The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, October 14, 2024 secured the conviction of six persons for offences bordering on internet fraud before Justices Sulaiman Akanbi and Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

The convicts are Idris Muhammed, Ismail Temitope Mustapha, Oyekola Odunayo, Anthony Slyvester Stephen, Timilehin Adeniyi and Olayiwola Ayomide Abdulmalik.

Justice Akanbi jailed Idris, Ismail, Oyekola and Anthony while the duo of Timilehin and Olayiwola were convicted by Justice Yusuf.
The charge against Idris reads:
“That you, IDRIS MUHAMMED on or about the 13th day of July 2024 to 13th of August 2024 in Ilorin within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by personation, when you pretended to be one Dorthy Onanewlevel Palmer and fraudulently deceived one Lavergne Adriana Racheal to send $600 (Six Hundred Dollars) to you via cash app and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code.

The charge against Ismail reads: “That you, Ismail Temitope Mustapha (Alias: Myre Roddy) sometime between the year 2022 and 2023 within the Judicial division of the High Court, did cheat by personation, when you pretended to be one Myre Roddy vide Tik Tok account @roddy0s3 and induced one Ron Woldron to part with the gross sum of $500 (Five Hundred Dollars) vide apple gift cards; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code.

The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Upon their pleas, Prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja and Victoria Igodo tendered the extra-judicial statements of the defendants, items recovered from them at the point of arrest and monies that they benefited from the illegal activities, which the court admitted in evidence.

Consequently, Justice Akanbi sentenced Idris to two years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only) and ordered the forfeiture of his iphone 13, and the sum of $300 (Three Hundred Dollars), which he raised as restitution to the Federal Government.

The court sentenced Ismail to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only), while ordering the forfeiture of his iphone 11 promax and $300USD to the Federal Government.

Oyekola also bagged one year imprisonment on count one with an option of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only), two years imprisonment on count two with an option of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only) and two weeks community service on count three and a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira only). The sum of $300 and N34,900 recovered from him be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Similarly, the court sentenced Anthony to one year imprisonment with an option of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira only) and ordered that the iphone 12 and the sum of $25 which he benefited from the unlawful activities be forfeited to the Federal Government.

In a similar fashion, Justice Yusuf sentenced the duo of Timilehin and Olayiwola to six months imprisonment with an option of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only) each. The convicts’ phones and the monies they brought as restitution were forfeited to the Federal Government.

All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet-related offences. They were later prosecuted and convicted.

Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories

Discusses Groundbreaking Policies

In line with the vision and policy of inclusivity of the present leadership of the Force, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM, today on the 16th of October 2024 played host to the committee of former IGPs, at IGP’s Smart Conference Hall, Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The past IGPs that were present included IGP Aliyu Attah GCON, NPM, mni, (Rtd); IGP Sunday Ehindero CFR, NPM, fwc, (Rtd); IGP Mike Okiro CFR, NPM, mni, (Rtd); IGP Mohammed Abubakar CFR, NPM, mni (Rtd) and the 21st Inspector-General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman psc+, NPM, fdc, (Rtd). The meeting aimed to facilitate a meaningful dialogue for the purpose of fortifying the foundation of effective policing in Nigeria.

The meeting fostered an in-depth exchange of ideas, highlighting the profound insights from past IGPs, who shared valuable experiences arising from their tenure and the evolution of policing methods.

IGP Egbetokun acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the past IGPs who are doyens in Policing, emphasizing that their tenures have constructed solid foundations for the NPF, with each past IGP playing a pivotal role in reforming the Nigeria Police Force to match up with its peers across the globe.

The past IGPs seized the opportunity to address and share their experiences with the members of the Force management team, AIGs, CPs, and other senior officers working within the Force Headquarters.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.

October 16, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to unveil his plan to win the war against Russia to Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday, following a tour of the plan to Western allies who were less than enthused.

The so-called “victory plan” — which outlines the conditions under which Ukraine would be prepared to negotiate peace — is considered by many as Ukraine’s last resort to strengthen its hand in any future cease-fire negotiations with Russia.

No country however has thus far publicly endorsed or commented on it, with several European leaders presented with Zelenskyy’s proposals as he toured European capitals from London to Berlin.

None gave indication they would support the plan, with some expressing concerns over the tight deadline set by Zelenskyy, who gave allies just three months to adopt the blueprint’s main tenets in late September.

US President Joe Biden, to whom Zelenskyy first promoted the plan on a tour of the US, has also not given much public encouragement.

Although the Ukrainian leader has kept quiet about the details of the plan, some aspects of it have come to light.

Making Ukraine a member of NATO; allowing the country to use Western long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia; providing resources to strengthen Ukraine’s air and other defences, and intensifying sanctions against Russia are all core elements of the plan.

Zelenskyy has said that the plan is necessary for Ukraine to begin the process to negotiate peace.

The leader wants to put the “victory plan” in place before a new US president is sworn in next year, following remarks from presidential candidate Donald Trump that he would cut or significantly reduce funding to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader’s presentation of the plan to the country’s Parliament, announced on Monday by presidential adviser Serhii Leshchenko, comes as the country’s military is suffering heavy losses along its eastern front as Russian forces inch closer to the eastern city of Pokrovsk.

Kyiv has long been militarily outnumbered by Moscow, with limited ammunition stocks and difficulty mobilising troops to fight in the war.

Ukrainian officials were expecting feedback from Western allies at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, during which defence leaders from 50-plus partner nations gather to coordinate weapons aid for the war. Scheduled for this past weekend, the summit was postponed after Biden cancelled his attendance in response to Hurricane Milton in the US

Although the US has been one of Kyiv’s main backers, Biden has been less supportive over using long-range weapons to strike in Russia, fearing a possible escalation.

Many expect Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris to continue Biden’s policy and maintain the status quo. Under Biden, US assistance to Kyiv, though substantial, has consistently arrived too late to make a significant difference for Ukrainian forces.

Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has claimed he would end the war, although he has not elaborated on how.

Meanwhile, Brazil and China have proposed alternate peace plans that Zelenskyy has rejected, saying they would merely pause the war and give Moscow time to consolidate its battered army and defence industry.