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Nigerian detained in US over $10m COVID-19 fund fraud
Nigerian detained in US over $10m COVID-19 fund fraud
A Nigerian man, who reportedly conspired to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million COVID-19 unemployment benefits from the United States government has been arrested, US authorities said.
The US attorney’s office, district of Massachusetts, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying that the Nigerian with the name Yomi Jones Olayeye, a.k.a “Sabbie,” from Lagos State, was arrested on August 13. Olayeye was nabbed upon arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Between March and July 2020, Olayeye and his associates in the fraud enterprise had according to the court, defrauded three pandemic assistance programs administered by the Massachusetts department of unemployment assistance; the traditional unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
“Specifically, Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly used personally identifiable information (PII) they purchased over criminal internet forums to apply for UI, PUA and FPUC – falsely representing themselves to be eligible state residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the attorney’s office said.
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“Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly used the same fraudulently obtained PII to open U.S. bank and prepaid debit card accounts to receive the assistance payments.
“It is also alleged that Olayeye and his co-conspirators recruited U.S.-based account holders to receive and transfer the fraud proceeds via cash transfer applications.
“Olayeye and his co-conspirators then allegedly used the fraudulent proceeds to purchase Bitcoin via online marketplaces. It is further alleged that Olayeye and his co-conspirators concealed the conspiracy’s connection to Nigeria by leasing Internet Protocol addresses assigned to computers located in the United States for use in the fraudulent transactions.”
Following the false representations, the 40-year-old Nigerian and his co-conspirators successfully received over $1.5 million in assistance to which they were not entitled.
According to the statement, “charges of wire fraud and its conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, forfeiture, and restitution.”
The US court system also has it that the aggravated identity theft charge calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be added to any sentence imposed on the wire fraud charge.
The Nigerian reportedly made his first appearance in a New York district court on August 14 and was scheduled to come before the federal court in Boston this Tuesday.
Nigerian detained in US over $10m COVID-19 fund fraud
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News
Tragedy in Nsukka as Six UNN Graduates Reportedly Found Dead After Final Exams
Tragedy in Nsukka as Six UNN Graduates Reportedly Found Dead After Final Exams
NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE — Tragedy has struck the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), following reports that six fresh graduates of the institution have been found dead inside an apartment in the Hilltop area of Nsukka, Enugu State.
The victims, reportedly comprising five females and one male, were said to have been discovered lifeless on Thursday morning, barely a day after completing their final examinations.
The incident has thrown the university community into mourning, with students and residents struggling to come to terms with the shocking development.
According to reports, the deceased had recently concluded their academic activities and were said to have participated in sign-out celebrations marking the completion of their studies.
The gathering, which was expected to be a moment of excitement and celebration after years of academic pursuit, reportedly ended in tragedy.
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The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, as there are conflicting reports about the number of victims and what transpired inside the apartment.
Meanwhile, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the university, Inya Agha Egwu, has acknowledged receiving enquiries about the incident and assured journalists that the university management would issue an official statement.
Efforts to obtain an immediate response from the Enugu State Police Command were reportedly unsuccessful as calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, were unanswered.
As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the deceased and the actual cause of their deaths had yet to be officially established.
The tragic development has raised concerns across the university community, with students and residents awaiting further information from the police and university authorities.
Further details will be provided as official statements emerge.
Tragedy in Nsukka as Six UNN Graduates Reportedly Found Dead After Final Exams
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News
BREAKING: Manchester United Sack Michael Carrick After Disastrous Start to Season
BREAKING: Manchester United Sack Michael Carrick After Disastrous Start to Season
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick with immediate effect following the club’s disastrous start to the 2026/27 season.
The 45-year-old Englishman was reportedly informed of the decision on Thursday morning after the club’s hierarchy concluded that a managerial change was necessary to address the team’s poor performances.
Carrick’s dismissal follows a disappointing run of results that has left Manchester United languishing in 18th position on the Premier League table, with just one victory from their opening 10 league matches.
The decision was reached following discussions involving chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Carrick had come under mounting pressure in recent weeks, particularly after Manchester United suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Although he was initially given another opportunity to turn the situation around, Sunday’s dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa reportedly proved decisive.
United fought back from a two-goal deficit to rescue a point through two late stoppage-time goals. However, the result extended the club’s disappointing run and left them trapped in the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take over as Manchester United’s next head coach.
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The Argentine, who currently manages the United States men’s national team, has reportedly reached a verbal agreement in principle with the Old Trafford club.
Manchester United are expected to activate a release clause believed to be worth approximately £7 million to secure his departure from the US national team, where his contract runs until 2030.
The overall compensation could rise if Pochettino brings members of his preferred coaching staff to Old Trafford.
Pochettino previously managed Southampton, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and is now being linked with a return to the Premier League.
Carrick’s dismissal represents a dramatic turnaround after his impressive performance during the second half of last season.
Appointed in January following the departure of Ruben Amorim, the former Manchester United midfielder guided the club to a third-place Premier League finish and secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
However, his success last season could not shield him from the consequences of United’s poor performances this campaign.
Pochettino’s potential first major assignment could be a high-profile Premier League encounter against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22, as Manchester United seek to revive their struggling season.
BREAKING: Manchester United Sack Michael Carrick After Disastrous Start to Season
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Notorious Bandit Kingpin, Kachalla Bello, Killed in Rival Gang Clash in Katsina Forest
Notorious Bandit Kingpin, Kachalla Bello, Killed in Rival Gang Clash in Katsina Forest
KATSINA STATE – A notorious bandit leader identified as Kachalla Bello has reportedly been killed during a fierce gun battle between rival armed groups in a forest in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Bello was reportedly among those killed when rival bandit factions engaged in a deadly confrontation on Tuesday evening, November 10, 2026, amid an apparent struggle for territorial control.
According to local sources and counter-insurgency reports, the clash involved heavy exchanges of gunfire, leaving several fighters dead.
The late bandit leader was reportedly notorious for terrorising farming communities across parts of Katsina State through attacks, abductions and other criminal activities.
Beyond kidnapping for ransom, Bello was accused of subjecting some of his victims to forced labour on farmlands allegedly belonging to him.
Local accounts indicated that he frequently abducted farmers while they were working on their farms and compelled them to work on his farmland before considering their release.
His alleged activities reportedly contributed to insecurity, economic hardship and displacement among residents of affected communities, particularly farmers who depended on agriculture for their livelihoods.
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However, the Katsina State Police Command had yet to officially confirm Bello’s reported death as of the time of filing this report.
The Command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, reportedly said he was making efforts to verify the incident and establish the exact location of the alleged confrontation.
He explained that security personnel were working to identify the location of the clash and liaise with the relevant Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) for further investigation.
Meanwhile, security observers have repeatedly identified rivalries and internal disputes among armed criminal groups as factors contributing to violent confrontations within bandit networks operating across Nigeria’s North-West region.
The circumstances surrounding Bello’s reported death, including the number of casualties recorded during the encounter, remain unclear.
Further details are expected as security agencies work to establish what happened.
Notorious Bandit Kingpin, Kachalla Bello, Killed in Rival Gang Clash in Katsina Forest
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