Crime
Fraud: D’banj’s Lawyer Requests His Release 48 hours After His Arrest
....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
“That D’banj has dutifully cooperated with the Commission in the course of their investigation and demonstrated a shared zeal to help the Commission make its impassioned and honest findings on the matter as he is interested in clearing his name as well,” the lawyer said.
He added that after Wednesday’s interview session, “we were informed he would be released as a matter of course having found nothing on him and with no further grounds for his continued detention. However, the Chairman of the Commission was required to sign off on his immediate release before it could be effected and that never happened.
“We were at the Commission today (Thursday) to give D’banj the required legal representation and all we waited for was still the ‘approval from above’ that never came. D’banj was also not interviewed today on any other issue before his lawyers.”
“While holding on to the sustained hope that D’banj will not somehow become the victim of targeted blackmail or faceless malice from certain quarters with perhaps vested interest in his downfall, we want to reassure the general public and the Commission by implication that we are fully ready and willing to cooperate to the extent of the law that makes for the finding of the truth in this matter which we take quite seriously,” the statement said.
D’Banj’s lawyer sought the provision of names of government officials allegedly involved in colluding with the singer to perpetuate the alleged fraud.
“We in the same vein reiterate that D’banj has no such access nor colluded with any government officials over any dubious transaction. The very allegation is a nightmare that must be dissipated by an assertion of the truth of D’banj’s unimpeachable innocence.
“As a matter of course, we now place a major demand on the oversight Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to immediately cause the release of the names of the government officials alleged to have colluded with D’banj and the investigation of same should be made public. We also demand that the ministry should make public immediately money alleged to have been traced to D’banj’s account.
“We call on the National Assembly’s Public Account Committee to open a wide investigation into the N-Power scheme through an open and all-free entry public hearing without protecting any sacred cows.
“It is alarming and incongruous to design such an allegation against D’banj who does not have access to government accounts or government platforms to have been alleged to have diverted such huge sums without any single government official in custody with him.
“We have opted to treat this matter with all sense of diligence and with the benefit of doubt extended to the Commission given that we are mindful the Commission is headed by a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whom we believe reckons with the principle that an accused is innocent until proven guilty and would constitutionally comply with same,” Olajengbesi said.
“It is to this end that we implore the Commission to be mindful of having detained D’banj beyond the constitutionally allowed limits without a charge made in court, following which we encourage the Commission to have him brought before a competent court with the necessary charges forthwith or duly release him while continuing their investigation which we understand can be a demanding and pressing task.
“D’banj is innocent of all the laughable allegations and deliberate publicity and has demonstrated patriotism by encouraging the Commission and such an act in good faith must not be unfairly rewarded,” he added.
Crime
Phil Foden Declares Legal War Over “Sickening” Fake News About His Children.
Manchester City star Phil Foden has taken legal steps after malicious online rumours about his children went viral, sparking concern among fans and outrage from his family.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the England midfielder became a victim of false social media claims alleging that one of his children had died while another was diagnosed with cancer. The fabricated posts, featuring AI-generated images of Foden and his partner, Rebecca Cooke, appearing distraught, spread rapidly across platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Sources disclosed that Foden’s management team has enlisted a top legal firm to identify the individuals behind the hoax and demand the removal of the defamatory content from all online spaces.
One widely shared post falsely claimed that Foden’s six-year-old son, Ronnie, had passed away, while another alleged that his four-year-old daughter, True, was suffering from cancer. These fabricated stories, shared by fake fan accounts posing as Manchester City supporters, caused Foden’s name to trend online as sympathetic fans unknowingly sent condolence messages.
Reacting to the incident, Cooke, who shares three children with Foden, took to Instagram to denounce the disturbing fabrications, calling them “sickening.”
“We are aware of the pages and accounts spreading these lies. They are completely false and very disturbing,” she wrote. “I don’t understand how people can make up such stories about anyone, especially about children. It’s truly disgusting.”
She also assured followers that the family was in good health and urged the public to report any accounts promoting the falsehoods. “Thank God we are all fine, and thank you for your concern,” she added.
Crime
Police Recover Two Luxury Cars Stolen From Netherlands
Nigeria Police Force has recovered two luxury vehicles stolen from the Netherlands and shipped illegally into the country, officials said Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Police said the cars — a 2020 Toyota C-HR and a 2019 Toyota RAV4 — were traced to locations in Lagos and Akwa Ibom states. The vehicles were stolen from Amsterdam and the Midden-Nederland region before being transported through Belgium’s Port of Antwerp and arriving at the Apapa Port in Lagos late last year.
The operation was coordinated by the Nigeria Police Force’s National Central Bureau (NCB) of INTERPOL in Abuja, working closely with its Dutch counterpart in The Hague. After weeks of tracking and intelligence exchange, the two cars were located and seized during separate operations in southern Nigeria.
Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said the recovery was the result of a joint investigation with international partners. “The successful recovery and repatriation of the vehicles reflect the Force’s firm commitment to global law enforcement cooperation and to ensuring that criminal networks involved in cross-border vehicle theft and smuggling are denied the proceeds of their crimes,” Hundeyin said in a statement.
Following the recovery, the police filed for civil forfeiture at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court granted a final order in favor of the Dutch government through the vehicles’ insurance company, authorizing the legal return of the property.
On Sunday, representatives of the insurance company and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria officially received the two vehicles at the INTERPOL NCB office in Abuja.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun commended the officers involved for their professionalism and effective collaboration with global partners. “This achievement underscores the importance of intelligence-led policing and the value of international cooperation in fighting transnational crimes,” he said.
Vehicle theft and smuggling remain major challenges for law enforcement agencies worldwide. Experts say criminal syndicates often use complex routes — involving multiple countries and shipping channels — to conceal the origins of stolen vehicles. Nigeria, with its active maritime trade routes, has been identified as one of several African destinations for such illicit imports.
Authorities said the case demonstrates how close coordination between national and international agencies can lead to successful recovery and restitution. The NPF added that it will continue to strengthen monitoring systems at ports and improve vehicle registration checks to prevent similar incidents.
Legal analysts also noted that the case highlights the growing effectiveness of mutual assistance between Nigeria and European nations in handling cross-border property crimes. By securing a court-ordered forfeiture before repatriation, officials ensured transparency and compliance with international standards.
For the victims in the Netherlands, the return of the vehicles marks the conclusion of a months-long recovery process. It also sends a warning to criminal groups that the long arm of international law enforcement is closing in on global car theft networks.
The Nigeria Police said it remains committed to deepening cooperation with INTERPOL member countries and other law enforcement agencies worldwide to tackle crimes that cross borders. Officials added that similar joint operations are underway to track additional stolen assets potentially smuggled into the country.
The successful recovery of the two vehicles, police say, is not only a victory for the victims but also a demonstration of Nigeria’s growing capacity to engage in complex international policing operations.
Crime
EFCC Warns “Yahoo Boys” Turning to Spiritual Rituals
Lagos, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) issued a strong warning Monday to internet fraudsters, known locally as “Yahoo boys,” saying they are now using spiritual rituals to boost their scams.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a post on its official X account (formerly Twitter), the EFCC said, “G-boys are now going spiritual, involving themselves in rituals and making it the new usual. EFCC will come for any individual. Then, it won’t be business as usual.”
Authorities described this trend, sometimes called “Yahoo Plus,” as involving occult practices — including the use of human body parts — to improve the success of fraudulent schemes. Investigators say some scammers believe these rituals will protect them from law enforcement.
The EFCC said the warning comes as cybercrime in Nigeria evolves. For years, “Yahoo boys” have defrauded victims abroad through romance scams, phishing, fake online identities, and other digital fraud methods. Now, the agency says, scammers are combining these tactics with ritual practices.
Although no new arrests were immediately linked solely to ritual-based fraud, the EFCC pointed to ongoing prosecutions where spiritual elements were reportedly involved. In one case in Jos, Plateau State, a bishop and others are facing trial for running a cooperative-investment scam.
The commission urged banks, telecom companies, and the public to help identify suspicious transactions and warned citizens to avoid individuals promising quick wealth or spiritual assistance.
Experts say the addition of ritual practices signals a dangerous escalation in Nigeria’s cyber-fraud landscape. Combining fraud with occult practices may indicate deeper organized crime networks and complicate investigations. Some observers also warn that victims may be afraid to come forward, making prosecutions harder.
Civil society groups welcomed the EFCC’s alert but stressed the need for follow-through. “Issuing warnings is important,” said an anti-fraud advocate in Lagos. “But what matters is arrests, prosecutions, and asset recovery.”
The EFCC said it will increase surveillance of digital platforms, work with traditional and spiritual authorities, and expand international cooperation to combat fraud. It also plans to release guidelines for banks and telecom operators to identify transactions linked to ritual-based scams.
The agency made it clear that the era of “business as usual” for internet fraudsters is over. Law enforcement officials said those involved in cybercrime, with or without ritual backing, will face prosecution.
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