Crime

Court Jails, Orders Deportation of Five Thai Nationals for Cybercrime in Abuja

Published

2 months ago

September 3, 2025

Admin

By Omoniyi David

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five Thai nationals to one year imprisonment each for cybercrime and illegal stay in Nigeria.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment after the convicts: Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang, and Galin Suphaaut entered a plea bargain with the Federal Government.

The court ruled that each convict would serve one year on each of the three counts or, alternatively, pay a fine of N1 million.

Justice Nwite also ordered their deportation after serving the sentence or paying the fine, with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), directed to oversee their repatriation.

All electronic gadgets used in committing the offences were forfeited to the Federal Government.

The convicts, who arrived in Nigeria in September 2024 on a 30-day business visa, overstayed and were accused of operating a fraudulent gaming platform in Katampe District, Abuja.

They were initially arraigned in 2024 on charges of cybercrime, money laundering, unlawful access to computer networks, and input of fake data, contrary to the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended in 2024). They first pleaded not guilty but later changed their plea through a Thai interpreter.

Crime

Reps Seek Regulation of Herbal Drug Production, Use in Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the NAFDAC Act to empower the agency to regulate the production, sale, and use of herbal medicines in Nigeria.

Sponsored by Hon. Jesse Onuakalusi (Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency, Lagos), the bill aims to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of herbal products while integrating traditional medicine into the formal healthcare system.

Onuakalusi noted that many herbal products are produced under unhygienic conditions without dosage control or safety certification, posing serious health risks.

The amendment seeks to authorise NAFDAC to register and monitor all herbal products and establish a Traditional Medicine Advisory Committee and a Department for Herbal Medicine Regulation.

It also proposes penalties for producing or selling unsafe herbal products and a 12-month transition period for compliance.

The bill received unanimous support and was referred to the relevant committee for further legislative action.

Crime

EFCC Declares Former Minister Timipre Sylva Wanted

Published

5 days ago

November 10, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Our Correspondent

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared former Petroleum Minister and Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged $14,859,257 fraud.

Sylva is accused of conspiring to dishonestly convert funds provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.

On November 6, 2025, a Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, issued a warrant for his arrest to ensure he appears before the Commission to answer the charges.

EFCC urged anyone with information on Sylva’s whereabouts to contact its zonal offices, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.

Crime

NDLEA Arrests Grandparents, Seizes 1.5 Tonnes of Cannabis in Edo, Bayelsa

Published

6 days ago

November 9, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Adenike Lawal

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested two elderly suspects in Edo and Bayelsa States and seized over 1.5 tonnes of cannabis.

In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said 73-year-old James Ugbedo was arrested inside a cannabis farm in the Igbeshi forest, Etsako East LGA of Edo State, where officers destroyed 1,459.75kg of skunk and recovered an additional 5.6kg ready for sale.

Similarly, 70-year-old Comfort Odudu was apprehended in Onopa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with 5kg of cannabis.

The agency also intercepted 769kg of skunk along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, 175,000 opioid pills in Abuja, and 7.6kg of “Loud” on the Okene-Lokoja road.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended the operatives for their efforts and warned drug cartels that the agency will sustain its crackdown on traffickers nationwide.