Connect with us

Crime

Mama Boko Haram bags another jail term over N66m fraud

Published

on

A high court in Borno state has sentenced Aisha Wakil, better known as ‘Mama Boko Haram’, to seven years imprisonment over N66 million fraud.

The Maiduguri zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Wakil, alongside Tahiru Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing in 2019.

The defendants, as promoters and managers of a non-governmental organisation — Complete Care and Aids Foundation — were alleged to have, on September 7, 2018, induced one Ali Tijjani and his company, AMTMAT Global Ventures, to supply N51 million worth of processed maize grain, also known as ‘biski’, for which they refused to pay.

According to the EFCC, AMTMAT Global Ventures processed and funded the trip of the trio to Morocco to the tune of N15 million, “a cost they refused to defray”.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the charges upon arraignment.

The EFCC had, through its counsel, Mukhtar Ahmed, presented five witnesses and tendered several exhibits before closing its case on September 1, 2020.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Aisha Kumaliya, the presiding judge, said the prosecution proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

According to a statement by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, the judge pronounced all the defendants guilty as charged.

“The judge sentenced Wakil, Daura and Shoyede to seven years imprisonment for the offence of conspiracy without option of fine, and seven years on the count of cheating also without option of fine,” the statement reads.

“On the second count of cheating, the court sentenced the convicts to seven years imprisonment each without an option of fine.

“In addition, the court ordered the defendants to pay the sum of N51m to Ali Tijjani or in default, serve fifteen years imprisonment.

“In addition, the first, second and third defendants are to each pay the sum of N3,750,000.00 (Three Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) to Ali Tijjani or in default, serve five years imprisonment each.

“The sentence is to start running at the expiration of any sentence that this court or any other court had awarded the convicted persons before this judgment.”

Crime

Thieves cart away cows meant for church harvest celebration

Published

on

By

Suspected thieves have carted away two cows from the premises of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Testimony Parish in the Egbeda area of Oyo state.

In a post published on its Facebook page, the church said the stolen cows, bought at N1.9 million, were meant for its annual adult harvest thanksgiving celebration.

The incident happened on November 11 as the church prepared for the celebration slated for November 17.

After days of searching for the missing cows, the church solicited for financial contributions to buy new cows for the harvest celebration.

“Dear Celestians and The General public, This 2 Huge Cows was stolen where it was Tied in The Church Premises at CCC Testimony parish Elerumoke Area, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia and its meant for slaughter for the 9th adult harvest thanksgiving of the church coming up this Sunday 17th November 2024,” the church wrote on Facebook.

“We hereby solicit for your prayer for quick recovery of this harvest thanksgiving sacrificial materials.

“Anybody with useful information on how to recover these cows or any means of assistance to make the harvest thanksgiving a beautiful one should contact the parish shepherd.”

Continue Reading

Crime

NDLEA arrests businessman for smuggling cocaine through ingestion

Published

on

By

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the arrest of a businessman caught with a large quantity of cocaine.

Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed the arrest on Sunday via his X account, accompanied by a video displaying the seized contraband.

The businessman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly ingested a substantial quantity of cocaine in an attempt to avoid detection.

Babafemi wrote, “Detty December: Before you swallow those drugs, please remember that the new @ndlea_nigeria has the capacity and capability to catch you.

“The businessman who excreted this amount of cocaine will not only spend Christmas behind bars but also risks a life sentence at the end of his trial. Beware!”

Continue Reading

Crime

UK teenager risks 20 years in Dubai prison for sex with 17-year-old girl

Published

on

By

An 18-year-old British boy has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl in Dubai.

Detained in Dubai, a group of UAE legal experts, said the teenager was on holiday with his parents when he met the girl — who is now 18 — at the same hotel.

The teenagers who are both from London were said to have made plans to continue their romance when they returned to the UK.

The group, which campaigns to help people it says have suffered injustice in the UAE, said the young man was charged because the girl’s mother found their chats and pictures back in the UK.

It was gathered that the woman subsequently contacted police in Dubai and he was arrested.

The boy however claimed he was unaware that the girl was younger than him when they met. The teenager also disclosed that he was in police custody for three days and was unable to contact his parents.

“We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” he told Detained in Dubai.

“My parents knew about our relationship but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.

“When she left, I couldn’t wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door. They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn’t tell me why. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.”

The teenager, it is understood, could face up to two decades in prison owing to Dubai’s strict laws regarding sex outside marriage.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of the campaign group, said Dubai recently legalised out-of-wedlock sex for tourists but “still hosts a strict Islamic legal system”.

“Sex outside marriage is legal for tourists but only if both parties are over 18. The girl was just a few months younger than Marcus and he didn’t know that at the time,” Stirling said.

“Since his arrest, she has turned 18. This is not something Dubai should be prosecuting.

“Parents will be scared to take their older teenagers on vacation with them where they could end up losing their lives over behaviour that’s completely legal in their own countries.”

The teenager and his family have called on foreign secretary David Lammy, their local MP, to intervene in the case.

The teenager is no longer being held in a police cell but is unable to leave the country, with his family facing bills of £2,000 for Airbnb accommodation until his case is resolved.

Continue Reading

Most Read...