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Tag: fraudsters

  • 37 internet ‘fraudsters’ arrested in Kwara

    37 internet ‘fraudsters’ arrested in Kwara

    Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 37 suspected internet fraudsters in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

    Fifteen suspects were arrested yesterday in Tanke Oke-Odo, Ilorin while on March 22, 22 were nabbed in Tanke, Alao Farm Estate, Yidi Road, and Irewolede.

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    Spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, in a statement said: ”The arrest of the suspects followed credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities. Items recovered from them at the point of arrest included eight luxury cars, smartphones and high-end laptop computers. 

    “Both arrests brought to 37, the number of suspected internet fraudsters, rounded up in Ilorin by the anti-graft in a space of one week.

    “The suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.’’

  • Fraudsters, kidnappers deploy PoS outfits to wreak havoc (2)

    Fraudsters, kidnappers deploy PoS outfits to wreak havoc (2)

    •Reps act on The Nation report, summon CBN gov, bank executives

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to summon Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso, and chief executive officers of commercial banks operating in the country to propose solutions to the challenges posed by lack of documentation of Point of Sale users across the country. The development came up barely four days after we published a report about how kidnappers and other criminal elements in the country are carrying out heinous crimes using the well-intended system.

    The report published last weekend revealed how kidnappers use unsuspecting PoS operators to collect and share money collected from victims as ransom.

    The report also revealed how scammers use various means to fleece innocent citizens of their hard earned money through PoS.

    The report equally pointed out how recalcitrant PoS operators flouted the orders of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to register their business for easy monitoring.  Without considering how the move would reduce fraudulent activities carried out through system, many operators have reportedly bashed the CAC, arguing that the cost of registration would deplete the profits of the business and drive up the charges payable by their customers.

    Alarmed by the rising cases of financial crimes done through PoS, Hon. John Okafor, the member representing Ehime/Mbano/Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency, Imo State in the House of Representatives, during Wednesday’s plenary identified the increasing challenges associated with the undocumented identities of PoS users in Nigeria.

    According to him, cases of fraudulent activities within the financial system have been established against PoS users, adding that there is “a necessity to combat such illicit practices and safeguard the integrity of financial transactions within Nigeria.”

    He said: “The House is aware that undocumented PoS transactions from both party’s identities create a loophole for fraudulent activities, such as identity theft, money laundering and unauthorised transactions.

    “By enforcing the documentation of users’ identity, the incidence of fraud will significantly reduce, and the security of financial transactions in Nigeria will be enhanced.

    “The House is aware that proper documentation of POS users’ identities fosters accountability among operators and users. This transparency will help trace transactions back to the individuals involved, holding them accountable for illegal activities.”

    The lawmaker expressed what he called regulatory bias and enforcement challenge towards due process by the relevant regulatory bodies.

    He called for immediate intervention to avert this ugly situation and “Shield Nigerians from the hands of criminals through the use of the POS system.”

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    He added: “Establishing a system for verifiable documentation of POS users’ and recipients’ identity aligns with the national and international financial regulatory requirements to prevent financial crimes and ensure compliance with anti-money laundering and know your customer regulations.”

    Following overwhelming support for the motion, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary, mandated the House Committees on Digital and Electronic Banking, Finance, Banking Regulations, and Financial Crimes to invite the CBN governor and Group Managing Directors of all commercial banks and other financial institutions using POS services to appear before them.

    The committees have four weeks to report back to the House.

    Registration of PoS business will check fraud —Expert

    A fintech expert and technical resource centre manager at INLAKS Alabi Ramon Adekunle, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said that registering with the CAC will enable the government to track transactions carried out on PoS devices and consequently check fraud.

    Beginning with how government regulations help to check fraud on ATM machines, Alabi said : “An ATM  is under the bank network and there are CBN  regulations that checkmate what the bank does and also the percentage return of bank on every transaction done on an exchange.

    “But coming to PoS,  the major charges of PoS is between the bank and the spy agent that is operating the PoS, making it a bit difficult for the government to track different transactions going on the account of PoS operators.

    And that’s why you see now that because PoS business is more viable, it is more profitable than an ATM business. You see some bankers releasing funds to PoS operators instead of loading their ATMs for customers to withdraw money. That has been a challenge.  

    “What government is looking at is to make the PoS operators to register with CAC so that they have a tracker, and if anything happens, they can easily see them as a registered entity.

    Talking about the likely challenge the PoS operators  will face for registering with the CAC, the fintech expert said: “There would be the regulatory policy from government to check them. That one is a plus to government, but they (PoS operators) will be under regulated environment, meaning that they will not be free to do whatever they are doing in any way.

    “Number two, their profit margin will drop because it will be easy for any financial body like CBN to have a concrete policy on percentage sharing between the operator, the bank and CBN, because as it is now, CBN is not making any money from PoS transactions. The gain is only between the bank and the operator.

    “Then another challenge that is likely to happen is recently, fraudulent transactions that are done on banks accounts are majorly done via PoS, because for the entity that owns that PoS, there is an extent to which they can track them.

    ‘This makes it easy for fraudsters or yahoo yahoo boys to use PoS as a means of cashing out their money because there is no way they can actually be tracked to the particular entity that owns that PoS device.”

    On an ATM, Alabi said: “If a fraudulent transaction is done, they can track it to the termal ID of the ATM in question, thereby knowing the location of where that transaction was performed.

    ‘As it is now, it is difficult for government to track that on PoS. But if they are registered, it will be easy for government to track transactions.

    “But for those operators that are having partnership operations with the yahoo yahoo boys that give them extra money for using their outlets to cash out their money, such will stop. This is a disadvantage on the side of the operators.”

    How recalcitrant PoS operators forced CAC to keep registration window open

    The failure of the CAC to carry out its threat against PoS operators who failed to register with the commission after the deadlines may have emboldened criminal elements to continue to exploit the gaps in the system to wreak financial havoc on harmless citizens.  

    On May 6, the Federal Government, acting through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), set a two-month deadline for PoS companies to register their agents, merchants and individuals with the commission, aligning with legal requirements and the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    This decision was reached during a meeting between Fintechs and the Registrar-General CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, in Abuja.

    The order was flagrantly disobeyed by many operators forcing the CAC to issue a fresh statement extending the deadline.

    The statement dated July 7 reads: “The Corporate Affairs Commission wishes to notify Fintech Operators also known as Point of Sales (POS) Operators that the initial deadline of 7th July, 2024 given for the registration of sole agents, super agents and agents has been extended for a period of 60 days, beginning from 7th July, 2024 to the 5th September 2024.

    “This is to give sufficient time to Operators particularly those in remote areas who might have encountered network challenges to so register and continue with their businesses.

     “Operators who fail or refuse to register at the end of the extended deadline run the risk of losing such businesses and prosecution for aiding and abetting criminal activities.”

    The September 5 deadline also expired with a good number of PoS operators failing to register with the CAC.

    Alarmed by the defiance of the operators, the CAC on September 7 expressed concern over the inadequate compliance with the directive despite the large number of POS operators in the country.

    According to the statement, “recalcitrant operators have refused to adhere to the advice for formalization due possibly to engagements in unwholesome activities or for some reasons best known to them.”

    The CAC emphasised that it was working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders to implement a comprehensive enforcement and sanction framework.

    The measures may include the shutdown of non-compliant businesses and other severe legal consequences.

    “We are to make it clear that the commission is working with law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders to deploy a comprehensive enforcement and sanction framework that may include not only possible shutdown but other severe legal consequences,” the statement reads in part.

    When contacted last week on the level of compliance and what the commission was doing about those who have defied its order, the commission’s Director of Press, Dominic Inyang, shockingly told our correspondent that the process was still ongoing without saying anything about dealing with erring operators as it had repeatedly said in its statements.

    Providing the Commission’s position on our request, he said: “The process is still ongoing. Compliance level is still ongoing as well hence an exact figure of PoS registered cannot be given at the moment.

    Why our members’  registration with CAC is poor – PoS operators’ boss

    The Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria in September attributed the Point of Sale operators across the country’s  low turnout for the registration  with the CAC to ongoing case the association has against the Commission.

    National President of the association, Sarafadeen Fasasi, described the move by the CAC to clamp down on the association members who were yet to register with the commission as illegal.

    His words:  “We have members in the two segments of agency banking. We have sub-agents and registered businesses. Those that are registered businesses are even over 60 per cent before the CAC came out with that policy and it’s only about 40 per cent that are sub-agents.

    “We are in the court with them to say that they cannot force those to register with them and that is the outcome of what you are seeing. We are not just fighting for the 40 per cent.

    “We are fighting the illegality because if they succeed with POS, they will also go and implement the same policy on our traders in the markets, like garri and pepper sellers, because the POS people are not different from them. We are in the same space and that policy imposed on them is not about the interest of the country or payments; it is about cash out. They just want to make revenue and share the money.”

  • 59 internet fraudsters jailed in Oyo, Ogun, Osogbo

    59 internet fraudsters jailed in Oyo, Ogun, Osogbo

    The Ibadan Zonal Directorate, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentence of 59 internet fraudsters to various jail terms at the five state High Courts and a Federal High Court.

    The convicts are Adekola Mohammed Bidemi, Raheem Toheeb Olalekan, Nduneri Kelvin Precious, Adekola Akinsola Iyanuoluwa, Adegoke Tomiwa Olalekan, Akintade Isaac Temitayo, Olaolu Abdulsomad Olamide, Akanni Oluwapelumi Anuoluwapo, Omogbolahan Arikuyeri Joseph, Adedimeji Olaitan Ojo, Jamal Olawale Hamzat, Ajana Abidemi Oluwapelumi, Jamiu Quadri Abayomi, Isaac Adejare Moses, Bamidele Williams, Olafisoye Oluwatobi Opeyemi, Alex Mayowa Precious, Olajide Deji Emmanuel, Folayan Temitayo Oluwajuwon, Kolade Paul Olaseinde, Eniola Lazeez, Ayeni Bisola Charles, Owoyemi James Abidemi and Hammed Akolawole Yakubu.

    Others are: Sunmonu Sheriff Olabanji, Michael Blessing Seyi, Adebayo Babatunde Benedict, Afeez Oluwaseun Abdulwahab, Azeez Folorunso Akinremi, Ariku Victor Olawande, Fapetu Daniel Temitope, Owoyemi Kayode Ayobami, Adekunle Toluwanimi Micheal, Idowu Mayowa Victor, Olaoluwa Posi Ejisun Kehinde, Olawale Ibrahim Boluwatife, Oreoluwa Oyeyemi Oladipo, Ayomide Sunday Owoshakin, Aare Sodiq Olanrewaju, Waheed Abeeb Olamilekan, Oluwatunbosun Stephen Fafore, Alamu David Dolapo and Ridwan Olabisi Onifade.

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    The rest include: Osifeso Tijesunimi David, Ogunrinde Taiwo Oluwaseun, Ogunrinde Idowu Ebenezer, Ayoola Olayinka Gaffar, Sodiq Alamu Olumide, Adegoke Idowu Oluwaseun, Adebayo Daniel Sunday, Olabode Samson Opeyemi, Alade Kehinde Matthew, Folaranmi Olukorede Martins, Akinola Bolarinwa, Abimbola Ayodele Olajide, Adekunle Iyanuoluwa Ayomide, Akinyemi Olalekan Opeyemi, Job Innocent and Okoro Justine Uzoma.

    They were prosecuted for impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining by false pretence.

    According to the Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale in a statement, the charge against Uzoma reads: “That you, Okoro Justine Uzoma sometimes in February, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a female as Cory Spencer Smith from the United States of America to one Collette, by creating a fake Facebook account with intent to gain an advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i)  and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amended) Act, 2024.”

  • Access Bank warns against fraudsters

    Access Bank at the weekend warned its customers to be vigilant as fraudsters design ways of defrauding them.

    In an emailed report, the lender warned customers to ignore messages purporting to emanate from the bank to purchase debit or credit card.

    “You may have received unsolicited offers to purchase your debit or credit card. Please ignore this request as it is intended to defraud you. Access Bank will never offer to buy or retrieve any personal banking items from you . If you receive such a request, please report this incident to us immediately,” the bank warned.

    It gave tips that will help customers to protect their card and personal information to include not sharing their PIN or giving their cards to anybody.

    “Do not share your account number, the security number on the back of your card or card expiry date with anyone. Never generate a token or OTP for anyone via telephone, email, SMS, live chat or social media. “If your card is lost or stolen please call the contact centre immediately. Never share your account information or your personal banking details including Biometric Verification Number (BVN)  via SMS, email, or telephone.

    “Remember, if you have any suspicions, please call our 24-hour contact centre, send an email or is it your closest branch,”  the email report said.

  • One ‘Kanu’ for a thousand ‘fraudsters’ (I)

    United States of America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI recently released a list of 77 Nigerians resident in the U.S. that it had indicted for cyber fraud. The bureau indicated also that investigations are continuing and that the possibility that there may be here in Nigeria is not foreclosed. And it was cheering to hear one of President Buhari’s media aides, my friend and colleague Garba Shehu, on national television pledging Nigeria’s cooperate with the United States including, whenever necessary, to extradite any of her nationals implicated in this new but fast spreading species of international crime called ‘cyber fraud’. And ‘why not?’ If Nigeria cannot take care of her home-grown thieving rodents which she now exports abroad, she must not be niggardly with the charity of her cooperation to nip in the bud, the existential threat posed at home and abroad to unsuspecting transactors by this lazy, avidly greedy strain of criminals skilled electronically at stealing others’ hard-earned purses and coming home with the flashy, peacock flamboyance of celebrated nouveau riches to throw their filthy lucre at clubs and in the hallowed houses of worship –and which they do often in a most despicably profligate manner that taunts society, offends her morality and then instigate the youths to a form of wealth-seeking that draws no line between the lawful and the criminal or the permissible and the sinful.

    And just as I was weighing the possibility of doing a piece on the extradition relationship between Nigeria and the United States, another friend and colleague of mine, Gbenga Oni-Olusola somewhere on his Facebook wall, was wondering why America –with whom Nigeria enjoys an excellent entente cordiale- should not be helping her extradite her lone, irritable fugitive currently hibernating in that country, namely Nnamdi Kanu –leader of the outlawed terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB? And to which I also wondered ‘why not?’ Especially considering the fact that ‘extradition’ in international law –not being regulated by a United Nations instrument- is supposed to be a mutually-beneficial treaty of reciprocity between and among nations to bring their fugitives to justice who have either committed grave offences under their national laws or who may have committed any of the offences listed under the Geneva Convention which are of serious concern to the international community, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and the crimes of aggression. Thus generally given the principle of sovereign equality of states, no country is obligated to surrender especially her nationals to another state, –except such obligation by which it has freely bound itself under an extradition treaty, subject to the principle of pacta sunt servanda – enforcing the sanctity of ‘international agreements’. And it is the absence of a universal instrument commanding a duty of cooperation with extradition requests that has caused a wave of mutually beneficial treaties signed bilaterally or multi-laterally between and among nations. Reason it is defined as a ‘cooperative law enforcement practice’ regulated by treaties of ‘reciprocity’.

    Extradition is not a gratuity. It is ‘give-and-take’. Yet it can be marred by the self-aggrandizement of one or the mutually-grandstanding of two signatories to an existing treaty. Nations bear a duty of cooperation with the extradition requests of countries with whom they have covenanted to exchange fugitives (so they do not do unto those that which they would not want those to do unto them). But they also enjoy the right to renege on their treaty obligations in deference again to their right under the principle of reciprocity (so that they may ‘do unto those that which those have done unto them). Because the moral is clear under treaties of extradition that no country’s fugitive is more irritable or extraditable than another’s. Your fugitive hiding in our country is no more extraditable than ours hiding in yours. The presumption being that they have both violated national or international laws. Yet our fugitive becomes even more justifiably extraditable if from the sanctuary you have provided him, he persists in his treasonable and seditious acts against our country. Or why should we extradite to you a national of ours who has merely stolen from a numerable number of your citizens when you will not extradite to us our national who, from the comfort of your sanctuary, continues to endanger the peace and security of an entire nation? It may be ab-normal in social relationships to trade ‘a Roland for an Oliver’, but in international law and especially under treaties of extradition, trading ‘Rolands for Olivers’ is the veritable norm.

    Unfortunately, the history of Nigeria-U.S. extradition relations does not reveal a mutually beneficial journey of ‘give-and-take’ or even a rebuffing odyssey of mutual non-cooperation. Rather it reveals a non-reciprocal, self-denigrating, one-sided posture whereby Nigeria has always been the one falling head-over-heels to extend to the United States gratuitous extradition ‘rights’ and privileges. Nigeria-U.S. extradition relationship dates back 80 years ago with the signing in December 22, 1931 of an extradition treaty which would enter into force four years later in June 24, 1935. And since then it is said that Nigeria has extradited countless number of fugitives –both Nigerians and Americans- to the United States for offences ranging from drug, advance fee fraud and terrorism. Most recent of these was in August 28, 2013 by a court-ordered extradition to the U.S. of one Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi for providing support to al-Qaida in the recruitment of members. Plus Nigeria has been falling head over heels in the last few years hoping to ingratiate America with the planned extradition of Buriji Kashamu, a Nigerian senator from the Southwest accused of drug-dealing -even as it is alleged that there was no official request to that effect by the United States. And now even before the United States communicates a formal request to Nigeria for the extradition, ironically, of yet-to-be-determined cyber crime accomplices to the indicted 77, we are proudly offering to extradite.

    In fairness to the United Kingdom, U.K. she had once, in 1962 extradited to Nigeria a political fugitive, Anthony Enahoro under the ‘Commonwealth Transfer of Offenders Law, so that he be tried in Lagos for treasonable felony and conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose against the Balewa Government. But there is hardly any record indicating that Nigeria has ever demanded or requested any extradition rights or privileges from the United States; as there is hardly any too indicating that the United States herself, in the spirit of bilateral reciprocity, has ever respected Nigeria enough to willfully –even if haughtily and benevolently- offer to her such rights or privileges. We have continued to give and give to America extradition gratuity that America has never ever reciprocated. On the contrary –even if with a bit of ironic arrogance- the U.S. State Department in 2009 had the ungrateful nerve to describe Nigeria’s extradition practice and procedure as constituting obstacle to U.S. anti-crime efforts. The report claimed that the U.S. has several extradition requests un-acceded to by Nigeria for years, even though it did not admit the many such requests that Nigeria had granted or may have even offered without the precondition of an official request. Nor has the report mentioned a single case in which Nigeria has ever benefited from the 80-year old extradition treaty relationship with the U.S.

    Nnamdi Kanu shuttles mostly between the United Kingdom and the United States. For all intents and purposes, he is no less eminently extraditable in 2019 than Anthony Enahoro was 58 years ago. They are both guilty of treasonable felony and conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose against the government of their country. If we cannot dare to shelter an American or a British citizen who attempted –other than by the constitution- to bring about a violent change of government in his country, or worse even dare to allow them the liberty to use our territory persist in their felonious and seditious acts, why must U.K. and U.S. be entitled to that privilege? Even as unaffected as they were by the iniquities of Liberia’s Charles Tailor, these same so called friends of Nigeria would not allow Obasanjo keep for long an ousted brother head of an African state even though Nigeria’s eminent peace-keeping efforts in bringing a closure to Liberia’s civil war entitled her to that brotherly role. Between the U.S., U.K. and Nigeria there are enough enabling treaty laws and or bilateral and multi-lateral agreements to extradite Kanu to Nigeria. We have always proved our fidelity to the entente cordiale that binds us with the United States and the United Kingdom. They now have an excellent opportunity to prove their fidelity too. Let them give us just this one secessionist-terrorist, Kanu, and we’ll give them a thousand cyber fraudsters. Fair?

    • To be continued

     

  • Fraudsters move to mobile devices

    Fraudsters are capitalising on the growing number of subscribers in Nigeria and other countries in Africa to steal the cash of unsuspecting victims.

    According to Kaspersky Lab research, subscriber identity module (SIM) swap frauds have become very common. In South Africa, it more than double last year, according a report of South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC).

    SIM swap fraud happens when someone convinces your carrier to switch your phone number over to a SIM card that a criminal possesses. In some cases, there are carrier’s employees working together with criminals. By diverting your incoming SMS messages, scammers can easily complete the text-based two-factor authentication checks that protect your most sensitive accounts in financial services, social networks, webmail services and instant messengers.

    Read also: CBN: N2b stolen as fraudsters target Mobile Apps users

    Experts who spoke during Kaspersky Lab’s annual Cyber Security Weekend in South Africa said many African countries are suited to mobile payment methods. In fact, research notes that at the end of 2017, there were 135 live mobile money services across the sub-Saharan African region, with 122 million active accounts.

    While payment methods through mobiles offer a convenience that is hard to debate, Kaspersky Lab research shows that mobile payments and the banking system are suffering a wave of attack – mostly powered by SIM swap fraud – and people are losing their money as a result.

  • ‘Beware of fraudsters’

    The Enugu State Police Command has advised residents to be wary of activities of online and financial fraudsters allegedly operating in some parts of the state.

    Command spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement issued yesterday in Enugu said the antics of the mischief makers came to the limelight via recent intelligence information.

    He said: “These groups of mischief makers had deployed several antics, including investing money on high interest yielding ventures, thereby swindling victims of various sums of money.”

    Amaraizu said the crooks operated from rented apartments and hired ad-hoc workers to run outfits, which offered money-doubling services, only to abscond with the deposits of their victims.

    “To this end, the command has advised the public to be security-conscious and be wary of this development and the antics of these mischief makers who want to reap from where they did not sow

    “The command further advises the public to always conduct proper background check with a view to establishing the genuineness of the said business and to report promptly to any nearest police station where doubt exists.

    “Residents should call the command’s distress numbers of 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 and 08098880172.

    “Or through our social media platforms of twitter@PoliceNG_Enugu and Facebook @nigeriapoliceforceenugustatecommand,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu said Police Commissioner Mr. Sulaiman Balarabe had directed operatives to fish out those in the habit so that they would be investigated and  brought to book.

  • Army Warns fraudsters on Recruitment exercise

    The Nigerian Army yesterday warned fraudsters against using its recruitment exercise to defraud Nigerians, saying those caught would face the full wrath of the law.

    Its spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa said in a statement that the Army is aware that some fraudsters are going about scamming unsuspecting people on 78 Regular Recruit Intake.

    It maintained that the process of entry into the force is free and advised Nigerian to be careful while seeking help for enlistment into the Service.

    Colonel Musa said :”It has come to the notice of the Headquarters Nigerian Army (NA) that some fraudsters are going about scamming unsuspecting potential recruits/applicants of 78 Regular Recruit Intake by requesting them for monetary inducement in return for enlistment into the NA.

    “ In the light of this menace, the NA wishes to again alert and inform the public that selection into the service is free (without any charges or inducement) from the point of application online through the NA portal, – to the last stage of the selection process which are in phases.

    “The phases range from credential screening, medical test, physical and mental test, aptitude test and to oral interview.

    “The selection into the Army is also carried out inline with the NA policy and guidelines on recruitment as contained in the Harmonised Terms and Condition of Service Soldiers/Rating and Airmen Revised 2017 Edition to determine and select suitable physically and mentally fit young able bodied men/women for the NA.

    “Some of the guidelines are as follows:

    1. Applicant must be a Nigerian Citizen by birth and possess a National identity Card.
    2. Possess a minimum of 4 credits in not more than 2 sittings in WASSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB. One of the credits must be in English Language.
    3. Be between the ages of 18 – 22 years for non- tradesmen/women. While tradesmen/women must be between the ages of 18 – 26 years at the time of enlistment.

    “In view of the above, the NA wishes to advise candidates to desist from giving gratification to anyone in the guise of helping them to gain enlistment into the NA.

    “Prospective candidates/applicants are advised to resist such temptation and have the courage to report such illegal act to the most senior recruitment staff or military police personnel available at the recruitment ground for necessary action.

    “Remember the act of giving or receiving bribe is a criminal offence in which both the giver and receiver are culpable and punishable under the law.

    “To this end, members of the public are hereby advised to further report any individual or group of people requesting gratification from potential recruits to the Headquarters Directorate of Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve.

    “Public complaints could be forwarded to the following cell phone numbers: 09059924328 and 08026569770.”

  • Don’t sell Ekiti to fraudsters, Olusola urges voters

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola has warned the electorate to vote wisely during the election.

    He warned against voting for those he described as “fraudsters.”

    The deputy governor urged voters to reject “those who plunged the state into financial mess.”

    According to a WhatsApp post by his media team, Olusola said he has learnt much from his boss, Governor Ayo Fayose. He also said he has the requisite experience to rule the state.

    The aspirant promised to take care of civil servants, describing workers as “valuable and most treasured assets” to the state.

    Olusola said workers’ salaries will be paid regularly, adding that they will also benefit from with car and housing loans, training and retraining.

    He said: “I love my life here in Ekiti, and there is no difference between myself and our people here in Ekiti. I am a product of grace, fear of God is the reason for my successes in life.

    “Governor Fayose is the people’s governor and he has taught us to associate ourselves with the people. The progress and successes of Governor Fayose is what I shall build upon.

    Olusola added: “It is a pity hearing that the last administration of APC converted Oodua Textile into lock-up shops, Ekiti is a civil servant state and we are looking for ways to resuscitate the moribund textile industry.

    “We are encouraging investors to come into Ekiti, paving way for jobs for our teeming youth. We must not sell Ekiti to fraudsters, we must not vote for those that plunged the state into financial mess.

    “My father (Peter Ayodele fayose) and I are one, and nothing can separate us. Let us vote for continuity.”

  • How bank’s ATM analyst connived with fraudsters to steal over N20m from customers’ accounts

    How bank’s ATM analyst connived with fraudsters to steal over N20m from customers’ accounts

    THE operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) have arrested a staff member of a new generation bank, Christian Amechi, who allegedly helped fraudsters to steal millions of naira from customers account using a string of impersonators.

    Amechi, who until his arrest, was serving at the ATM customers service unit, of the bank in  Victoria Island Lagos,  is currently being detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.

    He was arrested penultimate Wednesday along with five other members of the syndicate. Together, the gang had allegedly removed over N20 million from accounts belonging to different customers.

    Those who were arrested along with Christian are Oyozoje Joseph, 30, Nelson Matthew Eugari, Henry Omogbemi, 31, and Ene Mona Gabriel.

    Luck ran against the banker after the police team arrested the leader of a gang of pickpockets, Akeem Apejoye, in Lagos. In his confessional statement, the pickpocket told the police how Amechi and his gang encouraged him to continue to steal phones.

    Akeem told the police that the gang’s  interest is mainly the SIM cards of stolen phones.

    After his arrest, he led the police to the homes of those who had been collecting SIM cards from him.

    Though, he denied  that he was not in the know that Amechi and his group used the SIM card to steal money from the accounts of customers, he said that the group often bought drinks for him at beer parlour joints whenever he ran into them.

    He said that they all grew up in Ajegunle and that he enjoyed being in the company of the gang members, particularly at weekends.

    “I used the proceeds which I made from picking pockets to open a boutique in Ajegunle. My shop is located along Ojo Road,” Akeem told the police.

    Narrating how his gang removed several millions of naira from victims account, Amechi said that all that was needed for the illegal transfer to succeed was the customer’s SIM card, stressing that any account holder who does online transaction has his or her  BVN number stored on his or her phone.

    “I grew up in Ajegunle and I know almost all members of the gang. I knew them on the street, but I was introduced into the business by one of my friends known as Osey Boy and DJ. I attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN). I read Banking and Finance. I am an ATM card system analyst.

    “Osey Boy and DJ are referred to as the gang “shooters”. What it means is that they could  remove bank secret code numbers, particularly the BVN from phones. The moment any member of the gang laid his hand on stolen SIM card, they would dial the USSD number and with this they would  access the owner’s BVN. That is if the owner does online banking. Once this is done, they will send me the six last digits with which I could access the owner’s account. My job is to ascertain how much is in the account and at times help transfer money to the person who provided me the information. The gang could then transfer at least N200,000 per transaction into their own account from where they will have easy access to the stolen funds.

    “The gang pays me between N10,000 to N15,000 per transfer and I have lost count of how many of such transactions we have done in the past. In all, I have made at least N150,000 and I used part of it to upgrade my certificate,” he said.

    Chris, as he is fondly referred to by his gang members also revealed that, aside helping the gang to generate information of account holders, he also provided the gang with telephone numbers of victims.

    He disclosed in his confession that, at  times, the gang would do a welcome back of some of the telephone numbers he generated.

    His words: “What happens in this case is that the original owner of the line would not be able to make or receive calls. All calls or text messages on such numbers can only be accessed by the person who did the welcome back. The gang members are staff of Telecommute Tin Providers. This people are the ones who do the welcome back for the gang on any number to be profiled.

    Amechi and Enamo
    Amechi and Enamo

    “My greatest pain was when my aged mother came to see me when I was  in police custody. I pray that God will give her the heart and courage to bear the pains because I know that she will be going through so much pain right now.”

    Another member of the gang, Oyosoje Joseph, an engineer who graduated from the University of Lagos, said he had made well over N10 million from local fraud.

    The 30 year old who resides at No. 80 Adekeye Street, Ajegunle, said  he joined the gang out of frustration.

    As at the time of his arrest, the suspect had over N5 million in one of his accounts. It was learnt that the suspect is also presently being hunted for by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

    An account he operates with one of the new generation banks has been frozen.

    Another suspect, Henry Omagbemi, 31, is said to have operated a network of bogus names to launder the proceeds. A police source said that members of the gang were all involved in a scheme to defraud account holders of millions of naira.

    ‘Accounts belonging to people with large balances – in some cases several millions of naira were targeted. To identify those rich accounts, Amechi, an employee of  a new generation bank was recruited to help the gang. As an insider, he would then assist in breaching the security protocols in order to steal the money. The money would be transferred to accomplices who would swiftly transfer the money through a number of bogus businesses before the money would eventually disappear” the police source said.

    Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Chike Oti, confirmed the arrest. He said that one of the victims lost more than N2 million after a member of the gang used a fake welcome back telephone number in the account holder’s name to set up two transfers over three days.

    A customer with N200 million in the bank only escaped becoming a victim when they were arrested.