Headline

Job Scam: Woman Arrested For Selling Fake ECOWAS Employment Worth Over N47m

Published

5 years ago

October 7, 2021

The Katsina State Police Command has paraded before newsmen a 42-year-old woman for allegedly selling fake employment offer letters to unsuspecting job seekers in Nigeria.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP Gambo Isah, the suspect, Hajarat Iyeh Egbunu allegedly amassed over N47 million from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) job scam.

Hajara allegedly collected the sum of N3.5 million from each of the unsuspecting job seekers before issuing them with the fake ECOWAS online appointment letters to work at the headquarters, with a monthly salary of N3 million.

Hajara, who resides in Abuja, is said to be a former staff of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) based in Abuja who has been on the watchlist of security agencies for various fraudulent offences.

According to SP. Isah Gambo: “Based on credible intelligence, the Command succeeded in arresting one Ibrahim Lawal El-Maki, ‘M’, aged 45yrs of Rafin Dadi Quarters, now residing at Gwarinpa Quarters, Abuja who conspired with one Hajarat Iyeh Egbunu, ‘F’, aged 42yrs of Kubwa, Abuja, an indigene of Kogi state, a dismissed Nigerian Immigration Service officer, a notorious fraudster who has been on the wanted list of security agencies for various offences relating to fraud.

“The fact of the case was that on 15/10/2020, the suspect Ibrahim Lawal El-Maki, approached one Aminu Hamza, ‘M’, aged 32yrs of GRA, Katsina State with a proposal for a job vacancy at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Headquarters, Abuja, with a salary of more than three million Naira (N3 million). He also informed him that each offer is sold at three million and five hundred thousand (N3.5 million).

“The said Aminu Hamza informed his friends of this lucrative offer, they picked interest and gathered the sum of seven million Naira (Seven Million Naira) which they transferred to Ibrahim El-Maki’s account. Subsequently, the suspect, Ibrahim Lawal ElMaki sent copies of the appointment letters to him through WhatsApp which were later discovered to be fake.

“In the course of investigation, Ibrahim Lawal Elmaki was traced and arrested. He also confessed to have collected the said money but gave it to one Hajarat Iyeh Egbunu in good faith with intent of assisting his friends to get ECOWAS juicy appointments.

“Elmaki cooperated and assisted the police in their investigation which led to the arrest of the principal suspect Hajarat Iye Egbunu, who confessed to have received the sum of thirty-four million, eight hundred thousand naira (N34 million and eight hundred thousand) from Ibrahim Lawal Elmaki through her bank accounts. But Elmaki stated that she collected the sum of forty-seven million, three hundred and fifty thousand (N47 million) from him.

“It may interest you to know that other unsuspecting members of the public defrauded by the suspect through the same modus operandi by Hajarat Iye Egbunu are still trooping to the Command Headquarters to lodge their complaints. Investigation is ongoing.”

(DAILY POST)

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.