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Man allegedly involved in organ trafficking to Canada ‘stole’ N21m from POS operator – Police

Published

10 months ago

January 6, 2024

Man allegedly involved in organ trafficking to Canada ‘stole’ N21m from POS operator – Police

The Nigerian police have paraded a man for allegedly involved in deceit, organ trafficking, fraud and other criminal acts.

Force Public Relations Officer, Ademuyiwa Adejobi, who made this known in a statement on Friday, narrated how Igwe Okechukwu allegedly withdrew N21 million from POS operator’s account.

While saying that Igwe was also discovered to be allegedly involved in trafficking of organs to Canada, the police spokesman listed items recovered from the suspect to include Toyota Corolla car key, Iphone, household items, among others.

The statement reads : “We are pleased to inform you that officers and men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department have successfully apprehended an individual suspected to be involved in a multifaceted criminal case. Today, we present the case of one Igwe Gift Okechukwu ‘mʼ involved in criminal conspiracy, organ trafficking ,fraud, cyber crime, stealing, impersonation, deceit cheating and identity theft that was reported at the Force Criminal Investigation Department by one Anita Chinwe Mathias ‘fʼ.

“The complainant stated that she is a POS operator with several POS branches in Owerri and that on the fateful day she came in contact with the suspect, she went to a shopping mall in Owerri to get some personal effects, where the suspect introduced himself to her as Dr. Henry Ovie, a neurologist newly transferred from Portharcourt to FMC, Owerri. She stated further that Igwe collected her number and established a close relationship with her. He told her that he was expecting some money and that he would love to make use of her POS to collect the money.

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“The suspect then sent the amount of Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira
(#5,500,000) to her account, which made her believe that the suspect has a genuine source of income. She proceeded to state that on 11th September, 2023 the suspect tricked her to enter a code on her POS machine which she did due to the trust she had for him. After the suspect left her place, she noticed that all the money in her POS account was withdrawn, which amounted to the sum of Twenty One Million Naira (#21,000,000) and all efforts to reach out to the suspect proved abortive. She also went to Federal Medical Center, where the suspect claimed to be working, to ask about him and she was told that none of their doctors bears such a name. Immediately, she reported the case to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Abuja, where intelligent officers swung into action to arrest the suspect.

“During the course of investigation the officers discovered that the suspect had changed his phone number, relocated from Owerri to Lafia in Nasarawa State, where he rented and furnished an apartment, where he was later arrested after being tracked.

” Further investigations revealed that the suspect goes by different names such as Igwe Richard, Ovie Henry with multiple phone numbers and emails that he uses to perpetrate his heinous acts. Investigation also unraveled that the suspectʼs identity was not documented on the National Identity Management Commission portal, neither was his information in any Nigeria Information Database.
Upon his arrest it was discovered that the said Igwe was also involved in organ trafficking and that he has a contact in Toronto, Canada with whom he engages in the trade of human organs.

“The Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun Ph.D., NPM, has reiterated that the arrest underscores the commitment and dedication of the force to combating crimes and criminality and also ensuring the safety and security of our community. The IGP has assured Nigerians that an extensive investigation is ongoing and every other perpetrator involved in this heinous act would be brought to book and be charged to court accordingly.”

Man allegedly involved in organ trafficking to Canada ‘stole’ N21m from POS operator – Police

metro

Four varsity lecturers dismissed for sexual misconduct

Published

6 mins ago

November 15, 2024

Trends Admin

Four varsity lecturers dismissed for sexual misconduct

In a significant development, the Governing Council of Federal University Lokoja has approved the dismissal of four lecturers over allegations of examination malpractices and sexual misconduct.

According to reports, the decision was made during the council’s Second Meeting on Thursday, following a thorough investigation into the accusations that surfaced last year.

Led by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, the council commended the university’s management for adhering to due process in investigating the claims of examination misconduct and sexual harassment against the lecturers involved.

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Ndoma-Egba stated, “The council will not tolerate any unethical conduct in the university” and called for prompt resolution of other pending misconduct cases, particularly one within the Faculty of Science that has gained media attention.

In a caution to staff and lecturers, the council emphasized its commitment to addressing any form of student molestation and urged students to report incidents of misconduct without fear.

Four varsity lecturers dismissed for sexual misconduct

metro

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

Published

14 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

metro

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

Published

15 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.