Tag: efcc

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Nathaniel Makama Zabrang and Husain Umar Bawa before Justice M.J. Zubairu of the Kaduna State High Court on charges of internet fraud.

The defendants are being prosecuted on separate charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.

One of the charges against Zabrang reads, “That you, Nathaniel Makama Zabrang, (a.k.a Alicia Smith), male, between January and June, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Alicia Smith (a citizen of the United States of America) on Instagram and fraudulently obtained the sum of N10,019,028 (Ten Million, Nineteen Thousand and Twenty-Eight Naira) from multiple unsuspecting victims, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

Bawa, on his part, is accused as follows:
“That you, Husain Umar Bawa (a.k.a Bernard Lewis), male, between January and December, 2023 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated Bernard Lewis (a citizen of the United States of America) on Facebook and obtained the sum of N8,613,989 (Eight Million, Six Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Nine Naira) from one Kathleen Hernandez, a U.S. citizen, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Prosecuting counsel, K.S. Ogunlade, subsequently requested the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendants in the Nigeria Correctional Centre (NCC), Kaduna.

Justice Zubairu adjourned the matter to August 11, 2025, for ruling on their bail applications and ordered that both defendants be remanded in Kaduna prison pending the outcome.

The EFCC had earlier apprehended the duo following credible intelligence linking them to online fraudulent activities in Kaduna Metropolis.

PORT HARCOURT – Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have on Friday arrested 37 suspected internet fraudsters following a distress call by residents of Majesty Estate in Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Road, Port Harcourt.

According to Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity on Saturday, some concerned residents who were worried about the nefarious activities of some suspected internet fraudsters in their neighbourhood alerted the commission

Consequently, the operatives following discreet investigation launched a sting operation in the estate.

Oyewale disclosed that residents of one of the apartments flagged by the commission intelligence, denied the operatives access, refusing to open their doors even when operatives of the commission properly introduced themselves and announced their mission.

He said consequent upon the attitude of residents in the affected apartment, one of the doors was prized open and search operations were carried out, adding that no arrest or recovery was made and no unprofessional conduct happened in the course of the operations.

“In the course of the operation, the apartment of one of the residents that the Commission’s intelligence flagged was visited.

“For some inexplicable reasons, the residents refused to open their doors even when operatives of the Commission properly introduced themselves and announced their mission,” Oyewale said.

The EFCC’s Spokesperson however denied reports that operatives of the commission during the operation harassed residents of the estate, adding that many residents rather commended the Commission for coming to their aid in making some arrests of suspected internet fraudsters.

He said, “The Commission finds reports of a viral video of a broken door and harassment of residents in the Estate strange and unwarranted as many residents profusely appreciated and commended the Commission for coming to their aid in making some arrests of suspected internet fraudsters.

“The Commission remains resolute in upholding sound professional conduct in its operations and will not hesitate to take disciplinary measures against any of its operatives found to be overzealous in the discharge of his duties.”

A Nigerian woman has cried out after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly stormed her home at 4 a.m., broke down her door, and assaulted her husband while searching his phone.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the woman recounted the ordeal in a video that has since sparked outrage online.

She claimed the EFCC operatives gained access to their compound by climbing over the fence while she and her husband were asleep.

According to her, they began hitting the door until it gave way, destroying a door she described as expensive.

Upon entering, they allegedly beat up her husband and demanded his phone, which they thoroughly searched.

She said nothing incriminating was found, and the operatives simply told her husband “sorry” before leaving.

She added that the raid wasn’t isolated to her home, claiming other houses on the street were also affected.

In her words: “This morning, we were sleeping in our room. EFCC came around 4 a.m. and started hitting our door. They destroyed it.”

“When we came out, they beat up my husband, asked for his phone, searched it, searched our house, and at the end of the day, all they said was sorry. They climbed into our house from the fence.”

The video has stirred reactions online, with many expressing shock and calling for accountability.

See some reactions below:

@DailyLoud: “If they can’t find anything they should pay for damages wtfff …..This is so uncalled for.”

@sasmanic: “That is why, guns are not legalized in Nigeria, you burst into my house like that, my first instinct is AR and you will be burst out.”

@lifeof__hassan: “Omo na only yahoo boys they make this country go forward ohhh.”

@IfeanyiOkafor19: “If someone breaks in into your apartment by that time of the day, stabb the person, you have right to self defense.”

@Jfadconsult: “The protest against EFCC will not be funny. I am against fraudulent politicians and yahoo boys anyday, everyday but breaking into people’s home, guilty or not like armed robbers in the night is not it.”

@AntiBadGovt: “Nigerians only talk but have no actions. Ameachi is so right about this country. Until we all stand up, nothing wik happen.”

@UsbagiUzee: “Na die efcc go die if any try am enter my family house my house or my brother house I go say sorry because na only thief dey break in people’s houses.”

@obasipetersmith: “Once they see a young man doing well, living in a nice apartment, he’s a fraud star. All the Chief Amuneke’s in Nigeria are moving around free.”

WATCH VIDEO:

https://x.com/ChuksEricE/status/1951565428414640415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1951565428414640415%7Ctwgr%5Ede174ac39e1960d8663837afad8577016b30f37b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gistreel.com%2Fwoman-cries-out-as-efcc-storms-home-at-4am-breaks-door-to-check-husbands-phone%2F