The Makurdi Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) between January and August, 2019 arrested about 48 suspects for various offences in Benue State.
This was disclosed by the Head of the Makurdi zonal office, Johnson Ayo Babalola, at a press briefing in Makurdi on September 5, 2019.
He said that between January and now, the zone embarked on intensive investigation that led to the arrest of 48 suspects, with 13 of them at various stages of investigation while 3 have been convicted.
The zone equally engaged in enlightenment, advocacy and sensitization of the public especially the vulnerable group which are the youths.
Babalola also pointed out that the zone was collaborating with agencies such as the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI and INTERPOL in the areas of intelligence gathering to stamp out cybercrime in Nigeria.
According to him, ‘in this zone, we are monitoring the names on the list of fraudsters that FBI released, a substantial part of which are Nigerians. We are on the lookout for the suspects”.
He further pointed out that since the world is now a global village, it is imperative for the Commission to partner with foreign bodies to eliminate or reduce cybercrime to the barest minimum in the country.
Babalola maintained that ‘’internet fraud is a crime that cannot be fought by the Commission alone as it requires a multi- national approach hence the partnership with FBI and other international bodies”.He disclosed that the Makurdi Office has started an enlightenment campaign programme to educate the people on the ills of corruption and financial crimes. He said that the Commission cannot do it alone and engages civil society organizations and other stakeholders. These engagements are helping the Commission achieve results and will not stop until corruption and economic crimes are stamped out of Nigeria.
‘PROFESSOR’, 11 OTHERS ARRAIGNED FOR ALLEGED FRAUD
A sixty-year-old man, Charles Jide-Oni, who claimed to be a professor and lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, was arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence and engaging in advance fee fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, arraigned the ‘Professor’ and 12 other internet fraud suspects before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, the Federal High Court vacation judge for the Southwest zone, on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.
Jide-Oni’s arraignment was sequel to the EFCC’s damning findings about the activities of an illegal financial outfit he floated through which he allegedly swindled his victims of several millions of naira.
Some of the victims had earlier written a petition to the Commission which led to the investigations that indicted him in the alleged fraudulent act.
Among other 12 suspects equally arraigned are Olaleye Kolapo, Madukife Ifeanyi Azuka, Fatanmi Yinka Sunday, Adebayo Bolaji Adeyinka, Adeleke Peter and Adebowale Fadairo.
Others are Oyewunmi Toulope Michael, Bello Ayoade Jalal Arikalam, Owolabi Toheeb Toluope, Abdullahi Abdulazeez Oluwatobi, Temitope Fatolu and Adesina Adewale.
Fatolu (aka Gold Crumb), however, opted for a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to a one-count amended charge of fraudulent impersonation when he was presented before the court on Wednesday.
He was subsequently sentenced to one year imprisonment with effect from June 20, 2019 when he was arrested.
‘Gold Crumb’ was also to restitue the sum of $500 (Five Hundred United States Dollars), through the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to his victim, and to equally forfeit his iPhone 6, Nokia 103 and Hp Laptop to the Federal government of Nigeria, being part of the benefit he derived from his fraudulent act.
Due to the bail application filed and argued by his lawyer on his behalf, Justice Oweibo granted Jide-Oni bail to the tune of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties, the court held, must be of Grade Level 10 in the civil service and must be resident in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The judge also ordered that the accused person be remanded in Ilesha prison pending the time he is able to fulfill his bail conditions as he adjourned substantive hearing to October 14.
Unlike Fatolu, other 11 suspects, who were charged with sundry internet-related offences including obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, being in possession of forged and fraudulent documents to defraud people, pleaded not guilty to the respective charges preferred against them.
Consequent upon their not-guilty plea, EFCC counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, crave the court for order to remand them in prison and fix dates for the hearing of their cases.
The court granted the remand prayer, and also fixed different dates for the hearings.
He fixed October 7 for the hearing of Fatami’s, Adeleke’s, and Fadairo’s cases as he ordered that they are remanded in the Ilesha prison.
Olaleye and Azkuka are to be remanded in Ado-Ekiti prison till October 9 when their cases will be opened for hearing.
For Abdullahi, Oyewunmi and Bello, the hearings would hold on October 14. They are ordered to take shelter in Ilesha prison till then.
The judge equally fixed October 15 and 21 for hearing of Adesina’s and Owolabi’s respective cases while both will be housed in Ilesha prison pending the adjourned date.
Adebayo was, however, returned to the EFCC’s custody.
