Crime

Edo: British Actor’s Impostor Jailed, Others Risk Same Fate

Published

3 years ago

October 22, 2021

Editor

Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday sentenced one Irabor Osarumwense (aka 007 Daniel Craig James Bond) to two years imprisonment for fraud.

Osarumwense was arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

He fraudulently impersonated the identity of Daniel Craig, British actor, to defraud unsuspecting victims.

The charge reads: “That you Irabor Osarumwense (aka 007 Daniel Craig James Bond) sometimes in 2021 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of Daniel Craig, an American actor by fraudulently sending documents to one Nansiri through the internet which document you claim emanated from the said Daniel Craig with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”

Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Immaculate Elodi, prayed the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the plea bargain agreement between the parties.

Justice Shuaibu thereafter convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000.

The defendant is also to forfeit the phone used in perpetuating the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He is also to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour afterwards.

In a related development, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State has fixed December 7 and 13, 2021 for the sentencing of two internet fraudsters Marvis Bello and Lucky Uhuamare.

The duo were arraigned on Thursday October 21, 2021 on one count charge each bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

The charge against Bello reads: “That you Marvis Bello (Alex Wrang and Pinky Jenny) on or about the 9th of March 2021 at S&T Barracks, Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Valeries Hollywood, a white man by using Gmailkingsmavis@gmail.com to obtain money from one Rebecca Brown and sending fictitious documents to your advantage, the pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act”.

The duo pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants in accordance with the plea bargain agreement between the parties.

However, Justice Abang adjourned to December 7 and 13 for the review of facts of the case and sentencing.

Crime

Police Declare Man Wanted Over Homos*xual Act

Published

11 months ago

June 22, 2023

Editor

A 50-years old man, Edo Omusi, has been declared wanted by the police in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, for disappearing after being ‘caught’ in a same s*x act in Ogiso community.

A source close to the police in the state, told our correspondent that the suspect, and one of his male friends, whose name was not given, were sighted at an undisclosed location by some youths as they were comitting the act.

Under Nigerian Laws, any person caught in the gay act is liable to 14 years in prison and if found by the community could be killed.

The duo were said to have been deeply engrossed in the act when they were found but before the person who saw them in the , “sinful and abominable act”, went for back up, they had escaped the location.

The incident which occurred on 25/4/23 at Ogiso area of the town almost threw the community into a turmoil as irate youths welding sticks and cudgels rampaged the community in search of the duo to lynch them.

It was also learnt that worried by the trend the youths in the community had to set up a surveillance team to monitor his movements. It was on one of the surveillance trips that he was reportedly caught on the fateful day, with the unidentified male partner.

It was gathered since the community reported the incident to the police, the whereabouts of the suspect, Edo Omusi has since remained unknown by all and sundry.

Speaking on the development, a top Police official confirmed the matter and explained that the Crime Investigation Department of the command is working round the clock to arrest the suspect, having declared him a wanted person.

Crime

Man, 41, Sent To Prison For Groping Woman’s Breast

Published

1 year ago

April 14, 2023

Editor

A Badagry Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the remand of a 41-year-old man, Ibrahim Lemo, for groping the breast of a woman.

The court heard that Lemo beat up his victim, Zainab Babalola, when she demanded he stopped the unlawful act

Chief Magistrate Fadahunsi Adefioye remanded Lemo after he pleaded guilty to a two count bordering on assault.

Adefioye ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Awhajigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry.

He adjourned the case until April 14 for facts and sentencing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP. Clément Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 6 at 2.30 p.m. at Badagry Roundabout shopping complex, Badagry, Lagos.

Okuoimose said Lemo without lawful excuse pressed the breast of the complainant, Zainab Babalola.

He said the defendant also hit the complainant on her left eye and caused her harm after she asked him not to touch her again.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 134 and 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

(NAN)

Crime

Hushpuppi’s Associate, Woodberry, Pleads Guilty, Forfeits $8m, Assets

Published

1 year ago

April 13, 2023

Editor

Olalekan Jacob Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

He also agreed to forfeit $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government.

Woodberry, a known associate of the now-imprisoned internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, recently in a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictments, the Peoples Gazette reports.

According to his plea agreement, he is required to pay back the sum of $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that he scammed.

“Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence,” stated the document containing Mr Ponle’s signed plea declaration.

Woodberry was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai.

The high-end automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816).

Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.

Last year, he forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin to the American government.

On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.

Prior to his arrest, Woodberry was known for rocking and flaunting expensive designer wear and showing off his illicit wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no idea his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime.