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Court fixes Nov 21 for judgment in N960m investment scam

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A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned judgment in the N960m, investment fraud case involving Edu Hub Consults Limited and its Managing Director, Mma Anyanso, to November 21, 2025.

Justice Mojisola Dada on Wednesday fixed the date after she was informed of a plea bargain entered by the defendant.

Anyanso is standing trial on an amended charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretence. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused him and his company of diverting investors’ funds meant for legitimate business purposes to personal use.

The amended charge, dated August 21 2025,and filed on September 29, 2025, alleged that between July 18 and September 14, 2020, Edu Hub Consults Limited dishonestly converted N960 m, belonging to investors under the guise of a profitable investment scheme.

The alleged offences contravene Section 278(1)(b)(ii) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The EFCC further claimed that the defendants used part of the funds to acquire luxury properties, including an apartment at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

An EFCC operative, Chinedu Peters, attached to the Commission’s Cybercrime Section, testified that the agency received credible intelligence in 2020 about suspicious investment activities operating from Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.

Acting on this information, investigators visited the location and arrested several suspects, including Anyanso.

Peters told the court that the defendant voluntarily admitted being the Managing Director of Edu Hub Consults Limited and, The Map Online Limited, both of which collected money from members of the public under the pretext of investment opportunities.

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He added that a letter sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed that neither company was licensed to receive or manage investment funds from the public.

Investigations, according to him, revealed that Edu Hub Consults Limited and, The Map Online Limited received various sums from over 2,300 investors, promising high returns based on the investment category.

The EFCC operative said the scheme collapsed after a few months of payouts, and the funds were diverted for personal use, including purchasing properties in Lagos and Abuja.

Peters also testified that while on administrative bail, the defendant made partial restitution to about 945 investors but still owed approximately N1.2 bn.

He added that Anyanso later wrote to the EFCC expressing willingness to enter into a plea bargain, in a letter dated September 29, 2025.

The prosecution urged the court to convict the defendant, insisting that the evidence established deliberate fraudulent conduct.

However, defence counsel, Dr. Suleiman Usman (SAN), pleaded for leniency, arguing that the defendant acted in good faith and had cooperated with investigators.

“The defendant believed the business was genuine,” Usman said.

“He has made substantial efforts to refund investors and surrendered properties to offset the outstanding balance.”

He urged the court to temper justice with mercy and consider a non-custodial sentence.

After listening to both counsel, Justice Dada adjourned the case until November 21, 2025, for judgment.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Two suspected car thieves arrested in Rivers

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The Eleme Local Government Council in Rivers State has arrested two suspects linked to a stolen Toyota Corolla.

The Chief Security Officer of the council, Comr. Greg Emere Ogosu, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 said the arrests followed ongoing efforts to fight crime in the area.

According to Ogosu, the suspects had been under watch since April 5, 2026, when the stolen car was found hidden at New Road in Onne.

The duo was later arrested after a manhunt and confessed to the crime.

He added that they have been handed over to the Nigeria Police for proper investigation and prosecution, stressing that there is no room for jungle justice in Eleme.

The council also warned that criminal activities will not be allowed in the area.

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Terrorists kill 20 in Borno, Adamawa border communities

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Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed 20 persons in Pubagu, Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, and Mayo-Ladde in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Our correspondent gathered that the terrorists stormed the two border communities around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, overpowering local security operatives before killing residents.

Confirming the attack exclusively to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, the Chairman of Askira Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, said 11 people were killed in Pubagu, Borno State, while nine lost their lives in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

He said, “Yes, there was an attack in Pubagu, Askira Uba, yesterday, Tuesday, around 4 p.m. Eleven people were killed. While in Mayo-Ladde, Hong Local Government in Adamawa State, nine people were killed.”

The two locations, according to him, are separated by a river.

“In total, we have 20 deaths, 11 from Askira Uba in Borno, nine from Hong Local Government, Adamawa,” he added.

Saidu noted that the insurgents overpowered local security operatives, gained access to the communities, and shot their victims.

“I later went there together with the Army. Initially, it was local security that was there, that is, hunters and vigilantes. But they were overpowered by the terrorists,” he stated.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the communities on motorcycles and operated for hours, destroying homes and looting property.

One of the survivors, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Yesterday evening, the terrorists stormed our community in Pubagu. They shot sporadically for hours, burning houses and shops. They killed both men and women after operating for over one hour.”

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The source added that the terrorists operated with little resistance from security operatives.

“The local vigilantes and hunters tried their best. Unfortunately, the terrorists were well armed and in much greater numbers. The resistance was not strong enough. The hunters later fled for their lives, too,” the source added.

On April 16, PUNCH Online reported that Boko Haram terrorists killed four soldiers and one civilian in Mussa community in Askira Uba Local Government Area.

The Chairman of the local government, Mada Saidu, who confirmed the earlier attack, said the civilian casualty was a woman.

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EFCC nabs suspected fake lawyer with forged NBA seal in Lagos

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Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ikoyi, Lagos have commenced an investigation of a suspected fake lawyer, John Anoruo, for possession of a forged seal of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

Anoruo, who operates a legal and educational consultancy in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, was arrested by EFCC operatives on Monday, April 20, 2026.

The agency in a statement said his case began after he submitted a petition dated September 22, 2025 to the EFCC, on behalf of his clients, against the management of a company, Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited.

However, investigations revealed that both the petition and the subsequent Letter of Withdrawal dated March 5, 2026, bore a forged seal of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, which Anoruo confessed to have obtained from an undisclosed business centre in Lagos.

During investigations,the 55-year-old claimed that although he obtained a Law degree in 2018 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, through evening classes, he did not attend the Nigerian Law School.

The agency says the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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See also  Police arrest three kidnappers over ₦6.9m ransom, victim’s murder
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