Crime
INTERPOL, EFCC arrest four Nigerians for cybercrime, fraud
By Derrick Bangura
INTERPOL, in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has arrested three Nigerians in connection to cyber fraud.
The operation targeting malware cyber fraud across Southeast Asia led to the arrest of the three suspected scammers.
In a sting operation conducted by the EFCC, the suspects were arrested in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State, and in Benin City, Edo State.
INTERPOL said the operation was part of a global operation codenamed “Killer Bee” involving the organisation’s General Secretariat headquarters and National Central Bureaus and law enforcement agencies in 11 countries across Southeast Asia.
The arrests follow the publication of an INTERPOL Cyber Report linking a suspected syndicate of Nigerian fraudsters operating from the West Coast of Africa to the use of a malicious Remote Access Trojan known as Agent Tesla.
INTERPOL said the men are thought to have used the RAT to reroute financial transactions, stealing confidential online connection details from corporate organisations, including oil and gas companies in South East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
While two of the scammers are still on trial, the third, Hendrix Omorume, has been charged and convicted of three counts of serious financial fraud and faces a 12-month prison sentence.
Days earlier, the cybercrime unit of the Nigeria Police Force arrested a 37-year-old Nigerian man in an international operation spanning four continents, coordinated and facilitated by the recently created Africa operations desk within INTERPOL’s cybercrime directorate.
INTERPOL in a statement said the suspect is alleged to have run a transnational cybercrime syndicate that launched mass phishing campaigns and business email compromise schemes targeting companies and individual victims.
Nigerian law enforcement apprehended the suspect at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said law enforcement and cybersecurity firms have witnessed the striking increase in many forms of cybercrime in recent years, exploiting the context of COVID-19 and forming what he described a “parallel pandemic.”
INTERPOL’s Africa desk, called the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) and funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, was launched in May 2021 to boost the capacity of 49 African countries to fight cybercrime.
The police operation, codenamed Delilah, was initiated by an intelligence referral from several INTERPOL partners from the private sector: Group-IB, Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 and Trend Micro.
The intelligence was enriched by analysts within INTERPOL’s Cyber Fusion Centre, which brings together experts from law enforcement and industry to turn information on criminal activities into actionable intelligence. INTERPOL’s AFJOC desk then referred the intelligence to Nigeria and followed up with multiple case coordination meetings supported by law enforcement in Australia, Canada and the United States.
Investigators began to map out and track the alleged malicious online activities of the suspect, thanks to ad hoc support from private sector firm CyberTOOLBELT, as well as tracking his physical movements as he travelled from one country to another.
“I hope the results of Operation Delilah will stand as a reminder to cybercriminals across the world that law enforcement will continue to pursue them, and that this arrest will bring comfort to victims of the suspect’s alleged campaigns,” the Assistant Inspector General added.
“This case underlines both the global nature of cybercrime and the commitment required to deliver a successful arrest through a global to regional operational approach in combatting cybercrime,” said Bernardo Pillot, INTERPOL’s Assistant Director, Cybercrime Operations.
“The persistence of national law enforcement agencies, private sector partners and the INTERPOL teams all contributed to this result, analysing vast quantities of data and providing technical and live operational support,” Mr Pillot added. “Cybercrime is a threat that none of our 195 member countries face alone.”
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday ordered the remand of a 52-year-old man, Taiwo Olaniyan, in Agodi correctional facility for allegedly causing the death of his unborn child.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendant’s plea for lack of jurisdiction, ordered his remand in Agodi correctional facility, Ibadan.
Ogunkanmi held that the defendant would remain in custody pending receipt of advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till Dec. 12 for mention.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, had arraigned the defendant, who resides at Apata area of Ibadan, on a three-count charge bordering on assault and causing death of an unborn child.
Akinloye told the court that the defendant had, on May 2018, assaulted his wife, Rukayat Babajide, by inflicting injury on her.
He said that the defendant caused the death of the foetus due to his assault on his wife during pregnancy.
The prosecutor said that the couple had been married for 14 years, with two children.
According to him, the offences contravene Section 316 and punishable under Sections 319, 328 and 355 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
NAN reports that if found guilty of the charges, the defendant maybe sentenced to three years imprisonment under section 355, while section 328 stipulates life imprisonment and section 319 death sentence for any convicted offender.
A 38-year-old driver, Farouq Babanle, was arraigned on Thursday before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing charcoal worth N730, 000.
The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Nov 12, at Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to Leo, the defendant was given charcoal worth N730, 000 to transport from Kachia to customers in Kawo Kaduna.
The prosecutor stated that the defendant stole the charcoal, sold it and diverted the proceeds to his personal use.
He added that after stealing the charcoal, the defendant ran to an unknown destination until he was seen and arrested on Nov. 20, at Rigasa Kaduna.
He said the offence contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Emmanuel said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must furnish the court with proof of tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.
He adjourned the case until Dec. 19, for hearing.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Akwa Ibom, has arrested three suspected drug dealers and impounded illicit drugs worth N500m.
The Commanding Officer of the Base, Capt. Uche Aneke disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the contraband drugs and industrial chemicals to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Customs Service.
Aneke said the suspects were arrested in a boat on Monday at about 11:50 am during a routine patrol around the Bendero and Uta Uyata general area.
“The boat was laden with over 125 sacks of industrial chemicals (crystalline ammonia) and 62 cartons of different brands of contraband drugs.
“These included 820 tubes of Pethidine (containing opium) and 24,800 bottles of Codeine syrup, en route to Nigeria from the Republic of Cameroon with the intention of smuggling the controlled substances into Nigeria,” Aneke said.
He warned individuals or groups planning to engage in any form of criminality in Nigerian waters to desist or face the consequences.
Aneke said that under the current leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the FOB Ibaka remained resolute in ensuring that maritime crimes are effectively eradicated in the coastal areas of Akwa Ibom.
Receiving the suspects and contraband drugs, Mr Monday Jatau, the Deputy State Commander in charge of Operations and Training of the NDLEA in Akwa Ibom, said the agency would prosecute the suspects after further investigation.
Also receiving the industrial chemicals on behalf of NCS, Mr Abdulkadir Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent, commended the Nigerian Navy for their sustained support in the fight against criminals.
Gombe gov. congratulates new NUJ National President
Gombe gov. congratulates new NUJ National President
Court remands man for allegedly causing death of his unborn child
Facebook, Instagram Temporarily Allow Posts on Ukraine War Calling for Violence Against Invading Russians or Putin’s Death
Nigeria, Other West African Countries Facing Worst Food Crisis in 10 Years, Aid Groups Say
New York Consulate installs machines for 10-year passport
-
Business3 years ago
Facebook, Instagram Temporarily Allow Posts on Ukraine War Calling for Violence Against Invading Russians or Putin’s Death
-
Headlines3 years ago
Nigeria, Other West African Countries Facing Worst Food Crisis in 10 Years, Aid Groups Say
-
Foreign3 years ago
New York Consulate installs machines for 10-year passport
-
Technology2 months agoZero Trust Architecture in a Remote World: Securing the New Normal
-
Entertainment2 years agoPhyna emerges winner of Big Brother Naija Season 7
-
Business6 months agoNigeria Customs modernisation project to check extortion of traders
-
Business8 months agoWe generated N30.2 bn revenue in three months – Kano NCS Comptroller
-
Headlines5 months agoPhilippines’ Vice President Sara Duterte resigns from Cabinet
