CRIME
Court Jails Kwara Decorator, Two Others for Cybercrime
From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of one Asaolu Femi, an interior decorator from Iloffa in Oke-ero Local Government Area of Kwara State and two others for offences bordering on cybercrime.
The two others are Adeoye Abdulgafar from Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo state and Madiu Bayo from Kishi in Irepo area of Oyo State.
The three convicts were prosecuted on separate charges before Justice Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The charge against Ashaolu reads:
“That you, Asaolu Femi Richard (Alias: Marissa Hant) sometime in April 2023, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Marissa Hant a white Transgender from Texas, United States of America with email account phemiolamde@gmail.com and in that guise induced one Nick Fansier, to send you $30 (Thirty Dollars) which you received via a gift card thereby committed an offence contrary to section 321 of the Penal Code Law and Punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law “
While the particulars of the charge against Madiu read:
“That you, Adeoye Abdulgafar Olashile (Alias: Farmer Daughter), sometime between the month of November 2022 and April 2023, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Farmer Daughter, a white female with WhatsApp account number +2347081001435 and in that guise induced one Ronde Hill, to send you $450 ( Four Hundred and Fifty Dollars) which you did received via cash app and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law”
The anti-graft agency stated in the charge against Adeoye thus:
“That you, Madiu Bayo Tajudeen (Alias: Sylvia), sometime between the month of November 2022 and March 2023, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did Cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Sylvia, a white Female, from Massachusetts, United States of America, with Telegram Account Number +2349046631330 and in that guise induced one William Kisam, to send you $600 (Six Hundred Dollars) which you did received via gift cards and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law.”
All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charge independently before the Court.
Following their ‘guilty pleas’, Counsel to the EFCC, M. M Kaigama, led witnesses who are operatives of the Commission in evidence to review the facts of the cases. The witnesses narrated the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the defendants and tendered their extra-judicial statements, different brands of phones recovered from them at the point of arrest and the various sums of money, which the defendants brought as restitution and were admitted in evidence.
Kaigama, after the testimonies of the witnesses urged the court to convict the defendants as charged based on their admittance of guilt, their extra-judicial statements and the evidence tendered before it.
Justice Yusuf in his judgment on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 said that he was convinced that the prosecution had proved the cases beyond reasonable doubt and he pronounced the defendants guilty.
The Judge sentenced Asaolu to six months imprisonment with option of fine of N100,000.
He ordered that a Samsung S10 phone which he used to perpetrate the crime and the sum of $30 (Thirty USD) which he benefited from the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Similarly, Justice Yusuf sentenced Adeoye to six months imprisonment with option of N50,000 fine in lieu of the imprisonment, while the convict was also ordered to forfeit his iphone 13 Promax and the sum of $400 (Four Hundred United States Dollars) to the Federal Government.
Madiu, in his case bagged six months imprisonment with option of fine of N100,000 while one Samsung S8, HP laptop used as instruments of the crime and the sum of $600 (Six Hundred United States Dollars) which he benefited from the illegal activity were forfeited to the Federal Government.
CRIME
We Say No to killings of Christians in Nigeria – Group
By David Torough, Abuja
The Future Platform, a Nigeria-based organization headquartered in the United States, has expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks and killings of Christians in various parts of Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr.
Austine Dafe, the group condemned the ongoing violence and called on the Nigerian government to take decisive steps to ensure the safety of all citizens.The organization cited recent incidents in Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Jigawa, Anambra, and Kaduna States, where Christian communities have come under repeated attacks, leading to loss of lives, destruction of properties, and displacement of families.
It described the situation as deeply troubling and urged authorities to act swiftly to bring perpetrators to justice.“The government must address the root causes of these violent attacks and prioritize the protection of human life,” the statement said. “Every Nigerian, irrespective of religion, deserves to live in peace and worship freely without fear.”
The group further noted that the persistent killings have drawn international attention, with calls from the United States and Canada for urgent intervention to halt the violence.
The Future Platform appealed to Federal and State Governments, as well as religious and community leaders, to speak out against hate and intolerance while working together to promote peace, unity, and justice.
“This is a time for leadership and moral courage,” Mr. Dafe stated. “The killings must stop, and the lives of innocent Nigerians must be protected.”
CRIME
Police Arrest Seven Suspects Linked to Murder of IBBUL Student
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Following the killing of a 300 level Student of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Abdulwahab Jafar that led to a massive protest, the State Police Command has arrested seven persons linked to the crime.
The Niger State Police Command in a Statement on Tuesday by the police public Relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun said a total of 19 persons were initially arrested, but after screening 7 were detained.
He said the breakthrough is coming almost four months after the 23yrs old was killed from wounds he sustained while been stabbed at his lodge.
“It could be recalled that on June 23, 2025 at about 3am, there was a report of an unfortunate attack on a student of the IBBUL identified as Abdulwahab Jafar 23yrs of Paiko at his lodge in the school, among other attacks leading to loss of life of the said student”
He recalled that, the incident led to other crises in Lapai community and Police tactical teams were deployed to the town through which normalcy was restored.
“However, in a follow up investigative effort of the Command, jointly carried out by TST and FID STS, a total of 19 persons were arrested in Lapai and other locations in the State based on intelligence and other information at the disposal of the Police Command
“The investigation activities were narrowed down to seven suspects for criminal conspiracy, robbery, unlawful society, internet fraud, having in possession of dangerous weapons and suspected culpable homicide “
The Command named the seven suspects as ; Idris Hamza 27yrs of Maikunkele, Suleiman Damilare 27yrs of Maikunkele, Abdulsemiu Bashir 23yrs of Lapai,Bawa Aliyu 27yrs of Suleja and Yakubu Musa – Pypa 24yrs of Maikunkele .
Others are Samson Abbah, Small 28yrs Rafin /Yanshi, Solomon Musa – Cabella 28yrs of Maitumbi.
Acvording to SP Wasiu Abiodun, based on credible intelligence, Idris Hamza and Suleiman Damilare were arrested on June 27 at Fadikpe with cannabis, charms, and local black soaps with a Toyota Corolla vehicle at one Abdullahi Ahmed a.k.a catch-up residence.
The suspects confessed to members of Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and further confessed to having carried out a series of cultist activities in IBBUL such as initiation of members’ e.g Jolijoli and other members.
“Their confessions led to the arrest of Abdulsemiu Basir, who is reasonably suspected to be a rival member of the group known as VIKINGS.”
He explained that, upon his arrest in Lapai at a motor park on June 29, a spot search was carried out on him, he was found in possession of 16 SIM cards, POS machine and sum of seventy-seven thousand naira.
“He claimed that he bought the SIM cards from one Audu, another member of VIKINGS presently at large, and the SIM cards were confirmed to be from stolen/robbed phones of victims”.
Bawa Aliyu, before his arrest, was said to have admitted that he was a butcher with axe in NBM Lapai while Yakubu Musa a.k.a PYPA (protect your peace) was arrested on August 14, also a member of NBM, they confirmed to have carried out several attacks and robberies in students lodges to finance their dues, with internet fraud.
Samson Abbah a.k.a Small of Rafin-Yanshi was a student of Federal Polytechnic Bida, graduated in 2017, but joined NBM in 2015, he was also mentioned as the group Admin officer of their WhatsApp platform for Minna zone.
The platform was named as “Men that matters” before he changed it to “Football News”, where they discussed their nefarious activities. Solomon Musa known as Cabella, a close friend of Bawa and Yakubu, the three of them with others attempted to attack another student in the school in August, but met his absence and destroyed the student’s apartment over an alleged rude attitude of the student to them as they claimed.
The Command said investigation is still ongoing and effort to identify either VIKINGS or NBM members responsible for the attack of the deceased is intensified, as it was established that the attack was cultists related.
CRIME
FCT Police confirms suspected suicide in Abuja
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, at the weekend confirmed suspected suicide of one Ik Ojo (male, 30) who was found hanging in his residence at Kagini, Dei-Dei area of the FCT.
This was contained in a statement issued by FCT Police command and signed by SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer,FCT Police Command,Abuja.
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She said the command received a distress call on the 5th of August , 2025 reporting the suspected suicide of one Ik Ojo (male, 30).
The statement reads, “Responding promptly, police operatives from Dei-Dei Division visited the scene and evacuated the victim to Kubwa General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
The body has since been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, has ordered a thorough and discreet investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Further details will be communicated as the investigation progresses”.
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