Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are yet to come out with convincing strategies on how to control international transfers of conventional arms.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                        -Legalizing Crime and Criminality
Indeed, all countries, Nigeria inclusive, in West Africa, participate in the conventional arms trade and are to be held responsible for the result of this trade, widespread death, injuries, and human rights abuses.
Certain political office holders at all levels of government in Nigeria, have tacitly influenced arms transfers that have been used for several heinous and grievous crimes.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality
Armed conflict, displacement of people, organized crime, and terrorism festered for so long because of the hidden agenda of Those-in-Authority.
They have deliberately allowed the free flow of weapons of mass destruction to get out of control. This has in the process caused pain, suffering, and death in different parts of the country.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach
At the center and several states of the country, Non-State actors having been empowered financially are having a field day.
As the 2023 General Elections gradually set in, the government at all levels ought to tighten the noose on access to illegal arms and ammunition as a step towards ensuring peace, safety, security, and sustainable development.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are yet to come out with convincing strategies on how to control international transfers of conventional arms.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                 -Legalizing Crime and Criminality
Indeed, all countries, Nigeria inclusive, in West Africa, participate in the conventional arms trade and are to be held responsible for the result of this trade, widespread death, injuries, and human rights abuses.
Certain political office holders at all levels of government in Nigeria, have tacitly influenced arms transfers that have been used for several heinous and grievous crimes.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality
Armed conflict, displacement of people, organized crime, and terrorism festered for so long because of the hidden agenda of Those-in-Authority.
They have deliberately allowed the free flow of weapons of mass destruction to get out of control. This has in the process caused pain, suffering, and death in different parts of the country.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach
At the center and several states of the country, Non-State actors having been empowered financially are having a field day.
As the 2023 General Elections gradually set in, the government at all levels ought to tighten the noose on access to illegal arms and ammunition as a step towards ensuring peace, safety, security, and sustainable development.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

BOSTON – A Belgian and Lebanese national holding an Illinois law license has been convicted by a federal jury of fraud and money laundering charges in connection with multiple scams that defrauded victims in several states.

Hassan A. Abbas, 64, of Belgium, was convicted following a six-day jury trial of one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering, two counts of unlawful monetary transactions and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2022. Abbas was indicted in January 2020 and subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in November 2020.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt

“The defendant was part of a scheme that toyed with people’s emotions, deceiving them to take their money. The funds he swindled were supposed to be used as the down payment on a home or to fund a comfortable retirement. There are real victims in financial frauds and my office fights for victims. We always have and we always will.” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

- Legalizing Crime and Criminality

“Hassan Abbas should be ashamed of himself for using his law license as a shield to exploit the hopes and dreams of innocent victims to line his own pockets. He targeted, preyed upon, and systematically ripped them off without a second thought,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Last year, Massachusetts residents reported losing more than $83 million due to romance and business email compromise scams, and the FBI is committed to holding the criminals behind these scams accountable for the harm they do to everyday citizens and our financial institutions.”

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

Between June 2017 and January 2019, Abbas and others defrauded victims through a series of romance, business email compromise (BEC), and other scams designed to trick victims into wiring monies to bank accounts they controlled. A BEC scheme is a sophisticated fraud often targeting individuals and businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques, to cause victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers. In romance scams, perpetrators generally create fictitious online personas to develop online romantic relationships with individuals in the U.S., and then leverage those relationships to obtain money and/or property. 

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

Abbas created sham corporate entities and opened bank accounts in the name of those entities. Under false pretenses, both individual and corporate victims were then instructed to wire funds into the accounts Abbas controlled. Some victims were in the process of buying homes and believed the funds were for that purpose, including two Massachusetts victims who were tricked into wiring money to an individual they believed was their real estate broker. Others, including a third Massachusetts victim, believed they were transferring funds on behalf of or for the benefit of their romantic partners. Corporate victims were targeted as part of the scheme as well and were deceived into remitting invoice payments to the accounts Abbas controlled. 

Shortly after receiving the victim funds, Abbas transferred the funds to overseas accounts, domestic personal accounts or spent the funds on personal expenses.  

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. The charge of unlawful monetary transaction provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and David Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

Source : FBI

The horrific murder of  Deborah Samuel, an indigene of Niger state and a 200-level Home Economics student of the Sheu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto state is the major talking point among Nigerians for now. In this interview, the Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke calls on the Federal Government to ensure that the Late Deborah's killers are brought to justice. Excerpts :

What is your reaction to the gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel, a 2oo level student of the Sheu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto?
The dastardly act that happened in Sokoto state, is just one out of several cases which indicate that Nigeria is heading towards the precipice and its people already adapting to bestial behavior.
Extrajudicial killing is despicable.
It is happening mainly because all the agents of socialization have failed.
The challenge before the Government is to direct its energy toward the value restoration need. This is because no religion teaches evil and there is nowhere in the Holy Quran, where women should be abused and defamed, and where the consequence of the acts of blasphemy is the death penalty.
Suffice it now to say that there is the need for all religious leaders to teach the scripture through a positive mindset while taking up the role model stance for society.
In a situation wherein the youth become restive with delight to maim and kill fellow human beings, the future of society and the nations is at stake. Indeed, the efforts to tackle insecurity have had little impact.
It is imperative for the government to bring the killers of Deborah Sanmuel to justice. This will serve as a deterrance to others, who might be nurturing such sinister acts.
All rfelgious leaders must preach love, unity, tolerance, patience and forgiveness.
The educational insitutions too, need to nurture our pupils and students to imbibe the core values of integrity, love and unity.
The cultural institutions and the Government must place value on the revival of good parenting for our youth not to shame their places of origin through unwarranted iirational behavior and  instinct for destruction.
Above all, Deborah Samuel must not die in vain.

Workers in Nigeria are now face to face with the fact that those elected(or selected) to defend and protect their interests, now nurture contrary motives.

These motives have over time impoverished the generality of workers in Nigeria and they are complaining bitterly. What is to be done ?

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt

-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Today, a new breed of political office holders have emerged.

They are scramblers for notice, office and boot lickers exhibiting a convoluted understanding of their obligations to the constitution and the state. Even though it is obvious that they are fats losing grip of political power, their open-hear ted gesture of generosity targeted at deceiving and manipulating the gullible and unsuspecting at will, has got to a desperate stage.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                                                                 -Legalizing Crime and Criminality

Their spirit of nepotism and favoritism has been to the detriment of the collective good. Nigerians insist that the Government at all levels are insincere and dishonest.

They also argue that Those-in-Authority are busy chasing shadows when the real challenges are visible for everyone to see.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality                                            -Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

 Those-in-Authority have made sure that all relevant officials-appointed and elected- toe their line of reasoning through arm-twisting tactics.

Their secret agenda has been the catalyst for corruption, kidnappings, killings, ritual killings, armed robberies and other voilent crimes in different parts of the country.

Confusion, distrust and uncertainty are now the signposts of unending unfolding developments.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Believers of all religions are expected to be scripture compliant and role model virtues. Belief in social advancement must focus on development driven through ethics.

Generally, therefore, believers must become the embodiment of people with high regards for social norms and global best practices, otherwise they become bunches of quackery that destroy rather than build.

Believers must pass through the test of Godly virtues that take care of the interest of others as exemplified in the Holy Bible, Matthew 5 : 5–9, '' Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.''

Believers are regarded the epitome of successes in all aspects of human endeavor. They are even humble in their prayers and the way they comport themselves in the society through non-ostentatious form of living despite their been at vantage positions of power, influence and affluence.

The Holy Quran 23 : 2–5 refers, ''In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful. 1. Successful are the believers. 2. Those who are humble in their prayers. 3. Those who avoid nonsense. 4. Those who work for charity. 5. Those who safeguard their chastity.''

The Holy Quran states that those who exceed the above limits in their routine interactions or keeping good neighborliness shall be regarded as transgressors.

The Holy Quran 23 : 8–11 crowns it all, ''Those who are faithful to their trusts and pledges. 9. Those who safeguard their prayers. 10. These are the inheritors. 11. Who will inherit Paradise, wherein they will dwell forever.''

To be successful, therefore, the prerequisite condition is for believers to focus on the ideals of life.

The cost of kerosene has gone beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians, there is no regular supply of electricity and the people lack potable water, yet political office holders still aspire to occupy various offices in 2023 and beyond. Interesting.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                                    -Legalizing Crime and Criminality

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality                

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The Zambia Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested the country's  former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and one other for fraud to the tune of US$33million.
Mr. Yamba, 62, of Lusaka was arrested and charged with one count of willful failure to comply with applicable law and procedure relating to procurement contrary to Section 34 (2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt
In 2018, Yamba did not follow the procedure when he authorized an advance payment of US$33, 750,000.00 to China Energy Engineering Group – Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd for the construction of FTJ Chiluba University in Mansa and Kasama under the Ministry of Higher Education. The amount  was paid to the contractor but till the present moment, construction is yet to commence.

-Legalizing Crime and Criminality
Also arrested  alongside Yamba is Joseph Phiri, an architect at the Ministry of Higher Education, for attempting to fraudulently facilitate a payment amounting to US$ 29,186,169.09 to China Energy Engineering Group–Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality
Mr Phiri, 57 of Lusaka  was charged with one count of fraudulent facilitation of payment contrary to section 34 (2) (a) as reading together with section 40(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 of 2012.
Phiri,  attempted to fraudulently facilitate payment to China Energy Engineering Group–Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd by signing and issuing an Interim Payment Certificate No. 2 valued at US$ 29,186,169.09 with an inflated sum of US$7,578,772.41 for goodstha were not  supplied.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Obtained personal identifying information of more than 20,000 Americans to submit fraudulent claims for more than $2 million in federally funded payments since 2017

Tacoma – A 45-year-old resident of Lekki, Nigeria, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for using stolen identities to claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Abidemi Rufai has been in custody since his arrest at New York’s JFK airport in May 2021.  At the time of his arrest, Rufai was the Special Assistant to the Governor of Nigeria’s Ogun State. 

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt

According to the plea agreement, since 2017, Rufai unlawfully obtained the personal identifying information for more than 20,000 Americans to submit more than $2 million in claims for federally funded benefits under a variety of relief programs.  The various agencies involved paid out more than $600,000.

The largest amount of fraud was committed against the Washington State Employment Security Department, which paid out $350,763 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims to accounts controlled by Rufai.  Rufai also submitted fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims in at least 17 other states. 

-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

Rufai also defrauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) by attempting to obtain Economic Injury Disaster loans (EIDL) tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Between April 8, 2020, and June 26, 2020, he submitted 19 fraudulent EIDL applications.  SBA paid out $10,000 based on the applications.

Between 2017 and 2020, Rufai attempted to obtain more than $1.7 million in IRS tax refunds by submitting 675 false claims.  The IRS paid out $90,877 on these claims.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

Rufai’s efforts to enrich himself with false disaster claims did not start with COVID-19.  In September and October 2017, he submitted 49 disaster relief claims connected to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.  He filed $24,500 in false claims and was paid on 13 claims totaling $6,500.

Rufai has agreed to pay full restitution to the defrauded agencies.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

Wire fraud in relation to a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.  Aggravated identity theft is punishable two years in prison to follow any prison term imposed on another charge.  Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than 71 months in prison.  The recommendation is not binding on U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle, who will determine the appropriate sentence on August 15, 2022, after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the United States Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General.  The Washington Employment Security Department is cooperating in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Cindy Chang of the Western District of Washington.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form athttps://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form

Source-FBI