Connect with us

Crime

EFCC: Proprietor Of Internet Fraud Training School Sentenced To 10 Years In Uyo

Published

on

EFCC: Proprietor Of Internet Fraud Training School Sentenced To 10 Years In Uyo....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has successfully prosecuted and sentenced the owner of a Cybercrime Training Center in Uyo, Ikemesit Edet, popularly known as Hustle Kingdom (HK), to 10 years in prison.

A statement released on Saturday by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said Edet was jailed on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 after pleading guilty to two-count charges including impersonation, love scam, hacking/editing of social media accounts, and private criminal tutoring, upon his arraignment by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Commission.

Count one reads: “That you IKEMESIT EDET IK sometime in January 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, being the occupier and a person concerned with the management of the premises situates and lying at No. 57 D-Line, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, did knowingly permit the use of the entire aforesaid premises as a CYBERCRIME ACADEMY, also known as Hustle Kingdom (HK) where you recruited ten (10) young Nigerians between ages 16-25 and taught them cybercrime techniques for perpetrating cyber crimes to wit: hacking, impersonation, and obtaining money by false pretence (Advance Fee Fraud) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 3 of the same Act.”

Count two reads: “That you IKEMESIT EDET IK between May 2020 and December 2023 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did take possession total sum of Fifteen Million Naira Only (-N=15,000,000.00) which you knew forms proceed of an unlawful act to wit: Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)\d) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

Edet pleaded guilty to both counts, prompting prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Abolarin also prayed the court to order the forfeiture of all exhibits recovered from him at the point of arrest.

However, defense counsel Francis Ezike prayed the court to be lenient in sentencing the defendant.

After listening to the lawyers, Justice Ojukwu convicted Edet and sentenced him to five years jail term on each count, with an option of a fine of N2 million on each count.

The court also ordered that all recovered exhibits from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The exhibits include: 13 laptops, a gold-colored Toyota Corolla, a Lexus Jeep RX 300, and about 3,080.25 square meters of land located at Ibiaku Obio Ndobo village, Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Edet’s journey to jail commenced on January 22, 2024, when investigators from the EFCC’s office in Uyo acted on intelligence and arrested 10 suspects at his Cybercrimes Training Centre at D-Line Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo.

All the suspects have been charged to court and convicted.

Crime

‘Please Forgive Us’ – Suspects in Corps Members’ Abduction Plead For Mercy.

Published

on

Two men standing trial over the abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State have admitted that they voluntarily made the written and recorded confessional statements presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, who are the first and second accused persons, made the admission on Thursday during cross-examination at the resumed hearing of the case.

Both men confirmed that they willingly gave the audio-visual statements and thumbprinted the written confessions in the presence of their lawyers.

The DSS had tendered the statements as evidence, and the court admitted them during the proceedings.

Despite confirming the statements, the defendants appealed to the court for forgiveness and asked to be released. They had earlier made a similar plea while opening their defence and giving evidence on their own behalf.

The two men are facing charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms over the alleged abduction.

Meanwhile, proceedings also continued in a separate case involving two defendants accused of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

During the hearing, a prosecution witness identified the defendants as the individuals who allegedly abducted him for ransom in Imo State on October 4, 2026.

At the end of Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned both cases until November 6 for further hearing.

Continue Reading

Crime

BREAKING: FBI Nabs Six Most-Wanted Fraud Suspects In Major International Crackdown.

Published

on

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested six individuals on its most-wanted fraudsters list following operations conducted across four continents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The suspects were apprehended over allegations involving various fraudulent activities, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who announced the development in a post on X on Sunday.

Patel disclosed that the arrests, alongside other enforcement operations, contributed to the seizure of assets worth approximately $17 billion.

He praised the FBI’s international fugitive-tracking efforts and its ongoing campaign against global scam centres, known as Operation Blackout.

According to the FBI director, the six fugitives had collectively spent more than 4,000 days evading arrest.

Patel said the suspects had apparently believed that leaving the United States and going into hiding abroad would place them beyond the reach of American law enforcement authorities.

“They were wrong,” he wrote, stressing that the FBI and its international partners would continue pursuing individuals accused of defrauding Americans, regardless of where they attempted to hide.

In a separate update on Operation Blackout, Patel revealed that the broader campaign had resulted in the seizure of nearly $17 billion, the arrest of hundreds of suspected fraudsters and the rescue of thousands of trafficked workers.

The operation has also involved raids on suspected scam centres, the disruption of online infrastructure used to facilitate fraudulent activities and efforts to identify individuals trafficked into working for criminal networks.

Patel further disclosed that more than 10,000 Americans had received warnings before losing their money, helping to prevent estimated financial losses of about $670 million.

“We’re not just investigating these criminal enterprises.

“We’re dismantling their networks, disrupting their finances, rescuing victims, and holding those responsible accountable,” he said.

The FBI director described the scam centres as criminal enterprises that exploit vulnerable individuals while targeting Americans through international fraud schemes.

He maintained that the agency would continue its efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

“To every criminal organization targeting Americans: Justice will find you,” Patel added.

Full List Of The Six Arrested Suspects

According to the FBI, the individuals arrested are:

  1. Manjit Singh Bedi
  2. Elaine Agene Esco
  3. Khalid Ahmed Satary
  4. Herbert Leon Kimble
  5. Sahid Abdullahi Ereg
  6. Emylee Thai
Continue Reading

Crime

JUST IN: FBI Arrests 9 Nigerians In Fraud Probe, Seizes 53 Electronic Devices.

Published

on

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested nine suspected fraudsters during its latest operation in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The operation also resulted in the seizure of 53 electronic devices, while approximately $11 million in potentially freezeable funds was identified across multiple countries.

According to reports, FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed the development in a post on his official X account on Sunday.

Patel expressed appreciation to Nigerian security agencies for their cooperation in the operation, which targeted international cybercrime networks.

He also warned criminals operating from overseas and targeting Americans that they would eventually face justice, accusing them of exploiting innocent victims and stealing their life savings.

In his post, Patel said Operation Blackout was designed to intensify efforts against international cybercrime networks responsible for defrauding Americans of billions of dollars.

“Our latest operation in Nigeria delivered:

“9 ARRESTS.

“53 electronic devices seized.

“$11 MILLION in potentially freezable funds identified across multiple countries.

“These scam centres exploit innocent victims, steal life savings, and operate across international borders believing they are beyond the reach of law enforcement.

“They’re wrong.

“Thanks to Nigerian law enforcement and our partners in London for their outstanding cooperation.

“To the criminals targeting Americans from overseas: JUSTICE WILL FIND YOU,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the FBI has also announced the arrest of six individuals on its most-wanted fraudsters list.

The suspects were apprehended across four continents over allegations involving various fraudulent activities.

Reports indicate that Patel announced the arrests and related enforcement operations in a separate post on X on Sunday.

According to the FBI director, the operations also resulted in the seizure of assets valued at approximately $17 billion.

The six individuals identified on the FBI’s list are:

  1. Manjit Singh Bedi
  2. Elaine Agene Esco
  3. Khalid Ahmed Satary
  4. Herbert Leon Kimble
  5. Sahid Abdullahi Ereg
  6. Emylee Thai
Continue Reading

Trending