Crime
EFCC Arrests Six in Uyo Over ₦6 Million Land Fraud
UYO, Akwa Ibom State — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested six suspected fraudsters in Uyo for allegedly defrauding a man of ₦6 million in a bogus land deal.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The suspects—Enobong Clement Etim (also known as Edet Nsem Udo), Iniakop Okot, Emmanuel Edet, Essien Edet Aniedi, Christopher Anthony, and Edwin Etim—were arrested at different locations across Akwa Ibom State, the EFCC said.
According to a complaint filed by the victim, Aniekan Etukudo Koffi, the prime suspect, Enobong Clement Etim, used a fake identity to carry out the scam with his accomplices. They allegedly tricked Koffi into paying ₦6 million for a parcel of land at Ifa Ikot Ubo, Ifa Ikot Okpon–Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area.
Koffi said he met the suspects in July 2025 through a member of the syndicate who claimed to have access to a prime piece of land. He was shown the property and presented forged documents to make the sale appear genuine.
Believing the offer was legitimate, Koffi transferred ₦4 million to a UBA account belonging to Etim and later paid the remaining ₦2 million. Preliminary investigations by the EFCC revealed that the land does not belong to the suspects or any member of the gang.
“The suspects used false documents to mislead the petitioner,” an EFCC spokesperson said. “Our investigations are ongoing to identify other accomplices and recover the victim’s funds.”
The EFCC said the six suspects will soon be charged to court. Authorities are also working to track down additional members of the syndicate.
Land fraud is a growing problem in Nigeria, with victims often losing large sums to fake property deals. Authorities have warned the public to verify ownership documents and conduct proper due diligence before making any payments for land purchases.
EFCC officials stressed that such operations are part of a broader effort to crack down on economic and financial crimes in Akwa Ibom State and across the country.
The agency urged anyone with information on similar cases to come forward to help prevent further fraud.
An Ogun State Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate O.L. Oke has sentenced two men, Moruf Okusanya (40) and Babatunde Gafar (33), to seven years in prison each without an option of a fine, following their conviction on a four-count charge.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Case Background and Prosecution
The convicts were apprehended following a violent cult clash at the Ikenne Town Hall on October 23, 2023, which severely disrupted public peace and local activities.
Prosecuting officer ASP Olaide Rawlings established during the trial that Okusanya belonged to the Eiye Confraternity, while Gafar was affiliated with the Alora Confraternity, alongside other accomplices currently at large. Their actions violated several provisions of the Prohibition of Forcible Entry and Occupation of Landed Properties, Armed Robbery, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Anti-Violent and Related Offences Law of Ogun State, 2016.
Finding the prosecution’s evidence credible and compelling beyond a reasonable doubt, Magistrate Oke delivered the sentence to serve as a strict deterrent against unlawful secret societies and violent disturbances in the state.
The Nigeria Police Force, operating via the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, successfully apprehended and repatriated Mahadijiria Abdoulaye, a Chadian national wanted by authorities in N’Djamena over the May 3, 2026, murder and torture of Nazik Mahamat Saleh . Following an international arrest warrant issued on June 22, 2026, by the Court of Appeal in N’Djamena for Abdoulaye and her accomplice Fatime Senoussi Mouktar—alongside links to narcotics trafficking—the suspect fled to Nigeria. Intelligence-led operations tracked her down to Railway Quarters in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Kano State, where she was arrested on August 5, 2026. Under established bilateral frameworks and in collaboration with INTERPOL NCB N’Djamena, she was repatriated back to Chad via Lomé, Togo, on August 14, 2026, to face trial. Inspector-General of Police IGP Olatunji Disu lauded the operatives for their exemplary coordination, emphasizing the force’s resolve to dismantle trans-border criminal networks and prevent Nigeria from serving as a safe haven for international fugitives.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Sunmonu Olasunkanmi Thaoban to four years in prison for laundering ₦16 million by disguising its illegal origins and converting it into a 2018 black G-Wagon Jeep.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Court Sentences Man to Four Years for ₦16 Million Money Laundering, Forfeits G-Wagon
A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Sunmonu Olasunkanmi Thaoban to four years in prison for laundering ₦16 million by disguising its illegal origins and converting it into a 2018 black G-Wagon Jeep.
Key Details of the Case
-
Guilty Plea & Sentencing: Justice Akintayo Aluko handed down the sentence on Thursday after Thaoban pleaded guilty to a two-count EFCC charge, alongside an alternative fine option of ₦1.8 million.
-
The Offense: Prosecutors stated that Thaoban acted as a middleman in 2023, funneling illicit funds to purchase the luxury vehicle, violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
-
Asset Forfeiture: In addition to the prison term, the judge ordered the permanent forfeiture of both the convict’s G-Wagon and mobile phone to the Federal Government.
Related BDC Convictions
In a separate proceeding, Justice Aluko also convicted four Bureau de Change (BDC) operators—Umar Muhammad Lamido, Yusuf Musa Yusuf, Abdulmuhimin Mahmud, and Muhammed Musa—for conducting unauthorized foreign exchange transactions outside the official market. Following their guilty pleas, each received a 12-month prison sentence with an option of a ₦100,000 fine.
-
latest12 months ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest2 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment2 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest2 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics3 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest2 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
Politics3 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges
-
latest2 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp