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Kwara Courts Convict Six Fraudsters For Cybercrime

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday secured the conviction of six persons charged for various offenses bordering on cyber fraud in different High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court and Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court both sitting in Ilorin convicted and sentenced the fraudsters to various terms of imprisonment.

The convicts include Akibu Oluwadamilola from Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State; Animasahaun Ahmed from Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State; Hammed Opeyemi who resides in Atari Area of Offa, Kwara State; Ibitowa Toheeb Abolayo from Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State; Salaudeen Muritala and Olagoke Hammed from Modakeke in Ife North Local Government Area office, Osun State.

The EFCC prosecuted five of the defendants before Justice Sani, while only Olagoke was tried before Justice Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.


The defendants, who were arraigned on separate charges before the courts pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC in the matter, Aliyu Adebayo, Susan Ola, Andrew Akoja, and Rasheedat Alao who reviewed the facts of the cases and tendered extra-judicial statements of the defendants, phones, laptops, cars, and fraudulent messages printed from their device, which were admitted in evidence.

The council urged the court to consider the proof of evidence, plea of guilt entered by the defendants, and hold that the prosecution had established a prima-facie case against the defendants. They prayed to the court to convict them as charged.

In their separate judgments on the cases, Justice Sani and Akinpelu agreed that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The Justices found each of the defendants guilty of their respective charges.

Justice Sani sentenced Akibu to one-year imprisonment each on counts one and two, which would run concurrently with the option of a fine of N200,000 fine on each count.

The Judge ordered that one Toyota Camry Car, iPhone 6 plus, HP laptop, and monies which are proceeds of the illegal activities in his bank accounts be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Judge sentenced Animashaun to three-year imprisonment on count one with an option of a fine of N59,900 and three-year imprisonment on count two with an option of a fine of N584,700 only.

The court also ordered that one iPhone 12 which was used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Hammed bagged a prison term of one-year imprisonment each on counts one, two, and three which would run concurrently with an option of a fine of N100,000 on each count.

The convict was ordered to raise the sum of $130 (One Hundred and Thirty Dollars) as restitution, while his iPhone X would be forfeited to the Federal Government.

In the same vein, Justice Sani sentenced Ibitowa to one-year imprisonment with an option of a fine of N100,000.

The judge ordered the forfeiture of one iPhone X used by the convict to perpetrate the crime to the Federal Government.

The judge sentenced Salaudeen to one-year imprisonment each on counts one and two with an option of a fine of N100,000 on each count.

The court ordered the forfeiture of one Toyota Camry Car and iPhone 11 Promax to the Federal Government.

For Olagoke, Justice Akinpelu pronounced a prison term of six years each on counts one and two with an option of a fine of N150,000 on each count.

The judge also ordered that one Honda Accord Car, iPhone 11 Promax, and the sum of N1,913,432.75 domiciled in the convict’s Keystone bank account be forfeited to the Federal Government.

BIG STORY

MOHBAD: Police Grill Sam Larry, Lagos CP To Address Press

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The Lagos State Police Command has deepened its probe of Balogun Eletu popularly known as Sam Larry, over the ongoing investigation into circumstances leading to the death of late Singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad.

Recall that Sam Larry was detained by the police on Thursday night after he honoured the police invitation, and has since been grilled by police investigators over his disagreements with the late musician.

It was gathered that the suspect who is currently detained at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters and was yet to hire the services of a lawyer over the incident as of Saturday, is very much likely to remain in police custody until next week Monday.

According to The Punch, a security source under anonymity also revealed that police officers arrested Sam Larry at the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Thursday night following his arrival from Kenya.

“Sam Larry was arrested by policemen at the Murtala Muhammed airport last night (Thursday) after he arrived from Kenya, and he was immediately driven to the Lagos Command Headquarters in Ikeja for questioning,” the source noted.

Speaking with our correspondent in an exclusive interview, Friday night, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin revealed that the outcome of the police investigation would determine the decision to be taken on Sam Larry.

The police spokesman further noted that he could not reveal details of the controversial socialite’s statement to the police, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa will address the press about the development soon.

Hundeyin revealed, “Sam Larry is still with us. But I’m not talking about our plans yet because he’s still under investigation, hence the outcome of our investigation will determine the lifeline of our next move.

“I’m not disclosing the content of his statement yet; the Commissioner of Police will address the press over the development soon, and when the CP addresses the press, I’d be able to talk about our investigation so far.”

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, earlier Thursday, had revealed that Sam Larry was held in police custody, and was assisting with an ongoing investigation.

The police had earlier invited Sam Larry and singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley for questioning over Mohbad’s demise.

The police, last week, also confirmed that pathologists have concluded the autopsy conducted on Mohbad, while the police await the result.

“Autopsy has been concluded. Awaiting results”, Hundeyin confirmed.

This development followed the exhumation of Mohbad by a combined team of the Nigeria Police Force and health officials.

The police had also arrested the nurse who reportedly injected the deceased singer prior to his demise on Tuesday, September 12.

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President Tinubu Returns To Abuja One Week After UNGA

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Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has returned to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, one week after he attended the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

The 78th UNGA session was held from September 18 to 26.

Tinubu, during one of the sessions, voiced concerns about foreign exploitation in Africa and rising insecurity, and asked other nations to offer solutions of mutual benefit. The UNGA session was his first as Nigeria’s president.

After delivering the national statement and holding several meetings on the sidelines of the global assembly, Tinubu also rang the closing bell at the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ).

Although there was no official statement, multiple reports said the president departed New York for Paris, France for a short vacation.

Tinubu’s return to Nigeria comes amid threats by labour unions to commence an indefinite strike from October 3, if he fails to address the rising cost of living.

The president’s arrival also comes a few days before Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary on October 1.

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Tension In Ogun As Tribunal Determines Abiodun, Adebutu’s Fate

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There’s anxiety and tension in the premises of Isabo Magistrate Court, Abeokuta, the state capital as Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal is set to deliver judgement in the petition filed by Hon. Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

After three month, long sitting and conclusion of hearing, the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal reserved  judgement for today in the petition filed by PDP’s Adebutu against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adebutu is praying the tribunal headed by Hamidu Kunaza to nullify Governor Abiodun’s victory and declare him winner of March 18 Governorship election in Ogun State.

Adebutu, among things, is also seeking an order of the Tribunal to upturn the election of Governor Abiodun, alleging that the election that brought him into office for the second time, was riddled with violence, irregularities and rigging.

In the final oral and written address through his counsel, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, Hon Ladi Adebutu who is not in the country at the moment, prayed the tribunal to grant all the reliefs, including the disqualification of Abiodun as a candidate in the March 18 election.

He also asked the tribunal to sack Abiodun and declare him as winner of the poll instead, declaring that heavens would not fall if the Governor was thrown out by the Tribunal.

He alleged non-compliance by INEC with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices by the governor and his All Progressives Congress(APC) during the election even as former lawmaker claimed the process was sabotaged by thugs who allegedly deployed violence in over 99 polling units to disenfranchise over 40,000 voters.

But countering in his written address through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Governor Dapo Abiodun urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Adebutu and his party against his victory.

Also, in their separate submissions counsels to the 1st respondent (INEC), Mr Remi Olatubora (SAN), and the APC, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), told the tribunal that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Counsel to INEC, Olatubora, specifically asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition for absolutely lacking in merit and being a waste of the tribunal’s precious time.

He posited that the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance, multiple thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and forgery as alleged by Adebutu and his party were not proved beyond any reasonable doubt.

He also described the testimony of the witnesses brought by the petitioners as heresy, which is not admissible in law.

Counsel for Abiodun, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN) in his final address, described Adebutu’s petition as a mere academic exercise.

Olanipekun submitted that the soul of the petition was not duly signed or stamped and, therefore, lacked merit to be adopted.

He urged the Tribunal to strike it out.

“The document is not signed, not dated, no heading, no title, no identity, no signature, no stamp. The CTC has no signature,” Olanipekun alleged.

However, in his counter-argument, Counsel to Adebutu, Chris Uche, SAN, told the tribunal that all documents presented by the petitioners were obtained from INEC.

He urged the tribunal to declare Adebutu the winner of the governorship election or, in the alternative, order a rerun of the election in 99 polling units where he alleged that there were disruptions.

Counsel to APC, Tayo Oyetubo, who spoke to reporters at the time of trial, said the respondents have presented a good case, even as he expressed confidence that the verdict would be in their favour.

However, The Nation’s bid to access the Court was prevented by a security operative who stated the newspaper was not listed to cover the court matters today.

He also pulled a list, showing that the media organisation was not authorised to cover it.

It is not yet clear how the list was generated.

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