Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court has convicted and sentenced one Yusuf Umar Salisu to prison for fraud.
He was prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a one-count charge bordering on cheating, theft and unauthorised withdrawal to the tune of N1,000,000( One Million Naira only).
His charge reads: “That you Yusuf Umar Salisu (M) on or about 23rd October, 2023, while operating in the name and style of Yusuf POS and Engine Oil, at Maraban Jos, Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, deceived one Musa Mujittafa through his Point of Sale machine (POS) to collect the total sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) from him, which you dishonestly refused to pay back, and thereby committed cheating, an offence contrary to Section 306 (a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 307 of the same Law.”
He pleaded “guilty” when the charge was read to him, prompting prosecution counsel, M.E Eimonye to urge the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Justice Isiaka thereafter convicted and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira). In addition to his sentence, he is to restitute the sum of One Million Naira (N 1,000,000.00) to his victim.
The journey to the Correctional Centre began for Salisu when he posed as a customer at his victim’s PoS shop and fraudulently swapped his PoS machine with a similar one he came with. Upon distracting his victim, he transferred the sum of One Million Naira (N 1,000,000.00) from his account to a Money Point and Opay accounts in instalments and refused to return the money to his victim after his fraud was discovered.
Media & Publicity
November 7, 2024
N4.4billion worth cocaine seized at Lagos airport as NDLEA grills 30 suspects
– Intercepts UK, UAE, Australia-bound cocaine, cannabis, tramadol concealed in body cream containers, art work
The bid by members of an international drug syndicate that operates between Brazil, Ethiopia and Nigeria to smuggle into Lagos a total of 845 wraps of cocaine weighing 18.72 kilograms has been thwarted and the consignments recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.
The drug consignments worth Four Billion Four Hundred and Ninety-Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,492,800,000) in street value were recovered from two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft during the post landing cleaning of the cabin of flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on Tuesday 29th October 2024.
The illicit drug consignments were wrapped in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft, from where they were recovered after the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA was alerted about the strange objects. No fewer than 30 suspects have so far been grilled in connection with the seizure.
Investigations revealed that the seized drugs were conveyed from Brazil to Ethiopia through ingestion and excreted in Addis Ababa by a set of couriers while some other traffickers picked them up and attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria through the Lagos airport before their attempt was frustrated with the cooperation of the airline’s authorities and other airport stakeholders.
In the same vein, attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 2.928kg cocaine, cannabis and tramadol 225mg concealed in body cream containers, and pieces of art work to Australia, United Arab Emirate and United Kingdom through some courier companies in Lagos were also blocked by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, on Monday 28th October.
At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 29th October intercepted 754, 000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen 225mg worth Five Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Naira (N525, 000,000) in a targeted and watch-listed container from India during a joint examination with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, a suspect Mujahid Hamisu, 24, was arrested with 147,000 pills of tramadol concealed in black nylon bags containing plumbing materials along Kwali-Gwagwalada Abuja expressway on his way from Onitsha, Anambra state on Saturday 2nd November 2024, while another suspect Seun Abimbola, 47, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Giri junction area of the FCT.
In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Kabba- Obajana highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja while a search of her luggage led to the recovery of fake Naira notes worth Four Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand ,Two Hundred Naira (₦ 4,353,200), even as another suspect Shaibu Dahiru, 27, was nabbed in a vehicle coming from Lagos to Katsina along Lokoja- Okene- Abuja road on Thursday 30th October with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.400kg.
A notorious drug dealer Usman Abba (alias Timaya) who has been on the watchlist of the Katsina state command of NDLEA was on Wednesday 30th October arrested at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura with consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis. Same day, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa arrested a suspect Augustine Dike, 31, with 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.
In Taraba, operatives on Friday 1st November arrested Danlami Fakwa, 46, at Sabon Gari, Jalingo LGA, with 49.795kg cannabis, while a total of 561kg of same substance was recovered from a Sienna bus at Ogbese village in Ondo state on Monday 28th October.
A suspect Kabiru Yusuf, 25, was on Saturday 2nd October arrested in possession of 51,813 pills of tramadol and exol 5 at NDA Bus Stop, Kaduna, just as raids in Edo state led to the seizure of 603.6kg cannabis at Farm road, Ekiadolor and 308.4kg of same substance at Uroe community.
Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week. Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Sanganare, Adamawa; students of College of Arts and Islamic Studies, Tungan Magajiya, Niger state; students and staff of Regina Catholic International College, Obehie, Abia state; students and teachers of Akinmorin Grammar School, Oyo, Oyo state; as well as students and teachers of Redeemer’s International School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Apapa, Kogi, FCT, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Ondo, Taraba, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 3rd November 2024
EDO STATE HIGH COURT JAILS MATTHEW EBOSA, MARVELOUS OSAYENMA, IMONIWE JOSHUA, MICHAEL AGBOWEMEH SAN, ALVIN NOSAKHARE OSARENI, PROCOIUS IMONIWE AND MIKE AJUFO
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, between November 6 and 7, 2024 secured the conviction and sentence of seven internet fraudsters before Justice A.N Erhabor of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.
The convicts are Johnson Matthew Ebosa, Marvelous Osayenma, Imoniwe Joshua, Michael Agbowemeh San, Alvin Nosakhare Osareni, Procoius Imoniwe and Mike Ajufo.
They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Johnson Matthew Ebosa reads: “That you Johnson Matthew Ebosa (m) on or about the 30th of October, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, K Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Erhabor on Thursday November 7, convicted and sentenced Michael Agbowemeh San and Alvin Nosakhare Osareni to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each while the trio of Johnson Mathew Ebosa, Marvelous Osayenma and Imoniwe Joshua bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.
On Wednesday, November 6, Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Precious Imoniwe to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) while Mike Ajufo bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.
All the convicts forfeited their phones, laptops, and money in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of crime. They are also to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began following their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC through a sting operation owing to their involvement in fraudulent internet activities.
Media & Publicity
November 8, 2024
Tracking President Tinubu’s N200 billion intervention fund programme
By Fredrick Nwabufo
The real sector – agricultural and industrial — is a critical factor for economic growth and development. A nation is as affluent as its industrial sector. In fact, this sector is the mitochondrion of a productive economy.
Nigeria is endowed with a vibrant consumer market – the largest in Africa. And where there is consumption, there is demand, and there should be commensurate local production. Incentivising production and creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive are indispensable for sustainable economic growth and job creation.
Since he assumed office, President Bola Tinubu has taken ingenious decisions to ensure the blossoming of Nigeria’s industrial and sundry sectors, as well as to stimulate and pyramid the variables for job creation. For instance, he issued executive orders to enhance local production of healthcare products and incentivise agricultural and consumer goods production, in addition to effecting a full-system upgrade of the oil and gas industry.
Among the robust measures to support the manufacturing sector, inclusive of micro, small, and medium scale enterprises, is the N200 billion Presidential Intervention Fund Programme.
The fund is in three parts – the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS); the FGN MSME Intervention Fund, and FGN Manufacturing Sector Fund.
The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS) provides N50,000 grant to nano-business owners, especially women and young people, with beneficiaries from all the local government areas (LGAs) across the country.
The FGN MSME Intervention Fund is valued at N75 billion and seeks to attenuate the challenges faced by MSMEs, offering a maximum of N1 million per beneficiary at a 9 percent interest rate, while the FGN Manufacturing Sector N75 billion Fund offers support to eligible manufacturing businesses, with each beneficiary receiving up to N1 billion at a comparable interest rate.
The programme is being implemented by the Bank of Industry (BOI).
Here is a status update on the programme as of September/October 2024.
N50 BILLION PRESIDENTIAL CONDITIONAL GRANT SCHEME (PCGS}
- This scheme planned to disburse N50,000 grants to 1 million beneficiaries across the LGAs.
- The sum of N38.8 billion has been disbursed to 774,593 beneficiaries across the 774 LGAs and area councils of the FCT.
- Letters have been sent to state governors requesting additional beneficiaries (based on population) and nomination of focal persons in the respective states to complete the 1,000,000 beneficiaries target for the programme.
- Twenty-Three (23) states (Abia, Adamawa, Akwa lbom, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Ekiti, FCT-Abuja, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Enugu, and Lagos) have responded with the details of the nominated focal persons.
- Ten (10) states (Gombe, Jigawa, Osun, Sokoto, Yobe, Taraba, Kogi, Abia, Akwa lbom, Kaduna) have sent a total of 61,055 candidate data and verification of these candidates is in progress.
N75 BILLION FGN MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES (MSME} INTERVENTION FUND
- The programme seeks to disburse loans of up to N1 million to at least 75,000 beneficiaries.
- The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment (FMITI) transferred the public database of 832,359 MSMEs to the Bank of Industry on September 3, 2024.
- Out of the above number, only 211,248 applicants submitted completed information, out of which 932 have been evaluated and approved for disbursement, which is ongoing. Other applicants with incomplete information have been contacted to submit missing documentation.
- The National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale industrialists (NASS) have been contacted and are being involved to ensure that their membership is on-boarded to become beneficiaries. Over 412 members of NASME are being evaluated.
N75 BILLION FGN MANUFACTURING SECTOR FUND (MSF}
- The programme seeks to disburse up to N1 billion to 75 manufacturing companies.
- The funds under this programme have been fully allocated.
- The Bank received several applications directly and has processed and approved 143 manufacturing companies with a total loan value of N78.5 billion.
- As of September 24, 2024, the Bank has successfully disbursed the sum of N6.3 billion to eight manufacturing companies.
- 23 other projects valued at N9.1 billion are currently at various stages of disbursement.
- The remaining 112 companies valued at N63.1 billion are currently at various stages of meeting the conditions precedent to loan disbursement. All 143 companies being reviewed are geographically spread as follows North-Central – 13; North-West – 23; North-East- 36; South-West – 46; South-East – 18; South-South – 7.
- The Bank met with the executives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to ensure that all beneficiaries are real manufacturers. This is to provide additional validation of the loan applicants for the programme.
Fredrick Nwabufo is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement
