Internet Fraudster Bags One Year in Port Harcourt
Justice E. Obile of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced Sampson Ajagha to one year imprisonment for Internet- related offences.
He was jailed on July 14, 2021 after pleading “guilty” to two- count charges bordering on impersonation and internet fraud, upon his arraignment by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One of the count- charges read: “That you Sampson Ajagha (Alias Wilson Brown) sometimes in September 2020 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did impersonate identity of one Wilson Brown, a white man in your gmail account by sending documents to unsuspecting ladies through the internet which document you claim emanated from the said Wilson Brown with the intent to gain for yourself, and thereby committed and offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under section 22 (2) (b) (IV) of the same Act”
He pleaded “guilty” to the two-count charges preferred against him. In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, K.W. Chukwuma-Eneh, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. His prayer was not opposed by the defence counsel, Paula Abdul-Adukole.
Justice Obile convicted and sentenced him to six months imprisonment each on both count charges, with an option of fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N 100,000.00) on each of the count. The sentence runs concurrently.
Sampson’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested at Mandela Housing Estate Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State by operatives of the EFCC based on intelligence linking him to some fraudulent activities.
EFCC, PAGMI Hold Joint Sensitization for Artisanal Gold Miners, Traders in Minna
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and Special Control Unit against Money Laundering SCUML in conjunction with the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative PAGMI, today July 27, 2021, held a sensitization and town hall meeting with artisanal and small scale miners in Minna, Niger State.
Addressing the miners at the event with the theme: “EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM MEASURES IN THE DNFI SECTOR”, the Director of SCUML, Mr. Daniel Isei, who was represented by the Head Strategic Analysis, Mrs. Ibinabo Mary Amachre said the purpose of the workshop was to sensitize dealers in precious stones and metals on their AML/CFT obligations and build competence in their compliance abilities.
Isei noted that “criminals have now turned their focus on dealers in the precious stones and metals sector to perpetrate money laundering, terrorist financing, as well as carry out most of their nefarious criminal activities including kidnapping and banditry”.
According to the SCUML boss, “in recognition of this phenomenon, it becomes incumbent on us to take deliberate and decisive actions to stop criminals from abusing the dealers in the sector. We must therefore be conscious of our obligations and responsibilities under the Nigerian AML/CFT regime and develop a culture of compliance with AML/CFT measures”.
The Executive Secretary, PAGMI, Hajiya Fatima Umar Shinkafi who was represented by Dr. Martina Ananaba said the core mandate of PAGMI is to forge the formalization and integration of artisanal gold mining activities into Nigeria’s legal, economic and institutional framework.
“PAGMI’s focus and purpose for this town hall meeting is three-pronged. The first is to sensitize the gold traders, dealers and miners in the gold supply chain on the existence, role and purpose of PAGMI and what it can offer to the gold trading society. The second is to demonstrate our collaboration with the EFCC and clarify how we would both be acting together in this landscape towards our joint objectives, and the third is to bring to your attention the relevant laws within the sector which cover both the PAGMI and EFCC operations. The knowledge of these laws will arm you in carrying out your business legally and without fear of any reprisals,” she said.
Highlighting the advantage of the initiative, Hajiya Shinkafi said the collaboration between PAGMI and EFCC was necessary and timely, for revenue development in the sector.
While appreciating the EFCC and SCUML for this initiative, Abdulkarim Muhammed, Secretary of Gold Sellers Association of Minna Modern Market, Niger State and Hon. Uba Adamu, Public Relations Officer, Miners Association of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter, expressed their delight in this collaboration, underscoring their association’s disapproval of using the sector for money laundering or financing of terrorism. They reiterated their sector’s internal audit mechanism which enables them to fish out anyone associated with these crimes.
Court Jails Two For Forging Bank Deposit Slips In Port Harcourt
Justice S. D. Pam of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced Abinami Alali and Kornom Vincent to two years imprisonment each for conspiracy and forgery.
They were jailed on July 1, 2021, after pleading “guilty” to separate three count- charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery, upon their arraignment by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One of the counts read: “That you Abinami Alali on or about the 30th day of August, 2018 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire with one Kornom Vincent to commit felony to wit: uttering of forged documents thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) (c) of the same Act”.
Another count read: “That you Kornom Vincent on or about 30th day of August, 2018 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently and knowingly forged a document to wit: Access Bank Teller dated 30th day of August, 2018 with intent that its content may be used or acted as genuine and purported to have emanated from Access Bank Plc, which you knew it to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 467of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C.38 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act, 2007 and punishable under the same Act”.
They pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
Justice Pam convicted and sentenced both Vincent and Alali to two years imprisonment each with an option of fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000.00) payable into the Federal Government’s Account.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre started when some established intelligence of the EFCC, showed that they forged deposit slips and official stamp of Access Bank Plc, to process Building Permits of the Ministry of Urban Development, Rivers State. The forgery was investigated, leading to their prosecution ad conviction.
