Connect with us

Trending

Nigerian national extradited from Malaysia sentenced to eight years imprisonment in US for $6.3 million fraud.

Published

on

Nigerian national extradited from Malaysia sentences to eight years imprisonment in US for $6.3 million fraud.
Spread the love

Nigerian national extradited from Malaysia sentenced to eight years imprisonment in US for $6.3 million fraud.

A 39-year-old Nigerian national, Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, was sentenced in New Haven, Connecticut, to eight years in prison for operating a business email compromise scheme out of multiple countries, including the United States.

Osuji was sentenced on Wednesday, December 4, 2024,  two years after he was arrested in Malaysia and extradited to the United States in 2022.

The United States Department of Justice announced this in a statement on Thursday, December 5.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Osuji and his co-conspirators targeted specific individuals and businesses by masquerading as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to obtain money.

They used witting and unwitting “money mules” to receive fraud proceeds in their bank accounts and then either transferred those funds from the money mule accounts to accounts under the co-conspirators’ control or converted the stolen proceeds to cash for further transfer.

Over the years-long operation of the scheme, numerous victims were tricked into transferring funds into bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients as part of normal business operations. In reality, the bank accounts were controlled by Osuji and his co-conspirators.

The victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others.

The scheme also involved the exploitation of elderly individuals through romance scams to serve as some of the unwitting money mules, including one woman who testified at trial that she was duped into sending her own personal savings and income, including Social Security checks, to an individual she believed to be her romantic partner, but who was in fact one of Osuji’s co-conspirators.

The scam resulted in the near-total depletion of her life savings, caused her to declare bankruptcy, and led to the repossession of her house. Her personal bank account was also used to facilitate the fraud against one of the companies targeted by Osuji.

 

Trending

Ekweremadu’s wife returns to Nigeria after release from UK prison

Published

on

Spread the love

Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has returned to Nigeria, according to the Vanguard Newspaper.

It will be recalled that Senator Ekweremadu, his wife, and Dr. Obinna Obeta were sentenced by a UK court on charges related to organ harvesting.

The former Deputy Senate President was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Mrs Ekweremadu received a six-year sentence.

Continue Reading

Trending

Gunman opens fire on wedding guests in Kebbi, killing 9-year-old child and leaving one other injured

Published

on

Spread the love

A nine-year-old child, Al’amin Garba has been killed after a man identified as Muhammad Sani opened fire at guests at a wedding ceremony in Kebbi State.

Another child, Bello Shehu who is seven years old was also said to have been injured during the attack.

The incident was said to have occurred in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State

While Garba died instantly from a gunshot wound in his head, Shehu sustained severe injuries to his ribs.

He has been admitted to a medical facility in the area while the shooter has been arrested.

Speaking on the incident, the commissioner of police for Kebbi command, Bello Sani condemned the incident.

He appealed to residents to submit every firearm in the possession to the police for public safety.

He also called for a thorough investigation and immediate prosecution of the shooter.

Continue Reading

Trending

Tradie reveals six-figure salary of job with ‘no shortage of work’

Published

on

Spread the love

ACanadian expat who earns up to $120,000 a year as a heavy machine operator in Australia has said there is ‘no shortage of work’ in his industry.

The tradie said there were no qualifications to operate heavy machinery in Canada during an interview with job-matching app Getahead.

‘Here [in Australia] you need a bunch of tickets to be able to operate everything. When I got to Australia it took me about a month to get all my certifications and then I was good to go,’ he said.

The tradie ran his own construction business in Canada but sold it so that he could move to Australia and enjoy a warmer climate.

He plans to obtain his permanent residency and start his own business in Australia.

The tradie said construction is a great industry for Aussies ‘if you like to work with your hands’ and be challenged on the job.

He added there was no shortage of work and that tradies ‘will always be employed’.

More than 1.3million Aussies are employed in the construction industry and earn a median weekly wage of $1,598, according to figures by Jobs and Skills Australia.

A Canadian expat (pictured) who earns up to $120,000 a year operating heavy machinery has said there is ‘no shortage of work’ in his industry

 

The tradie said construction is a great industry for Aussies ‘if you like to work with your hands’ and be challenged on the job (stock image)

Australia needs around 130,000 workers over five years to join the industry to meet current infrastructure demand according to Master Builders Australia.

The nation’s peak building and construction association said productivity has declined 18 per cent across the industry over the last decade.

Master Builder’s CEO Denita Wawn said the issue is putting more pressure on workers and employers and urged the government to increase skilled migration and provide better support for apprentices.

‘It will require a holistic approach across federal government portfolios from migration, skills and training through to industrial relations,’ she said.

Australia needs 90,000 workers to meet the government’s ambitious housing target.

In 2023, Labor announced intentions to build 1.2million homes over a five-year period as part of the National Housing Accord.

Around 60,000 new homes will need to be built every quarter to achieve the goal.

Read more

 

Continue Reading

Trending