Crime

Police Arrest 3 Officers, 4 NSCDC Personnel, 1 Civilian Over N3.5m Theft At Bayelsa Govt House

Published

3 years ago

December 6, 2019

Editor

Three policemen, fourNigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and one civilian have been arrested by the Bayelsa State Police Command over N3.5m.

The suspects purported stole the money from the Deputy Chief of Staff to Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, inside Bayelsa Government House, Thursday December 5th.

It was gathered that the alleged theft, which occurred on Wednesday night was discovered on Thursday morning with the safe where the cash was kept reportedly vandalised.

Sources close to the office of the Deputy Chief of staff, confirmed that the office where the money was kept ,which had two entrances, was buggled.

It was gathered that the two entrances was guarded by policemen and many wondered how the buglers had access to the cash.

It was further gathered that the order for the arrest of the policemen on duty at the time of the theft, was by the State Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozia.

A Government House source told Newsmen that the theft of such huge amount was shocking to the Deputy Chief of Staff and other officials of the state Government.

Attempts to get confirmation from the officials of the State Government proved abortive as they kept mum over the incident.

An official that spoke on the incident under anonymity, told journalists that ‘only the security have been arrested because they were on duty at the time of the theft.

confirming the incident, the Police Spokeperson in the state, SP Asinim Butswat, said the incident occurred on December 4, 2019, at about 0850 hours, when the Command received a report of Burglary and Stealing in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff.

A statement by the Police Spokesman states that, “It was reported that the main entrance door to the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff was broken and the Safe inside the office were destroyed.”

“The crime scene was visited by policemen and it was further revealed that the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira was stolen.

“Three Policemen, four personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and one maintenance staff on guard duty at the Governor’s office were arrested and are being interrogated at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Yenagoa.” He added.

An attempt to speak with the Deputy Chief of Staff proved abortive as she declined to respond when contacted on phone via SMS.

Crime

Nigerian Jailed 235 years For N525m, €64,000 Fraud, Loses Lekki Houses

Published

7 hours ago

June 29, 2022

Editor

Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo, has convicted and sentenced Scales Olatunji.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) labelled him “a notorious international fraudster”.

The convict bagged 235 years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering.

Olatunji pleaded “not guilty” after arraignment in July 2019 on 45-count charges.

One reads: “That you, Scales Olatunji Ishola “M”, Meraiyebu Charles “M”(at large), Gabriel Adeyemi Olugbenga “M”(at large), Ojomo Oluwatobi Ayodele “M”(at large) and Adekola Oluwatoyin “M”(at large), between January 2017 to October 2018 converted N525,172,580”.

The theft of the funds, which formed part of proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: fraud (Business E-mail Compromise and Identity Theft), violated Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

Also, Olatunji on or about May 15, 2018, sent electronic messages (email) using emailoffice01@aol.com to one Monica Goulmoen of the Charity Association for providing girls and boys in Kobane with a football pitch.

He impersonated Per Ravn Omdal, a former Norwegian Football Association President, demanded and received €64,000.

The offence negates offence contrary to Section 22 (3)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.

Delivering judgment, Justice Okeke convicted Olatunji on all the 45- counts preferred against him by the EFCC.

The judge said the evidence of the prosecution witnesses were consistent and the prosecution established his guilt.

The prosecution was also able to establish the offence of cybercrime as it relates to count six to forty five of the charges.

The judge sentenced Olatunji to seven years imprisonment on counts one to five, and five years imprisonment on counts six to forty-five.

The sentence shall run from the date of arrest. The money in his account will be sent to the affected Norwegian citizens through the EFCC.

Olatunji’s properties in Lekki: House No. 6, Road 2 West-end Estate in Ikota and House No. 10, Donatus Odum Street, Ikate are to be sold and the proceeds restituted to the victims.

The EFCC commenced a probe after the convict was caught on March 20, 2019 at his Ikota residence. The action followed a petition from the Oslo Police District in Norway.

Crime

N25.7bn Fraud: Appeal Court Affirms Ex-bank Boss’ Conviction, Reduces Jail Term

Published

7 days ago

June 23, 2022

Editor

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Thursday affirmed the conviction of former Managing Director of defunct Bank PHB Plc, Francis Atuche, for N25.7bn fraud but reduced his sentence of 12 years to six years.

The court also affirmed the conviction of Atuche’s co-convict Ugo Anyanwu, who was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the lower court for stealing and conspiracy to steal.

Anyanwu’s jail term was also reduced to eight years.

Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Ikeja had on June 16, 2021, sentenced Atuche, to 12 years’ imprisonment for N25.7bn fraud in the bank.

While his former Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Anyanwu, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for stealing and conspiracy to steal and Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth, was discharged and acquitted.

But dissatisfied with the judgement of the lower court, Atuche approached the court of Appeal to challenge the judgment.

Details later…

Crime

Warri Chief Docked, Remanded In Edo Prison

Published

1 week ago

June 21, 2022

Editor

The police in Edo on Tuesday arraigned 54-year-old Chief Johnson Asteruleghe the Iyesere of Warri, before a Benin High Court, over alleged assault, malicious damage in Ologbo Dukedom, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

The defendant, Johnson Asteruleghe, the Iyatsere of Warri, is being tried on a seven -count charge of assault and malicious damage with charge No:B/Co 126/22

Police Prosecutor, DPP, Okunbor Orobosa Esq. told the court that the defendant committed the offence on the 2nd day of February, 2022, at Ologbo in the Benin Judicial Division.

According to him, “You did conspire amongst yourselves to carry on warlike undertaking malicious damage, punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code, cap.48.vol.11. laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 as applicable in Edo state.”

Okunbor urged the court not to grant the defendant bail, maintaining that he is fond of fermenting trouble when granted bail, citing previous criminal cases of murder against the defendant in which he was granted bail before he committed these offences.

The defendant’s Counsel, Eghedosa Imhandegbelo (SAN) in his oral bail application urged the court to grant the defendant bail.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

The presiding judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba adjourned the case to 27th of June 2022 for hearing of application for bail.