Akwa Ibom couple in NSCDC net over job scam – Newstrends
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Akwa Ibom couple in NSCDC net over job scam

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Blessing Ezekiel Ubengama and her husband, Joseph Richard Ufot

Akwa Ibom couple in NSCDC net over job scam

The Akwa Ibom State Command of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a woman, Blessing Ezekiel Ubengama and her husband, Joseph Richard Ufot, for criminal conspiracy, fraud and job scam involving about 7,000 victims running into tens of millions of naira in Uyo.

The spokesperson of the corps in the state, SC Friday Ekerete, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, July 29, 2024.

The couple was arrested on Monday, 22nd July 2024 along IBB way in Uyo following complaints from some members of the public about her fraudulent extortion of huge sums of money with a promise to offer them employment into the State Civil Service.

“Furthermore, the suspect also used a fake NGO – ‘Child Support Foundation’ which she claimed was sponsored by UNICEF to register about 7,000 children at #1,000 each for a supposed UNICEF children grant which turned out to be a scam,” the statement read.

“The suspects: Blessing Ezekiel Ubengama* ‘F’ 27 years and her husband *Joseph Richard Ufot* ‘M’ 46 years collected money from various persons with a promise to secure employment for them in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service.

“She claimed to be a Personal Assistant to one Dr. Helen Mbobo Akpan, who she claims is an SSA to Akwa Ibom State Governor on special duties.

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“She allegedly offered employment letters to hundreds of unsuspecting victims after paying 4,800 naira, but salaries were not paid for months which led them to question her project as a scam, coupled with her inability to provide the grants and agricultural support for which she extorted money for.”

Parading the suspects before pressmen in Uyo, the State Commandant of NSCDC, Engr. Eluwade Eluyemi, described the act as criminally inhuman.

He called on Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians to be wary of employment scams.

The NSCDC boss emphasized that recruitment into any organization in Nigeria – Government or private is free, and citizens should desist from paying for jobs.

He advised citizens to visit government offices or check websites of organizations to verify if they are recruiting and take demand for payment as a red flag.

Commandant Eluwade assured the victims that the suspects will be made to refund all monies extorted both from victims of employment scam and victims of the fraudulent NGO scam, after which they will be duly charged to court for their crimes.

Akwa Ibom couple in NSCDC net over job scam

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Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the temporary freezing of 21 bank accounts domiciled in some commercial banks and directed the arrest of the account holders by the police.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

Justice Nwite also granted the “order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATMs while allowing inflow into the said accounts” pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence.

“I am of the view that the motion ex-parte is meritorious.

“The application is hereby granted except that the period of the investigation can only last for a period of 90 days,” Justice Nwite said.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 3 for mention.

The banks are Access Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Ltd, Wema Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank Ltd, United Bank of Africa Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, First Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, TAJ Bank Plc and Keystone Bank Plc.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the I-G is the applicant in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1965/V/2024, the 13 banks are sued as 1st to 13 defendants respectively.

The I-G, in the motion filed by Mohammed, sought an interim order directing the listed “banks to freeze the accounts mentioned in the schedule attached to this summon pending investigation and prosecution of this case.

“An order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATM while allowing inflow into the said account as from the date of this court order.

Alleged money laundering: Court temporarily freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

The crisis erupted in the Hallelujah community in Egbedore local government area of Osun State on Friday, as enraged residents beat the newly installed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya while attempting to conduct jumat service in the area.

The Ajeniju, who was installed by the Timi of Ede a few months ago, against the will of the Ido-Osun community, was beaten to a pulp by angry youths, saying he had no right to install a chief Imam in the community.

It was gathered that the monarch had last week turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community, but while gathering some people at his palace to observe jumat prayer, some youth allegedly from Ido-Osun invaded the palace and disrupted the exercise.

Some of the aggrieved youths while shouting at the monarch queried his authority to install and conduct jumat prayer in a domain belonging to a separate monarch.

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The mob beat the monarch seriously and vandalised the palace before security operatives could intervene in the situation.

A security source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that it took the intervention of security operatives to rescue the monarch from the scene.

“The situation escalated, resulting in the vandalization of the palace and a physical attack on Ajenifuja of Hallelujah, who sustained serious injuries. He has since been taken to the State CID for further investigation and safety”, said the source.

However, another source in the community disclosed that the monarch has been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security, Hon. Samuel Ojo said he will not comment on the incident pending the outcome of an investigation on the matter.

Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam on disputed community

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

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Lagos commuter bus summersaults, LASTMA rescues 8 injured passengers

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rescued eight injured passengers involved in an accident at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba.

The LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.

Bakare-Oki said the road traffic incident which involved a commercial long bus, popularly referred to as ‘Molue,’ at Hammadiya inward Abule-Egba, caused severe injuries and significant disruption to traffic.

“The accident was triggered when the vehicle, registered as KTU 801 XM, lost control at excessive speed, reportedly due to driver impatience.

“In an attempt to avoid colliding with another LT commercial bus and pedestrians awaiting transport at the roadside, the driver veered sharply, resulting in the bus crashing into the expressway median and overturning.

“Several passengers sustained injuries, while others escaped through the bus’s windows,” he said.

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He said that officers from LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene, executed a well-coordinated and efficient rescue operation.

“Eight individuals, including five males and three females, suffered varying degrees of injuries. Among the injured was the bus driver, who sustained a fractured left arm.

“All victims were immediately handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention,” he said.

Bakare-Oki said to ensure the free flow of traffic and public safety, LASTMA’s Response Unit was swiftly mobilised to oversee the removal of the overturned vehicle.

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