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Internet Fraud Academy Proprietor Bags 10 Years Jail Term

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The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of the proprietor of Uyo Cybercrime Training Centre, Ikemesit Edet ((a.k.a Hustle Kingdom HK).

He was jailed on Wednesday April 17, 2024 after pleading guilty to two-count charges bordering on impersonation, love scam, hacking/editing of social media accounts and private criminal tutoring, upon his arraignment by the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC.

Count one reads: That you IKEMESIT EDET IK sometime in January, 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, being the occupier and a person concerned with the management of the premises situates and lying at No. 57 D-Line, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, did knowingly permit the use of the entire aforesaid premises as a CYBERCRIME ACADEMY, also known as Hustle Kingdom (HK) where you recruited ten (10) young Nigerians between ages 16-25 and taught them cybercrime techniques for perpetrating cyber crimes to wit: hacking, impersonation, and obtaining money by false pretence (Advance Fee Fraud) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 3 of the same Act.

Count two reads: That you IKEMESIT EDET IK between May 2020 and December 2023 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did take possession total sum of Fifteen Million Naira Only (-N=15,000,000.00) which you knew forms proceed of an unlawful act to wit: Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)\d) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

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Edet pleaded guilty to both charges preferred against him by the Commission, prompting prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly. He also prayed that the court ordered the forfeiture of all exhibits recovered from him at the point of arrest. However, defence counsel Francis Ezike prayed the court to be lenient in sentencing the defendant.

After listening to both counsels, Justice Ojukwu convicted Edet and sentenced him to five years jail term on each count, with an option of fine of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) on each count.

The court also ordered that all recovered exhibits from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The exhibits include: 13 laptops, a gold- coloured Toyota Corolla, a Lexus Jeep RX 300 and about 3,080.25 square metres of land located at Ibiaku Obio Ndobo Village, Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Edet’s journey to the Correctional Centre commenced on January 22, 2024, when investigators from the EFCC’s office in Uyo acted on intelligence and arrested 10 suspects at his Cybercrimes Training Centre at D-Line Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo. All the suspects have been charged to court and convicted.

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In a related development, the same court convicted and sentenced one Michael Melvin Onyekachi (alias ‘Raisa Pedroso’) for being in possession of fraudulent documents. He pleaded ‘guilty’ to the one- count charge preferred against him, and was immediately convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of fine of N50, 000.00( Fifty Thousand Naira).

The lone-count charge reads: That you Michael Melvin Oyedikachi sometime in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulently presented yourself as Raise Pedroso on Facebook social media platform with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(I) of the Cyber crimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b(iv) of the same Act.

He bagged his imprisonment when he was arrested for internet-related fraud. He was charged to court and convicted.

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Alleged Motorcycle Theft: Mob Burns Man to Death in Kano Community

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A young man identified as Ahmad Dankoli was allegedly lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob after he was accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle in Balare community, located in Ajingi Local Government Area of Kano State.

Naijapunchnews gathered that the tragic incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Sunday during the community’s weekly market, a period when the area is usually crowded with traders, buyers and residents carrying out commercial activities.

According to reports, Dankoli was accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle belonging to one of the traders at the busy market. Witnesses said the accusation quickly drew the attention of a large crowd, which reportedly chased the suspect after he allegedly tried to flee from the scene.

The mob eventually caught up with him, allegedly subjected him to a severe beating and later set him on fire.

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The Councillor representing Balare Ward, Shu’aibu Abdulmumin Yalo, confirmed the incident, explaining that the deceased was accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle before the crowd turned violent.

According to Yalo, the suspect made an unsuccessful attempt to escape after being confronted by residents.

“The crowd accused him of attempting to steal a motorcycle. Although he tried to escape, they caught up with him and set him on fire,” the councillor said.

Yalo further disclosed that security operatives responded after receiving reports of the attack, but they were unable to rescue the suspect because of the overwhelming number of people gathered at the scene.

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“Security operatives came to intervene, but the number of people at the scene was too much for them to control,” he added.

The councillor attributed the incident to growing frustration among residents over repeated cases of motorcycle theft at the weekly market.

According to him, several motorcycles had reportedly been stolen from traders and visitors in recent months, creating tension within the community and possibly contributing to the mob’s violent response.

However, he did not confirm whether anyone had been arrested or was under investigation for participating in the lynching.

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Meanwhile, residents described the deceased as an active supporter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s Kwankwasiyya movement on social media.

His death has generated widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians condemning the resort to mob justice regardless of the allegations against him. Several commentators stressed that criminal allegations should be investigated by law enforcement agencies and suspects allowed to face trial in accordance with the law.

Others also called on security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible for the killing are identified and prosecuted.

The incident adds to the growing list of cases of jungle justice recorded across Nigeria in recent months, raising renewed concerns over the increasing rate of extrajudicial killings.

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Only days earlier, a woman identified as Ummulkhairi was reportedly lynched and burnt to death by a mob in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, after she was falsely accused of attempting to steal a child.

Authorities later confirmed that the allegation against the woman was unfounded, prompting fresh calls for stronger public awareness campaigns against mob violence and for stricter enforcement of laws against those who participate in extrajudicial killings.

The latest incident in Kano has once again reinforced appeals by security experts, human rights advocates and community leaders for members of the public to hand over suspects to the police instead of taking the law into their own hands, warning that mob justice often results in the death of innocent people and undermines the country’s justice system.

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EFCC Opens N15.6 Billion Fraud Case Against Ex-Skye Bank Chairman, Ayeni

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday opened its case against former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, by presenting its first prosecution witness in the alleged N15.6 billion fraud trial before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja.

High Court, Apo, Abuja, in the trial of the former Chairman, Board of Directors, defunct Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank Limited), Tunde Ayeni.

EFCC is prosecuting Ayeni on an 18-count amended charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and diversion of funds totaling N15.6 billion.

The defendant was first arraigned on May 4, 2026, on a 17-count charge and was subsequently re-arraigned on June 22, 2026, after the Commission filed an amended charge supported by additional proof of evidence.

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At Monday’s proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed SAN, presented PW1, who briefly identified himself as Remigus Ugwu, a staff member of Zenith Bank.

The matter was thereafter adjourned till July 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

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Police raid criminal hideouts in Asaba, arrest 202 suspects

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At least 202 suspects have been arrested during an intelligence-led raid on identified criminal hideouts across Asaba metropolis in Delta State.

The suspects, comprising 102 males and 100 females, were arrested for offences bordering on operating brothels, possession and sale of suspected illicit drugs, and other related crimes.

During the operation, police also impounded five vehicles, 10 tricycles and 10 motorcycles for violating traffic regulations, the state government’s restriction on tricycle operations and the ban on motorcycles in designated areas.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the operation was carried out on Saturday, July 4, 2026, under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations, alongside other officers of the command.

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Edafe said the operation followed credible intelligence generated by the State Intelligence Department (SID), leading operatives to raid identified black spots, brothels and suspected illicit drug dens within the state capital.

Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and sustained enforcement operations against all forms of criminality.

He assured residents that the command would continue to deny criminal elements the space to operate while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and provide the police with credible and timely information.

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