The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, arraigned an ex-banker, Akinwole Oluwaseun Dosunmu, alongside his wife, Motunrayo Olanike Dosunmu before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan for alleged financial fraud to the tune of N2, 740,300.92 (Two Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Thousand, Three Hundred Naira, Ninety-Two kobo).

The couple was accused of stealing the sum from the Sterling Bank Plc. Akinwole was an employee of the bank, while his wife was a customer and a beneficiary in the bank’s Third Party Acquirer Scheme.

The bank had initiated the scheme as a marketing strategy through which relatives and friends of their marketing agents were awarded commission for bringing new customers to open and operate new accounts with the bank. Akinwole, also a marketer with the bank, was appointed to coordinate the scheme.

Apart from the commission on account opening, the referral also enjoys certain percentage on the saving made through the accounts every month.

It was, however, alleged that while reviewing activities under the scheme in 2016, the bank discovered that most of the accounts appropriated to Motunrayo as a third-party acquirer were fraudulently tagged to her by her husband.

The investigation allegedly revealed that the accounts were never sourced by either of the couple, but by other third-party agents.

According to the petition filed by the bank, the couple had benefited a total of N2, 740,300.9292 as Commission fraudulently paid to Motunrayo through the scheme.

It was on account of the allegation and further investigations by the EFCC that the couple was arraigned on a 16-count charge of stealing on Tuesday.

The offence is contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Laws CAP 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Akinwole Oluwaseun Dosunmu and Motunrayo Olanike Dosunmu between the months of July 2015 and April 2016 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an illegal act, to wit, stealing of the aggregate sum of N1,280,554.38 (One Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Naira, Thirty-Eight Kobo), property of Sterling Bank Plc under the guise that the account of one Odediran Oluwafemi and Annee was generated by Motunrayo Olanike Dosunmu and thereby committed an offense”.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In view of their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Ifeanyi Agwu, applied for a date for trial and for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Service.

However, the defence counsel, J. B. Olaoye, informed the court that he has filed applications for bail on behalf of the accused persons.

Justice Akintola adjourned the matter till Friday, February 21, 2020, for hearing of the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Agodi, Ibadan.

Justice M. L. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has remanded Samuel Francis (alias Mark Langley) in prison custody following his arraignment today, February 19, 2020 by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on three counts of impersonation and possession of fake documents.

One of the count reads: "That you, Samuel Francis on or about 1st November, 2019 at Port Harcourt Rivers State, within the Jurisdiction of this honourable Court with intent to defraud and in order to facilitate the Commission of crime, did falsely presented yourself to one David Anthony Lucky Bailey as Mark Longely, a Forex Trader from United States of America, contrary to Section 22 (3) of the Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention etc Act 2015".

The defendant pleaded "not guilty" when the charge was read to him. In view of the plea, prosecuting counsel, U. D Asue-Izibe prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.

However, defence counsel A. U Ugorji asked for a short adjournment to enable him file an application for the bail of the defendant.

Justice Abubakar ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till February 27, 2020 for consideration of bail application.

Francis's trouble started when the Commission received actionable intelligence on his alleged involvement in internet fraud. After close surveillance, operatives of the Commission arrested the defendant at Worlu Street, Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Investigation revealed that Francis operates several email accounts ([email protected] and [email protected]), which he uses to defraud his victims.

Justice S.C Amadi of the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 convicted and sentenced Hussaini Abubakar, a former staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to one year imprisonment with N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira ) option of fine, for stealing, contrary to Section 383 (1) and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code CAP 37 vol. II Laws of Rives State of Nigeria, 1999.

The defendant was arraigned by the EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office on a three-count charge, bordering on stealing.

Count One of the charge reads: "That you,Hussaina Abubakar, in 2017 at Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division did fraudulently steal an exhibit from the Forensic Section of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, an exhibit which you knew was recovered in the course of investigation to wit: One Lenevo S60-A (daul sim) with serial number: HBOGOHAQ with IME slot number: 1-866059026043140, worth N18,000 (Eighteen Thousand Naira), belonging to one Chuku Nelson Nyegam and thereby committed an offence."

The defendant pleaded guilty to all the charges, prompting prosecuting counsel, N . A. Dodo to urge the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

However, defence counsel M. M Suleiman prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, having been found to be a first time offender and with no previous conviction record, and taking into consideration that the defendant is an orphan, a married man and a father of a 15-months baby and a bread winner for his family.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas, has given account of how the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido allegedly diverted funds meant for projects in the state to his private use through a company, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company.

The EFCC re-arraigned Lamido, his two sons: Aminu Sule Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido, Aminu Wada Abubakar, Batholomew Darlington Agoha, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd on an amended 43-count charge for allegedly defrauding the state to the tune of N1.35billion.

At the resumed trial, Wetkas who is also an operative of the Commission, told the court that EFCC’s investigation revealed how Lamido’s companies: Speeds International Limited and Bamaina Holding Company, received several payments running into hundreds of millions into their bank accounts via cheques raised by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company between 2007 and 2013.

Wetkas who was led in evidence by prosecution counsel, M. S. Abubakar, disclosed that there were payments through cheques for N7,408,000 and 7,425,000 from Zenith bank account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company in favour of Bamaina Holding Company on March 5, 2013.

Also, the witness further revealed that on April 23, 2013, there were two cheques of N7,228,900 from Zenith Bank account that were raised in favour of Speeds International Limited which was paid.

Wetkas also told the court that a sum of N9,450,000 was paid to Speeds International Limited on October 19, 2010 as well as several payments that were made from the UBA and the former Intercontinental Bank, (now Access Bank) accounts of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to the companies owned by Alhaji Lamido. He tendered the payment cheques as exhibits.

Justice Ojukwu adjourned the matter till April 27, 28, 29, 30 and May 4, 5, 6, and 7, 2020 for continuation of trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office on Thursday, February 20, 2020 arraigned a 66-year-old contractor, Chief Joseph Oluwole Komolafe, before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on a one-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N30million.

He was alleged to have diverted the said money from the fund meant to supply laboratory equipment for the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The charge against him reads: "That you, Oluwole Kamolafe being the alter ego of Destiny Work Limited, sometime in July 2015, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did cheat Femimat Concept Limited the sum of N31,500,000.00 (Thirty One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira), when you intentionally induced Femimat Concept Limited to supply laboratory equipment in respect of a contract worth N128,199,968.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Eight Million One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Eight Naira) to University of Ilorin in your stead, which he would not supply, but for your inducement and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same Penal Code."

He pleaded "not guilty" to the charge.

Prosecuting Counsel, A.A. Adebayo, asked the Court for a trial date.

"In view of the plea of not guilty entered by the defendant, the prosecution shall be asking for a trial day to enable us prove our case against the defendant," he said, and urged the Court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Facility.

Lead counsel to the defendant, A.O. Adelodun, while not objecting to the application seeking for adjournment for prosecution to open its case, prayed the Court to allow the defence move an oral application for the bail of his client.

Adedayo, however, opposed the oral application for the bail.

Justice Abdulgafar, after listening to the arguments, turned down the oral application for bail and ordered the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

The case has been adjourned till February 21, 2020 for hearing of the bail application.

PM Express Reports

It was double jeopardy for a couple, who adopted a boy over their inability to get a child and to have a child that will take care of them at the old age, as the boy grew up only to turn into a bandit that produces guns for armed robbers in Lagos.

According to reports, the bandit, Chukwuma Ezeanyim, has been arrested by Police operatives at Ejigbo Division led by the DPO, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi and recovered tools which he used to produce toy guns for criminals.

The suspect, who claimed to have learnt to produce toy guns in Port Harcourt, River State, was arrested at Nufemi Street, Ejigbo area of Lagos, after his parents discovered that he was a habitual criminal and sent him away. He then started living with a lady, identified as Joy Ekpo, in the same compound who he eventually burgled her house and he was brought to the Police.

It was gathered that the complainant, Joy Ekpo, went to the Police at Ejigbo Division and reported that the suspect, Chukwuma Ezeanyim, burgled her house, stole her DSTV explorer decoder; he was then arrested and detained at the Police Station for interrogation.

During interrogation, the Police discovered that the suspect, Chukwuma, was a habitual criminal and was then taken to the scene of the incident where the Police made shocking discovery.

The Police recovered one locally assembled toy gun, iron pipe, long iron and two knives, which he produced locally.

He was transferred to the operatives of FSARS in Ikeja, Lagos, led by CSP Peter Gana for further investigation.

Police sources at FSARS said Chukwuma has made confessional statement on how he produced the gun and for what purpose as Police intensify investigation to know who he supplies the guns he produces to.

What is bondage? Bondage is: a state of being bound usually by compulsion (as a law or mastery): such as captivity, it is anything that hinders or prevents or obstructs somebody or anything from functioning normally. A bondage may be an obstacle.

Bondage could also be in the form of an embargo or limitation placed upon one's effectiveness; academically, physically, financially, spiritually, mentally and materially. Bondages come as a result of sin against God or as an affliction from Satan and his agents.

God says in Exodus 20 v 3-5 "Thou shall not have other gods before me. Thou shall not bow yourself to them for I the Lord your God, I am a jealous God visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. "

The scripture above show that one can get into bondage as a result of personal, parental or ancestral sin.

Satanic bondage can come through curses, spell, jinxes, bewitchment and enchantment. There is this story of a farmer, for some years he planted yams but when it was time for harvesting, almost all the yams harvested looked good on the outside but they were rotten inside. When he could not take it anymore, he sought counseling from a man of God who counseled him to anoint the farm after planting. So, by the next farming season, he carried out the instruction of the man of God. One day, as he was weeding his farm, he saw a fresh human waste in a shallow hole on the farm. He asked his farm helps and they said they did not know who did it. So they decided to anoint the waste and prayed.

Behold, early the next morning the head of the witch doctors in that area came to confess the act. If this farmer had not met Jesus, the bondage breaker, he would have continued to suffer losses.

Bondage can result in loss of peace, poor health, financial lack, dream attacks and defeats, lack of progress in every endeavor, etc. Beloved are you in bondage right now? I have good news for you. Jesus Christ the bondage breaker in here to break every yoke in your life. Jesus, in Matthew 11 v 28-30 says, "come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and i will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The story is told in Luke 8:43-44 of the woman with the issue of blood who was bound for 12 years. When she saw Jesus coming she said "if i could just touch the hem of his garment" she did and was immediately healed.

Do you have any long standing sickness that has defied medicine? Come to Jesus, the bondage breaker. He will heal you and make you whole for the Bible says, "by His stripes we are healed" Isaiah 53:5.

Are you unemployed? He says "ask it shall be given unto you" Matthew 7:7 Do you lack anything good? He says those that seek him shall not lack anything good. Psalm 34:10

Are you surrounded by troubles? He says if you call upon me I will hear you and deliver you out of your troubles. Psalm 34:6

Does everywhere around you work like dry desert? He says he will cause rivers to flow in your desert and will make a way where there is no way. Isaiah 3:9 Have all friends and relations forsaken you because of your problem? He says i will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:66 No matter the storm you are going through, He says if you pass through the water he will be with You. If you pass through the rivers it will not drown you. if you walk through the fire, you will not be burnt, the flame will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2. These are some of the promises of Jesus, the bondage breaker. There are other promises that can be yours if only you are ready to accept Him as your Lord and savior. You have nothing to loose but you stand to gain more than you can ever imagine if you accept Jesus Christ.

Why not do so now? Tomorrow may be too late. Behold he is knocking at the door of your heart. Open up your heart and let him come in, you and Him will forever remain a winning combination. He has never lost any battle. Without Him you're nothing, but in Him you a re a Prince and a Priest of God with direct access to God the Father.

If you are ready to accept Him, then pray this prayer; "Father, in the name of Jesus I come to you knowing that I am a sinner; I confess my sins (mention the ones you can remember now and repent of them). have mercy on me and forgive me of my sins. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Cleanse me with the Blood of Jesus. Thank you Father, in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

If you pray this prayer sincerely, your sins will be forgiven and you will start life like a new born baby.

let us Pray:

• Oh Lord, by your mercy, break every seen and unseen bondage in my life and family in the Name of Jesus Christ.

• Lord Jesus! You are the bondage breaker, break all my yokes now.

• My Father, arrest every power that has put me in bondage, set me free and let them go into their bondage in the Name of Jesus.

For further assistance, you can call +234 807 453 1998 or for prayer and counseling you can visit us at (if you're around the axis):-

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries
Tent Makers Pastoral Ministry (TMPM) Region 14
Off Road 522, By FCMB, After Agete Hotel
1st Avenue Gwarinpa, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

Following her conviction by an FCT High Court over the alleged killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, Maryam Sanda has approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, asking the court to set aside the verdict and acquit her.

Sanda, who was sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Yusuf Halilu on Jan. 27, said the trial judge “was tainted by bias and prejudices.”

According to her, this led to the denial of her right to fair hearing and her consequent conviction based on circumstantial evidence despite the reasonable doubt that was created by evidence of witnesses, lack of confessional statement, absence of murder weapon, lack of corroboration of evidence by two or more witnesses and lack of autopsy report to determine the true cause of her husband’s death.

In a notice of appeal predicated on 20 grounds and filed by her legal team composed of Rickey Tarfa, SAN, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, Regina Okotie-Eboh and Beatrice Tarfa, the applicant said the judgment of the trial court was completely “a miscarriage of justice.”

She pointed to the failure of the trial judge to rule, one way or the other, on her preliminary objection, challenging the charge preferred against her and the jurisdiction of the court as evidence of bias and a denial of her right to fair hearing as constitutionally guaranteed.

In her application, she said: “The honourable trial judge erred in law when having taken arguments on the appellant’s preliminary objection to the validity of the charge on the 19th of March, 2018 failed to rule on it at the conclusion of trial or at any other time.

“The trial judge exhibited bias against the defendant in not ruling one way or the other on the said motion challenging his jurisdiction to entertain the charge and therefore fundamentally breached the right to fair hearing of the defendant.”

In ground II, the appellant contended that the trial judge erred and misdirected himself by usurping the role of the police when he assumed the duty of an Investigating Police Officer (IPO) as contained in Page 76 of his judgment.

It was submitted that “the circumstantial evidence which the trial court relied upon in its application of the last seen doctrine does not lead to the conclusion that the defendant is responsible for the death of the deceased.”

Consequently, Sanda prayed the Court of Appeal to allow her appeal, set aside her conviction and sentence imposed by Justice Halilu and acquit her
No date has been fixed for hearing in the matter. (NAN)

Police operatives from Osun State Command have uncovered a Cherubim and Seraphim Church, where a female Pastor uses to recruit teenagers for prostitution.

According to reports, the incident happened at the Church premises located at No. 37 Oriola Street, Aladelola area of Osun State.

The 56 -year old woman, Pastor Kafayat Idowu, has been arrested and currently in detention over allegation of running prostitution business inside her church.
It was gathered that the Police received intelligence reports over her activities in the church by engaging young girls between the ages of 13 and 17 for prostitution for her clients.
The Police monitored and eventually arrested her while negotiating price for one of her victims inside her Cherubim and Seraphim Church. She reportedly confessed and told the Police that she charges N600 after arranging customers for the teenage girls.
One of the victims disclosed that many of them are 13-17 years old and are mostly from broken homes. She further said they were lured into prostitution when they sought for help from the Pastor Kafayat.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, said the suspect, Kafayat, will be charged for child abuse and human trafficking.

Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, spent the most part of Tuesday in Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge, Local Government Area, remotely located around a Nigerian border abutting Cameroon and Chad.

Governor Zulum flew from Maiduguri to Kala-Balge aboard a helicopter because it is impossible to access the LGA by road due to massive waterlog caused by discharge from a dam in Cameroonian territory in July 2019.

The Governor, who returned at night, supervised the distribution of N100m in cash to the residents in Rann, whose only option is to trek about 10 kilometres to border communities in order to buy food and other basic needs.

Each of the 10,000 households in the community was given between N10,000 and N15,000 cash because there is no banking service. Zulum had to fly cash as last option.

Male householders received N15,000 each, while their female counterparts received N10,000 each.

More than 10,000 households in the agrarian community of Rann, have been trapped while crops planted last year were destroyed by a herd of 250 elephants sighted by UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) officials from their helicopter back in December 2019.

Farmlands still flooded cannot be cultivated by the residents, forcing them to completely depend on aid transported to them through humanitarian air services.