Connect with us

News

Court Jails Fake Oil Magnate 175 Years For Duping American $.6m

Published

on

Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced a fake oil magnate, Dr. Vincent Ayigor to a total number of 175 years imprisonment, for duping an American, Joseph Crews, a sum of $629, 287, in a crude oil supply scam.
Ayigor was arraigned, alongside his company, Vanyigor Concepts Limited, before Justice M. A. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on December 7, 2016, on 25-count charges bordering on conspiracy, altering, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretences
One of the counts reads: “That you Dr. Vincent Anyigor, Vanyigor Concepts Limited and others at large on or about the 15th day of October, 2010 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained a sum of $243,000.00 only from one Joseph I. Crews, an American citizen and his company, Aumenta Holdings Inc. DBA AHI Commercial Finding Group, as part payment of the cost price for the logistics to supply them six million barrels of Bonny Light crude oil, which you claimed to have the capability to deliver to them, which pretext you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
He pleaded “not guilty” to all the 25-count charges brought against him by the EFCC, leading to a full trial that lasted five years.
EFCC’s counsel, I. Agu called eight witnesses in the course of the trial, and tendered documents that eventually nailed the convict.
In his judgment, Justice Mohammed found Anyigor guilty of all the 25 charges, convicted and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on each of the counts, totalling 175, which are to run concurrently from the date of arrest.
In addition, the court ordered the convict and his company to pay the sum of $629,267.00 as restitution to the victim, Joseph Crews and Aumenta Holdings Inc. of the United States of America (USA).
He also ordered that Vanyigor Concepts Limited be wound up.
Anyigor commenced his journey to the Correctional Centre when Joseph. I. Crews, an American, petitioned the EFCC, that the convict collected the sum of $629,287.00 from him for the supply of six million barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil, without delivering the product or returning his money to him.
Investigations by the EFCC showed that Anyigor is a leader of syndicate scamming foreigners by parading itself as an international operator in the oil and gas sector. He was plying his fraudulent trade by forging documents and transacting businesses bearing the name of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Continue Reading

News

Tinubu Signs Bill Unifying Retirement Age For Judicial Officers

Published

on

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday signed his first piece of legislation as President, when he assented to a constitutional amendment bill bringing uniformity to the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers in the country.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, yesterday.
The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu assents to constitutional amendment Bill on uniformity in retirement age of judicial officers’.
The statement read in part: “In exercising the powers vested in him under the 1999 Constitution as amended, President Bola Tinubu yesterday at the State House assented to a fresh amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“President Tinubu signed into law the ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.37), 2023’ presented by the outgoing 9th National Assembly”.
It added that “With the signing of the Constitutional amendment Bill, retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers have been effectively brought into uniformity and other related matters”.
While signing the amendment Bill into law, Tinubu pledged his administration’s dedication to strengthening the judiciary, ensuring the rule of law, and empowering judicial officers to execute their responsibilities effectively.

Continue Reading

News

Democracy Day: FG Declares Monday Public Holiday

Published

on

The Federal Government has declared Monday, June 12, as a public holiday in commemoration of 2023 Democracy Day celebration.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, on behalf of the Federal Government.
While congratulating Nigerians on the occasion, Akinlade stated that the country’s democratic journey has encountered stormy and smooth sails, just like in many other climes.
She said, “But the ship of State, its institutions and most importantly, the Nigerian people have remained steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance.”
“On this memorable occasion therefore, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are invited to appreciate the progress that has been made, celebrate the milestones covered and look forward to a better future for the country’s democracy.
“The Permanent Secretary wishes all Nigerians a Happy Democracy Day celebration, “ the statement added.

Continue Reading

News

RSHA Screens Five For Commissioners, Today

Published

on

Five commissioner nominees are to appear before the Rivers State House of Assembly, today for screening.
The nominees include Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Barr.(Mrs) Inime Aguma, Hon Nwafor Uchechukwu, Dr. Kenneth Chisom Gbah and Hon. Henry Ogiri.
In a statement signed by the Acting Clerk of the House, Dr. Emeka Amadi, the five commissioner nominees are expected to appear before the lawmakers by 10am.
The nominees are also requested to submit 40 copies of their original credentials to the office of the Acting Clerk on or before 9am, today.
Four commissioners had earlier been screened by the Assembly and sworn in by the State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, last week.
These nominees, if screened and confirmed, will therefore, bring the number of commissioners in the State to nine in the last one week.

Continue Reading

Trending