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EFCC Arraigns Uwa Over N44m Employment Scam …Jails Two Internet Fraudsters, Others
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Anthony Uwa along with his companies: Okmar Consultancy limited and Dermo Impex Nigeria Limited for employment scam.
He was charged with a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and employment scam to the tune of N44,235,700.
Uwa was alleged to have, at various times, collected the said sum from 52,000 job applicants on the pretext that he will employ them.
One of the counts reads: “That you Anthony Uwa and Dermo Impex Nigeria Limited between July, 2020 and September, 2020, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N44, 235,700, from 50,000 job applicants under the false pretence that you will employ them, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to him.
Given his pleas, prosecuting counsel, Y.Y. Tarfa requested a trial date, and prayed the court to remand the defendant.
But the defence counsel, Charles U. Ikechukwu moved a motion, praying the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Justice Z. B. Abubakar granted the defendant bail in the sum of N25million and one surety in like sum.
The surety must be of good character and have a title document within the jurisdiction of the court.
He is also to deposit two recent passports each to the court registrar.
Consequently, the matter was adjourned till May 24, 2022, for trial.
Similarly, two Internet fraudsters, Enaboakpe Robert and Omorovbiye Osemwegie, have been jailed for five years each, in separate trials.
Robert, alias Engineer Eric Cheng, was arraigned on one-count charge by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC for fraudulent impersonation.
The lone-count charge read: “That you Enaboakpe Robert (alias Engineer Eric Cheng) or about the 16th day of May, 2021 at No. 22 Police Station Road, Agenebode, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Engineer Eric Cheng, a white man, by sending the following Gmail addresses Robertbliss27@gmail.com rulemaxwell10@gmail.com and unitednationsyrial72@gmail.com and fraudulently represented yourself as a white man from California in United State of America, the representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b)(iv) of the same Act”.
Upon arraignment, he pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
Justice C.A. Obiozor convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N500,000 only.
In addition, the judge ordered the defendant to forfeit his mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria and undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
In a similar development, Justice F.A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State convicted and sentenced Osemwegie to five years imprisonment for fraud.
The one-count charge read : “that you Omorovbiye Best Osemwegie sometime in November 2020 at Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, sent electronic message which materially misrepresented your identity to Wang Jun, a Chinese woman upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in a sum of $3,000,00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (ii)of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b)(iv) of the same Act.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, I.K. Agwai prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
Justice Olubanjo convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N500,000 only.
The judge also ordered the convict to forfeit the balance of money in his bank account, one Mercedes Benz C300 2015 model and a mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He is also to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre started when they were arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC for impersonating foreigners to commit Internet- related crimes.
Robert impersonated an American while Osemwegie impersonated a Chinese.
Meanwhile, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,has secured the conviction of one Adeshina Michael Oluwafemi from Ekiti State, for posing as a white man in an attempt to defraud his unsuspecting victims.
Adeshina was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin after the judge found him guilty of one count charge levelled against him by the commission.
The charge reads: “That you, Adeshina Michael Oluwafemi (aka Viki Ron) Sometime in May 2020 or thereabout at Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court attempted to commit an offence of cheating by personation by pretending and representing yourself to be a white man called Viki Ron who was in relationship with a white woman, Carol Richard as it is contained in your Gmail account: ronv553@gmail.comand thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 95 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria”.
The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
Following his guilty plea, counsel to the EFCC, Aliyu Adebayo, called a witness who is an operative of the EFCC to review the facts of the case.
The witness narrated how the defendant was arrested based on credible intelligence.
The witness tendered the defendant’s Huawei Phone, fraudulent messages printed from his device as well as his extra-judicial statements and were admitted in evidence.
Adebayo, thereafter, urged the court to consider the plea of the defendant, the extra-judicial statements and all the exhibits tendered to convict the defendant as charged.
In his judgment, Justice Akinpelu said the court was satisfied with the case of the prosecution, and pronounced Adeshina guilty as charged.
The judge sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment with an option of a fine of N100,000only.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s Huawei Phone which was used to perpetrate the crime to the Federal Government.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled attempts by drug trafficking syndicates to smuggle illicit substances concealed in carton walls, winter jackets, and body cream containers through Murtala Muhammed International Airport and a Lagos-based courier firm.
The agency said two consignments bound for Italy were intercepted at the Lagos airport, leading to the arrest of suspects linked to the shipments.
In a statement released yesterday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said one of the suspects, 37-year-old Friday Ehianuka, was intercepted on Friday, March 20, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome, Italy.
The statement partly read, “Two of the consignments heading to Italy were to be moved through the Lagos airport where two suspects linked to the shipments were promptly arrested.
“One of them, 37-year-old Friday Ehianuka, was going to Rome, Italy on Friday, March 20, 2026, when he was intercepted while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight with 2,698 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in containers of skin-lightening body cream, all packed in the suspect’s luggage.
“In his statement, Ehianuka, who is a resident of Milan, confirmed that he was to be paid a negotiated fee in Euros if he had succeeded in trafficking the consignment to Italy.”
In another operation on Wednesday, March 18, Babafemi said NDLEA officers at the departure hall intercepted another passenger, Christian Agbonhese, attempting to board a Lufthansa flight to Milan.
A search of his luggage uncovered 23,150 pills of tramadol 225mg, 4,000 tablets of tapentadol 250mg, and 1,320 pills of tramadol 100mg concealed in two large winter jackets.
“No fewer than 23,150 pills of tramadol 225mg; 4,000 tablets of tapentadol 250mg; and 1,320 pills of tramadol 100mg, all concealed in two large winter jackets, bringing the total number of opioids recovered from him to 28,470 pills. The 38-year-old Agbonhese is also a resident of Milan,” the statement added.
In a separate operation at a courier firm in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA officers on Monday, March 16, intercepted two parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 1kg, hidden in a carton shipped from the United States.
“Also thwarted was an attempt to export 158 grams of methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a carton to New Zealand,” he said.
In Kano State, operatives arrested Abdulkadir Mamuda, 35, with 102.5kg of skunk at Dan-Tsalle, while another suspect, Uche Johnson Festus, 47, was nabbed at Naibawa Gabas with 95.5kg of the same substance.
Babafemi said the agency also recovered 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup during a raid at Otto, Ijora area of Lagos on Wednesday, March 18, adding that two suspects, Chidiebere Anigbogu and Paul Nwagbara, were arrested the same day on the Third Mainland Bridge while conveying 8,380 bottles of the syrup.
In Edo State, operatives recovered 97.5kg of skunk from the residence of Akeem Idde, 37, in Ojah, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area on March 16.
In the FCT, officers intercepted a commercial bus along the Gwagwalada Expressway on March 18, recovering 91,840 pills of tramadol hidden in body compartments of the vehicle. The driver, Aminu Ali, 27, was arrested.
In Oyo State, a suspect, Bankole Bari, was on Tuesday, March 17, arrested at Oke-Oyan, Ibarapa LGA, with 71.2kg of skunk, which he smuggled into Nigeria from Benin Republic through the Oyan River.
In a similar development, “Not less than 586,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were recovered by NDLEA operatives from Lawal Anas, 28, along Kaduna-Zaria Highway, Kaduna, on Tuesday, March 17, while 7,290 tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized from Musa Shuaibu, 22, at the same location on Friday, March 20,” Babafemi said.
In Taraba State, officers intercepted Aliyu Adamu, 26, along the Takum-Jalingo Highway with 77,660 capsules of tramadol, while in Adamawa State, six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 82.8kg of tramadol in a truck in Yola.
The suspects include Ramatu Aliyu, Jungudo Abdullahi, Najid Abdullahi, Musa Mohammed, Usman Abdulrahim, and Musa Mohammed.
The agency said its commands across the country also intensified War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, and communities during the week.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, FCT, Taraba, and Adamawa commands for the arrests and seizures, urging them to sustain the balanced approach to drug control efforts.
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RSG Applauds FRSC, NDLEA For Enhancing Security In Rivers …As NDLEA Pushes For Drug Tests In Schools, NYSC Camps
The Rivers State Government has commended the dedication and collaboration of federal government agencies in sustaining security in the State.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the State Commander of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), CN Bature Dawa, in Port Harcourt, last week, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, said Governor Siminalayi Fubara appreciates the strong synergy between the agencies in promoting his administration’s vision of peace, prosperity and progress in the State.
Wokoma urged residents to remain law-abiding, noting that respect for the law is essential for good governance and sustainable development in all parts of the state.
He stated that the governor has remained committed to initiatives that promote peace and social order, stressing that the administration will continue to support programmes of federal agencies aimed at strengthening security and public safety.
“Our governor is committed to peace, progress and prosperity in Rivers State. I therefore encourage all residents, especially young people who are often targeted by those involved in drug abuse, to stay away from drugs, crime and reckless driving,” he said.
In his remarks, the State NDLEA boss, Dawa, disclosed that the agency has arrested 39 suspects in the state from December 2025 to date, including 16 new cases currently under investigation.
He explained that the NDLEA, through its Drug Demand Reduction and Drug Supply Control Units, has intensified efforts to curb the spread of illicit drugs and ensure offenders are brought to justice.
Dawa also called on parents and guardians to closely monitor their children, while urging hotel owners and managers to remain vigilant and prevent their facilities from being used for drug-related activities.
He further advocated the introduction of drug integrity tests in schools and within the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as part of measures to discourage drug abuse among young people.
In a related development, Dr Wokoma received the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), CC Inyang Umoh, during a courtesy visit, and urged residents to abide by road safety laws and drive in consideration of other road users.
In his remarks, the FRSC boss expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the continuous support to the Corps.
Muslims in Rivers State have commended Governor Siminialayi Fubara for his dedication and commitment to the development of the state.
They also lauded the governor for promoting peaceful co-existence among various religious groups in the state.
Vice President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs ,Alhaji Nasil Awhelegbe Uhor, gave the commendation last Friday during the Eid-el Fitri prayer to mark the end of Ramadan fasting period, at the Port Harcourt Central Mosque, Niger Street, Port Harcourt.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the prayer, Alhaji Uhor said Governor Fubara has shown exemplary leadership in the affairs of the state.
Uhor who is the leader of the South South Muslim Ummah of Nigeria, called on Muslims to remain committed to the ideal of peace and fear of the Almighty Allah.
According to the Rivers State Islamic leader, the message is for Muslims to imbibe and allow the lessons of Ramadan to sink into their lives and shape their ways of doing things.
He urged Muslims to imbibe the culture of love and respect for one another.
“My message is that all Muslims should imbibe and allow the lessons of Ramadan to sink with them,” he advised.
Uhor stressed the need for Muslims and all Nigerians to remain patriotic, while avoiding all forms of anti-social behaviours.
He also called on the political leaders to put the country first, stressing that there is no need for Nigerians to continue to wallow in abject poverty when the country is so rich with natural resources.
Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Rivers State, Alhaji Ibrahim S Yalo, urged Muslims to fear God, and speak the truth always.
According to him, time has come for Nigerians to cultivate the habit of peaceful coexistence, speak the truth and be each others keeper.
“Nigerians own a duty to ensure peace, live together in fear of God and speak the truth always,” he said.
By: John Bibor