Court Jails Five for Internet Fraud in Kaduna

Justices R.M Aikawa and A. Isiaka on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 convicted and sentenced five internet fraudsters to prison in Kaduna. 

Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court Kaduna sentenced and convicted the trio of Molwat Terah Sati, Zumshak Paul Wankof and Chidi Tochukwu Emmanuel, while Abraham Daniel (a.k.a Eric Wallace) and Amos Wisdom (a.k.a Laura Lute) were convicted by Justice Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court.

 

All the convicts were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one-count separate charges, bordering on internet crimes.

 

Sati’s charge reads: “That you Molwat Terah Sati (a.k.a Helena Bialas) sometime in April, 2024 at Bankers Apartment, Reyfield, Jos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Helena Bialas on Facebook (an online social media platform) to unsuspecting members of the public with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc)Act, 2015.”

 

That of Wisdom reads: “That you Wisdom (a.k.a. Laura Lute) sometimes between April and May, 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: cheating by impersonation when you falsely represented yourself as Laura Lute (a pornstar) on Facebook (an online social media platform) and in such assumed identity induced unsuspecting victims in the public to send to you the total sum of N 3,155,340.00 ( Three Million, One Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Three Hundred and Forty Naira ) only, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.” 

 

They all pleaded “guilty” to their respective charges,  prompting prosecution counsel M.J Argungu and M.Lawal to urge the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly. 

 

Justices Aikawa convicted and sentenced Emmanuel to seven years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira). He handed Wankof three years imprisonment or a fine of N450,000.00, (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). He also forfeited $200( Two Hundred United States Dollars) to the federal government, while Sati got three years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira).

 

Similarly, Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced Daniel to three years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00, (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and sentenced Wisdom to five years imprisonment or a fine of N 300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).

Additionally, Wisdom is to restitute the sum of N2,300,000 ( Two Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) to the victim.

 

All the convicts forfeited their phones, being the tools of their crimes to the federal government.

 

The road to jail began for Sati, Wankof and Emmanuel when they were arrested in Jos, Plateau State, while that of Daniel and Wisdom began after they were picked up in Kaduna metropolis, following credible intelligence on their fraudulent internet activities.

Source: EFCC 

EFCC to Summon El-Rufai and others for investigations over alleged N423 billion fraud in Kaduna State

The Nigeria's anti corruption agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has constituted a group of investigators to examine the alleged mishandling of N423 billion by a former governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and certain prominent figures in his eight years administration.

Sources confirmed that the 64 years old El—Rufia will be summoned by the investigators for questioning as well as other individuals who held the position of Finance commissioners between May 29, 2015, and May 29, 2023.

Also all the accountant generals during his eight-year tenure of the former governor, and the chairpersons of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from 2018 to 2023 will be summoned by the agency .

All former managing directors of the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd within the period from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023, and the former managing directors of Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) from October 11, 2017, to November 2021, with the exclusion of Amina Ja’afar Ladan, an engineer who had a brief one-month tenure.

“We are in receipt of a petition from an NGO. So, we have started investigation in the matters raised in the petition.

“The report of the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly is also handy. We will soon invite el-Rufai and some members of his team for interrogation.

“The Special Task Force on Monday (yesterday) held a long session on the contents of the petition and the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee.”

“The report of the House of Assembly has actually laid a solid foundation for the probe by our team.” A source within the agency said .

Bandits abduct Catholic priest in Kaduna

Bandits have abducted the presiding priest of St. Thomas Parish, Zaman Dabo Community, in the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Rev. Father Gabriel Ukeh.

The parish priest was said to have been abducted at the parish rectory in the early hours of Sunday.

The Vicar General (Pastoral), Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kazah, disclosed this on Sunday in a press statement obtained by PUNCH Online.

He said, “While we solicit for fervent prayers for his urgent and safe release, we equally condemn this act of incessant kidnappings for ransom of innocent and defenceless citizens of our communities, and we call upon the government to horn its security intelligence as we approach the celebration of Sallah.

Source: Nairaland 

Ex— governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to face Anti–corruption agencies for Abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering

The House Committee recommends further probe of El-Rufai for abuse of office, money laundering.

The ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai has submitted its report to the House.

Presenting the report during plenary on Wednesday, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, said that most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained, while in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.

Receiving the report, the Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said that a total of N423 billion was siphoned by the El-Rufai’s administration while leaving the state with huge liabilities.

The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai, some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds and money laundering as well as plaguing Kaduna State into heavy debt.

The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under the El-Rufai’s administration, as well as the chairman of the state universal basic education board.

It also recommended thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

The committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly was tasked with the assignment of examining loans, grants and projects implementation from 2015 to 2023 during which El-Rufai served as governor of the state.

NOTORIOUS TERRORISTS COMMANDER LAWAL KWALBA SURRENDERS TO TROOPS IN KADUNA — NIGERIAN ARMY

In a significant victory for the Nigerian Army counter-terrorism efforts, a notorious terrorist commander known as Lawal  Kwalba has surrendered to troops. The suspected terrorists' commander turned himself in on Thursday, 28 May  2024, following intensified military operations targeting terrorists enclaves in Kaduna State.

The troops'  relentless operational  activities  have been pivotal in pressuring terrorist factions, leading to Kwalba's decision to surrender with his fighters . This development marks a crucial step in the ongoing fight against terrorism in Kaduna State and the broader region.

During the surrender, troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, a motorbike, and two magazines loaded with 7.62 mm Special ammunition from the terrorist surrenderee.

Kwalba is currently undergoing thorough profiling at a military facility. This process is expected to provide valuable insights that could aid in dismantling remaining terrorist networks.

The Nigerian Army will continue to demonstrate its commitment to restoring  peace and security in the region. The surrender of a high-profile terrorist commander like Lawal Kwalba underscores the effectiveness of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

EFCC Arraigns Four for Alleged Obstruction of Justice in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, April, 24, 2024 arraigned four suspects  before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna.

They were docked for alleged obstruction of lawful duty and assault against officers of the Commission. 

 

Court Convicted Man, Two Companies in Kaduna

Justices Darius Khobo, R. M Aikawa and Hawa Buhari of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna have  convicted and sentenced one Onoja Benjamin Ufedo to two years imprisonment for cheating and  Karamchi Motors Limited and Dawaki Motors Limited for failure to comply with the requirements of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML.

Ufedo was jailed on Monday,  March 4, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to  a lone count charge bordering on cheating upon arraignment by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

 The lone count charge reads: “that you, Onoja Benjamin Ufedo "M" sometimes in December 2023, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly induce one Sani Abubakar Abbas to pay you the sum of N100,000.00(One Hundred Thousand Naira), which you paid one Mohammed Nasir Sadeeq the sum of N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira), to procure two false certificates of Occupancy of Chikun Local Government with numbers: CH/B/000524 and CH/B/ 000520, and you thereby committed cheating, an offence contrary to Section 306(b) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 307 of the same Law.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the lone -count charge when it was read to him.

Prosecution counsel, M. O Arumemi, relying on the guilty plea by the defendant, asked the court to convict him accordingly.

Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced Ufedo to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand naira).

In the same vein, Justices Aikawa and Buhari convicted and sentenced Karamchi Motors Ltd and Dawaki Motors Ltd to a fine of N250, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) for failing to comply with the reporting requirements of SCUML.

The lone- count charge against Dawaki Motors Ltd reads: “that you, Dawaki Motors Ltd operating the business of motor vehicle dealership, sometime in July, 2022 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did in contravention of the law, failed to submit a declaration of your activities to wit: requirements of customer’s identification and submission of returns on transactions to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 11(3) of the same Act.”

While the one- count charge against Karamchi Motors Ltd reads: “that you, Karamchi Motors Ltd, operating the business of general contractors and other businesses, sometime in July, 2019, at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did an act to wit, failed to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in writing within 7 days, your three (3) lodgments of N10,000,000.00(Ten Million Naira) which is in excess of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 10(3) of the same Act.”

Ufedo bagged his imprisonment for procuring a fake certificate of occupancy for a petitioner while Dawaki and Karamchi motors limited were convicted for running afoul of SCUML’s reporting guidelines regarding thresholds in transactions.

Source: EFCC

NIGERIAN ARMY – NO CAUSE FOR PANIC OVER SUSPECTED OUTBREAK OF LASSA FEVER IN 44 NARHK

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been dawn to public concern and apprehension resulting from a leaked correspondence by its medical experts over a suspected outbreak of what presents as Viral Hemorrhagic disease aka Lassa Fever, in one of its medical facilities in Kaduna State.

While it is yet unclear what we are actually dealing with, the Nigerian Army wishes to confirm that there was indeed some suspicion of what presented as acute Viral Hemorrhagic disease in the Accident and Emergency unit of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna (NARHK), which has resulted in the death of a couple of its medical staff serving in the hospital.

In line with best practice in managing such a situation, contact tracing to what is believed to be the index case has been made to a non-military patient who was referred to 44 NARHK from a peripheral medical facility. The suspected index patient was managed but subsequently died two weeks ago in the hospital. Sadly, three medical staff of the hospital that had direct contact with the suspected index case have also died within the past 48 hours.

In response to the suspected outbreak, directives have been passed that Prevention Control (IPC)  measures in and around all military health care facilities in Kaduna be stepped up as part of measures to curtail further spread and loss of lives. In this wise, all medical staff of the hospital, their family members and other patients on the contact tracing list have commenced appropriate management and so far nothing of concern has been observed.

 Furthermore, the entire hospital facility has been disinfected, while immediate closure and evacuation of the Accident and Emergency ward of the 44 NARHK has been ordered to allow for thorough fumigation, decontamination and emplacement of other measures of Infection Prevention Control (IPC) .

As a responsive and responsible organization, the Nigerian Army has also escalated the development to other relevant national and state agencies. As of the time of this statement, samples have been taken from suspected contacts and the deceased and sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory in Kano for analysis. Similarly, the Kaduna state Epidemiologists have been invited to help in unraveling the unfolding development.

It is imperative to point out, that the Nigerian Army as part of its civil-military relations welfare scheme offers medical services to civilians in its host communities. Thus, about 500 civilians receive medical attention weekly at 44NARHK. This unfortunate development is only a setback in our efforts to give back to the society and will not stop the Nigerian Army from continuing this moral obligation to the host communities. 

As of now, all Nigerian Army medical facilities in Kaduna and environs have been put at alert on the need to emplace necessary IPC measures and closely monitor patients, staff and family members.

The Nigerian Army urges members of the general public to not panic, as adequate measures have already been put in place to contain the suspected outbreak. It equally assures that its collaboration with all relevant stakeholders is open, transparent and in tandem with international best practice.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

22 Feb 24

NIGERIA TROOPS NEUTRALIZE INSURGENTS KINGPINS, RECOVER ARMS, AMMUNITION IN ONGOING OFFENSIVE IN KADUNA STATE

Troops of the Nigerian Army operating in 1 Division area of responsibility have in continuation with ongoing operations further neutralised insurgents and recovered more firearms and ammunition in encounters with insurgents in the general area of Igabi, Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Troops in response to recent insurgents' attacks against civilians in Igabi and Giwa Local Governments projected ongoing operations to flush out the insurgents from these areas and bring succour to the people. 

While on a fighting patrol along Maganda-Dausayi - Mugaba axis, troops came under fire from insurgents who  employed rustled herds of cattle as shields while they engaged the troops with direct fire. The insurgents whose number could not be ascertained fired several shots at the troops from the cover of the herds of livestock prompting immediate response from troops.

In the ensueing firefight that lasted  for about an hour, troops neutralised 2 of the insurgents and recovered  1 AK 47 rifle,1 AK 47 Magazine, 3 rounds of 7.62mm Special , 1 Techno phone, 3 Hilux and motorcycle keys, wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana, tramadol tablets  and the sum of 13,200 Naira only.

 Unfortunately, in the encounter, some of the rustled livestock used as shield by the insurgents were caught in the crossfire. Troops are still on the trail of the fleeing insurgents and remain resolute on ridding the area of responsibility of armed violence.

In a separate operation, conducted by troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday 22 February 2024, the gallant troops successfully ambushed marauding insurgents along the Bada - Riyawa axis on the Kaduna - Birnin Gwari Road. In the encounter, troops neutralized 6 insurgents and recovered 2 AK 47 rifles, 5 AK 47 rifle magazines, 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 19 motorcycles which were destroyed insitu.

Intelligence sources are reporting that the notorious bandit Kingpin Boderi who orchestrated many high profile kidnappings including the Yauri school girls, Greenfield University and Nigerian Defence Academy attacks was killed alongside another kingpin, Bodejo in the ambush. Efforts are on to authenticate this using other means. 

Members of the public are enjoined to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU 

Major General Director Army Public Relations

22 February 2024

#2023ELECTION: Assassinated LP Kaura Woman Leader In a Video

SPONSORED ADS 👇👇

 

 SPONSORED ADS 👇👇

A1 PREMIER MODEL ACADEMY LTD, OSOGBO, OSUN STATE

Excellent, our choice!!!

SPONSORED ADS 👇👇

#2023ELECTION: Labour Party's Woman Leader In Kaura, Kaduna State Assassinated

 Kaduna State chapter of Labour party has confirmed the assassination of it's Kaura local government woman leader.

A statement signed on behalf of the Kaduna State Labour Party by Hon Pastor Peter Hassan confirmed that Mrs Victoria Chimtex who until her death was the woman leader of Labour Party in Laura local government was assassinated by gunmen who are still at large.

Full Statement!!!

PAINFUL EXIT:

With deep Pains I confirmation the death of *Late* *Mrs* *VICTORIA CHIMTEX* *LABOUR PARTY  KAURA LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOMAN LEADER* who Lives in Machock town Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna state. until her death she is the Labour Party Local Government women Leader, the death occur at about 8:30pm she was shot by unknown Gun men, on her leg twice and on her spinner cord (back) which lead to her immidate death, and the husband was shot on his leg too, before the death the husband offer to give them any amount they need but they rejected the offer and went for her life, she is a very hard working and very Obedient woman leader. She died in active Obedient Service; she left behind a loving Husband, Children, Direct Siblings,  Obedient and  family members, May her Soul Find Rest in God Amen

Sign:- 

Hon Pastor Peter Hassan

For the 

Kaduna State Labour Party

SPONSORED ADS 👇👇

SPONSORED ADS 👇👇

A1 PREMIER MODEL ACADEMY LTD, OSOGBO, OSUN STATE

Excellent, our choice!!!

SPONSORED ADS 👇👇