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US states of New Jersey, Texas seek extradition of 8 Nigerians in Cape Town over $6.8m scams

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The U.S. states of New Jersey and Texas have issued warrants of arrests for eight Nigerians nabbed in Cape Town on Tuesday for online scams, even as they await extradition.

A spokesman of South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority Eric Ntabazalila said the Nigerians are wanted for multiple scams running into $6.8million.

More than 100 victims have lost an estimated R100 million (6.8 million US dollars) to the gang since 2011.

Ntabazalila made this known after the Nigerians made preliminary appearance at Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing various charges relating to internet scams, money laundering and identity theft, already filed in the U.S.

The Nigerians were charged by superseding indictment with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, spanning from 2011 to 2021. One defendant remains at large.

This is according to the United States Department of Justice.

The suspects are: Perry Osagiede, aka “Lord Sutan Abubakar de 1st,” aka “Rob Nicolella,” aka “Alan Salomon,” 52; Enorense Izevbigie, aka “Richy Izevbigie,” aka “Lord Samuel S Nujoma,” 45; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, aka, “Lord Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,” aka, “Edosa Franklyn Osagiede,” aka “Dave Hewitt,” aka, “Bruce Dupont,” 37; Osariemen Eric Clement, aka, “Lord Adekunle Ajasi,” aka, “Aiden Wilson,” 35; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, aka, “Lord Jesse Makoko,” aka, “Philip Coughlan,” 37; and Musa Mudashiru, aka “Lord Oba Akenzua,” 33.

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The men were arrested on Tuesday as part of a joint operation by the FBI, Hawks and the US Secret Service.

They are facing extradition charges to the United States.

The accused allegedly preyed on women – many of them widows or divorcees – by pretending to have a genuine romantic relationship with them.

Ntabazalila said the accused inflicted the losses on American citizens and others around the world.

“It is a first appearance pending an extradition application. They are facing four charges in America.

“Those charges are conspiracy to commit wire fraud; second charges, wire fraud; third charges, is money laundering; and the fourth charge is aggravated theft of identity. It’s alleged that they defrauded victims in America and other parts, in other countries.

“The amount it leads to 6.8 million (US) dollars, which they defrauded from America and other countries.

“There are warrants of arrests in New Jersey and Texas. So we will be opposing their bail application next Tuesday.

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“We will mention then the reasons behind opposing bail application. One of them is that we feel that they are a flight risk and some of them are in the country illegally.”

Proceedings have been adjourned to next Tuesday and Thursday for formal bail proceedings.

 

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Police to arraign two over alleged defamation of Oba Saheed Elegushi

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The Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has filed a three-count charge against two persons before the Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged cyberstalking, illegal publication, and defamation of His Royal Highness, Oba Saheed Elegushi.

 

A copy of the charge dated April 30, 2024, showed it was filed by Nosa Watson Uhumwango, a senior legal officer at the State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department, CIID, Yaba.

 

It lists the two defendants as Adesola James and Odunmosu Azeez Awiye.

 

It was gathered that the two will be arraigned tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13 before Justice Abimbola Awogboro.

 

In count 1, it was alleged that Adesola James, Odunmosu Azeez Awiye, and others at large, between the months of Dec. 2023 & March 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honorable Court, did conspire together to commit a felony to wit: cyberstalking and thereby committed an ofence punishable under Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.

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In Count 2, it was alleged that, Adesola James, Odunmosu Azeez Awiye, and others at large, between the months of Dec. 2023 & March 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did illegally and unlawfuly published by audible sounds and same exhibiting through your TIKTOK platform known as “ARIFANLA JOGUN OMO ODO AGBA” and “OKIKI_OSHUNT” respectively, a social network with the intention of a menacing character which is grossly offensive, false, indecent, obscene for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, hatred or needless anxiety to the prejudice of His Royal Highness, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, Kusenla IlI and the people of Ikate Kingdom in Lagos State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.

 

COUNT 3 says that, Adesola James, Odunmosu Azeez Awiye, and others at large, between the months of Dec. 2023 & March 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did publish defamatory matters in your TIKTOK platform known as “ARIFANLA JOGUN OMO ODO AGBA” and “OKIKI_OSHUNT” respectively, a social network and which have been circulated and reported on other several social media platforms, including but not limited

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NDLEA intercepts three trailer loads of Opioids in Lagos (PHOTOS)

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted three trailer loads of opioids comprising 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup at Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos state where three suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure.

 

A statement signed by Director, Media and Advocacy of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, said the multi-billion naira consignments were loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck at the AML bonded terminal, Abule-Osun, near the International Trade Fair complex before heading to a large warehouse at Abule-Ado where NDLEA officers eventually arrested the suspects and recovered the opioid consignments on Thursday 9th May 2024.

Those arrested include the warehouse agent, Cosmas Obiajulu, Ridwan Balogun and Banjo Tayo, drivers of two of the trucks while the third driver escaped.

 

The statement further added that 75-year-old grandpa, Jibril Audu was on Friday 10th May arrested with 7.5 kilograms of cannabis at Oke-asa village, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti state during a raid operation, while a 70-year-old grandma, Tikwase Nytor was nabbed with 15.6kg of same substance on Thursday 9th May during a raid operation at Achusa and International Market road, Makurdi, Benue state.

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Military uncovers over 50 illegal refineries in Bayelsa forest

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The military Joint Task Force in Niger Delta “Operation Delta Safe (OPDS)” has uncovered 50 illegal refining sites at the Biseni forest in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

 

The operation was led by the Commander of OPDS, Rear Admiral John Okeke.

 

According to the commander, illegal refining of stolen crude oil was carried out at the sites on daily basis before it was busted by the military.

 

Speaking with newsmen after the operation, Okeke stated that a large dugout open pit found in ones of the illegal refining sites can accommodate more than 10 trucks of Alternative Gas Oil (AGO), holding crude oil from where they distribute to their cooking site.

 

He said he had earlier warned oil thieves in the area to desist from the illegal business or relocate to another area.

 

He said: “On May 9, 2024, we were at Ukwa West LGA, in Abua State bordering Rivers State, a contiguous forest bear a shared along Imo River.

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“Today like I said we are not going to relent and is work in progress. We will not get tired, we will continue, we are in Biseni in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa. We transverse from Ahoada West LGA, of Rivers to reach this point, the most surprising thing is that this place we are now is housing over 50 cooking sites with unique arrangements.

 

“Why are the thieves operating in this area decided to be so smart by connecting what is called theft line made of two inches pipe, a galvanized pipe connecting directly to supply oil line on the road, from a distance of one kilometer.

“Then they have a lot of funny connections where they have various arrangement of connection, multiple connection where each of the thief get their supply. From a large dugout open pit that can accommodate more than 10 trucks of AGO, holding crude oil from where they distribute to their cooking site.

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“Look at the thick forest, we are now, you can never imagine that such serious crime is going on here, if not for the good spirited individual that volunteer information, we wouldn’t have known,” he said.

 

In his address at the inauguration of the New Headquarters Naval Training Command in Ebubu community, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, last month, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, lamented that Nigeria loses an estimated 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day to oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other forms of criminality.

 

Abbas stated that the menace has culminated in revenue losses estimated at N1.29 trillion annually.

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