Akwa Ibom
Calabar Court Jails Internet Fraudster, 4 Suspects Arraigned In Uyo
Calabar Court Jails Internet Fraudster, 4 Suspects Arraigned In Uyo
Calabar court jails internet fraudster, 4 suspects arraigned in Uyo. The Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday May 12, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of one internet fraudster Ogagarojo Godstime a.k.a Alex Gonzalex before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Calabar, Cross River State.
Godstime was prosecuted on two count-charges bordering on criminal impersonation on the cyber space.
One of the charge reads, ‘That you, Ogagarojo Godstime (aka Alex Gonzalex ) “M” sometime in 2024, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently present yourself as Marc Labelle on the social media with intent to gain advantage for yourself, did take possession of the aggregate sum of Four Hundred United Sate Dollars ($400) knowing that the money form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; cyber impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act’
Godstime pleaded guilty to the charges, prompting the prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Mahmud also informed the court that the convict had restituted the sum of $400(Four Hundred United States Dollars) through the Commission. He also urged the court to grant a forfeiture of the convict’s iphone 11 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
After listening to the prosecution, Justice Ojukwu convicted Godstime and sentenced him to twelve(12) months jail term on each count to run concurrently, or to pay a fine of N800, 000.00 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) and to forfeit the IPhone 11 device used in committing the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In a related development, the Directorate also arraigned three suspected internet fraudsters and one foreign currency dealer before Justice Sergius Onah of the Federal High Court Uyo on Monday May 12, 2025.
The suspected internet fraudsters are; Inemesit Asuquo Bassey, Franklin Edet Eyo and Chukwudi Patrick Ahiahwo. The alleged illegal foreign currency dealer is Kassim Mohammed.
At the time of his arrest, Mohammed was in possession of various currencies such as; the United States Dollars USD, Philippines Dalawampung Piso, Japanese Nippon Ginko, Swaziland Emalangeni, Gambia Dalasis and Chinese Yuan, but had no valid license from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He pleaded guilty to a one- count charge preferred against him by the Commission for operating a Bureau de change business without an appropriate licence.
The charge reads: ‘That you, Kassim Muhammed “M” sometime in May, 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a company duly incorporated in Nigeria and without a valid license granted to you by the Central Bank of Nigeria, did conduct business of other financial institutions to wit: Bureau de change and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57 (5) (b) of the same Act’.
In view of his ‘guilty’ plea, prosecution counsel, Barrister Joshua Abolarin prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant. “My Lord, may I apply that the defendant be convicted as charged due to his plea and the facts presented before this Honourable Court. Also, that the currencies tendered as exhibits be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria”, he said.
The defence counsel Chigozie Ogunji did not oppose.
Justice Onah adjourned the matter for judgment while the defendant was remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service centre in Uyo.
Mohammed was arrested on Friday May 17, 2024 by Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Commission, at Aba in Abia State.
Similarly, Bassey also pleaded ‘guilty’ to the two-count charges preferred against him by the Commission for criminal impersonation and defrauding one Joy Thompson (a Hungarian) of the sum of €150 (One Hundred And Fifty Euros) using fictitious social media handles.
Court
One of the charges reads; ‘That you, Asuquo Enemesit Bassey “M” sometime in 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court did take possession and control of £150 (One Hundred and Fifty Euros) intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an-offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and punishable under the Section 18(3) of the same Act’.
Justice Onah suspended judgment to May 22, 2025.
Franklin Edet and Chukwudi Patrick Ahiahwo plead ‘not guilty’ to the two counts and three counts charges bordering on internet fraud preferred against them respectively.
The court adjourned to June 2, 2025, for Edet’s trial, and May 15, 2025, for Patrick’s bail deliberations.
All the defendants were remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Akwa Ibom Indigenes Protest RMAFC Meeting, Warn Against Tampering With State’s Oil Wells
Akwa Ibom indigenes protest RMAFC meeting, warn against tampering with State’s Oil Wells. Akwa Ibom indigenes resident in Abuja on Tuesday stormed the venue of a meeting of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), where the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) on Disputed/New Oil Wells was sitting, to protest what they described as attempts to reopen a matter already settled by the Supreme Court.
The protesters cautioned that no individual or agency should tamper with Akwa Ibom State’s 76 oil wells, stressing that the ownership of the wells was conclusively determined in favour of the state by the Supreme Court in 2012.
They insisted that any move to revisit the issue through administrative or technical processes would amount to a disregard for the authority of the apex court and could undermine peace in the Niger Delta region.
Akwa Ibom State was formally represented at the IATC meeting by a high-powered delegation comprising leading legal practitioners, government officials and technocrats. Members of the delegation included Paul Usoro, SAN; Assam Assam, SAN; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN; Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN; Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN; and a former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom Indigenes Protest RMAFC Meeting
Also on the state’s delegation were the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Emem Bob, Former Attorney General and Commissioner Justice, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim; the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah; Honourable Member representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Dr Patrick Umoh, among others.
The delegation is expected to present Akwa Ibom State’s position before the committee, reiterating that the Supreme Court judgment remains final and binding, and urging all relevant federal agencies to respect and uphold the ruling.
PVC, APC E-Registration: Umo Eno Charges Constituents To Embrace Exercises
PVC, APC e-registration: Umo Eno charges constituents to embrace exercises. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has urged indigenes and residents of Ibiakpan Obotim Ward II, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, as well as others across the state, to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and APC membership e-registration exercise, as, according to him, it is crucial for validating party membership and ensuring their voices are heard.
Addressing a crowd of APC members and supporters at his hometown, Ikot Ekpene Udo, the Governor said that boosting both registrations is also critical to attracting more dividends, programmes, and welfare to the area.
“More party membership in a particular Ward implies more allocation of the party’s welfare to the place. And, I enjoin you to step up the membership numbers in order to be significant and relevant in the party’s scheme of things,” he noted.
The Governor directed the people to ensure that they register appropriately with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to have their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, and become eligible to participate in future electoral exercises.
“No matter how populated you are in your party, if you don’t have your PVC, such a party population will be meaningless because your vote would not be counted as expected.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno
“So, I urge you to take these things very seriously and act accordingly for you and our people to be qualified to participate adequately in the upcoming elections,” he stressed.
Having gone round during the day to inspect the ongoing 120-metre Ofriyo–Eket Bridge and the 2.5 kilometre dual carriageway connecting Eket and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas, and the ongoing General Hospital project in Ikot Ekpene Udo, the Governor enjoined the people to fully support the projects and other developmental initiatives of the administration for the overall benefit of the local government are
Police Arrests Suspected Car Snatcher, Recover Stolen Vehicle In Akwa Ibom
Police arrests suspected car snatcher, recover stolen cehicle in Akwa Ibom. The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected car thief and recovered a stolen vehicle in a swift operation in Uyo.
According to a statement released by the Command and signed by DSP Timfon John, LLB, Anipr, Police Public Relations Officer.
The incident occurred on 20th January 2026 around 11:30 pm, when operatives on routine night patrol along Godswill Akpabio International Stadium responded to a distress call from a man, a Bolt driver, who reported that his Toyota Corolla had been stolen at gunpoint.
Police quickly traced the stolen vehicle to Nkwot Ikono Village, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of Sunday Okon, a resident of Nna Enin Village, Uruan Local Government Area.
The suspect, who was found in possession of the stolen Toyota Corolla (registration DKA 337 CB) reportedly confessed to the crime during preliminary interrogation.
The Police Command said that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang and recover their weapons.
Police Arrests
Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare fsi, commended the prompt response and professionalism of the officers, reassuring residents of the Command’s commitment to combating violent crimes and protecting lives and property across the state.
The public has been urged to remain vigilant and provide timely information to assist police operations.
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