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Nigerian faces 20 years jail in US for fraud

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A Nigerian man, Kenneth Godwin, is at risk of a 20-year imprisonment following his indictment in a wire and computer-related fraud scheme targeting a casino business in South Dakota, United States of America.

The indictment was announced by the US District Attorney, Ron Parsons, on Thursday.

Parsons disclosed that a federal grand jury indicted Godwin in March 2026 on charges bordering on conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and unauthorised access to a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.

He noted that between May 2023 and March 2026, Godwin, who is believed to have been residing in Nigeria at the time, conspired with others to embezzle funds from the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel.

The statement read, “United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that in March 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Kenneth Godwin, a Nigerian man, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Unauthorised Access to a Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud.

“Between May 2023 and March 2026, Godwin, while believed to be living in Nigeria, conspired with others to embezzle funds from the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in order to enrich themselves.”

According to him, the offences carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, supervised release, and possible restitution if convicted.

He noted that the charges were merely accusations, and the accused is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Speaking on the indictment, Parsons commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“No agency on earth is better at this than the FBI. They will track down those who steal from and commit fraud against the people of the United States wherever those offenders may be,” Parsons said.

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Also reacting, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, Christopher Dotson, described the case as an example of an international business email compromise scheme.

Dotson stated that the alleged fraud caused substantial financial losses to a business owned and operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

“This indictment is an example of how the FBI operates every day to dismantle and disrupt criminal enterprises in Indian Country and across the United States that target businesses and citizens in communities,” he was quoted as saying.

PUNCH Metro reported that on May 1, three Nigerians, William Elvis, Moses Hezekiah, and Destiny Oghentega, were charged in a US federal court in Rhode Island over their alleged involvement in an online romance and wire fraud scheme.

A statement obtained on the Department of Justice’s website had indicated that the suspects were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

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Crime

UK schoolgirl arrested after three wounded in school stabbing

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UK police said Tuesday they arrested a 14-year-old schoolgirl in the northwestern English city of Manchester after two students and a staff member were wounded in a school stabbing.

The girl was arrested on suspicion of assault and was in custody for questioning, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

Three people were injured — a 14-year-old schoolgirl, a 14-year-old schoolboy and a 27-year-old man who is a member of staff — with what were believed to be stab wounds.

“All were taken to hospital; however, injuries are thankfully not believed to be serious, and all are stable at this time,” police said following the incident at the Co-op Academy north of central Manchester.

The school decided to go into lockdown following the attack, as emergency vehicles surrounded the building, the Manchester Evening News reported.

“Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance,” police chief inspector Jon Shilvock said.

The UK government is trying to clamp down on youth knife crime and the sale of banned knives and machetes, including on online platforms.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged in February over the suspected stabbing of two boys at a London school.

AFP

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Crime

PHOTOS: NSCDC arrests fake soldier for alleged PoS fraud in Kwara

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) Kwara State Command, has arrested a 34-year-old man, Akinola Tosin, for allegedly defrauding a Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator using a fake bank transfer alert while also impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASC 1 Ayoola Michael, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday, June 8, 2026 said the suspect was apprehended following a complaint from a POS operator in the state.

According to the statement, the suspect allegedly obtained N40,600 from the operator after presenting a fake debit alert as proof of payment.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect collected the sum of Forty Thousand Six Hundred Naira (#40,600) after presenting a fake debit alert to the POS operator, deceiving the victim into believing a successful transfer had been made,” the statement read.

“Further investigations revealed that the suspect had been impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army using a fake military identity card bearing his name, alongside military-related paraphernalia, which he allegedly used to gain public trust and facilitate his criminal activities.

“The suspect also confessed to previous fraudulent activities involving multiple victims, while further investigation uncovered a suspected accomplice, identified as one Feranmi Idoko Godwin, who is currently at large.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and conclude investigations.

“Items recovered from the suspect include, 2 Opay ATM cards, 2 UBA ATM cards, 2 First Bank ATM cards, 1 PalmPay ATM card and 1 National Identity Card.

“The suspect will be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of investigations.

“The NSCDC Kwara State Commandant, Commandant Abbas Ndah Mohammed, reaffirmed the Corps’ unwavering commitment to combating crime and other forms of criminality, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and verify electronic transactions before releasing cash, goods or other valuables.”

See also  PHOTOS: Two criminal suspects arrested while butchering rustled cattle meat as troops neutralize armed bandit in Benue

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Crime

EFCC arraigns self-styled native doctor and wife for N1bn fraud in Ado-Ekiti

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The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, for an alleged contract scam to the tune of N1,098,961,500 (One Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only).

The couple were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering of obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

Taiwo and Omotola were arrested when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a proprietor of a private school in Delta State, petitioned the EFCC alleging that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

Kenechukwu further alleged that a total sum of N1,980,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Naira Only) was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc.

Investigation further revealed that the couple invested the proceeds of the illicit activities in the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti, namely: Town Tavern Lounge, located at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, Ado-Ekiti, and a four-bedroom bungalow located on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate, Ado-Ekiti

The Commission had on Monday, May 25, 2026 secured the interim attachment of the two properties.

Count 2 of the charge reads:

“That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you 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.”

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When the charges were read to them The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants.

Justice Usman adjourned the matter until Thursday, June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered the remand of the defendants in the EFCC holding facility.

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