FUTURE GOVERNORS !!! Nine Nigerians arrested in US for $3.5m wire fraud

Nine Nigerians have been arrested in the United States for defrauding individuals and businesses of more than $3.5 million.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the southern district of New York, and James C. Spero, special agent in charge of the Tampa, Florida, field office of U.S. immigration and customs enforcement’s Homeland security investigations (“HSI”), disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The suspects are Oluwaseun Adelekan, Olalekan Daramola, Solomon Aburekhanlen, Gbenga Oyeneyin, Abiola Olajumoke, Temitope Omotayo, Bryan Eadie, Albert Lucas and Ademola Adebogun.

The US officials said the suspects committed the fraud through business email compromises, a Russian oil scam, and a romance scam.

“As alleged, these defendants deployed three different email schemes to defraud their victims.  The common denominator in all three schemes was the defendants’ alleged fleecing of their victims through fictitious online identities,” said Berman.

“The schemes allegedly earned the defendants $3.5 million – and also arrests on federal felony charges.”

The defendants are accused of participating in a scheme to defraud businesses and individuals through several categories of false and misleading representations.

“Sending victims email messages that appeared to be, but were not, from legitimate business counterparties that included instructions to the victims to wire payment to those seemingly legitimate business counterparties into bank accounts that were actually under the control of, and/or maintained by, Adelekan, Daramola, Aburekhanlen, Oyeneyin, Olajumoke, Omotayo, Eadie, Lucas, and Adebogun (the “Business Email Compromise Scam”),” read the statement.

“Sending email messages and text messages to at least one victim offering an opportunity to invest in oil stored in Russian oil tank farms conditioned on that victim wiring upfront payments into bank accounts purportedly affiliated with the purported oil investment but actually opened by and under the control of Aburekhanlen, Olajumoke, and Oyeneyin (the “Russian Oil Scam”).

“Sending email messages and text messages to at least one victim from an individual (or individuals) purporting to be a female with romantic intentions toward the victim requesting, further to establishing a romantic relationship, the wiring of payment into a bank account under the control of Omotayo (the “Romance Scam”).”

They are each charged in the indictment with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and each defendant faces a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.

- THECABLE

Current security system has failed the country – NLC President

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has decried the increased state of insecurity in the country.

Wabba, who disclosed this in a message to state Delegates Conference of the Congress on Thursday, said “There is hardly any day that passes without one incident of armed robbery, kidnap for ransom, militancy or terrorism attack making headlines.

“We call on government at both federal and state levels to urgently rejig our security architecture, structure, and management.

“Clearly, the current approach has failed. We also call for a robust and sustainable response to renewed security challenges in our country.

“Even if that means an increase in the budget for internal security so long it is judiciously and transparently used.

“The political arena offers one of the most effective spaces for tackling almost all the challenges that we have already highlighted to bring about socioeconomic transformation.

“Unfortunately, the conduct of the last general election left a lot of sour taste in the mouth,‘’ he said.

The NLC President called on employers of labour to commence the implementation of the new minimum wage immediately.

“The upward review of the national minimum wage is not so much a gift as it is the right of workers. This right was delayed for too long.

“As Mr President ordered during the signing into law of the National Minimum Wage (2019) Amendment Bill, we call on all employers of labour to commence payment immediately.

“I urge the incoming leadership of our state councils to make the immediate payment of the new national minimum wage of N30,000 and review of monthly pension by state governments your top priority.

“We have crossed the bridge of the debate whether state governments can pay the new national minimum wage or not.

“The feedback we got from the nationwide rallies for a new national minimum wage which took place in January 2019 indicated that most state governments are willing to pay the new national minimum wage once Mr President grants his assent.

“The truth is that if state governments cut down on the high cost of governance and corruption, they will be more than able to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000,‘’ he said.

Wabba urged the leadership of various state councils to emerge from the conferences to push for the implementation of the new wage by state government.

He said that the NLC completely rejected proposals to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) as a means of funding the 2019 budget.

Wabba warned that any increase in VAT or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) would rob workers of the minimal relief from the increase in the new wage.

The labour leader urged the government to consider other progressive ways of financing the budget.

He also counselled the government against contemplating any increase in the price of refined petroleum products especially the Premium Motor Spirit.

- PM EWS

Home Office investigated over English test cheating claims

A government watchdog has launched an investigation into the Home Office’s decision to accuse about 34,000 international students of cheating in English language tests, and will scrutinise the thinking behind the subsequent cancellation or curtailment of their visas.

More than 1,000 students have been removed from the UK as a result of the accusation and hundreds have spent time in detention, but large numbers of students say they were wrongly accused. Over 300 cases are pending in the court of appeal as hundreds attempt to clear their names. MPs have warned that this immigration scandal could be “bigger than Windrush”.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has been making preliminary inquiries into the government’s handling of the issue since the beginning of the year, and has now announced that it will proceed with a formal investigation. The body is expected to report its findings in late May or June.

“In 2014, a BBC Panorama documentary drew attention to fraud in the UK student visa system, including widespread cheating in English language tests. The Home Office revoked student visas where there was evidence of cheating, but its decisions have come under renewed public and parliamentary scrutiny in the wake of the Windrush scandal,” the NAO said. “The NAO is looking at the information held by the Home Office on the number of people alleged to have cheated and the action the Home Office has taken to date.”

Undercover filming by the BBC in 2014 showed clear evidence of cheating in two test centres where international students sat the test of English for international communication (Toeic). Reporters showed the footage to Theresa May, then home secretary, who said she was shocked, and promised to take action. The Home Office concluded that around 34,000 of the 58,458 students who had taken the test between 2011 and 2014 had definitely cheated, that a further 22,600 had “questionable results”, and that only 2,000 had definitely not cheated.

Campaigners have questioned whether it is plausible that such a large proportion of students sitting a Home Office-approved test could have been involved in cheating.

Stephen Timms, the Labour MP for East Ham, who represents a number of affected students and who has been campaigning on this issue, said: “I welcome the NAO’s decision to investigate the Toeic scandal on behalf of parliament. I hope we might finally find out why so many innocent students have been treated so disgracefully.”

Nazek Ramadan, director of Migrant Voice, a charity that has been assisting those affected for several years, said: “This is an important step on the road to justice for thousands of innocent students. Many were wrongly accused and have spent the last five years trying to clear their names in the courts. Most remain trapped in a legal labyrinth, facing Home Office appeals and delays at every step and living with the daily threat of detention and deportation.

“Stripped of the right to work, study or even access healthcare, many of the students are destitute and suffering from severe mental health problems. The criminal allegation against them means that they cannot continue their studies, get a good job or obtain a visa to travel anywhere in the world. The Home Office’s handling of this issue has been spectacularly unfair and opaque, and it’s high time the truth was brought to light.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have been supporting the National Audit Office in its work on this investigation since the start of the year. We will consider the findings of the report once it is published.”

Last year the NAO published a critical report on the Home Office’s handling of the Windrush scandal, highlighting poor-quality data that wrongly classified people as illegal immigrants, the risky use of deportation targets, poor value for money offered by hostile environment policies, and a failure to respond to numerous warnings that the policies would hurt people living in the UK legally.- THE GUARDIAN UK

Pogba refuses to submit visa for Man Utd’s preseason tour amid Real Madrid interest

Paul Pogba is yet to submit a visa application to join Manchester United’s pre-season tour of China this summer, fuelling speculation he is ready to force through a transfer to Real Madrid.

The news broke on Spanish television show, Jugones, that Pogba declined to hand over his passport to the Chinese Consulate this week, despite the rest of his teammates doing so.

It was immediately presumed that this was a power play from the Frenchman, who is reportedly unhappy at Old Trafford and wants to leave the club.

However, the Evening Standard reports that United are relaxed about the situation and have attributed it simply to “passport issues”.

The club still fully expect Pogba to apply for his visa before the end of the season and are counting on him being involved in the tour to Australia, Singapore and China in July.

- DAILY POST

Benue, Taraba killings: Governors under attack over insecurity in Middle Belt

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG), has lambasted Nigerian governors over their perceived cold attitude towards the endless killings and unrest in the region.

MBCG said the lukewarm attitude of the governors and stakeholders in the country was becoming worrisome.

The group called on governors in Nigeria to wake up and take a decisive action over the spate of killings, kidnappings and criminality.

The leadership of MBCG and members gave this charge after an emergency meeting to cross-examine the unending crises in some sections of the country.

In a communiqué signed at the end of the emergency meeting by Prince Raymond Enero President, MBCG & Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee (CDC) and Dr. Paul Itodo, Secretary- General, MBCG &, Communique Drafting Committee (CDC), they tasked the governors to “commit resources, energy into resolving conflicts and stop globetrotting”.

The body in the communique made available to DAILY POST said it was pained “with the unprovoked invasions of our communities by armed assailants in parts of the country, while governors in the areas watch without swinging into action to end the meance.”

MBCG condemned the “killings; the untold hardships, dislocations of communal life, the pains, and agonies, now experienced by otherwise peaceful communities and the fate of our people or survivors who are now compelled to go through this undeserved accidental physical and psychological trauma.”

They called on the state governors in the country to rise up to the challenge and end the protracted crises, which had claimed many lives and valuables.

The communiqué reads: “The meeting unanimously identified with our people’s pains of losing beloved ones, displacements of people and the connected inconveniences imposed on them by these attacks from satanic and heartless souls. We collectively prayed for the souls of our departed brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the senseless carnages and wished that may Almighty God grant their innocent souls eternal rest in His bosom.

“The forum stated clearly that the people of Middle Belt are communally bonded or are united by the same blood, cultures, traditions and a common destiny in Nigeria, especially in the land our forebears dwelled, which we have inherited. And that the preponderance of violence and the brazen extermination of our kith and kin in this region are against the spirit of our ancestors.

“Therefore, all actors, passive or impassive must sheathe their swords for peace and security to reign in this region. And indeed, in other parts of Northern Nigeria, where violence has replaced peace and harmonious co-existence as members of the same ancestry.
We also resolved to advise all communities to learn to amicably settle all disputes, rather than the prevailing trend of impulsive resort to violence and killings of one another. We sincerely commiserate with our people over the sad crises, which most or all of the times reflect our dilemma as a people or communities abandoned by our respective failed state leaders. They mask as State Governors for politicking sake and thereafter, go in pursuit of a worthless and unlucrative lucre abroad, while in public service.

“MBCG reached a consensus resolution to caution and even warn the State Governors of States domiciled in the Middle Belt and other parts of Northern Nigeria, such as those of Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Zamfara, Katsina states and others to stand up for their first and foremost Constitutional responsibility of securing the lives and property of their citizens.

“The resolution also reminded these State Governors to understand, the 2019 electioneering campaigns/elections and the brawl-beating or escapism from the leadership they seek are over now. It’s enough that these “failed politicians” who have retained themselves back to power or planted stooges, must necessarily warm their seats in offices to focus on governance, than striking enmity with main rivals and supporters.

“A resolution also reminded these State Governors that the first port of call when there is a breach of security in their respective states is to arrest it with the hundreds of millions in security votes they collect every month from the federation account to tame the tide. The idea of “pocketing” security votes, instead of channeling it to nip crisis in the bud before it escalates only to look unto to the Presidency to deploy the military for damage control is unacceptable onwards.

“We resolved that these State Governors must begin to commit States resources and allocations, especially, security votes, collected on behalf of the people into resolving security issues and desist from misappropriating same for globetrotting and purchase of choice properties in Abuja, Dubai, China and in other parts of the world.

“The meeting resolved that these State Governors should initiate peace and reconciliations parleys within the divisive political clans in their various states. It’s obvious the renewed violence and killings in the Middle Belt and armed banditry in the Northwest are instigated by these politicians/ state leaders.

“We appeal to these politicians with over- bloated ego to the extent of overlooking the security of lives and property to bury their pride and seek citizenship protection by whatever means possible for us to be safe. It behooves on these state leaders to evolve home-grown solutions by consulting and collaborating with the traditional, community, opinion and religious leaders to find enduring solutions to these crises, which are peculiar to the different geographical entities and cannot be solved centrally by using one approach alone.

“It’s clear to us that in the build-up to the last general elections, these politicians ”armed youths to snatch ballot boxes,” but were not allowed to exercise this might because of the heavy presence of security for Nigerians to cast their lawful votes unmolested or harassed. Its time for them to call for armistice and disarm the youths they empowered with guns to kill and maim for political reasons.

“We commended the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) led by President Muhammadu Buhari by its proactive reactions through the instant deployment of troops to curtail some of the outbreaks of violence and killings in most of these states. It’s an applauded demonstration of compliance with his oath of office to protect lives and property of Nigerians, despite the apparent slack and dereliction of duty by some of these state Governors/leaders.”

- DAILY POST

Lagos pardons 14 inmates, coverts death row for 20 others to life imprisonment

The Lagos State Government, through the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, on Friday pardoned 14 inmates of the Maximum Security Prison in Kirikiri who have been imprisoned for over 20 years for various offences, while 20 others on death row had their punishment converted to life imprisonment.

Speaking while handing over the order for the release of the inmates signed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to prison authorities, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem (SAN) said the development was pursuant to Constitutional provision which provided for the constitution of an Advisory Council and granted the governor power to grant clemency to convicted persons on the advice of the Council.

“Prerogative of Mercy is a right recognised under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Section 212(2) of the Constitution provides that the powers conferred on the Governor under Section 212(1) shall be exercised by him after consultation with the Advisory Council of the State on the Prerogative of Mercy as may be established by the Law of the State,” Kazeem stated.

He said the inmates were considered to benefit from the prerogative of mercy after due examination of their case files, which revealed that they had been reformed and ready for re-integration into the society.

Kazeem, who is also a member of the Council, specifically congratulated the inmates, and advised them to be of good conduct outside the prison.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Council, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo said aside its power under the Constitution, the setting up of the Council also served as a way of decongesting the prisons.

He equally congratulated the beneficiaries of the clemency by the Governor, and urged them to avoid acts that led them into prison in the first place.

On his part, the Controller of Prison in charge of Kirikiri Maximum Prison, DCP Emmanuel Oluwaniyi commended the State Government, especially the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for the efforts to decongest the prison.

Oluwaniyi, who was newly deployed to the State, said it was particularly gratifying that he was beginning his stewardship in the State on a good note with the release of inmates who were due to be re-integrated into the society, just as he equally admonished them to be of good conduct outside the prison.

Aside Oyewo and Kazeem, other members of the Lagos State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy are Mr. Adedotun Adetunji, Mrs Musili Onasanya, Mr. Olumide Oniyire, Mr. Chris Okoye, Mrs. Bolatumi Animashaun, and Mrs. Yemisi Ogunlola (Secretary).

- PM NEWS

EFCC arrests more internet fraudsters in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday said it has arrested five suspected internet fraudsters in two separate operations within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

A statement issued by the commission said the suspects were arrested at the Nigerian Army Resettlement Estate, Jikwoyi, and Kings Court Estate in Abuja.

According to the statement, “On Thursday, April 25, 2019, the Commission nabbed Mmizoro Chinedu and Utyo Philip, two suspected internet fraudsters at the Nigerian Army Resettlement Estate, Jikwoyi, Abuja.

“Similarly, the zone raided the Kings Court Estate residence of three suspected internet fraudsters; Odili Augustine, Odili Philips and Elvis Albert.”

According to the EEFCC, an operative of the agency sustained injury when one of the suspects tried to resist arrest, adding that items recovered from the suspects included a white Honda Cross tour, laptops, sophisticated phones and documents of some landed properties.

- PM NEWS

Army destroys 500 drums of adulterated diesel

The Nigerian Army has destroyed 500 drums of adulterated diesel and two cars seized from smugglers in Jebs Community in the Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River.

Speaking to newsmen after the destruction, carried out on Friday in Calabar, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Sector 4, Col. B.A. Amakor, said the diesel was smuggled from neighbouring states into Cross River.

Amakor said the smugglers absconded on sighting the army, leaving drums of diesel and two vehicles behind.

“We have 500 drums of diesel which is worth millions of naira and they are being destroyed alongside two vehicles which were used to perpetrate the act.

“Some suspects were arrested and after preliminary investigations, some of the people who were used as labourers to offload the products were apprehended and we have handed them over to the relevant agencies for prosecution.

“We are reaching out to locals through community and youth leaders to help us with information and cooperate with the security agencies to report these people when they are seen.

“The challenges we are facing apart from the issue of logistics is the challenge of the locals who are not ready to divulge information.”

The commander said that Operation Delta Safe was doing its best to safeguard Cross River, particularly the waterways to stop smugglers from carrying out their illegal activities.

On kidnapping, he said that Operation Delta Safe was stepping up efforts and had in the past two weeks arrested over 10 suspected kidnappers.

“We raided their camps. Some of them were killed in the process and some got away with gunshot wounds.

“We are still on their trail. We are assuring members of the public that kidnappers will not find a resting place in Cross River State.”

Amakor, however, called on the Cross River Government to support Operation Delta Safe in its effort to make the state safer.

- PM NEWS

HORROR !! 6-year old boy found dead in woman’s freezer

The police in Lagos have arrested a woman, in whose freezer a six-year old boy, Treasure Akinsohun, was found dead, hours after he was declared missing.

The freezer was normally used to sell water and soft drinks.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana confirmed the arrest on Friday, saying that the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary, while investigation was ongoing.

According to Elkana, on April 23, at about 8.30pm, Eunice Akinsohun of Oyedele Street, Alapere Ketu, reported her six-year old son, Treasure, missing from about 9am.

He said a day later, the corpse of the boy was found in a freezer, inside the shop owned by Eunice’s neighbour, Patience Odowo. Patience’s shop was at 12 Orisigun Street also in Alapere.

Odowo was promptly arrested.

Sources disclosed that Treasure and his mother lived in Ikorodu and had gone to Ketu to celebrate the Easter holidays with his mother’s younger sister.

Ojo Akinsohun: the boy’s father

It was gathered that Treasure and some children in his aunt’s compound were playing when he suddenly disappeared, but his body was later found inside the freezer at Orisigun Street, about five streets from where his mother’s younger sister resides.

The bereaved mother, Mrs Eunice Akinsohun told journalists that she noticed her son was not among the other children playing in the compound.

She said when she asked for his whereabouts, the other children could not give an answer, forcing her to raise an alarm.

After a frenetic search for the boy was fruitless, she reported the boy missing to police at Alapere Police Station.

“I also called my husband on the phone to inform him of the development. Before I got back home, a crowd had gathered at my sister’s house at Alapere to help in the search for my son.

“Throughout that day we couldn’t locate the exact place where he was. When my husband eventually arrived, he also tried his best with my sister’s husband and some elders in the community.

“He was still not found. That was how we went back to Ikorodu that night in anguish,” she said.

The woman said she and her husband were on their way back to Alapere from Ikorodu when they received a phone call that her son had been found in a woman’s freezer at Orisigun Street.

“Immediately I saw the corpse of my son, I fainted. I was later revived at the hospital. What surprised me was how my son got into a freezer at another street.

“I still don’t understand how he got into the freezer as I speak with you. But it is left for the police to investigate,” she said.

The father of the boy, Mr Ojo Akinsohun, said he was preparing to go out when he received a phone call from his wife that their son was missing.

“I heard that the night my son was missing, the daughter of the freezer’s owner was sent to bring sachet water from the freezer, but she didn’t find the boy inside. I was surprised how the boy got into the freezer.

“I want police to investigate it and get to the root of the matter. I can’t allow my son to die in vain,” he said.

- PM NEWS