Headlines

Kwara Poly Student, One other convicted of cybercrime

Owolola Adebola

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday secured the conviction one Oyadiji Temitope Ridwan, a student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, and one Asimiyu Idris over offences bordering on personation and internet fraud.

Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin convicted and sentenced the defendants to various jail terms, having found them guilty of the separate charges levelled against them by the anti-graft agency.

The charge against Oyadiji reads.

“That you, Oyadiji Temitope Ridwan, (Alias Dave Sayer) sometime in March, 2021 at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Dave Sayer, a white male, vide your WhatsApp application with your number +1915209228 and in that guise communicated with one Danny Coffman whom you induced to part with property to with: $750 vide gift cards, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same Penal Code”

The particulars of count two of the charge against Asimiyu read:

“That you, Asimiyu Idris, (Alias Nicky Pearl), sometime between June and July, 2021 at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Nicky Pearl vide your facebook account and in that guise communicated with one Martin Stone whom you induced to part with property to wit: gross sum of $400 (Four Hundred US Dollars) vide Amazon Gift Cards, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 234 of the same Penal Code”.

The defendants pleaded guilty to their charges.

Following their pleas, Prosecuting Counsel, Andrew Akoja, reviewed the facts of the cases through the EFCC witnesses. The witnesses who are operatives of the Commission narrated how intelligence led to the arrest of the defendants. According to the witnesses, the defendants admitted committing the crime and volunteered statement during investigation.

Fraudulent messages printed from their email addresses, iPhones and laptop and the extra-judicial statements made by the defendants were tendered and admitted in evidence.

Delivering judgment on the cases, Justice Oyinloye said “from the totality of the evidence placed before the court, the plea of guilt entered by the defendants as well as the extra-judicial statements where they confessed to the crime, the court believes that prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt”.

The judge after pronouncing the two guilty, sentenced Oyadiji to one year imprisonment with option of fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only) while the iPhone, laptop and bank draft of N309,000 (Three Hundred and Nine Thousand Naira Only) which he raised as restitution were forfeited to the Federal Government.

Similarly, Asimiyu was sentenced to one year imprisonment on count one with option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and one year imprisonment on count two with option of fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only)

The court also ordered the forfeiture of convict’s iPhone to the Federal Government. He was also ordered to restitute the sum of $470 (Four Hundred and Seventy Dollars) which he benefited from the crime to his victim through the EFCC.

Headlines

NRC suspends Warri- Itakpe train service over operational concerns

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the temporary suspension of Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) due to what the management described as operational exigency and technical advice from the Corporation’s Engineers.

The temporary suspension, according to a public statement by the NRC, has become necessary to enable the Corporation carry out critical operational assessments aimed at ensuring continued safety, reliability, and improved service delivery on the corridor.

“The NRC regrets the inconvenience this development may cause passengers and other stakeholders, and assures the public that efforts are currently ongoing to resolve the issues within the shortest possible time.

“Passengers and intending travelers will be duly informed before the end of the week on the date for the resumption of normal train operations.

“The Corporation remains committed to safe, efficient, and customer-friendly rail services across the country and appreciates the understanding, patience, and continued support of the public during this period” the NRC declared.

Headlines

Sallah: FG slashes train fares by 50 percent on all routes

Gloria Odion, reporter

The Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation has announced a 50 percent fare reduction on all train services operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as part of measures to ease transportation costs for Nigerians during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The discount takes effect from Tuesday, May 26, 2026 and will run through Monday, June 1, 2026.

Accordingly, ticket fares on all NRC passenger train services across the country have been reduced by 50 percent of the existing approved rates within the stated period.

Passengers who had earlier purchased tickets at the full fare before the announcement will be entitled to a 50 percent rebate, reusable for train rides on or before Monday, June 1st, 2026.

Train schedules and timetables remain as previously advertised.

The Federal Ministry of Transportation said it appreciated the continued support of Nigerians and wishes all passengers and the Muslim faithful a peaceful and joyous Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Headlines

Salah: NIWA MD threatens to wield big stick on violators of safety guidelines on waterways

— calls for calm over Supreme Court judgement

Funso OLOJO,Editor

The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Umar Yusuf Girei, has issued a stern warning to boat operators across the country to strictly adhere to waterways safety regulations during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

Girei gave the warning during an exclusive interview with journalists at the NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, noting that festive periods often witness increased movement on the inland waterways, particularly within riverine communities.

According to him, compliance with safety measures during the Sallah season remains non-negotiable.

He stressed that overloading of boats would not be tolerated, while the use of life jackets by all passengers and operators remains compulsory.

Girei also warned against night travel, alcohol consumption by operators, and disregard for weather advisories.

“No overload, wearing of life jackets is mandatory, no night travel, no alcohol, and operators must ensure proper weather checks before embarking on any journey,” he stated.

The NIWA Acting MD further disclosed that enforcement teams, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, would be deployed across jetties nationwide to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations.

He warned that violators risk arrest, seizure of vessels, and prosecution.

Girei also urged passengers to avoid boarding overloaded boats, vessels without adequate life jackets, or boats attempting to operate at night.

While extending Eid-el-Kabir greetings to Muslim faithfuls, he appealed to community and religious leaders to help amplify waterways safety awareness during sermons and public gatherings.

Meanwhile, the NIWA boss advised stakeholders and clients of the Authority not to panic over the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning aspects of the NIWA Act.

He explained that the apex court upheld the Authority’s statutory responsibilities relating to inland waterways navigation, safety regulation, channel management, river infrastructure development, and the promotion of inland waterways transportation as contained in Sections 10 and 11 of the NIWA Act.

According to him, Sections 12 and 13 of the Act, which deal with land matters unrelated to maritime activities, were voided by the Supreme Court only to the extent of their inconsistency with the Constitution.

Girei therefore urged all stakeholders to remain calm, law-abiding, and await an official statement from NIWA after the Authority obtains the Certified True Copy of the judgment from the Supreme Court.