The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fraud

  • Police parade ‘soldier, lawyer’ for alleged fraud

    Police parade ‘soldier, lawyer’ for alleged fraud

    The police in Oyo State yesterday paraded a fake retired colonel, Babatunde Idris, for allegedly defrauding his victim of N40 million.

    Also, a suspected fake lawyer, Elijah Ogunsanmi, was paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, at the Eleyele Police headquarters, Ibadan, the state capital.

    Oyebade said Idris was arrested, following a petition to the anti-kidnapping squad. He added that the suspect had “defrauded” innocent citizens.

    The police boss said the suspect forged army letterheads,  which he issued to individuals and corporate organisations soliciting for assistance.

    The commissioner added that the suspect used various fake names: Soji Fajemirokun, Afolabi Idris, Idris Babatunde and Col T.I. Idris.

    Idris said: “I impersonated a colonel and used fake army letterhead to influence favour for people. I only want to collect licence for oil block for my victim, Alhaji Yinusa, but I only duped him of N16 million not N40 million.”

    Commenting on the fake lawyer’s arrest, the commissioner said Ogunsanmi (40) paraded himself as a barrister and duped people.

    He said: “The suspect also posed as a prophet offering spiritual assistance to clients.

    “His victim, Evelyn Iboje, identified the suspect as the one who obtained from her N500,000 under the pretext that he could proffer spiritual solution to her problem. The suspect has confessed to the crime.”

    Oyebade said exhibits recovered from Idris included a wig, a forged Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) ID card, a photograph of the suspect in his gown, land sales agreement and other incriminating documents.

  • Congregation protests alleged fraud

    Worshippers at the Southsouth Regional headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries yesterday protested alleged mismanagement of the church’s fund and “illegal” sack of their pastor by those they called the church’s cartel.

    It was learnt that the aggrieved members, who carried placards, barricaded the church’s entrance.

    They demanded the reinstatement of the sacked regional pastor, Lanre Adekunle.

    One of the protesters, Elder John Dimkpa, said the members wanted to stop the alleged fraud in the church and ensure Adekunle’s reinstatement.

    He recalled that there had been cases of mismanagement of the church’s fund.

    According to him, a few members were allegedly stealing the church’s fund.

    Dimkpa said the “cartel” had frustrated former pastors, who he said disallowed the mismanagement of the church’s funds.

    Another protester, Mr. Chukwu Okorafor, who described himself as an elder of the church, said the members were angry because of Adekunle’s sack.

  • N2.1bn alleged fraud: Court grants Dokpesi bail

    N2.1bn alleged fraud: Court grants Dokpesi bail

    A Federal High Court Abuja on Monday granted bail to former Chairman of African Independent Television (AIT) Raymond Dokpesi, who is standing trial over alleged N2.1bn fraud.

    In a ruling of the court, Justice Gabriel Kolawole granted bail to Dokpesi in the sum of N400 million and two sureties in like sum.

    He said that each surety must have a landed property worth N200 million each.

    Kolawole said that one of the sureties must be a serving or retired civil servant of the rank of a director in either the federal or state civil service.

    He said, if retired, the surety must show a retirement letter indicating the organisation where he or she had served.

    Kolawole also said that the second surety must be a private entrepreneur with evidence of three years tax clearance certificate and a verifiable landed property worth N200 million.

    He said the sureties must sign an undertaking of forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government, in the event that the defendant did not make himself available for trial.

    The judge ordered that the international passport of the defendant should be deposited with the registrar of the court.

    He said failure to perfect the bail conditions, the defendant should be remanded in Kuje prison pending the time all the conditions would be met.

    He also directed that Dokpesi should not be arrested by any government agency for any investigation.

    He said that if any government agency wanted further investigation on the case, it should approach the defendant’s lawyers to make him available.

    Dokpesi is standing trial alongside his company, DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd, on a six-count-charge bordering on money laundering and contract fraud to the tune of N2.1billion.

  • Visa agent docked over alleged fraud

    Visa agent docked over alleged fraud

    A 41-year-old visa agent, Okotie Alfred, on Monday appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in Osun for allegedly defrauding Mr Alex Adedunwon of N502, 000.

    The suspect, whose address was not disclosed in court, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and fraud.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Abiodun Fagboyinbo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Feb. 14 at about 3.p.m. in Ota Efun, Osogbo.

    Fagboyinbo said the accused collected N502, 000 from the complainant on the pretext of helping him to process a visa to South Korea.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 390, 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun, 2003.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The counsel to the accused, Mrs. Bose Adeyinka, prayed the court to grant him bail in the most liberal terms.

    The magistrate, Mrs. Fatima Sodamade, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.

    Sodamade said the surety must reside within the court jurisdiction with evidence of tax payment, two passport photographs and an affidavit of means.

    The magistrate adjourned the case till Jan. 25 for mention.

  • ‘N29bn recovered Police pension fund in FG coffer’

    ‘N29bn recovered Police pension fund in FG coffer’

    The N29 billion recovered from the Police pension fund has been returned back to Government’s coffer, the House Committee on Police Affairs was told Tuesday.

    The Director-General of Pension Transition Administrative Directorate (PTAD), Nellie Mayshak, made the revelation while speaking at an interactive session with the Hon. Haliru Jika – headed House committee.

    According to her, though the police pension was adequately funded by previous administrations, the previous police pension managers misappropriated the excessive fund through inclusion of ghost pensioners.

    She however noted that the agency which was saddled with the responsibility of handling old pension scheme of various federal agencies, civil service, parastatals including police during the last nationwide verification exercise for the police,

    She said about 2,800 ghost pensioners were discovered out of the 18,000 officers on the pension payroll, and that of the additional 16,000 names of pensioners not captured in the pension scheme submitted to PTAD, only 3,128 appeared during the verification exercise.

    While giving a further breakdown, she said civil service pensioners were 105,000 while 13,000 pensioners were from Customs, Immigration and Prisons.

    The PTAD Director- General said the issue of fraud in the pension administration is a bygone, adding that a report of authentic federal pensioners would be submitted to National Assembly and other relevant authorities.

    Fraud, Mayshak said, was the major challenge confronting the pension scheme.

    Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazzu, revealed that the report on the merger of the Ministry of Interior and Police Affairs has been passed to the Head of Service of the Federation for onward transmission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    Lawmakers, while reacting to the Minister’s presentation, expressed concern over the delay in the payment of compensation to families of deceased police personnel as well as poor response to distress calls.

    They also expressed worry over extra-judicial killings and poor welfare of police personnel and their families.

    Mike Okiro, Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman said for effective policing, the country requires about 425,000 policemen.

    His words: “With the current staff disposition of 286,901, additional 119,421 personnel is required.”

    According to him, there is an ongoing preparation for the recruitment of the 10,000 personnel announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Commission, Okiro said, recruited 21,228 personnel between 2011 and 2012, while 21,353 personnel were lost to retirement, resignation, dismissal and death between 2010 and 2015.

  • FG moves to amend charges against Orubebe

    FG moves to amend charges against Orubebe

    The scheduled commencement of trial in the case against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe was stalled Thursday by the Federal Government’s decision to amend an earlier charge of four counts filed against Orubebe.

    Orubebe is charged with false asset declaration and acceptance of bribe totaling N70 million.

    The prosecution, led by Peter Danladi had on November 9, 2015 sought an adjournment for two weeks to enable it prepare its witnesses for trial.

    The tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar granted the prosecution’s prayer and adjourned to November 26 for the prosecution to open trial.

    Thursday, everyone had expected the prosecution to call it witnesses only for Danladi to announce plans by the prosecution to amend the charge.

    He said he intended to amend counts two, three and four, a request the defence lawyer, Selekowei Larry (SAN), opposed.

    Danladi while applying for the amendment of the charges cited section 216 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which he said allowed the prosecution to amend or alter the charges it filed at any time before judgment was delivered.

    “The matter was adjourned till today (Thursday) for hearing. But before we proceed, we are applying to amend counts two, three and four. The applications are brought pursuant to section 216 of the ACJ Act and pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable tribunal.”

    Larry opposed, and argued that such request for amendment could not be done orally, but through motion on notice.

    “This is serious business. You ‎can’t just jump up and say you want to amend the charges. You have to notify us about what you want to do. You have to do it through motion on notice. You cannot come and take us by surprise. We have to know what you are doing.

    “This is a court of record. Whatever they want to do, let them do it properly by way of motion on notice.”

    Ruling, the tribunal Chairman upheld  the prosecution’s right to amend its charge any time before judgment.

    He consequently adjourned to February 27 next year.

  • Man arraigned over fraud

    Man arraigned over fraud

    A 40-year-old man, Durotimi Nafiu, was on Tuesday charged before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for allegedly defrauding one Idowu Elegbede of N280, 000.

    Nafiu, who resides at No. 14 Adeolu St., Iyana Iyesi, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and obtaining money under false pretext.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rosemary Samson, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 22 at about 10:45p.m. at No. 10 Ago Ishaga Compound, Ota.

    Samson said the accused collected N280, 000 from the complainant under the pretext of assisting him to clear a Mazda car from Apapa Port, Lagos, an agreement he failed to fulfill.

    She said that the accused contravened Sections 419(1) and 509 of the Criminal Code, Vol.1 Law of Ogun, 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Miss Temitope Adebutu, granted the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    Adebutu said that the sureties should provide evidence of means and resides within the jurisdiction of the court.

    She ordered that the sureties must own developed property within the magisterial district and submit titles document of their property to the court.

    The magistrate said that the addresses of the sureties should be verified by the police and adjourned the case till Nov. 26 for trial.

  • Police arrest man who disguises as woman for fraud

    Police arrest man who disguises as woman for fraud

    A man identified as Husenni Diyaya Allam has been arrested by police operatives in Lagos for disguising as a woman to defraud men.

    The suspect was nabbed around CMS in Lagos Island, alongside one Hasimu Solli while the duo were struggling.

    It was learnt that Sonim, who had spent about N15000 on the suspect he knew to be Kadijah, was trying to convince her to follow him to his house since they were planning to get married.

    But in the course of the scuffle, a patrol team from Lion Building Police Station saw the duo and took them to the station for peaceful settlement.

    It was gathered that Sonim discovered during interrogation at the station that his supposed wife was actually a man.

    Upon further interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect, a resident of 19, Openioyero Street, Onipanu, has defrauded several men with the guise of marrying them.

    It was learnt that Solli has even spent N15000 on the suspect, thinking he was investing in his would be wife.

    Confirming the story, the state command’s spokesman, Joseph Offor, a DSP, said the suspect has confessed that he has been doing it for over two years.

    Offor said that the suspect, a Kano State indigene will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

    “It happened on Saturday around 4:30pm. He was wearin hijab and dressed like a woman. Police sighted them fighting and the man and woman were both arreated. “But upon i terrogation at the station, it was discovered that Kadijah was a man disguised as a woman.

    “ The suspect confessed that he has been doing it for over two years and has been defrauding men. The case will be transferred to SCIID for further investigation.”

     

  • Senior staff use juniors to perpetrate fraud, says Lagos CJ

    Senior staff use juniors to perpetrate fraud, says Lagos CJ

    A secret investigation conducted by the Lagos State judiciary has revealed that junior bank workers who are caught and prosecuted for electronic or card fraud are usually stooges of senior bank officials.

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, who made this revelation during the 6th Annual Payment Systems and Fraud Conference of the E-Payment Providers’ Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN), added that bank workers are usually reluctant to appear as witnesses in court and when they do, the evidence they provide is usually “against logic.”

    Mrs. Atilade, who was represented by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, said: “The rate of electronic fraud in banking is alarming. From evidence before the courts the involvement of workers in financial institutions in aiding most of the fraud, is established.

    “Every time we have a case of somebody losing money from card fraud, money transfer or something like that, we find out that bank workers don’t like to come to court to give evidence.

    “Even when they come they give evidence that is against logic, and, of course, there’s no way we can convict on the basis of such evidence.”

    Mrs. Atilade added that junior workers such as cleaners or gatemen are usually used to commit such fraud.

    “We have also established that most of the defendants are workers within the banks, they could be cleaners or even gatemen.

    “Secret investigations have revealed that it is those who are supposed to be their managers, those who are in charge of ATMs that actually release cards to these junior bank officers to go and get money from someone’s account.

    “But of course this is a secret investigation there’s no way we can rely on that to secure convictions.”

    Speaking earlier, Susan Potgeiter, the head of the Commercial Crime Office, South Africa Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) called on stakeholders in the e-payment market in Nigeria to collaborate in sharing information about card fraud.

    Otunba Dipo Fatokun, Director, Banking and Payments System Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)), revealed that there was a low suspect apprehension rate of card fraud perpetrators in 2014 in Nigeria.

    He said of the 1,461 cases of card fraud valued at over N7.75b recorded in 2014, only 41 suspects were apprehended with transactions valued at over N899 million.

  • N3.1b fraud: Court orders Suswam’s remand

    N3.1b fraud: Court orders Suswam’s remand

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam in the EFCC custody pending perfection of his bail conditions.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the remand of Suswam and his ex-Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, while ruling on a bail application, moved by Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, counsel to the defendants.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Suswam and Okolobia were arraigned before the court on a nine-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and money laundering.

    The two respondents pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them by the court registrar.

    Prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, SAN, did not oppose the bail application of the defendants on the ground that they had been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had not jumped bail.

    Justice Mohammed held: “The respondents are granted bail in the sum of N100 million each and a surety each in like sum.

    “The surety must be a civil servant of not less than the cadre of Director in the federal, state or local government service.

    “In the alternative, the surety must have a national honour and must swear to an affidavit of means.

    “The defendants shall submit their international passport to the registrar of the court.

    “Failure to meet these requirements, the defendants shall be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.’’

    Suswam and Okolobia were charged by the EFCC for alleged diversion of a total sum of N3.1 billion, realised from the sale of shares owned by Benue State Government and Benue Investments and Property Ltd.

    Justice Mohammed adjourned the case till Dec. 8 for trial.