Metro
Court jails 3 civil servants over collection of salaries of 15 ghost workers for 4 years
An FCT High Court on Wednesday, sentenced three civil servants to six years imprisonment each for payroll fraud.
The convicts are Justin Itemoagbo, Dayo Aliyu and Sylvanus Ojeifo.
A fourth officer, Dayang Jacob, was discharged and acquitted.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged them to court on a 32-count charge of criminal conspiracy, theft and cheating by impersonation.
Delivering judgement, Justice Peter Kekemeke sentenced them after going through their evidence and that of the prosecution.
“In totality, the evidence of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants collapsed like a pack of cards. I, therefore, find the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants guilty as charged. The 4th defendant is found not guilty. He is accordingly discharged and acquitted,” the judge ruled.
All the defendant’s counsel pleaded for leniency and urged the court to tamper justice with mercy and give the convicts option of fine.
Responding, the prosecution submitted that the sentencing is left at the discretion of the court.
The judge held that the plea of all the defendants counsel is moving and that the prosecution relied on the discretion of the court.
The judge said: “The defendants are all approaching 60 years of age. They are aged. They have been out of job for eight years.
“I shall have mercy on them, God does not require the death of a sinner but that all should come unto repentance.
“In count 1, the three defendants are sentenced to 2 years imprisonment or option of N500,000 each.
“In counts 2 to 23, they are to serve another two years on each count or N1 million fine.
“Count 24, 25 and 26 are against the 1st defendant, he is sentenced to one year imprisonment without option of fine in each count.
“The 2nd defendant is sentenced to one year in count 27, 29, 30 and 31 respectively without option of fine.
“For the count 32, the three defendants were sentenced to a year in prison or N500,000 fine.”
The prosecution said they do not know the exact amount of the Federal Government money that was paid as salaries to the defendants.
“In the circumstance, this court cannot order a refund of federal government money paid as salaries,” he said.
The defendants were arraigned in the court for payroll fraud they committed between 2012 and 2015.
They were accused of smuggling about 15 names of either deceased workers or retired ones and collected their salaries every month.
The first defendant worked with human resources department, Federal ministry of works while the second defendant worked at the help desk officers, office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
The third defendant worked at the nominal roll and manpower budget office of the Federal Ministry of Works.
A 24-year-old man from Ogbolomabiri in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Godgift Bai, has been apprehended for circulating nude video of a young girl online.
The Bayelsa State Police Command confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
In a statement yesterday by the spokesman, ASP Musa Mohammed, the police said Bai was arrested in connection with the viral nude video of a young girl circulating on various social media platforms. Mohammed said: “Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Alonyenu Francis Idu, operatives of the Cybercrime Unit carried out a thorough investigation, which led to the arrest of the suspect, Mr. Godgift Bai, a 24-year-old male from Ogbolomabiri in Nembe LGA.
“He was apprehended in Yenagoa on September 3, 2024.
“The Command condemns the act of cyberstalking, especially targeting vulnerable individuals, and reiterates its commitment to curbing such crimes and related offences within the state.
“Furthermore, the Command urges the public to refrain from online exploitation of individuals.”
The spokesman said investigations are ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court accordingly.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it has arrested 44 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Ilorin, Kwara State.
This was disclosed in a post via the commission’s official X handle on Friday.
According to the commission, the suspects were arrested on Friday, following credible intelligence over their alleged involvement in internet-related offences.
The statement reads, “Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested Forty-four (44) suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“They were arrested on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Sango, Kulende, Taxaco and Harmony Estate, all in Ilorin, following credible intelligence over their alleged involvement in internet-related offences.
“Items recovered from them include 6 different brands of exotic cars, laptops, smartphones and charms.
“The suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”
By Mario Deepromoter
Hoodlums have abducted 66-year-old Mrs. Elizabeth Uruakpa, an Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Babcock University Teaching Hospital in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, on Thursday evening.
Uruakpa was reportedly returning from an evening church service when the attackers ambushed her at the entrance of her home, located near the new Ilisan market.
The incident, which occurred around 7 pm, caused panic in the neighborhood, prompting residents and business owners to quickly shut their doors in fear.
According to a local resident who spoke to The Punch on the condition of anonymity, the gunmen forcibly removed Uruakpa from her vehicle and whisked her away in a red Toyota car.
“The woman was coming back from the church in the evening around 7 pm when the gunmen abducted her. I know her very well, she’s a senior nursing staff with Babcock University Teaching Hospital and a member of the Winners’ Chapel.
They dragged her down from her vehicle, put her in their red Toyota car and sped away. It was really like thunder lightning, and such a thing had never happened before in our neighbourhood. It is so strange and scary,” the resident said.
Babcock University’s Director of Communication and Marketing, Dr. Joshua Suleiman, confirmed the abduction, noting that the university is actively seeking more information.
“I heard about it last night. It is on one of the university’s platforms but I don’t have a comprehensive report about it. Someone is already working on getting more information about this and as soon as it is ready, I will get across to you,” Suleiman said.
Details later..
Credit: Punch
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