Crime

Hushpuppi: Police Commission Awaits FDC’s Recommendations On Kyari

Published

2 years ago

October 28, 2021

THE fate of the erstwhile Commander, Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, is hanging in the balance as the Police Service Commission awaits the recommendations of the Force Disciplinary Committee on his case.

It was gathered that the FDC’s recommendations would form the crux of the commission’s decision and also determine Kyari’s future in the Nigeria Police.

The PUNCH correspondent had reported that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, last month dispatched the Special Investigation Panel report on Kyari’s alleged roles in the $1.1m fraud perpetrated by an Instagram influencer, Abbas Ramon, popularly known as Hushpuppi and four others, to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the PSC.

The report contained the case file, evidence and findings as well as testimonies from Kyari and other persons and groups linked to the matter.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, Andrew Innocenti, had in a document titled, ‘Criminal complaint by telephone or other reliable electronic means’ filed before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleged that Hushpuppi contracted Kyari to detain a co-conspirator, Chibuzo Vincent, for threatening to expose the alleged $1.1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.

The agency also said Hushpuppi paid $20,600 into a bank account provided by Kyari.

The court consequently ordered that Kyari be detained for 10 days.

Hushpuppi has pleaded guilty to money laundering and is expected to spend 20 years in prison.

A date is to be fixed for Hushpuppi to change his previous not guilty plea to guilty, which would be followed by a sentencing hearing for the judge to determine how long he will spend in jail.

Kyari was suspended from service on July 31 following alleged involvement in the fraud. He also appeared before the SIP.

The SIP Chairman, Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, submitted the panel’s findings to the IGP on August 26, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, 24 days after the panel was inaugurated.

Giving an update on the case on Wednesday, a senior official explained that Kyari has responded to a query from the FDC, adding that the committee is expected to come up with recommendations based on his response and the facts contained in the SIP report.

The source stated, “The case is still with the Force Disciplinary Committee which handles cases of misconduct and unprofessional acts by senior officers.

“After the SIP report was submitted to the AGF and the Police Service Commission, Kyari was queried and he answered the query.

“The FDC is expected to draw up recommendations which would be forwarded to the PSC for deliberation and action.

“As it is now, the DCP’s fate is hanging in the balance. Ultimately, his future in the police would be determined by the police service commission.”

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, did not respond to request for an update on the case.

Calls to his phone rang out and he had yet to respond to an SMS as of the time of filing this report.

Crime

Police Declare Man Wanted Over Homos*xual Act

Published

10 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.