Category Nigeria News

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday, convicted and sentenced four Filipinos and eight Nigerians to one year imprisonment each for offences bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

Justice Yellim Bogoro also gave the Filipinos a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) each.

The convicts are a part of a larger number of the 792 people arrested during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by EFCC operatives in December 2024 at their hideout in a seven-storey building called Big Leaf Building on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The four Filipinos; Reyna Mae Eriba, Chyna Samonte, Zara Fabian and Dominique Medina were arrested alongside their Nigerian counterparts, Chidera Ezechukwu, Favour Oluchukwu, Egwenum Ifeanyi, David Okezie, Gbenga Shittu Solomon, Ibraheem Olamilekan, Chinecherem Michael and
Oghomienor Jotham.

READ ALSO: EFCC Arraigns More Chinese, Filipino For Alleged Cybercrime

They were all arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on separate charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

One of the charges reads: “That you Chynna Samonte sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organized to seriously destabilize and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishuble under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Ete) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022

Another charge reads: “That you, Chidera Ezechukwu Praise, sometime in May 2025 at Lagos, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court did retain the sum of N12,750,318.63 (Twelve Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighteen Million, million, Sixty-three Kobo) in your UBA account with account number 2330149541, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act to wit: engaging in online dating scam and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 as amended and punishable under section 14(2) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to the offence when the charges were read to them and Justice Bogoro convicted them accordingly.

Upon the conviction of the defendants, the EFCC prosecution counsels asked the court to forfeit all the exhibits recovered from them. The items recovered from the 12 convicts includes, monies, cars, mobile devices etc all of which the court ordered should be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Apart from the one year imprisonment each, and a fine of N1m each, the Judge also ordered that upon completion of their sentences the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service should ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.

For their Nigerian counterparts, they got options of fines ringing from N500,000 to N700,000.

Gbenga Shittu was sentenced to One year imprisonment or an option of fine in the sum of N700,000.00

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, says Nigeria is not experiencing democracy under President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Anambra State governor stated during a press conference to celebrate the 2025 June 12 Democracy Day.

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President Bola Tinubu has congratulated a veteran journalist and publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka-Pemu, on his 90th birthday anniversary.

Tinubu, in a personally signed statement made available by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, described Amuka as a man who devoted most of his life to journalism.

He said, “Today, I celebrate Prince Sam Amuka-Pemu, iconic journalist and publisher of Vanguard newspaper, on his 90th birthday. Fondly called Uncle Sam, Amuka-Pemu started his career at the Daily Times.

“Then, he co-founded The Punch with the late accountant, Chief Olu Aboderin. After parting ways with Aboderin, he set up the Vanguard newspaper in 1984, which became one of Nigeria’s most influential newspapers under his leadership. Mr. Amuka-Pemu has devoted most of his life to journalism.”

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Tinubu Honours Soyinka, Kukah, Falana, Aghanenu, Others With National Award

Tinubu commended the publisher for keeping the 41-year-old newspaper alive through his managerial acumen.

According to him, Amuka-Pemu remains a shining example of dedication, resilience, and integrity within the media industry.

“Today, he is not just a leader of the profession; he is a doyen. His leadership, from the altar of journalism, has influenced the media landscape and extended to his role as a respected leader in Delta State and the South-South geopolitical zone, making him an elder statesman.

“On the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day, I conferred on him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in profound recognition of his significant contributions to the country and his exemplary leadership in the field of journalism,” the President stated.

Tinubu, therefore, urged younger journalists to emulate the highly respected publisher and leader who he said has made invaluable contributions to journalism.

“Our country is deeply grateful for his enduring legacy,” he added.

The President on Thursday conferred a national honour, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), on Amuka-Pemu, during an address at the joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day.

He also conferred national honours on 32 others.

“Additionally, I confer the national honour of CON on Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, a legendary journalist and publisher who remains true to his lifetime calling as he marks his 90th birthday tomorrow, June 13,” he said.

Police authorities, in partnership with other security agencies, have recorded major successes in their sustained efforts to crack down on violent crimes in the country. The latest is the rescue of abducted persons, the killing of suspected kidnappers, and the recovery of large caches of illegal firearms and ammunition in Delta and Katsina states. 

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says that in Katsina State, a major success was recorded on June 8, 2025, when a combined JTF comprising police operatives and other security agencies foiled a kidnap attempt along the Danmusa–Mara Dangeza village road in Danmusa Local Government Area (LGA).

Adejobi said this was possible by engaging a group of armed bandits attempting to flee with kidnapped victims in a gun battle that led to the rescue of eleven victims.

READ ALSO: Troops Kill Terrorist Kingpin In Yobe

Meanwhile, in the South-South region, Delta State, to be specific, police authorities arrested one Abubakar Hassan, who is a key suspect in an interstate kidnapping syndicate operating within Delta, Rivers, Imo, and Enugu states.

The officers attached to the CP-Special Assignment Team did so while acting on credible intelligence.

During interrogation, Hassan confessed to leading operations along the Ughelli-Ozoro axis of the oil-rich state.

He also led police operatives to his hideout in a forest in Ozoro. There, officers recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, and thirty-two rounds of live ammunition.

READ ALSO: [Land Dispute] Army Warns Against Escalation Of Violence In Taraba

Last week, security agents killed four suspected kidnappers in a joint operation between the police and local hunters.

A staff member of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abdullahi Nura, who is also a Chief Correctional Assistant (CCA) serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Gusau, Zamfara State, has attempted suicide.

The incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday as the officer jumped into a dam.

According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Command, ASC I Mustapha Abubakar, the officer had reported for duty before hiring a commercial motorcyclist who conveyed him to the Gusau Dam, the largest and deepest dam within the metropolis.

“Upon arrival, he suddenly jumped into the water in an apparent suicide attempt, for reasons best known to him,” he said.

“The motorcyclist quickly alerted staff and security personnel at the dam site, who responded swiftly and rescued the officer from drowning.”

READ ALSO: Bandits Kill Retired Teacher, Abduct Wife, Two Others In Zamfara

The statement noted that Nura was found wearing his service uniform and in possession of his official ID card.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service State Headquarters was immediately informed, prompting a rapid response.

“The State Controller of Corrections, CCS Musa Tanko, promptly deployed a team of officers who evacuated the victim to the MSCC Medical Clinic in Gusau, where he is currently receiving medical attention.”

Police authorities in Katsina have rescued seventy-three abducted persons and also arrested one hundred and seventy-five suspects in connection with various offences across the state in May this year.

Fifteen of the suspects were arrested in connection with a case of armed robbery, one was nabbed in connection with a case of kidnapping, and twenty others were arrested for a case of murder/culpable homicide.

One other suspect was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm, and thirty in connection with rape case alongside one hundred and eight suspects who were arrested in connection with offences not mentioned above.

The spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, Abubakar Sadiq, in a statement on Thursday, said the success is part of the major achievements recorded by the command in May 2025.

Exhibit recovered from the suspects includes: one locally fabricated AK-49, one locally Made Revolver pistol, five hundred and six 7.62mm live rounds of ammunition, two suspected stolen motorcycles, and 174 suspected rustled animals.

He said kidnapped victims were rescued within the period under review.

READ ALSO: Police Kill Five Suspected Kidnappers In Delta, Recover AK-47 Riffles

These achievements, according to him, would not have been possible without the support of the State Government and the good people of the state, whom he appreciated for their support, collaboration, and assistance in the command’s crime-fighting efforts to maintain law and order.

“However, we solicit more support and cooperation from the members of the public to enable us to further improve on these successes. We urge the public to continue reporting suspicious activities and crimes to the nearest police station or use our emergency numbers:

1. 081569777772
2. 090222096903
3. 07072722539

“I want to use this medium to appreciate our amiable Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his unflinching support of the command.