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Police arrest house help for allegedly stealing employer’s $51,000 in Lagos
Police arrest house help for allegedly stealing employer’s $51,000 in Lagos
A domestic worker, Blessing Effiong, has been arrested by operatives of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Zone 2, Onikan, for allegedly stealing her boss’s $51,000.
The money is approximately N81.6 million when converted from dollar to naira.
Blessing was arrested with her husband, Bassey Effiong by detectives of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) who trailed them to Cross River State where they fled to after committing the alleged crime in Lekki, Lagos.
According to the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO), SP Ayuba Umma, the couple conspired and committed the offence on December 26, barely three days after Blessing started working as a domestic help at the owner’s Lekki residence.
Umma, in a statement, said the couple was arrested on January 31, adding that they already used the money to acquire properties for themselves.
Asked who the owner of the money was and whether he/she was interrogated for hoarding such amount of foreign currency at home, Umma answered in the negative, stressing that the information he provided was all he knew.
“Blessing Effiong was recommended for employment by an agent named Anthony and began working as a domestic staff on December 23, 2023.
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“Only three days into her employment, she absconded with $51,000 USD and fled with her husband to Cross River State.
“Following intensive investigation, both suspects were apprehended on January 31, 2024.
“During the investigation, it was revealed that Blessing Effiong had approached Anthony under false pretenses, providing misleading contact information and using registered phone numbers not associated with her identity.
“She failed to complete her employment application form, indicating her fraudulent intentions.
“Despite initially denying the full extent of stealing, Blessing Effiong eventually confessed to stealing Thirty Thousand United States Dollars ($30,000 USD), admitting to giving Twenty Thousand United States Dollars ($20,000 USD) to her husband, Bassey Effiong.
“Bassey Effiong, in turn confessed to receiving the stolen funds, part of which he used for settling his late mother’s medical bills, purchasing a tipper truck, two motorcycles, and completing a construction project in Cross River State.
“Both suspects have been charged and brought before the court following the completion of the investigation, under the directive of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command. AIG Olatoye A. Durosinmi.
“AIG Durosinmi encourages members of the public to exercise vigilance and conduct thorough background checks before hiring domestic staff for their safety and to prevent falling victim to criminal elements,” Umma said.
Police arrest house help for allegedly stealing employer’s $51,000 in Lagos
(NATION)
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CBN building economy for everyone to thrive – Cardoso begs for patience
CBN building economy for everyone to thrive – Cardoso begs for patience
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso has advised Nigerians against leaving the country (Japa). He assured that the apex bank is building an economy where everybody and business can thrive.
Cardoso gave this advice in a keynote address at the 59th annual Bankers Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, in Lagos.
He said: “It is not a good idea to japa at this stage.
“Two reasons. One, those who may decide they are going to do that, they will sell and get rid of their assets.
“You’ll be doing it for cheap. Predators, who are outside looking for bargains, will come and take it and pocket it, put it in their pocket and wait for the turnaround and sell it away.
“Number two, you want to be part of the solution. You want to be part of the solution, and this is time that we need all hands on them.
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“There are opportunities in the market today, which I must say, from my experience over the past year and also for the past six months, a lot of interest from the outside in what is going on in Nigeria
“In taking positions in certain assets, so they see the opportunity, and we, who are here, should be part of the solution for the better things which will come.”
While acknowledging the severe impact of the reforms on Nigerians, Cardoso said the reforms are focused on tackling challenges of today and on securing the opportunities of tomorrow with the aim of building an economy where everybody thrives.
CBN building economy for everyone to thrive – Cardoso begs for patience
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Abuja court remands 109 foreigners for cybercrime
Abuja court remands 109 foreigners for cybercrime
A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded 109 foreigners arrested for alleged threats to national security, high-level cybercrime and hacking in the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial facility in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Justice Ekerete Akpan, who granted the defendants bail on Friday, held that they should remain in custody, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Justice Akpan ordered the defendants to produce five sureties, who must deposit a bail bond of N200m each and a landed property in the FCT.
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The judge further ordered the sureties to deposit the title documents of the landed property and their passports before the deputy chief registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the case.
The foreign nationals charged by the federal government with six-count charges bordering on cybercrime include 113 foreign nationals—87 men and 26 women, mainly from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines and Malaysia, and—17 Nigerians.
The case was adjourned to February 27, 2025 for hearing.
Abuja court remands 109 foreigners for cybercrime
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Customs boss warns car buyers: Nigeria now preferred destination for stolen vehicles
Customs boss warns car buyers: Nigeria now preferred destination for stolen vehicles
The Comptroller General of Customs(CGC), Mr Wale Adeniyi, has lamented that Nigeria has become a preferred destination for internationally stolen vehicles which not only tarnishes Nigeria’s international image but also impacts our economy through substantial revenue losses and increased security spending. The Customs boss said this last Tuesday while handing over 21 exotic cars worth over N1.8 billion to the Canadian Government at the Federal Operation Unit (FOU), in Lagos.
The CGC disclosed that the International Police (INTERPOL) had also identified countries in West Africa as hubs for exotic vehicles stolen from Canada, America and Europe. The CGC revealed that members of the syndicate stole vehicles from foreign countries and subsequently shipped them into Nigeria, using falsified documents. He added the officers were able to recover about 21 exotic cars from the criminal gang, with the aid of the recently established Operations Hot Wheel. Among the exotic vehicles that were handed over include Rolls Royce, Lamborghini Huracan, Mercedes-AMG and Range Rover.
“Operation Hot Wheel consists of officers from the Nigeria Customs Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Canadian government,” he said. Adeniyi also revealed that all the 21 vehicles were recovered with the aid of the Canadian Government as well as the EFCC.
“According to INTERPOL reports, West Africa has emerged as a notable destination hub in the global stolen vehicle trade network. This extends from Europe and North America to as far as South America and Australia. This challenge is particularly acute in Nigeria,” he said.
While highlighting data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the CGC said that available data from the bureau showed that between 2013-2015, only 54 per cent of stolen vehicles were recovered.
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He noted that it showed the scale and sophistication of this criminal enterprise.
“The growing incidence of stolen vehicles finding their way into our region has become a matter of serious concern, as it not only undermines our legitimate automotive market but also strains our security infrastructure. Recent intelligence from international law enforcement agencies further confirms that our region has become a preferred destination for internationally stolen vehicles. This is a trend that not only tarnishes Nigeria’s international image but also impacts our economy through substantial revenue losses and increased security spending,” he said.
He added that the economic implications of this criminal enterprise were far-reaching and deeply concerning.
“Beyond damaging our legitimate automotive trade sector and international business relationships, it undermines President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda that aims to position Nigeria as a trusted hub for international commerce. The Service is forced to divert substantial resources towards enhanced border management and rigorous verification processes – resources that should ideally be channelled toward trade facilitation initiatives and economic growth programmes.
“This criminal activity not only strains our operational capacity but also threatens the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and establish Nigeria as a reliable partner in global trade,” he said.
He said that the NCS, in response to these challenges, gave rise to the initiation of Operation Hot Wheels.
Customs boss warns car buyers: Nigeria now preferred destination for stolen vehicles
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