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Yahoo Boy Jailed, Loses N124m, Benz In Kwara

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A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced a 23-year-old internet fraudster, Adebisi Olalekan, to two years in prison and ordered him to forfeit N124m, a N30m Mercedes-Benz ML350, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max to the Federal Government.

Olalekan, a native of Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was convicted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, after he was found guilty of the two-count charge of offences bordering on cybercrime, including cheating and impersonation preferred against him by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, made available to the press in Ilorin, Kwara state on Wednesday, said that the case originated from a report by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, which alerted the EFCC to Olalekan’s cybercriminal activities.

The convict was accused of impersonating many foreign nationals, including Joshua Compbell Novak, through fake Gmail and TextPlus accounts between August and December 2024.

READ ALSO: We Have More ‘Yahoo Boys’ In Govt Than On The Streets – Peter Obi

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Through these fraudulent identities, he defrauded victims, including Allisa Motazedi and Brittany Boggess, of $100,000 and $1,000, respectively.

One of the charges read, “That you, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, between August 2024 and December 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Joshua Compbell Novak via your Gmail account and TextPlus number with the intent to obtain a total sum of $100,000 from Allisa Motazedi, which you did obtain, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.”

Olalekan pleaded guilty to both counts.

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Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, led an investigating officer, Paul Aniebonam, in evidence narrating how the convict created fake online profiles to deceive and defraud unsuspecting foreign victims.

Aniebonam confirmed to the court that the proceeds of the fraudulent activities were used to acquire the luxury vehicle in October 2024, while over N124 million in his bank account was traced to similar illicit transactions.

READ ALSO: 15 Suspected ‘Yahoo Boys’ Arrested In Benin

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He also tendered key exhibits, including the bank statement, car documents, mobile device, and four extra-judicial statements made by the defendant.

Justice Awogboro, in the judgment, sentenced Olalekan to 12 months’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.

The court also granted the final forfeiture of all traced assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

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In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of N124,402,322 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, Four Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira) found in Olalekan’s Wema Bank account, a white Mercedes Benz ML350 valued at N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max used in perpetrating the crimes.

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‘Nigerians Must Go,’ Ghanaians Protest Alleged Prostitution, Ritual Killings

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Some Ghanaians have protested against Nigerians for allegedly engaging in mass prostitution and ritual killings in their country.

In a viral video on Tuesday, the protesters in their large numbers, were seen wielding placards with various inscriptions such as “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop; “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution; “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians; “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals; “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,” among others.

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They also displayed a picture of a man who was allegedly killed by a Nigerian in the Accra area of the country.

Speaking in the video, a lady in her mid-30s said Nigerians must go because of their anyhowness in their country.

READ ALSO:Ghanaians Protest, Decry ‘State-sponsored’ Harassment In Abuja

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Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow. Nigerians must go,” she yelled.

Another protester said Nigerians have taken over their major markets and are perpetrating evil of sorts in their country.

These Igbo, they are in every part of the country and have targeted our markets. Not just Igbo, Nigerians are in almost every village, and our laws have not allowed foreigners to engage in real dealings. They are perpetrating evil in our country. They even have a Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country,” he stressed.

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Recall that a similar occurrence popularly christened “Ghana must go” happened in 1983 when the Nigerian government under President Shehu Shagari enacted a directive ordering about two million undocumented immigrants, many of whom were Ghanaians, to leave the country.

READ ALSO:June 12 Protest: Security Operatives Barricade N’Assembly Gate

If they don’t leave, they should be arrested, tried and sent back to their homes.

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“Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever. If you break a law, then you have to pay for it,” the President had said.

This action gave birth to a checked bag called “Ghana must go” into which the Ghanaians packed their belongings, and in turn became a symbol of exclusion and intolerance.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ghanaian government has yet to comment on the situation and the plight of their countrymen on returning Nigerians to their country, irrespective of their status.

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Gunmen Shoot, Abduct Anambra Bizman

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Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted a businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, at the Okpuno community in the Awka area of Anambra State.

A security expert, Zagazola Makama, made this known via his X handle on Monday.

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According to him, the attackers invaded the victim’s residence around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, shot him in the leg, and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

He further stated that Onyekere is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and the son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

READ ALSO:Anambra Guber: No Competition, Other Candidates Just Raising Funds – Soludo

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He wrote, “Armed men abducted a prominent Anambra businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, on Saturday night in Okpuno community near Awka, shooting him in the leg before taking him to an unknown location.

“Onyekere, who is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, was reportedly attacked at about 10:30 p.m. at his residence in Ezinifite Village, a remote part of the town.

“Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who arrived in an ash-coloured Lexus SUV, forced their way into the compound, shot the victim in the leg, and fled with him in his own navy blue Toyota Corolla. The vehicle’s registration number remains unknown.”

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While quoting sources, he stated that the assailants escaped through bush paths in the direction of Nawfia, sparking fear among residents.

READ ALSO:Three Rescued As Police Foil Kidnap Plot In Anambra

Local volunteers and security watch groups were also said to have been combing the area in search of the victim, while efforts are being made to trace his phone and contact the abductors.

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When contacted, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, requested a text. The text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

The PUNCH reported in June that a 24-year-old suspect, Muanaenye Victor, was arrested for luring his friend to be kidnapped by his criminal gang.

READ ALSO:Anambra Revenue Service Faults Obi’s Claim On Brewery’s Tax Ranking

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The suspect was said to have planned the kidnapping and collected a ransom in dollars, the equivalent of N5.3m, with his gang members before the victim was released.

Ikenga, however, disclosed that police operatives attached to the Uli Divisional Headquarters arrested the suspect, who also helped the police by providing information to help apprehend his accomplices.

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Armed Thugs Invade Stakeholders’ Summit In Edo, Beat Organiser To Pulp

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A disturbing video has gone viral showing an activist, Comrade Okhai Okhani, Coordinator of Edo North Unity Worldwide, being violently assaulted by armed vigilantes in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.

The activist, currently in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital, is calling on the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Directorate of State Services, and the Edo State government to investigate the incident, arrest the perpetrators, and ensure justice is served.

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Narrating his ordeal to newsmen via telephone, Okhani recounted how over 50 uniformed armed vigilantes and thugs stormed the venue of a stakeholders’ summit he organized for political office holders in Edo North to present their scorecards.

The event, according to him is an annual forum to assess and honour public office holders who had positively impacted their constituencies in delivering dividends of democracy.

He stated that he had sent out official invitations to notable political figures including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Hon. Peter Akpatason, Hon. Anamero Sunday, and Hon. Hussein Mustapher, and several others.

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READ ALSO: Why Peter Obi Should Inform Okpebholo Before Visiting Edo – Oshiomhole

The venue for the event, he added, was approved by the Acting Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council, Hon. Valentine Okuilagwe.

Okhani said all was set for takeoff when the venue was not only attacked and vandalized, guests were brutalized and valuables were destroyed and phone handsets were carted away by the attackers.

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Alleging that it was orchestrated by political actors in Edo North, who felt the assessment and honour was not in their favour, he said they deployed the vigilante group with thugs to disrupt the gathering.

According to him, “Shortly before the event commenced, a group of vigilantes and thugs arrived on motorcycles and without any provocation assaulted participants, damaging equipments, and beating me to pulp.

“I recognized some of the vigilante members. They descended on me and my colleagues, beat us up with matchets and clubs and even captured the violence on video. Then threw me into their waiting Hilux vehicle where they continued to brutalize me with the butts of their rifles,” Okhani said.

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READ ALSO: FOI: Access To Public Information, Right, Not Privilege, Says Edo Attorney General

He continued: “They took me to the Auchi Area Command of the Nigeria Police where I was detained for over four hours without formal charges. They falsely claimed that my venue was not approved for the event. Yet the venue, a public event centre was officially approved.

“Worried by the critical condition that I was in, the Police released me to my wife to seek medical treatment,” he added.

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Okhani described the incident as a politically motivated assault and expressed concern that local vigilante groups are now being used as tools of intimidation by powerful individuals in Edo North.

“I am in pain—my ribs, my head. These men dragged me to an unknown location before deciding to hand me over to the Area Commander, ACP Lawrence Adjihu, and his deputy, CSP Albert Udeme.”

READ ALSO: Law Firm Gives Okpebholo 7 Days To Apologise, Retract Threat To Peter Obi’s Freedom Of Movement

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Calling for public support and prayers, he urged the Edo State government to prevent further abuse of power by vigilante operatives while calling for those behind the attack to be brought to book.

Meanwhile the Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident.

Police Public Relations Officers, CSP Moses Yamu in a telephone interview said the command is aware of the incident, stressing that investigation into the incident has commenced.

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