Forty-three internet fraud suspects have been jailed after pleading guilty in Anambra and Ebonyi states, highlighting ongoing efforts against online crime.

Forty-three suspects arrested for internet fraud in Awka, Anambra State, and Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, have been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to the charges against them.

The group was arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court in Awka by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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The suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence linking them to online criminal activities. Investigations revealed that they had impersonated foreign nationals through various social media accounts, deceiving unsuspecting victims into fraudulent schemes.

Each suspect faced separate charges, including personation, retention of proceeds of crime, possession of fraudulent documents, and obtaining by false pretence. Upon hearing the charges, they all pleaded “guilty.”

In light of their admissions, EFCC counsel Michael Ikechukwu Ani urged the court to impose appropriate sentences. However, the defence attorneys, including Ifeanyi Michael Odoh, James Nwatarali, Bernard Okeke, and O. C. Abalu, appealed for leniency, arguing that their clients were first-time offenders who had shown remorse.

Justice Anyadike ultimately sentenced each of the convicts to eight months in prison, with the option of paying a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).

Four individuals—Nwankwo Emmanuel Ikechukwu, Izuchukwu, Eyinna, and Ikechukwu—were assigned two months of community service instead, to be supervised by the Deputy Court Registrar.

Additionally, the court ordered that items confiscated from the convicts, including mobile phones and laptops, be auctioned, with proceeds directed to the Federal Government.

The sentenced individuals include Momoh Victor Abdulkareem, Paul Emmanuel, Adibe Henry, and many others.

Notable charges include Ikechukwu Ezra’s impersonation of a foreign citizen, Shirley Fang, through a fraudulent WhatsApp account, and Paul Emmanuel’s impersonation of Chen Dong from China using a fake Google account.

The NDLEA has intercepted drugs valued at over N7 billion in operations across Nigeria, including major hauls at seaports and forest raids.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has carried out a series of successful operations across Nigeria, seizing drugs valued at over N7 billion.

According to a statement released by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi on Sunday, the massive haul included codeine-based syrup, tramadol, methamphetamine, and cannabis, intercepted during coordinated efforts with other security agencies.

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One of the most significant operations occurred at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives, working with Customs officials, intercepted 162,351 bottles of codeine-based syrup from two containers on Tuesday, 15th October.

In a similar operation at the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State, a watch-listed container from India was found to contain 7.2 million pills of Royal 225mg Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, valued at N3.6 billion.

The same container also concealed 780 cartons of chlorphenamine, totalling 15.6 million opioid pills.

Two additional containers at the Onne port, searched on 15th and 17th October, revealed another 337,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup, with a street value of N2.36 billion.

These discoveries bring the total worth of drugs seized at the two seaports to an astonishing N7.1 billion.

In addition to the seaport seizures, the NDLEA conducted operations across various states. In Bauchi State, a 33-year-old suspect, Sunday Jonathan Ogenyi, was arrested on the Bauchi-Jos road, attempting to transport 76,600 tramadol pills hidden in false compartments of his vehicle.

In Ondo State, three suspects — Goddey Obizuo, Samuel Aniete, and Kuffrey Aniete — were apprehended in Afo village, where 672kg of cannabis sativa was recovered.

Further raids in Edo State, specifically in the Illushi forest within Esan South East LGA, resulted in the destruction of over 10,590kg of cannabis cultivated on 4.2 hectares of farmland.

During this operation, two suspects, Benson Upuoni (65) and Sunday Nwaeboyi (35), were taken into custody.

In Lagos, on 15th October, NDLEA officers arrested Andrew Joseph Anoriode along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 3kg of methamphetamine and 1.9kg of cannabis.

Additionally, 241kg of cannabis was recovered in the Gbaji area of Badagry, and a suspected methamphetamine manufacturer, Agbeiboh Oscar, was arrested in Abule Osun with 265 grams of meth and various chemicals used in drug production.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the agency’s operatives for their commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and their efforts to balance drug supply control with demand reduction measures.

Three police officers dismissed for their involvement in the death of Kwara State Polytechnic student Qoyum Ishola have been charged with homicide.

The Kwara State Police Command announced on Friday that three officers dismissed in connection with the fatal shooting of Qoyum Ishola, a student at Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin, have been formally charged in court.

The officers—Mr Abiodun Kayode, Mr James Emmanuel, and Mr Oni Philip—are facing serious charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, with all three currently remanded in prison custody.

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In a statement from the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, it was confirmed that the charges were brought before the court on 16 October 2024.

The statement read: “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the public that the three dismissed officers have been charged to court.

They face charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in connection with the death of Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola. They have been remanded in prison custody pending further court proceedings.”

The police had previously vowed to prosecute any officers found guilty in relation to Ishola’s death, which has drawn widespread outrage and demands for justice.

The 21-year-old was reportedly killed during a stop-and-search operation in the Fate area of Ilorin on 4 September 2024, prompting protests from students at the polytechnic.

Following the incident, students from Kwara State Polytechnic staged a protest at the state police command’s headquarters and the Government House, calling for justice and accountability.

The Student Union Government has since demanded a transparent investigation by the Nigeria Police Force to ensure those responsible for Ishola’s death are held accountable.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Victor Olaiya, reiterated the commitment of the police authorities to address the concerns of the community and uphold justice.