Crime
Court jails fraudster five years for $1.6m cryptocurrency fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of one Benjamin Ikaa who was arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
He was sentenced to five years imprisonment for his involvement in $1.6million cryptocurrency fraud.
The commission disclosed this in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Thursday.
According to the statement, Ikaa pleaded guilty to one-count charge.
The statement partly read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has secured the conviction and sentencing of Benjamin Ikaa before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Aso Larrys Peter prayed the court to convict him as charged.
“The defence counsel, Abel Adaji, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the convict has become remorseful and was a first -time offender.
“Justice Nwite convicted and sentenced him to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N5,000, 000.”
Ikaa also forfeited an iPhone 13 and Toyota Avalon car, 2013 model to the Federal government.
The statement added that the $11,000 recovered from him would be returned to his victims.
He was also said to have written an undertaking to steer away from cybercrime henceforth.
Ikaa’s journey to the correctional centre began when he was arrested by the EFCC for operating a fictitious cryptocurrency investment website where he promised mouth-watering returns on investment, resulting in his unsuspecting victims incurring a loss of 26 bitcoins as at February 2023.
His victims are from South Africa, Norway, United Kingdom and Barbados.
When confronted with the facts of his fraudulent dealings, he owned up to them.
He was thereafter prosecuted and convicted.
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Crime
Police admit officer shot man killed on Lagos fuel queue
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
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.
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