Nigerian national sentenced to eight years in U.S. prison for cyber fraud

Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, 39, a Nigerian national, was sentenced yesterday in New Haven, Connecticut, to eight years in prison for operating a business email compromise scheme out of multiple countries, including the United States.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Osuji and his co-conspirators targeted specific individuals and businesses by masquerading as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to obtain money.

They used witting and unwitting “money mules” to receive fraud proceeds in their bank accounts and then either transferred those funds from the money mule accounts to accounts under the co-conspirators’ control or converted the stolen proceeds to cash for further transfer.

Over the years-long operation of the scheme, numerous victims were tricked into transferring funds into bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients as part of normal business operations.

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In reality, the bank accounts were controlled by Osuji and his co-conspirators. The victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others.

The scheme also involved the exploitation of elderly individuals through romance scams to serve as some of the unwitting money mules, including one woman who testified at trial that she was duped into sending her own personal savings and income, including Social Security checks, to an individual she believed to be her romantic partner, but who was in fact one of Osuji’s co-conspirators.

The scam resulted in the near-total depletion of her life savings, caused her to declare bankruptcy, and led to the repossession of her house. Her personal bank account was also used to facilitate the fraud against one of the companies targeted by Osuji.

Osuji was arrested in Malaysia and extradited to the United States in 2022. On May 1, 2024, a jury in New Haven found Osuji guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

As a result of the scheme, losses and intended losses totaled over $6 million. At his sentencing hearing, Osuji was ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

Osuji’s alleged co-conspirator, John Wamuigah, remains in Malaysia and is pending extradition proceedings. An indictment is merely an allegation, and Wamuigah is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Another co-conspirator, Tolulope Bodunde, also a citizen of Nigeria, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Oct. 16 to two years in prison.

Nigerian national sentenced to eight years in U.S. prison for cyber fraud

Police commission dismisses 19 senior officers, demotes 19

The Police Service Commission (PSC), after rigorous consideration of the pending disciplinary matters before it, has approved the dismissal of 19 senior police officers, which comprised two chief superintendents of police, one superintendent, four deputy superintendents, and 10 assistant superintendents of police.

Kano govt criticizes FG over sealing of Emir’s palace

The Kano State Government has blamed the Federal Government for security operatives’ blockade of the Kano Emir’s Palace on Friday.

Armed police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly sealed the palace entrance, creating tension in the area.

The incident occurred as Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II was scheduled to address a group of economists on controversies surrounding the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.

He was also set to accompany his newly appointed district head, Munir Sanusi, to Bichi.

Despite the blockade, Emir Sanusi held court at the outer palace and later led the Friday congregational prayer at the Kano Central Mosque outside the palace.

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Reacting to the development, the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, criticized the Federal Government during a local radio interview, accusing it of attempting to destabilize the peace in Kano.

“We were really surprised waking up to this development with police sealing off the entrance to the palace of Kano Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II,” Bichi stated.

He added, “What surprises us the most is that Kano is peaceful, but a few people with backing from Abuja don’t want Kano to remain so.

“The emir was to escort his district head of Bichi, Wamban Kano, pray with him there, and then return. We were all invited, but we woke up to this. When we inquired, they told us it was an order given to them from above. Who is above? It’s the Federal Government.”

Bichi reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to maintaining peace in Kano and insisted that the emir’s decision to appoint a district head remains valid.

“We in Kano have resolved to stay in peace. Peace will reign, and nobody will come to Kano and destabilize it. The emir has appointed the district head, and it stands. He will take him to his place, and whenever he is ready, we are going there with him—no going back,” Bichi declared.

Kano govt criticizes FG over sealing of Emir’s palace