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How fake forex platform landed 27-yr-old student in prison

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John Akpan Ode

How fake forex platform landed 27-yr-old student in prison

27-year-old John Akpan Ode is a native of Ogoja in Cross River State. After his secondary education, John relocated to Lagos in search of a better life since his poor parents could not afford his quest for further education.

Within a few years, John mastered the art of fixing tiles, roofing and forex trading and used the proceeds from both side hustles to see himself through school at the Lagos State Polytechnic.  John was doing well for himself and looking forward to a bright future until he stumbled on a fake forex platform, He started getting good returns on his investment and helped others to join. When the platform crashed a few months later and John lost all his investment, instead of being a victim, he became a prime suspect. In this edition, John tells Encounter how he spent months in Kirikiri prison over an alleged N6 million forex fraud he knew nothing about.

Background

My name is Akpan John Ode. I am from Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State. I attended Obachime Community Primary School and St. Francis Meridian College in Yala Local Government Area. I am from a polygamous family. My father married four wives and my mother is his last wife. My father had 19 children and taking care of them was a big challenge for him. Only a few of my siblings attended primary school and we were always fighting amongst ourselves in the family. Immediately I managed to finish my secondary school and got my West African Examination Council, WAEC Certificate in 2015, I decided to relocate to Lagos and do something useful with my life. I stayed with one man from my village and learnt how to fix tiles and roofs. I was also helping the company to market their products. From the little money I made from the company, I enrolled into Lagos State Polytechnic to study marketing.

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Side hustle

While studying for my OND in LASPOTECH, a friend introduced me to forex trading. I took a little training on the business and over time, I mastered the secrets and started making money from it. I joined quite a few platforms and made some good returns.

Trouble

I was doing well until I started introducing others to the business. The first set of people I introduced on the platforms I use, did very well and made good money from their investments. For a long time, I didn’t have any problem with anyone until I decided to invest in a new platform last year.  My investment on the platform grew from $300 to about $5,700 and I was doing bi-weekly withdrawal of $200 to take care of my personal needs. One day, a sister introduced a lady based in Abuja to me. The lady said she was interested in forex so I introduced her to the new platform I was using. She had just $360 so I assisted her with an additional $300 to start off. I only offered assistance but she was doing the trading herself. The lady made $5,000 over time but chose to reinvest the profit instead of withdrawing it. We were all shocked one day when the site froze and we could not trade again. It was later that it dawned on us that we had been scammed. The lady called me and insisted that I must refund her $5,000 but I explained to her that I am also a victim. She made a lot of trouble until I stopped hearing from her.

Arrest

I had forgotten everything until July when I returned from my village  where I had gone to visit my parents. My tiles and roofing work was not coming regularly so I tried to do other things to survive. In August, I got a call from a strange person who I later discovered was a police officer. Before that call, they had already arrested one of my brothers and his wife. They also arrested one of my sisters in Lekki who eventually led them to my house. The police officers initially told me that my arrest was in respect of a phone but when they took me to their office in Ikeja, they began to ask me a different question.

Bogus allegation

When we got to the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, the police officers asked me if I knew anyone called Ugochi. I replied that I knew her and told them how I introduced her into the forex trading platform which eventually crashed. They insisted that I was lying and threatened to beat the hell out of me if I continued lying. They showed me a petition that Ugochi had written alleging that she invested N6 million through me. When I maintained that I never defrauded the complainant, I was locked up in a cell for 11 days. My family didn’t know my whereabouts for those 11 days as my phone was seized. I was taken to the office of the Commissioner of Police where they took my statement. I showed them my WhatsApp conversations with the complainant and the $360 she sent to me for the investment.

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Police insists on refund

Despite all my explanations, the police said I should refund the N6million. I told them that I didn’t have any money and that I also lost my all investments. When they realised that I didn’t have any money, they decided to file a charge against me before a Magistrate court.

Journey to Kirikiri

I was arraigned for fraud before an Ogba Magistrate Court. I pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anyone to stand surety for me so I was taken to Kirikiri prison pending when I could sort out my bail. The matter was adjourned to two subsequent dates but I still didn’t have anyone to stand as surety for me.

Ordeal in prison

The day I got into the prison, I was seriously beaten and punished inside the welcome cell where I spent two days. An inmate I met in court had explained to me the rules and regulations in the prison so I was a bit ready for the beating and punishment. I really suffered in the first few days of my arrival in the prison but after a while, I began to adapt to the environment. The prison environment was a strange world to me because of the different kinds of people I saw there. From murderers to kidnappers, rapists, yahoo yahoo boys, armed robbers and many other terrible criminals. The kind of people you find there are not normal.  I found it strange that I was among these kinds of people for what I didn’t do. The food was terrible. I tried not to eat my meal portion but it was very difficult. Once in a while, one of my sisters brings me food and money so I tried to survive on that. Some churches also bring us food occasionally. At some point, I had a serious health issue after I was infected by the environment.

Warders’ role in prolonged incarceration

I believe that warders are partly responsible for some inmates’ prolonged stay in prison. I spent just six months in prison but I was shocked to discover that some inmates had spent years for similar allegations simply because warders failed to disclose the date of their trial. Sometimes when we go to court and the magistrate fails to sit; it is only the warders that approach the registrar for the adjourned date. For those of us without lawyers, we are always at the mercy of the warders. If they don’t tell you the adjourned date for your matter, you will simply rot in prison.

Botched trial, NGO intervention

After my arraignment, I appeared in court twice without a lawyer and on those two occasions, the magistrate did not sit.  When I returned to the prison, an inmate told me about a non-governmental organisation, Anchor Heritage and how they have been assisting innocent inmates to regain their freedom. I waited until the day the NGO came and I presented my case to them. The head of the organisation, Mr. Bidemi Oladipupo assured me that they would look into my matter.

 On the next adjourned date, I was surprised when a lawyer from the organisation took over my case. Throughout the trial, the complainant who was resident in Abuja never showed up in court. Only one man who claimed to be her uncle appeared. The matter was adjourned four times until the magistrate decided to strike out the case. I guess it became clear to the police that the complainant lied to them and was unwilling to go ahead with the matter so they decided to withdraw the matter. I was happy that the case was withdrawn but the thought that I had to spend six months in prison for a lie made me feel bad.

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Motivated by prison ordeal

Nigerian prison is not a good place to be but my six months in Kirkiri prison was an eye opener. Looking back, I would say the prison prepared me to face life with a motivated mindset. I have a different mindset now about helping people because of my experience. Before going to prison, I wasn’t close to God but that place became a blessing in a way for me. I experienced God’s mercy in prison and since I got out, I have been closer to God more than ever before. The help I also got from Anchor Heritage has also motivated me to aspire to establish a charity organisation to help people in need.

Why I fell victim

Forex is good when someone has funds and knows the intrigues of the business. I have used some platforms that were good. The truth, however, is that there is no guaranteed way of knowing a fake platform. If you join a platform early, even if it is fake, you would have made some significant gain on your investment if you cash out early. Unfortunately, I didn’t cash out early enough before this particular one that got me into trouble. The reason I got into that business was because I needed funds to pursue my education. What happened to me was a temporary setback which I believe has also strengthened me.

Appeal for assistance

Since I got out of prison, things have been difficult. I still want to return to school but the fund is not available. The tiles and roofing business is also not coming as regularly as it used to be. I am appealing for support from well-meaning Nigerians. I want a job so that I can further my education and become useful to myself and my country.

How fake forex platform landed 27-yr-old student in prison

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EL-Rufai, police clash over ex-commissioner’s arrest

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Ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai

EL-Rufai, police clash over ex-commissioner’s arrest

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has warned former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to guard his utterances, saying that, contrary to his claim, there is no kidnapping gang within the NPF.

The Kaduna Command of the NPF was reacting to El-Rufai’s post on his verified X handle, where he alleged that, one of his former Commissioners, Malam Jafaru Sani, was abducted by “Uba Sani’s kidnapping gang,” claiming to be Police.

In a statement signed by Kaduna Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan  it said, the Police have the legal, legitimate and constitutional right to arrest and investigate whoever is alleged or suspected to have committed an offence.

According to the statement, “The attention of the Kaduna State Police Command has been drawn to a statement credited to  former Governor of the State, Malam Nasir El Rufai, on his X handle, wherein he alleged that one of his former Commissioner Malam Jafaru Sani, was abducted by what he referred to as “Uba Sani’s kidnapping gang,’’ which he claimed to be the police.

“The former Governor further stated that Jafaru was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any police First Information Report or charges by the State Ministry of Justice.

“To put the records straight, there is no kidnapping gang within the Nigerian Police Force. The Nigerian Police as an institution, is created by the 1999 Constitution. The statutes mandate the Police to maintain law and order.

“In the discharge of this constitutional duty, the police have the legal, legitimate and constitutional right to arrest and investigate whoever is alleged or suspected to have committed an offence.

“Individuals, corporate organisations and government etc, Have the right to lodge a formal complaint to police and the police have the mandate to investigate such allegations and when it’s believed that an offence has been committed such matter be prosecuted or referred to court.

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“The Command urges the members of public, especially individuals who have held positions of authority, to exercise caution and desist from frivolous and malicious allegations against any security agency.

“We urge individuals to always verify allegations before making any public statements. Making unverified allegations against security agencies not only mislead the public but also have the potential of undermining the law enforcement agencies.

“Citizens are encouraged to seek legal redress if they feel aggrieved, rather than resort to inflammatory comments that will heat up the polity,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Ata, has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the government of President Bola Tinubu will remain focused on keeping to the promises of the party, despite the theatrics by El-Rufai.

The minister said El-Rufai’s anger with the ruling party stems from his failure to secure a ministerial position in the Tinubu administration, averring that El-Rufai was disqualified because he failed security screening.

According to Ata, El-Rufai’s recent attack on the Tinubu administration, including his decamping to the SDP, is the “dance of a sinking politician.”

Ata said: “His tenure as the minister of the FCT under President Olusegun Obasanjo was marked by contentious policies and an abrasive leadership style.

“This trend continued throughout his political journey, from his days in the opposition during the formative years of the APC to his tenure as a two-term governor of Kaduna State.

“It is, therefore, not surprising that in the present dispensation, while President Tinubu remains focused on tackling the multi-faceted challenges facing Nigeria, El-Rufai has chosen to embark on yet another round of political mischief.”

The minister, in a statement by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola, said it was imperative for him to set the record straight and address El-Rufai’s theatrics, following his (El-Rufai’s) vitriolic outbursts and unwarranted attacks on the leadership of the APC and the Tinubu administration.

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Ata pointed out that, during his reign as governor, El-Rufai presided over an era of unprecedented insecurity, where ethnic and sectarian violence reached alarming levels.

“Under his watch, Kaduna recorded some of the highest fatalities linked to communal conflicts and banditry activities.

“His leadership style was often criticised as divisive, with policies that alienated minority groups and exacerbated communal tensions in the state.

“El-Rufai’s latest political outburst stems from his personal disappointment over his failure to secure a ministerial position in the current administration.

“Feeling entitled to a role in President Tinubu’s government, he was unable to pass the necessary security clearance, leading to his rejection by the Senate. Since then, he has carried himself like a man scorned, unleashing a barrage of unfounded criticisms and engaging in political brinkmanship.

“His recent defection from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is nothing more than an act of desperation—an attempt to remain relevant in Nigeria’s political discourse. However, this move was long anticipated, given his history of political opportunism and self-serving maneuvers,” he said.

The minister said the administration remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing Nigeria’s critical challenges, from economic reforms to infrastructural development and national security.

Ata added: “While detractors like El-Rufai seek to distract and derail progress, the government and its supporters remain undeterred.

“His political career, which has been marked by opportunism and a penchant for controversy, is practically over, and his recent actions are nothing more than the last gasps of a politician grasping at straws.”

El-Rufai storms SDP headquarters vows to position party for future

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has promised to position the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the future.

El-Rufai also disclosed his readiness to abide by the rule guiding the SDP.

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He said this during his official visit to the national headquarters of SDP in Abuja where he held a meeting with the SDP National Working Committee (NWC).

According to a top member of SDP who was part of the meeting and pleaded anonymity, El-Rufai also made it known that he will use his influence and contact to grow the party.

He quoted El-Rufai to have said that: “Many of my followers had moved and joined SDP before me. I believe that APC is not what we intended it to be. I believe that I need to look for another party that I can continue in my political activities and further contribute to national development.

“I am ready to join forces with other opposition parties across, work with them to see how the nation can move forward.I promised to abide with the rules of the party.”

The SDP has, however, expressed panic over what it described as a plan to suppress party members in order to instill fear in the political circle.

The development, the party  said, is aimed at preventing further defection to the opposition party by using intimidation tactics.

A statement issued by the National publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, alleged that the persecution will commence with El-Rufai.

Aiyenigba said: “The Social Democratic Party (SDP) wishes to bring to the attention of all Nigerians that we have been informed about plans to suppress opposition figures in order to instill fear in political circles.

“The SDP has received reliable information indicating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is concerned about the mounting momentum of our party. In response, the APC has decided to leverage its governmental control to fabricate criminal charges against our members.

“Our sources reveal that the persecution will commence with one of our prominent leaders, Malam Nasir El-Rufai. The government is planning to file multiple charges against him in Abuja and Kaduna imminently. In preparation for this, we have also learned that the federal government has instructed its agencies to prevent Malam Nasir El-Rufai from leaving the country.”

EL-Rufai, police clash over ex-commissioner’s arrest

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My wife is a pastor, can’t be Bigot, Tinubu tells Catholic bishops

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

My wife is a pastor, can’t be Bigot, Tinubu tells Catholic bishops

President Bola Tinubu has assured the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) that he harbours no religious bias and that his administration is focused on national development beyond religious divisions.

Tinubu, in a meeting with the Catholic bishops on Friday in Abuja, reaffirmed his commitment to national unity and development.

The president said that poverty affects all Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation, adding that his administration’s economic reforms including the removal of fuel subsidy were necessary to build a resilient nation and secure the future of the younger generations.

Tinubu’s remarks came less than 24 hours after he rebuked the clerics over concerns they raised regarding worsening insecurity and youth employment, among others, in the country.

He stressed that security agencies were actively curtailing insecurity. He noted that poverty transcends religious lines and called for unity in addressing the country’s challenges.

“This insecurity, everyone is affected, Christians, Muslims alike. I have no religious bias; I won’t be a bigot. My wife is a pastor of Redeemed Christian Church. But we have to think of our country; this country must develop and must stand beyond religious bigotry. And I’m here open to you, ready to listen.

“We’ve been together for some time. We have an open-door policy. I will not shut my door,” said the president.

Tinubu added that he understands what Nigerians are going through, saying “Yes, removing the fuel subsidy was hard, tough for me, but it’s a hard choice that Nigeria must face. We are not going to bankrupt our country.

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“We were spending the investment of the future of our children yet unborn; We were spending their rights, and poverty has no religious basis. There’s no religious colouration, no identity. It affects all, and we must fight it together.”

He, however, noted that “There is hope; people are coming in to invest. They are saying good things about Nigeria. I am very proud of that. What seems to be a very difficult beginning is now showing us hope. And we are not half-time yet. I’m happy to see this period alive and healthy, and I am thankful to all of you for your prayers.”

Most Reverend Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Archbishop of Owerri and the CBCN President, who led the delegation of 20 Bishops from across the country, said they were at the State House to congratulate President Tinubu on his victory, having not had the opportunity last year, and to commend him for his efforts to reposition the country and share some concerns.

“Your government’s policy mantra is anchored on the principles of Renewed Hope. In this regard, we are pleased to inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared this year as the year of hope, the Jubilee Year of Hope, a theme we adopted for our conference. We came with the final fruits of our deliberations and will share them with you.”

He said the removal of fuel subsidies had undoubtedly affected the people and commended the tax reform initiative, which he believed would “generate, in the long run, more resources for advancing the common good.”

He acknowledged the efforts of security agencies to curtail insecurity in the land. Still, he urged for more concerted efforts to “rekindle hope and inspire confidence in the hearts of our people.”

Speaking on the recent closure of schools in the North by governors due to the ongoing Ramadan fast, the bishops called for a well-defined vision of religion as a force for moral integrity and patriotic unity without necessarily impinging on individuals’ fundamental rights.

According to them, “efforts should be made to ensure that religious practice in Nigeria fosters unity rather than division.”

On religious pilgrimages, the body said that the government should hands-off sponsorship to curtail waste and corruption.

“The government should allow religious groups to take full responsibility for organising pilgrimages. In their current structure, the national and state pilgrims’ boards serve neither their adherents nor the broader interest of the nation. You’re undoubtedly aware of the instances of corruption that have led to the removal of some board executives to ensure greater efficiency and accountability.

“We would propose that public funds be redirected towards pressing national needs,” the CBCN president said.

The CBCN’s earlier communique, “The Jubilee Year of Hope: A Light for a New Nigeria,” had called on northern governors to withdraw orders closing schools during the Ramadan period.

Part of the communique reads, “We demand that those governments that ordered the closure of all schools in some parts of the country, withdraw such order in the light of the rights of the children to education and the multi-religious nature of our society We, as Church, promote integral education, health care and agriculture for individual and national development, and we require the enabling environment to play these roles among others.”

 

My wife is a pastor, can’t be Bigot, Tinubu tells Catholic bishops

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Customs seize 1,149 jerry cans of petrol in Taraba

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Customs seize 1,149 jerry cans of petrol in Taraba

The Nigerian Customs Service has intercepted 1,149 jerry cans, each containing 30 litres of petroleum products, at a border town in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The petrol, valued at N33.7 million, was intercepted by the Operation Whirlwind of the Customs Service under the Adamawa/Taraba Command at Kan-Iyaka, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon Republic in Sardauna Local Government Area of the state.

The Customs operatives also arrested those behind the attempt to smuggle the petroleum product from Nigeria to Cameroon Republic.

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs, while briefing journalists at the Customs House in Jalingo on Friday, said the interception was made possible due to the hard work and commitment of the officers of Operation Whirlwind and other security operatives in preventing smuggling across Nigerian borders.

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He expressed satisfaction with the vigilance and courage exhibited by the officers while carrying out the mission that led to the interception of the petrol products.

The Comptroller-General further stated that in recent weeks, Customs had witnessed a troubling increase in petroleum smuggling activities across the North-East zone frontier, particularly along the Adamawa and Taraba corridors.

He stressed that targeted operations in those areas had revealed strategic transit points for cross-border petroleum diversion.

He said the activities of petrol smugglers were creating artificial scarcity of the product and distorting supply chains in vulnerable communities, adding that such activities also funded enterprises that undermined regional security.

Customs seize 1,149 jerry cans of petrol in Taraba

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