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Romance scam: US Court send Nigerian man to jailed for 51 months

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

A Nigerian man, Uchenna Nlemchi, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for his role in a romance scam and business email compromise scheme.

He was also ordered to pay $524,000 in restitution and a money judgment of $868,295.

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Nlemchi was extradited from Hungary to the United States of America last year.

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement in a statement shared on their website on Thursday.

According to court documents, the scheme began in 2015, with a co-conspirator posing as “Sean Bartlett” and convincing a widow in New Mexico to send money for supposed business expenses.

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Nlemchi opened bank accounts in his name and the name of a non-existent business, “Jay Auto & Machine Parts,” and received over $375,000 from the victim.

Additionally, a German citizen was defrauded of over $200,000, which was wired to Nlemchi’s accounts. Nlemchi rapidly withdrew and transferred the funds, abandoning the accounts in February 2016.

The statement said in part, “On September 13, 2015, Uchenna Nlemchi opened a personal bank account at Amegy Bank in his own name. Sixteen days later, Nlemchi opened a fraudulent business bank account at the same bank in the name of the non-existent “Jay Auto & Machine Parts,” listing himself as the sole owner.

“Following the co-conspirator’s instructions over the next few months, the victim made several transfers into accounts controlled by Nlemchi totalling over $375,000 from her retirement savings and a home equity loan.

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“This included wiring $45,000 on October 7th to another person’s account, before sending $35,000 directly to the “Jay Auto & Machine Parts” account on October 9th, the same day the other person wired $44,000 into that account.

“On October 22nd, the victim transferred $125,346 from her and her late husband’s IRA accounts into Nlemchi’s “Jay Auto & Machine Parts” bank account. Then on December 7th, she took out a $170,000 home equity loan and immediately transferred the full amount to that account.

“Nlemchi rapidly withdrew and transferred globally over $868,000 that was deposited into the “Jay Auto & Machine Parts” account from the New Mexico victim and other fraud proceeds. Nlemchi abandoned the fraudulent accounts on February 29, 2016, as bank investigators closed in.

“At the time, Nlemchi was in the United States on a student visa and attended Texas Southern University. He was arrested in Houston, Texas in 2017 and released on electronic monitoring in the third-party custody of his wife and ordered to surrender his passport.”

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The statement added that “Nlemchi escaped from his monitoring system and fled to Mexico, then to Brazil, then back to his home in Nigeria. Nlemchi was an international fugitive for more than five years until his arrest in Hungary in 2023.

Nlemchi pleaded guilty in federal court to one count each of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in February 2024.

After serving his sentence, Nlemchi will face deportation proceedings and 3 years of supervised release.

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Video: Watch moment Senator Manu tasks NAFDAC officials on poor budget presentation

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The Senator representing Taraba Central, Manu Haruna white washed officials of NAFDAC for poor budget presentation during 2025 budget defense on Friday.

In a video, Senator Manu a former Deputy Governor of Taraba State opened the underbelly of NAFDAC on improper presentation of figures in the outlines.

He pointedly told the officials that the presentation was designed to mislead senators.

Watch video below:

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Why I returned N100m excess fund to Kano Govt Commissioner

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The Kano State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tajo Othman, who was recently in the news for returning N100 million excess fund to the state government, has revealed the reason behind his action.

The commissioner while addressing newsmen in Kano on Friday said his action was influenced by the state governor’s “exemplary leadership style,” adding that in an ideal situation, leaders are always a pace setter for others to follow.

He said he did not expect Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf to reveal the act to the public, but the governor chose to do so during the flag-off of the free uniform distribution to encourage the future generation to be transparent.

He said, “In an ideal governance setting, the leader is a pace setter for others to follow. We have seen the governor’s body language and as such we fall in. That is what exactly happened. it is the wish of the governor that everybody should be as transparent as possible.

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“He is a transparent governor and therefore we should be transparent as well. I never expected the governor to go public with it, but I believe the reason behind his announcement is indeed genuine.”

The commissioner added that as the head of the committee for school uniform distribution, the state governor entrusted him with the task and advised the committee to execute it to the best of their ability.

The commissioner who was a retired customs officer was in the news when the Governor Yusuf publicly commended him for returning N100 million in unspent funds from a N2 billion budget earmarked for the production of 798,000 uniforms for pupils of primary 1 in the state.

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Nigerian Online Population Shows Strong Enthusiasm for AI – Report

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A new global survey report from Ipsos and Google has shown widespread use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools among Nigerian online population.

The study, tagged: “Our Life with AI: From Innovation to Application,” surveyed 21,000 people across 21 countries, and observed that global AI usage has jumped to 48 per cent and excitement about its potential now exceeds concerns (57 per cent vs. 43 per cent, up from 50 per cent / 50 per cent last year).

According to the report, in Nigeria, AI adoption and enthusiasm are even higher, as 70 per cent of the Nigerian online population used generative AI, surpassing the 48 per cent global average. Moreover, 87 per cent are excited about AI’s potential and see its benefits outweighing the risks.

Analysing the report, President of Global Affairs, Google & Alphabet, Kent Walker, said: “AI is starting to deliver magic at scale, making people’s lives easier and better. The survey results show the more people use these tools, the more excited they get about the possibilities and about the personal, professional, and scientific breakthroughs on the way.”

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The survey results indicate that optimism about AI is growing within the surveyed online community in Nigeria. Key findings from the survey, show that among survey participants in Nigeria, 70 per cent reported using generative AI in the past year, which is significantly higher than the global average of 48 per cent. A substantial 87 per cent of Nigerian respondents feel that AI’s potential benefits outweigh the associated risks, suggesting a strong belief in the positive impact of AI. A significant 81 per cent of surveyed Nigerian adults believe AI will positively change the economy.

Furthermore, 90 per cent of the survey respondents in Nigeria anticipate AI having a positive impact on science and medicine, demonstrating the widespread belief in the potential of AI to drive progress in these sectors.

According to the report, Nigeria’s online population demonstrates a higher level of excitement and adoption of AI when compared to other regions. The survey indicates: Nigeria is among the top countries in terms of AI usage and excitement about its potential.

This contrasts with more cautious sentiment in some European and North American countries.

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The report also said the Nigerian online community saw immense potential for AI in science and medical advancements:

“A significant 90 per cent of survey respondents expect AI to have a positive impact on science and medicine. This is one of the highest rates globally, highlighting the strong anticipation of breakthroughs in these fields through AI,” the report said, and onlinerd that the population in Nigeria recognised AI’s potential to enhance personal and professional development:

“Many believe AI can make people’s lives better by boosting productivity and providing access to resources. Within the Nigerian online population surveyed, there is a prevailing sentiment that supports the fostering of AI advancement rather than restrictive regulations. This suggests that those surveyed are keen to embrace innovation,” the report further said.

The survey results highlight the strong enthusiasm and optimism of the surveyed online population in Nigeria about the role of AI in various aspects of life, particularly in the economy, healthcare, and scientific advancement. The findings suggest that Nigeria’s online community is among the most enthusiastic globally about the transformative potential of AI.

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Google has been pursuing AI boldly and responsibly for years. In 2018, Google was one of the first companies to establish AI Principles grounded in beneficial use and avoidance of harm. Two years ago, it unveiled its opportunity agenda, which shard concrete recommendations for governments to ensure AI benefits the broadest range of people possible.

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