HIS ROYAL FRAUDSTER!

Osun Monarch Bags Four Years Jail Term In US Over $4.2m COVID-19 Fraud

The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison in the United States.

Oloyede, 62, who holds dual U.S. and Nigerian citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on August 26 handed 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in a statement on Tuesday, the monarch, was also ordered to “serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution.

“He also forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which he had acquired with proceeds of the scheme, and an additional $96,006.89 in fraud proceeds investigators had seized,” the statement read.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Oloyede led a conspiracy to exploit COVID-19 emergency loan programmes created for struggling businesses.

“From about April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede and his co-conspirator, Edward Oluwasanmi, conspired to submit fraudulent applications for loans that were made available through the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” the statement read.

In April, the duo pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax fraud charges linked to a pandemic relief scam that siphoned over $4.2m in federal stimulus funds.

The court was told that Oloyede, who also worked as a tax preparer, “operated five businesses and one nonprofit, while Oluwasanmi owned an additional three business entities.

“Both defendants used their businesses to submit loan applications using false information.

“They obtained approximately $1.2 million in SBA funds for Oluwasanmi’s entities and $1.7 million for Oloyede’s entities,” the statement added.

The elaborate fraud went even further.

According to investigators, “Oloyede submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications in the names of some of his clients and their businesses.

“In exchange, Oloyede would receive 15-20% of their loans as the fee, or kickback, for obtaining the loans for them, without reporting this income to the IRS on his own tax returns.”

The funds were then used for personal gain, prosecutors said.

“Investigators learned that the defendant used funds obtained from these loans to acquire land and build a home and purchase a luxury vehicle,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed.

In all, Oloyede “caused the SBA to approve 38 fraudulent applications, amounting to $4,213,378 in disbursed loans and advances.”

His co-conspirator, Oluwasanmi, 62, of Willoughby, was earlier sentenced in July to 27 months in prison.

He was also ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution, forfeit a commercial property purchased with fraud proceeds, and surrender more than $600,000 held in financial accounts.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the significance of the conviction, noting that the case was jointly investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and IRS-Criminal Investigations as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force.

“This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and James L. Morford for the Northern District of Ohio,” the release concluded.

“Investigators learned that the defendant used funds obtained from these loans to acquire land and build a home and purchase a luxury vehicle,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed.

In all, Oloyede “caused the SBA to approve 38 fraudulent applications, amounting to $4,213,378 in disbursed loans and advances.”

His co-conspirator, Oluwasanmi, 62, of Willoughby, was earlier sentenced in July to 27 months in prison.

He was also ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution, forfeit a commercial property purchased with fraud proceeds, and surrender more than $600,000 held in financial accounts.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the significance of the conviction, noting that the case was jointly investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and IRS-Criminal Investigations as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force.

“This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and James L. Morford for the Northern District of Ohio,” the release concluded.

 

 

 

BANK OF HACKERS!

How Hackers Stole N2.95Billion From Sterling Bank’s Vault

Sterling Bank PLC may have become a big risk for customer’s deposit with the spates of fraudulent activities which has hit the bank in recent times.

This followed a detailed account of fraudulent and unethical banking practices which have seriously engendered customer’s lack of trust and confidence in the bank over the safe-keeping of their deposits.

Many of the bank’s customers are reportedly rattled by recent hacking of the bank’s vault by five suspected hackers who stole N1.25 billion and another N1.7 billion totaling N2.95 billion from the vault of the bank through insider’s connection.

The suspects were arraigned before Justice Louis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos over allegation of hacking into Sterling Bank’s PLS banking platform and Bance application to steal a total sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy Two Naira, Fifty Kobo ( N1.257, 536, 572.50).

The accused Victor Nwabueze Ugochukwu (50), Favour Odeh (22), Adekunle Daniel (24), Akachukwu Alagbogoand Ogunlade Yetunde were brought before the court on Friday 17^th January 2025 by operatives of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos.

Prosecutor Justine Enang informed the court the defendants in collaboration with unnamed internal staff of Sterling Bank and external accomplices committed the alleged offence on 3^rd and 4^th November 2024 by exploiting sensitive bank data and security system, unauthorized access point including IP addresses and device identifier.

According to Enang, their actions violated Section 7 (1) b and 14 (1) of the Cyber Crime Provision  Act 2015 as amended in 2004 as well as Section 18 (2) b and d of the Money Laundering Act 2022.

The defendants who pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, hacking and unlawful conversion of funds applied for bail through their legal counsel.

However, the prosecutor opposed the application, arguing that they posed a flight risk and citing multiple grounds to justify the objection.

Justice Luiz-Allagoa granted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N50million with one surety of equal value. The surety must own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

He, however, ordered the defendants to remain in the custody at the Nigeria Correctional Services until their bail conditions are met. HE adjourned the trial to 13^th March 2025.    

This sad development comes on the heels of yet another discovery of insider’s compromise that is threatening to undermine the integrity of the bank as another bank official allegedly colluded with a businessman to siphon a huge sum of N1.7billion from a customer’s account in August 2021.

The case which was then being prosecuted at Ikeja High Court, Lagos detailed how an official of the bank, Ifeanyichukwu Shallom Isituah and a businessman, Ighodaro Austin Osaretin allegedly stole the sum of N1,790,558,000 belonging to a customer of the bank.

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adamu Mohammed, told the court that the agency received a petition with reference No: SB/IAG/12/EFCC/011 duly signed by the Head IT and Head Intelligence and Investigation on behalf of Sterling Bank.

Mohammed, who works with the Team C Cybercrime Department of the EFCC, while testifying on oath, said the petitioner alleged that a customer’s bank account was profiled via internet banking and the sum of N1.790,558,0 00.00 was transferred to various individuals and companies.

While led in evidence by the prosecutor, N. M. Anana, the witness testified that preliminary investigation by the bank revealed that the second defendant’s profile, Isituah, a female, was used to initiate the account on internet banking and more than 24 accounts got the same amount of money.

“Investigation letters were sent to FCMB, Zenith, First Bank, Fidelity Bank and Access Bank. Responses were received from the banks and the statement of accounts were analysed. The analysis revealed that most of the company’s accounts the money was transferred to were BDCs (Bureaux de Change).

“Some of them reside in Abuja, Kaduna and there was one address that we suspected to live in Lagos, Ndifreke Roberts. But all efforts to trace the address of Kaduna, Lagos and Abuja suspects did not yield any information to help the commission get them.

“On March 10, 2020, the DSS handed over the two defendants to the commission under the instruction of the AGF (attorney-general of the Federation) for further investigation. The two defendants’ statements were voluntarily taken under caution.

“The first defendant revealed that he has a company called Universal Agriculture Empowerment Initiative as an NGO which received the sum of N60 million as part of the transfer from that Sterling Bank customer’s account. He further stated that the money was received from one Osaretin (second defendant) and transferred to his account as a donation.

“That he introduced one of his friends who is the owner of Villavon International School who also received N100m from the said fraud.

“He further stated that he called a BDC in the name of Damo who owns Damoo Ten Ventures. Damo was invited to the commission and he volunteered a statement that the first defendant contacted him and he transferred N60 million to various accounts and further instructed the owner of the International School to transfer N95 million.

“The dollar equivalent was received in cash by the first defendant. The first defendant further stated that the money was used at IDP camps around the country. I cannot remember the specific location but he mentioned a place in Borno and Adamawa”, the witness said.

However, during cross examination by the defence lawyer, A. Okenile, the EFCC operative said that Sterling Bank gave the commission the information that the second defendant profiled the account for the alleged fraud.

When asked what links the second defendant to the alleged fraud, Mohammed said, “The offence was committed at Sterling Bank and it was reported. The offence took place during a public holiday and the bank realized it on December 28. The accounts of the customer we are talking about has never been profiled for internet banking. So we had to understand how it was transferred, which was through internet banking.

“The bank said the account doesn’t have internet banking access and it was a staff that did it and the second defendant’s profile was used to connect the account to internet banking. Without that profiling money cannot be transferred from that account.

“Even when the bank tried to contact her, she ran away. She was nowhere to be found. Not until the Department of State Services (DSS) traced, arrested her and handed her over to the commission”.

Yet again, two fraudsters were accused of obtaining the sum of N1.8 billion from Sterling Bank Plc by false pretence.

The duo identified as Messrs Ogbor Kehinde Eliot and Kelvin Ejere Chris were on Monday, October 22, 2018, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice O.A. Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

They were taken to court on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.

The defendants, who were charged alongside a company, Danium Energy Services Limited, were alleged to have fraudulently deceived Sterling Bank Plc into lending them money through a fraudulent scheme with the pretence to finance local purchase of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel, for supply to Total Nigeria Limited.

The first defendant, Mr Eliot, an alleged serial fraudster, allegedly used his company, Danium Energy Services Limited, to obtain the facility from the bank and was said to have defaulted in repayment, which was expected from the proceeds of sales of the petroleum products by Sterling Bank.

Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Sent To Kuje Prison Until 2025

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the remand of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the Kuje correctional centre until January 29, 2025.

The erstwhile governor’s trial has also been adjourned till February 25, 2025.

The development comes after the court rejected Bello’s bail application, citing procedural irregularities in the filing of the application.

According to Justice Maryanne Anenih, the bail application was premature as it was filed before Bello was present in court or in custody.

Bello, alongside two others, is facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N110 billion money laundering case.

The defendants, in case number CR/7781, face charges of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and unlawful possession of property. 

According to the EFCC, the former governor is accused of misappropriating state funds to acquire several properties, including No. 35 Danube Street in Maitama District, Abuja (worth N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03 in Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (worth N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street in Asokoro, Abuja (worth N920 million).

The former governor has been in detention since November 25.

 Female Police Inspector Rewarded For Arresting Kidnapper's Leader, Recovery of N2.5m Ransom

A female Inspector from the Rivers State Police Command whose efforts were said to have led to the arrest of a notorious kidnapers leader and the recovery of the sum of N2.5 million ransom has been rewarded by the Commissioner of Police in the state, the command announced in a statement on Monday night.

The state police command disclosed the development on its X handle and Facebook wall, saying the Inspector, Blessing Ozii, was instrumental in busting a dangerous criminal gang which led to the arrest of the kingpin of kidnappers, whose name was given as Idris Abdullahi.

According to the command, following her exploit, she was commended by the Commissioner of Police and a ceremony to commend her and one other senior officer who also made exploits was held at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The command wrote: "Inspector Blessing Ozii was recognized for her exceptional intelligence and diligence, which led to the apprehension of a notorious kidnappers leader, Idris Abdullahi. 

'"Her efforts not only dismantled a dangerous criminal operation, but also resulted in the recovery of ₦2.5 million.

"For her outstanding performance, she received the Commissioner’s Commendation Award and a monetary reward as a token of appreciation."

The Commissioner was said to have praised her efforts and encouraged her to continue to contribute her quota to the crime-fighting efforts of the command.

 

FACE OF A FORGER! 

Former Rep Member Lands In Trouble Over Alleged WAEC Certificate Forgery

Hon. Rita Odichi Orijifor, who represented Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency between 2015 and 2019, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police over allegations of presenting a fake WAEC certificate during her tenure in the House of Representatives.

According to sources, Orijifor was apprehended earlier yesterday at her residence in Wonderland Estate, Abuja, after police officers had waited for over five hours for her to come out. She reportedly locked herself in her bedroom and made calls to influential political figures in a bid to avoid arrest. 

However, none of the figures offered assistance in this high-profile scandal, and despite some attempts to intervene with the police, Orijifor eventually emerged from her hideout and was taken into custody.

Before her arrest, Orijifor had reportedly been hiding in Akure to evade law enforcement agents, only returning to Abuja after believing the situation had cooled. However, unknown to her, the police were still on her trail.

Her troubles began when a judge in the Federal Capital Territory dismissed her application to stop the ongoing police investigation. The judge ruled that Orijifor failed to demonstrate that her rights had been violated by the authorities.

Orijifor is currently being detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja as investigations continue. The case is expected to be a significant development in Nigerian politics, given her previous role as a federal lawmaker.

This is a developing story, and more details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.

 

Iheanachor Arrested For Ingesting 90 Wraps of Cocaine

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 50-year-old businessman, Osuoha Iheanacho, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu for ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine.

A press statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said Osuoha was intercepted last Wednesday at the arrival hall of the Enugu Airport during the inbound screening of passengers arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight following months of intelligence and surveillance on him.

Babafemi said he was subsequently placed on excretion observation during which he egested 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.019 kilogrammes in seven excretions.

He said investigation revealed that the suspect, who operates phone and accessories business in Lagos and Gabon, travelled by road from Gabon to Douala, Cameroon from where he took a flight to Addis Ababa where he swallowed the pellets of cocaine while in transit and thereafter continued his journey to Enugu with Lagos as his final destination.

He was said to have deliberately complicated his movement to distort traces of his travel history unknown to him that he has been on NDLEA watch-list for the past three months.

In his statement, Osuoha was said to have confessed that he desperately needed the money from the criminal drug trade to boost his declining phone and accessories business.

In another well-coordinated operation carried out by a Special Operations Unit of the agency last Thursday, head of a cocaine distribution cartel, 42-year-old Ndive Obinna was arrested along with five of his associates at Ago Palace Way in Okota, Isolo, Lagos with a total of 2.412 kilogrammes of cocaine recovered from them.

Babafemi noted that other members of the drug trafficking organisation arrested along Obinna include: Okeke Ifeoma who is the syndicate’s stash keeper; Ikechebelu Chibuzor; Okorie Onyedikachi; Okonkwo Nnabugo; and Okafor Anita.

In a related development, another drug syndicate operated by a Chinese man, 58-year-old Tianzhen Yen (alias Jackie) has been dismantled by NDLEA operatives following his arrest at his hotel in Ikeja area of Lagos. Officers of the Seme Special Area Command of the agency had last Thursday intercepted a 40-year-old suspect, Yakubu Mark in a commercial bus going to Ghana at the Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Expressway based on credible intelligence.

Babafemi said when he was searched, a total of 750 grammes of cocaine were found in his bag. A swift follow up operation was organised to trace and arrest the kingpin behind the trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, who turned out to be a Chinese citizen, Tianzhen Yen.

He was eventually traced to MC Hotel behind Alade market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. When his hotel room was searched, 4.3 grammes of cocaine; a gramme of methamphetamine; two electronic weighing scales; and Chinese National Identification Number Card, among other exhibits were recovered while he was arrested in the vicinity of the hotel.

At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted 92 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis with a combined weight of 23.25 kilogrammes concealed in two vehicles imported from Canada: a Nissan car and a GMC bus. The discovery was made during a joint examination of a container from Canada by NDLEA officers, men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other stakeholders.

In Rivers state, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne last Thursday intercepted two containers of imported opioids during a joint examination with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

He said a total of 168,000 bottles of codeine based syrup worth about N1.2 billion in street value were recovered from one of the containers while the second one contained 4.5 million pills of super royal tramadol 225mg valued at about N3.2 billion bringing the combined value of both the codeine and tramadol consignments to over N4.3 billion.

In Ekiti state, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 17th November arrested a 50-year-old physically challenged woman, Mustapha Boja, with 286 grammes of Colorado and Loud strains of cannabis at Araromi street, Ikere-Ekiti, while 64 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa recovered at Akinyele motor park, Ibadan, Oyo state last Thursday.

Not less than 1,200.5 kilogrammes of same psychoactive substance were seized during raids by NDLEA officers in parts of Edo state. At Utese forest in Ovia North East local government area, 463.5 kilogrammes was recovered last Thursday; while 507 kilogrammes was seized at a compound in Owan village, Ovia local government area where the duo of David Ederin, 60, and Afoje Frank, 24, were arrested on Friday 22nd November. Another suspect, Godwin Okhoya, 40, was nabbed with 230 kilogrammes of same substance at Okpuje, Owan West local government area.

In Kano, four suspects: Usman Sani, 25; Abdul Mohammed, 28; Bunu Ali, 27; and Umar Musa, 30, were last Tuesday arrested by NDLEA operatives at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria- Kano road, with 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 45 kilogrammes while Ayuba Zaranda, 55, was nabbed with 124 kilogrammes cannabis at Pengana village, Toro local government area, Bauchi state.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of AIIA, SIU,Tincan, Onne, Seme, Ekiti, Oyo, Kano, Bauchi, and Edo commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

 

 

  Finnish Court Detains Biafan Warlord, Simon Ekpa

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian municipal politician, has been detained by the Päijät-Häme District Court on probable cause for incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. The alleged offense occurred in Lahti on 23 August, 2021.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also seeking the detention of four additional men on terrorism-related charges.

Ekpa, who has represented Finland's National Coalition Party (NCP) in local roles, currently serves on Lahti's public transport committee. He is also known for leading a separatist group in Nigeria advocating for the establishment of an independent Biafran state in the country's southeast.

According to the NBI, Ekpa is suspected of using his leadership position in a Nigerian separatist group to promote actions that have led to violence against civilians and authorities in south eastern Nigeria. These efforts are believed to have been coordinated from Finland, including through Ekpa's social media channels.

"This activity has been carried out, among other means, via social media channels," said Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen in a statement.

The NBI stated that its investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The police also suspect four other individuals of financing terrorism. All five were apprehended earlier this week.

Among the suspects, Ekpa resides in the Lahti region, while two others have addresses in Helsinki. One suspect has no registered address in Finland.

History of controversy

Ekpa has previously been implicated in criminal activities. In 2023, Finnish police detained him on suspicion of fundraising fraud but released him later the same evening.

Ekpa's separatist activism has drawn global attention, particularly his calls to boycott Nigerian elections.

"No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory in 2023," he declared in a video on social media.

Ekpa has also publicly justified the use of violence.

"I support violence against Nigerian government forces. This is self-defence. They constantly attack us and have committed numerous war crimes. We have no choice but to defend ourselves," he stated.

Party responds

​​NCP Secretary Timo Elo declined to comment on Ekpa's possible membership of the party.

"We never say who is and who isn't our member. That is confidential information," Elo told Yle.

Elo did however say that if a member of the party was suspected of terrorism offences, that would likely lead to their expulsion.

According to Elo, Ekpa's role on the public transport commission, for example, should be assessed locally.

 

U.S. Seeks Forfeiture Of Air Peace Boss $14 million Assets In Amended Fraud Case 

United States government has asked a US District Court, Northern District of Georgia to approve the forfeiture of approximately $14 million in assets from Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace, following a recent superseding indictment.  

This is contained in an indictment, which Nairametrics obtained for confirmation, outlining serious allegations of fraud and money laundering against Onyema and his associate Ejiroghene Eghagha, who is the Chief of Administration and Finance at Air Peace. 

The indictment includes multiple counts against the defendants: Count One alleges conspiracy to commit bank fraud, while Counts Two through Four detail instances of bank fraud.  

Count Five pertains to conspiracy to commit credit application fraud, followed by Counts Six through Eight for credit application fraud. Additionally, Counts Nine through Thirty-Five address charges of money laundering. 

If convicted of the offenses outlined in Counts One through Five, the defendants will be required to forfeit any property derived from the alleged criminal activities, including significant sums held in bank accounts tied to their businesses

The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims that Onyema and Eghagha used fraudulent export letters of credit to transfer over $20 million into U.S. bank accounts between 2016 and 2018, intended for purchasing five Boeing 737 aircraft.

 Investigations revealed that the documentation was falsified and that Springfield Aviation, owned by Onyema, had no legitimate role in aviation transactions. 

Following the initial charges, the indictment states that Onyema and Eghagha instructed a manager at Springfield Aviation to sign a backdated contract, which was then submitted to U.S. authorities to obstruct the investigation and unfreeze bank accounts. 

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized that Onyema used his airline as a cover for fraud and attempted to impede the investigation.  

In response to the obstruction of justice indictment against Allen Onyema and Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace Limited acknowledged that the charges are part of an extended legal process related to previous financial misconduct allegations.  

The airline emphasized that both executives remain innocent until proven guilty, and assured the public that ongoing legal proceedings will not impact the safety or daily operations of the airline.  

The burden of proof lies with the U.S. government to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

How Temo, The Mushin Drug Lord Was Captured By  NDLEA 

.An operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Zofun Joseph Setonji, has narrated before a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, how a drug baron, Jimoh Sulaimon Olowoidiogede a.k.a Temo, was tracked and arrested on 22 July, 2024, following a credible information and surveillance places on him. 

The drug lord, Temo who is also known as Godfather 001 is being tried before the court presided over by Justice Deinde Dipeolu by the NDLEA on a six count-charge of conspiracy, trafficking 704 Kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa popularly called Ghana Loud, a drug similar to cocaine and heroin running of Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) and money laundering.

The offences according to NDLEA contravened sections 20 (1)(g); 11(b); 11(c); 14(b) and (20(ii) of the NDLEA Act Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 20(2)(b) of the same Act.

The offence was also said to contravene Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) and (7) of the same Act.

At the resumed trial of the drug baron last Friday, Setonji, while being led in evidence by the prosecutors, Mrs. Theresa Asuquo and Mr. Lambert Nor, the Head of Legal Department of the agency’s Lagos Command, told Justice Dipeolu that while serving at the Gbagada head office of the agency as Officer in Charge of Squad 1, one of his informants sometimes in April 2023, told him that the drug baron, Jimoh Sulaimon Olowoidiogede will be bringing in some hard drugs from Ghana to Nigeria through the water.

He told the court that he asked the informant to go and survey the possible route through which the drug will be conveyed.

He added that in the last week of April 2023  the informant told him the drug will be coming that week.

Hence himself and his team then planned how to intercept it but the informant later called to inform him that the drug won’t be coming again that week as the defendant has gotten wind that NDLEA operatives are aware of the drug movement.

The witness said on the morning of 3rd of May 2023, “I got another information from my source that the consignment will be coming that night, I then planned with my team how to intercept the consignment at Eleko Beach as we have earlier identified the possible route.

"We went there to lay ambush with five vehicles, three marked vehicles and two unmarked vehicles. On getting there around 12 midnight on the 4th of May 2023 the informant called to inform me that they are already loading one of the trucks and that they are aware we are around.

“As a result of the new information I have to withdraw my men from where they were stationed and instructed our marked vehicles to go back to our head office at Shaw Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“After sometimes again, the informant called to inform me that the second truck is being loaded, I immediately called the marked vehicles to start coming back.

The witness added that around 4.am on the 4th of May, he and his team were able to block the two trucks and during the process some armed men came out to attack them, "However, we were able to arrest the two trucks but the occupants of the two vehicles were able to escape as a result of the attack on my men.

“When the contents of the trucks were counted eventually, it contains 202 bags of Marijuana weighing 8.58 tons.”

Setonji further informed the court that: “while counting the contents of the truck, a call came in to him through a private telephone number and that when he asked who the caller was, the caller told him he is Alhaji Jimoh Sulaimon Olowoidiogede a.k.a.Temo.

“The caller further said “you have the guts to seize my drug, I know where you live, I am going to kill you and kidnapped your wife and children. However, in my reply I told him that before he kills me, I will definitely arrest you.”

The witness said that few weeks after, the seizure of the drug, he asked his informant how he can see the man called Temo and that the informant told him that there is going to be a party in the fortnight at Sango Ota, where Jimoh Olowoidiogede will be present but added that a special cap will be used as invitation card to enter the venue of the party.

“My informant also described Olowoidiogede to me, that he wears punk hair cut and always put on big and long necklace.

“Armed with this information I gave my informant N3,500 for the cap and on the day of the party I went to the party with the informant. On getting there the informant stood outside while I went inside to the party venue with the cap on.

“After sometimes, Olowoidiogede came in as described and people stood up and started hailing him I soon left the place after recognizing the defendant.

Giving further evidence, the witness said on the 22nd of July this year he had an encounter with Olowoidiogede. Adding that he went on a raid operation in Akala Mushin area of Lagos, but that the road was blocked forcing his team to take another road through one street called “Igbarere”.

“As we were going on the very narrow street of Igbarere, a Mercedes Benz SUV was coming towards us and trying to make way for us to pass due to the narrow condition of the road, I noticed Jimoh was inside the Jeep I then asked the driver to block the vehicle.

“As I came out of the vehicle, Jimoh also came out and started running, but I was able to arrest him despite his resistance and mobilisation of hoodlums to attacked and wounded my team members but I succeeded in arresting him and the other occupant of the SUV and took them to our office.”

Another prosecution witness, Mr Adewole Timothy, in his testimony stated that sometimes in 2023, he received credible information about the drug dealings of Temo and that he consequently went on surveillance to ascertain the authenticity of the information.

The witness added that after authenticating the veracity of the information he planned how his team will go about it.

The witness said: “On July 25, 2024, I led my team on an operation at Igbarere Street, Mushin, Lagos. And that at about 11 p.m, a Toyota Highlander SUV drove by one Sulaimon Shehu with Jimoh inside drove pass them. The moment he (Temo) realised that NDLEA men were around he stopped in front of numbers 32, Igbarere Street, jumped out of the car and escaped by mixing with the crowd.”

Timothy said the defendant later mobilised hoodlums to attack them as they were loading the bags of Marijuana in the warehouse located within the defendant’s house into the agency’s Hilux pick-up Van and car having arrested the driver of the SUV, one Sulaimon Shehu.

The witness further informed the court that 18 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 252 kg were evacuated from the warehouse and taken to NDLEA office at Ajah, Lagos and later to the Lagos Command Headquarters at Gbagada, where it was handed over to the exhibits keeper, Nketa Benjamin, who carried out field text on same and that it proved positive to be marijuana.

The witness, while being cross-examined by Temo’s lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, said the driver of the Toyota Highlander Sulaimon Shehu admitted in his statement that he is a close associate of Alhaji Sulaimon Jimoh Olowoidiogede, a.k.a godfather, 001, Temo, and that Temo owns the drugs found in the warehouse.

Asked by Ndakara on wether he verified from the Land Registry if number 32, Igbarere Street belongs to the defendant, the witness said his informant confirm same to him.

When asked if he breaks into the defendant’s warehouse, the witness responded and said: “Yes, because the key to the warehouse was with the defendant who had escaped during the operation.”

Also, the ninth prosecution witness in the trial, Nketai Benjamin, an Exhibits Keeper with NDLEA, in his testimony told the court how on the 23rd of May 2023, some officers of NDLEA led by PW7 brought 4 trucks to him.

“The first one contained 149 red sack and the others contained 47 sacks. I brought one sack from each trucks to carried out test and the results proved positive to be Cannabis Sativa.”

Benjamin further added that the Certificate of Test Analysis, Packing of Substance Form and Request for Scientific Aid Form had earlier been tendered in an ongoing case before Justice Allagoa. Hence the photocopy was tendered without objection as Exhibit 4 and 5.

Meanwhile, defendant’s counsel, Ndakara on Friday moved the Motion for the bail application of the defendant, while the prosecution also moved and argued their counter affidavit to the bail summons.

Justice Dipeolu, after listening to both parties, adjourned further hearing in the matter till October 15 and 16, 2024, while held that the date for ruling on motion for bail will be communicated to the parties involved.

 

Police Return N1m Extorted From Corpers In Lagos

The Lagos Police Command has facilitated the return of N1m extorted from three members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by four police officers in Surulere area.

An X user, Oluyemi Fasipe, shared that the officers allegedly extorted N1 million from three unidentified corps members for failing to produce a physical copy of a driver’s licence, in Surulere, Lagos

The corps member also said the police forced one of them to transfer his Bitcoin worth $842.

Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, earlier confirmed that the officers involved in the incident had been identified and were under interrogation.

The spokesperson, however, did not name the affected officers.

The trial being conducted by the police will determine the culpability of the officers and could lead to their dismissal.

Giving an update on Friday, October 4, Fasipe tweeted: “The rogue men of the Area C command of the @LagosPoliceNG who extorted over 1 million naira from the corp members have refunded the money

“I am patiently waiting for the outcome of their trial. I like to appreciate @BenHundeyin and the @officialnyscng Lagos State for their efforts too.

“I also like to use the opportunity to say hello to my friend in Delta State, @Brightgoldenboy.”

 Lagos Big Boy, Barryshine Bursted For Multiple Drug Offences

. As Court Remands Him For 30 Days

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have taken into custody a wanted drug baron, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu (a.k.a Barryshine) two years after coming under the radar of the anti-narcotics Agency.

Suleiman who is the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd came under the Agency’s watchlist over his alleged role in four foiled attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos between 2022 and 2024.

His name first featured on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger on Qatar airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika was arrested at the MMIA in possession of 400 grams of cocaine, which was concealed inside female footwears.

Investigation later revealed that one Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, who is a brother to Suleiman hired the arrested drug courier. 

Further facts emerged that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were sourced by Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu.

A few days after the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga was also arrested on November 24, 2022, with the same quantity of cocaine, 400 grams, concealed in male footwears while going to the same destination, Saudi Arabia.

The suspect, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga confessed that one Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (a.k.a Teacher) who was later arrested and convicted by the court, hired him for Suleiman. Lawal further alleged that Wasiu Gbolahan linked him up with the baron through one Igbono, who was later unveiled through investigation as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (a.k.a Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje and Ejeoto)

While investigation of the two cases subsisted and the manhunt for the baron was ongoing, two drug mules were also arrested at the MMIA on June 21, 2024 on their way to Doha, Qatar.

 One of the suspects who was later identified as Aikhomoun Daniel (a.k.a Oladapo Olanrewaju) expelled in observation custody a total of 90 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.022kg, which he ingested, while the second suspect, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji excreted 60 wraps of cocaine with a total weight of 662 grams.

Further investigation later revealed that the two arrested couriers, Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji were recruited by the same Igbono who works for the baron and featured in 2022 during the arrest of Ajesegiri Kehinde Sidika and Lawal Lateef Oyenuga. 

Financial investigation conducted by the Agency also linked the baron Suleiman to the arrested suspects and two of his associates who recruit traffickers for him: Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large.

In his statements, Suleiman claimed he is into property development and hotel management while he lives in Lagos and Paris, France. He also stated that he runs another business that deals in cloths with his wife at Balogun market, Lagos Island, adding that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia was to perform lesser hajj. 

He said he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land). Already, some properties traced to Suleiman include: two houses at 63 and 72 Queens Street, Ebute-Meta and his Barryshine Hotel at 95 Freeman street, Yaba, Lagos.

Meanwhile, Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos has granted an application by the NDLEA for the extension of the detention of the drug kingpin Suleiman for 30 days and to declare his two associates: Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large, wanted.

Ruling on the motion ex-parte in suit number: FHC/L/MISC/555/24, Justice Dipeolu said

“an order is hereby made declaring one Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye a.ka ‘Igbono’, ‘Murphy’, ‘Femi Iwaya’, ‘Ade Iwaya’, ‘Baba Eje’, ‘Ejeoto’ wanted who is presently at large for his involvement in multiple drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (a.k.a Barryshine).”

The judge also ruled that “an order is hereby made declaring one Olarenwaju Ramon Abdulahi wanted who is presently at large for his involvement in the drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (a.k.a Baryshine) with respect to the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika who was arrested at MMIA Ikeja-Lagos during outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia with 400 grams of cocaine concealed in foot wears.”

Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for the painstaking two years investigation that culminated in the conviction of three traffickers and the eventual arrest of the kingpin behind the cartel. He said this demonstrates that the long arm of the law will always get whoever is involved in the criminal trade no matter how long it takes.

  Pastor, Wife, Son, Three Others Arrested Over Death Of Female Student

The Nigeria Police have paraded a popular pastor, his wife, son and three other over the killing of a health college student in Kwara State.

Among those arrested are popular prophet, Pastor Adebayo Adeniyi, more commonly called Prophet Ogunse, and his wife, the parents of the primary suspect, Adebayo Joshua Happiness.

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested and paraded six suspects accused of being involved in the murder of Ogungbenro Blessing, a female student from the College of Health and Technology in Offa.

It was gathered that the couple was apprehended after attempting to tamper with evidence by retrieving their son’s belongings from his school.

Parading the suspects recently, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, disclosed that Adebayo Joshua Happiness had invited Awesu Mojisola to attend a purported sign-out party at Whitefield Hotel, Ilorin, Kwara State, promising her N15,000.

The CP, while parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Ilorin, said that on August 13, 2024, at about 1500 hours, the Offa Police Station received a report from Ogungbenro Blessing, a female resident of the Gbomi Area in Offa, Kwara State.

He stated, "She reported that her roommate, Awesu Mojisola, a 21-year-old graduating student of Kwara State College of Health Technology, had gone missing under suspicious circumstances."

"The incident occurred on August 9, 2024, at about 1500 hours when Awesu Mojisola received a phone call from Kolawola Timileyin, a female student from the same institution."

He said Timileyin relayed a message from Adebayo Joshua Happiness, an expelled final-year student of Summit University, Offa, Kwara State.

The suspects were identified as Adebayo Joshua Happiness (male), Adebayo Adeniyi (male), Adeniyi Bukola (female), Adeoye Adeola (male), Lawal Aminat (female), and Bulus Peter (male).

Items recovered include an iPhone 11 Pro.

Adebayo Joshua Happiness invited Awesu Mojisola to the sign-out party at Whitefield Hotel, Ilorin, Kwara State, with the promise of Fifteen Thousand Naira (N15,000). Mojisola accepted the invitation and left Offa for Ilorin later that day.

However, upon arrival in Ilorin, Mojisola contacted her friends, expressing discomfort and concern as there appeared to be no sign-out party.

According to the CP, "Instead, she reported being alone in a hotel room with Adebayo Joshua Happiness, who was reportedly smoking cannabis. Subsequently, her phone became unreachable, and her whereabouts were unknown."

Acting swiftly on the report, the investigation by officers of the command led to the arrest of Adebayo Joshua Happiness.

The police commissioner explained that preliminary findings revealed that Adebayo Joshua Happiness had deliberately lured Awesu Mojisola to Ilorin under false pretenses, booking a hotel room around 1800 hours with no intention of hosting a party.

"Further investigation uncovered that at about 2345 hours on the same day, Adebayo Joshua Happiness booked an additional room at the same hotel for another female, possibly as a cover-up for his premeditated actions."