Crime
39 Suspected Internet Fraudsters Arrested by EFCC in Oyo State
39 Suspected Internet Fraudsters Arrested by EFCC in Oyo State....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended 39 suspected internet fraudsters in Oyo State. The arrest was announced by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale in a statement released on Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital.
The suspects were presented before Justices O.S. Adeyemi, Bayo Taiwo, and Ladiran Akintola at the Oyo State High Court, where they faced individual one-count charges related to impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents, and obtaining by false pretenses.
Among those arrested were Fasanya Gbolahan, Nkiri Destiny, Fakoya Samuel, Owolabi Damilare, and a host of others. Each of the accused pleaded “guilty” when the charges were read to them.
For instance, the charge against one of the suspects, Austine Ayomide, highlighted that he had fraudulently impersonated a white woman named Linda Mary from the United States on Facebook, intending to deceive a victim for personal gain.
The court proceedings revealed the details of the suspects’ fraudulent activities, with the prosecution presenting incriminating evidence. Following the review of the cases, the judges handed down various sentences:
- Ayomide received one year of community service or a fine of N200,000.
- Fasanya Tunde was sentenced to one month in jail or a N250,000 fine.
- Several others were sentenced to six months of community service and a fine of N50,000, with exceptions like Abeeb Ayomide, who was fined N500,000 in addition to his community service.
Justice Taiwo sentenced Taoreed Abidoun to three months in prison and Mujeeb to four months, while Olasunkanmi and Abideen were given six months of community service each, along with a fine of N150,000.
Justice Akintola also sentenced several individuals to varying terms of imprisonment or community service, with fines ranging from N30,000 to N150,000. Notably, some of the convicts were ordered to forfeit valuable assets, including vehicles, to the Federal Government.
According to Nivo News, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed 5,000 new members in Abia State on Saturday, following the recent entry of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into the party.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The mass defection was led by Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party, in his hometown of Umuaku, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. Supporters who joined him also left their former political affiliations, including the South East Mandate for Good Governance, to align with the ADC.
Nwankpa explained that his decision to join the ADC was driven by a strong conviction, noting that the party’s manifesto resonates with his political philosophy, emphasizing people-oriented governance, social justice, and sustainable development. He described the ADC as a credible, progressive platform capable of fostering inclusive governance and rebuilding public trust in Nigerian politics.
The Abia State Chairman of the ADC, Don Norman Obinna, formally welcomed Nwankpa and his followers, stating that the country’s political trajectory is increasingly favoring the ADC.
The Abia State Police Command has reported the arrest of 809 suspects and the recovery of 88 firearms in 438 cases across the state from January 2025 to date.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa provided the update on Friday during a briefing at his office, outlining the operational strategies and achievements of the Command during the period under review. He disclosed that 435 rounds of ammunition were recovered from suspected criminals and that over 200 suspects have been successfully prosecuted, with several jailed for various offenses.
The CP further revealed that 33 children who had been kidnapped or trafficked were rescued within and outside the state, with the suspects involved prosecuted and some already imprisoned. “We have sent a lot of people to jail. A clear message has been passed that it is no longer business as usual for criminals in Abia State,” Isa stated.
He highlighted that the state’s crime rate has declined under his leadership, attributing the success to support from Governor Alex Otti, provision of logistics, and collaboration with community stakeholders. Isa also noted that officers encountered non-state actors on several occasions, who were neutralized and disarmed.
The Police Commissioner urged residents to continue providing credible information on suspicious activities to further strengthen the fight against crime. Firearms and other weapons recovered from suspects were displayed at the Police headquarters in Umuahia for the media.
According to Nivo News, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) has arrested high-profile cybercrime suspects linked to a sophisticated Microsoft 365 phishing operation that targeted the email systems of major corporate organisations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The arrests followed actionable intelligence received from Microsoft Corporation in the United States through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which exposed the deployment of an advanced phishing toolkit known as RaccoonO365. The toolkit was designed to create counterfeit Microsoft login pages capable of harvesting user credentials and unlawfully accessing corporate, financial, and educational email platforms.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the cybercrime centre launched a coordinated, intelligence-led operation in partnership with Microsoft, the FBI, and the United States Secret Service. He explained that investigations traced multiple cases of unauthorised Microsoft 365 account access recorded between January and September 2025 to phishing emails crafted to closely mimic legitimate Microsoft authentication portals.
According to police findings, the cyberattacks resulted in business email compromise, data breaches, and significant financial losses across several jurisdictions. Acting on precise intelligence, NPF–NCCC operatives conducted targeted operations in Lagos and Edo states, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Searches carried out at their residences yielded laptops, mobile phones, and other digital devices, which forensic analysis directly linked to the fraudulent activities.
Further investigations identified Okitipi Samuel, also known by the aliases “RaccoonO365” and “Moses Felix,” as the principal suspect and alleged developer of the phishing infrastructure. Police said he operated a Telegram channel through which phishing links were sold in exchange for cryptocurrency and hosted fake login portals on Cloudflare using stolen or fraudulently obtained email credentials.
The police clarified that there was no evidence connecting the two other arrested individuals to the creation or management of the phishing scheme. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to protecting the country’s digital environment through the use of advanced technology, enhanced international cooperation, and thorough investigative and prosecutorial processes aimed at combating evolving cyber threats.
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