EFCC Arrests District Head’s Son, Five others for Fraud in Sokoto

While parading the suspects on March 19, 2020 in Sokoto, the Zonal Head,
Abdullahi Lawal informed newsmen that on 20th September, 2019, the
Sokoto Zonal office of the Commission received a petition written by
Concern Citizens of Tambuwal against the District Head of Tambuwal,
Alhaji Sa’ad Dahiru Mainasara and the former Chairman of the LG, Sambo
Bello Modo, for alleged offences of Conspiracy and Diversion of public
property.

The petitioners alleged that, the District Head of Tambuwal, Saad Dahiru
Mainasara conspired with Sambo Bello Modo, former LG Chairman of
Tambuwal LGA, Tukur Saad and sold out an Ambulance belonging to the
Community’s Primary Health Care Centre, Modo in Tambuwal LGA.

“Upon arrest, the suspects admitted selling the Ambulance, which was
initially purchased by Tambuwal LG at the cost of N4,000,000 (Four
Million Naira) at a price of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) to
one Zaharaddeen  Adamu ‘M’ of Tambuwal town, and the money was shared
among themselves”, he said.

According to Lawal, the District Head’s son, one Tukur Sa’ad received
N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) from Zaharaddeen, being proceed
of the stolen public property and allegedly handed over the said sum to
his father, the District Head, while the ex-Local Government Chairman
received N100, 000 as his share. He however, handed the Ambulance key to
Zaharaddeen, being the buyer.

It was further revealed that, one Alhaji Murtala A. Salihu, Manager of
Nasarawa Motors, Sokoto, issued his company’s receipt to Zaharaddeen
Adamu claiming that the vehicle was purchased from his company, to cover
the shady deal.

He added that the Ambulance, which has been transformed to a commercial
bus, has been recovered from Zaharaddeen. More so, the N300, 000 being
proceeds of the transaction, has been fully recovered.

In a related development, the Commission has arrested the duo of John
Mobuse and Martha Okotie in Akure, Ondo State and Warri, Delta State
respectively.

They are alleged to have defrauded their victims with a fraudulent
online PTDF Scholarship for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards in
Nigeria Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Universities for
2019/2020 Academic Session.

Upon their arrest, the principal suspect, John Mobuse, admitted to
receiving over N1, 500, 000 (One Million Five Hundred Naira) from
unsuspecting victims across the country using Martha Okotie’s account as
a conduit for receiving the monies.

Also the Commission has arrested one Etsano Amaju in Sapele, Delta state
for fraudulently collecting the sum of N45, 000 from one Dalhatu Ladan
under the guise of selling him an Apple Laptop.

The complainant alleged that since paying the said sum to the account
provided to him, neither was the laptop delivered nor his funds
refunded.

In the course of investigation the suspect confessed that he had no
laptop for sale and that he only duped the complainant.

He is providing information on several similar deposits of N45, 000 seen
in the account and efforts are being made to contact the victims.

Investigation is still ongoing and the suspects will soon be arraigned
in court.

The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Thursday, March 19, 2020 secured the convictions of two FBI
suspects and four others before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High
Court, Warri, Delta State for various offences bordering on
impersonation, Internet fraud and operating a vessel within Nigerian
Waters without due registration and licence by appropriate authority.

One of the convict, Patrick Erakposhere Onajokpe, alias John Mark was
arraigned on a two count charge of fraudulently impersonating the
identity of John Mark through which he defrauded unsuspecting American
ladies.

One of the count reads: That you Chief Patrick Onajokpe (alias James
Mark) Glory Agbare (at large) Alfred Akpewe (at large) Elena Onah (at
large) sometime between 2014 and 2015 in Warri within the jurisdiction
of this honourable court fraudulently impersonated the identity of one
James Mark claiming to be a black American working in deep sea off coast
of taxes, USA, in your hush app account where you enticed unsuspecting
American ladies into romantic relationships  online and in that process,
obtained the aggregate  sum of $878,489,24 from ladies and you thereby
committed an offence punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the
Cybercrime (prohibition prevention, ets) Act 2015 and punishable under
section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.

Upon his arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it
was read to him.

In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peters, prayed
the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
However, the defence counsel, Paul Ejiga, prayed the court to temper
justice with mercy as the defendant was a first time offender and has
become remorseful.

Justice Nwite convicted and sentenced Onajokpe to five years
imprisonment, in the alternative, a fine of N6, 000, 000 (Six Million
Naira). He is also to forfeit all items recovered from him which include
a Range Rover Jeep, a Petroleum Filing Station, an uncompleted plaza and
phones. Justice Nwite also ruled that the properties be sold with the
proceeds restituted to the victim of the crimes.

In a similar vein, the court also convicted MacDonald Chukwuma Nnamdi
who was arraigned on a two count charge of obtaining personal
identification information and using same to file fraudulent tax returns
with the inland revenue service, USA.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.  The
Prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peters prayed the court to convict and
sentence the defendant accordingly. The defence counsel John Okhuihiev
be prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

Justice Nwite sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment with
an option of one million naira fine.

One of the charges against him read. “that you MacDonald Chukwuma
Nnamdi,  Daniel Mercedis (at large) sometimes between 2018 and 2019  in
Benin City within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with
intent to defraud  used attached  e-mail to obtain personal
identification information of others online and  used same to file
fraudulent tax returns  with the inland revenue  service  (IRS) of the
USA and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section
36(1)of the  Cybercrime ( prohibition prevention  etc)Act 2015.

Similarly, the Commission secured the convictions of Akinwade Olajide,
Onume Kingsĺey, Kelechi Ogbuiton and Seje Skinn. They were arraigned for
operating a motor vessel on Nigerian Waters without due registration and
licence from appropriate authority.  They were convicted and fined the
sum of N600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) each. The judge also
ordered that the defendants undertake in writing to be of good
behaviour.