A man posing as a LASTMA official was caught extorting Lagos drivers daily on Oshodi bridge, making up to N25,000 from unsuspecting motorists.

In Lagos, a 45-year-old father of three, Adewunmi Taiwo, was apprehended after allegedly posing as an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to extort funds from drivers on Oshodi Bridge.

Taiwo, reportedly earning between N15,000 and N25,000 per day, was arrested following a targeted operation by LASTMA’s Surveillance and Monitoring Unit.

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The LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed Taiwo’s arrest, revealing that Taiwo used a white Hiace Coaster bus with licence plate KJA 724 YJ to harass drivers, disguised as an official traffic officer.

A search of the vehicle uncovered LASTMA-branded items, including a uniform and raincoat, which he allegedly used to intimidate both commercial and private motorists along high-traffic areas such as Ikorodu Road and the Oshodi to Mile 2 Expressway.

During questioning, Taiwo, originally from Ilesha in Osun State, admitted to impersonating a LASTMA official to extort unsuspecting motorists.

The agency had received multiple complaints of extortion linked to his vehicle, prompting LASTMA’s swift action to investigate and bring the impostor to justice.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to uphold LASTMA’s integrity and professionalism,” Mr Bakare-Oki stated. “This arrest sends a clear warning to anyone seeking to exploit our agency’s identity for personal gain: such acts will face the full force of the law.”

LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, also signed a public statement detailing the agency’s vigilance against such exploitation.

He encouraged drivers to report suspicious activity to LASTMA’s toll-free hotline (080000527862), assuring that the agency remains steadfast in preserving the reputation and efficacy of Lagos traffic management.

Taiwo now faces legal action as LASTMA intensifies efforts to deter impersonators and protect Lagos motorists from fraudulent activities.

Adrienne Munju, a Canadian woman, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for importing 35.20 kg of cannabis into Nigeria.

In a significant ruling, the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced 41-year-old Canadian citizen Adrienne Munju to 11 years’ imprisonment for importing 35.20 kilogrammes of cannabis known as “Canadian Loud” into Nigeria.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu on Wednesday, who also provided an option for a N100 million fine on the two counts brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

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Munju’s conviction followed her guilty plea on the charges. During the proceedings, NDLEA prosecutor Mr. Abu Ibrahim stated that Munju had imported the cannabis without lawful authority.

The incident occurred on October 3, 2024, at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, where she arrived on a KLM flight.

The charges against Munju were in violation of Section 20(1)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same law, which addresses the illegal importation of controlled substances.

Upon her arraignment, Munju admitted to the charges, prompting the prosecution to review the facts of the case. A prosecution witness was called to provide evidence and tender relevant exhibits, leading the prosecutor to request the court to convict Munju based on the presented evidence and her guilty plea.

During the sentencing, Munju’s counsel, Benson Ndakara, alongside his team, appealed for leniency, highlighting her remorse and early guilty plea, which saved the court’s time.

He stressed that Munju had no prior criminal record and vowed to avoid criminal activities in the future. Ndakara also pointed out that she had been deceived into trafficking the drugs and had no support network in Nigeria, as she was abandoned by acquaintances.

Taking into account the defence’s arguments, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju to six years’ imprisonment on the first count and five years on the second count, with both sentences running concurrently.

Alternatively, she could opt for a N50 million fine for each count, resulting in a total of N100 million if she chose that route.

The NDLEA arrested Munju after a thorough examination of her three bags revealed 74 parcels of the illicit substance.

She had allegedly been recruited through an online platform to traffic the cannabis for 10,000 Canadian dollars to finance her ongoing Master’s degree in Canada.

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.