France-based Nigerian travels to Lagos, leads cyberattacks on 10 banks – Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

France-based Nigerian travels to Lagos, leads cyberattacks on 10 banks

Published

on

The Police Special Fraud Unit in Lagos State on Wednesday said it arrested three suspects for allegedly attempting cyberattacks on 10 banks in the state.

The spokesperson for the unit, SP Eyitayo Johnson, in a statement, said the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Nneka Anyasinti, while acting on intelligence received from a leading new generation bank, on March 30, 2022, arrested the suspects.

Johnson said the suspects were in the final stages of recruiting a worker from the information and technology department of one of the banks in order to perfect the hacking of the banks’ network/posting application with the intent to pull out huge sums of money.

He noted that the suspects were arrested with incriminating exhibits during a meeting held with the bank worker they attempted to recruit, adding that the fourth suspect, Chibuzor Holland, who flew into the country from France specifically for the operation, escaped.

He said, “The arrested members of the syndicate include Kehinde Oladimeji, 52, the mastermind; Olanrewaju Adeshina, 47; and Kolapo Abiodun, 42. Kolapo Abiodun is an ex-staff of the bank attached to the infotech department. He contacted and attempted to recruit a current worker of the bank’s infotech department with an offer of N200m and a visa out of Nigeria.

READ ALSO:

“The worker was asked to leave critical gateways open on the bank’s server for the syndicate to gain unauthorised access into the network and move money out using Python application and Zoom. After the arrests, forensic analysis of phones and electronic devices found in their possession disclosed a list of 10 other banks already earmarked to be hacked using a similar method once the first attack is successful.

“Operatives also discovered personal and corporate bank account details in the possession of the syndicate which they ought not to have. The case, charge no. FHC/L/238C/2022, is currently being prosecuted before Honourable Justice P.O. Lifu of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, while effort is in top gear to apprehend Chibuzor Holland.”

In a related development, the police unit confirmed the arrest of the Managing Director of Beedel Strategic Investment Co. Nigeria Limited, Moses Odeleye, over a fraud of N816m.

The PSFU spokesperson, Johnson, said discrete investigation by the unit’s operatives led to Odeleye’s arrest on May 24, 2022.

He noted that Odeleye was arrested in connection with the forgery of 11 local purchase orders of five multinational companies operating in Nigeria and one agency of the Federal Government.

Johnson stated that the suspect (Odeleye) paraded himself on social media as a successful contractor with interest in civil engineering, construction, real estate and supply, and importation of heavy engineering equipment.

He said, “Beedel (Odeleye), as the suspect is popularly known, operates in connivance with former and current procurement staff of the companies whose LPOs were used to perpetrate  the fraud.

“He forged the LPOs of these companies/government agencies and approached numerous banks and investment companies with proposals to finance the LPOs, which he cleverly tenured to be paid between 30 and 60 days so as to make the LPO financing appear juicy.

“The suspect, using this modus operandi, was able to fraudulently obtain the sum of N816m from two finance companies and diverted same to fund extravagant lifestyles, which includes building a mansion, office complex and purchase of exotic automobiles.

“Investigation revealed that for over eight years, Beedel mastered the art of using cloned LPOs to consecutively secure huge sums via LPO financing from different banks/finance companies, while using monies from one bank/finance company to settle his commitments to another bank/finance company, to maintain the fraudulent cycle of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“Beedel circumvented due diligence done by some of the banks/finance companies with the inputs of procurement staff of the companies whose LPOs were forged. These procurement staff conspired with the suspect to confirm invalid LPOs to third parties. The suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”

Meanwhile, Johnson said on April 15, 2022, the police unit was alerted to the risk and possible hack of the server of a non-interest financial institution located in Lagos State.

He said investigation by operatives attached to the Banking and Informal Financial Fraud Section of the PSFU revealed that between 3.45am and 4.55am on March 9, 2022, there was unauthorised modification of the profile of certain key staffers of the bank, which was done remotely.

“Investigation is ongoing to identify the persons responsible for the hack, while some of the staff initially alleged, have been exonerated,” he added.

metro

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

Published

on

Jami’u Abiola

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Jami’u Abiola, son of the late MKO Abiola, as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced the appointment, which takes effect on November 14, 2024.

Akume’s statement, issued by Mr. Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, highlighted that the appointment aligns with the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended.

READ ALSO:

Before this role, Jami’u Abiola served as the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice President.

President Tinubu has instructed Abiola to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leverage his expertise in his new responsibilities.

Jami’u Abiola is the son of Chief Moshood Abiola (MKO), the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, and Kudirat Abiola, who was tragically assassinated during her efforts to restore her husband’s mandate.

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

Continue Reading

metro

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Published

on

Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Some hoodlums in Adamawa State have reportedly beaten a policeman, Ibrahim Maizabuwa, to death.

Two persons, Ezekiel Kefas and Stephen Zabadi from Wamsa Suwa Ward in Lamurde LGA of the state, have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the suspects were arrested on November 19, 2024 after the deceased’s son, Danlami Ibrahim Maizabuwa, reported the incident to the police.

According to him, investigations revealed that the police officer was killed and buried in the community.

The deceased was said to have visited his friend, Ezekiel Kefas, in the community.

The police command’s spokesman said during interrogation, Kefas claimed that the officer was killed by a group of thugs after he destroyed property and assaulted people in his (Kefas’) house.

READ ALSO:

“My friend came and started destroying property including a pot of soup and water in my house and assaulting people as a result of which women and children raised the alarm which attracted thugs who beat him up.

“Those who killed him include Yakubu, Suleiman and Kilyobas. They beat him up with sticks to death.

“Yesterday, we went to the houses of those who killed him, but we didn’t meet any of them,” Ezekiel was quoted as saying.

The state Police Commissioner, Morris Dankombo, has ordered an investigation into the incident and prosecution of the suspects

 

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Continue Reading

metro

Court remands Yahaya Bello, two others in EFCC custody till Dec 10

Published

on

Yahaya Bello

Court remands Yahaya Bello, two others in EFCC custody till Dec 10

Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will remain in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until December 10 this year, an Abuja High Court has ruled.

Justice Maryann Anenih ordered on Wednesday that he should remain with the anti-graft agency till December 10, when the court would rule on his application for bail.

Also remanded in custody are Bello’s two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the EFCC preferred against them.

EFCC had specifically urged the court to deny the former governor bail.

The agency, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that Bello, who is the 1st defendant in the matter, repeatedly refused to make himself available for trial.

It told the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.

Consequently, the commission opposed a bail application that Bello filed through his legal team that was led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.

Daudu, SAN, had after the former governor and his two co-defendants—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—pleaded not guilty to the charge, called the attention of the court to a bail application his client filed on November 22.

In the application he predicated on six grounds, the former governor argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.

Insisting that he ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established, Bello contended that granting him bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.

READ ALSO:

His lawyer told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26.

He said the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued to him.

More so, Bello’s lawyer urged the court not to be swayed by EFCC’s claims with regards to a matter not related to the instant charge before it.

The prosecution counsel had informed the court that some of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter were available.

He, therefore, prayed the court to allow the EFCC to open its case immediately, an application that was opposed by the defence counsel.

Besides, EFCC argued that Bello’s bail application was incompetent since it was filed before the defendants were arraigned before the court.

“This court only assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants.

“It is only after arraignment that the bail application can arise and be heard.

“The application is premature, hasty, and contradicts the meaning of bail,” EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted.

Ex-governor Bello and his co-defendants are facing trial over their alleged complicity in a N110 billion fraud.

The charge against the defendants, marked CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).

Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).

The defendants were also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

Continue Reading

Trending