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24-year-old Nigerian PhD Student Pleads Guilty To Fraud In US

Published

3 months ago

April 12, 2025

Editor

A 24-year-old Nigerian man, Mercy Ojedeji, has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents in the United States.

The plea was entered in a US District Court in St. Louis, Missouri, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri on Thursday, April 10.

On Wednesday, April 9, Ojedeji admitted to fraudulently securing a student visa and gaining admission into the University of Missouri’s chemistry PhD program in Fall 2023. He acknowledged using falsified academic transcripts, recommendation letters, a fake resume, and a fabricated English language proficiency report to obtain the visa.

With the visa in hand, Ojedeji obtained a Social Security card, a Missouri driver’s license, a bank account, and housing. He also received a stipend and tuition waiver from the university valued at over $49,000.

After failing to attend classes or participate in research activities, Ojedeji was dismissed from the graduate program in January 2024, which resulted in the termination of his student visa. Despite this, prosecutors say he used the invalid visa to obtain a state driver’s license on February 26, 2024.

The investigation began when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service received complaints that victims of a romance fraud scheme were sending packages of cash and gift cards to the home of Ojedeji’s partner. Authorities tracked 35 Express Mail packages—sent between December 19, 2023, and January 4, 2024—that were linked to Nigerian IP addresses.

“A court-approved search of the home resulted in the discovery of packages sent pursuant to a Nigerian romance fraud scheme.

“A total of 193 packages were sent to the home through the Postal Services Express Mail, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service during Ojedeji’s relationship with the woman,” the statement reads.

Seventeen of the seized packages contained $94,150 in cash and gift cards, while prosecutors estimate the total intended loss at over $1 million.

Despite his guilty plea to immigration and wire fraud charges, Ojedeji has denied involvement in the romance scam.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10.

The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the immigration fraud charge could add up to 10 more years and a similar fine.

The final determination of losses and penalties will be made by the judge during sentencing.

Headline

Putin Says Will Speak With Trump On Phone Today

Published

7 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he would speak with US counterpart Donald Trump on the phone Thursday, their first publicly announced call in over two weeks.

The two have been in regular contact since Trump took office in January and have discussed issues like the Ukraine conflict and economic cooperation.

Putin did not say what the two would discuss in Thursday’s call.

“I will talk to the US president today,” the Russian leader told the media during a visit to an exhibition centre in Moscow.

Trump confirmed the call on Truth Social, saying it would start at 10.00am (1400 GMT).

The two leaders have praised each other in recent weeks, despite Moscow’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.

Putin said last week that he had “great respect” for Trump and that US ties were improving. Trump said Putin’s statements were “very nice”.

AFP

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NAFDAC Warns Against Use Of Excess Hydroquinone In Cosmetics

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned users of bleaching creams to refrain from using products containing excessive hydroquinone to safeguard their health.

NAFDAC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr Hamis Yahaya, advised in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent used to treat hyperpigmentation, such as melasma and age spots.

Yahaya said that the approved quantity of the chemical substance in cosmetics was only two per cent.

According to him, NAFDAC conducts checks on market products to ensure public health and safety.

“The black colour provides natural protection against harmful radiation due to melanin content.

“Applying creams with hydroquinone contents more than two per cent is harmful. Mixing creams by non-experts is wrong.

“Hydroquinone affects the health of the users gradually, including causing cancer,” he said.

Yahaya urged the media to raise awareness about the dangers of cosmetics that could endanger consumer lives.

Headline

AU Helicopter Crashes In Somali Capital – State Media

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An African Union helicopter crashed Wednesday at the airport in the Somali capital Mogadishu with eight people onboard, state media said.

The aircraft was part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), tasked with fighting the Al-Shabaab militant group.

The state media agency Sonna said the AUSSOM helicopter, carrying eight people, “crashed during landing at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde Airport this morning after departing Balidoogle”.

“The fire has been contained, and authorities are assessing the situation,” it said in a post on X.

Sonna quoted the country’s civil aviation authorities as saying that “flight operations remain normal”.

There were no further details given, but unverified clips and images shared online showed a plume of black smoke over the city.

The AUSSOM mission faces funding difficulties, even as fears of an Al-Shabaab resurgence are stoked by attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.