The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has arrested 27 persons alleged to be involved in cybercrime and seized nine exotic cars in a sting operation carried out in Benin City.

The Benin Zonal Director of EFCC, Mr Effa Okim, who disclosed this in a chat with Newsmen in Benin City said that the arrests were made mainly in hotels and residential quarters.

According to him, the sting operation which was on Wednesday June 26 is the first since he assumed office as the Benin Zonal Director on April 15, 2024.

In line with his avowed commitment to quick dispensation of justice, he disclosed that the suspects that are not found culpable would be released today after profiling, while those found culpable would be charged to court soon.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Supreme Court Affirms Conviction Of Ex-Bank PHB MD

According to him, for the first time, monies were recovered during operation by men of the EFCC and monies have also been returned to the owners.

He expressed the commission’s readiness to ensure that cybercrime is reduced to its barest minimum in the zone, made up of Edo, Delta and Ondo states

The Zonal Director disclosed that all those arrested would be made to declare their assets as a tool to monitoring their activities

Okim said that the commission has been engaged in preventive measures, with visits to tertiary institutions, and other locations with vulnerable people as part of measures to check cybercrime.

A mild drama ensued in court on Friday, as several Civil Society Oganisations filed a lawsuit against the Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and other 24 lawmakers.

Our correspondent at the court, gathered that the argument was between two lawyers, over who would represent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who applied to be joined in the matter.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) also applied to be joined.

READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Police Barricade Of LG Secretariats To Continue, Says IGP

The hearing of the matter between the CSOs and Martin Amaewhule and the other 24 lawmakers, has commenced at the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court at the time of filing this report.

The CSOs are praying for the court to declare the lawmakers’ seats vacant following their defection from the PDP to the APC.

Details soon…

After about 13 years of trial, the Supreme Court, on Friday morning upheld the conviction of the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Mr Francis Atuche.

In the unanimous judgment read by Justice Moore Adumein, the Supreme Court held that the appellant, Francis Atuche, did not attempt to dislodge the finding of the trial court and the Court of Appeal on his credibility.

The court in relying on its previous decisions to the effect that where the decision of a trial court on the demeanor of a party or witness is supported by the documentary evidence tendered, an appellate court has no business in tampering with the decision of the court.

In conclusion, the court held that the appellant had not given it any reason to tamper with the concurrent finding of the two lower courts.

Mr. Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and one Mr. Ugo Anyanwu had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2011 before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos High Court in a prosecution that was handled by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Kemi Pinheiro on behalf of the EFCC.

The trio were arraigned on a 27 count amended information over a N25.7 billion fraud.

On June 16, 2021, Justice Okunnu in a judgment that lasted about 12 hours, convicted Atuche alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

The court convicted the duo on 21 of the 27-count amended charge of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing brought against them by the EFCC.

Justice Okunnu held that the EFCC successful proved its case against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt.

Atuche and Anyanwu were sentenced 12 years and and 10 years respectively by the High Court.

However, it was reduced by the Court of Appeal, with Atuche getting six years while Anyanwu got eight years.

She freed Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth on the grounds that the EFCC failed to link her to the crime. The court insisted that suspicion no matter how strong cannot take the place of fact.

The judge held that it was not proven that she was aware of the source of the funds she received into her account from her husband and she had no powers to take any decision to influence the transaction.

The convicts were to serve their jail terms at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Facility in Lagos.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the convicts approached the appeal court and on the 23rd of June, 2022, the Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction of both men.

The appellate court also clarified that Atuche’s jail term, as handed down by the lower court, is six years concurrently, rather than 12 years.

The Justices, however, reduced Anyanwu’s sentence from 10 years to eight years.

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They also upheld the discharge and acquittal of Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth.

On further appeal to the Supreme Court, the apex court earlier this year heard Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun leading Chief Anthony Idigbe and Prof. Fidelis Oditah in the appeal which was initiated by Mr. Atuche against his conviction, while Dr. Kemi Pinheiro who held the fiat of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation led the team of lawyers representing the State including Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon.

The unanimous decision of the Supreme Court this morning brings to finality this criminal charge after over thirteen years.