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Lagos court resumes trial of $950,000 forex fraud allegations Nov 12

Published

1 month ago

August 13, 2024

Lagos court resumes trial of $950,000 forex fraud allegations Nov 12

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos will, on November 12, resume the trial of five defendants for alleged conspiracy to defraud, and obtain $950,000 from a businessman, Nnamdi Ezenwa, under false pretence.

The businessman is the prosecution’s star witness, while first to fifth defendants are Chibueze Ojeh, Obinna Nwosu, Emeka Njoku, Castle Equipment & Logistic Ltd and the bank.

They are being prosecuted by Inspector-General of Police before Justice Deinde Dipeolu on a five-count amended charge in FHC/AWK/C/25/2020.

Ezenwa, managing director and chief executive officer of Vinna Investment Limited, alleged he was duped of the $950,000 in a fraudulent forex deal, a charge the defendants – three persons, a firm and a bank – denied during their arraignment earlier in the year.

At the resumed trial on July 23, prosecution counsel, Abdulmoruf Animashaun, who held the brief of Simon Lough (SAN) informed the court the defendants were being prosecuted on a third amended charge, adding the case ought to be expeditiously heard.

First prosecution witness Ezenwa said he was called sometime in 2014 by his account officer in the bank that a customer had $1.9 million to sell.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, the witness said the account officer was aware Ezenwa needed dollars to send to Italy for importation of toothpaste.

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He testified that he called his company’s accountant to go to the bank’s Aba branch to confirm the situation. The latter did.

“I then went to meet the bank’s Branch manager, account officer and customer that wanted to sell the dollars, together with my company’s accountant.

“I bought the $1.9 million as recommended by UBA but $950,000 of it was fake.

“I demanded that my money be returned to me, but every effort proved abortive,” Ezenwa added.

When Dr. D.A. Awosika (SAN), counsel to first defendant, objected to the tendering of some documents, the prosecution counsel urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him regularise the position.

Justice Dipeolu adjourned till November 12 and 14.

Count two of the charge against the defendants read:

“That you, Chibueze Ojeh, ‘M’ 40 years, managing director and chief executive officer of Castle Equipment & Logistics Limited of Lekki County Homes, Westend Estate Road 4, House 4, Lekki Lagos State;

Obinna Nwosu ‘M’ 45 years of No. 1 Shofidiya Close, Adegoke Estate, Masha Roundabout, Surulere, Lagos, Emeka Njoku “M 41years, former Staff and marketer with United Bank for Africa Plc, of No. 3 Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, Castle Equipment & Logistics Ltd and United Bank for Africa Pic;

Onyinyechi Oraegbunem ‘F’ former branch manager of UBA Aba branch, and Pamela Onaga, former staff of UBA Plc Aba branch/account officer to Nnamdi Ezenwa, now at large, between April 3, 2013 and June 31, 2013 in Lagos and Aba, with intent to defraud Chief Nnamdi Ezenwa, managing director and chief executive officer of Vinna Investment deceitfully induced Chief Nnamdi Ezenwa that you have dollars to sell to him at a lower rate of N159.00 per dollar and deceitfully collected N294,150,000,00 equivalent to $1,850,000 from him on the pretence that you will transfer the dollars equivalent to his customers in Italy.

But having collected N294,150,000,00, you transferred only $900,000 equivalent to N143.100,000.00 and converted $950,000 Dollars, equivalent to N151,000,000.00 to your use.

You thereby committed offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.

Lagos court resumes trial of $950,000 forex fraud allegations Nov 12

metro

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Shawulu Dan-Mammam,Commissioner of Police, Niger State

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

In a tragic turn of events, kidnappers who abducted a hotel owner, his manager, and a guest in Gauraka community, Tafa Local Government Area, Niger State, have executed their captives despite receiving a ransom of N25 million.

The incident, which occurred early on August 17, 2024, has also claimed the lives of two local vigilantes, Abubakar Muhammad and Ibrahim Garba, who were killed while delivering the ransom.

According to reports from City & Crime, the bodies of the victims were found in the Dogon-Daji Forest, a border area between Kaduna, Niger State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They were subsequently transported to an air force base near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Hussaini Abubakar, the commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Tafa, confirmed that the remains of the vigilantes were buried on Saturday following military clearance.

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Additionally, a man previously abducted from the community about a month ago was rescued with gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at an army medical facility in Abuja.

The abduction began around 1 am when the kidnappers raided the hotel, forcibly taking all the lodgers. Witnesses reported that the bandits fired shots while leaving, drawing attention to the crime. Despite the presence of a security hunter nearby, the individual fled upon seeing the attackers.

Community residents have expressed growing frustration over the escalating attacks, noting that the bandits frequently operate in nearby forests and along major roads, including the Ijah-Koro and Ijah-Gwari roads leading to Bwari town in the FCT.

Gauraka has experienced at least five kidnapping incidents in the past four months, underscoring the urgent need for increased security measures in the area.

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

metro

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested five Chinese nationals suspected of illegal mining activities in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located in Ibieno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The EFCC announced the arrests on Sunday, stating that its Special Task Force on Illegal Mining, operating in Uyo, carried out the operation based on credible intelligence regarding illicit mining activities conducted by foreign companies in Eket and Ibieno LGAs.

This development underscores the ongoing efforts of the EFCC to clamp down on illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s natural resources from exploitation by foreign entities.

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The agency’s vigilance in addressing illegal operations continues to support the country’s broader fight against environmental degradation and economic sabotage.

“The five arrested Chinese suspects are Zhon Qinping, apprehended on 10 September, and Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng, arrested on 29 August.

“They were arrested at an illegal mining site, where a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral, was being extracted.

“The suspects will face charges in court once investigations are concluded,” EFCC said.

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

(NAN)

metro

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Umar Shehu

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

The Katsina Community Watch Corps (CWC) has apprehended Umar Shehu on allegations of supplying illegal injections and drugs to bandits involved in kidnappings in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The arrest was reported by Bakatsine, a security expert and Conflict and Crisis Journalist in the Northwest region, via a post on X.

Accompanying the post was a video showing a significant quantity of syringes and Umar Shehu’s confession to his involvement in the illegal activities.

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“GOOD NEWS: The Katsina Community Watch Corp (CWC) in Ɗandume Local Government Area has successfully apprehended a man named Umar Shehu, who was involved in trafficking illegal injections and drugs to supply to bandits engaged in kidnappings in Sabuwa LGA all in Katsina State,” the post reads.

“The security team gathered crucial information from Umar and others, but only Umar’s information appeared in the video while others were not recorded for security reasons, according to an insider.”