Crime
Alleged N950M Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial Of Young Alhaji Foundation Promoter
Alleged N950M Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial Of Young Alhaji Foundation Promoter
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on June 19, 2023, adjourned till June 23, 2023 further hearing in the trial of one Alhaji Usman Abubakar over an alleged N950m fraud.
Abubakar, alongside Young Alhaji Foundation, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N950 million.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on February 22, 2023.
At today’s proceedings, the first prosecution witness, PW1, Adeniyi Oyewole, Managing Director, Ano Farms Limited, under cross-examination by counsel for the first defendant, Greg Anumenechi, again, asserted that the said Fawaz forwarded the account details of the second defendant to him.
He testified further that he is an ex-banker who, during his time in the banking sector, dealt in FOREX(foreign exchange).
During the proceedings, the defence sought to tender in evidence the original copies of two statements made by the witness to the EFCC in the course of the investigation.
However, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, raised an objection to the admissibility of the statements.
“It is inadmissible, my lord, because it can only be for contradiction; and the defence has not pointed out any contradictions in his testimony,” he said.
The objection was sustained by the court.
According to him, the account details of the second defendant was forwarded to him by Fawaz via WhatsApp.
He also affirmed that he was the one who applied that a lien be placed on the said account in which the N950 million was credited into.
“Yes, I’m the one that applied that a lien be made because I suspected the transaction, and I also initiated a recall. I did it through my bank,” he said.
He testified further that Fawaz told him that the account holder was angry that there was a lien on the account.
“Dr. Fawaz said his bosses were also angry, and that the second defendant had been instructed to return the money,” he said.
He said he told Fawaz that if he received the equivalent in Dollars, as agreed, he would apply that the lien be taken off.
He further noted that it was an audio conversation he had with Fawaz, and that it was already before the court as an exhibit.
The case was adjourned till June 23, 2023 for continuation of trial.
Alleged N950M Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial Of Young Alhaji Foundation Promoter
Wanted Boko Haram spy arrested in Monguno over Cross Kauwa attack, kidnappings
By Zagazola Makama
Security operatives have arrested a wanted Boko Haram spy in Monguno, Borno State, in connection with the recent terrorist attack on Cross Kauwa, intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama.
The suspect, identified as Abulfatahi, was apprehended on July 27 during an intelligence-led operation following efforts to track members of a terrorist intelligence network operating in the area.
Sources disclosed that two other members of the same network had earlier been arrested and transferred to the Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre (JIFC) for further investigation.
During preliminary interrogation, Abulfatahi reportedly confessed to working for a Boko Haram commander identified as Akilu, who is said to control terrorist activities in Dabar Masara and Garin Mace.
According to the sources, the suspect admitted to collecting taxes on behalf of the terrorist leader and facilitating the selection of individuals for abduction around Monguno.
Investigators also recovered two telephone numbers allegedly linked to Akilu from the suspect’s mobile phone as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the terrorist network.
The sources said security agencies are conducting further investigations to identify additional collaborators, establish the full extent of the network’s activities, and support ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Lake Chad region.
A comprehensive investigation report is expected to be submitted upon the conclusion of the ongoing inquiry.
Wanted Boko Haram spy arrested in Monguno over Cross Kauwa attack, kidnappings
Crime
Three suspected ISWAP fighters surrender to troops in Damasak after fleeing sustained bombardment
Three suspected ISWAP fighters surrender to troops in Damasak after fleeing sustained bombardment
By Zagazola Makama
Three suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have surrendered to troops of the Nigerian military in Damasak, Borno State, citing exhaustion and sustained military bombardment of their camps.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects surrendered at about 4:50 p.m. on July 28 to troops of Headquarters 5 Brigade in Damasak during ongoing counter-insurgency operations under Operation Hadin Kai.
The surrendered suspects were identified as Abba Musa Dogo, 24; Abubakar Bargaji, 28; and Ibrahim Abubakar, 16.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that they escaped from terrorist camps at Sabon Gari and Tunbun Mota, reportedly controlled by ISWAP commanders Abu Fatima and Abu Ayuba.
According to the sources, the suspects attributed their decision to surrender to fatigue and the sustained aerial and ground bombardment of their enclaves by Nigerian troops, which they said had made survival increasingly difficult.
The suspects also disclosed that they had been trained as gunboat operators and anti-aircraft gunners for operations in the Lake Chad region.
They further confessed that weapons were only issued to them before specific operations and were retrieved by their commanders immediately after the missions, suggesting a tightly controlled weapons management system within the terrorist group.
The sources said the three suspects expressed their readiness to renounce insurgency and embrace peace.
They are currently in military custody and are undergoing further profiling and investigation in line with established procedures.
The latest surrender adds to the growing number of terrorists abandoning the insurgency amid sustained military offensives targeting terrorist enclaves across the Lake Chad region under Operation Hadin Kai.
Three suspected ISWAP fighters surrender to troops in Damasak after fleeing sustained bombardment
Police arrest man for allegedly hacking father to death with axe in Benue
By Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the Benue State Police Command have arrested a man for allegedly hacking his father to death with an axe following a family dispute in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident was reported at about 8:00 a.m. on July 25 by the Clan Head of Turan-Tse Twar, Injorov Tongov, Zaki Akor Kpan.
According to the report, the tragic incident occurred at about 2:00 p.m. on July 24 after the suspect, identified as Terfa Nyikwagh, engaged in a heated argument with his father, Mr. Nyikwagh Abor, over the death of his brother, Ternenge Uwuh.
The sources said the disagreement escalated, during which the suspect allegedly attacked his father with an axe, inflicting fatal injuries.
Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Katsina-Ala led a patrol team to the scene, where the suspect was arrested without resistance.
The body of the deceased was evacuated and deposited at the Gondozua Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
The suspect remains in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident before prosecution.
Police arrest man for allegedly hacking father to death with axe in Benue
Wanted Boko Haram spy arrested in Monguno over Cross Kauwa attack, kidnappings
Three suspected ISWAP fighters surrender to troops in Damasak after fleeing sustained bombardment
Troops foil IED threat on Dikwa–Gajibo road, safely detonate explosive
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