Crime
EFCC ARRAIGNS AJAYI EDWARD OLUSHOLA, COMPANIES OVER N1.07 BILLION FUEL SUPHONING FRAUD
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ajayi Edward Olushola alongside his companies, Hola-Jayu Nigeria Limited and Mozann Global Merchants Limited, for an alleged N1.07 billion fraud related to the supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). The defendants were brought before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, October 27, 2025.
They faced a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, conspiracy, and stealing to the tune of N1,070,779,000.00. One of the counts detailed that Ajayi Edward Olushola, his companies, and one Hannah Nwaguzor Ify, who is currently at large, on or about May 15, 2024, in Lagos, “by false pretence, that you had the ability to supply one million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of N986,000,000.00 from Prince Chukwulota Benneth Onuoha for yourselves.”
This alleged action is said to contravene Section 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. A separate count accused the defendants of obtaining the sum of N84,779,000.00 from Irene Abidemi Ifanse on or about May 16, 2024, under the false pretence of having the ability to supply eighty-two thousand litres of AGO.
When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all counts. Following their plea, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, requested the court to set a date for the trial and to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings.
In response, the defence counsel, C.J. Jiakionna, asked the court for a short adjournment to file a formal bail application for his client. Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe subsequently adjourned the case until January 21, 2026, for further proceedings.
A 30-year-old pregnant woman is currently receiving medical treatment after she was allegedly raped and assaulted by a 24-year-old suspect, identified as Ugwu Desmond, in Affa community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to the Enugu State Police Command, the incident occurred on the night of March 14, 2026, when the victim was returning home from a neighbour’s house along a quiet path in Amokwo-Affa.
Police said the suspect, armed with a cutlass, reportedly trailed the victim before attacking her from behind. He allegedly forced her to the ground, attempted to strangle her, and covered her mouth to prevent her from raising alarm. The assailant then dragged her into an uncompleted building where he threatened to kill her before raping her and inflicting injuries.
The victim reportedly managed to survive the ordeal and reported the incident to authorities around 6:15 a.m. the following day, prompting swift action by operatives of the Affa Police Division, who arrested the suspect.
The police said the victim was immediately taken to hospital for treatment, while investigators processed the scene and recovered key exhibits, including the cutlass used in the attack and clothing suspected to contain blood and seminal stains.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the development, adding that the suspect has confessed to the crime.
Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, described the incident as disturbing and assured that a thorough investigation is ongoing. He stated that the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Giwa also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly, stressing that community awareness is critical to preventing crime.
A Nigerian national, James Junior Aliyu, has been sentenced to 90 months (seven and a half years) in prison in the United States for his involvement in a large-scale wire fraud and money laundering scheme.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Aliyu played a key role in a transnational cybercrime network that targeted business email systems and defrauded individuals and organisations of millions of dollars.
Investigations revealed that the fraud scheme involved hacking into corporate email accounts and using them to divert funds through fraudulent transactions. Authorities said the operation affected multiple victims and formed part of a broader business email compromise (BEC) conspiracy.
Aliyu was arrested in South Africa in 2022 following an international investigation involving Interpol and local law enforcement before being extradited to the United States to face trial.
The 30-year-old later pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. As part of the sentence, the court ordered him to forfeit $1.2 million and pay $2.4 million in restitution to victims.
Authorities also confirmed that Aliyu will be deported after completing his prison term.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected gunrunner, Kelvin Ebikeniye Dugo, in Cross River State, intercepting a cache of 850 rounds of live ammunition.
The arrest, which took place on March 16 at Ivara Esu Estate in Odukpani Local Government Area, followed credible intelligence on the suspect’s alleged plan to acquire the ammunition.
Security sources said Dugo was apprehended shortly after receiving the consignment, which had been concealed inside food items. The ammunition was reportedly supplied by another suspected gunrunner, Azenda Barnabas, also known as Jagaban, based in Aliade, Benue State.
Items recovered during the operation included 850 rounds of live ammunition and two empty AK-47 magazines.
The sources noted that the DSS has stepped up operations nationwide in a bid to dismantle gunrunning networks and curb the proliferation of illegal arms.
They added that the latest arrest underscores the agency’s ongoing commitment to tracking down and prosecuting individuals involved in arms trafficking across the country.