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Financial crimes: Court Jails 41 YAHOO Boys In Anambra (SEE LIST)
A Federal High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State, and presided over by Justices S. M Shuaibu and Hauwa Inuwa has convicted and sentenced Forty-one (41) internet fraudsters to one-year imprisonment, each.
The convicts were jailed after they pleaded guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, personation and aiding in committing an offence upon arraignment by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The convicts are; Douglas James, Raphael Chikezie Uwakwe, Paul Chidera Kalu, Chisom Linus, Chiemezie Nweke, Eze Ugochukwu Stanley, Ndubuisi Nwafor, Ifeanyi Samuel, Nwosu Chukwuemeka, Madueke Emmanuel, Edozie Daniel Timothy, Ahmed Fredrick Lukman, Godwin Chukwuemelie Julius, Okafor Vincent Chiemerie, Ugochukwu Raphael Ena, Chukwuemeka Franklin Obiji, Chimaobi Emmanuel Gabriel, Abonyi Chibuike Jude, Chiemelie Igboekwuna Christian and Okafor Chukwuma Desmaond.
Others include; Jezreel Arihiakamah Chinwendu, Paul Okereke Chiadi, Peter Chidera Iwu, Onyeji Victor Chinecherem, Tochukwu Eze Solomon, Fred Chidera Okoye, Ezema Chiemerie Stanley, Emeka Ogbonna Daniel, Obinna Stanley Okafor, Udochukwu Peter Nnaewezie, Ebuka Johnson Olu, Okochi Ebuka Stanley, Promise Ogbodo Echezona, Ebuka Chukwu Joshua, Chisom Henry Udeagwueze, Ihechi Okechukwu Bright, Chibueze Maxwell Stephen, Ebuka Lucky Nwankwo, Isah Chinonso Peter, Ifeanyi Oguoke Kingsley and Chinonso Eze Innocent
One of the separate charges reads: “That you, Uwakwe Chikezie Raphael sometime in 2024 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated the identity of Everly Ruby, a female foreigner through a Google account, via your iphone X with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and in order to gain advantage of yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.
All the 41 defendants pleaded “guilty” when their charges were read to them separately, and in view of their pleas, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, counsel to the EFCC prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, defence counsel, Wisdom Ogbonna, Bernard Okeke, James Nwatarali and Arinze Anyigo pleaded the court for leniency and to temper justice with mercy in sentencing their clients adding that they have shown enough remorse for their actions.
Justice Inuwa, on Thursday, May 2 2024, convicted and sentenced 27 of the convicts while the rest 14 were convicted on Friday, May 3, 2024. Those convicted on May 3 are: Chiadi, Samuel, Chinecherem, Timothy, Stanley, Bright, Iwu, Lukman, Nweke, Chukwuemeka, Okafor, Stephen, Chiemerie and Christian to one-year imprisonment each with an option of fine of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
The Justices also ordered that the convicts should be involved in Community Service in line with Section 462 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and ordered that items recovered from them, which include their mobile phones and laptops be auctioned through the EFCC and proceeds paid into the Treasury Single Account.
All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for their involvement in internet fraud. They were charged to court and convicted.
Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi has been granted ₦30 million bail by a Magistrate court in Ekiti State.
The court also asked Farotimi to provide 3 sureties with a landed property within the jurisdiction.
He was told to refrain from media interview and to submit his international passport. The case has been adjourned till 13th February 2025.
Farotimi, who has been remanded in a correctional centre in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, arrived at the Magistrate Court premises around 9:45 am on Friday.
He was conveyed to the court premises in a prison’s van with a police escort, alighting while raising his hands up in appreciation of a cheering crowd outside the court.
His bail comes after the magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, had at the last sitting, reserved ruling till December 20 on the bail application and ordered that the activist be remanded in prison.
During the court proceedings, Farotimi pleaded not guilty to the 14-count charge preferred against him by the police.
His counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, had filed a preliminary objection asking the court to strike out the charge.
According to him, the charge before the court was unknown to law and the offence of defamation was not recognised under the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
Farotimi is being prosecuted before a chief magistrate’s court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State for allegedly defaming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola.
The arrest of the activist sparked public criticisms with many Nigerians calling for his immediate release.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Council FCT Council has mourned the sudden demise of the former Secretary of the Council, Mrs. Rafat Idris.
Mrs Rafat died in the early hours of Friday, December 20th 2024, in Abuja after a brief illness.
In a statement signed by the Secretary of Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle described the untimely death of the former Secretary as a huge shock to the Union.
According to the statement, “The Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) FCT Council received the news of sudden death of the former Secretary, Mrs Rafat Salami today, Friday, December 2024, with a rude shock and disbelief.”
“Rafat is a great asset to journalism and a quintessential journalist who has served the union meritoriously in many capacities at different levels.”
“ She is a friend and mother to all.”
“She served the union with unwarranted dedication and commitment, contributing significantly to the growth of the profession during her tenure as Secretary of Council. She is a peace-loving and easygoing person who has remained a strong member. “
“She was not only a remarkable leader but also a cherished friend to many people in the profession. Her passion for professionalism and excellence will always be remembered. “
The council expresses its deep condolences to the immediate family she left behind, the NUJ Voice of Nigeria (VON) Chapel, the NUJ, and the entire VON management in this time of grief.
Rafat was the Assistant Director of Digital Media I Voice of Nigeria (VON). She was the former Assistant Secretary of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria and re-elected as the Treasurer of the Institute last week.
She was the founder of the Okenite Foundation for Special Needs Children and a Media Personnel of Habbabiya.
She hails from Ihima in the Okenne Local Government Area of Kogi State, and she is survived by three children.
She will be buried today at the Gudu Cemetery according to Islamic rite.
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