By Francesca Hangeior

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a woman identified as Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri.

Ugwu was arraigned on charges of fraud amounting to N6.8 million.

The arraignment, which occurred on Monday, March 17, 2025, stems from allegations of a romance scam perpetrated by Ugwu.

Ugwu faced a four-count charge, including obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, and cheating by impersonation. According to the EFCC, the defendant defrauded Emmanuel Ani by falsely claiming to be his fiancée, “Miss Chinansa.”

The EFCC, in a statement posted on their official X handle, detailed the core charge. “That you Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu between the period of June, 2023 to August, 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the aggregate sum of N6, 710,300.00 (Six Million Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Three Hundred Naira) from Emmanuel Ani into your bank account: 1778806195 domiciled with Access Bank plc. under the pretence that same is meant for the upkeep of his purported fiancee, one Miss Chinansa, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006.”

Upon the charges being read to her, Ugwu pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution counsel S.O Saka and Faruku Muhammad requested the court to set a trial date and remand Ugwu to a correctional centre. Justice Kumaliya granted their request, adjourning the case until April 8, 2025, for the commencement of the trial. Ugwu was subsequently remanded in a correctional centre.

The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Ugwu allegedly obtained N6.8 million by impersonating and pretending to be Ani’s fiancée. When confronted by the petitioner, Ugwu was unable to account for or return the money she had collected.

The EFCC statement added, “Ugwu’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when she obtained the sum of N6.8million by impersonating and pretending to be the fiancée of the petitioner. When contacted by the petitioner, the defendant can neither account for or return the money she collected.”

The case underscores the EFCC’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens from fraudulent activities, especially those involving online deception.

By Francesca Hangeior

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to address a four-point demand concerning workers’ welfare and the alleged victimization of labor leaders.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that all WAEC offices nationwide would be shut down starting Monday, March 24, if the management fails to meet their demands.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, a former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jandor’s defection to the APC comes just two weeks after he resigned from the PDP.

The former Lagos PDP chieftain formally announced his defection at a press conference at his campaign office in Ikeja on Monday.

Jandor had recently held consultations with President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and other political figures following his resignation from the PDP.

His spokesperson, Gbenga Ogunleye, confirmed in a statement last Thursday that the meeting with the President took place on Monday.

The statement read, “I can confirm that Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran Jandor met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday (last week).

He has earlier met with Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the SDP in the 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, among other prominent national leaders. It is part of his ongoing consultation after his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The National Secretary of the PDP and other leaders of the party also visited him recently to appeal for the reconsideration of his resignation from the PDP.

“Dr Adediran will meet with his political associates and critical stakeholders in Lagos over the weekend and address the media by Monday, 17th March 2025.”

Adediran was the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 Lagos State governorship election. He emerged as the party’s candidate after defeating other aspirants in the primaries.

Jandor, a former APC member and founder of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, had presented himself as a fresh alternative to the long-standing APC government in Lagos.

To bolster his chances and appeal to a broader electorate, he chose popular Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele as his running mate.

Akindele’s selection was strategic, aiming to leverage her massive influence in the entertainment industry and among Lagos’s youth and urban voters. However, their campaign faced significant challenges, including internal party conflicts.

Despite their efforts to present a strong opposition, the Jandor-Akindele ticket was unsuccessful in unseating the APC government. They finished behind both the incumbent governor, Sanwo-Olu, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party.

In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the March 18 Lagos governorship election.