News
Lady Narrates How Fraudster, UBA Defrauded Her, Refuses A Refund Despite Court Order

Mrs. Deborah Coker has narrated how a fraudster in a suspected connivance with an insider with the United Bank for Africa, UBA, defrauded her of N148, 200.00 in her account with the bank.
She said the fraudster diverted her money to his e-naira account without her knowledge, adding that when she noticed this, she went to the bank to make a formal complaint but till now the money has not been refunded.
Coker who said a staff member of the bank must have done the evil act or given her details out to the fraudster to have perpetrated his evil act, added that even after making frantic effort to obtaining Court Order ordering the UBA to refund her money, the bank has refused a refund, rather giving her lame excuses.
READ ALSO: Police Arraign Cryptocurrency Marketer Over Alleged N51.7m Fraud
She accused the bank of knowing the fraudster but shielding him.
Read Coker’s detailed narration:
On Wednesday, the 30th day of November 2022, I woke up about 11:09pm to use the convenience, haven slept quite early before 7pm. After using the convenience, I decided to check time on my phone with a view to do my night prayers, lo and behold, as I unlocked my phone, the first thing I saw was a debit alert my salary account which is domiciled with the UBA.
I was curious and wondered what debit alert it could be, so I opened the message, and to my utmost surprised, it was a debit alert of N148,200 (one hundred and forty eight thousand two hundred naira) only.
Immediately my heart skipped because I was expecting alert of my Nov salary earlier that day, which I didn’t get before I went to bed before 7pm, so I quickly scrolled down to see the message at the top, and to my surprised my salary had actually been paid, and UBA didn’t send me the alert until few minutes after 8pm when I was already sleeping, and it was that same my salary that the UBA fraudulent without my authorization debited and moved to an eNaira account.
Now I don’t know anything about eNAIRA, I don’t have an eNaira account, nor even the wallet, so I had to go to the internet to find out information about eNAIRA, after that, with the shock of the whole thing, I couldn’t sleep again.
So on Thursday being Dec. 1st, I rushed down to the UBA branch on Aminu Kano crescent here in Abuja, where I opened the account some years back, and made complaint, the manager one Mr Fidel Okwesa was very helpful and promised that the bank would deploy all it’s machinery to track both the account and the fraudster, and I told him that, who ever did it was either an insider or been aided and working in collaboration with an insider because, my details was supposed to be protected by the bank. Well I left the bank that day after spending seven hours there.
I returned to the bank again on Friday, to find out what progress has been made, and the manager told me that the e-fraud unit had been able to track the name of the eNAIRA account holder and where he is domiciled, he sent the details to me and asked if I know the person, and I told him, I have never heard of the name before. He still gave assurance that they would do everything to ensure that I get my money back, but however added that from on the 5th he would be going on vacation for two weeks.
He then took me to his assistance one Mrs Mandu Okon, and introduced me to her and reminded her about the issue, and that in his absence I would be meeting with her on progress made, to which the Mrs Mandu Okon lady said ok.
By that same Friday evening, the manager (Okwesa) called me again to inform me that they have been able to trace the bank and account number where whoever perpetrated the fraud moved my money to, and that I should get a court order to compel the UBA to refund the money back to my account.
READ ALSO: US Court Jails Nigerian For $7.8m Lottery Fraud
On Monday Dec. 5th, I got my lawyer to get in touch with the Acting manager, Mrs Mandu Okon, to get further information with a view to know what to write down and take before the court to secure the court order. She gave the details of the fraudster which were:
Name…Suleman Isah
Address… Nugbasoro street, Benin city
Bank… UBA
Account number…2289230628
On Wednesday, Dec. 7th, we secured the court order, and immediately took it to the UBA, on getting there to submit the court order to Mrs Mandu Okon, she referred the my lawyer to another person, one Mr Alfred, whom she claimed would handle it, now I’m aware that the bank needed to verify the court order before they can act on it, this they have done, but till today, the UBA have refused to honour the court order to refund my money, but instead coming up with one lame lies and excuse or the other.
A situation I believe has to do with the fact that one of them had perpetrated the fraud, and they know the person and are shielding the person.
News
Atiku Slams Tinubu Over U-turn On Pardon For Convicts

The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday berated President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s reversal of the presidential pardon list, describing the move as “an act of shame, not wisdom.”
In a statement signed by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the administration of lacking foresight and moral consistency, following Tinubu’s decision to revoke the earlier pardon granted to Sanda and several other convicts.
“Once again, Nigerians have witnessed a government that doesn’t lead — it reacts,” Atiku said.
“President Bola Tinubu has ‘cancelled’ his own pardon for drug traffickers, kidnappers, and other hardened criminals — but only after Nigerians shouted loud enough to wake him from his moral slumber.
READ ALSO:UPDATED: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail
“Let’s be clear: this U-turn is not an act of wisdom, it’s an act of shame.”
He questioned the process that led to the initial inclusion of many convicts on the list, demanding transparency from the presidency.
“Who compiled the list of beneficiaries? What criteria justified freeing kidnappers and drug offenders? Where was the Attorney-General when this absurdity was cooked up? And why does this government only ‘discover its conscience’ after Nigerians express outrage?” Atiku asked.
Describing the pardon saga as “a national embarrassment,” he added that the presidency’s frequent reversals on policy decisions showed Nigeria was being “governed without foresight, without empathy, and without shame.”
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail
“If the President truly means well, let him publish the list of all those who were meant to benefit from this scandal. Until then, this cancellation is nothing but damage control — too little, too late,” he said.
The remarks came amid widespread reactions trailing Tinubu’s revocation of the earlier pardon granted to Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
While the Labour Party commended the president for bowing to public pressure, the New Nigerian Peoples Party faulted the administration’s inconsistency.
NNPP spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, said, “It is disgraceful that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will announce pardons and then the presidency will say they want to vet and go over the things again.
“Given public opinion, it’s not a surprise that they have reversed it, but it just shows that the presidency needs to get its act together.”
READ ALSO:Brigadier-General, Other Officers Detained Over Alleged Coup Plot To Overthrow President Tinubu
However, Labour Party interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, commended Tinubu’s decision to listen to public sentiment, saying, “What Tinubu has demonstrated is that he listened to the people of Nigeria. We commend him for that.”
He urged the president to extend such responsiveness to “issues that affect Nigerians,” including the nation’s debt profile and policies that “promote hunger and hardship.”
Tinubu’s reversal, announced through an official gazette by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commuted Sanda’s death sentence to 12 years imprisonment, factoring in the six years and eight months already served.
The U-turn followed a wave of public outrage that trailed the initial pardon.
News
Edo Deputy Gov Raises Concern Over Documentation On Radisson Hotel

Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Wednesday expressed worry over the clarity of documentation surrounding Radisson Hotel, Benin City,
project’s acquisition and the roles of previous vendors and consultants.
In a statement, his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo said the deputy governor spoke when he led a government delegation on an inspection tour of the five-storey luxury hotel.
Idahosa, who expressed dismay over certain lapses observed during the visit, however, appealed for calm among stakeholders and residents, urging patience as the state awaits the outcome of the legislative probe.
The governor said that Governor Monday Okpebholo had forwarded relevant documents to the Edo State House of Assembly for investigation into the acquisition process.
READ ALSO:Okpebholo, Idahosa Bag UNIBEN Distinguished Service, Leadership Awards
“Once the House concludes its findings, we will act accordingly to ensure transparency and accountability,” he assured.
Frustrated by what he described as “vague answers” from contractors about the project’s completion timeline, Idahosa pressed for clarity on when the hotel would finally be
opened to the public.
“Edo people deserve to know when this investment will start yielding value,” he stated.
He, nonetheless, tasked workers at the construction site to ensure strict adherence to safety and environmental standards.
He said the warning became necessary in order to avoid casualties at the site of the flagship hospitality project expected to redefine the state’s tourism and entertainment landscape.
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He also challenged the contractors to ensure the best standard and quality materials are used for the project.
He emphasized that the state government’s intention was not to witch-hunt the contractors but to ensure the project meets both Radisson’s global benchmarks and the Edo State Government’s quality standards.
He reaffirmed that government agencies would maintain close oversight to ensure full compliance with building, safety, and environmental regulations.
“We will not compromise on standards. Radisson Benin must meet the expectations of the brand and the people of Edo State.
“Our goal is simple, Edo State deserves the best,” Idahosa declared. “We want a facility that will attract visitors from around the world and make our state the hospitality hub of Nigeria,” he stated.
READ ALSO:2027 Presidency: Idahosa Reiterates Okpebholo’s Promises Of Delivering Edo To Tinubu
During the visit, the deputy governor conducted an on-the-spot SWOT analysis of the project, examining facilities such as the water reservoir, power plant, and sample rooms.
Also speaking during the inspection, Mr. Igabali Darlington Imoesili, Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, flagged inconsistencies in the facility’s documentation, including conflicting figures on the number of rooms and deviations from approved plans.
“We have records indicating 170 rooms, the site engineer says 169, and the project manager says 178. These discrepancies raise serious concerns,” Imoesili noted.
He added that his office would demand all approved documents for verification.
The hotel’s resident architect, Olumide Taiwo, who conducted the team around the site, assured the delegation that the firm was working closely with the Radisson brand to maintain its global quality and safety standards.
News
Reviewed List Of Presidential Pardon Recipients

President Bola Tinubu has approved a revised list of convicts granted clemency under the Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, 2025.
This is as the Presidency announced a review of the pardon list following widespread criticism.
The list, dated October 21, 2025 and personally signed by the President, contains 86 names of inmates across various correctional facilities nationwide, whose sentences were reduced or commuted under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The document, sighted by PUNCH Online, titled “Reduced Terms of Imprisonment and Sentence, 2025,” shows that several inmates convicted for offences ranging from manslaughter, culpable homicide, drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy, and unlawful mining were granted reduced sentences.
They include:
Homicide and Manslaughter Cases
•Yusuf Owolabi (36) – Convicted of manslaughter in 2015 and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri. Now to serve 15 years based on “educational improvement, remorsefulness and acquisition of vocational skills.”
•Ifeanyi Eze (33) – Life sentence for manslaughter (2021), now to serve 15 years.
•Maryam Sanda (37) – Convicted for culpable homicide (2020) and sentenced to death by hanging. Her sentence commuted to 12 years based on “compassionate grounds, the best interest of her children, good conduct and remorsefulness.”
•Markus Yusuf (41) – Culpable homicide (2023), 13-year sentence reduced to 8 years due to ill health.
•Alhaji Abubakar Tanko (61) – Culpable homicide (2018), 30-year term reduced to 20 years.
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Drug and Narcotics Offences
•Patrick Mensah (40) – Drugs (2015), 17 years reduced to 13 years.
•Obi Edwin Chukwu (43), Tunde Balogun (32), Lima Pereira Erick Diego (27), Uchegbu Emeka Michael (37), Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen (46), and Napolo (61) were all convicted for drug trafficking between 2015–2017.
“Sentences of 15 years reduced to 12 years each based on “remorsefulness and vocational skill acquisition.”
READ ALSO:
•Dias Santos Marela Christiana (44) – Convicted of importing cocaine in 2017; 15-year term reduced to 12 years for “remorsefulness and deportation.”
•Isaac Justina (40), Aishat Kehinde (38), Helen Solomon (68), Okoye Tochukwu (43), and Ugwuze Paul (38) – Convicted of cannabis-related offences, all granted reduced terms of between 3 and 7 years.
Financial and Fraud-related Offences
•Mustapha Ahmed (46) – Criminal breach of trust; 7-year sentence cut to 5 years.
•Innocent Brown Idiong (60) – Possession of Indian hemp; 10-year term reduced to 6 years.
•Inibong Imayen Nuikidem (46) – Obtaining money by false pretence; 7 years cut to 5 years.
•Buka Adamu (40) – Advance fee fraud; 20 years reduced to 9 years.
•Ada Audu (72) – Fraud; 7-year mandatory imprisonment cut to 4 years.
•Chief Jonathan Alatoru (66), Umannah Ekatte (70), Utom Thompson Udoaka (60) – Granted reduced terms for age, remorsefulness and good conduct.
Firearms and Related Offences
•Abubakar Mamman (38) – Possession of AK-47 rifle (2020); 10-year sentence cut to 7 years.
•Muhammed Bello Musa (35) – Possession of firearms; 10 years reduced to 7 years.
•Nnamdi Anene (67) – Illegal dealing in firearms; life sentence commuted to 20 years.
•Alhaji Ibrahim Hameed (71) – Illegal property possession; 7 years reduced to 5 years.
Maritime and Conspiracy Offences
READ ALSO:pUPDATED: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail
•Bright Agbedeyi (46), Babangida Saliu (35), Jude Saka Ebaragha (44), Frank Insort Abaka (46), Sluna Alolo (42), David Akinseye (39), Ahmed Toyin (46), Shobajo Saheed (57), Adamole Philip (52), and Mathew Masi (39) were all convicted for conspiracy to hijack fishing vessels in 2020. Their 12-year sentences were reduced to eight years with N1m fines waived “based on remorsefulness and impecuniosity.”
Unlawful Mining Offenders
A total of at least 45 inmates across the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Oyo State, were convicted in January 2024 for unlawful mining.
Each was sentenced to three years, now reduced to two years, “based on remorsefulness, good conduct and a letter of undertaking dated April 22, 2025,” reportedly facilitated by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis for their rehabilitation and empowerment after release.
The list includes:
Yusuf Alhassan, Abdullahi Isah, Zayanu Bello, Habeeb Suleman, Jubria Sahabi, Shefiu Umar, Seidu Abubakar, Haruna Abubakar, Rabiu Seidu, Macha Kuru, Zahradeen Aminu, Nazipi Musa, Abdullahi Musa, Habibu Safiu, Husseni Sani, Musa Lawali, Suleiman Lawale, Yusuf Iliyasu, Sabiyu Aliyu, Halliru Sani, Shittu Aliyu, Sanusi Aminu, Isaaka Adamu, Mamman Ibrahim, Shaibu Abdullahi, Sanusi Adamu, Sadi Musa, and Haruna Isah, among others.
Presidential Approval and Legal Backing
The document cites Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to “grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence in Nigeria a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions.”
It was formally titled: “S.I. No. 79 of 2025: Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy (Reduced Terms of Imprisonment and Sentence).”
(PUNCH)
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