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EFCC Arrests Ex-Government Contractor for Alleged N30b Fraud in Kaduna

Our Reporters3 weeks ago3 weeks ago06 mins

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested one Bashir Bello Ibrahim, a former Kaduna State government contractor and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Formal Act Legacy Limited for alleged multiple fraud to the tune of N30 billion. Though his contract with the state government had been terminated, no less than 251 complaints received by the Commission against the suspect pointed to the allegation that Ibrahim is parading himself to unsuspecting victims as consultant for the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State as well as that of the United Charity Foundation, UCF, FICCORD with affiliation to Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs Office. It is also alleged that he informed his victims that he had a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Kaduna State government for the purpose of sourcing intervention grants from global donor agencies for the funding of LGA projects in the state and supporting the actualization of SDGs within the state. While investigations revealed that the suspect is not a consultant to UCF, his 2020 MoU with Kaduna State government was terminated by the state government in October 2023 as a result of default on the terms of the MoU by the suspect. However, despite the termination of the MoU, the suspect intentionally engaged in unauthorised award of fictitious contracts to the tune of approximately N30 billion (Thirty Billion Naira) by convincing his contractor victims to supply items meant for construction of hospitals, motorised boreholes, hospital beds and mattresses, drugs and vaccines which he would allegedly receive on behalf of the Kaduna State government, sold some and diverted their proceeds to his personal use. From investigations, it was further discovered that when he took delivery of the supplies, he would warehouse them, kept the LGAs in the dark about their delivery and furthermore, failed to pay he contractors the value of what they supplied. It is also alleged that the suspect was selling contract award papers using proxies with whom he shared the proceeds. These fraudulent acts coupled with his unilateral alteration of the nature of the contracts and their terms, allegedly led to the termination of the MoU he had with the state government in 2023. Items recovered from him include Toyota Hilux pick up vans, ambulances, buses, dispatch motorcycles, caches of drugs and vaccines for children, stacks of hospital beds and mattresses and heavy duty generators. Found in his office store are large quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, infusions, ointments/creams; medical consumables that include hand gloves, syringes, and mucus extractor. The Commission is collaborating with NAFDAC and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health in the evaluation of the cache of medicines found in his storage facilities as well as in carrying out qualitative analysis on them. Following the inspections, Umar Ahmad Suleiman, Investigation and Enforcement Officer, Federal Tax Force, NAFDAC said some of the drug manufacturers registered with NAFDAC and that while some of the medicines are still within shelf life, some have expired with some being outright counterfeits and their manufacturers, unregistered with NAFDAC. Corroborating the position of the NAFDAC official, Abubakar Isa Balarabe, a pharmacist and Team Leader, Ministry of Health Kaduna State observed that some of the medicines have expired, noting also that the warehouse where the medicines were stored fell below standard. “The storage is not fit for any medicine because of the way and manner it was kept,” he said. The suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

Abuja Court Jails One for Internet Fraud

Our Reporters3 weeks ago3 weeks ago03 mins

Justice A.I. Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Jabi Abuja, has convicted and sentenced Danji-Fari Ubadallah to two-months imprisonment for internet fraud. He was arraigned on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 on one-count charge bordering on internet fraud. The charge reads “That you, Danji-Fari Ubadallah sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court cheated by personation when you created a Facebook account with the profile name Precious Rashel a United States of America citizen and under that assumed character obtained the sum of $50.00 (Fifty United States Dollars) from his victim one Rueben GI through a gift card and traded same with one Zhang Jie a Chinese citizen and received the Naira equivalent in your Opay account number 8100877271 under the false pretense that you are in a romantic relationship with him, a fact you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Law.” When the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty to it, prompting prosecution counsel S.N. Robert to pray the judge to convict and sentence him. Justice Kutigi convicted and sentenced Ubadallah to two months in the Correctional Center with an option of N90, 000 (Ninety Thousand Naira) fine. The judge also ordered that the iPhone which was used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government. Ubadallah bagged the imprisonment when he was arrested for internet crime. He was charged to court and convicted.

Navy Dismantles Nine Illegal Refineries in Rivers Seizes 175,000 Litres of Stolen Products

Our Reporters3 weeks ago3 weeks ago02 mins

Port Harcourt, May 14, 2025 — The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder has dismantled nine illegal refining sites and seized approximately 175,000 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The operation, carried out on May 12, exposed an extensive network of illicit activities, including 45 refining ovens, 30 storage reservoirs, and 75 dugout pits, according to a statement by Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, Commander of NNS Pathfinder. Details of the Seizure: The illegal facilities were destroyed on-site to prevent further exploitation and environmental harm. The Navy also discovered two wellheads connected via underground pipes used by oil thieves to siphon crude directly to their camps. The pipes were dismantled as part of the operation. “The Nigerian Navy, under the leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, remains committed to combating crude oil theft and illegal bunkering,” said Commodore Aniaku. “These activities pose grave threats to our national economy and energy security.” No arrests were made as the perpetrators fled before the arrival of the tactical squad. Aniaku praised the personnel for their bravery and professionalism, reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s oil infrastructure through ongoing anti-theft and bunkering operations.

New Jersey-Based Nigerian Woman Sentenced to 45 Months for Forced Labor and Human Trafficking

Our Reporters3 weeks ago3 weeks ago05 mins

Camden, New Jersey – A Nigerian-born U.S. citizen residing in New Jersey, Bolaj Bolarinwa, has been sentenced to 45 months in federal prison for orchestrating a coercive forced labor scheme involving two women she brought into the United States to work in her home under abusive conditions. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the sentencing on Friday, May 9, 2025, following Bolarinwa’s conviction on multiple charges, including two counts of forced labor, alien harboring for financial gain, and two counts of document servitude. Bolarinwa, 51, of Moorestown, was found guilty after a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams, who also imposed three years of supervised release, a $35,000 fine, and $87,518.72 in restitution to the victims. Exploitation and Abuse According to court documents and trial evidence, Bolarinwa recruited two women from Nigeria between December 2015 and October 2016 and subjected them to forced domestic labor and childcare in her home. Once in the U.S., Bolarinwa confiscated the victims’ passports, isolated them, subjected them to constant surveillance, and threatened them with physical harm — including threats against the family of one victim. The first victim, brought to the U.S. in December 2015, was coerced into working around-the-clock for nearly a year, with no freedom of movement and under continual verbal and psychological abuse. The second victim, who arrived on a student visa in April 2016, was physically assaulted and similarly exploited until she managed to inform a college professor, who then alerted the FBI. Both women were held in Bolarinwa’s home until October 2016, when federal authorities intervened. Federal Response Officials condemned the case as a stark example of human trafficking and exploitation. “The defendant exploited her relationship with the victims to lure them to the United States with false promises,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “She subjected them to threats, physical force, and mental abuse to coerce them to work long hours for minimal pay.” “Today’s sentence vindicates the rights of two vulnerable women,” said U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey. “Forced labor and human trafficking are atrocious crimes that have no place in our society.” “Bolarinwa lured women with false promises, held them captive, and physically abused them,” added Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Newark Field Office. “This case is a reminder that human trafficking can happen anywhere, even in plain sight.” Ongoing Efforts The case was prosecuted under the auspices of the District of New Jersey’s Human Trafficking Task Force, established in 2025. The task force comprises multiple federal and state agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, IRS, and the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, aimed at combating trafficking and supporting survivors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit led the prosecution. Anyone who suspects human trafficking is encouraged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733 (BEFREE).

Boko Haram Deploying Armed Drones Nigerian Army Warns

Our Reporters3 weeks ago3 weeks ago06 mins

Maiduguri, Nigeria – May 14, 2025 The Nigerian Army has raised concerns over the increasing use of armed drones by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, describing it as a dangerous shift in tactics that poses significant challenges to national security. Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), disclosed this development during a press briefing on Tuesday in Maiduguri, Borno State. According to the commander, the terrorist group has begun deploying drones similar to those used in conflict zones such as Israel and Ukraine, which are difficult to detect using conventional radar systems. “The terrorists have changed tactics, resorting to multi-pronged attacks on isolated and vulnerable deployments. They use these attacks as propaganda,” General Abubakar said. “This is why we are reviewing our deployments to counter their evolving strategies.” The army chief warned that insurgents who continue to resist and engage in violence face “certain elimination,” urging them to surrender and emulate those who have already laid down their arms and are being treated humanely. Despite the new threat posed by drone warfare, General Abubakar reassured Nigerians that the troops remain highly motivated, attributing improved morale to enhanced welfare packages instituted by the military leadership. “This shows the seriousness with which the government is tackling this conflict,” he said. “We are confident that in due time, we will achieve complete victory over terrorism.” The Theatre Commander highlighted significant progress in the fight against insurgency, noting that normalcy has largely returned to many parts of the North East compared to five or ten years ago. “In just the past week, over 20 terrorists have been neutralised and several weapons recovered. Operations are ongoing on multiple fronts,” he said, adding that thousands of displaced residents have returned to their communities. “Malam Fatori and Kukawa are recent success stories, with nearly 20,000 IDPs returning to their ancestral homes.” However, General Abubakar acknowledged that insecurity across the wider Sahel region is impacting Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. He noted that arms looted from overrun military barracks in neighboring countries are often smuggled into Nigeria through porous borders. “Two years ago, we were on the verge of declaring the conflict over,” he revealed. “But the deterioration in the Sahel has had a direct impact on us. The terrorists have also adapted—thanks in part to the ease with which they access new technology.” He cited the deployment of weaponised drones since November 2024 as a major concern, prompting the military to reassess and reorganize its strategy. “The Chief of Army Staff visited last week and major changes have been implemented. I assumed command just three weeks ago as part of those changes,” he said. General Abubakar confirmed that coordinated attacks were recently launched in Rann, Dikwa, and Gajiram. While most were repelled, the attack on Rann breached military defenses, resulting in the loss of four personnel. Despite the setback, he reaffirmed the military’s determination to end terrorism. “Our resolve remains firm. We will defeat terrorism and restore peace to this region as swiftly as possible. But we need the full support of the nation,” he said. The commander urged Nigerians to grasp the complexity of the mission, noting that the OPHK theatre covers over 150,000 square kilometers—larger than several countries combined. “In asymmetric warfare, as Sun Tzu said, you must separate the fish from the water. Security is a collective responsibility,” he added. As a sign of growing community collaboration, he cited the recent interception of 13,000 litres of petrol being smuggled to terrorist enclaves—a cache capable of powering insurgent operations for a year. “The fight against terrorism cannot be won by the armed forces alone,” he concluded. “We need the cooperation and vigilance of every citizen to overcome this challenge.”

Sex, Drugs & Illegality: Inside The World Of Ajah’s Travellers Lodge

Our Reporters4 weeks ago4 weeks ago026 mins

if you pass through the streets of Ajiwe in Ajah town, Lagos, during the day, you’ll notice a lot: sprawling residential estates lining the road, mom-and-pop shops, a few POS operators, children playing roadside games, and the bustling “God is Good” motor park. A more observant passerby, however, will spot a dingy, beige-coloured, three-story motel called “Travellers Lodge” beside the park. During the day, it’s a casual spot to watch football, grab a drink at the local bar, or buy a pack of Indomie. But as night falls, the motel becomes more than a safe haven for a weary traveller. It becomes a darker identity: a haven for sex work. It’s a common sight to see young women, some teenagers, with revealing mini-skirts and flashy hairstyles loitering around the entrance and veranda, shaking their hips seductively to the rhythm of loud afrobeat music blaring through the speakers; enticing male customers, including noisy intoxicated men from the streets and bus ‘agberos’ (conductors) from the bar, to their rooms. I know of this because I have lived in the estate near the surroundings for ten years. I have passed the premises both night and day, and I always knew that something strange was going on. But I never knew the full extent of the happenings there, until I stumbled upon my unlikely confidante, a cleaner named Berenice. Berenice*, who had worked in the lodge since 2020, knew every hidden corner in the motel and had witnessed certain injustices, such as the beating and slapping of these young girls. It was through her accounts of tearful young girls and the men who paid for their innocence that the true extent of the lodge’s dark secret was revealed. With her help, my colleague Kabir and I were able to infiltrate the premises and learn more about what the lodge truly is. The stories of Sweet, Faith and RoseOn different occasions, Kabir and I went undercover to Travellers Lodge as a customer and a prospective sex worker, respectively. For Kabir, his experience was filled with propositions by three sex workers – Sweet*, Faith* and Rose* – at the bar, a large outdoor space with white plastic chairs and tables. You could buy your drinks at the counter, sit down, and watch the ladies dance on the mounted pillars when they’re available. He was able to convince them to take him to their rooms, where all three women shared their stories. “It’s just the “hustle”” Sex work for Sweet did not come as a choice but as the only logical explanation towards making money. Her story starts in 2014 when she finished secondary school and came to live with her uncle in Lagos from Rivers State. His wife was rarely at home, and could only be seen once every two weeks. This gave the uncle an opportunity to touch her indecently in her private areas. “Once that happened to me, I just knew that I had to leave. I spent some years hawking on the streets before a friend introduced me to this place, where I could get more money. Since then, I don’t regret the experience. There are men who come here without even f***ing me. One man came here for two hours, bought me food and drinks, and left without doing a thing. It might not be a good job, but if you know what you’re doing, you’ll enjoy this place. It is just the hustle,” she explained. Money for Sweet isn’t bad at all. She claims to make up to N50,000 on good nights, and her rent is N6,000 daily (which is the same for all the sex workers). “If you’re not always owing them, you can ask them to go and come back later,” she said. Sexual violence is a common experience for many of the young women at Travel Lodge. However, such is not peculiar to them. In 2022, Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a significant rise in rape cases. The World Health Organisation says nearly one in three women (approximately 30 per cent) globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or acquaintance at some point in their lives. “Be nice to them and they won’t harass you”On another occasion, Rose, who also works as a caterer at the lodge, explained to Kabir the process of becoming a sex worker at the lodge – be attractive and have the ability to afford the first day’s rental fee upfront. Unlike a white-collar job, you can even define your working hours: Rose has a “15-hours off, 15-hours on.” Like Sweet, Rose also came to the lodge by unfortunate means, as her shop in Lagos got burnt in October, alongside her place of residence. “Everything I do here is to help me provide money for myself until I can get enough money to have my own place again,” she explained. “My family cannot know about this”Unlike Sweet and Rose, not everyone arrived at the lodge in tragic circumstances. Some of the women did not become sex workers due to lack of money. One such woman is Faith, whose older sisters reportedly study medicine and law in the UK. Faith also said her mother is a “Nollywood actress.” She said her parents think she works as a receptionist in a Lagos firm. Faith, however said she is not proud of the work she does. “I can’t even allow my younger sister into this trade,” she said. “She smokes and dresses scantily, but some of the men here are too rough for her tastes. I too, am only here until my sugar daddy is ready to take me away from this place.” When asked if she considers the possible health implications of sex work, she said she takes precautions. “I just went for an HIV test last month, and I am clean,” she said. How did the Travellers’ Lodge come to be? According to Berenice, the lodge has “different stories” of origin, depending on who you ask. “Some will…

Apprentice Accomplice Arrested for ₦250 Million Building Materials Theft in Lagos

Our Reporters4 weeks ago4 weeks ago03 mins

The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested an apprentice, Ezekiel Taiwo, and his alleged accomplice, Rahman Airat, for allegedly diverting building materials worth over ₦250 million from Taiwo’s employer to fund their gambling lifestyle. The arrests were confirmed in a statement released on Saturday by the spokesperson for the PSFU, Ovie Ewhubare, who stated that the two suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a five-count charge that includes conspiracy, theft, fraudulent conversion, embezzlement, and money laundering. “In a significant development to an ongoing case of conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion of funds, embezzlement, and money laundering to the tune of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N250,000,000), the PSFU has arraigned two suspects; Taiwo ‘M’ and Airat before the Federal High Court, Lagos,” Ewhubare announced. The case originated from a petition filed by businessman Jimoh Atofolaki, who alleged that Taiwo, his apprentice assigned to the Osogbo branch of his company, diverted massive quantities of building materials—particularly cement—belonging to the company. According to the investigation, Taiwo, in collusion with Airat, sold the materials and channeled the proceeds into gambling activities. The Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, CP Okunade Nurat, used the case to issue a caution to business owners across the country. “We urge members of the public to be wary and always ensure that they carry out thorough background checks before employing individuals to take charge of their businesses,” she said. This is not the first time the PSFU has handled such a case. In 2019, a similar incident involved a 20-year-old apprentice, Kosi Nnamani, who was charged at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing goods valued at ₦1.94 million from his master. The PSFU continues to investigate the full extent of the conspiracy, with further court proceedings expected in the coming weeks.

Israeli Forces Shut Down UN-Run Schools in East Jerusalem, Sparking International Outcry

Our Reporters4 weeks ago4 weeks ago05 mins

Armed Israeli security forces have forced the closure of three schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem. Hundreds of Palestinian students were sent home from the schools in Shuafat refugee camp just after classes began on Thursday morning. Unrwa’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, said Israeli authorities were denying children their basic right to learn and accused them of a “blatant disregard of international law”. An Israeli ban on Unrwa took effect earlier this year and Israel accuses the agency of being infiltrated by Hamas. Unrwa denies this claim and insists on its impartiality. Videos showed girls in uniform hugging each other outside one school in Shuafat following the arrival of Israeli forces outside. A closure order fixed to the wall of the school read: “It will be prohibited to operate educational institutions, or employ teachers, teaching staff or any other staff, and it will be forbidden to accommodate students or allow the entry of students into this institution.” Unrwa said that more than 550 pupils aged six to 15 were present and that one of its staff members was detained, in what its director in the occupied West Bank called “a traumatising experience for young children who are at immediate risk of losing their access to education”. The agency said that Israeli police were also deployed at three other schools in East Jerusalem, forcing them to send their students home too. “Storming schools and forcing them shut is a blatant disregard of international law,” Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X. “These schools are inviolable premises of the United Nations.” He added: “By enforcing closure orders issued last month, the Israeli authorities are denying Palestinian children their basic right to learn. “Unrwa schools must continue to be open to safeguard an entire generation of children.” The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank not under Israeli control, said the move was a “violation of children’s right to education”. The British consulate in Jerusalem said the UK, EU, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Japan strongly opposed the closure orders issued against the Unrwa schools and stood “in solidarity with students, parents, and teachers”. “Unrwa has operated in East Jerusalem under its UN General Assembly mandate since 1950. Israel is obliged under international humanitarian law to facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the education of children,” they added. Last year, Israel’s parliament passed laws forbidding contact between Israeli officials and Unrwa, as well as banning activity by the agency in Israeli territory. Israel captured East Jerusalem, along with the rest of the West Bank, in the 1967 Middle East war. It effectively annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 in a move not recognised by most of the international community, and sees the whole city as its capital. Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for future state. Approximately 230,000 Israeli settlers currently live in East Jerusalem alongside 390,000 Palestinians. Most of the international community considers the settlements built there and elsewhere in the West Bank to be illegal under international law – a position supported by an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year – although Israel disputes this.