Justices R.M. Aikawa and Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna have convicted and sentenced the trio of AbdulFatai Ismail Alade (a.k.a hismaheel asiwaju), Audu Ishida and Elisha Smith for fraud.
They were prosecuted by Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation and money laundering. While Justice Aikawa sealed Alade’s fate, Ishida and Smith were convicted and sentenced by Justice Buhari.
Alade’s charge reads: “That you,Abdulfatahi Ismaeel Alade(a.k.a Hismaheel Asiwaju) sometime between 2023 and 2024, at Minna, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, retained the total sum of $95.00 (Ninety five Dollars) when you knew such fund forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
That of Smith reads: “That you Elisha Smith (m), sometime in May, 2024 in Jos South, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, retained the total sum of N808,234.02(Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand Two Hundred And Thirty Four Naira Two Kobo) only in your account no.9030090284 domiciled in Palmpay Bank Ltd with account name: Elisha Smith Anzaina which you knew that such fund forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022 and punishable under section 18(3) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, M.E Eimonye and M. Lawal to urge the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Aikawa convicted and sentenced Alade to five years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira). In addition, he forfeited an iPhone 11 Pro mobile phone with IMEI No:353248109724490 to the federal government, while Justice Buhari convicted and sentenced Smith to four years imprisonment or to a pay of fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and Ishida to two years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira). In addition, Smith and Ishida forfeited one Samsung Galaxy S10e mobile phone with IMEI 35603232102690016 and one Oppo F1s with IMEI No: 862784037953334 respectively to the federal government.
Media and Publicity
October 9, 2024
EFCC Arrests 32 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Minna
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested 32 suspected internet fraudsters in Minna, the Niger State capital. The arrests followed an intelligence-driven raid on their hideout.
Items recovered from them include, nine high-end automobiles, 44 mobile phones, 20 laptop computers and internet modems.
They will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Media and Publicity
October 9, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU REASSURES INVESTORS OF SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESSES
- Receives Consul General of Korea
Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, reassured foreign countries and investors willing to invest in the State that his administration will continue to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during a courtesy visit by the Consul General of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Lee Sang-Ho, at the Lagos House, Marina.
The Governor, who disclosed that the Lagos State Government is open to new partnerships, assured that his administration will continue to provide a secure and safe environment for businesses and residents in the State.
He said, “Lagos State will continue to remain a preferred destination. We will continue to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow and thrive. We will continue to create a mutually beneficial relationship—government- to- government, government- to-business, and business- to- government relationship.
“We want to assure you that our government will remain open. We will continue to provide the necessary secure and safe environment for businesses, and we will look for areas of new partnership. We want you to deepen the relationship and ensure more Korean companies and build more business connections that can give investments the comfort that they require.
“Nigeria is open and abundantly rich with both natural and human resources. We are also a country that is blessed with a lot of human capital and culture is also very big for us. In Technology, Africa will continue to be a destination where our young people can quickly attain the necessary skills for them to compete with other people globally.”
Speaking earlier, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Lee Sang-Ho, congratulated Governor Sanwo-Olu on his re-election, saying his visit is to consolidate the relationship between the Republic of Korea and Nigeria, especially Lagos.
He said there are hundreds of Koreans living in Lagos State, as well as many businesses in the State owned by Koreans, and therefore appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for his cooperation and relationship with the Koreans.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
SPECIAL ADVISER – MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
10 OCTOBER 2024
PRESS RELEASE
NEW MASSEY CHILDREN HOSPITAL WILL SURVIVE CENTURIES, SANWO-OLU PROMISES
- Governor inspects State’s 7-storey paediatric facility in Lagos Island
- Project to be delivered 2025
The New Massey Children Hospital being constructed by the Lagos State Government will outlive generations when it is completed, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Thursday when he led a team of State officials on an on-site inspection of the project.
The Governor said the seven-storey paediatric hospital sited on Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island, would be the biggest children hospital in Africa’s sub-Saharan region, stressing that the scope and quality of the construction work with the ancillary facilities would make the edifice last for centuries.
Sanwo-Olu performed the groundbreaking for the project in April 2021, with the construction fully began in 2022.
The new edifice, when completed, will replace the current 100-year-old Massey Hospital established in 1914 by colonial masters.
The old 85-bed facility is currently experiencing operational inadequacies, struggling to meet the care demands of children due to an increasing number of patients it receives daily.
The pressure on the hospital prompted the State Government’s move to upgrade the facility to meet the needs of the residents. The new Massey Children Hospital will operate on an Independent Power Plant (IPP), and has a 10-floor multi-level car park.
Sanwo-Olu, during the site tour, said the project should be nearing completion by the middle of next year, adding that major civil work would be completed by the end of this year, after which finishing work will start.
He said: “We promised we are going to erect what will be the biggest paediatric hospital in sub-Saharan Africa on a single location. Here is the promise being fulfilled. The scope of work, the design and the completion stage show the magnitude of what we envisioned. Lagos deserves this project, given the pressure on the current Massey Hospital on a daily basis. The minimum we can do is not only to restore the glory of the hospital, but also to erect a structure that will last for over 200 years.
“From what can be observed on the site, the structure will certainly last for centuries. We can see that the multilevel car park has got to the required height; the hospital section has one more floor to complete the seventh storey. The construction is on course and we believe that the project should be nearing completion sometime next year. All the major civil work should be completed by the end of this year, after which finishing work will start.”
Sanwo-Olu said the infrastructure would bolster health care capacity in the State, noting that the facility would not be comparable with others of its type anywhere.
The Governor disclosed that the paediatric hospital was one of major health infrastructure projects being currently developed across the State, pointing out that construction work was being accelerated on others to ensure early delivery.
Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction in the commitment shown by contractors and quality of work being done at the site.
“I urge the contractors to double their commitment to the project in order to ensure timely completion. The New Massey Children Hospital project will bring about further regeneration of the entire Adeniji Adele neighborhood when completed,” the Governor said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
SPECIAL ADVISER – MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
10 OCTOBER 2024