Crime

Four Nigerians Have Been Arrested In The United Kingdom And Sweden For Alleged Cybercrime In The United States.

Published

3 years ago

December 6, 2022

Four Nigerians were arrested in the United Kingdom and Sweden on suspicion of conducting cyber fraud and stealing public funds in the United States.

....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The US Department of Justice announced this in a press release on Monday, noting that if found guilty, each defendant faces at least 20 years in prison.

The defendants – Akinola Taylor, Olayemi Adafin, Olakunle Oyenbanjo, and Kazeem Olanrewaju Runsewe – were also charged with aggravated identity theft, and their crime was global in scope, according to the DOJ.

According to the statement, “United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of four indictments charging Akinola Taylor (Nigeria), Olayemi Adafin (United Kingdom), Olakunle Oyebanjo (Nigeria), and Kazeem Olanrewaju Runsewe (Nigeria) with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, filing false claims with the United States, theft of public money or property,

“On November 30, 2022, Taylor, Adafin, and Runsewe were detained, and Oyebanjo was arrested on December 1, 2022.”

Taylor, Adafin, and Oyebanjo were arrested in London, while Runswewe was arrested in Malmo, Sweden.

Each will be subjected to extradition proceedings.

Foreign authorities searched Taylor and Runsewe’s homes in conjunction with their arrests.”

“If convicted, each faces a potential sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, as well as extra penalties for the other crimes.”

The indictments also inform the defendants that the US plans to seize assets allegedly connected to the proceeds of the crime.

“According to the indictments, Taylor and Runsewe obtained unauthorised access to United States businesses’ computer servers, participated in stealing personally identifying information from those servers, and used that information to file false and fraudulent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, United States Individual Income Tax Returns (“Form(s) 1040″) seeking income tax refunds with the IRS,” it continued.

“Adafin and Oyebanjo aided in the collection of fraud proceeds directed to prepaid debit cards in their possession or to addresses or bank accounts they owned or had access to, and they transferred a portion of the fraud proceeds to other conspirators.”

“The xDedic Marketplace, a website that functioned for years and was used to sell access to compromised computers worldwide and personally identifiable information of US individuals, was one of the places where Taylor and Runsewe got unauthorized access to computer systems.”

To facilitate the operation of the website, the xDedic administrators strategically maintained servers all over the world.

“The xDedic Marketplace was shut down as part of a coordinated global enforcement investigation conducted by the FBI (Tampa Division), the IRS-CI (Tampa Field Office), and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.”

Crime

EFCC Arrests 19 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Edo State

Published

2 months ago

April 15, 2025

NivoNews

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 19 individuals in Benin City, Edo State, for their alleged involvement in internet fraud activities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to a statement issued on Monday via the EFCC’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the arrests were carried out by the Benin Zonal Command on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The operation was based on actionable intelligence that linked the suspects to a series of fraudulent cyber activities.

The EFCC disclosed that several high-value items were recovered from the suspects during the operation, including five luxury vehicles and multiple smartphones believed to have been used in perpetrating the crimes.

“Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, arrested 19 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Benin City, Edo State. The arrests were made based on credible intelligence connecting them to cybercrime activities,” the agency’s statement read.

Although further specifics regarding the alleged schemes have yet to be made public, the EFCC has assured that investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be prosecuted once inquiries are concluded.

This operation is part of the Commission’s broader strategy to combat the rise in cybercrime across Nigeria, a crime trend colloquially referred to as “yahoo-yahoo.”

Crime

Fresh Tragedy in Plateau: 40 Killed as Gunmen Storm Bassa Community

Published

2 months ago

April 14, 2025

NivoNews

At least 40 individuals have lost their lives in a renewed wave of violence that struck Zike, a community in Kimakpa within the Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The assault, which unfolded in the early hours of Monday, left residents in terror as unidentified gunmen invaded the village, indiscriminately opening fire on civilians. Many who tried to escape were tragically caught in the barrage of bullets.

Community leader Wakili Tongwe, speaking to Channels Television, disclosed that he and security agents were patrolling a nearby area when the attack erupted.

“Despite engaging the attackers and pushing them back, the toll was already severe,” Tongwe said. “Thirty-six people died on the spot, and four others later succumbed to their injuries. Several victims are still receiving medical attention.”

This latest incident follows a disturbing trend of violence in Plateau State, coming just two weeks after a similar attack in Bokkos LGA claimed 52 lives.

Plateau’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, expressed strong condemnation of the act, describing it as “one attack too many” and a threat to the state’s fragile peace.

“It’s devastating to face another tragedy in Bassa, barely weeks after the Bokkos killings,” she lamented. “This appears to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt the peace we’ve been working hard to restore.”

Ramnap urged residents to stay calm and vigilant, affirming that Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration remains committed to bringing those responsible to justice.

“The state will deal firmly with any individual or group involved in such barbaric acts,” she assured, warning against retaliatory violence.

As of press time, security agencies had not released an official statement on the latest attack.

Crime

Bauchi Accountant General Jaja Freed on Bail Over Alleged ₦70 Billion Scam

Published

3 months ago

April 7, 2025

NivoNews

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Alhaji Sirajo Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State, following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations tied to a ₦70 billion fraud.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Jaja was released under the condition that he returns for upcoming court hearings. His arrest and prosecution have sparked speculations of political motivation, especially due to his previous criticisms of federal government policies.

Alongside Jaja, two others were also detained in relation to the case: Aliyu Abubakar, an unregistered bureau de change operator, and Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a PoS operator. All are being investigated for their roles in what’s being described as a massive financial scandal.

The case has generated national attention and added to ongoing scrutiny of public officials’ handling of state funds.