Metro
Police arrests Abuja businessman who exploit POS operators
Ibrahim Mahmud, a 32-year-old businessman, has been arrested by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Abuja for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated Point of Sale (POS) scam.
Mahmud, a Civil Engineering graduate, was arrested after a detailed investigation which followed the swapping of a POS machine at a shop in Karshi last December.
The suspect allegedly used an advanced hacking tool to transfer ₦1 million from an unsuspecting victim’s account; a development that has further exposed the weaknesses in the country’s digital payment systems.
Mahmud was alleged to have walked into the POS shop of Odo Hilary, a popular business operator at Karshi, posing as a customer.
While Odo was processing the transaction, Mahmud who had engaged him in a conversation in order to distract him, swapped the POS machine with an identical one he smuggled into the shop.
Unaware of the swap, Odo continued his daily business only to notice by evening that something was amiss. He decided to check the transaction records and discovered that he had been locked out of his system.
Alarmed, he inspected the device and realised, to his dismay, that his POS machine had been replaced.
Odo immediately reported the incident to the Karshi Police Station, which escalated the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja.
Detectives assigned to handle the case commenced investigation and swiftly traced a fraudulent N1,000,000 transaction with half of the million transferred to one Abdulsalam Abdulsamad, a long time acquaintance of Mahmud.
It was discovered that the suspect funneled the remaining N500,000 through multiple bank accounts which made recovery difficult.
As the investigation progressed, forensic experts at the FCT Command looked into Mahmud’s digital footprints and discovered his elaborate fraudulent activities.
It was discovered that Mahmud’s small clothing business in Karshi was merely a front as he was allegedly neck-deep into electronic fraud, targeting POS vendors across the city.
Armed with irrefutable evidence, the police launched a manhunt for Mahmud and apprehended him on January 21.
The police subsequently arrested Abdulsamad for allegedly receiving proceeds of crime, laundering the money and requesting for his share, knowing full well the N500,000 sent to him was stolen.
It was gathered that Mahmud initially denied all the allegations against him but surrendered and confessed after the police presented evidence.
Mahmud admitted to the police that he used a hacking tool called ‘Ghost App’, to scan POS machines and obtain their security credentials.
“With Ghost App, Mahmud could steal account details, bypass PIN verification and initiate unauthorised transactions.
“He admitted to repeating this scam multiple times, making POS business operators his primary target,” a source said.
The Nation gathered that the two suspects were charged with fraud, unauthorised access to banking data and multiple cybercrime-related offences by the police.
Reacting to the development, the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) warned that law enforcement agents were actively tracking digital fraudsters and working with cyber-security experts to dismantle underground hacking tools like Ghost App.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, assured business owners that stricter security measures would be introduced to protect electronic transactions from similar cyber fraud attempts.
“This case serves as a wake-up call for all POS vendors and digital merchants in Nigeria. Cybercriminals are evolving, but so are we.
“We are committed to tracking, arresting and prosecuting those who exploit digital payment systems,” Disu said.
The police boss advised business owners to always inspect their POS devices to be sure they have not been tampered with; enable instant transaction alerts on all accounts; regularly change PINs and security codes, as well as remain cautious of distractions during customer interactions.
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to prosecute 74 individuals apprehended for violating environmental regulations within the state.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the suspects were arrested during a coordinated enforcement operation by the state’s Taskforce in the early hours of Tuesday around 1 a.m., targeting key locations across the Lekki axis of Lagos Island.
The enforcement sweep covered areas including the Falomo Bridge, Eko Hotel Roundabout, Oniru Beach, Lekki Phases 1 and 2, and the 1004 Estate. A total of 72 men and two women were taken into custody.
Wahab explained that the operation aimed to restore order and sanitation in the affected areas.
He added that the suspects will face prosecution in accordance with state laws and urged residents to remain law-abiding and committed to maintaining a clean, orderly environment for all.
The police in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday arraigned 30 persons before a Benin High Court for alleged murder and cultism.
The 30 persons are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, cultism, armed attack, and belonging to unlawful society.
The defendants were arraigned in three batches with the same seven-count charges.
The defendants arraigned in the first batch are Paul Elekun 25, Muetinyan Osagbovo 25, Opkala Bernice 22, Nnajiofor Francis 23, Imuetinyan Osanogara 21, Christian Augustine 22, Aniyea Choice 33, Saturday Umukoro 20.
The second batch are Gmogbo Ufoha 22, Emoh Emmanuel 29, Olavwola Gchinamen 32, Eriator Osaihon 44, Isaac Michael 32, Festus Arihian 37, Tedius Jude 25., Emmanuel Okhie 29, Daniel Oyakhilome 29, John Umoren 28.
The third batch are Ogoigbe Richard 33, Omokwua Cliton 32, Solomo Peisi (No specific age), Ezebuke Bright 29, Okoloagu Chicks 45, Ajuja Frank 25, Onemu Oghenekome Michael 19,
Jerry Lazarus 27, Patrick Arneka Joshua 22, Daniel James 28, Moses Peter 37, and Ewalefoh Prosper Osamudiahen 20.
The Prosecutor, Polycarp Odion told the court that the defendants and others, allegedly on May 1, did conspire to commit a felony.
Mr Odion alleged that on the same day within Benin City, without lawful authority, the defendants allegedly carried out armed attacks against a section of residents of the Benin metropolis.
The defendants were also alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit murder.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants and others at large, at different dates within Benin City did conspire and belong to an unlawful society.
He said the offences contravened Sections 412 (2), 64, and 247 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in the Correctional Centre for an initial 14 days, pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Counsels to the defendants prayed the court to grant them bail as they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
According to the counsels, the defendants were picked in indifferent areas in the metropolis, which includes Ugbowo axis, Sapele road axis and Garrick Memorial College axis.
They said some were picked while they were eating, some inside the bus on their way home from work, some were arrested while driving and their vehicles impounded.
They said that the judge has the right to grant the defendants bail, urging the judge to exercise the same to grant the defendants’ bail.
They added that they all have reasonable surety to stand for their bail and ensure their presence in court on an adjournment date.
Among the defence counsels for the defendants who spoke were a former Chief Magistrate, Peter Asemota (retd), Ede Asenoguan, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin City Branch, Paul Badaki, J.E. Igunma, A.D.Ajeka, O.J.Odi, E.B.KiKa, among others.
The presiding judge, Justice Williams Azeigbemhin, however granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each with one surety in like sum.
Mr Azeigbemhin said both the defendants and surety must produce their NIN card, valid ID cards, and three passport photographs each.
He said that the surety must be a senior staff member of a recognised establishment.
He added that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and all information must be verified by the court registrar.
He then adjourned the case until May 19.
(NAN)
A fire outbreak on Monday afternoon engulfed a recycling facility operated by Jincheng Company at 11B Eric Moore Road, Surulere, Lagos.
The fire, reported at about 12:15 p.m., drew a prompt response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters from the Sari-Iganmu Fire Station were the first on the scene, but the intensity of the blaze required reinforcements from the Ajegunle Fire Crew.
Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, stated that the fire began at the rear of the main building and was suspected to have been caused by negligence.
The affected section reportedly housed large quantities of cardboard materials used in the recycling process.
Although the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, the facility—which spans three acres—suffered significant losses.
“No casualties have been reported so far,” Adeseye confirmed, adding that the situation was under control by the time of reporting, with damping down operations still ongoing.”
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