The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday October 30, 2024 asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, a fake fertility nurse before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State. The defendant was arraigned on 45-count charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N28,278,600.00 (Twenty-eight Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-eight Thousand, Six Hundred Naira). Count 41 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,600,000.00) only from one Okenwa Joy Chiamaka, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”. Count 24 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,250,000.00) from one Amarachi Okpala, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts when they were read to her. In view of her pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Blessing N. Obasi prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility. However, defence counsel, G. C. Madubuegwu informed the court about a pending motion on notice for bail, dated October 4, 2024, and filed on the same date. “It is brought pursuant to Section 162 and 165 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ” he said. After moving the said application, he prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms. Obasi vehemently opposed the application for bail on the grounds that the allegation against the defendant was a weighty one, citing the mental health of the defendant’s victims. After listening to both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the matter to November 12, 2024, for ruling on the bail application. The defendant was thereafter remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility. David-Agwa’s criminal issues commenced on August 28, 2024, when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA handed her over to the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC for investigation and possible prosecution after discovering that the defendant paraded herself as a medical fertility Nurse, thereby defrauding unsuspecting victims. Investigation into the matter revealed that the defendant allegedly forged the certificate of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Certificate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka and used the same in parading herself as a Medical Fertility Nurse, specially trained to assist women in getting pregnant with ease. It was also discovered that the defendant successfully defrauded over 45 innocent women who fell for her false claims.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has confirmed the arrest of Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, at the Seme border while he was attempting to leave the country. In a statement issued by DCI KT Udo Service Public Relations Officer. “In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) intercepted Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju otherwise known as Bobrisky at the Seme Border over an attempt to Exit the Country. “The Service wishes to inform the public that OKUNEYE IDRIS is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern. He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate Authorities for further action. “The Service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the Country’s Borders.”
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has expressed the readiness of the Commission to work closely with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, in order to tackle the scourge of Money Laundering more fiercely. He gave this indication in Abuja when the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello Adamu, led the management team of the agency on a courtesy visit to Olukoyede at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. The EFCC’s boss explained that there was a strong linkage between human trafficking and money laundering and that all efforts should be made to confront and conquer the two crimes together. “There’s a very strong nexus between human trafficking and money laundering. Wherever human trafficking takes place, there will definitely be money laundering, so that makes it necessary for us to work together,” he said. While assuring NAPTIP of EFCC’s support, he pledged the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that the relationship is further strengthened for optimal outcomes, noting that NAPTIP plays a critical role in Nigeria’s economic development and good international image. “Even though there’s an existing relationship, the essence of enhanced collaboration is to strengthen it and take it to a higher level. So, we will always be willing to collaborate with you, especially in areas like joint investigation, public awareness, resource mobilization, and manpower development as you have requested. The mandate of your agency is critical to our economic development and in giving a good international reputation to our country. So we will always be willing to support and to collaborate with you,” he said. Earlier in her remark, Bello pointed out that “the key points for this visit today are to seek collaboration on joint investigation, cybercrime and online trafficking investigation because this kind of crime involves a lot of finances, intelligence sharing, and capacity building, public awareness, and resource mobilization. I need all the support that will make us succeed in this fight so as to curtail the menace of human trafficking and violence against persons to the barest minimum,” she said. She noted that NAPTIP has been working closely with the EFCC since its inception, adding that “because of that, we think it is very important to come and present ourselves again before the Executive Chairman, particularly regarding the fight against human trafficking.” She recalled that the landmark conviction her agency got in 2022, involving a transnational human trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and European countries was achieved through a robust collaboration with the EFCC, adding that “Previous joint efforts also yielded notable results, such as the 2021 rescue operation that liberated 500 human trafficking victims from Libya, Europe, and the Middle East, and the 2020 partnership that resulted in the arrest of several traffickers and the recovery of over N100 million illicit funds.”
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2023 Kogi State Governorship elections, Senator Dino Melaye has accused former Governor Yahaya Bello of hiding in the state’s government house kitchen to evade arrest by EFCC. An elated Senator, who was reacting to his legal victory after six years, made this revelation on his X handle on Tuesday. Melaye wrote; “After 6 years of legal battle with the Federal Government and IGP on 12 different frivolous cases, just to silence me and drown my voice. “The last of the 12 cases was decided yesterday and I won it just like the other 11 before it. I was humiliated and detained 436 days between 2017 and 2019. “Truth will always remain constant and for me it is a no retreat,no surrender situation. I will continue to speak the truth despite all odds. “In an unjust society, silence is crime. Truth have no volume. “I was humiliated and escaped 4 assassination attempts, to the glory of God, I am here today bouncing and making progress. “No amount of threat, arrest or humiliation will break Dino because if you speak the truth, you will die,if you lie you will die, it is better to speak the truth and die. “Bello, (Yahaya) who instigated these charges is a hunter, who has now become the hunted, hiding inside his successor’s agbada or taking cover in the coven and the oven of Government House kitchen, to escape arrest. “This is what it means to be law-abiding. When your innocence is questioned, be available to prove your innocence. “When you evade common invitation, resist arrest, or refuse to appear in court, you have pronounced yourself guilty! “Truly, the guilty is afraid. “Bello should do the right thing by showing up to explain how N110B moved from the state coffers to his pocket. That is the definition of good citizenship.”
Popular Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, has revealed that he charges the sim of $100,000 for influencing on social media platforms. This, according to him, was one of his genuine sources of wealth contrary to people’s belief that he’s into money laundering and fraudulent acts. This was contained in a video posted by controversial social media critic, Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan on Monday, October 7, 20204. According to VDM, the call recording was made on May 16, 2024. “All the money I have is genuine and the sources are like most of my influencing [sic], like that day I called you that one woman wanted to pay me £10,000, you know I told you that it’s for influencing. “So, people don’t know how I charge a lot of money for influencing but I made them understand I charge as far as $100,000 to influence,” Bobrisky allegedly said in a recorded voice call with a male contact whose name remains unknown. The crossdresser who was convicted for mutilating the naira in April and sentenced to six months in jail, noted that he had access to his mobile phone while in custody. The male contact had initially asked if Bobrisky was out of prison before he responded in the negative, then he said he hadn’t been talking to people over the phone. “People have been sending me so many messages but I’ve not been responding because I don’t want anybody to know that I have my phone. I only want to talk to somebody that I know I can trust. “So if you think you cannot do it, all fingers are equal. Some others do it and trust me, God blessed the hustle. Obviously, I met a very terrible judge who wasn’t fair at all,” he added.
Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, have arrested 33 (Thirty-Three) suspected internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They were arrested in their hideouts around Iwofe and Ogboro axes of Port Harcourt in a sting operation, based on credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet fraud. Items recovered from the suspects include various mobile phone devices, laptops, boxes of fake United States Dollars, fake Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI stamps, Customs stamps, airport clearance stamps, DHL and FedEx stamps and two cars. The suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Operatives of the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 21 (Twenty-One) suspected internet fraudsters in Yola, Adamawa state. They were arrested on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at different locations around Modobo Adamawa University, Yola. Items recovered at the points of arrest include 13 phones, 12 Android phones, one laptop and one tablet phone. The suspects would soon be charged to court.
