International

US adds Nigerian man to ‘15 Most Wanted’ list for child murder

Published

2 weeks ago

November 12, 2024

Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi

US adds Nigerian man to ‘15 Most Wanted’ list for child murder

A Nigerian man sought by Rhode Island authorities on charges of murder, serious bodily harm to a child, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service’s “15 Most Wanted” list. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered for information leading to his arrest.

According to a report on the U.S. Marshals Service’s official website, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of causing serious bodily injury to a child after emergency personnel in Providence found his 3-month-old son with severe injuries at a residence on 3 April 2017.

The child was rushed to hospital in cardiac arrest and required resuscitation to regain a pulse. A medical examination at the hospital revealed 18 injuries in varying stages of healing, consistent with prolonged abuse. These injuries included a skull fracture, subdural haematoma, severe brain injury, and fractures to the ribs, clavicle, legs, and arms. Despite being placed on life support, the child tragically died six months later.

Providence Police initially arrested and charged Olawusi with first-degree child abuse on 20 April 2017. He was released the same day but subsequently fled. Following the child’s death on 31 October 2017, the charge was escalated to murder. In November 2017, the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to locate Olawusi. Investigations revealed that Olawusi left the United States from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on 20 June 2017, using his Nigerian passport. It is believed he may be receiving support from relatives in Nigeria, and authorities have expressed concerns that he could pose a risk to other children.

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“Mr. Olawusi is wanted for the abuse and murder of an innocent child, and has fled the country to avoid justice,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald L. Davis. “We have placed Mr. Olawusi on our 15 Most Wanted list due to the heinous crimes he’s committed and the threat he continues to pose to the public. The USMS will exhaust all resources necessary to bring him to justice for his family and the community.”

Olawusi, who is also known as Olekun Olawusi, is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or via the USMS Tips App.

Established in 1983, the “15 Most Wanted” fugitive programme highlights some of the U.S.’s most dangerous and high-profile fugitives. These individuals often have extensive criminal backgrounds and pose a substantial threat to public safety. Fugitives on this list are usually deemed the “worst of the worst,” and may include murderers, sex offenders, major drug traffickers, organised crime figures, and high-profile financial criminals. Since its inception, the programme has led to the capture of over 250 fugitives.

The U.S. Marshals Service has a long history of assisting other law enforcement agencies in fugitive investigations. In collaboration with federal, state, tribal, and local authorities, USMS-led fugitive task forces arrested over 73,000 fugitives and resolved nearly 86,000 warrants in FY 2023.

US adds Nigerian man to ‘15 Most Wanted’ list for child murder

Related Topics:child murder Nigerian Man US Wanted

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International

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

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3 hours ago

November 26, 2024

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Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

BEIRUT: Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs on Tuesday, hours ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

A strike on Beirut hit the Noueiri district with no evacuation warning and killed at least one person, Lebanon’s health ministry said in a preliminary toll.

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Minutes later, at least 10 Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs. They began approximately 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, the largest such warning yet.

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International

Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

Published

4 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

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Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised the legal cases brought against him, calling them “empty and lawless”.

He accused Democrats of weaponising the judicial system to target him as a political opponent.

In a strongly worded statement, Trump alleged that over $100 million in taxpayer money had been wasted in what he described as a politically driven effort to undermine his influence.

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International

US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam

Published

4 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam

A United States federal jury sentenced two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, to 30 years in prison for scamming certain US citizens $3,500,000.

This was mentioned in a news statement made public on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.

According to the statement, the Nigerians, Ibekie and Aniukwu mislead their victims by informing them that they had received big inheritances that required payment to claim.

The couple would then ask their victims to transfer money, promising to refund them after the inheritances were claimed.

It also stated that the duo carried out romance scams by establishing romantic relationships with their victims and demanding them to send money after they had built trust in their victims.

It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.

“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.

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“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”

According to the statement, after being arraigned on 14 charges, the duo pleaded guilty to their different alterations.

Following their guilty pleas, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, and Aniukwu was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 8.

The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.

“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”

Meanwhile, Jennifer Gosha, an accomplice of the Nigerians and a US citizen, is expected to be sentenced on December 18 after pleading guilty.

“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.