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Court jails Lagos pastor, wife, shut church over N52m fraud
Court jails Lagos pastor, wife, shut church over N52m fraud
The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, to 16 years in prison for defrauding victims of N52 million.
Their church, the Temple International Church, was also ordered to be deregistered and closed for its involvement in the fraudulent activities.
Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, Justice Mojisola Dada found the couple guilty of charges including stealing, dishonest conversion, false representation, and fraud.
The prosecution, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), presented a seven-count charge against the defendants and the church.
The EFCC accused the couple of using religious activities to deceive and defraud unsuspecting individuals.
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They were first arraigned on February 25, 2020, and pleaded not guilty, leading to a trial during which the prosecution called five witnesses, while the defence presented two.
In her ruling, Justice Dada declared that the EFCC had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Uyanwanne was sentenced to seven years in prison for counts two to six, while Odemuyiwa received three years for the same charges.
Both were also sentenced to three years for count one. On additional charges, Uyanwanne received 10 years, and Odemuyiwa was handed six years, with all sentences to run concurrently.
The court further directed the couple to pay restitution of N31 million to the complainant within 60 days and deregistered Temple International Church, citing its misuse of religion to defraud people.
Justice Dada criticised the misuse of faith, stating, “The third convict should be deregistered and closed down.”
The EFCC highlighted the couple’s fraudulent activities, including dishonestly converting N10 million belonging to the late Janet Adeola Odemuyiwa and selling a property in Magodo under false pretenses. The acts were found to violate sections of the Advance Fee Fraud and Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Court jails Lagos pastor, wife, shut church over N52m fraud
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Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba
Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba
Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested four suspected members of Ambazonian rebels in Taraba.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambazonia is a rebel group operating in neighbouring Cameroon Republic.
A statement on Saturday in Jalingo by Capt. Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, said the suspects were arrested at a hotel in Takum town.
The statement said that acting on credible intelligence, the suspects were tracked and apprehended.
According to the statement, during initial interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of the rebel group involved in arms proliferation in exchange for cocoa with their Nigerian collaborators.
It said that four mobile handsets were recovered from the suspects now in detention undergoing further investigation.
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The statement also said that in another operation following actionable intelligence, troops deployed at Natilde community in Bantaji District of Wukari Local Government Area intercepted a truck with registration number WKR 66 BB, transporting 19 pieces of stolen pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
It said that further collaborative efforts with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Wukari Division led to the recovery of an additional 11 pipes, bringing the total to 30.
“The recovered items have been handed over to the NSCDC Wukari Division for further investigation and necessary action.
“The 6 Brigade Nigerian Army will remain resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while ensuring the security of critical national infrastructure.
“We urge members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance our collective efforts in maintaining peace and security,” the statement added.
Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba
(NAN)
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NIMC warns against extortion, reaffirms free NIN enrollment
NIMC warns against extortion, reaffirms free NIN enrollment
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a stern warning to the public, reiterating that enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN) is entirely free of charge. The Commission emphasized that it neither charges nor authorizes its staff or Front End Partners (FEPs) to demand payment for NIN registration.
In a statement released on Friday by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, NIMC reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy for extortion and pledged to take decisive action against offenders. To ensure compliance, the Commission has directed security agencies to identify and prosecute any staff or FEPs involved in such illegal activities.
“Anyone caught engaging in extortion will face sanctions in line with the provisions of the law, including the withdrawal of licenses for culpable FEPs,” the statement read.
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NIMC also urged the public to report any cases of extortion. Complaints can be sent via email to [email protected] or by calling 0700-2255-646. The Commission assured Nigerians that all reports would be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate measures would be taken to address any violations.
Reaffirming its commitment to efficient and transparent service delivery, NIMC pledged to provide seamless and hassle-free enrollment processes for all Nigerians. The Commission expressed its determination to eliminate corruption and protect citizens from exploitation during NIN registration.
This announcement is a clear signal of NIMC’s dedication to upholding integrity and ensuring that the NIN enrollment process remains accessible and free for all. Nigerians are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any attempts at extortion to help maintain the credibility of the system.
NIMC warns against extortion, reaffirms free NIN enrollment
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Like Ibadan, stampede claim 10 lives for Abuja Catholic church, 17 in Anambra
Like Ibadan, stampede claim 10 lives for Abuja Catholic church, 17 in Anambra
The stampede occurred on Saturday morning during an event for the distribution of rice and other palliatives at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama area of Abuja.
It was gathered that the church had made it a point of duty to give back to the society every year.
Victims of the stampede are mostly women and children.
Confirming the incident, the FCT Police Command said ten individuals died, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
A statement signed by SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, reads: “This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten (10) individuals, including four (4) children, and left eight (8) others with varying degrees of injuries. Four (4) of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.
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‘’To prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, the Command hereby directs that all organizations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning any public event, charitable activity, or large gathering in the FCT must notify the Police Command in advance. This will allow the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.
“Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organizers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from their negligence.
’The FCT Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property in the Territory. Members of the public are encouraged to collaborate with the Police by adhering to these guidelines and promptly reporting emergencies through the FCT Control Room via 0803 200 3913 or 0806 032 1234”
In a related development, 17 residents of Okija community in Anambra state have reportedly lost their lives in a stampede.
The stampede was said to have occurred on Saturday morning during an event for the distribution of rice.
This comes days after the death of about 40 children following a stampede during a funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Like Ibadan, stampede claim 10 lives for Abuja Catholic church, 17 in Anambra
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