Metro News

Three Nigerians indicted in US over alleged ‘$6m wire fraud’, risk 20-year jail term

Published

2 months ago

April 14, 2023

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Three Nigerians have been indicted in the United States over alleged fraud relating to a business email compromise (BEC) scheme to the tune of $6 million.

The suspects are Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 29; James Junior Aliyu, 28; and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 31. The suspects are said to be residing in South Africa.

The US Department of Justice, in a statement on Thursday, said the defendants allegedly conspired with some residents in Maryland to gain “unauthorised access to email accounts associated with individuals and businesses”.

“According to the seven-count indictment, from February 2016 until at least July 2017, the defendants conspired with others to perpetrate a BEC scheme,” the US DOJ said.

“Specifically, the indictment alleges that the defendants and their co-conspirators, including co-conspirators residing in Maryland, gained unauthorised access to email accounts associated with individuals and businesses targeted by the conspirators.

“The co-conspirators then allegedly sent false wiring instructions to the victims’ email accounts from “spoofed” emails, which are emails with forged sender addresses, to deceive the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme, called “drop accounts.”

READ Another Nigerian steals $340K from 17 U.S. States, awaits extradition

“The indictment also alleges that the defendants conspired to commit money laundering by disbursing the fraudulently obtained funds in the drop accounts to other accounts by initiating account transfers, withdrawing cash, obtaining cashier’s checks, and by writing checks to other individuals and entities, to hide the true ownership and the source of those assets.”

In the statement, the US said the first defendant — Simon-Ebo — was extradited to the US from Canada on Wednesday and expected to make his first appearance in court on Friday.

Giving details of the alleged crime, the US said: “For example, defendant Aliyu is alleged to have made a $350,000 wire transfer from one of the drop accounts in Maryland to an account he controlled in South Africa, knowing that the funds were the proceeds of a crime and that the transaction was designed to conceal the nature, source, and ownership of those funds.

“Specifically, Simon-Ebo is charged in three wire fraud counts involving $6,343,533.10 in victim funds being wired to accounts controlled by conspirators.”

READ Arsonists raze LG secretariat, magistrate court in Anambra

The defendants are liable to 20 years in federal prison if found guilty.

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Metro News

Timothy Adegoke’s death: Court sentences Adedoyin to death by hanging

Published

2 hours ago

May 30, 2023

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Osun State High Court has found the popular hotel owner, Dr Ramon Adedoyin guilty in the murder case of Timothy Adegoke, a former master’s degree student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, whose death occurred between November 5 and 7, 2021, at Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife.

The Osun Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, while delivering her judgement on the case, held that the circumstantial evidence available to the court, pointed to the killing of Adegoke while being a guest at the hotel owned by Adedoyin.

According to her, Adedoyin’s decision not to enter the witness box did not help him, as the circumstantial evidence had shifted the burden of proof on him.

Justice Ojo also said Adedoyin’s decision not to enter the witness box meant he agreed to the murder charge pressed against him by the prosecution, dismissing the alibi pleaded on his behalf by his counsel, who said the hotel owner was in Abuja for many days around the time the death of the late Adegoke occurred.

READ Arsonists raze LG secretariat, magistrate court in Anambra

Details later…

Metro News

Senseless: Teenager stabbed to death over rubber slippers

Published

5 hours ago

May 30, 2023

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Men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two men for allegedly stabbing a 13-year-old boy to death over rubber slippers ownership.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest on Monday.

Hundeyin said the incident happened on Sunday around 6pm at Iganmu under the Bridge.

He said the Ijora Badia Police Division got the information from a concerned member of the public that some youths were mobilising to cause mayhem in the Iganmu area.

spokesperson said the crisis was caused by the alleged killing of a 13-year-old boy identified as Ekene.

Hundeyin said a patrol team immediately went to the scene and met the victim in the pool of his blood.

The PPRO said, “Information at the scene indicated that the victim was allegedly stabbed by two boys over a minor issue concerning ownership of rubber slippers.

“It was also gathered that the suspects escaped from the scene after committing the crime.

READ Armed robbers attack company, hold security guards hostage with toy gun in Ogun

“A credible intelligence was emplaced which led to the arrest of the duo of Ahmed, 28, and Umaru Abubakar, 18.

“The victim was examined and a deep hole suspected to be injuries sustained from stabbing was seen on the right side of his chest. He was immediately rushed to the Ajeromi General Hospital for urgent medical attention.

“However, he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. His corpse was evacuated to the Yaba General Hospital for preservation and autopsy.”

Hundeyin said the scene was photographed, while suspects were taken to the station for interrogation, where they confessed to the crime.

He said the deceased’s mother, Mrs Chizoba Agu, of Railway Line, Ijora Badia, came to the hospital and identified the deceased as her son.

He said suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti for discreet investigation.

Metro News

Police arrest another set of Yoruba nation agitators in Lagos

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2023

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Men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two Yoruba nation agitators.

The police said they were arrested in the early hours of Sunday when the agitators stormed Alausa Police Division chanting, “Yoruba Nation has taken over.”

In a series of tweets posted on the Lagos Police Command handle, @LagosPoliceNG and signed by the Lagos PRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, the police confirmed that some officers were also injured while trying to disperse the agitators.

The police said, “The agitators, numbering fifteen, had stormed Alausa Police Division at about 0535hrs today, chanting, ‘Yoruba Nation has taken over,’ and injured some police officers who attempted to disperse them. Two of the agitators were arrested while the rest took to their heels following the prompt and coordinated response of the police.

“The suspects who were arrested with charms, dangerous weapons and different offensive insignias bearing Yoruba Nation Army, stormed Alausa Division along with others at about the same time another set of the group was attempting to take over a radio station in Ibadan, Oyo State.

READ Arsonists raze LG secretariat, magistrate court in Anambra

“They claimed they came to officially inform the Police that the United Nations had granted approval for the take-off of the Yoruba Nation. The arrested suspects are currently assisting the police in the ongoing investigation into the subversive plans of the group as well as their network of sponsors, all of whom will soon be unveiled and brought to deserved justice in the overriding internal security interest of the state.”

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, in the tweet, issued a stern warning that all subversive elements should steer clear of the state as the command is ready to bring the full weight of the law to bear on them or on any other elements that might attempt to disrupt the peace of the state.