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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has vowed to ensure that President Bola Tinubu’s enemies develop high blood pressure.
Wike said he had realised that Tinubu’s opponents are unhappy with his good works since assuming office in 2023.
The minister made this statement during the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road 1 (Nnamdi Azikiwe Way) to Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), along with other roads in the Katampe district of capital city, by President Tinubu on Wednesday.
Wike recalled how he came to understand, while watching television, that some individuals harbour resentment towards Tinubu.
The minister vowed to continue rolling out commendable projects that would cause further dismay to the President’s critics.
He said: “Sometimes, I don’t know, spiritually I was touched. I was just touched to turn it (TV) on, and I was watching, and I didn’t realise that people could be in pain, but now I know that such people are in pain.
“I now must make sure I continue to give them high blood pressure. As they continue to be in pain, it’ll be sweetening us, and that’s now my job.
“I’ll be happy, moving around, and laughing every time, and they’ll be there shouting, fighting, and killing themselves. So, Mr President, thank you for being part of this revolution.”
The media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has labelled the trio of Segun Sowunmi, Daniel Bwala, and Reno Omokri as political adventurers and nomads who switch allegiances for personal gain.
Ibe further said that Sowunmi has never directly worked for Atiku, but merely served as a spokesperson within the now-defunct PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
He made this clarification while addressing misconceptions about Sowunmi’s political alignment and his criticism of Atiku.
According to him, Sowunmi’s involvement was strictly with the PDP campaign organisation, which ended after the 2023 elections.
“Sowunmi was never a direct aide to Atiku Abubakar. He was one of several spokespersons in the defunct campaign organization. That’s an important distinction.
“Bwala and Omokri are like political nomads, moving from one place to another, always seeking the next opportunity. It’s a cultural phenomenon. The media needs to be careful not to misrepresent these roles. It often serves the interests of political opponents,” he stated.
Speaking on the matter of political loyalty, Ibe explained that while defections are a democratic right, those who benefited from Atiku’s platform should not malign him to gain favour elsewhere.
“You’re free to associate with anyone, but don’t bite the hand that fed you,” he said
Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that he could see only “one or two real men” in the planned coalition to sack President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Igbokwe, a staunch supporter of the present administration, made the claim in a post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday.
According to him, aside from the two unidentified “real men”, other members of the coalition are irrelevant and unknown.
He wrote, “When I look at the composition of the so-called coalition I see one or two that are real men.
“Others members are unknown, they have nothing to bring to the table, no skill, no energy , no resources, no charisma, no history, no character etc”.
DAILY POST reports that former Vice-President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, are among the opposition figures teaming up against the APC government.
Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, are also members.
Igbokwe had rated El-Rufai higher than every appointee of President Tinubu’s government, stating that the former governor is smarter and more intelligent
An Indian national, Tukur Shamsudden, and 12 Nigerians were on Tuesday arraigned by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos, for alleged conspiracy and unlawful diversion of Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel, valued at over N4 billion, property owned by Dangote Industries Limited.
Other defendants who were arraigned are Ikechukwu Obi, Chigozie Osukwu, Ukaegbu Chukwuma, Umeh Ugochukwu, Emmanuella Akamadu (female), Zango Umar, Emmanuel Oku, Shaibu Michael, Lucky Otoide, Mmaduabuchi Okezuonu, Ephraim Kanakapudi, and Omojowo Emmanuel.
The defendants are facing 16 counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful diversion of diesel, and receiving proceeds of fraudulently diverted products.
According to the prosecuting counsel, M. Y. Bello, the defendants comprised staff members of Dangote Industries Limited and officials of transport companies contracted to move diesel from Dangote depots to its Ibese and Obajana plants.
He specifically listed among the Dangote Petroleum Industries Limited staff in charge Akamadu Emmanuella, Emmanuel Oku, Zango Umar, Lucky Otoide, and Ephraim Kanakapudi.
Others were said to be employed by Arigen Integrated Limited, Obat Limited, Amaiden Energy Limited, Regal Gate Limited, Alkham Limited, Prestige Limited, and Opetrus Global Limited.
Bello told the court that the offences were committed between January 2022 and December 2023.
The prosecutor alleged that Tukur Shamsudden, while representing Regal Gate Ltd., Alkham Limited, and Prestige Limited, companies contracted by Dangote Industries Limited, diverted 1,530,893 litres of AGO, valued at N1,530,893bn.
He also told the court that Omojowo, acting as the managing director and representative of Opetrus Global Ltd, a company contracted to transload AGO from depots to the Dangote tank farm, fraudulently diverted 2,455,229 litres of AGO valued at N2,455,229,000, on or before December 20, 2023.
He also told the court that Omojowo, acting as the managing director and representative of Opetrus Global Ltd, a company contracted to transload AGO from depots to the Dangote tank farm, fraudulently diverted 2,455,229 litres of AGO valued at N2,455,229 billion on or before December 20, 2023.
Earlier at the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the prosecutor informed the court of another amended charge against the defendants, which was filed following the arrest of the Indian national and the duo of Ephraim and Omojowo.
Consequently, all defendants were re-arraigned on the amended charge.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the trial to July 22 and 23, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.
Efforts by DAILY POST to speak with Dangote Refinery’s spokesperson, Anthony Chiejiena, were unproductive
Famous Nollywood actress, Biola Bayo has revealed why she announced her separation from her husband, Oluseyi.
DAILY POST reports that the actress had a week ago announced her separation from Oluseyi, in a post shared to celebrate him on his birthday.
The development that came four years after their marriage sparked controversy on social media with many condemning her for the timing.
She was accused of making the announcement on her husband’s birthday to set him up for dragging.
However, speaking amid the backlash, the heartbroken actress explained that she made the announcement because “she doesn’t want another person to announce it for her online”.
Speaking about the timing during the presentation of a house to actress Jumoke George, Biola Bayo noted that the post was made with the consent of her husband.
“Please, I’m a human too. The other one I said about my marriage was because I don’t want people to say my story for me, that was why I came out to say it. And that’s my style. So that people would not be saying something different or saying things that would make me sad. But I didn’t know that you people would still use it against me.
“People have already asking me that you are not posting your husband, and I knew different rumors would come out online that very day, that is why I spoke about our separation but yet it was used against me.
“I have already told my husband before I posted. So he was aware that I would post it so that other people won’t be the one to tell the story on social media. But I know that God will reward everybody accordingly,” she said.
DAILY POST reports that in 2023, the actress who is known to be open and realistic, while announcing the arrival of their son, revealed that they gave birth to him through a surrogate mother
Popular Nigerian musician, Mayorkun has stated that Davido, his former record label boss, helped him to secure a deal with Sony Music Africa.
DAILY POST reports that Mayorkun was signed to Davido Music World, DMW, record label in 2016. He parted ways with the label in 2021.
His departure from David’s label to Sony Music West Africa sparked assumption of strained ties between them.
However, speaking in an interview with 3Music TV, the singer disclosed that Davido played a key role in the deal with his new record label.
“Aside from having my label, right now I am also with Sony Africa. Shout out to Davido for that as well, he facilitated the deal,” Mayorkun stated
The ex-boyfriend of the famous Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, Oil Money, has made allegations after their recent breakup.
In a series of posts via his instagram story, Oil Money publicly accused several well-known Nollywood actors of having an intimate relationship with Okorie.
He went further by revealing the names, as well as sharing pictures of the individuals allegedly involved with the actress.
The ex-boyfriend also revealed what he claimed to be the easiest way to get intimate with Okorie.
According to him, all it takes is a flashy car and some alcohol.
“If you wan chop grandma, just get one nice car and rent one nice car and then get any type of alcohol,” he stated.
This is coming just days after the actress, Okorie clashed with R
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticized the Bola Tinubu-led administration, accusing it of failing the Nigerian people.
The former governor of Rivers State said he is ready join the coalition that would challenge Tinubu in 2027.
Amaechi said he would keep telling the truth to power despite being a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The former governor disclosed this in an interview with BBC.
He accused Tinubu of worsening the economic hardship in Nigeria.
The former minister also maintained his loyalty to the APC but insisted that being a party member does not mean blind support for the government.
“If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. You know that’s not right,” he said.
Amaechi said Nigerians are dying of hunger and he is feeling the effect.
“People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger,” he said.
Amaechi is widely believed to be part of the opposition coalition aimed at removing Tinubu from office in 2027.
Top leaders of the coalition like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, among others, had graced Amaechi’s recent 60th birthday celebration in Abuja.
During the occasion, Amaechi, Atiku and El-Rufai accused Tinubu of weaponizing poverty in Nigeria
The Southern Kaduna Leadership Council (SKLC) has called for a judicial investigation into the administration of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of leading a campaign of intimidation and injustice against communities in Southern Kaduna.
At a press conference titled “Dispelling Lies and Hate Against a People”, the Council refuted allegations made by El-Rufai’s former media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, that some chiefdoms, including Adara, willingly sought changes to their traditional identities.
SKLC Secretary, Timothy B. Gandu, stated that these claims were not only misleading but contradicted by official state documents.
Gandu explained that in 2017, the El-Rufai government set up a 13-member committee to review and propose new names for chiefdoms—shifting emphasis from ethnic to geographical identities.
According to him, this move was unilaterally driven by the government, not by traditional leaders.
He cited a letter from the office of the Secretary to the State Government as evidence that the initiative came from the top, not the grassroots.
The Council further alleged that only a few communities actually requested changes, while the majority either opposed the renaming or never made any such request.
Out of 25 affected chiefdoms, 17 rejected the changes, and seven clarified that no requests came from them.
Southern Kaduna, home to over 56 ethnic groups across 12 local government areas, could not have unanimously sought such changes, the Council argued.
“The claim that traditional institutions across the state independently requested name changes is false. For instance, in Lere LGA with nine ethnic groups, only one made such a request. Similarly, in Kauru and Kagarko LGAs, only isolated requests were made,” Gandu said.
The Council also accused El-Rufai of fueling religious and ethnic divisions during his time in office.
They referenced a widely circulated video in which the former governor reportedly admitted to misleading party members from Southern Kaduna and pushing for a religiously skewed political structure in the state from 2019 onward.
Other serious allegations made against El-Rufai’s administration included the creation of emirates in multi-ethnic communities under the pretext of reform, imposed name changes and removal of traditional rulers, unexplained killings of key community leaders, drastic reduction of districts from 390 to 77 which weakened local leadership structures, and the demotion of Southern Kaduna chiefs under the 2021 Traditional Institution Law.
They also cited the labeling of youths from the region as criminals, arbitrary shutdown of local tertiary institutions, unfair retrenchment and civil service bias, lack of IDP camps despite widespread violence and displacement, unlawful boundary adjustments affecting local chiefdoms, expansion of the Kachia Grazing Reserve without community input, and the arrests and dethronement of community leaders.
The Council claimed these actions were part of a calculated plan to alter the demographic balance of Southern Kaduna and reduce its political relevance.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to authorize a full investigation into El-Rufai’s conduct in office, ban him from holding public office for constitutional violations, instruct security agencies to investigate those allegedly paid to suppress violence, and examine actions that may qualify as crimes against humanity.
The group also called on Governor Uba Sani to repeal the 2021 Traditional Institution Law, restore traditional institutions to their status before El-Rufai’s tenure, reassess laws and policies deemed exclusive or discriminatory, and support reconciliation and development in the region
Publisher and politician, Chief Dele Momodu has lashed out at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
He accused Wike of acting as if he's the founding father of Nigeria.
He also lashed out at Wike for causing controversy within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he wants to determine the party’s 2027 presidential ticket’s zoning and ensure his will prevails.
“It sounds ridiculous that one man, who should be busy in Abuja, is dictating where the PDP presidential ticket should go in 2027. What Wike is doing is a rehash of what he did in Rivers State—and he is clearly doing so with the backing of those at the top.
“Where was Wike during the June 12 struggle? Who knew him then? But today, he speaks as if he’s the founding father of Nigeria,” Momodu said during a Channels Television interview on Wednesday.
Momodu also accused the FCT Minister of attempting to hold on to power in Rivers State, thereby causing a political crisis in the oil-rich state.
“A major crisis of monumental dimension was orchestrated and aggravated by one man. Just because he wouldn’t go away quietly, a state of emergency had to be declared. It’s unprecedented in Nigeria’s history,” he noted.
Momodu further alleged that Wike is staging a coup against the PDP with his actions and causing division within the party.
“What he’s doing now is tantamount to staging a coup against the party that made him everything he is today. He does not have the moral right to dictate the direction of the PDP,” the publisher stated
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The apex lgbo Socio-cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has sent a request to President Bola Tinubu.
The group begged Tinubu to use this historic moment of June 12 Democracy Day celebration to grant Amnesty to 1,335 repented nonviolent Pro-Biafra Agitators.
Ohanaeze said the agitators are prepared to surrender publicly and pledge their allegiance to the Federal Government and support for President Tinubu’s administration during the commemorative activities associated with the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations in 2025.
The Igbo group said it was vital to tell President Tinubu that this moment represents not only a new dawn for Nigeria but also a significant victory for democracy.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday by the factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro and Thompson Ohia, Spokesperson, Ohanaeze noted that for the first time in 55 years since the end of the Biafra war, repented and nonviolent pro-Biafra activists are ever willing to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government.
It read “Ohanaeze Ndigbo recognizes that it has required an extraordinary 16 months of dedicated effort—marked by intense pressure, persuasive engagements, and informed counsel from committed Igbo leadership and reputable international humanitarian organizations—to persuade these repented agitators to seek dialogue with the Federal Government.
“They have resolved to voluntarily pledge their allegiance in exchange for Presidential amnesty, a peaceful resolution to the ongoing insecurity in the Southeast, the dropping of all charges against them, and the application of political solutions to facilitate the release of detained Igbo prisoners of conscience.
“The 2025 June 12 Democracy Day presents a rare opportunity for President Tinubu to decisively address long-standing grievances and injustices that have historically plagued the Old Eastern Region and the Igbo people. This occasion provides an exceptional opening for the Federal Government to engage with and resolve the deep-rooted issues surrounding Biafra agitation that have lingered since the end of the Biafra conflict in 1970.
“By accepting their allegiance after a closed-door discussion and granting them the Presidential pardon and amnesty they seek, President Tinubu will not only earn the esteem of the nation as a champion of democracy but also solidify his legacy as the President who successfully addressed the Biafra agitation.
“The Federal Government’s granting of Presidential amnesty to this initial group of 1,335 nonviolent pro-Biafra agitators will send a powerful and unequivocal message to others contemplating similar paths. It will affirm the government’s commitment to eradicating radicalism, criminality, and extreme violence associated with Biafra agitation, demonstrating a sincere intention to employ balanced, non-kinetic methods alongside incentives for peaceful resolution.
“Those who have been misled into crime and armed struggle, erroneously believing that Biafra agitation justifies such acts, will find themselves compelled to lay down their arms. The sincere efforts of the Federal Government can inspire a new commitment to peaceful dialogue and reconciliation, fostering a climate in which all Nigerians can coexist harmoniously."
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has said the proposed N1.48tn 2025 budget anticipates the return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other affected political officeholders.
Ibas made this known in Abuja on Wednesday while defending the budget before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight.
According to him, the proposed budget aligns with the strategic objectives of the River State Development Plan 2017-2027.
He also noted that the proposal presents a strategic and integrated framework designed to raise revenues and accelerate infrastructure development, enhance human capital, and promote inclusive economic growth across all sectors.
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He said, “In anticipation of the eventual return to constitutional order, the draft budget prudently retains provisions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom have already drawn on allocated resources in the first quarter and are expected to resume their duties at the expiration of the emergency period.”
He, however, accused some suspected Rivers State officials of failure to provide the administration with useful information required to prepare the budget proposal.
Ibas added, “Regrettably, some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of those expenditures at the time of submission of the budget estimates.
“However, recognising the exigencies under the state of emergency and the need to ensure fiscal credibility, the budget framework integrates expenditure information made available before the submission of the budget proposal to ratify the first quarter expenditures in a lawful and transparent structure.
“This ensures alignment with statutory appropriation protocols while safeguarding the integrity of public finance management.”
The budget, totalling ₦1.48tn in expenditure with a projected ₦1.4tn in revenue, was transmitted to the National Assembly following presidential approval after the Supreme Court ruled on the legality of the Rivers State 2025 appropriation process.
In his opening remarks, Ibas thanked the committee for its dedication.
“We in Rivers State are most grateful for your commitment. Despite your tight schedules, you have shown unwavering resolve to fulfil your constitutional duties,” he said.
Ibas highlighted several major allocations including ₦324.50bn for infrastructure and transportation projects; ₦55bn to relocate and expand Rivers State University Teaching Hospital; ₦50bn for zonal hospital upgrades; ₦38.85bn for shoreline protection and erosion control; ₦30bn for zonal secondary schools and ₦5.75bn for primary school rehabilitation.
Others are ₦2.5bn for women’s economic empowerment and ₦3bn for youth resource centres; ₦20bn to recapitalise Rivers State Microfinance Bank for Medium and Small Scale Enterprises support, and ₦117bn in pension, gratuities, and employee benefits.
Responding, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rivers State oversight, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, commended Ibas for the detailed presentation and affirmed the committee’s readiness to partner with the administrator in restoring peace and development to Rivers State.
He also pledged the committee’s readiness to scrutinise the budget estimate in the interest of the oil-rich state and its people.
Ihonvbere said, “I want to especially thank you and let you know that this committee is committed to working with you to restore stability, peace, growth, and development in Rivers State.
“Rivers has always been a shining example of what is possible with good leadership, and that is why this commitment is here.
“We will scrutinise the budget. We will invite you to send your relevant officials for a proper defence of the budget. In as much as we are committed to joining hands with you to get Rivers State back on track, we are not going to cut corners.”
Ihonvbere, who doubles as the House Majority Leader, also highlighted key social welfare components in the budget, such as women’s empowerment and pensions for retirees, describing them as necessary and people-centred interventions.
“These are areas that touch people’s lives, and we know the plight of their families. We appreciate you for making these bold commitments,” he added.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has been accused of allegedly colluding with bandits to orchestrate the abduction of 300 students from Government Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State during his tenure as Zamfara State Governor.
In an interview with an online TV station, Special Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal on Media and Communications, Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, alleged that Matawalle played a central role in the kidnapping.
The Kankara abduction took place on December 11, 2020, when over 300 students were kidnapped from the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State
The boys were later confirmed released on December 18, 2020.
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Kaura, in the interview, claimed that the former governor collected N300m from then-Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, as ransom for the release of the abducted students but diverted most of the funds.
He said, “Matawalle collected N300m from his counterpart, the then Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, with the aim of facilitating the release of the 300 kidnapped students of GSS Kankara.
“However, at the end, he gave the bandits only N30m and took the remaining N270m for himself.”
In response, the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress said it would take legal action against Kaura for what it called “baseless and unfounded” allegations against Matawalle, who is the party’s leader in the state.
In a statement to journalists on Wednesday, APC spokesperson Yusuf Idris, announced that the party had convened an emergency meeting and resolved to take Kaura to court.
Idris said, “The Zamfara State chapter of the APC under its chairman, Tukur Umar Danfulani today held an emergency SWC meeting and reviewed the provocation by Mustapha Jafaru Kaura against its leaders, who need to be called to order.
“The meeting condemned the lies peddled by the Zamfara State government against the APC leaders in the state, more especially against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, on very sensitive issues which need to be investigated.”
“The callousness of Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, spokesman to Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, characterised by open insults, character assassination, and direct abuse of APC Zamfara State chapter chieftains—particularly the state party leader and current Minister of State for Defence, former governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, as well as the former governor now Senator representing Zamfara West, Hon. Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar—can no longer be tolerated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.”
The party noted that Kaura’s comments about the December 11, 2020 abduction of students in Kankara amounted to grave accusations.
“The recent outpouring by Mustapha Jafaru Kaura that over 300 students of GSS, Kankara, in the bordering state of Katsina, were whisked into the forest at gunpoint by a gang of armed bandits, and indeed many kidnappings, followed a deliberate collaboration between former governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle—now Minister of State for Defence—and the bandits, will be met with court action. The party will file a suit for Kaura to provide all the details of his assertions.
The APC said it would not only demand Kaura provide evidence of his claims but also explain his statements about other high-profile abductions in Zamfara during Matawalle’s tenure.
“Mustapha Jafaru Kaura must also prove and give details of the kidnappings of the over 270 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in Zamfara State—who were abducted by bandits on February 26, 2021, and rescued by Matawalle just two days after.
“The same applies to students of Kaya in Maradun Local Government Area and students from the College of Agriculture and Animal Science in Bakura, Zamfara State, who were also rescued by Matawalle.”
The party also indicated it may include the online platform that conducted the interview in the legal proceedings.
“The party will also consider joining the platform used in the interview in the case, as both the interviewee and the interviewer seemed to be going through a prepared document in order to achieve their set objective,” he said.
Efforts by The PUNCH to get Matawalle’s direct response were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to multiple phone calls.
However, his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Danmaliki, confirmed that the minister was fully aware of the legal plans being made by the APC.
He said, “Honourable Bello Matawalle is in the picture of what is going on concerning the plan by his party, APC, to go to court with Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, who accused him of conniving with bandits to abduct students of GSS Kankara in Katsina State.
“He was behind the move because he has been accused of what he did not do. So, to cut things short, the minister is fully aware of the arrangement, and he is in support of the court action by the APC leadership
A 25-year-old Nigerian, Samuel Abiodun, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by a United States of America court for his role in a sextortion scheme that led to the death of a teenager.
PUNCH Metro learnt from a statement by the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, David Metcalf, on Wednesday, that Abiodun was sentenced on Tuesday.
According to Metcalf, the convict, alongside an accomplice, Afeez Adewale, was arrested in Nigeria by the FBI and extradited in July 2024.
Following his extradition, the duo were charged before a court in August 2024.
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While Abiodun pleaded guilty to the offences of money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud related to the sexual extortion and death of a young man in December 2024, Aina pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud in May 2025.
Following their guilty pleas, Abiodun was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by US District Judge Joel Slomsky on Tuesday, while Aina is scheduled for sentencing on August 11.
Metcalf added that their third accomplice, Afeez Adewale, who has yet to be extradited from Nigeria, has also been charged in absentia.
He stated, “Aina pleaded guilty last month to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 11 and faces a statutory maximum of lifetime imprisonment.
“Adewale has been charged with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. He remains in Nigeria, pending extradition to the US.”
Speaking on the role Abiodun played in the conspiracy, Metcalf said, “As the financial middleman, Abiodun played a key role in this sextortion scheme, which thoroughly traumatised the victim and then devastated his family.”
He continued, “These scammers’ sole aim is to get money from scared and vulnerable young people, with absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout. In prosecuting this case, we are bringing to justice the men whose actions resulted in truly indelible harm.
“We also want to send a message to others like them that the Department of Justice’s reach is long, and if they keep extorting innocent Americans, they could find themselves in an American prison.”
He acknowledged the role of the Nigerian government in the extradition of Abiodun and Aina.
“The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” Metcalf concluded