Crime
Mexico-Based Nigerian Fraudster Nabbed In London, Extradited To U.S. Over $8.1m Benefits Scheme
Mexico-Based Nigerian Fraudster Nabbed In London, Extradited To U.S. Over $8.1m Benefits Scheme
Mexico-based Nigerian fraudster nabbed in London, extradited to U.S. over $8.1 million benefits scheme. An indictment unsealed Wednesday said Matthew Abiodun Akande led a syndicate that used the personal information of Americans to request millions in social benefits.
Authorities in the United States have arrested and charged a Nigerian national who was accused of defrauding Americans in a sprawling benefits scheme.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday said Matthew Abiodun Akande, based in Mexico, was the ringleader of a syndicate that used the personal identifying information of Americans to request about $8.1 million in social benefits from the government.
At least $1.3 million was received by Mr Akande, who appeared preliminarily in a Boston, Massachusetts, court on Wednesday.
Mr Akande, 36, was arrested at London Heathrow on October 24, 2024, and his extradition was completed with his transfer to Boston on March 5, U.S. prosecutors said.
He used “fraudulent phishing emails to be sent to five Massachusetts tax preparation firms,” prosecutors said.
“The emails purported to be from a prospective client seeking the tax preparation firms’ services but in truth were used to trick the firms into downloading remote access trojan malicious software (RAT malware), including malware known as Warzone RAT,” they added.
Officials said Mr Akande “allegedly used the RAT malware to obtain the PII and prior year tax information of the tax preparation firms’ clients.”
Stolen funds were transferred to Mexico, with authorities identifying at least “1,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking over $8.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds over approximately five years,” adding that the fraudsters “successfully obtained over $1.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds.”
FBI
His co-conspirator, Kehinde Oyetunji, another Nigerian national, had previously been charged and sentenced to prison over his role in the vast scheme, which authorities said was carried out between June 2016 and June 2021.
Mr Akande faces several counts of stealing government funds and identity theft. He was summarily remanded in prison pending the appointment of an attorney and trial.
The case comes amid a flurry of high-profile prosecutions of internet fraudsters of Nigerian origin in the U.S. A senior Nigerian politician and a monarch were charged in separate fraud cases in recent weeks.
Portable Released After A Week In Police Detention In Ogun
Portable released after a week in police detention in Ogun. Portable, the controversial singer, has regained his freedom after spending a week in police custody.
On January 12, the singer was arraigned before a court in Ota, Ogun State, on charge including assault, theft, causing harm and resisting arrest.
He was also accused of stealing a Mercedes-Benz E300 valued at N12 million.
The court denied him bail after the police officer involved in the case was absent.
Portable
Portable is back after nine days behind bars and already teasing new music, I’m betting Zlatan is his first target pic.twitter.com/zbhifbEoHN
In a now-viral video, Portable is seen surrounded by his associates, who celebrated his return and repeatedly welcomed him back.
SSS Arrests Former-AGF Malami After Release From Kuje Prison
SSS arrests former-AGF Malami after release from Kuje prison. The SSS did not respond to media men’s inquiry concerning Mr Malami’s arrest on Monday.
Nigeria’s State Security Service has arrested the federation’s former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, shortly after he was released from Kuje Prison after fulfilling his bail conditions.
Mr Malami was earlier remanded in Kuje prison following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside his wife and son, for alleged corruption.
A Federal High Court last Wednesday granted Mr Malami, his wife, and his son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with two sureties each.
However, SSS operatives arrested Mr Malami’s son, Abdulaziz at Kuje Correctional Centre last Friday after he was released from prison following the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
Abubakar Malami
There are indications that Mr Malami is being probed by the SSS on allegations relating to national security concerns.
The SSS did not respond to Peoples Gazette’s inquiry concerning Mr Malami’s arrest on Monday.
However, a trending video on X showed the moment of Mr Malami’s arrest by the SSS.
SSS Amends Charge Against Sowore In Alleged Cyberstalking
SSS amends charge against Sowore in Alleged Cyberstalking. The SSS lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, shortly after the case was called for commencement of trial.
The State Security Service, on Monday, amended the criminal charge it filed against Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, and co-defendants over an alleged false claim against President Bola Tinubu.
The SSS lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, shortly after the case was called for commencement of trial.
Mr Kehinde then pleaded that the two-count amended charge be read to Mr Sowore, who is the sole defendant in the fresh charge.
SSS Amends Charge Against Sowore
Though Mr Sowore, X, and Meta (Facebook) Inc. were earlier named as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively, in the amended charge, the names of the second and third defendants were dropped.
Counsel to Mr Sowore, Marshal Abubakar, did not oppose Mr Kehinde’s application that the charge be read to his client for him to take his plea.
After the counts were read to Mr Sowore, he pleaded not guilty.
Mr Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, is being charged for alleged cyberstalking of Mr Tinubu using his X handle and Facebook page.
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