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Courts Jail 17 Internet Fraudsters In Edo

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Courts Jail 17 Internet Fraudsters

Courts Jail 17 Internet Fraudsters In Edo

Courts jail 17 internet fraudsters in Edo. The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of 17 internet fraudsters before Justices A.N. Erhabor and W. I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Courts, sitting in Benin City.

The convicts are: Ekene Ezerioha, Ayeleso Ayodeji Richard, Prince Unity Igbinekaro, Marvelous Adebor, Osayande Oseh, Chukwuebuka James Edozie, Clinton Osayi Okojie, Chinedu Ugwu Kingsley, Emmanuel Ezeala, Isioma Christopher, Adebayo Ayomide, Ubaro Best, Junior Oboh, Chieye Goodluck, Lucky James Isioma, Jeremiah Okwuezuru Nwadiashi, and Destiny Grace.

They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against Ekene Ezerioha reads: “That you Ekene Ezerioha (m) on or about the 14th of March, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

All the defendants pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, K Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, Faisal Ibrahim, Al-Amin Ibrahim Abdul, Bala-Ribah and Salihu Ahmed to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.

Courts Jail 17 Internet Fraudsters

Courts Jail 17 Internet Fraudsters

Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Igbinekaro, Adebor, Oseh, Edozie, Okojie, Christopher, Best, Nwadiashi, and Grace to two years imprisonment, each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively, while he sentenced Richard, Kingsley, Ezeala, Goodluck and Isioma to three years imprisonment, each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively.

On his part, Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Oboh, Ayomide and Ezerioha to two years imprisonment each or to pay N400, 000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.

In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, computers and money in their respective bank accounts to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.

Crime

Osun Governor Adeleke To Sack Traditional Rulers Over Renewal Of Communal Clashes 

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Adeleke

Osun Governor Adeleke To Sack Traditional Rulers Over Renewal Of Communal Clashes

Osun Governor Adeleke to sack traditional rulers over renewal of communal clashes. “I will wield the big stick. Enough is enough,” the governor said.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State says the government will remove from office any traditional ruler that fails to sustain peace in their community.

Mr Adeleke, in a statement by his media spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Monday, said that action would be taken against traditional rulers of Ifon and Ilobu/Erin-Osun communities in Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas.

He said that action would be taken if the traditional rulers failed to sustain peace and de-escalation crises in their communities.

The governor issued the warning against the backdrop of online reports that some faceless groups across the conflict areas were planning another round of attacks.

“In the midst of sallah celebrations, I got reports of some people planning another round of conflict around Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun towns,” he said.
According to him, security agencies have tightened surveillance to ensure no attacks take place and are speeding up the interrogation of key chieftains and actors in the conflict.

Osun Governor Adeleke

Osun Governor Adeleke

“I will remind top leaders of the towns that the peace deal they are signing is not for joke. They will be held accountable. There will be accountability before the law. The curfew we relaxed was on humanitarian grounds.

As a compassionate government, we know many innocent people are suffering because of the evil agenda of a few elements across the conflict areas.

“Any attempt to exploit the adjustment of the curfew for renewed violence will be met with full re-imposition of the 24-hour curfew. Additionally, I will remove from office any traditional ruler where violence recurs.

This card is on the table. The royal fathers of each town must call their subjects to order.

“I will wield the big stick. Enough is enough,” the governor said.

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NEITI Vows To Monitor Spending Of Oil, Gas, Mining Revenues

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NEITI Vows To Monitor Spending Of Oil, Gas, Mining Revenues

NEITI vows to monitor spending of oil, gas, mining revenues. Mr Orji said NEITI remained committed to exposing hidden ownership structures to combat corruption.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s oil, gas and mining revenues are managed for the benefit of all citizens.

NEITI said it would deepen beneficial ownership disclosures, strengthen revenue tracking and contract transparency, and ensure full implementation of extractive sector governance reforms.

Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, NEITI’s executive secretary, said while briefing journalists in Abuja on the progress made in advancing transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

In the bid to enhance beneficial ownership transparency, Mr Orji said NEITI remained committed to exposing hidden ownership structures to combat corruption.

“We improved the scope, quality, and timeliness of NEITI’s industry reports, expanding our reporting focus to include beneficial ownership, contract transparency, and environmental impacts.

“Reconstitution of the NEITI NSWG, ensuring high-level leadership, making it the only federal board chaired by the secretary to the government of the federation,’’ he said.

Naira

Naira

Mr Orji mentioned the establishment of the NEITI Data Centre Project, a strategic initiative designed to centralise and automate extractive sector data, ensuring open access to industry information and systematic disclosures in line with the EITI 2023 standards.

He said the inter-ministerial task team responsible for implementing NEITI’s report recommendations was reconstituted in May 2024 after seven years of inaction.
Mr Orji disclosed that the membership was upgraded to director-level representation, strengthening decision-making and policy implementation capacity.

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Army Arrests 39 Suspected Oil Thieves, Destroy Illegal Refining Sites In Niger Delta

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Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Army Arrests 39 Suspected Oil Thieves, Destroy Illegal Refining Sites In Niger Delta

Army arrest 39 suspected oil thieves, destroy illegal refining sites in Niger Delta. Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in a sustained crackdown against crude oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region. The operation was conducted between March 24 and 30, 2025, in collaboration with sister security agencies, according to the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.

In a statement, Danjuma said security forces also confiscated over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and dismantled illegal refining infrastructure. He said that in Rivers State, troops intercepted an inbuilt fabricated twin tank containing 18,000 litres of stolen crude along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area.

Additionally, a MAN Diesel container truck with registration number LXA 44 XA was seized while attempting to smuggle stolen petroleum products concealed in bags of sawdust. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting security forces.

According to him, further anti-oil theft operations along the Imo River led to the dismantling of several illegal refining sites, with over 15,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

The crackdown extended to Rumuekpe Forest in Ahoada East LGA, where two refining sites were destroyed, and 2,800 litres of stolen crude oil were confiscated. Similar operations were carried out in Ebocha, Omoku (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA), and Jelikri Creek in the Degema Local Government Area, where illegal refining sites, drum ovens, hoses, and metal pipes were destroyed.

Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Illegal Refining Sites

The Army statement also highlighted significant breakthroughs in Bayelsa State, particularly in Yenagoa LGA, where two illegal refining sites containing over 8,000 litres of stolen crude in drums and sacks were dismantled. In Southern Ijaw LGA, troops uncovered another illegal operation, recovering 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

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