News
Nigerian brothers get 17-year jail term in US for sextortion of teenager who died by suicide
A US court has sentenced two Nigerian brothers, who targeted a 17-year-old in a sextortion scam, to 17 years and six months in prison.
Prosecutors said Samuel, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, sent Jordan DeMay a friend request on Instagram, pretended to be a girl his age, and flirted with him.
The Ogoshi brothers lured DeMay into sending them explicit images and threatened to broadcast the pictures to his friends if he did not send them money.
Jordan sent as much money as he could and pleaded with the scammers, threatening to kill himself if they spread the images.
“Good… Do that fast, or I’ll make you do it,” the brothers replied.
The 17-year-old schoolboy killed himself less than six hours after they started talking on Instagram.
John DeMay, the deceased’s father, told Marquette federal court in Michigan that he still has nightmares after finding his son dead in his bedroom.
He said the family moved out of the house to escape the memory.
The brothers were extradited to the US in August last year to face prosecution over numerous cases of sexual extortion of young men and teenage boys on social media linked to them.
They pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to exploit teenage boys in Michigan and across the US sexually.
In a statement on Thursday, Merrick Garland, attorney general, said over 100 victims, including at least eleven minors, fell to the brothers’ scam.
“These sentences should serve as a warning that the perpetrators of online sexual exploitation and extortion cannot escape accountability for their heinous crimes by hiding behind their phones and computers,” Garland said.
“The Justice Department will find them, no matter where they are, and we will bring them to justice in the United States.”
At the sentencing, both brothers apologised to DeMay’s family.
“I’m sorry to the family. We made a bad decision to make money, and I wish I could change that,” Samson said.
Their defence attorneys said the brothers’ crimes were fuelled by drug abuse and the sextortion scam culture in Nigeria.
The judge said the crimes showed a “callous disregard for life,” especially as they continued targeting other victims even after learning that DeMay died.
It is the first successful prosecution of Nigerians for sextortion in the US, where it is a rapidly growing cybercrime, often linked to Nigeria.
In July, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, said it had removed 63,000 accounts in Nigeria linked to sextortion scams.
News
Lagos, Abia, Akwa Ibom get new police commissioners
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of four substantive commissioners of police for Lagos, Abia, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom commands.
In a statement on Friday, Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesperson, said the appointment is due to the vacancies created by promotion of some senior officers.
The new commissioners of police are
Isah Danladi Nda, for Abia command; Olarewaju Ishola Olawale for Lagos command; Anthonia Adaku Uche Anya fror Ebonyi command and Miller Gajere Dantawaye for Akwa Ibom command
Speaking on the posting, Hashimu Argungu, PSC chair, urged the new police commissioners to make positive impacts in the security management of their respective states.
Argungu asked the new commissioners to build efficient and effective police commands in their states.
The PSC spokesperson disclosed that the approval has been sent to Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, for implementation.
By this development, Dantawaye will replace Waheed Ayilara, the former commissioner of police in Akwa Ibom state, who died on August 29, 2024.
Ayilara reportedly died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) from prostate cancer complications.
News
FG declares September 16 public holiday for Eid-ul-Maulud celebration
The federal government has declared September 16 as a public holiday to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Maulud celebration.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, announced the holiday on Friday in a statement by Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary of the ministry.
The Eid-ul-Maulud celebration is in commemoration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Tunji-Ojo congratulated all Muslims in the country and in the diaspora for witnessing this year’s occasion.
The minister, while congratulating the Muslim Ummah on the occasion, urged them to seize the opportunity to pray for lasting peace and a more equitable and prosperous nation.
News
FG offers free CNG conversion for vehicles at six Lagos locations
The Federal Government, through its Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), is offering Lagos residents the chance to convert their vehicles to CNG for free on Friday, September 13, from 3pm to 6pm, at six designated locations as part of Operation First Come, First Serve.
The first 50 vehicles that pass inspection at each of the six locations will be fitted with free CNG conversion kits, allowing owners to refuel at N230 per SCM of CNG at any NIPCO station, leading to significant savings compared to petrol.
The announcement was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, inviting Lagos residents to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to promote cleaner energy, alleviate the financial strain caused by rising fuel prices, and support the transition to more eco-friendly transportation nationwide.
With CNG priced significantly lower than petrol, the conversion offers immediate financial relief for vehicle owners seeking a more affordable and sustainable fuel alternative amidst ongoing fuel price fluctuations.
Selected vehicle CNG conversion centres in Lagos
Below is a list of authorized vehicle CNG conversion centres in Lagos, along with their respective addresses:
- Femadec
Km 42, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Majek Second Gate Stop, Abiju Ibeju, Lekki, Lagos.
- Portland
No. 1, Ojota Interchange Terminal, Bayo Shodipo, Ojota, Lagos.
- Mezovest
KM 23, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah, opposite Kilimanjaro, beside Libmat Motors, by Abraham Adesanya Bus Stop.
- Dana Motors
Dana Motors Ltd Kia Plaza, 117 Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo, Lagos.
- MBH Power
Km 5, Ikotun Road, Itamope, Ikorodu, Lagos.
- Autogig
Plot 144b Gbagada Expressway, Gbagada, Lagos.
In addition to the CNG conversion exercise scheduled for Lagos on Friday, the PCNGI’s “Operation First Come, First Serve” initiative will also conduct conversion exercises in four other cities between Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, September 13, CNG conversions will take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Ibadan, Oyo State, from 3 PM to 6 PM.
The following day, Saturday, September 14, similar exercises will be held in Abuja and Kaduna between 3 PM and 6 PM.
It is important to note that the first 50 cars inspected at the designated CNG conversion centres in these cities will be eligible to receive free CNG kits, provided they pass the conversion process.
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