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Tag: fraud

  • 19 Nigerians arrested in Kenya for fraud

    THE Kenya Police yesterday arrested 19 Nigerians residing in Nairobi for alleged involvement in electronic fraud, Standard newspaper of Kenya reported.

    The suspects were arrested in Umoja, Kasarani and Roysambu Estates within Nairobi for engaging in electronic fraud targeting Kenyans.

    Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said the suspects targeted their victims through the social media before they embarked on lying to them.

    “The fraudsters start by befriending you on social media (Facebook) and once you accept the friend request they initiate a friendly chat that promises the victim goodies to be sent through DHL at the airport,” he said.

    “The following day a call will be made and someone will pretend to be an attendant at the DHL office.

    “They will tell the victim to pay clearance fees for the same parcel they claim to have sent to a person.

    “Immediately you send the money through Mpesa another call is made requesting for some more money for other documentation and taxes.

    ”After paying the dues demanded, your calls demanding for your parcel will not be picked. That is the time you realise that you have been conned. This is therefore to warn members of the general public against such fraudsters.”

    The swoop followed a barrage of complaints filed with police over the incidents. One victim told police he had been promised an Iphone.

    He paid Sh70,000 for the gadget.

    During the swoop, several electronic gadgets were recovered from the suspects’ houses.

    Some of the suspects had come to Nairobi as students and as businessmen.

  • Man arraigned for N1.3m ‘fraud’

    A 50-year-old man, Ishola Abdulkabiru, was arraigned on Tuesday before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court for alleged N1.3 million fraud.

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Legal Officer, Mr Femi Ojo, told the court that the accused committed the offence between 2014 and April 2015 at Oke-Ila Street in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

    He alleged that the defendant obtained N1,328,000 at various times under false pretence with intent to defraud Mrs Oluwayemi Ojopekun.

    The lawyer said the offence contravens Section 419 of Criminal Code, Cap 38, LFN 2004.

    The prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    His counsel, Mr Famuagun Tijani, urged the court to grant him bail with a promise that he would not jump bail.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Modupe Afeniforo, granted bail to the defendant for N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of who must present a document of landed property.

    Afeniforo adjourned the matter till September 25 for hearing.

  • Kwara Assembly probes member accused of fraud

    The Kwara State House of Assembly will probe fraud allegations levelled against a member, Prince Saheed Popoola (Ojomu/Balogun).

    Three petitions, bordering on certificate forgery, dud cheque presentation and others, were levelled against the lawmaker at yesterday’s plenary.

    In one of the petitions, titled Save Our Soul (SOS), Popoola allegedly issued a bounced cheque to Dr Abdullahi Ahmed.

    Mohammed Adebayo (Ipaye/Malete/Oloru) presented the petitions to the House.

    Speaker Ali Ahmad referred the petitions to the Joint Committees on Public Petition and Justice for investigation.

    Ahmad said though the constituents demanded Popoola’s suspension, the House could act like a military regime.

    Popoola said the allegations were not unexpected in this period of politicking, and hailed the speaker for his maturity in handling the allegations.

  • Police to use forensic input, intelligence to tackle fraud

    …As CP Okoro issues red alert to financial instituions, others

     

    The police have concluded plans to deploy forensic imputs, intelligence skills and in-depth investigation to combat fraud and other financial crimes.

    This was disclosed by Nkem Okoro, the Police Commissioner in-charge of the Anti-Fraud, Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon .

    Okoro stated this during an interaction with reporters in Lagos, acknowledging that the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris has promised to give needed muscle to reduce fraud to an insignificant level in the country.

    Read Also:Police deny assassination attempt on Dino Melaye, summon him

    He said: “We are going to strengthen the Anti-Fraud department, reposition it to the best in combating all manner of cyber fraud, 419 and other related cases in line with the vision of the IG as well as the anti-corruption war of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
    “We are there to actualise this dream. In doing so, we have a template to tackle this issue of fraud that has affected the financial and economic state of the nation.

    “We would employ international best practices, forensic input, modern day intelligence gathering approaches, technology driven investigative methods, to tackle complicated, multifaceted cyber fraud, among others, which have painted the country in bad light internationally. My boss, the IG is not happy about this and has found me worthy to head the section to bring out necessary changes.

    “I hereby warn corporate bodies, banks, oil companies, other financial institutions, such as the Stock Exchange, Federal and state government agencies, embassies, maritime operators, Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, educational institutions, NGOs, real estate/land speculators involved in fraudulent deals, service providers such as network providers, hospitality, health sectors and all those involved in insiders’ trading or any form of fraud to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

    “Our investigations would be so thorough to ensure we have smooth prosecution and gain convictions. There would be no sacred cows in this fight against corruption and fraud.”

    Continuing, Okoro said he would not spare 419ners both local and international ones, noting that their actions were embarrassing and damaging the good image of the country.

    “We shall tackle them. As for cyber-crime fraudsters, I have a special place in my heart for them. They should pray they are not because I would also deal with those who aide, abate, encourage or benefit in their loot.

    “I would investigate the activities of fraudulent foreigners, who connived with some crooks in the system to defraud, short change and evade tax payments or any other legal charges that should go to government coffers. They would be arraigned in court if found culpable.

    “It is criminal for foreigners to come here and clean our vault dry through fraudulent channels. Foreigners and their Nigerian collaborators who find joy in short changing the government are warned. Most of them are here doing money laundering and round tripping. They must play by the rules. It is no longer business as usual.

    “Let persons who engage in sharp fraudulent practices start having a rethink. We would go after them. The IG has said it many times that these menaces have taken us back and cannot continue. We must collectively tackle them.

    “Those who cause financial setback to fellow Nigerians, the nation’s economy would be in trouble with the new rebranded, repositioned, refocused, re-engineered and reinvented Anti-Fraud section under my watch.

    “I enjoin all Nigerians to key into this fight against fraud, fraudsters and other form of criminality, as to salvage our dear country. The initiative of the IG to inject professionalism of the force in the area of checkmating these vices through the reorganised Anti-Fraud section would bring in the needed result in our financial systems and transactions.

    “The IG is bent on ensuring zero tolerance to fraud in Nigeria and within the force and will do everything possible in ensuring that the war is won.”

  • Police arrest university dropout for ‘fraud’

    A university dropout, Destiny Otubambo, 27, has been arrested by the police in Lagos for alleged theft and obtaining by false pretences.

    Otubambo, the police said, obtained a phone from a dealer at Ikota Shopping Complex Lekki, Ajah, on May 24 by generating false alert.

    The suspect, a university dropout, said to be parading himself as a lawyer, allegedly requested for phones valued at N377,500 and opted to pay by mobile transfer.

    Parading the suspect yesterday at Ikeja, Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal said: “He was given the account details to which the said amount should be credited. After few minutes, he claimed he had credited the said sum. To prove he had, he showed a debit alert from Zenith account number 2110746005, titled, Desitny Ayo Adeleke.

    “Believing it to be true, the shop owner released the phones to him and requested for his phone number. When she did not see the alert, she tried the phone number but it was unreachable and the account number was non-existent.”

    Edgal said a case was reported and detectives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) picked up Marian Amuche, the suspect’s lover, through whom Otubambo was also arrested.

    He said: “Amuche led detectives to arrest Otubambo. On interrogation, he confessed to the crime and that he had sold the phones to buyers he met online.”

    He said three mobile phones, 10 simcards and lawyer’s wig, gown were recovered from the suspect.

    Otubambo said he generated fake alerts by editing original ones, adding that there was a time he tried to generate fake N5.3 million but was not successful.

    He said: “The account is not for me. I forged it. I was arrested last week. I was studying law before I dropped out from school because of financial issues.

    “My dad is late. I bought the lawyer gown from the market for N35,000. I have never been to the court before neither was I called to bar. There was no motive behind buying the gown. I just bought it and uploaded pictures I took on social media.”

  • Govt charges Daily Times publishers with fraud

    The Federal Government has filed a charge against Fidelis Anosike and Noel Anosike and their firm, Folio Communications Limited, accusing them of fraudulently acquiring the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN).

    The management of Folio Communication has however accused the lawyer, who filed the charge, Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah of mocking the Judiciary by allegedly engaging in forum shopping.

    The charge marked: CR/222/18,was filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Keyamo (SAN), for the Nigeria Police Force.

    The defendants were charged with conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, cheating and theft of property belonging to the DTN.

    In the charge, it was alleged that pursuant to the Federal Government’s privatisation programme in 2004, its 96.05% shares in the DTN were put for sale by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), bid for which Folio Communications emerged the highest with a bid of N1.250 billion, but had no money to pay.

    It was alleged that what Folio did in the circumstances was to obtain a co-investment of N500,000,000.00 from DSV Ltd (owned by Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah in exchange of 40% of the said shares. DSV paid the sum of N500m directly to BPE.

    The prosecution alleged that:” In order to raise the remaining N750,000,000.00, Folio resorted to the following; It illegally created fixed and floating debentures over the assets of DTN in favour of Hallmark Bank and collected N750,000,000 from the Bank.

    “Folio was unable to repay Hallmark Bank. The Bank obtained a Court Order appointing a  a receiver/manager over DTN. This precipitated law suits culminating in the consent judgment entered by the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L.CP/594/2005 wherein Folio was ordered to pay Hallmark Bank the sum of N950m consisting of the original N750,000,000.00 and accumulated interest.

    “Instead of using their own money to pay the N950,000,000.00 as mandated by the consent judgement, the defendants (Fidelis Anosike, Noel Anosike and Folio Communications Ltd) once again resorted to DTN’s assets as follows:

    They were also accused, among others, of converting N500,000,000.00 belonging to DTN (realised from sale of DTN’s interest in Stock Exchange Building, Lagos) in defraying part of the N950,000,000.00 leaving outstanding the sum of N450,000,000.00.

    Folio, in its statement, signed by the Managing Editor of Daily Times newspaper, Bonaventure Melah, said the current case filed by the Police and on which ground the fake news was being bandied around, is about the 15th of its kind that Ikechukwu Obiorah had instigated the Police to initiate against Folio and its management, all of which he said fell flat on their belly before the courts because they are not only baseless but also lack merit.

    “This case is not the first, not the second, not the third but about the 15th different cases Ikechukwu Obiorah has instigated the Police to institute against Folio Communications Plc on Daily Times. They have gone from High Court to Magistrate Court, back to High Court and to Magistrate Court. Today, they will run to the Federal High Court, tomorrow, they will run to FCT High court and then to Magistrate Court in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja and to Magistrate Court in Igbosere, Lagos, all in bare-face contempt and disrespect for both the judiciary and mockery of the respected legal profession.

    “This same case has gone to the Court of Appeal where in 2010 the Court of Appeal ruled that the matter was purely civil with the no criminal ingredients. Inspectors General of Police have investigated the case severally and put it in black and white that it is a civil case of ownership. But, Ikechukwu Obiorah, finding a willing ally in the current IGP has been using the Police to intimidate Folio and its management,” Bonaventure wrote.

    “Our initial reaction to the information that court papers are being circulated as news, (an act that sub judus) was a very long laugh. However, because the main characters in this funny drama are lawyers who should know, it therefore became necessary to react to it.

    “In the first place, privatisation is different from commercialisation. Federal Government of Nigeria through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) advertised to sell Daily Times. Folio, like many other companies bided to acquire Daily Times and after very rigorous but transparent process, Folio emerged the preferred bidder. Folio went ahead to fully pay for Daily Times and the government duly handed over the company to Folio.

    “Privatisation is about offer, acceptance and payment. It is not commercialisation where conditions are stated. Privatisation is buying and selling. Government advertised, Folio bided and won and went ahead to pay in full the value of the transaction. What has forging of documents got to do with the business? Who forged document and for what? Or are they saying that the money Folio paid and which government received was fake or forged money?

    “The next question is who is alleging forgery on the transaction? Is it the Police or the BPE that advertised, supervised the process of bidding, declared Folio as the preferred bidder, accepted the money paid and handed over Daily Times to Folio? What is the interest of the Police that is being used to institute criminal charges against Folio and its management when BPE that conducted the sale and handed over Daily Times to Folio is there and has never complained about the transaction?” the statement wondered.”

     

     

  • Fake BEDC workers arraigned for fraud

    A 34-year-old man, Ikechukwu Sunday, has been arraigned before an Evboriaria Special Grade Court for fraud and parading himself as a worker of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    Sunday was also accused of collecting N100,000 to supply BEDC electricity meter to Udu Kelly.

    He was said to have also collected N10,000 from another person, Agho Favour, to repair a BEDC meter and disconnected some residents’ electricity lines.

    The accused was arraigned on three-count charges of fraud and impersonation.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olatoye Oluwaseun, told the court that the offences are punishable under sections 419 and 108 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 48 Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State, as applicable to Edo State.

    Oluwaseun said the offence was committed at Ogheghe community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

    Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. C. E. Oghuma, granted bail to the accused for N400,000 and a surety in like sum who must be a relative of the accused.

     

  • ‘Banks lost over N12b to fraud in four years’

    The banking sub-sector lost N12.30 billion to various form of frauds from 2014- 2017, Managing Director of the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Adebisi Shonubi, has disclosed.

    Shonubi made this disclosure over the weekend at the third Annual Banking Security Summit organised by MAXUT Consulting in partnership with OneSpan, global data Security Company in Lagos.

    Shonubi said that the figure was lost on 41,461 fraud volumes within the covered period.

    Specifically, he noted that 2014 fraud volume stood at 1,461, 10,743 (2015), 19,531 in 2016 and 25,043 in 2017.

    While making his  remarks at the summit, tagged: ‘Digital Channels & Open Banking Security,’ Shonubi said the industry lost N6.22 billion in 2014 on attempted fraud value of N7.76 billion.

    The NIBSS boss, who was represented by Mr Olufemi Fadairo, Head, Industry Security Services, said N2.26 billion was lost in 2015 on attempted fraud value of N4.37 billion in 2015.

    According to him, the industry lost the sum of N2.19 billion in 2016 on attempted fraud value of N4.37 billion.

    Shonubi said gender fraud analysis during the period showed male accounted for 73 per cent while female accounted for 23 per cent.

    He said that more fraud cases were reported in 2017 with an increase of 28 per cent when compared with 2016 but with less financial loss.

    On fraud channel, Shonubi said that Automated Teller Machine (ATM) accounted for the highest fraud in 2017 with an actual loss of N497.64 million with a fraud volume of 9,823.

    He said that mobile trailed with N347.65 million losses on 5,055 fraud volumes while across the counter transactions accounted for N259. 02 million losses in 314 fraud volumes.

    He said that “While fraud trend is generally on the decline, mobile fraud trend alone is on the increase.”

    Speaking further, he hinted mobile fraud would overtake ATM fraud by 2020 with the rate of increasing fraud in the channel.

    He listed the top three mobile threats in Nigeria to include phone theft, sim swaps and kidnaps.

    He, however, called on Nigerians to shield themselves by ensuring phone lock, sim lock, swap/recycle checks.

    CEO/President MAXUT Consulting, Mike Odusami, said the summit was organised for people to exchange ideas and chart a way forward to plug every hole that fraudster could take advantage of to defraud bank customers.

    “Our solution as a technology company is really about fraud prevention; safeguarding the customers, identifying and authenticating the person and making sure that this is the person the bank authorises because most of the transactions are not physical, they are done through electronic channels.

    “And also in the background, we are monitoring everything that is go on in the system that is fraud monitoring and we have helped a lot of banks and financial institutions to do that,” he said.

    Odusami said that the company was committed to make the banking system safer for people to have confidence in the system by preventing.

    He said that the Nigerian banking system was advanced and not lacking behind in terms of digital banking.

     

  • Ex-governor Onoh’s son arraigned for fraud

    Son of a former Governor of old Anambra State Gabriel Onoh and two others were yesterday arraigned at the Federal High Court in Enugu on an eight-count charge of fraud and forgery.

    Onoh, a former chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area and former Commissioner in Enugu State, was arraigned with Emeka Okoli and Chukwuemeka Oji, who is said to be at large.

    One of the counts reads: “That you, Gabriel Onoh (m), Emeka Okoli (m) and Chukwuemeka Oji (m), now at large, in December 2014, at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; forgery of survey plan, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 546 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP 278 Laws of the Federation 2004.”

    The first accused, Onoh, allegedly forged his father’s signature on a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO), and used the documents to fraudulently collect N50 million from Chukwubuike Peter Zion over a property sale.

    The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    The defence counsel, led by Chief Enechi Onyia (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail as the alleged offence was a bailable. He also complained that his client had been in police custody for some days prior to the arraignment.

    The Prosecuting Counsel, Police Superintendent Matthew Omosun, from Force Legal Department, Abuja, who stood in for the Inspector-General of Police, opposed the bail, saying the first accused possesses two passports and so could jump bail.

    Justice Mohammed Liman granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million each and one surety each in like sum.

    The surety must also be a respected personality, own a landed property with valid and verifiable documents within the court’s jurisdiction.

    Justice Liman ruled that in the alternative, the accused persons could deposit N2 million cash or a bank guarantee of like sum in the custody of the court.

    He then remanded the accused in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail condition and adjourned till July 25 for further hearing.

  • Court remands trader in police custody over N46m fraud

    A 38-year-old trader, Cephas Peter was on Tuesday remanded in police custody over allegation that he swindled a financial company in Ilorin of N46.7m.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Nasiru Yusuf told the court that the accused fraudulently approached the SEAP organization, claiming that his office at No. 3/4, Suit Princess Luxury Hotel, Pipeline Road, Ilorin was in currency exchange business.

    According to the prosecutor, the company issued the accused with N46, 720,000 to convert into U.S dollar and pay into their customer account in China, which he failed to do.

    Yusuf said the action of the accused was contrary to Section 1a, b (3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

    Prior to the arrest of the accused, one Aluko Olusola of SEAP organization, Geri-Alimi Area, Ilorin had on September 7, 2017 reported at ‘A’ Division Police Station, Ilorin that the accused had defrauded his company.

    Read Also:Court remands internet fraudster in Ikoyi Prison

    The complainant said that on July 18, 2017 he transferred the said money to the UBA account number 1020208120 belonging to the accused.

    He said the accused promised that he would use his company’s bank account to change the money into dollars, but converted the money to his own use.

    The prosecutor added that all efforts to recover the said amount from the accused proved abortive and urged the court to remand the accused in police custody to enable the prosecution carryout detailed investigation.

    Chief Magistrate Mohammed Ibrahim did not take the plea of the accused, but ordered that he be remanded at the police CID, Ilorin, pending conclusion of investigation.

    The court adjourned the case till June 25, for further mention.

    NAN