CRIME
Eight Fraudsters Bag Jail Terms
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
Justice C.A Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City on February 15, 2022, convicted and sentenced one Emmanuel Godwills (alias John Williams) to four years imprisonment for fraud.
The defendant was arraigned on one count charge by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC for fraudulent impersonation.
The charge reads, “that you Emmanuel Godwills (alias John Williams) sometime in May, 2021 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of John Williams by fraudulently operating a WhatsApp account with a foreign telephone number +1(602)932-4644 belonging to you to chat with foreign women to invest in bitcoin with telephone numbers +261324953329, + 6011-72685467 and +6322963821352 with the intent to obtaining money from them, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc. ) Act, 2015 and punishable under section 22(2) (b)(iv) of the same Act”.
Upon arraignment the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Justice Obiozor convicted and sentenced the defendant to four years imprisonment with option of a fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300, 000).
In addition, the defendant is to forfeit his mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria. and undertakes to be of good behaviour.
In Gombe State, 42-year-old man, Muhammed Saleh was on February 14, 2022 convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice Abdulsalam Muhammad of Gombe State High Court, for offences bordering on cheating.
Saleh, who claimed to be an accredited MTN Virtual Top Up (VTU) agent had sometime in August 2020 approached and requested that his victim transfered airtime via VTU valued at N1,780,000.00 ( One Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) in furtherance of a non-existent MTN promo. He had promised to pay back part of the interest accruable to his victim within one week.
Two months down the line, it was discovered that he converted the VTU airtime to his personal use and all efforts to recover the money or VTU proved abortive.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him by the Gombe Zonal Command of the EFCC.
Justice Muhammed found him guilty and sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay the sum of N780, 000.00. (Seven Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) as restitution to the victim through the Commission.
While a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, convicted six internet fraudsters on separate one-count charge each for criminal impersonation, an offence that contravenes Section 22 (2) (b) (1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (b) of the same Act.
The convicts are: Wahab Akintola Salam, Alonge Abiodun Ayomide, Adeyinka Goodness Taiwo, Adeniran Ayobami Tijesunimi, Dolapo Temitope Oladele, and Mubarak Opeyemi Balogun.
They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them upon arraignment.
Afterwards, the prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Oladunni reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged.
Justice Uche Agomoh convicted and sentenced Adeyinka Goodness Taiwo and Dolapo Temitope Oladele to 10 months imprisonment each; Alonge Abiodun Ayomide and Adeniran Tijesunimi got seven months each, while Wahab Akintola and Mubarak Opeyemi Balogun bagged six months imprisonment each.
Also, the court ordered that Mubarak Opeyemi Balogun restitute the sum of N627, 177. 85 (Six Hundred and Twenty Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Seven Naira, Eighty Five Kobo) domiciled in his bank account, and forfeit one iPhone 12 Pro Max mobile phone to the Federal government of Nigeria.
Adeyinka Goodness Taiwo was ordered to pay the sum of N1, 051, 051. 00 (One Million, Fifty One Thousand, Fifty One Naira) in restitution as he forfeit one iPhone 11Pro Max and one Infinix Hot 8 mobile phones to the Federal government.
Dolapo Temitope Oladele forfeited an android mobile phone while Alonge Abiodun Ayomide was ordered to restitute the sum of $100USD (One Hundred United States Dollars).
The court also ordered that Adeniran Tijesunimi restitute $550USD (Five Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars), and forfeit one iPhone X, an Infinix Smart phone, one gold ring, and one 2005 Model Honda Accord Car to the Federal government of Nigeria.
Wahab Akintola was ordered to pay the sum of $1,250USD (One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars), and forfeit one iPhone 12 Pro Max mobile phone to the Federal government of Nigeria.
CRIME
Gunmen Attack Ortom’s Ex-Chief-of-Staff, Abduct Wife
Suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on Friday, attacked former Chief of Staff to Benue State Governor, Honorable Terwase Orbunde, and abducted his wife and house help.
Orbunde, a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) in Benue state served under the administration of the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Samuel Ortom.
The attack, it was learnt took place close to the “Genocide Cemetery” along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital at about 6.
00 PM.The former Chief of Staff escaped with a gunshot on his right arm, while the attackers whisked away his wife, Mrs Abigail Kashimana Orbunde and her house help, Patience Ogute.
Eyewitnesses told DAILY ASSET that Orbunde, his wife and the house help, had gone to inspect the their farm when the incident happened.
The eyewitnesses said after the inspection of the work and payment of the workers five gunmen suddenly attacked their victims as they walked back to their car.
The attackers were said to have opened fire and Orbunde received a bullet on the right arm, while they ordered him and the women to follow them to an unknown destination.
The shooting was said to have caused villagers and passersby to scamper for safety in different directions.
As they marched along, the former Chief of Staff was said to be bleeding profusely, witnesses further said.
The witnesses who watched from a distance said the leader of the group ordered him to walk away while the gunmen took the women to an unknown destination.
An unidentified ‘good Samaritan’ was said to have conveyed the former Chief of Staff to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.
The State Police Commnad could not be reached for comments at the time of this report.
CRIME
AONN Seeks Multiple Approaches to End GBV
The Association of Orphan and Vulnerable Children (AONN) has advocated for the adoption of a multifaceted approach to combat Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) both within Nigeria and on a global scale.
Speaking during a one-day GBV sensitization in Apo-Dutse, Abuja, marking the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls, Kiema Ogunlana, the AONN FCT coordinator, stated that this has become necessary due to the increasing complexity of GBV in recent times.
More women are coming forward to report abuses by their wives and partners.
Additionally, there is a rising trend of children being reported as perpetrators of violent acts against their peers.“We intervened in a recent case where a girl slashed her best friend with a razor over claims of emotional abuse,” she said.
Mrs. Ogunlana said AONN as an organization that focuses on children welfare, thought it wise to sensitize them irrespective of the sexual difference.
“Children within the age range of 10-17 years old were selected inline with the year’s 16-day activism theme: ‘Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.’
“When we say ‘unite,’ we mean the total involvement of everyone to achieve a violence-free society.
“Including the males in such sensitization is important because the boys will grow up to become men and husbands to the girls. If they are ignorant of the forms of violence, they will continue perpetrating violent actions against the female folks,” she said.
Mrs. Ogunlana mentioned that the children were also taught how to deal with an abuser. “Every child is a product of learning from his or her society, and we have emphasized the need to speak out given the recent rise in mental health cases. The children were able to internalize the lessons learned and called out for the end of violence,” she added.
The District Head of Apo Dutse, Ishaku Sagbede, highlighted the wisdom of engaging children in such sensitization while welcoming members of AONN to his palace.
“Indeed, the increase in violence among children is a reflection of the entire society, but with such sensitization Nigeria will become like London,” he asserted.
The Daisy Oak Program’s Manager, Chibueze Okechukwu, admonished the children of the consequences of SGBV, using rhymes to press the message home.
Program Manager of the Catholic Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (CACA) noted that most children suffer from abuse but do not know that they are being abused.
“When children come to understand the term ‘abuse,’ that is the only time they can speak out,” she said.
Chito Obiora-Anaekwe further said that the organization has caseworkers who follow up on cases of abuse in the community. She added that victims are beginning to speak out as a result of such activism over the years.
Segun Samuel, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Board, said girls and women are mostly affected by Gender-Based Violence as a result of early or forced marriage. “Women are denied access to medical services as a result of cultural practices. These have ripple effects. The most commonly experienced issues are Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), obstructed labor, and maternal risks.”
The event also included a session on personal hygiene carried out by Sam Empowerment Foundation, Communication Officer, Chiamaka Nwankwo.
Additionally, free services such as HIV/AIDS Testing Services, Hepatitis testing, Malaria Testing, Drug dispensary, and counseling services were offered to the children.
CRIME
Tiv Residents in America Seek Justice for Late Joshua Terngu Gwebe
The Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA), a non-profit and non-partisan charitable organization representing the Tiv community in the Americas, has condemned in strong terms, what it described as “the horrific and violent mob attack on Joshua Terngu Gwebe, a young Tiv man, on November 20, 2023”
“This attack, stemming from unfounded allegations of car theft, is unacceptable and regrettable,” the association said in a statement released by its President, Dr Akaa D.
Ayangeakaa, and Secretary General, Beeior Rov-Ikpah.“We are deeply concerned about the unprofessional conduct of the Nigerian Police Force, particularly the reported involvement of a Superintendent of Police, Mr Haliru, in this assault.
Instead of performing his duties as a peace officer, he was alleged to have participated in the attack on Mr. Gwebe and Tersoo, a passerby who merely communicated with the victim in our native Tiv language. This incident culminated in the tragic death of Mr. Gwebe in police custody. The grievous loss of Mr Gwebe due to such conduct cannot be overlooked or excused.“The actions of the mob, fueled by a baseless accusation from Mr Barka Ibrahim, a taxi driver, and the complicity of police officers, including, SP Haliru, are reprehensible and unacceptable. This case is a stark example of the mob mentality plaguing Nigeria, which has no place in a democratic society. Furthermore, the ethnic profiling of Tiv people is a serious issue that demands immediate attention and action. Such discriminatory practices undermine the principles of equality and justice, and must be eradicated from our society. Those responsible must be held accountable to prevent further tragedies” the statement said.
MUTA urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to heed his warnings against human rights violations by the police just as it demanded immediate action to apprehend and prosecute all individuals involved the “brutal assault, including the dismissal of SP Haliru from the Nigeria Police Force for his unconscionable actions”.
“We further urge a comprehensive reorientation of officers of the Nigeria Police Force to embrace their role as community peace officers, not violators of human rights. The reckless and brutal treatment of innocent civilians must cease if Nigeria is to progress as a democratic nation.
“Furthermore, we strongly urge lawmakers of Tiv and Benue extraction to rise to the occasion and fulfill their duties in defending the rights and lives of the Tiv people. It is their responsibility to ensure that their constituents are treated fairly and justly under the law.
“Justice must be served not only for Joshua Terngu Gwebe but for every citizen whose rights have been trampled upon. We call on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria to investigate this incident thoroughly and ensure that all perpetrators, including erring security personnel, are held accountable” the association further stated.
It however, commended the the bravery of a passer by, Mr. Tersoo, who suffered alongside Gwebe and extended its sympathies to the family of th deceased.
“We demand an official apology from the Nigeria Police Force to the Gwebe family, along with adequate compensation for their irreplaceable loss.
“Finally, we commend the frontline actors, especially Pastor Dave Ogbole and his team, for their relentless pursuit of justice for Mr Joshua Gwebe. Their work and commitment are invaluable, and they inspire hope in these difficult times.
“MUTA remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for justice, accountability, and reform on behalf of the Tiv community and all Nigerians who seek a fairer and more equitable society,” the statement also said.