Crime
Navy Seizes 13,800 Litres Of Petrol, 71 Bags Of Foreign Rice In Lagos
Navy Seizes 13,800 Litres Of Petrol, 71 Bags Of Foreign Rice In Lagos
Navy seizes 13,800 litres of petrol, 71 bags of foreign rice in Lagos. Mr Omotayo stated that the navy was increasing efforts to combat smuggling and criminal activities along the Badagry-Porto Novo creeks.
The Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry of the Nigerian Navy has intercepted 13,800 litres of petrol and 71 bags of foreign rice in multiple operations along Badagry creeks.
The Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, Navy Captain Oyeleye Omotayo, in a statement on Sunday in Badagry, Lagos State, confirmed that the seizures occurred between March 7 and 14.
He said naval operatives acted on intelligence received about suspected smugglers operating in the area, leading to the interception of the items during separate operations.
“In continuation of the fight against smuggling within our Area of Operation in Badagry, a target operation was launched on Friday, March 14, at 2:54 a.m.,” Mr Omotayo said
He added that the operation focused on intercepting smugglers and confiscating products intended for illegal export.
He said, “The smugglers initially evaded our water patrol, but were intercepted by our land patrol unit around 3:30 a.m. During the operation, 71 bags of foreign rice were found being smuggled. The items were seized, while the suspects fled upon sighting our patrol at 4:22 a.m.’’
He noted that the seized rice has been taken to the base for further necessary action in accordance with procedures.
He said that on the same day, the intelligence team received a report at 12:15 a.m. about petrol being stockpiled at a beach near Bollington in Badagry creeks.
The intelligence indicated that the products were to be smuggled by wooden boats through Nigeria’s territorial waters into Benin Republic.
“Our team swiftly responded to the intelligence and moved to the location. Upon arrival, four vehicles intended for smuggling were found at the shoreline, but the suspects escaped with their keys,” he said
While searching the area, 234 jerry cans of 25 litres each, totalling about 5,850 litres of petrol, were discovered and taken to the base.
He further disclosed that 7,770 litres of petrol were also seized in other operations conducted in Badagry communities.
“On March 7, 6,770 litres of petrol in 30 and 40-litre jerry cans were seized at a filling station, along with 188 empty jerry cans.
On March 8, 40 jerry cans of 25 litres each, totalling about 1,000 litres of petrol, were seized at Farasime community, based on intelligence from Tongeji Island,” he said
He noted that the 7,950 litres of petrol seized from two filling stations and Tongeji Island on March 7 and 8, respectively, were handled lawfully.
“This was to prevent the illegal products from re-entering circulation within our operational area,” he said.
Navy Seizes 13,800 Litres Of Petrol
Mr Omotayo stated that the navy was increasing efforts to combat smuggling and criminal activities along the Badagry-Porto Novo creeks.
He noted, “In line with the Federal Government’s directive and Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla’s Strategic Directive 2023-06, FOB Badagry has intensified operations, achieving multiple successes.’’
He warned perpetrators, collaborators, and sponsors of illegal activities to desist or face the full weight of the law.
He assured sister agencies, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service, of the navy’s continued cooperation, as well as support for the host community.
EFCC Arraigns 2 Chinese Nationals, Nigerian For Cyber Crimee In Lagos
EFCC arraigns 2 Chinese nationals, Nigerian for cyber crimee in Lagos. EFCC alleged that they engaged in this foreign exchange without going through the official foreign exchange market authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on Monday dragged a Nigerian, two Chinese nationals, and their company before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged multibillion-naira cybercrime.
The defendants Huang Haoyu, Friday Audu, An Hongxu and a company, Gentting International Ltd., are standing trial before Justice Daniel Osiagor on a 12-count charge of cybercrime.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the defendants committed the offences sometime in 2024 in Lagos.
Ms Buhari said the defendants allegedly conspired among themselves to commit the offences with one Dualiang Pan, who is now at large.
She said the defendants allegedly willfully caused to be assessed computer systems organised to destabilise Nigeria’s economic structure.
Ms Buhari also said the defendants allegedly procured Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalities.
They were alleged to have procured one Chukwuemeka Okeke to retain $1.2 million in his crypto wallet, which they ought to know forms part of fraudulent activities.
They were alleged to have also procured one Alhassan Garba and Ifesinaci Jacobs to retain $1.3 million in their crypto wallet, being proceeds of crime.
They were also alleged to have retained in the Union Bank account of Gentting International Ltd the sum of N3.4 billion, which also forms part of the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.
The prosecutor alleged that they transferred, among others, N106 million and N913 million to Mr Dualiang’s UBA account, which also forms the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.
The transfer and several other transfers were said to be made from Gentting Ltd.
Besides, the defendants were said to have illegally negotiated a foreign exchange transaction with one Alhassan Garba to the dollar equivalent of N1.1 billion, N962 million, and other sums.
EFCC alleged that they engaged in this foreign exchange without going through the official foreign exchange market authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Court
All monies are said to have formed part of the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.
She said the offences contravened section 29(2) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2004.
It also contravenes sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act 2015, as well as sections 18(2)(d) and 21(c) of the Money Laundering Act 2021.
The court adjourned the case until March 20 to hear the defendants’ bail application.
The judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in EFCC’s custody pending bail.
Cross River Lawmakers Invites Commissioner Over Alleged Illegal Levies
Cross River lawmakers invites commissioner over alleged illegal levies. The House described the imposition of illegal levies by the ministry as double taxation.
The Cross River House of Assembly has invited the state commissioner for environment over alleged illegal levies imposed on truck drivers.
The House took the decision following a complaint made during the house session on Monday by Okon Owuna, the member representing Akamkpa I in the assembly.
Mr Owuna said that the levy tagged “Cross River Evacuation Permit” was imposed by the Ministry of Environment on trucks hauling granite from quarries in Akamkpa.
The lawmaker said that the levy was illegal, and not approved by the Cross River Internal Revenue Service.
“This levy is not also backed by the state Revenue Administration Law passed by the State Assembly,” he said.
He further said that the collection of the illegal levies had caused serious hardship on truck drivers as well as business owners in the area.
“This has led to the withdrawal of their trucks to quarries in neighbouring states; this trend should be stopped to preserve the good image of the state.
“If this trend is not checked, it is capable of destroying the hard-earned reputation and good image that Governor Bassey Otu has built for the state,” he said.
Other lawmakers who spoke on the matter described the imposition of illegal levies by the ministry as double taxation.
Cross River Lawmakers
The speaker, Elvert Ayambem, condemned the act and said that the commissioner of environmental and chairman of the Internal Revenue Service should appear before the house.
Mr Ayambem said the invitation of the two government officials would enable the House to adequately understand the issue and proffer lasting solutions.
EFCC Arrests TikTok Influencer, Murja Kunya for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Kano
EFCC arrests TikTok influencer, Murja Kunya for alleged Naira Mutilation in Kano. Operatives of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, have arrested popular TikTok influencer, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, for allegedly abusing and mutilating the Naira.
Specifically, Kunya was arrested for allegedly spraying Naira notes for fun during her stay in a hotel room at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano.
The arrest followed her diligent pursuit by EFCC operatives after she jumped an administrative bail granted her by the Commission over one month ago.
She was initially arrested in January 2025 for violating the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Act which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the Naira.
She was granted an administrative bail by the Commission pending her arraignment before the Federal High Court in Kano.
However, when it was time for her court appearance, Kunya absconded, evading the legal processes.
However, after weeks of intensive investigation and surveillance, EFCC operatives successfully re-arrested the TikTok Influencer on Sunday March 16, 2025.
Murja Kunya
She was subsequently conveyed to the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Commission, where she is currently in custody awaiting her arraignment.
The EFCC reiterates its commitment to enforcing laws protecting the integrity of the Nigerian currency and warned against acts of abuse including spraying, stamping, or mutilating the currency during social events.
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