Nigerian undergraduates abandoned schools... go scamming on internet

Emeka Ibemere

If rising unemployment in the country were adduced as reasons for youth indulgence in crimes, what would you say is the cause of University undergraduates’ involvement in the same case?

With the university lecturers in class and studies going on, what would make serious university students to abandon their studies and flee from their universities to Lagos State, just to surf the internet for a prey, if not to- get- rich- quick? Greed!

Perhaps, lack of morals and decadence of the society? Your take is as good as mine.

Last week, alleged greedy undergraduates from different nation’s Ivory Towers congregated at the Lekki area of Lagos to toe a different line of dishonour. But when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an early morning raid, stormed two houses in the Lekki area of Lagos, and arrested seven University undergraduates, they never believed it was possible.

It was a busy Sunday on April 6, and the people were trying to enter one or the other churches for prayers but seven suspects, all undergraduates studying various courses in some of the nation’s tertiary institutions calmed and busy with their computers in their secret locations surfing nets and replying scam letters to their- would- be- preys of their bait.

Then suddenly, a tap on the door and the rest they say is history. This explains how the seven undergraduates, who are within the age-range of 21 and 29 years, were arrested by the operatives at the Lagos State Zone of the Commission.

Those arrested includes; Elete Fred Debi, a 500-level student of Physics/Production Technology of the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Ese Iriruaga, 300-level student of Geology, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State; Couson Jimmy, 300-level student of Computer Science, Benson Idahosa, University, Benin-City, Edo State; Anthony Onos, 200-level student of Political Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State;

Others are, Omene  Stephen, 200-level student of Computer Science, University  of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State; Kome Emmanuel, 200-level  student of Petroleum Engineering, University of Port-Harcourt and Shola Muyiwa of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State.

Spokes person for the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren said the undergraduates were picked in two houses at Lekki County Homes and Lekki Phase One, both in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The arrest was made possible sequel to an intelligence report on their alleged involvement in sundry internet scams. The suspects have all made useful statements.

One of the alleged suspects, Shola Muyiwa, confessed that, he recently collected $100 from one of his victims, Dora Hunt, based in North Carolina, United States of America. Various items were recovered from the suspects such as laptop computers, expensive phones, ipad and exotic cars,  including a Range Rover Evogue; Honda Cross tour , Mercedes Benz C 300 4matic, S 300 Mercedes Benz and Acura ZDX SUV. EFCC’s Spokesman explained that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.  Also last month in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital another seven advance fee fraudsters, popularly known as yahoo-yahoo boys including four undergraduates, were apprehended by the Commission. EFCC arrested four undergraduates and three others for alleged involvement in Internet scam. “They were arrested in two different locations in Ibadan, Oyo State”, Uwujaren Stated.

“The undergraduates are: Otuyalo Damilola, a 400 level student of Computer Science of Lead City University, Ibadan; Adegbuyi Michael, an undergraduate of University of Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia; Ibrahim Aruna,  a student of Mineral Resources Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and Adeosun Matthew, a 200 level student of Banking and Finance, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State”, he added.  “Others are Afolabi Ayodele, Balogun Olumuyiwa and Abiola Okunola”.

According to Uwujaren, five of the suspects; Aruna, Matthew, Ayodele, Olumuyiwa and Okunola were arrested together at the Iyana Adeoyo branch of a first generation bank in Dugbe, Ibadan, while they were collecting proceeds of scam via Western Union. He disclosed that the other two suspects; Damilola and Michael were picked up in a rented apartment in Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, and Oyo State. “The arrest of the seven suspects followed intense surveillance by operatives of the Commission who had been on their trail for some time”, adding that, “one of the suspects, Olumuyiwa, admitted conning a white American lady, Sarah Jorth, in a romance scam. Olumuyiwa said he used a false name (Vincente Marco) to deceive her into believing that he would marry her and in the process raked in more than $450,000(Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) from her”.

Two other suspects, Damilola and Michael also confessed that they were into Internet scam to make ends meet. According to Damilola, "I am into yahoo yahoo (Internet fraud) and I do this to earn a living. I make use of a laptop to access Internet, to look for vulnerable white men and women who will fall for my scam. I acquired my Infinity Jeep and Honda Accord car through the fraud". He also admitted that he had been in the business since 2010.

Michael confessed that he started Internet scam 14 years ago. According to him, it was since 2000, when he was a student at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Ogun State. Even when he moved to Malaysia, he was still engrossed in the business.

"Anytime I come home on holiday, I look for vulnerable targets because the rigour of studies in Malaysia would not allow me to do it there,” he said. He disclosed that his specialty was lottery scam. EFCC Spokesman said that the items recovered from the suspects include: three laptop computers; one flash drive; two Visa-fone modems; one travelling passport; one Infinity FX 35 SUV, one Honda Accord car and some bank documents. The suspects are on trial as of the time of going to the press. As that wasn’t enough,
EFCC, on Tuesday April 15, 2014, arraigned one Adagun Moshood Olalekan before Justice O. A Taiwo of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on a 17-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents. Olalekan pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In view of the plea of the defendant, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that the prosecution had its first witness in court and was ready to commence trial. But the defence counsel, L. O. Balogun told the court that the defendant had already filed an application for bail dated April 14, 2014. But Oyedepo told the court that the he was only served in court. 
Justice O. A. Taiwo then adjourned the case to May 15 and 16, 2014 for trail and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ikoyi prison.
Olalekan’s arrest followed a complaint by the United States Department of Homeland Security, alleging that the accused had been impersonating one Lieutenant-Colonel Cabin Cayce Webb, an American soldier on special duties in Afghanistan.
Part of the charge against Olalekan reads: “Adagun Moshood Olalekan (a.k.a Lieutenant Colonel Cadin Cayce Webb) on or about 6th day of October, 2013 in Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud obtained the sum $800 (Eight Hundred United States Dollar) by false pretence from Diana Snow by falsely representing to her that you are one Lieutenant Colonel Cadin Cayce Webb which representation you know to be false”.

In another development, the Executive chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde has disclosed that the Commission has recovered N4.3billion from suspects involved in the petroleum subsidy scam.

He made the disclosure Tuesday April 15, when the management of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency led by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Farouk Ahmed paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
The EFCC boss said the collaboration between the two agencies was pivotal to the Commission instituting court cases against 13 oil marketers indicted in the investigations in the subsidy regime.

He called for a sustained partnership between the agencies in order to sanitize the petroleum industry, adding that such collaboration was imperative as the Commission would regularly seek for information and documents from the PPPRA.

According to him, pressure may also come from the EFCC on staff of PPPRA as they would be required to testify in court or provide evidence for the prosecution of those involved in subsidy scam. “I know pressure will be put on your staff. Please bear with us. It is because of the need to sanitize the country,” he said.
The PPPRA chief executive, Farouk Ahmed thanked the EFCC chairman for receiving his team. He said the visit was to further consolidate the relationship between the EFCC and PPPRA. Ahmed, who commended the EFCC for its effort to rid the country of economic and financial crimes, said he was looking forward to a more effective collaboration between the two agencies.

Ahmed requested the Commission to detail a staff to the organization to ensure seamless collaboration.
Among those who accompanied the executive secretary on the visit were Moses Mbaba, assistant general manager, Administration; Victor Shidoil, assistant general manager, Operations; Alison Tekena, Assistant general manager, Corporate Planning and a host of other top management staff.

Meanwhile, further hearing in the N25.7billion theft charge preferred against former managing director of Bank PHB, Mr Francis Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and Ugo Anyanwu, by the EFCC was on April 15, 2014 stalled at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja following the absence of key defence witness, who is said to be a handwriting expert.
Counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, reminded the court of several adjournments in the past to accommodate the absence of the same witness.

 "The absence of this witness does not stop the defence from calling other witnesses. The court does not wait for witnesses as we have vacated four dates for this witness. Defence should therefore call other witnesses so that gracious time is not wasted".
Pinheiro cited the case of Schlumberger vs. Aniekon from the 2012 Law Pavilion Report, where the Appeal Court ruled that "though both parties must be heard, the court cannot be slave to any witness called by a party".
The prosecuting counsel further argued that no cogent reason was given by the defence to justify an adjournment.
"21st May is another date, and it appears that the witness may likely hold this court to ransom as well, as his letter to the court mentioned the dates he will be available to be 22nd and 23rd; there is no mention of him being available on the 21st".
In her ruling, Justice Lateefa Okunnu held that no tenable reason had been given by the defence to vacate May 21st date already fixed for trial along with other dates in June. She consequently adjourned proceedings to May 21, 2014 for continuation of trial.

Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth are presently standing trials along with Ugo Anyanwu a former chief financial officer of the bank for an allegedly stealing N25.7 billion from Bank PHB.

On the same page with Atuche is one Dr George Odabi and his company, Deo Gratias International School Limited, Abuja. Both were arraigned before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on a 3- count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque and breach of trust.
The accused, who is the managing director of Deo Gratias International School Limited Abuja, is said to have sometime in September, 2013 received a forty million, one hundred thousand naira (N40, 100,000.00) loan from one Mrs. Egbunola Ogungbesan for the renovation of his school but reneged on his promise to pay back.
The accused is alleged to have issued seven posts dated Zenith Bank cheques amounting to twenty seven million naira, as part payment of the loan which were dishonoured upon presentation, due to insufficient funds in his account.
One of the counts reads:” That  you, Dr George Odabi, being the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Deo Gratias International School  Limited sometime in September, 2013 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, with knowledge that you had insufficient funds in your account, issued to one Egbunola Ogungbesan a Zenith Bank cheque dated 30th September,2013 with account name Deo Gratias International Limited for the sum of N9, 000, 000 (Nine Million Naira) which said cheque when presented for payment within three months of issuance was dishonoured due to insufficient funds in your account and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(1)(b)(i)of the Dishonoured Cheques Offences Cap D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria Act 2007.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon the plea of the accused, prosecuting counsel, Hussaina Gambo asked the court to fix a date for trial. However, the defence counsel, Joe Onyekwere prayed the court to grant the accused person bail as the offence is bailable.
Justice Kekemeke granted the accused bail in the sum of ten million naira (N10, 000,000) and two sureties in like sum.  One of the sureties must be a level 15 officer.
The case was later adjourned to May 8, 2014 for trial.