Metro

Man Jailed Seven Years For N11.4m Enugu Land Fraud

Published

10 months ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

The Enugu State High Court, sitting in Agbani, Enugu State, before Justice U.J. Mogboh, has convicted and sentenced George Igwesi to seven years’ imprisonment for land fraud.

The suspect, alongside his company, Georgeann Enterprises Limited, was arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on October 19, 2023, on two counts of theft and fraud, with a total sum of N11.4m involved.

In a statement on its verified X handle on Monday, the commission disclosed that Igwesi was apprehended on July 1, 2022, for swindling one Charles Okenwa out of N12m under false pretences. He claimed to own two plots of land at Amurri Road in Agbani, Enugu State, but investigations showed the land was not his. Igwesi failed to deliver the property or refund the money.

The offence was said to be contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

The statement read, “One of the charges reads: “That you, George Amechi Igwesi and Georgeann Enterprises Limited, on or about the 1st day of July 2022, in Agbani Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, by false pretences and with intent to defraud, obtained from Charles Emeka Okenwa, the sum of Eleven Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira only (N11, 400, 000. 00), as payment for two plots of land, situated at Amurri Road, Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, under the pretext that the said land belongs to you and thereby committed an offence.”

The convict pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when they were read to him, setting the stage for his trial.

The trial of the case commenced on January 23, 2024, with the EFCC presenting three witnesses and several documents as evidence.

“Hearing of the matter began on January 23, 2024, and in the course of the trial, counsel for the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Ikechukwu Ani, presented three witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted in evidence,

“Delivering judgment, Justice Mogboh said, “The prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt” and convicted the 1st defendant, Igwesi, on both counts. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

“The court also ordered Igwesi to perform community services for a period of six months at the high court premises in line with Section 392 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2007,” the statement illustrated.

The court ruled Igwesi to pay N7m in compensation to Okenwa while releasing the second defendant, Georgeann Enterprise Ltd.

“The court further ordered Igwesi to restitute the sum of Seven million Naira to one Charles Okenwa, the petitioner, having restituted part of the money during the investigation of the case. The court, however, discharged and acquitted the second defendant, Georgeann Enterprise Ltd,” the statement concluded.

Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.