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Internet fraudster jailed, forfeits N124m, N30m Mercedes-Benz in Kwara

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Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced a 23-year-old serial internet fraudster, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, to 24 months imprisonment without the option of fine.

Olalekan, a native of Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was convicted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 after he was found guilty of the two-count charge of offences bordering on cybercrime, including cheating and impersonation preferred against him by the Ilorin Zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of N124,402,322 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, Four Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira) found in Olalekan’s Wema Bank account, a white Mercedes Benz ML350 valued at N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max used in perpetrating the crimes.

The convict was accused of impersonating many foreign nationals including Joshua Compbell Novak, through fake Gmail and TextPlus accounts between August and December 2024. Through these fraudulent identities, he defrauded victims, including Allisa Motazedi and Brittany Boggess, of $100,000 and $1,000, respectively.

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One of the charges reads:

“That you, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, between August 2024 and December 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Joshua Compbell Novak via your Gmail account and TextPlus number with the intent to obtain a total sum of $100,000 from Allisa Motazedi, which you did obtain, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.”

Olalekan pleaded guilty to both counts.

Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, led an investigating officer, Paul Aniebonam, in evidence narrating how the convict created fake online profiles to deceive and defraud unsuspecting foreign victims.

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Aniebonam confirmed to the court that proceeds of the fraudulent activities were used to acquire the luxury vehicle in October 2024, while over N124 million in his bank account was traced to similar illicit transactions.

He also tendered key exhibits including the bank statement, car documents, mobile device, and four extra-judicial statements made by the defendant.

Justice Awogboro sentenced Olalekan to 12 months imprisonment on each count, to run consecutively. The court also granted the final forfeiture of all traced assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The case originated from a report by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which alerted the EFCC to Olalekan’s cybercriminal activities.

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Metro

Police Parade Doctors, Others Over Alleged Organ Trafficking In Nasarawa

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The Nigeria Police Force has paraded four suspects, including two nephrologists, over an alleged organ-harvesting syndicate in Nasarawa State.

According to the police briefing reported by Channels Television, the suspects allegedly targeted vulnerable young men, luring them into kidney donations and paying them far less than the alleged value of the organs.

Police said one victim was allegedly paid about $1,250, while another reportedly received N7 million after his kidney was removed.

Investigators also alleged that forged documents, including birth certificates, affidavits, consent letters and identification documents, were used to facilitate the procedures and conceal the identities of some victims.

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One alleged victim recounted during the briefing how he was deceived into donating his kidney.

A representative of Wellington Clinic, where some of the procedures allegedly took place, also addressed the media, claiming that the hospital only provided the platform for the surgeries and was unaware of the alleged illegal activities involving changes to donors’ identities.

The police said investigations are ongoing as they work to identify and apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate.

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Metro

Five Traders K!lled As Military Vehicle Crashes Into Taraba Market

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Five traders were reportedly crushed to d3ath when a military Hilux lost control and ran into a busy market at Chanchangi town, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

According to Daily Trust, the military vehicle was escorting traders from Wukari town to Takum, when the accident occurred on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

A resident, Tony David told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that the military vehicle was escorting some traders from Wukari to Takum because of the high incidents of kidnappings along the road.

He said those crushed to d3ath were among the traders that displayed their wares by the roadside.

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David stated that several other traders also sustained injuries and the corpses and the injured were conveyed to Takum General Hospital.

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Lagos: 70-year-old Woman Remanded Over Alleged 13kg Cocaine Trafficking

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A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 70-year-old woman, Barek Mary Yetunde, at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility over alleged trafficking of 13 kilograms of cocaine.

The court, presided over by Justice Friday Ogazi, arrived at the decision shortly after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned the septuagenarian on a two-count charge of unlawful possession, transportation, and exportation of a narcotic drug.

Upon the calling of the criminal matter, the counsel for the NDLEA, Mr Abu Ibrahim, announced appearance for the prosecution, while Chief Benson Ndakara appeared for the defendant.

In addressing the court, Ibrahim moved an application seeking leave of the court to arraign the defendant during the court vacation, which was granted by Justice Ogazi.

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The two-count charge dated August 8, 2026, was then read to the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.

In the criminal charge before the court, Barek Mary Yetunde of No. 14, Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Street, Okota, Lagos, was alleged to have on or about June 28, 2026, at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, during outward clearance of passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Lagos to the United Kingdom, exported 13kg of cocaine without lawful authority.

The defendant was equally alleged to have transported the same 13kg of cocaine from her residence in Okota to the Departure Hall of Terminal 2, MMIA, Ikeja.

The offences are contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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However, after her plea, the NDLEA prayed to Justice Ogazi for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Facility.

On his part, the counsel for the defence, Chief Ndakara, revealed that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution, adding that the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit which the defence had responded to, urging the judge to hear the bail motion.

The prosecutor confirmed he had filed an opposition to the bail application.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Ogazi held that the court could not hear the bail application due to the volume of cases on the vacation cause list.

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As a result of the decision of the court, Ndakara requested that the defendant be remanded in NDLEA custody due to her age and health challenges, but the prosecution opposed, stating the agency lacks adequate facilities to accommodate her.

Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter to September 2, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ikoyi, pending the hearing.

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