Crime
PHOTOS: 7 Congolese and Ugandan nationals arrested for swindling Nigerian businessman out of $70,000 in fake gold scam
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) in Uganda, working alongside the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), has arrested seven people accused of swindling a Nigerian businessman out of USD 70,000 in a sophisticated fake gold deal.
The suspects — four Congolese and three Ugandan nationals, allegedly posed as suppliers and agents for two companies, Legacy Refinery Limited and Emerod Agency Limited, convincing Mr. Mark Gbillah that they could deliver seven kilograms of gold. Investigations later revealed that neither company had any genuine gold to supply.
Those arrested have been named as Paluku Kisasi, Safari Akonkwa, Isaac Mpende, Abdul Madjid Kahirima, Mabwongo Prince, Kajjubi Tevin Kyome, and Tibasiima Barbra, alias Katushabe Sharon.
Addressing journalists at the Unit’s offices at the Parliamentary Building in Kampala on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Senior Officer Mr. Bamwiine Muhorozi said the operation was set in motion after the victim reported the matter.
“We worked with Mr. Gbillah to set up a controlled meeting with the suspects, leading to their arrest before they could solicit more money,” he said.
A search of the suspects’ rented premises in Muyenga uncovered about 150 kilograms of fake gold bars and imitation gold nuggets, allegedly used to lure unsuspecting investors.
The arrests come amid a surge in gold fraud targeting foreign businesspeople.
Earlier this year, a Turkish investor lost Shs 550 million (about USD 150,000) in a similar scam, while in mid-2024 another businessman was defrauded of USD 105,000 in a bogus deal involving 20 kilograms of non-existent gold.
Regional data shows that between early 2021 and March 2022, investors in Uganda and Kenya lost an estimated USD 25 million to gold scams, with some cases involving more than USD 8 million.
Mr. Bamwiine noted that while SH-ACU has intercepted several gold scams in recent years, this case was significant because the suspects were caught in the act.
He urged investors to verify business transactions with the relevant authorities and to promptly report suspicious dealings.
The suspects are expected to be charged in court in the coming days.
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The Chief Magistrate court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has remanded a 34-year-old lady, Deborah Ayeni, in prison for allegedly a new baby from a hospital in the state.
LIB reported that the suspect gained access to the maternity ward of Okeyimi Healthcare Centre in Ado-Ekiti on August 4, 2025 and stole the newborn baby.
She was subsequently arrested by the police after a discreet investigation.
The baby was recovered from her and reunited with the parents, Mustapha Aliyu and Salmatu Lawal.
During interrogation, Ayeni confessed to carrying out the criminal act to deceive her United Kingdom-based husband that she delivered a new baby.
She claimed that her decision to steal the baby was to cover up her lies about the fake pregnancy since she had already collected a lot of money from her husband.
The police prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyomi, informed the court that there is probable cause to order the remand of the defendant at the Correctional Service, Ado-Ekiti, who is reasonably suspected to have committed the offence.
The prosecutor pointed out that the offence is punishable under Section 292 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021 within Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District and requested that the application be granted.
He noted that the duplicate case file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The defendant was represented by Stephen Ademuwagun.
The Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, granted the application for her remand and adjourned the case till September 12, 2025, for mention.
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Armed bandits attacked a mosque in Marnona village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, k!lling one worshiper and abducting several others, during morning prayers.
It was gathered that the attackers, reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the mosque in the early hours of Sunday, August 10, 2025. and opened fire indiscriminately on worshipers, sending the community into panic.
The victim identified as Alhaji Shu’aibu Marnona was laid to rest on Monday.
The Sokoto State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Isah Achida, confirmed the incident on Tuesday.
He condemned the assault, describing it as “barbaric” and “an act of cowardice.
“Targeting innocent worshipers in a sacred place is a direct attack on our humanity and our faith. The perpetrators must be brought to justice, and our people must remain united to defeat this menace,” Achida said.
Achida assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, is working to curb banditry across Sokoto, while expressing sympathy to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Security sources believe the assailants may have come from camps hidden in the forests bordering Sokoto and Zamfara states, notorious for harbouring armed groups.
The attackers fled before security operatives arrived at the scene.
Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the command has launched an investigation and will issue a detailed statement soon.
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