Money Laundering: US-Based Nigerian Could Face A 20-year Jail Term

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A United States of America-based Nigerian, Samson Omoniyi, who was arrested alongside eight others for alleged money laundering and fraud, may be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment if found guilty by the US authority. This was contained in a press statement signed by the Office of the Public Affairs of the US Department of Justice late Wednesday. The statement noted that Omoniyi, alongside his accomplices, were indicted on Tuesday on allegations bordering conspiracy to engage in money laundering following their arrest across three jurisdictions in the US. It further indicated that the defendants, who remained innocent until proved guilty by the court, operated a money laundering organisation to launder proceeds of fraud running into millions of US dollars, which were allegedly obtained from defrauding several citizens. The statement read, “An indictment was unsealed yesterday (Tuesday) in Nashville, Tennessee. It charges nine members of a multi-state money laundering organisation with laundering millions of dollars derived from internet fraud, including business email compromise schemes. The nine defendants were arrested in a coordinated takedown across three jurisdictions. “According to court documents, Samson A. Omoniyi, 43, of Houston; Misha L. Cooper, 50, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Robert A. Cooper, 66 of Murfreesboro; Carlesha L. Perry, 36, of Houston; Whitney D. Bardley, 30 of Florissant, Missouri; Lauren O. Guidry, 32 of Houston; Caira Y. Osby, 44 of Houston; Dazai S. Harris, 34 of Murfreesboro; and Edward D. Peebles, 35, of Murfreesboro, were charged with conspiracy to engage in money laundering. “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants were members of a long-running money laundering organisation operating since approximately November 2016 in and around Tennessee, Texas, and across the country.” The statement further stressed that the defendants used the structured organisation as a guise to launder the proceeds of their fraud and to enrich members of the syndicate. “The conspirators allegedly structured the organisation so that recruiters or ‘herders’ recruited and directed participants or ‘money mules’ to launder money obtained from Internet frauds that targeted businesses and individuals in the United States and abroad. “The defendants allegedly used sham and front companies to conceal the fraud proceeds and enrich the conspiracy members. The conspiracy allegedly agreed to launder more than $20 million in fraud proceeds,” it stated. According to the statement, each of the defendants could be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the provision of the US Sentencing Guidelines as a maximum penalty for their offence. “The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the statement concluded.” On Tuesday,two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, were sentenced by a US federal jury to 30 years combined jail term for defrauding some US citizens of $3,500,000. According to the US Justice Department, the duo had deceived their victims by telling them that they had received substantial inheritances that required some money to claim. The duo was said to have requested their victims to send some amounts of money with a promise to refund them once the inheritances were claimed. It was also noted that the duo carried out romance scams by establishing romantic relationships with their victims and demanding that they send money after they had built trust in their victims.

Minimum Wage : Labour, States Engage In Last-Minute Discussions Ahead Of Monday’s Strike.

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  The remaining states yet to implement the N70,000 minimum wage for workers are making last-minute moves to ensure the Nigeria Labour Congress does not embark on strike on Monday, December 1, The PUNCH has learnt. The states yet to approve the monthly wage are Katsina, Cross River and Zamfara, after the Imo State Government sanctioned the implementation of the N70,000 wage on Tuesday. It means 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory have now complied with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. Many states agreed to pay above the N70,000 starting point with Lagos and Rivers offering the highest pay with N85,000. Lagos also announced that its workers could smile to the bank with up to N100,000 monthly from the first quarter of 2025. Workers in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Oyo and Niger will earn N80,000 while Delta and Ogun states approved N77,000. Ebonyi, Osun, Benue and Kebbi states approved N75,000; Ondo, N73,000; Kogi and Kaduna, N72,000; Kano and Gombe, N71,000. Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Jigawa, Borno, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Taraba, Ekiti, Bauchi, Yobe, Imo and Plateau states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, all settled for N70,000. But despite the NLC’s warnings, trio Katsina, Zamfara and Cross River have yet to implement the new wage, which could lead to a shutdown of activities in the affected states from Monday. On Monday, labour unions in Cross River, who are demanding a new wage of N70,000 from the state government, directed state civil servants to embark on a two-day warning strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage. The warning strike was signed by the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. This followed a staged walkout from a scheduled meeting held on November 18 with state government officials, who formed members of the wage implementation committee at the office of the state’s Head of Service, Innocent Eteng, in Calabar, the state capital. According to the labour leaders, last week, when the committee sat for the first time, the meeting ended in a stalemate when they perceived delayed tactics by the government to postpone the meeting to January. The state’s civil servants said they were utterly disappointed when Governor Bassey Otu announced a new minimum wage of N40,000 on May 1, during the International Workers Day celebration at the U.J Essueine Stadium in Calabar. Otu said that due to the state’s lean resources, caused by the statutory federal allocation aggravated by the unfavourable state Gross Domestic Product, the new minimum wage of N40,000 would be in line with realities rather than sentiments. While giving instances of Edo, Lagos, Rivers and other governors, the workers said they were of high hope before the unexpected announcement of N40,000. The strike action, which was signed by the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, was set to commence from November 24 midnight to 26, 2024. ‘No going back’ The Cross River State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Gregory Ulayi, toild The PUNCH that the union would embark on an indefinite strike if the state government failed to implement the new minimum wage for the workers. He noted that the two-day warning strike was embarked upon by workers in the state between Monday and Tuesday, which he described as a call to action to the government. Ulayi said that after the two-day warning strike, all workers were mandated to return to work as they waited to hear from the state government. “If the government does not negotiate and do the needful, we will embark on a total strike because it is a directive across the country,” Ulayi told The PUNCH However, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otu, Nsa Gill, told our correspondent that the state government had set up a committee to negotiate with the labour leaders, as part of last-ditch efforts to prevent the looming strike on Monday. He said that despite the nationwide deadline for the implementation of the minimum wage, the Otu-led government was working to ensure payment of a minimum wage of N70,000 or even above. “The state government has a negotiating team and they are at work. Though, they are yet to reach an agreement as at today (Thursday). The government is ready to pay the N70,000 new minimum wage, if not beyond,” he stated. “We recognise the fact that there is a national deadline from the labour union, which is slated for December 1, 2024, for all the states to pay the new minimum wage. “We are trying to see how to build a stronger economic foundation that can make us pay a living wage to our civil servants. Until the team finishes the negotiation, the amount will not be announced. Right now, they are still on the negotiation table for an amicable resolution.” Katsina State is also likely to face labour’s wrath after its failure to implement the compulsory new wage bill for the state workers. Multiple sources in the NLC secretariat in Katsina, the state capital, told our correspondent on Thursday that the state was yet to approve the payment. Last month, The PUNCH reported that the Katsina State Government inaugurated a 15-member committee to guide the implementation of a new minimum wage of N70,000. Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal, while inaugurating the committee, said the government was aware of the hardship being faced by civil servants in the state. “You are all aware that His Excellency, the Governor, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda, has set up a committee to implement the N70,000 minimum wage consequential adjustment to all categories of workers in the state. “This includes the state civil servants, the Local Government employees and other categories of workers. The government is aware of the hardship being encountered by the civil servants,” he stated. Led by Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari, the committee was given three weeks to present strategies and recommendations, including the consequential adjustments for all categories of workers. The committee includes prominent state officials such as the Head of Civil Service, Falalu Bawale; the state Commissioners for Finance, Budget … Read more

Court Adjourns Murder Trial Of Former Oyo State Parks Chairman ‘Auxiliary’ To December 5

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  Former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, more commonly known as Auxiliary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges and other offences initiated against him. The former NURTW boss in Oyo is currently being prosecuted for a 17-count charge concerning armed robbery, murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm including one AK-47 assault rifle, and two SMG rifles with the magazine. According to the charge sheet, the offences are in contravention and punishable under Section 1(2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP RII, Vol.14, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The matter with suit number I/74c/2024: State Versus Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary) is before Justice Bayo Taiwo of Fiat Court 2, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan. The case is based on offences allegedly committed on the 29th of May, 2023 at about 2pm at the Ikolaba, Ibadan residence of Governor Seyi Makinde. The matter which was initially before Justice O. A. Adetujoye of Fiat Court 5 was reassigned to Justice Taiwo after counsel to Auxiliary, Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN, earlier on November 4th, 2024 disagreed to allowing Justice Adetujoye hear two cases of his client, which led to the case file been returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment. After Auxiliary pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him on Wednesday, the state prosecution team led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr S. O. Adeoye opened the trial by calling witnesses before the court. Other lawyers that appeared alongside the DPP included Mrs O. S Tella (Deputy DPP) and Mrs O. A. Bolarinwa (Senior State Counsel). Although some of the counsel had thought the matter would come up for mention on Wednesday, being the first time it was coming up before Justice Bayo Taiwo, the judge asked that the prosecution begin the case which was not objected to by the defence counsel. Two witnesses including Mr Fatai Isiaka (Prosecution Witness 1) and Mr Ademola Johnson (PW2) were called to give their oral witnesses. Sixteen more witnesses have been listed to come before the court to give their accounts against the defendant. The duo in their separate accounts narrated how the defendant (Auxiliary), who at the time was the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the PMS, attacked some suspected factional members of the proscribed NURTW in the state at the Governor’s residence after they showed up to felicitate the governor on his swearing-in for a second term in office. The witnesses were later cross-examined by the Defence Counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN. Earlier, the defence raised concern about plans to apply for bail, but the court held that the case should continue and that the issue of bail application might be considered at the next hearing. It was learnt that the case has been adjourned to December 5, 2024. Sahara

Liberian Ex-Warlord Prince Johnson Dies At 72

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  Former Liberian warlord Prince Johnson, a key player in the 1989-2003 back-to-back civil wars, died Thursday aged 72, officials from his party and the Senate told AFP. Johnson, who was seen sipping beer in a video as fighters loyal to him tortured then-president Samuel Doe to death in 1990, was an influential senator. “Senator Johnson was the longest-serving senator,” said Siaffa Jallah, deputy director of press at the Senate. “Yes, we lost him this morning. He passed away at Hope for Women (health centre)”, Wilfred Bangura, a senior official in Prince Johnson’s Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction party, told AFP. The death of Doe was an early bloody episode that would plunge Liberia into two civil wars which killed some 250,000 people and ravaged the economy. Prince Johnson, who hailed from the northern region of Nimba, later became a preacher in an evangelical church where he enjoyed wide popularity. He was also a leading opponent of the creation of a tribunal that would try civil war-related crimes. AFP

I’m Not Afraid To Die,’ Bishop TD Jakes Addresses Recent Health Emergency

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  Bishop TD Jakes has assured his followers that he is “not afraid to die” as he addressed the public for the first time following a recent health emergency. In a heartfelt video shared Wednesday evening, Bishop TD Jakes expressed gratitude to his medical team and those who prayed for him after he fell ill during Sunday services at his church, The Potter’s House, in Dallas. Seated in a wheelchair in what appeared to be a hospital setting, the renowned megachurch leader thanked God for sparing his life, clarifying that his condition was not a stroke but could have been fatal without divine intervention. “I’m so grateful. So grateful to y’all,” Jakes said emotionally, gesturing toward medical staff in blue scrubs. “All the people who prayed. All the people who texted. All the people who had prayer vigils. All the people who were concerned and sent love and notes. Just grateful. Thank you,” he added. In a powerful moment, Bishop TD Jakes continued, “I’m not afraid to die. I don’t want to hurt my kids and the people who love me and my church that needs me. The world who called me and the God who sent me. Sometimes you just got to be grateful.” The 67-year-old pastor had been delivering a sermon when he suddenly sat down and began trembling. Church members quickly gathered around him, and the live broadcast of the service was abruptly stopped. The Potter’s House later released a statement on social media, saying, “During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hourlong message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals. The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support from the community.” As for his recovery, Jakes indicated he is focusing on rest and reflection. “My job is to recuperate and reflect on God’s protection,” he said in his Instagram statement. “I owe it to my amazing family and church members to rest and ruminate as He restores me towards His service.” The church has not announced when Bishop Jakes will return to the pulpit. Vanguard

Reps To Investigate Alleged N8.4 Trillion Withheld By NNPCL.

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  The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked its Committees on Finance, Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream) to investigate reports from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission “alleging that the NNPC (now Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited) withheld N8.48tn as claimed subsidies for petrol.” The House further stated that “the investigation will address the NEITI report stating that NNPC (now NNPCL) failed to remit $2bn (N3.6tn) in taxes to the Federal Government.” The committees were further directed to verify the total cumulative amount of unremitted revenue (under-recovery) from the sale of petrol by the NNPC between 2020 and 2023. This is as the House approved the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper ahead of next week’s presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu. MTEF is a multi-year plan for public expenditure that sets targets for budget expenditure and fiscal policy. They are designed to ensure these objectives are respected throughout the budget process. FSP on the other hand, is a document that outlines a country’s fiscal policy and medium-term macro-fiscal framework. It’s a key component of the annual budget process and the Medium-Term Budget Framework. Recall that President Tinubu on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, transmitted the MTEF/FSP to the National Assembly for consideration, following the approval of the Federal Executive Council. The Tinubu-led government set the oil benchmark for 2025 at $75 per barrel with oil production projected at 2.06 million barrels per day. The government also pegged exchange rate parameters at N1,400 per dollar and a projected Gross Domestic Product growth rate of 6.4 per cent per annum. Dissolving into the Committee of Supply to consider the report of the Committees on Finance and National Planning and Economic Development; presiding officer and Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu had expected the usual ‘carried’ chorus from members when he commenced the clause-by-clause considerations of the 15 recommendations but the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda changed the tone of the exercise. Oil benchmark controversy Speaking on the $75 oil benchmark controversy, Chinda argued in favour of retaining the 2024 stipulation, arguing that in the first quarter of the year, the country surpassed it. He said, “Because of the importance and sensitivity of MTEF, I will advise that we consider it thoroughly before we pass. This is one of the most important bills this parliament will ever pass. They recommend a $75, $76.2, and $75.3 benchmark per barrel of crude for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively. “We are aware that for 2024, what we recommended was $77.96, which is the current budget. Today, it is about $85 per barrel. That is, in the first quarter of 2024, we achieved $85 and it increased further. If we are recommending $75 for next year which is one month away against the $77 we recommended for this year, I will advise that we retain the minimum we adopted for this year. “Rather than increasing, we are reducing, I am not unaware of the issue of moving to gas-propelled vehicles, leaving fossil fuel. I am aware that the world is moving that way and reliance on crude may be a bit reduced but going for $75 might be a bit too low,” he said. Allaying these fears, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abiodun Faleke, described the $75 per barrel benchmark as “responsible.” He said, “Crude oil prices at the international market are not controlled by any country. In 2024, we were lucky unfortunately that there were crises in some oil-producing countries and this shot up the prices. In 2025, there is likely to be more stability. If you shoot out too much, it means you are bloating your expectations. Today, the price has crashed to $74. I think our benchmark is reasonable.” This position was supported by the member representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Ogun State, Mr Ibrahim Isiaka. He said, “If we pass this MTEF today and there is a need for amendment, this House can sit and do the necessary review. There was a time when crude sold for $120 per barrel and there was a time it sold for $20. Let us see this as a working document that is subject to review.” At the end of the debate, the $75 benchmark was adopted and passed. Oil production Another contentious clause was the significant increase in domestic crude oil production from 1.78mbdp in 2024 to 2.06, 2.10, and 2.35mbpd for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively. Again, Chinda who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State was on hand to question the rationale for projecting a 2.06mbdp in 2025. “We are making projections for domestic crude oil production from 1.78mbpd in 2024 to 2.06, 2.10 and 2.35mbdp for 2025, 2026 and 2027. If you look particularly at the social media, they will tell you that we are producing about 2mbp but the truth is, we are not, Although, there is an improvement, but as of yesterday, the volume was 1.05mbpd. “These are the things that will help us in proper planning so that the government does not have to always come to the National Assembly for borrowing which also exposes us further to criticisms by Nigerians. “We must be critical about how we set our benchmark. Our target has always been to produce 2mbpd. OPEC quartile for us is 1.8mbpd. Putting this ambitious target of 2.06 and 2.35, we might not really achieve it. If we don’t achieve it, we know we will be tightening our belts. We are already projecting that we will sell 2.06 barrels and if we sell lower than that, we will get lesser funds. Let us reduce our target rate to 2m barrels per day, which has always been our target,” Chinda said. Justifying the recommendation of the Committee, Faleke stressed that “As of today, the production is close to 2m barrels. It is getting better. Operators of NUPRC gave us the details. If you put a lower projection, you are indirectly telling the operators not to … Read more

Peter Obi Seeks Transparency As Production In Port Harcourt Refinery Begins

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  The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to ensure transparency and accountability in the operations of the newly launched Port Harcourt Refinery. After several postponements, the Port Harcourt refinery finally commenced fuel production on Tuesday. The refinery would start with 60,000 barrels capacity per day, releasing Premium Motor Spirit, diesel, and others into the Nigerian market. The NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, revealed that the loading of trucks would start on Tuesday. “Port Harcourt Refinery begins production. Truck loading starts today, Tuesday,” Soneye told our correspondent.” Reacting to the development on Wednesday in a post on his X handle, Obi described the revival of the refinery as a positive step while praising NNPCL for achieving this milestone. He, however, emphasised the need for NNPCL to be transparent in its activities. The statement read, “I wish to congratulate the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for fulfilling the long-standing promise of revamping the old Port Harcourt refinery. The refinery, which comes on stream today boasts an installed production capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Approximately 200 trucks are expected to load products daily from the refinery. Nigerians now await the corresponding impact and benefits on pump prices and the overall economy. “Additionally, news of the Kaduna refinery’s revival is promising, as it is expected to boost productivity, improve transportation, and alleviate economic burdens across the country. While we acknowledge these achievements as a step in the right direction, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of transparency in the operations of the NNPC. “Nigerians deserve clarity and accountability regarding the management of the nation’s vital oil resources, ensuring that the benefits of increased refining capacity reach every Nigerian and that the gains are used to support long-term development.” Punch

BREAKING: Court Remands Yahaya Bello In EFCC Custody, Adjourns Till Dec 10

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  Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The judge also adjourned till December 10, 2024, to rule on his bail application. Bello and two others, Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, are facing 16 counts brought against them by the EFCC. Details shortly…

Yahaya Bello Calms Courtroom Crowd After Judge Walks Out Over Chaos

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  Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, billed to be arraigned at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Wednesday, took over crowd control of the courtroom when Justice Maryann Anenih walked out. Justice Anenih, who came in to take the plea of the former governor and his co-defendants, rose abruptly and announced not to come back until there was sanity in the courtroom. Shortly after the judge left the courtroom, Bello who sat in the front of the courtroom stood up and moved to the surging crowd. He immediately directed his followers and sympathisers to vacate their seats and leave the courtroom. His actions doused the tension without resistance, as the followers left the courtroom one after the other. To ensure sanity in the courtroom, the former governor sat at the entrance to the courtroom and ensured that none of his followers disobeyed the order of the court, Meanwhile, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN is leading the Federal Government legal team for the arraignment while Joseph Dauda, SAN, leads the legal team of the former governor in the 16-count charges. Bello was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in April 2024. The EFCC had filed 19 charges against Bello and his nephews, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for allegedly laundering over N80 billion. NAN

[PHOTOS] Alleged N110bn Fraud: Yahaya Bello Arrives FCT Court

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  The immediate former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has arrived at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for the hearing on alleged N110 billion fraud preferred against him. Bello was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in April 2024. He reported at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday and was quizzed. He was taken to court on Wednesday morning. Since filing the charges against the former governor, the commission has not been able to bring him to court for arraignment. The commission had initially filed 19 charges against Bello, along with his nephews Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman and Abdulsalam Hudu for money laundering offences amounting to over N80bn. Punch

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