Photo: 19 year old Secondary School Leaver sentenced to 37 Years in prison for duping an American of $40m

Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja today convicted 19-year old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, thr sum of $40million in an inheritance scam.

Tobechukwu was arraigned before the court on a 12- count charge bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.

Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to 7 years on counts 1-8; 8years on count 9; 7years on count 10, 8years on count 11 and 7 years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37years imprisonment.

The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013.

The court also ordered Tobechukwu to return the $40million as a restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which is a proceed of the crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Tobechukwu was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charges pressed against him. He later changed his plea to “guilty” and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly.

Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such. However, defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe has shown enough remorse for the offences he committed. Tobechukwu Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi were alleged to have duped an American: M. Silva, the sum of $40million in an inheritance scam.

Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safe-keeping. The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several installments through Western Union to Igbokwe. Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000.

Photos: Nigerian student assaulted by a white man as he was being booted out from Donald Trump rally

A Nigerian East Carolina University student, Adedayo Adeniyi was verbally and physically assaulted by a white man at a Donald Trump rally last Wednesday after he was targeted and thrown out for being black, New York Daily News, reports

20-year-old Adeniyi decided to attend the Donald Trump rally in Fayetteville, N.C. not as a protester or demonstrator, but out of curiosity.

"I was there just to watch and experience the surreal moment of someone like Trump running for president and speaking to thousands of people," he told the Daily News.

Without saying a single word during the entire event, Adeniyi was randomly targeted and thrown out of the event by police as seen and heard on video he recorded.

"At first I refused to leave because it was all just a product of being black at a Trump rally. Basically in that environment I'm guilty by association. But common sense told me to just listen to the cops and move along," Adeniyi recalled.

On his cellphone video Adeniyi, being told he has to leave, can be heard saying:

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. That's not me, that's them. I don't even know them. What? I don't even know them. I don't even know them"

The visibly shocked student reluctantly complied and was escorted down the stairs by the police.

"What happened next caused me to lose faith in America. The man at the end of the video is a moment I'll never forget," said Adeniyi.

One of Trump's supporters, a middle aged white man, looked him directly in the face and said, "F--k you, F--k you," right before slapping Adeniyi in the face.

"The hate in his eyes. The words. The hate in those words. The slap. It was disgusting and sad. At that moment I believed that America will stay and continue to be a hateful and bigoted country,"

"These are presidential candidate rallies. Not a KKK rally. The fact that I experienced hate at a candidate rally tells you everything you need to know about Donald Trump and the people that support him. People will act more hateful and racist in environments that they feel not only encouraged to do it, but accept it as normal," he added.

Meanwhile the man who assaulted Adeniyi has been identified as Jason Wilton Wetzel (pictured is his mugshot and a screenshot from the video recorded by Adeniyi) seems to have shown some remorse.

"I can’t believe I did that. It was me, but I’m not a hateful man. I just got caught up. When I saw the video all over the news of me doing that to that young man, I was just disgusted with myself." said Mr Wetzel, who confirmed to the Daily News that it was him seen physically and verbally assaulting a Adeniyi.

Investigators said Wetzel, 70, moved to North Carolina from Georgia when his job with the military was transferred to Fort Bragg. According to detectives, Wetzel is accused of voting in both states in the 2012 primary and general elections as well as voting in both states in 2014.

"I have no criminal background," Adeniyi told The News. "This man does. So please explain to me who the real thug is. A young black man who is a junior in college majoring in medical laboratory science and who also happens to hold many leadership positions there? Or is it this man, with a criminal background who attacked me for no reason?"

Reached by phone Monday, Wetzel claimed that it was indeed him on the video, but said:

"I’m not a racist or hateful, I just got caught up. I can’t explain it. I want to apologize to this young man and maybe take him out to dinner or something."

Kaduna state deputy governor meets with CAN leaders over controversial preaching Bill

Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Barnabas Bala, today met with the leaders of Kaduna State CAN, led by the chairman George Dodo, Catholic Bishop of Zaria to discuss the controversial Religious Regulation Bill which the state governor Nasir El Rufai has sent to the state House of Assembly for debate and passage.

According to the Deputy Governor, the Religious Preaching Law is proposed to curb extremism & protect safe practice of faith. He said this is the first time the preaching bill is being subjected to democratic scrutiny since it was enacted in 1984.

The 1984 and 1987 versions of the edict were enacted following outbreaks of religious violence which Kaduna wishes to confine to the past. “There is nothing in the Bill that suggests any effort to abolish, stop or derogate on the freedom of religion and religious beliefs. It merely seeks to ensure that religious preaching and activities in the State are conducted in ways that do not threaten public order, public safety, and to protect the rights and freedom of other persons.”he said

Leader of the CAN group, Bishop Dodo said CAN welcomeD the consultations, and would be making a comprehensive submission to the House of Assembly and the Executive. The Deputy Governor said the consultations continue & that the legislative process of public hearings also offer a platform for all views

Gov Ambode sacks All Occupants of Lekki Gardens’ Buildings

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered occupants in all houses that had been built by the now embattled Lekki Gardens, in Lagos, to vacate their apartments.

He also ordered integrity tests to be carried out on the buildings to ascertain their fitness.

The governor, who visited the site of the five-storeyed collapsed building, which killed 35 people in Lekki, said he was displeased with what he saw, hence the need for immediate action.

Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, shortly after his inspection of the site and other buildings owned by Lekki Gardens, added that any building found to be defective would be demolished.

He stated the developer would take the responsibility for the relocation of occupants of the buildings.

He said, “The state government will undertake stability tests on all other buildings constructed by the developers in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability. The developers will pay the cost of the tests. Any building found to be defective will be demolished.

“Also, the state government intends to carry out an audit of all structures in Lagos to ascertain whether they have planning approval or not. The details of this initiative are being finalised and you will be briefed in due course.

“Let me reiterate that Lagos is open to business, but everybody must comply with the state’s laws and regulations. Our main concern is to continue to improve on the ease of doing business and uphold the rule of law at all times. Those who choose non-compliance and defiance will henceforth face the full weight of the law.”

Mercy Johnson shares cute pics of playtime with her kids...

See more photos after the cut...

Photos: Mallam Yankee re-launches Club Illusion after Davido, DJ Neptune, others shut down Owerri

It was a massive crowd during the official opening of Mallam Yankee’s Club Illusion at the Imo State capital, Owerri this weekend when Davido and other popular DJs stormed the event. Report has it that bouncers and other security agents manning the entrance had unimaginable tough time while trying to control the crowd. 

With this development, many were forced to return home as there was little or no space inside the club to contain everybody.

 

Some patrons who tried to break some of the rules of the club were equally turned back. It’s either they were not properly dressed or they breached protocol. 

For this reason, mallam Yankee has announced that Friday, the 18th of March has been set aside for a re-launch just to accommodate those who could not make it on the first opening.

See images of first opening below:

Wiz Khalifa shares adorable photo with his son, Bash

He's cute!

Late Emir of Kano's Son, Sani Bayero, Set To Wed; Goes On His Knees For Love (Photos)

So even the late Emir of Kano's son did not marry a 'house lady' as is the tradition? He had to get a lady who he went on his knees for...now that's some improvement for those who really understand.

Prince Sani Bayero is set to marry his beautiful fiancée, Aysha. See their pre-wedding photos...

Woman Caught Trying To Kidnap A Child, Mob Molest Her

This woman was caught in the act trying to kidnap a child at Okeowo street in the Dopemu Agege area of Laos on Tuesday. Angry mob descended on her and she was seriously beaten and molested.

Men of the Nigeria Police arrived later and arrested her. She's undergoing interrogation at a station.

Lovely Photos of Dance Queen Kaffy and Her Daughter

Kaffy shared these lovely photos of she and her daughter in IG. Looking cute!