NAFDAC arrests fake alcoholic beverage producer in Rivers

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.

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

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FRAUD FROM THE  ALTAR: How FBI arrested Nigeria pastor who wired $1 million COVID-19 funds to his account

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FRAUD FROM THE  ALTAR: How FBI arrested Nigeria pastor who wired $1 million COVID-19 funds to his account

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.

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.

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.

gazettengr.com

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Gunmen kidnap imam, 10 worshippers in Sokoto mosque attack

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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.”

Source: TheCable

 

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I had 53 children in 17 pregnancies – 50-year-old-woman revealed

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Life is spherical and it’s obviously not balance, while some rich and influential people in the world are looking forward to a certain privileged to fulfilled their wealth, the poor ones keep elevating in grace and amazing testimonies.

A woman has narrated how she had  her 52 out of 53 children to a single man and they are all living fine alive…

This is the story of a Congolese woman Francine aged 50years… she started giving birth at age 16 and today she has numerous children. Francine says she has a medical condition called hyper ovulation which releases more than one egg in a circle.

“My name is Francine I am 50 years old; I gave birth to all 53 children in just 17 pregnancies, here is how I had them

1. Quintuplets twice (5 babies born at the same time. 5 x2= 10)

2. Quadruplets three times (4 babies born at the same time. 4 x3 = 12)

3. Triplets four times (3 babies born at the same time. 3 x 4 = 12)

4. Twins five times (two babies born at the same time 2 x 5 = 10)

5. Single birth three times (3)

That is 53 children from 17 pregnancies and thanks to God all my children are still alive. I was born with a genetic condition called hyper ovulation which releases more than one egg in a circle. This significantly increased the chance of having twins, triplets, quadruplets or even quintuplets.

At my 12th child I went to see a doctor, he told me I had to keep giving birth to reduce my fertility otherwise tumors could form in my ovaries and kill me in a short time. So, my husband and I kept having children to save my life.

When I was 16 years, I got pregnant with my first born cumbally and at 19years I met my husband the love of my life, together we had 52 children. Unfortunately, my husband passed away two months ago”

 

 

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Politician takes wife to court to recover family house she used as loan collateral 

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Politician takes wife to court to recover family house she used as loan collateral 

A member of the African Action Congress (AAC), Ewaoche Obe, who was ejected from his Abuja house after his wife, Christiana, allegedly used the property as collateral for a loan without his consent, has gone to court to reclaim the house.

Obe was the Benue governorship candidate of the AAC in the 2023 vote.

The dispute is over the sale of the family house where Obe and Christiana live with their son.

The property was allegedly sold by Christiana to Jesryte Global Resources owned by her twin brother, Thomas Onuh, and his wife, Funmilayo, as revealed by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), per Daily Post.

Obe was in September 2024 thrown out of the home after it emerged that Christiana allegedly used the property as collateral for a loan which she claimed she was unable to pay back.

Ownership of the property has been a subject of contention, with Obe claiming that he is the rightful owner and alleging fraudulent actions by his wife and her twin brother.

In a video that went viral last year, Obe lamented that he was not aware that his wife obtained any loan using the documents of the property as collateral.

It was learnt that the house, located at the Sagwari Layout of Dutse, Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was built by the politician.

A proceeding before Magistrate Ahmed Ubangari of the Dutse Magistrate Court began with preliminary objections from counsel to Christiana (judgment debtor) and Jesryte Global Resources (judgment creditor).

They argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to overturn its judgment and that Obe, as an interpleader, could not challenge the ruling since he was not a party in the original suit.

Obe’s lawyers, Sambo Vongjan and P. S. Edehnd, countered that the judgment was obtained fraudulently and Obe has the right to challenge the process.

The lawyers highlighted discrepancies in the respondents’ claims, including conflicting statements from Christiana and her brother over who built the house.

The lawyers presented documents such as police extracts showing the unauthorised removal of property documents, bank statements evidencing payments for construction, and the inconsistencies in the sale agreements.

They argued that these pointed to a fraudulent scheme the parties used to mislead the court in the first place.

Obe’s counsel urged the court to dismiss the counter affidavit by the judgment creditor and the judgment debtor and to upturn its judgment in favour of Obe.

Ubangari adjourned the case until March 3 for the ruling.

 

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Lagos govt shuts down Smiley Kids Montessori School over toddler’s death 

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Lagos govt shuts down Smiley Kids Montessori School over toddler’s death 

Lagos State Government has closed Smiley Kids Montessori School on Heritage Place Estate, Sangotedo, following the death of a toddler in its swimming pool.

According to a statement by Kayode Sutton, deputy director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the school was shut on Friday,

The statement was issued on Saturday.

Sutton stated that the closure was to enable the government to carry out preliminary investigations into the death of the two-year-old female pupil.

He said that the government was deeply pained by the death and had extended condolences to the child’s family.

Sutton said that the school proprietor, the head of nursery section and the pupil’s teacher were being interrogated by the police.

He also said that the pool instructor and two care givers were being interrogated.

According to him, the state government appeals to school owners and caregivers to comply with safety regulations to prevent accidents in schools and the entire state.

 

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