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Oyo: Man docked for N6.1m investment fraud, another convicted for internet fraud

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The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, arraigned one Ola Samuel Adebiyi alongside his firm, Ardour (Nig) Co. ,before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State on a seven count charge for transacting bank business without license and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N6, 150, 000.00 (Six Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).

The defendant is alleged to have swindled his victim, Wilson Oyekemi Omowumi of the said sum when he convinced her to invest in his company, Ardour (Nig) Co., with the agreement that 5.5% on the invested funds would be given to her on monthly basis.

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the accrued interest on the investment was N10million but only N1.4million was given to the victim and all efforts to get the defendant pay the balance were futile.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Ola Samuel Adebiyi and Ardour (Nig) Co. on or about the 1st of May, 2011 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this  Honourable Court and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N3,050,000.00 (Three Million and Fifty Thousand Naira) from one Oyekemi Omowunmi Wilson when you falsely represented that the said money is for investment in Ardour (Nig) Co, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

 Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Oyediran Oyelakin asked the court for trial date and to remand the defendant pending the outcome of the case.

The defence counsel however, informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution and the court. He therefore urged the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.

Justice Agomoh, after listening to both parties, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Agomoh adjourned the matter till May 31, 2022 for commencement of trial.

In a related development, a State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State has convicted and sentenced one Keshiro Olanrewaju Abiodun to six months community service on one count charge for his involvement in internet fraud.

The nineteen year old who claimed to be a student of Computer Science at The Polytechnic, Ibadan was arrested by operatives of the EFCC in Apete area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The one count charge reads:  “That you, Keshiro Olarewaju Abiodun, sometime between the month of January and June, 2020 at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of the Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as a female gender known as Pope Millie of the United States of America, an offence of personation which is contrary to section 484 of the Criminal Code Laws Cap.38, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.”

The convict pleaded “guilty” to the charge filed against him by the EFCC.

Upon the plea, the prosecution counsel, Mabas Mabur prayed the court to convict and sentence him as charged.

Justice Taiwo thereafter, convicted and sentenced Keshiro to six months community service.

Also, the convict was ordered to restitute $860USD (Eight Hundred and Sixty United States Dollars), and forfeit one iPhone 12 Pro Max to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

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Crime & Court

Police Arrest Self-Styled PFIPC DG Hours After Court Orders His Arrest

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The police have arrested the self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his arrest for failing to appear for his arraignment.

Justice Mohammed Umar issued the warrant on Tuesday after granting an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Mr Wisdom Madaki, who informed the court that the defendant had failed to honour the court’s summons.

Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.

According to the charge, the defendant allegedly held himself out as the Director-General of the PFIPC and is accused of offences involving forgery and fraudulent misrepresentation.

Following the prosecution’s application, Justice Umar ordered the defendant’s arrest to compel his appearance before the court to answer to the charges.

The police subsequently arrested Adeyemi, paving the way for his arraignment before the court.

Further details on the circumstances surrounding his arrest were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.

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Crime & Court

NDLEA busts Oyo meth lab, arrests Mexican, four Nigerians

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered and dismantled a large methamphetamine production facility concealed inside a forest in Oyo State, arresting a suspected Mexican drug expert and four Nigerians in what officials described as a major breakthrough against an international drug trafficking syndicate.

The industrial-scale laboratory was discovered at Tapa Village in Ibarapa North Local Government Area during an operation conducted by NDLEA operatives on June 17.

Among those arrested was a 56-year-old Mexican national, Jose Villa Ochoa, who was allegedly recruited to provide technical expertise for the large-scale production of methamphetamine.
Four Nigerians identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, Olatunji Yusuf, Bankole Akeem Owolabi and Ganiu Monsiu were also apprehended during the raid.

The Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the clandestine facility was equipped with substantial quantities of precursor chemicals and industrial processing equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

According to the agency, forensic analyses conducted at the site confirmed the presence of methamphetamine, while all recovered substances, chemicals and equipment had been secured as exhibits for further investigation and prosecution.

The discovery came barely four weeks after NDLEA operatives dismantled another large methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in neighbouring Ogun State, heightening concerns over attempts by drug cartels to turn the South-West into a hub for synthetic drug production.

Marwa said the latest operation underscored the agency’s determination to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks operating within Nigeria.

He warned both local and foreign drug syndicates against viewing the country as a safe destination for illicit drug activities.

“Let the message go out clearly to all drug cartels, domestic and international, that Nigeria is not, and will never be, a safe haven for your illicit trade,” Marwa said.

“We will find you in the cities, we will track you into the forests, and we will dismantle your infrastructure of death.

They thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law. They were wrong.”

The NDLEA described the operation as another significant blow against organised drug trafficking networks and commended the officers involved in the raid for their professionalism, resilience and courage.

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Crime & Court

Police recover Rivers SUV stolen five years ago in Gombe

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Operatives of the Gombe State Police Command have recovered a Toyota Highlander reported stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, five years ago.

The vehicle was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a routine verification exercise conducted by detectives attached to the State Intelligence Department in collaboration with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service vehicle licensing office.

The spokesperson for the command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the vehicle was flagged as suspicious during the process of uploading and verifying vehicle records.

According to him, the joint team identified the Toyota Highlander bearing registration number FH823PHC and subjected it to further scrutiny, which revealed that it had been declared stolen on September 17, 2021.

Preliminary findings showed that the vehicle belonged to one Cecilia A. Duru of Akwaka Lane, Rumuodumaya, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Abdullahi said investigators subsequently uncovered a transnational movement of the vehicle, establishing that it was taken to the Niger Republic in 2023 before returning to Nigeria through Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State on October 17, 2025.

He added that the sport utility vehicle was later sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, where it was detected and recovered by security operatives.

“Investigation is ongoing, as efforts are being intensified to identify and apprehend those involved,” the police spokesperson stated.

He urged members of the public to exercise caution when purchasing vehicles, advising intending buyers to verify ownership documents and authenticate vehicle records through the appropriate authorities before concluding any transaction.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to combating vehicle theft and other trans-border crimes, assuring residents that efforts were underway to arrest all those linked to the theft and illegal trafficking of the recovered vehicle.

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