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Nigerian jailed four years for romance fraud in US

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NIGERIAN, JAILED

 

A U.S. District Judge, Karen Caldwell has sentenced a Nigerian national residing in Indianapolis, Ismaila Fafunmi, to 51 months in federal prison for charges related to a money laundering operation, which laundered the proceeds of romance fraud and grant fraud schemes targeting senior citizens.

He was sentenced on Friday.

According to Court records, Fafunmi was involved in a network that was comprised of several layers.

The initial layer consisted of scammers using computers in Nigeria who preyed on elderly citizens of the United States by impersonating romantic companions eager to make lasting relationships on dating websites or by offering fake federal grants to senior citizens.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Fafunmi admitted in his Plea Agreement that, beginning in June 2018, he and his co-conspirators would set up fake profiles on dating websites profiling American men, often military members.

The purpose of the scams was to defraud United States-based victims of their money.

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If the victims sent money by bank deposit, Fafunmi and his co-conspirators would create bank accounts in various names to retrieve the fraudulent funds.

Victims also sent money in the form of cash and postal money orders to addresses belonging to Fafunmi and his co-conspirators.

Fafunmi and his co-conspirators would retain a portion of the victims’ funds, and then convert the remainder to wire transfers, to be sent back to co-conspirators in Nigeria.

Two victims of the scheme lived in Kentucky. One sent more than $200,000 in funds, gift cards, and electronic devices, to a person she believed to be her boyfriend.

Another sent over $170,000, for what she believed to be fees associated with a federal grant. Fafunmi received portions of these funds, kept some of the money, and sent the remainder abroad.

Fafunmi pleaded guilty in August 2020.

Under federal law, Fafunmi must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years.

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Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Edward J. Gray, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Anderson.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s efforts to identify and prosecute those persons who facilitate elder financial exploitation.

The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Mission, being carried out through the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force, is to seek justice for victims of elder financial exploitation.

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Metro News

Court convicts cosmetic surgeon over client’s death in Lagos

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The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has convicted a medical doctor and founder of MedContour Services Ltd, Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju, for conducting a failed plastic surgery that led to the death of one Nneka Onwuzuligbo in 2020.

 

A former Director-General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera, disclosed this on Friday via X social media.

Irukera said the cosmetic surgeon was convicted in all five counts charged by FCCPC, commending his input and the judiciary for serving justice.

FCCPC ex-boss wrote, “Today is a day of pride for me that I personally prosecuted Anu Adepoju and her medical practice. Though I’ve left, the case has ended in a conviction strengthening the accountability framework for all in society, professionals or otherwise. This is how society should work and grow.

 

“Dr. Anu Adepoju and her medical practice convicted in all 5 counts charged by FCCPC. The wheel of justice may grind slowly, but we must see it through. What we need are enforced with audacity and the will to prosecute competently and diligently. Good day for consumers of professional services.”

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In 2020, the FCCPC arraigned Adepoju on five counts pressed against her before Justice Mohammed Liman.

 

The FCCPC accused the cosmetic surgeon of shunning summons by the agency to appear and produce a certain document.

 

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NNPC speaks on Lagos depot fire incident

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, has said that the fire incident that took place this morning was at a depot belonging to HOGL Energy Ltd (Honeywell Depot), and not an NNPC Retail Ltd.’s facility as reported.

 

Disclosing this in a statement on Friday, Olufemi O. Soneye. Chief Corporate Communications Officer, noted that the incident will not affect petroleum products supply and distribution across the country.

 

His words: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the fire incident at a tank farm in Marine Beach, Apapa, Lagos, was at a depot belonging to HOGL Energy Ltd (Honeywell Depot), and not an NNPC Retail Ltd.’s facility as circulated by early responders.

 

“The fire, which has since been extinguished, was as a result of petroleum products spillage within the perimeter of the tank farm.

 

“Meanwhile, NNPC Ltd and other depots in the area have resumed loading activities.

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“NNPC assures that the incident will, in no way, affect petroleum products supply and distribution across the country”.

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Death toll rises to 11 in Kano mosque explosion

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The death toll from Wednesday’s attack on a mosque at Gadan, a community in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, has risen to 11, the police and residents of the area have said.

 

Residents said they buried at least 11 victims of the attack, mostly aged persons.

 

A resident of the community, Shafi’u Abubakar, had sprayed the mosque with fuel, locked worshippers inside and set it ablaze. The police initially said Mr Abubakar used a petrol bomb, but locals believed no explosive device was involved.

 

It would be recalled that one person died while on admission at the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital following the incident that affected almost 40 people, including children.

 

The police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said on Thursday that 11 victims of the attack had died as of that morning.

 

Kiyawa said 13 more victims were receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital.

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The police arrested Mr Abubakar immediately after the incident early Wednesday morning.

 

The state commissioner of police, Usaini Gumel, earlier told reporters that Mr Abubakar, 38, had told investigators that he targeted the worshippers over a family dispute over the sharing of an inheritance.

 

Residents who spoke feared that the casualty figures could rise judging by the severity of the injuries of those in hospital.

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