CRIME
Okorocha, Wife, Others to Forfeit Assets to EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has obtained orders for the interim forfeiture of assets traced to a former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, and his wife.
The Head, Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Mr Usman Imam, disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the activities of the commission in the last eight months.
Imam said that the commission also obtained similar order on a property traced to a former aide to Okorocha, Mr Paschal Obi, and the former governor’s daughter.
He said that the commission had established prima facie cases against the suspects which they would answer to.
Imam said that the commission would like to know how the Rochas Foundation and other accomplices acquired and or converted some of the property for personal use.
He listed some of the property to include a 16-block cum 96 flats and an eight-bungalow multimillion naira estate, hotel, two schools, shopping plaza, supermarket, hospital and four vehicles.
The EFCC chief said that while the hospital was traced to Obi, the remaining property were traced to the former governor and his family, including his wife and daughter.
“We hope to get permanent forfeiture orders on the property in order to return them to the people of the state,” he said.
Imam said that all the facilities, including the schools, would remain functional as the commission would not like to shut them down for the sake of the students and other users.
“Other recoveries were made and are awaiting forfeiture, but for the court vacation. They include a twin three-storey building with a three bedroom bungalow and a duplex, both in Enugu.
“The property were recovered from cyber fraudsters,” he said.
Imam said that the commission, within the period, recovered N213.85 million and 10, 600 US dollars.
“In one of such recoveries, one Augustine Ejimokor, who defrauded his victim of the sum of 5,000 US dollars and used it to acquire a Mercedez Benz C300 was ordered to forfeit the vehicle.
“So far, the zone has arrested 88 suspected fraudsters since 2015, with 70 of them in 2019. This underscores the efforts of the present zonal head in conformity with the acting chairman’s directives,” he said.
Imam said that the zone also obtained 59 convictions out of whom were the 51 arrested and prosecuted in 2019. (NAN)
A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old travel agent, Adebayo Oyeronke, to four years imprisonment over a N6.2 million visa fraud.
Oyeronke had pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and theft.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, held that Oyeronke was guilty of defrauding Rita Francis and four others of the sum of N6.
2 million.Emmanuel who did not give the convict an option of fine, ordered him to pay N2 million each as compensation to the victims.
The magistrate also ordered him to undertake an affidavit of good conduct, pledging never to engage in any criminal or corrupt activities again.
Earlier, the prosecution Insp.
Chidi Leo told the court that the convict committed the offences between December 2024 and April 2025 at Barnawa Kaduna.Leo said that the defendant collected N6.2 million from the complainants; Rita Francis, Mohammed Sadiq, Christian Baba, Williams Abiodun and Nathan Victor, with a promise to get them Polish visa.
He said after the convict collected the money, he absconded to an unknown destination until he was arrested on May 15.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.
30 p. m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.30 p.m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.
According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 40 – year old prostitute, Adeosun Adepeju was on Tuesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stabbing her colleague in the stomach during work period.
Adepeju of undisclosed address was standing trial on a count charge bordering on assault.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Cpl.
Helen Ojo told the court that Adepeju on May 21, at about 12:30 a.m., at Ring road area, Ibadan, stabbed her colleague, Stella Mago with scissors in her stomach.Ojo said that the stabbing caused the complainant bodily harm.
She added that the offence contravened Section 335 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs M. M. Olagbenro admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Olagbenro adjourned the matter until May 30, for hearing. (NAN)
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