The Nevada state authorities have revoked the licence of African Shrine run by Wale Ogundana in Las Vegas after the FBI traced proceeds of stolen funds by suspected Nigerian fraudster Bobo Chicago to the entertainment hub.

The FBI arrested the notorious fraudster Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata alias Bobo Chicago in Illinois, Chicago on November 20, but as the agents widened their investigation net and followed the money trail, they discovered that African Shrine had received part of the fraudulent funds.

The FBI found that Bobo Chicago, 25, wired $394,000 to the African Shrine in Sin City, roping Mr Ogundana into the mess as the agents opened a criminal investigation to determine the extent of his involvement with the suspect, if any at all.

The Nevada state government immediately moved against Mr Ogundana and pulled the plug on his licence to operate the nightclub business, a move that would significantly impact Mr Ogundana’s finances given that Las Vegas is a city predominantly known for nightlife entertainment that includes clubs, casinos, liquor stores, prostitution and so on.

Mr Ogundana has been banned from engaging in any entertainment business, nightclub, liquor sales and related activities.

Mr Ogundana did not return comments to clarify his involvement—or lack thereof — in Bobo Chicago’s multi-million dollar alleged fraud scheme.

The 25-year-old alleged scammer hacked into computers, particularly emails of individuals and corporate organisations, to steal their money. So far, the FBI has tracked $2.8 million stolen between June 2023 and October 2023.

The FBI was making efforts to fish out Bobo Chicago’s accomplices and was looking into Mr Ogundana’s activities in Vegas.

Bobo Chicago, on his part, said he had no money to hire an attorney to fight the case. Instead, he relied on the services of a public defender provided by Oklahoma state.

He was initially arrested in Illinois, Chicago, but got transferred to Oklahoma, where he allegedly committed the crimes and was now facing a five-count charge bordering on fraud.

Several Nigerians have been taken in by law enforcement agents for committing fraud in the U.S., including infamous Instagram influencer Ramon Ray ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas and Mr Woodberry.

The duo are serving sentences in Fort Fix correctional facility in New Jersey.

Source: The Gazzette.

The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, to 16 years in prison for defrauding individuals of N52 million.

Their church, the Temple International Church, was also ordered to be deregistered and closed for its role in the fraud.

Justice Mojisola Dada delivered the verdict on Wednesday, convicting the couple of charges including stealing, dishonest conversion, false presentation, and fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had brought a seven-count charge against the duo and their church.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants used the guise of religious activities to defraud unsuspecting individuals.

The couple had pleaded not guilty when arraigned on February 25, 2020, prompting the prosecution to present its case.

The Prosecuting counsel, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, called five witnesses to testify against the defendants, while the defence presented two witnesses.

Meanwhile, after reviewing the evidence, Justice Dada ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Dada has sentenced the duo of Harry Uyanwanne and Odemuyiwa to various terms of imprisonment on charges of fraud and false representation.

On count one, both were sentenced to three years imprisonment. For counts two to six, Uyanwanne received a seven-year prison term, while Odemuyiwa was sentenced to three years. However, the court acquitted them of count seven.
Meanwhile, Uyanwanne was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, and Odemuyiwa, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, received six years. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Justice Dada further ordered the deregistration and closure of the third convict, Temple International Church, citing its misuse of the name of God and the church to defraud people.

“I order that the third convict should be deregistered and closed down,” the judge declared.

The court also directed the convicts to restitute the sum of N31million to the nominal complainant within 60 days.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that in March 2016, the convicts dishonestly converted N10 million belonging to the late Mrs Janet Adeola Odemuyiwa for personal use.
They also sold a property located at Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja Local Government, for N42 million under the false pretense that the first convict was authorised to sell it on behalf of the late owner.
The EFCC argued that these acts violated Section 1(2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, as well as Sections 278 and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria No. 11, 2011.

The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo; Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo; airline operators and other relevant stakeholders over the incessant flight delays and cancellations by airlines.

Adopting a motion to that effect, sponsored by Senator AbdulFatai Buhari (APC Oyo North) during plenary, the Red Chamber particularly charged its Committee on Aviation to unravel the circumstances behind the incessant flight delays and cancellations to find lasting solutions to the problem.

The PUNCH exclusively reported on Wednesday that about 2,000 air passengers lost 19,274 pieces of luggage between January and June this year, according to data from the Federal.

The report stated that data obtained from the half-year report of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, an agency of the Federal Government that regulates civil aviation, further indicated that 19,250 passengers were delayed for long hours during the review period.

Senator Buhari, while presenting the motion, said the problem which he noted had been on the increase in recent times, is all over the media.

“This development is worrisome as air travel is one of the most reliable, dependable, and quicker means of transportation, often undertaken for business/official purposes and to keep other scheduled appointments, which are usually time-bo,” he said.

Therefore, he cautioned that “unwarranted flight delays and cancellations will be counterproductive to the socio-economic growth and development of this country.”

The lawmaker noted that as part of interventionist measures to check unethical and unwholesome practices of the practitioners in the àviation sector, the NCAA is statutory empowered through the enactment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, to among other things, provide oversight and guidelines aimed at ensuring that airlines operate within the contemplation of international standards in Nigeria and to ensure that airline customers get value for the services paid for.

Buhari pointed out that “the quest for economic diversification and foreign direct investment, which are parts of the current administration’s policy thrust, will remain an illusion if the country’s aviation industry falls short of the acceptable best practices across the globe.”

“Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Regulations of 2023, makes provisions for consumer protection in the civil aviation industry in Nigeria.”

He added, “However, enforcement has been an issue as most Nigerians are not even aware that they are entitled to compensation for time lost due to unnecessary delay, hence the need for the NCAA to activate this aspect of its regulation so that airline operators will sit up and be alive to their responsibilities.”