Crime

4 sales reps docked for allegedly defrauding employer of N2.5m

Published

1 year ago

February 16, 2023

Four sales representatives were on Thursday docked in a Grade I Area Court, Kubwa, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding their empoyer of N2.5million .

The police charged Grace Okon, Precious Ogbonna, Angela Ogbeche and Omolara Akinbode with criminal conspiracy and theft.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that the complainant, Eze Ifeoma reported the matter at Kubwa Police Station on Jan.20.

Ogada alleged that the complainant employed the defendants at Uptimal Pharmacy, Kubwa, Abuja, and entrusted them with drugs worth millions of naira to sell and remit same to her.

The prosecution counsel said the defendants connived and sold some drugs and converted to their use.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 289 of the Penal Code.

According to section 289 : “whoever, being a clerk or servant being employed in the capacity of a clerk or servant, commits theft in respect of any property in the possession of his master or

employer, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with fine or with both”.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

The defence counsel, Ms Geraldine Amah, made a bail application pursuant to Section 36 subsection 5 of the 1999 constitution, urging the court to exercise its discretion judiciously in favour of the defendants.

The judge, Yahaya Sheshi admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N3 million each with one surety in like sum, resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

Sheshi said the sureties must provide two passport photographs, driver’s licence or national identity card and deposit N200, 000 each as security to the court’s registry.

He adjourned the case until March 23 for hearing.

Crime

NDLEA smashes int’l drug syndicate, arrests 5

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2024

NewsDirect

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said the unravelling of the drug cartel started on April 20, when their cargo containing four suitcases arrived the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NACHO) shed on an Airpeace flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to him, after days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Peter Umeh was arrested on April 24.

“This was after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases containing loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.

“The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contained a total of 17.6 kilograms of loud and drug candies.

“Another member of the syndicate, Mrs Chiwendu Ugbe, whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Ugbe, sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra.

“This was where NDLEA officers arrested her on April 27, while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband,“ he said.

Meanwhile, no fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-week intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra.

Babafemi said the arrest followed the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

Also, two other suspects: Onyejakor Chimezie and Naaji Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were arrested in parts of Lagos on April 29.

“Their arrest led to another operation in Abia, where Mrs Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels.

“They were containing loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony, who is equally operating from South Africa,“ he said.

Crime

Police admit officer shot man killed on Lagos fuel queue

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

The Lagos State Police Command has admitted that one of its officers is responsible for the death of a young man, Toheeb Eniafe.

Toheeb was shot on Wednesday at a petrol station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited at Obalende in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Eniafe was reported to have been shot dead while he and some others were resisting the move by some security agents to buy fuel without joining the queue.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this on Thursday.

He said, “The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.

“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available.

“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice,” the PRO stated.

Crime

Internet fraudster bags seven years in Port Harcourt

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

Justice P.M Ayua of the Federal High Court sitting in PortHarcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced one Odinakachi Prince Onyeoziri to seven years imprisonment.

He was jailed after pleading guilty to three-count charges bordering on internet fraud contrary to Section 14 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section.

One of the count charges reads: “That you, Odinakachi Prince Onyeoziri, and Solmyr (atlarge) between June, 2021 to November, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly caused your victims loss by inputting or suppressing data in computers thereby benefiting the aggregate sum of $3000 (Three thousand United States Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 14(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel, I. Agwu sought to review the facts of the case through the investigating officer, Abalaka Stephen, an operative of the Commission. While being led in evidence, he told the court that the defendant was arrested by operatives of the Commission following a written petition by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, against the defendant for alleged internet fraud activities. He was thereafter apprehended sometime in February, 2024 at Owerri, Imo State.

Testifying further, he told the court that the defendant in his voluntary statement to the EFCC, confessed to being into internet fraud, spreading of computer virus, spamming and also causing his victims losses by inputting data in computers. He confessed benefiting an aggregate sum of Three Thousand United States Dollars ($3,000) by representing himself to unsuspecting victims as different individuals

Agwu, thereafter, sought to tender in evidence, the statements, and all the items recovered from the defendant. The court thereafter admitted the evidence and were marked as exhibits.

Thereafter, the trial judge declared him guilty as charged.

Defence counsel, B. Onuoha, on the other hand prayed the court for leniency. He appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, considering his status as a first-time offender, and remorse for his actions.

Justice Ayua sentenced him to seven years imprisonment cumulatively with Three Million Naira (3,000,000.00) as an option of fine payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In addition, the judge ordered that, items recovered from the convict, two laptops, a mobile device, Toyota Highlander with Registration: NKR 736 AA, two story buildings containing six units of two bedroom flats should be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Additionally, the convict shall depose an affidavit of good behaviour before the court.