In the ongoing trial of Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, an American victim and the third Prosecution Witness (PW3) recounted to Justice U.P Kekemeke how the defendant and his entire family allegedly conspired to defraud her of $370,000.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is prosecuting Kingsley on a two-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining by false pretence and criminal possession of fake documents to the tune of $370,000.

One of the counts against him reads, “That you, Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley sometime in 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the total sum of $370,000 from Nicole Kierulff Sayers under the false pretence of being a purported payment to finance a contract with Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with Contract No: RC/FGN/0275AN/20 issued to Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley, a claim which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

At the resumed trial, Nicole Kierulff Sayers, an American and lawyer by profession in the state of Oregon, United States, was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Fatsuma Muhammad and the witness identified the defendant before the court as the man who sent her messages on Facebook during her birthday.

She said, “I know the defendant, the defendant messaged me on Facebook on my birthday and he said he was a member of the same spiritual organisation with me. We engaged in romantic discussions and phrases and we engaged in conversations that escalated into a relationship of a romantic type.”

Sayers further told the court that the defendant asked her for money to finance the award of a contract by the Ministry of Works and Housing, claiming that some men were threatening his life if he didn’t provide money to secure the contract.

Sayers further said, “Before we met each other, he had asked me for money about eleven days before, and his reason for asking for the money according to him was for the award of a contract by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and alleged that some men were threatening his life, if he did not provide the money to secure the contract.

“He asked me for help, and supplied me with the details of the contract and logo and all the information, I believed that because I was in a vulnerable state and I had developed an emotional connection with him.” 

According to her, the defendant told her that if she gave him $15,000, he would repay her within 45 days and she believed him, and transferred the money to the defendant, with an instruction to repay her the money.

Narrating how she transferred the money and how she got to meet the family of the defendant,  Sayers said, “I transferred the money using a money transfer app, he received the money and within one week, he asked me to join him in a FaceTime Video with his family. 

“This was his parents' house and his entire family was there, which included his sister Doris Nwachi, Kenneth Nwachi, sister-in-law Loveline, his father Chizom, his mother Victoria and his alleged daughter, Princess, who was then two years old.”

Continuing, Sayers said, “One more uncle of his, who I don't think is a member of the family, I think is Bishop Ekeke, he and his mother's brothers were there. 

“He engaged me in video calls and messages and because of the reputation that I can see from a distance that he had, he is very highly regarded in the Port Harcourt area and I thought that I could trust him, so at the family meeting, each adult member that I met thanked me for saving the defendant’s alleged contract job and so, I didn't realize that the entire family could conspire against one innocent woman as myself.

The witness further told the court that she had sent a total amount of $40,000 (Forty Thousand United States Dollars), even before she came to Nigeria to meet the defendant.

“Before I came to Nigeria, I sent to him approximately $40,000 (Forty Thousand US Dollars), and we had continued conversation about him paying back knowing that things will change. 

“I arrived in Abuja in late March 2022, and I spent two weeks with the defendant and despite his assurances that he wouldn't leave me alone for extended periods, he left me alone on countless occasions and I stayed at his rented house in Sun City, Abuja. 

“But because I wanted to get my money; I continued the relationship with him. Several months later, he asked for more money, a minimum of 125 transactions. 

“The reason he gave me fall into several categories such as medical contingencies, surgeries, malaria treatment and other categories, such as supplies on the government contracts because he didn't have the money for the government. He used emotional manipulation and gaslighting.

“The total amount, and to my best estimate, was well over $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars), in a period of twelve months, January to December. On a few occasions, he claimed he attempted to wire me money at one specific time. 

“He produced a document that he claimed was a bank document and that he made an attempt to wire me $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars).

“He claimed the bank intercepted it, because he said the bank claimed it was an attempted misappropriation of government funds, so he found himself in jail. 

“He asked me to bail him out and I did, and again he asked me to make provisions for bribes to pay for the criminal case, because he attempted to misappropriate government funds

“Finally in December, after pleading and begging, and showing him my desperation, he agreed to wire more money to me and asked for the bank details and he said ‘I will do it tomorrow’. 

“Few days later, I asked him, did you wire the money to me and he said no. That was when I realized that I will never see a penny from him again,” she stated.

Thereafter, the matter was adjourned till November 7 for continuation of trial.

Panford Mweetwa, a 46-year-old teacher at Maguya Day Secondary School in Chipata District in Zambia has taken his own life.

The man allegedly committed suicide by taking unknown poisonous substances.

Panford Mweetwa, who was recently transferred from Nsanjika Day Secondary School to Maguya left behind a written note stating that "he had been working very hard but had nothing to show what he had achieved" and further indicated on how his money is to be shared.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Mwami turn off.

Eastern Province Police Deputy Commanding Officer Stephen Mayoko who confirmed the incident to the media on Friday, July 5, explained that the deceased told his wife that he was going into Chipata town, howeve, around 10pm, Mr. Mweetwa was found unconscious.

He was rushed to Katandala clinic for treatment but was later referred to another hospital where he was admitted.

Whilst being treated, the deceased who was able to talk revealed that he had taken unknown poisonous liquid to end his life. He died the same day. 

The body is still in the mortuary awaiting burial.

Olaniyi Sunday, a 30-year-old man, has been jailed in Ekiti.

He was remanded on Friday in a correctional centre on the order of an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly r*ping a minor.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a lone charge of alleged r*pe.

The police prosecutor, Insp Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence of r*ping a 12-year-old girl between April and June at Araromi in Omuo-Ekiti.

Adeniyi said the defendant, a neighbour to the victim, saw her stealing meat in another neighbour’s pot and threatened to expose her but on the condition that he had sex with her.

He said the victim did not accept the condition until she was r*ped in the process.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant pending the issuance of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The plea of the defendant was, however, not taken.

Chief Magistrate Dolamu Babalogbon ordered the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre, pending the release of the legal advice.

She, subsequently, adjourned the case till Aug. 7 for mention.

Afam Victor Ogene, the Leader of the Labour Party Caucus of the House of Representatives, has said the victory of opposition Labour Party in the United Kingdom, UK, is a sign that its Nigerian version would triumph in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, Friday, Ogene said the election told vivid tales of hope for the opposition, and competence and integrity of the electoral umpires in the UK, in a manner that elicits public confidence and trust in the electoral process.

“Unlike what was witnessed in Nigeria in the last general elections, the process in UK was free of glitches, as about 40 million voters took part. Polls closed around 10 pm Thursday and by daybreak, the results were out.

“There was no judicial ambush, as immediate transition took place to the admiration of all lovers of democracy and free and fair elections.

“If we must practice democracy, we must also love, copy and abide by the transparency and accountability of democratic institutions in nations of the world that allow the rule of law and democratic principles to thrive.

“In deed, one of the potent lessons of the British elections is the fact that, the concept of ‘snatch it, grab it, and run away with it,’ has no place in modern democratic practice,” he said.

Relating the development in the UK to the 2027 election in Nigeria, Ogene said: “I urge the Nigerian Labour Party to draw inspiration from its British counterparts, close ranks, rally the people, and prepare to take the reins of power in 2027.

“Let us work together to build a better future for our nation, guided by the principles of democracy, transparency, and accountability.”

Ogene congratulated Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party in Britain, for his party’s victory over the outgoing UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party, in what has been described as the most emphatic election victory by any British political party this century.

The opposition Labour Party won a huge parliamentary majority in the UK general election, unseating the incumbent Conservatives after 14 years.

While the Labour Party got 412 seats, the incumbent Conservatives got just 121

The police command in Lagos says it has killed nine suspected kidnappers who “target high net-worth residents” in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Ikeja on Friday, Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson of the command, said the police killed the suspects during a gun duel.

Hundeyin said the command received intelligence about the kidnappers’ plans about two weeks ago.

“Our intelligence gathering assets yielded very credible and actionable intelligence about a dangerous and very notorious gang of kidnappers planning to kidnap some high net-worth individuals in Lagos,” he said.

“Upon receipt of this intelligence about two weeks ago, CP Fayoade directed the Command’s tactical teams to commence work on it.

“They followed up closely, monitored dutifully and were able to determine that the gang was going to strike yesterday in Ladipo area of Lagos State.

“With the benefit of this information, we were able to proactively prepare for them and more or less laid an ambush for them.

“The kidnappers who were caught unawares would not give up easily as they engaged the police officers in a shoot-out. They of course bowed to the superior fire power of the police.

“Nine of them were neutralized while two escaped with gunshot injuries. Four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semi automatic pistols, nine AK47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one POS machine and a loud speaker were recovered from them.

“Also recovered are their two operational vehicles: one black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.”

Hundeyin said the police have been on the trail of suspects who have been kidnapping wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos.

“This breakthrough is in addition to several other breakthroughs we have made in recent times in identifying and apprehending gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers while planning their crimes,” he said.

“Many of these were not made public so as to protect the identity of members of the public that made the information available.”

The spokesperson said the public should not hesitate to pass information to the police.

US President Joe Biden says he is not considering quitting the presidential race.

There has been mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party on Biden to step aside, after a shaky debate performance with Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.

Stakeholders have also expressed concerns over the president’s health and mental alertness after that June 27 night.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Biden said only the “Lord Almighty” would convince him to drop his re-election bid.

“I mean, if the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get outta the race’, I would get outta the race. The Lord Almighty’s not coming down. I mean, these hypotheticals,” Biden said.

“I don’t think anybody is more qualified to be president or win this race than me.

“Look, I’m running again because I think I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level. We are on our way. We are on our way.”

Biden also dismissed criticisms that he is too old and feeble to run again.

“I see all these stories that say I am too old.. was I too old to create 15 million jobs? Was I too old to erase student debt for five million Americans? Do you think I’m too old to beat Donald Trump?” he asked.

On Wednesday, the White House said Biden is not backing down from the race despite growing concerns.

“The president is clear-eyed, and he is staying in the race,” Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, said.

“That is what the president is focused on, continuing to deliver for the American people. This is a president who is strong and resolute.”

Afrobeats singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has claimed that his colleague, Davido’s marriage isn’t a good example to go by.

He stated this while responding to a fan who urged him to emulate the embattled singer and get married soon.

It’s worth noting that Davido is currently embroiled in a child custody battle with his first baby mama, Sophia Momodu.

The DMW boss had on Friday night called out his baby mama, Sophia, for citing the death of his son, Ifeanyi, who drowned in a swimming pool accident at his Lagos mansion, in her counter suit.

Following his outburst, his colleague, Dammy Krane mocked him, saying he now knows the pain his late friend, Tagbo’s mother felt when his son whom he accused Davido of contributing to his death, died.

Burna Boy waded in, asking Dammy Krane to pull down his posts on Davido but was ignored.

The Grammy-winning singer then wrote on his X page:

“Odogwu too wise’ who no hear go feel.”

Taking to the comment section, an X user with the handle, @BadLieutenant urged Burna Boy to emulate his colleague, Davido by getting married.

The user wrote:

“Burna Boy, you should start planning for your future by getting married and starting a family. OBO has already set an example. You’re over 33 now, and you need to understand that you’re not getting any younger.”

Burna Boy replied:

“Baba make I just dey as I dey abeg, u nor see wetin him dey face like dis?”

Another user @RealDreylo then wrote:

“You can’t even answer a question like a reasonable person. LOL. Just big head and plenty beards”

Burna Boy responded:

“Ok. But between me and you, Shey na betta example the guy use?”

A user, @SunOfOba then asked Burna Boy:

“Adekunle Gold na better example?” to which the singer replied, “Ehen! Na wetin we dey pray for be that bros.”

Recall that Davido recently tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Chioma, at a lavish ceremony in Lagos. See screenshots from conversation on X:

President Bola Tinubu has initiated the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC) to address the humanitarian crisis caused by internal displacement.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at the launch of the pilot phase in Tudun Biri, Kaduna, on Friday.

The president stated that the scheme targets communities affected by conflicts in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi, providing long-term rehabilitation and reintegration for displaced victims.

“The conflict we are forced to endure has not only torn communities apart in the past but also political leaders who ought to be unifying models for the people,” he said.

“This history should inspire us to be different, and my optimism thrives on the assurance by our state governors to treat our humanitarian crises as points of unity instead of divisions.

“To those who have been displaced by conflict, I say this: We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you.

“Your strength and resilience inspire us all, and under President Tinubu’s leadership, we commit to bolstering our nation’s security infrastructure and advancing peace.

“This resettlement scheme is a testament to your courage and signals an end to your pessimism. It is an opportunity for each of us to come together and rebuild.

“We are here to assure that the safety of each Nigerian shall be a priority, and we cannot claim to have achieved this until we restore dignity and security to those whose lives have been upended by conflict.

“Our journey to this point has been long and arduous. Today, we converge in this historic city to demonstrate our resolve to overcome adversity and build a future where each person and community sees the other as a friend and where peace and opportunity are the birthright of every citizen.”

Sophia Momodu, Davido’s first baby mama, has dropped a jaw-dropping revelation, accusing the Afrobeats superstar’s sisters of plotting a daring abduction of their daughter, Imade, when she was just a three-month-old infant.

Davido and his former flame, Sophia Momodu, have become the hot topic of media frenzy as they clash in a high-stakes court battle over their daughter’s custody.

The Afrobeats sensation, not one to back down, took legal action through his heavyweight lawyers, Olaniyi Arije and Okey Barrah, filing a motion at the Lagos high court on April 17, 2024.

In a bold move, Davido is demanding a court order to secure “unfettered and unrestricted access” to their nine-year-old daughter, Imade.

Davido voiced his frustration, accusing Sophia of putting him through emotional turmoil with her “utopian” and unreasonable demands.

The singer also claimed that Sophia once blocked him from seeing their daughter, Imade, for a staggering “two years.”

Last month, the drama between Davido and Sophia Momodu took a dramatic twist as Sophia fired back against Davido’s lawsuit, vehemently denying ever blocking his access to their daughter, Imade.

In a jaw-dropping legal document dated June 26, Sophia didn’t hold back, accusing Davido of hatching a sinister plot with his sisters to “kidnap three-month-old Imade out of Nigeria”.

Sophia alleged that Davido’s sisters attempted to permanently whisk her daughter away under the guise of a harmless holiday.

She recounted the harrowing intervention by immigration services, who thwarted the alleged kidnapping scheme just in time.

Her narration partly reads:

“The applicant has demonstrated that he is not a fit father. He, in concert with his father and sisters, has tried on many occasions to kidnap our daughter and take her outside Nigeria and/or out of my reach without my consent.

“That at one time when our daughter was just three months old, she was kidnapped by his sister under the pretence that she was being taken on holiday by her whilst they were planning to take our daughter out of the country and out of my reach permanently.

“Due to the intervention of the Nigerian Immigration services, she was intercepted at the airport and apprehended for falsely representing herself as our daughter’s mother before they could leave the country, thus ensuring the safe return of our daughter to my custody.”

The Unavailable crooner was raised alongside three siblings: half-brother Adewale and sisters Sharon and Ashley Coco, and they all share a close bond to date.

Famous businessman, Mompha has launched a scathing attack on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), labeling them as “useless” and “Nigeria’s most corrupt organization.”

Mompha’s outburst comes in response to the EFCC’s recent report, which alleged that a staggering N35 billion was discovered in his bank account.

The report quoted a witness, Idi Musa, an investigator with the EFCC, testifying in court that the massive sum was found in two bank accounts linked to Mompha. The witness’s testimony was part of the ongoing trial of Mompha, who is facing money laundering charges alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.

The EFCC had arraigned Mompha on an eight-count charge, including conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, and failure to disclose assets and property, among others. Mompha’s trial has been ongoing since January 2022, with the recent testimony from the EFCC’s witness shedding new light on the case.

The report reads:

“The sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Idi Musa, in the trial of Ismaila Mustapha, (a.k.a Mompha) an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 1, 2024, told Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos how the sum of N35bn was fou in two bank accounts linked to the defendant.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had, on January 12, 2022, arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an eight-coun charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretenses and use of property derive from unlawful act.”

Reposting the writeup, he wrote:

“The Most useless and Corrupt Nigeria Government Agency @officialefcc ???.” 

See the post below: