The Nation Newspaper

Tag: engineer

  • Kidnap gang’s engineer who allegedly aid suspects’ escape arrested

    A software engineer, Mumuni  Rilwan, who specialized in aiding kidnap suspects’ escape by making phones used for ransom negotiations untraceable has been arrested by the police.

    Rilwan was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team IRT, at the popular Computer Village market, Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to IRT sources, Rilwan, a graduate of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo State was arrested alongside a notorious stolen phone dealer at the Computer Vilage market, Gbolahan Osho.

    It was learnt that Osho had been arrested severally by the police for dealing in stolen phones.

    It was said that Rilwan’s arrest followed difficulties experienced by IRT’s operatives and other police squads or units, during investigations into heinous crimes such as murder, robbery and kidnappings.

    Sources revealed that most stolen mobile phones or those used for ransom negotiation were discovered to have been deactivated from the database of network providers across the country.

    Osho was said to have disclosed that Rilwan usually changes the original International Mobile Equipment Identify ( IMEI) of a stolen phone’s number into a new one for a fee of N2,500, after which he would make the phone untraceable.

    The Nation gathered that Osho, was arrested in his office at the popular Lagos market, while two laptops which he used in configuring the phones, were recovered.

    Osho confessed that he had been reconfiguring phones using the upgraded version of software known Octopuses, which he said he bought from the internet.

    Rilwan, a 25-year-old indigene of Oyo State, said: “I am a software engineer and I learned it online through Google search engine and GSM-Forum.

    Read also: Why cult killings can’t stop in Edo, by suspect

    I normally charge the sum of N2500 to change the IMEI number for my customer’s phones and I knew that the phones were stolen and I can only change the IMEI of only Techo and Infinix phones and I can’t change those of Samsung, Iphone and Blackberry.”

    ‘’I can corrupt the IMEI of Techno and Infinix using of upgraded version of a software known as Octopus which is used mainly in unlocking phone and it would automatically make the phones untraceable for a period of three months and by then the owner of the robbed phones may have stopped looking for it and this would not put the seller of the phone in danger.

    ‘’I want you to know the new IMEI is not permanent it reverses back to its original IMEI number after three months and the user and, if the user wants to change it again we will still change it for him.’’

    ‘’Osho is not the only person I used to change the IMEI numbers of the stolen phones. There are other people who came to me to change their IMEI numbers for them, and I don’t know where they usually get the phones from.’’

    Osho, 31, a native of Ikorodu area Lagos State, in his confession said: ‘’I don’t usually change the IMEI for people I don’t know, but all the people that I  change it for are known to me and all the phones were all stolen. I sell used and new phones at the Computer village, Ikeja, and I normally source my phones from people who buy from United Kingdom and I also buy stolen or robbed phones from Mustapha, Baba Iyabo, Lucky and Ope.

    ‘’I was buying mainly Techno and Infinix phones from these people because they couldn’t be sourced from people importing phones from the UK. I knew these people were selling robbed or stolen phones to me and I used to buy them for N15, 000 and N17,000 depending on the grade.

    ‘’I was arrested by policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ipakodo Division and when a customer who bought one of my stolen phones was arrested he led policemen to arrest me.

    ‘’After I was released, I went back to the market and I told people how the police arrested my customer who led them to arrest me. Then they told me that I was foolish not to have changed the IMEI of the stolen phone before selling it.

    To teach me a lesson then they linked me to one Rilwan who is a software engineer and he changed the IMEI for me and I paid him  N1500.

    After then I took four phones to him and since I can now change the IMEI number I thought it will not be easy for the police not to arrest me again.

    But with this arrest, I will not get myself involved again in dealing on stolen properties.”

  • Engineer denies raping tenant’s niece

    •’I only gave her N1,000 as Xmas gift’

    An engineer, Mr. James Onuoha, yesterday told a Lagos High Court that he did not rape his tenant’s 14-year-old niece. He said he only gave her N1,000 as Christmas gift.

    Testifying before Justice Adedayo Akintoye in his defence in the rape charge against him, Onuoha denied touching the girl when he visited their house at 25, Samuel Amoore Street, Idowu Estate, Ike-Ira Nla, Ajah, Lagos on January 4, 2016.

    He said as the landlord, he visited the house on inspection.

    Led in evidence by his counsel, Dr. Victor Olowonla, Onuoha said: “I called Kenneth several times, but he did not pick his calls, so I decided to meet him at home. But when I got there, Kenneth was not there.

    “I knocked at Kenneth’s apartment until a young girl came out and said he was not around. I asked the girl her age, she said she was 16.

    “She granted me access to the house for an inspection.

    Read also: ‘Discourage importation of ICT technologies’ sourced locally

    “Before then, Kenneth used to hide from me, so I thought he was hiding. I entered only to do inspection.

    “I did not touch her, it was Christmas period and I gave her N1,000 as gift.”

    The defendant said his tenant later picked his call at 7pm the same day,

    “I told him on the phone that his rent was due since two years ago,” he added.

    Onuoha said two days after his visit to the house; he got a call from his office about a report from Kenneth that he raped the girl.

    The defendant also narrated how he was invited by the police at Lamgbasa Police Station and how the case was transferred to the Zone II Police Command.

    Under cross-examination by the prosecutor, Dr. Jide Martins, Onuoha said he did not inform Kenneth that he was coming.

    He said he did not see his visit to the police station as an opportunity to prove his  innocence.

    Onuoha said he was not aware that the girl then recently came to Lagos to stay with her uncle.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned  till March 28.

     

  • Engineer faces N140,000 fraud charge

    A 36-year-old engineer, Bolatito Oni, yesterday appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining N140,000 from a woman under false pretences.

    Oni, who lives at 126, Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    Prosecuting Inspector Edet Akadu said Oni committed the offence last December 13 at Nucleus Warehouse, Akinyemi Crescent, off Fatai Atere Way, Mushin, Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused fraudulently obtained N140,000 from the complainant, Opeyemi Adeleye, on the pretext of purchasing a Samsung TV and a DVD player for her, which he never did.

    Read also: Court remands Islamic cleric in Kirikiri for child defilement

    Akadu said Oni tricked the complainant and failed to refund the money.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate K. O. Ogundare granted Oni N50,000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    He said the surety should be employed, show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have his address verified.

    Ogundare adjourned till January 24.

  • Engineer faces N1m fraud charge

    A 54-year-old engineer, Chikezie Sibeudu, was yesterday arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged N1 million fraud.

    Sibeudu, who lives at Alago Meji, Yaba, is facing a one-count charge of obtaining by false pretences, but he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecutor Thomas Nurudeen alleged that the accused defrauded Mr. David Kehinde

    in July at 62, Ojuelegba Road, Surulere, Lagos.

    Read also: Banker in court for alleged fraud

    He said the complainant (Kehinde) supplied the accused buckets of paint worth N1.7 million, but the accused paid him N700,000 and refused to pay the balance.

    Nurudeen said the accused paid the N700,000 in July and promised to pay the balance before October.

    “My Lord, the accused did not make any other payment. He closed his office, switched off his phones and was unavailable till the police arrested him,” he alleged.

    Chief Magistrate K.B. Ayeye granted the accused bail in the sum of N250,000 with one surety in the like sum.

    She ordered that the surety should be employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on February 27.

  • Engineer faces N4.5m theft charge

    A 50-year-old civil engineer, Lawrence Akandeji, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N4.5million.

    He was alleged to have collected the cash on the pretext of renovating a client’s apartment.

    The defendant, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecutor Peter Nwagwu said the defendant committed the offence in July 2015 in Agege, Lagos.

    Read also: Alleged fraud: Court grants Green Party governorship candidate bail

    The defendant, he alleged, unlawfully converted the money to his use.

    Nwagwu alleged that the defendant obtained the money from Mohammed Abubakar on the pretext of renovating the complainant’s house.

    Magistrate Aje-Afunwa granted the defendant N850,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She ordered that the addresses and tax status of the sureties must be verified.

    The matter continues on December 20.

  • Engineer ‘impersonates’ gospel artiste Lara George

    A 24-year-old computer engineer, Ayodeji Folarin, was yesterday arraigned at an Ikeja High Court for allegedly impersonating a popular gospel artiste, Lara George, and defrauding three Americans of $8,500.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Folarin is facing a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and possession of documents containing false pretence.

    The charges were prefered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The defendant of 2, Folarin Street, Obada Oko in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting counsel Temitope Banjo said the defendant defrauded the foreigners between January and December 2016 in Ikeja, Lagos.

    “While posing as Lara George and with the intent to defraud, he obtained $8,500 from Trevor Dawe, Rick Cuewo and Stephen Wilson who are all citizens of the United States of America.

    “On June 2018, Folarin had in his possession, a World Lottery Organisation Winning Certificate and Affidavit of Common Law Marriage which all contained false pretenses.

    “The defendant also had in his possession emails containing false pretenses,” Banjo said.

    Following Folarin’s plea, his defence counsel, Mr Samuel Shodipo, requested that bail be granted to the defendant in the most liberal terms.

    The vacation judge, Justice Obafemi Adamson, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

     

  • Engineer accused of cheating

    The police yesterday arraigned Charles Ekhator, an engineer, at a Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly receiving a transfer of N220,000 in his account, which belonged to another person.

    The defendant, of Gwagwalada, Abuja, was arraigned charged with cheating and misappropriation.

    The prosecutor, John Okpa, told the court the defendant claimed his bank card was stuck in an ATM machine and fraudulently received a transfer of N220,000 from Okafor Ngozi, on May 20.

    He said the defendant knew the transfer of N220,000 from Ngozi was not his, but he refused to disclose to the bank and converted the money to his use. Okpa said the offence contravened sections 321 and 308 of the Penal Code.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

    The defence counsel, Abdulrazak Aiyedun, prayed the court to admit his client to bail, assuring the court that a surety will be provided. The judge, Abdulwahab Mohammed, admitted the defendant to bail at N200,000 with one surety, who must be resident in the court’s jurisdiction.

    He adjourned the matter till August 14 for hearing.

  • Engineer develops mosquito repellant tech

    Engineer develops mosquito repellant tech

    A 33-year-old engineer, Oladunni Olaoluwa, has developed a mosquito repellent device that uses sound-high waves to stop the malaria-infecting insect from biting its human-target. The sound repellant can be used as a substitute for mosquito coils and liquids to avoid inhaling toxic fumes, Oladunni tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA.

    Many insects have ears or at least a membrane (called a tympanum), which vibrates when airborne sounds hit it.  And it is also true that insects respond to audible cues that they receive from their habitat. Hinging on this, Oladunni Olaoluwa, an engineer, said sound repellants can be used as a substitute for mosquito coils and liquids to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. It is the non-toxic way to repel pests like mosquitoes based on the fact that there is a relationship between Ultrasound (US) and insects. Ultrasonic pest repellants are electronic devices that emit high-frequency sounds designed to repel, injure or kill household pests

     

    The innovation

    Oladunni, who obtained a National Innovation Diploma (NID) from the Ondo based Asernal School of Mechatronics (Mechanical Electronics), said he researched into the innovation six years ago based on sound frequency that human beings can  hear and tolerate 20KHZ and that any ultrasonic level above this irritates insects, especially mosquito. “I came up with nsonic Mosquito chaser. It stops by wading off mosquito from biting one, hence one cannot develop malaria. It actually works by emitting high-frequency sounds that are disruptive to mosquitoes,”he said.

    He added: “This mosquito repellant is designed to produce ultrasound in the frequency range of 20KHZ to 38KHZ, which humans can’t hear. It is economical and safe. It does not involve the use of chemicals. This device uses high ultrasound, by sending high-frequency sound waves that mosquitoes do not like. Scientists found out that mosquitoes do not like high frequency because it interferes with their flight. When they hear this ‘loud’ noise of the device they die 48 hours after and there is no single side effect on users as it is both environmentally and pocket-friendly. It is available in Lagos and Abuja at the moment.”

    The device is composed of IC (Integrated Circuit), Transistor resistor and it is a rechargeable battery, that if fully charged can last for two weeks before it is recharged. “These devices are appealing to consumers because of their ease of use and the fact that they are silent to human ears and eliminate the need for traps, poison, and, insecticides that are injurious to human beings,” he explained.

    Ultrasonic pest repellants are used as a substitute for mosquito coils and liquids to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. It is the non-toxic way to repel pests like mosquitoes. Oladunni described the relationship between Ultrasound (US) and insects. “Ultrasonic pest repellants are used as a substitute for Mosquito coils and liquids to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. It is the non-toxic way to repel pests like mosquitoes. As per scientific information and experimental pieces of evidence, the animals respond to US and avoid its presence. Small mammals like dogs, cats etc. respond to 22-25 kHz US and Rats to 60-72 kHz. Insects like Mosquitoes, Flies respond to 38-44 kHz.”

     

    On Ultrasound

    He described how it functions: “The hearing property of human ear is limited. The human ear can perceive sound within a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The sound frequency below 20 Hz is Infrasonic sound and above 20 kHz is ultrasonic sound. The human ear is not sensitive to US because the eardrum cannot vibrate as fast as US. Ultrasound has high frequency, so the wave is very powerful. US travel along a straight line even in the presence of obstacles. When the US hits an object, it bends and round and spread in all directions. So my innovation is safe for humans.”

     

    Challenges encountered

    At the moment Oladunni is bursting with the vision to see Nigeria-a malaria free nation, but finance is limiting his dream. He said the challenge he is facing now is in the area of meeting supply with high demand, due to lack of funding. He said: “My innovation has a 10-year Warranty and people are really demanding for it. But despite the high demand for it, I am constrained by lack of finance. I need money to finance the project for mass production because the market is there. It is a device that entrepreneurs in the elimination of malaria should find attractive and support.”

    Oladunni has equally approached some banks but those requested for a 20 percent deposit before they can grant the appeal for a loan. Likewise, industrialists aren’t forthcoming.

  • Engineer gets N1.2m bail for ‘attempting to steal generator’

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State has admitted a 30-year-old engineer, Eze Chimaobi, to bail at N1.2million for allegedly attempting to steal a 10KVA generator worth N1.75million from Kingsley Eze.

    The Magistrate, Mr. T.O. Shomade, who gave the ruling, ordered the accused to produce two sureties, as part of the bail conditions.

    Shomade said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    The accused, who is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The prosecutor, Raji Akeem, told the court that the accused, who lives in Ilupeju, Lagos, committed the offence on July 9 at Adebowale Street, Ojudu, Ikeja.

    Akeem alleged that Chimaobi and others at large conspired to steal a 10KVA generator worth N1.75million from the complainant’s compound.

    The prosecutor claimed that the accused and his accomplices parked a truck in front of the complainant’s house and waited for the gateman to leave his duty post, so that they could enter the compound.

    He said immediately they noticed there was no one around the gate, the accused jumped into the compound with one of his accomplices and tried to steal the generator.

    Akeem said the accused was caught by the gateman, who saw Chimaobi and his accomplice struggling to carry the generator out through the gate.

    The prosecutor said when the gateman cried out that there were thieves in the compound, Eze called the police, who arrested the accused and took him to the station.

    He said Chimaobi’s accomplices escaped in their truck.

    The offence contravened sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing.

    The case was adjourned till August 7 for mention.

  • Engineer is Ondo Personality of the Year

    The Ondo State Hallmark of Labour Award has chosen the Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Ife Oyedele, an engineer, as the Ondo State Personality of the Year. The event packaged by Omoluwabi Leadership Reporters is scheduled for Sunday, August 13 at the Ondo State International Event Center, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    According to the Awards’ Governing Board under the chairmanship of Prof. David Adeyemo, the purpose of the award was to pay tribute to distinguished personalities who have made real and valuable contributions to the society.

    A statement by the project coordinator, Omoba Adekunle Ayegbe, yesterday reads: “The Personality of the Year category is the flagship award and the ultimate honour bestowed on that man of excellence, a chart-topper whose peerless actions and priceless contributions to the state or national development have inspired high hopes for a better society.

    “The award is very significant more so, in this age when genuine role-models with sincerity of purpose, uncommon vision, focus and Olympian fortitude are bred less frequently. It is imperative to identify and celebrate those that are making their visible marks in the task of collective transformation even if only to create a sense of desire for others to emulate their noble deeds.

    “The selection panel for this prestigious award comprises of well-meaning professionals drawn from all walks of life who objectively considered without bias or favoritism, the public recommendations of Nominees, through a fair and transparent process.

    “Engineer Ife Oyedele’s public spirited standpoint, his public and private comportments which typified the ethos of OMOLÚWÀBÍ (well behaved Yoruba son) and more recently his continuous and unparalleled humanitarian service which has gone a long way in putting smile permanently on the faces of the people, were all painstakingly considered.