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N25.7bn fraud: Supreme court affirms conviction of Atuche, ex-Bank PHB boss

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The supreme court has affirmed the conviction of Francis Atuche, a former managing director of Bank PHB, over N25.7 billion fraud.

The apex court held in a unanimous judgment on Friday that Atuche failed to show reasons why the trial court’s findings and those of the court of appeal should be discredited.

Moore Adumein, one of the justices, read the judgment.

The court relied on its previous decisions to the effect that where a trial court’s decision on the demeanour of a party or witness is supported by the documentary evidence tendered, an appellate court has no business tampering with the decision of the trial court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initially declared Atuche wanted over an alleged fraud of N56 billion, after which he was detained for interrogation at the Ikoyi office of the anti-graft agency.

The commission arraigned Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth, and Ugo Anyanwu, who was the bank’s former chief financial officer, for their involvement in a N25.7 billion fraud in 2011 before Lateefat Okunnu, the judge of a Lagos high court.

In June 2021, the court convicted Atuche and Anyanwu of N25.7 billion fraud.

While Atuche got a six-year jail term, his co-convict was sentenced to four years in jail.

Okunnu held that both convicts defrauded the bank using well-recognised stockbrokers to transfer money under the guise of loans and shares.

“It was a well-planned, well-executed scheme, but the bubble burst when the Central Bank of Nigeria intervened,” the judge had said.

Not satisfied with the high court judgment, Atuche filed an appeal.

The appellate court, however, upheld the conviction and unanimously dismissed the appeal.

Crime

60 arrested as NDLEA raids ‘go hard or go home’ party in Abuja

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have raided a “drug” party at an apartment in Sun City estate, Abuja.

The anti-graft agency said the party was dubbed ‘Go Hard or Go Home: Pick Your Poison’.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said 60 suspects were arrested at the party which took place on Friday.

Babafemi said 20 of the suspects tested negative to illicit drugs while 33 others tested positive.

The NDLEA spokesperson said Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, directed that the suspects who tested negative be released unconditionally while those who tested positive should be released on bail and report for counselling on Monday.

“In Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Friday night disrupted a drug party dubbed “Go hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison”, where sixty (60) suspects comprising 25 males and 35 females were arrested at an apartment in Sun City estate in the Federal Capital Territory,” Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday.

“The raid followed credible intelligence about the drug party organised by one Stanley Ikechukwu who was arrested at the venue.

“At least six of the suspects: Victoria Adoga; Hamza Yari; Joanne Essein Joy; Socchima Valentine; Jago Imole; and Charles Indobuibisi, were arrested with different quantities of ecstasy and cannabis.”

OTHER ARRESTS, SEIZURES

The anti-drug agency also intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup, containing 1,050,000 bottles of opioid worth over N7.3billion at the port in Onne, Rivers state.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the illicit drugs were seized from six containers on Saturday.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, two suspects — Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji — were arrested after they reportedly tested positive to ingestion of illicit substances.

“While Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022kg in six excretions, Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance with a total weight of 662 grams in five egestion,” Babafemi said.

“Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel actually stole the identity of his late uncle who was once based in Germany, a decision he claimed he took to get a Schengen visa to enable him free access to Europe, while his real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju.”

“No fewer than four suspects: Endurance Okon, 24; Joseph Michael, 23; Ovoco Bright, 43; and Goday Abanum, 23, were arrested in the deep forest of Ugun, Igueben LGA, Edo state on Saturday 29th June when NDLEA operatives raided and destroyed 18,632.22 kilograms of cannabis on 7.452888 hectares of farmland.”

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Crime

FCT Police nabs killers of Retired Army General in Abuja

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The FCT Police Command has arrested four Armed Robbers that attacked and Killed Army Brigadier General Uwem Udukwere in Abuja Sunshine Estate.

CP FCT, Benneth Igweh said two of the robbers now at large went away with the pistol of the retired general.

He declared the robbers wanted and vowed to get them.

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Crime

NDLEA raids snake-guarded shrine in Edo, intercepts 8.7kg of illicit drugs

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have raided a snake-guarded shrine reportedly used to store illicit drugs in Igor community of Edo.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the operatives had detected a specially constructed large hole in a wall covered with wallpapers and fetish objects.

Babafemi said different quantities of illicit substances such as methamphetamine, loud, colorado and arizona, with a total weight of 8.743kg, were pulled from the deep hole.

“At least, two ladies: Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani were arrested during the intelligence-led operation on Tuesday 18th June 2024 after the big black snake guarding the shrine was demobilized,” the statement reads.

The spokesperson said NDLEA operatives also raided the Usen forest in Ovia south-west LGA, Edo state on June 22 where 209kg cannabis and a motorcycle were recovered.

Two suspects, Obi Ferguson and Ernest Abanum, were arrested.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Lagos have intercepted a carefully packaged consignment of 8.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at a motor park in Mazamaza, Ojo area of the state,” the statement reads.

“The highly addictive illicit substance, also called ice or crystal meth, was packed in imported Dunkin’ turtle love chocolate wraps and then concealed in the casing of three loud speakers.

“A 39-year-old suspect, Michael Odiomume who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo state was promptly arrested on Wednesday 19th June at the park.

“In Abuja, operatives on Tuesday 18th June intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pick up vehicle with amber lights and fake registration number of a security agency at Kiyi village in Kuje area of the FCT.

“The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8kg procured at Uzeba, Edo state.

“A 76-year-old grandfather, Mr. Francis Omofa, linked to the consignment was arrested. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug business for 10 years.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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