Metro
EFCC arraigns two over alleged N8.9m investment fraud in Awka
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned two men, Samuel Inalegwu Okpala and Ezelibe Emmanuel Nzube, before the Federal High Court sitting in Awka over an alleged N8.9 million fraud.
The defendants were brought before Justice Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent impersonation, and obtaining money under false pretence.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed in 2025 in Onitsha, where the defendants were said to have defrauded victims under the guise of investment opportunities.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Samuel Inalegwu Okpala, sometime in 2025, at Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with the intent to defraud, induced one Clara Uwakonye to deliver to you the sum of Five million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N5,500,000.00) under the pretence that she would receive return on investment, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Another count states: “That you, Ezelibe Emmanuel Nzube, sometime in 2025, at Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently impersonated one Michael Michael by means of your Samsung A05 mobile phone via a fake Facebook account created by you with the intent to gain advantage for yourself from Lisbeth Hojiund and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) & (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act”.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, Somtochukwu C. Anyanwu, asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendants at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Awka.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to April 29, 2026, for the hearing of their bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody.
The EFCC alleged that Okpala lured victims into a fake investment scheme with promises of returns. After receiving the money, he reportedly became unreachable, while efforts by victims to recover their funds failed.
Nzube was said to have worked with Okpala in carrying out the scheme, specialising in identity theft and the use of fake social media accounts to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Metro
Kebbi: Police dismiss rumours of school closure over insecurity
The Kebbi State Police Command has dismissed rumours claiming that schools in the state have been closed due to insecurity, describing the reports as false.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi while responding to claims of school closures, kidnappings and the withdrawal of pupils by parents.
According to him, there is no truth to the speculation, stressing that academic activities are continuing as scheduled across the state.
Usman noted that students have recently resumed for the new term, while graduating students are safely sitting for the Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, in various centres across Kebbi.
He added that the state’s school calendar remains under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and has not been disrupted by security concerns.
The police spokesperson further said security agencies, in collaboration with vigilante groups, have continued to carry out intelligence-led operations across the state to maintain peace and protect residents.
He maintained that recent arrests and the neutralisation of criminal elements demonstrate the effectiveness of the ongoing security efforts and urged the public to disregard unfounded rumours capable of causing panic.
Metro
Delta: Police rescue kidnap victim, arrest suspected armed robbers
Delta State Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim, arrested suspected armed robbers and recovered firearm and hard drugs.
The Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad (SAKU) successfully rescued a kidnap victim unhurt without the payment of ransom following a coordinated intelligence-led operation.
The operation was launched the operation following information received by the Command on 11 June 2026 regarding the kidnap of a male victim by armed men at Okpanam on 10 June 2026.
Acting swiftly on the report, operatives deployed intelligence assets and commenced a strategic operation aimed at locating the victim and apprehending the perpetrators
Edafe Bright, the commands spoke person confirmed the victim was rescued unhurt, debriefed, and reunited with his family as efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspects, while investigation into the incident continues.
As pressure mounted on the kidnappers through sustained intelligence gathering and operational deployment, the suspects abandoned the victim and fled from their hideout” Bright said
In a separate development, operatives of the Distress 01 Patrol Team attached to the Department of Operations, while on routine motorised patrol on 12 June 2026 at about 1230hrs in Asaba, intercepted a tricycle conveying three occupants.
The suspects were subjected to a search, during which one locally fabricated Beretta pistol was recovered.
The suspects, identified as Ewendeze De-Grace (19), Eruweghene Amede (20), and Chukwuemeka Arinze (21), were immediately arrested.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of the Aro Bagger Confraternity while the suspects and the recovered firearm are in custody while investigation is ongoing.
Again, in the continued efforts to curb drug-related crimes, operatives of the Kwale Division, acting on credible intelligence, raided a suspected drug distribution point in Kwale on 10 June 2026.
Upon sighting the operatives, two male suspects fled the premises, while one female suspect, identified as Ananyi Vivian, aged 45 years, was arrested.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the premises were being used for illicit drug-related activities.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted being aware of the illegal activities taking place at the location.
Bright also said investigation is ongoing, and concerted efforts are being made to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring all persons connected with the operation of the illicit drug point to justice
Metro
Ogun police arrest driver, guarantor for vehicle theft, foil smuggling attempt
Operatives attached to the Idiroko Division of the Ogun State Police Command have foiled a cross-border vehicle trafficking attempt, arrested two suspects and recovered a stolen 28-seater Toyota Coaster bus belonging to a company.
The suspects, Seun Lawal, 46, and Ademola Oriyomi, 38, were arrested on Friday.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the bus was declared stolen from Lagos.
He noted that Seun, the company’s driver, and his guarantor, Ademola, conspired to steal and smuggle the bus into the Benin Republic.
The statement reads: “The operation was based on credible intelligence received at about 11:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026, indicating that the suspects had positioned the said vehicle at the Babaloke area of Idiroko and were preparing to move it across the international border under false pretence.
“Acting swiftly on the information, CSP Adejuwon Ariyo mobilised and led a surveillance team to the location, where operatives intercepted the suspects in the course of executing the cross-border movement.”
According to the police spokesperson, the operatives demobilised the vehicle by shooting one of its tyres, effectively immobilising it and preventing its escape across the border.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that Seun Lawal, a driver, conspired with Ademola Oriyomi, his guarantor, to steal and sell the vehicle in the Benin Republic. The suspects admitted that the proceeds were intended to facilitate their relocation after the illegal transaction,” he added.
Babaseyi stated that the suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to uncover possible links to broader cross-border vehicle theft syndicates.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism, vigilance and tactical precision of CSP Adejuwon Ariyo and the operatives of the Idiroko Division.
The CP reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to proactive policing, strengthened border security operations and sustained efforts aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action within Ogun State and its border corridors.
Meanwhile, he urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.
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