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February 6, 2024 Court Jails 3 Fraudsters in Akwa Ibom

Court Jails 3 Fraudsters in Akwa Ibom

In  Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, a Federal High Court has convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters (Yahoo-Yahoo) to different jail terms for offences bordering on criminal impersonation, internet fraud, and possession of fraudulent documents.

This is according to a statement by the Spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Dele Oyewale on Monday.

According to the statement, the convicts – Abraham Itoro Sunday, Ezea Chidera Charles, and Udoh Christopher Gabriel were convicted by Justice Chigozie Sergius Onah upon their arraignment by the Uyo Zonal Command of  EFCC, on one-count separate charge bordering on cybercrimes.

That you Abraham Itoro  Sunday ‘M’ sometime in 2023 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fraudulently impersonate Brian O’ Noel on Facebook with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(I) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section,” the charge read.

 

They pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

Based on their pleas, the Prosecution counsel – Enobong Ubokudom and Farida Bukar thereafter prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Onah convicted and sentenced  Sunday and Charles to six months imprisonment each with an option of a fine of N200,000.00, while Gabriel bagged a five-month jail term with an option of a fine of N150,000.00.

The court also ordered that the three smartphones used by the convicts to perpetrate the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The statement noted that “the convicts started their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC on November 22, 2023, at different locations in Afaha Atai, in Iko Eket Akwa Ibom State.

Investigation showed that all the convicts impersonated foreigners by using their identities to defraud their victims.  While Charles fraudulently portrayed himself as ‘Molina Urovsky’ on Facebook, Sunday  portrayed himself as Brian O’niel  and Gabriel presented himself as Alexander Douglas on Instagram.”

February 6, 2024 Police Declares Inspector Wanted in Anambra

Police Declares Inspector Wanted in Anambra

The Police Command in Anambra state has declared one of its officers, Inspector Audu Omadefu, wanted over suspected murder.

The Police Public relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the cop, with the AP No. 362178, has turned fugitive after the alleged crime as his whereabouts remained unknown.

He urged anyone with useful information on the officer’s whereabouts to report to the nearest Police Station, assuring that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

The statement reads: “Anambra State Police Command hereby declare AP No. 362178, Inspector Audu Omadefu WANTED for MURDER.

 “The Command urges any member of the public who sees the fugitive or has information on his whereabout to report to the nearest Police Station or call the Command Control Room number *07039194332* or the PPRO on *08039334002*

 “Any information given in this regard shall be treated with utmost confidentiality.”

February 6, 2024 3 States to get African Development Bank Funds for Agro-Industrial Development

3 States to get African Development Bank Funds for Agro-Industrial Development

Cross River, Oyo and Kaduna states are set to get their shares of the $540 million packaged by the African Development Bank (AfDB) for development of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) in Nigeria.

The three states are in the first phase of beneficiaries of the project.

Following the hint, Vice President Kashim Shettima called for immediate action. He said the time has come for the government and its development partners to act.

These were contained in a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President attached to the Vice President’s Office on Media and Publicity.

Other states are to get their own shares of the funds as part of moves by the Federal Government and the AfDB to ensure food security in the country.

Speaking after representatives of the AfDB and that of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) presented their separate reports on the status of projects being executed in Nigeria to him, Shettima called for immediate action.

According him, all hands must be on deck to ensure the delivery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visions to Nigerians.

The vice president said: “We have passed the age of talking; we have to walk the talk.  We can talk from now till eternity and it does not mean anything if there is no action and hence we must make this work.

“We have not seen beyond the depth of our pockets; what comes to us is more important than what comes to the generality of the people. Things must change.

“I read a book on how Korea transformed itself with no natural resources, how they started producing steel against all odds, how they went into shipbuilding; and how Hyundai, Daewoo, Samsung, Kia came about. I believe that when there is a will there is always a way. We have to walk the talk.”

Making AfDB’s presentation to Shettima, Prof Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka said: “The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) is an initiative of the African Development Bank that is aimed at turning the rural landscape into economic zones of prosperity and harnessing the power of commercial agriculture and food.

The primary objective is to support inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development in Nigeria. The phase1 of the project  is at the point of disbursement. Kaduna, Oyo and Cross River States are all in the process of receiving disbursements and we hope for the other states, they can speed up with their documentation so that we can fast-track these states.

“We raised $540,000,000 in catalytic funding and we expect every state to find a partner that will bring equity and join up with them. It is a government-enabled project but private-sector driven.”

The SSA to the AfDB President further explained that the first phase of SAPZs is being implemented in seven states of Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, and Oyo, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He added: “Ogun state found a partner for the project and decided not to take the loan. We are basically going to distribute the loan to the other states. The next thing is preparation for phase two with 27 states. The demand is enormous but we have to prioritise those who move fast.

 “We have set up eligibility criteria for the states and to rank them. We expect them to have a feasibility report, environmental impact study and a commitment to counterpart funding.”

February 5, 2024 Edo State PDP Holds Congress, Shaibu 8 Others Missing, Makinde Quits Committee

Edo State PDP Holds Congress, Shaibu 8 Others Missing, Makinde Quits Committee

The Peoples Democratic Party; PDP, in Edo State, on Sunday, conducted an elective congress to pick delegates that will participate in the party’s February 22 governorship primary.

The congress was, however, trailed by irregularities as nine out of the eleven PDP governorship aspirants boycotted the exercise and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who was the chairman of the three-man committee in charge of the Edo delegates election, withdrew without giving reasons.

The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, who isthe deputy chairman of the committee, however, went on with the exercise, commending the large turnout of party members for the election.

Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, described Makinde’s withdrawal from the process as unfortunate but said it would not undermine the credibility of the exercise, which, he said, witnessed a large turnout of party members.

The nine governorship aspirants, who boycotted the delegates election, were Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, Hafia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Dr Earl Osaro Onaiwu and Arthur Esene.

They wrote a protest letter to the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and sent a copy to  the National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih.

The nine aspirants complained about the composition of the committee conducting the delegates election.

Speaking to party members at the George Idah Primary School, GRA, Benin, the collation centre for Ward 2, the Enugu State Governor said, “This is democracy where our people come to exercise their franchise. We appreciate this turnout. Our party is known for the principles of fairness, equity and justice. I wish you to all conduct yourselves properly as we hold this election.”

 

When contacted to react to the Edo situation, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said, ”It is publicly known that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, for personal reasons known only to him, resigned as Chairman of the PDP Edo State Ad Hoc Delegate Congress Electoral Committee. We are not aware of any other person who boycotted.”

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