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Nigerian ‘cybercrime kingpin’ pleads guilty to role in $6M fraud scheme in US

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5 months ago

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James Junior Aliyu, a 30-year-old Nigerian national residing in South Africa at the time of his criminal conduct, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Aliyu, who was arrested and extradited from South Africa to the United States, is the last of three defendants to plead guilty to his role in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.

Eight other defendants previously pled guilty in the District of Maryland in separate cases related to the same conspiracy.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore on August 26, 2025.

On June 24, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging Aliyu, Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 30, and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 31, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

All three are Nigerian citizens who resided in South Africa at the time of the crimes. Federal authorities unsealed the indictment on July 6, 2022, upon the defendants’ arrests outside of the U.S. All three were extradited to the United States from outside the country to face their federal charges.Nigerian home decor trends

According to his plea agreement, from February 2017 until at least July 2017, Aliyu conspired with others to perpetrate a BEC scheme. Specifically, Aliyu and his co-conspirators, including co-conspirators residing in Maryland, gained unauthorized access to email accounts associated with individuals and businesses that they targeted.

 

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Nollywood Actress, Angela Okorie Allegedly Re-Arrested Over Alleged Refusal To Pay Lawyer Who Secured Her Bail (Video)

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2 days ago

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February 4, 2026

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Angela Okorie, the Nigerian actress, has reportedly been re-arrested over allegations that she refused to pay the lawyer who secured her bail from Suleja Prison.

Angela was re-arrested at the Suleja prison on Tuesday, immediately she was released on bail.

This came less than an hour after actor Stanley Ontop raised the alarm over an alleged plan to re-arrest the actress after release on Tuesday.

Speaking in a video on Instagram, actress Doris Ogala who said she is already on her way to the police station, stated that the actress was re-arrested by an unnamed Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, for refusing to pay the N5 million agreed fee to secure her bail.

Doris said; “You see, one thing is for someone to cut their clothes according to their size. Angela has been arrested again. As a matter of fact, I’m going to the police station now. You see, when Angela was arrested by Mercy, she called a friend of her or village person. I don’t know how they relate. To help her get a SAN.

“And the SAN charged them N5 million. I think the SAN was the one who even facilitated the bail and all that. Now when Angela knew that they have granted her bail according to the lady, Angela started saying that she didn’t ask her to get a SAN and she wasn’t going to pay the money, and meanwhile this lady has deposited.”

Recall that Angela, who was granted bail on Friday after her arrest by Mercy Johnson over alleged defamation, regained her freedom few minutes ago after perfecting her bail conditions.

Watch Doris Ogala speak

 

Nigerian Man Seeks Wife Who Knows How To Cook Well With Firewood, Says His Mother Eats Only “Firewood Food”

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I Can Decide To Revoke The Land Allocated To Onitsha Main Market And Build A School On It” — Gov Soludo

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7 days ago

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January 30, 2026

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Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has warned that he has the power to revoke the land allocated to Onitsha Main Market and use it for public purposes, including building a school. According to Soludo, this action would be taken in the interest of the public and is backed by the Land Use Act.

The governor made this statement during a meeting with leaders of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), emphasizing that the law empowers him to revoke market lands across the state for overriding public interest.

Soludo stated that the government could compensate original landowners and that affected parties could challenge the compensation amount in court, but not the revocation itself.

The governor’s warning comes amid tensions between the state government and market traders, with Soludo insisting on reopening the market despite a sit-at-home order imposed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

 

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IPOB Declares South-East Shutdown On Monday Over Onitsha Market Closure, Demands Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

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7 days ago

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January 30, 2026

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The group insisted that the sit-at-home was a peaceful form of civil disobedience and denied claims that it amounted to economic sabotage or criminality.

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced a Biafra-wide solidarity lockdown scheduled for Monday, February 2, across the South-East, in protest against the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and to demand the immediate release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the planned shutdown of economic and public activities in the region was a voluntary act of solidarity with traders in Onitsha, following the Anambra State government’s decision to shut the main market for one week.

The group also blasted Governor Chukwuma Soludo for threatening for further closures, revocation of land allocations, demolitions, and other sanctions against traders.

IPOB described the market closure as “economic warfare” against the people of the region, alleging that the action was intended to suppress continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home protest demanding Kanu’s release.

The group insisted that the sit-at-home was a peaceful form of civil disobedience and denied claims that it amounted to economic sabotage or criminality.

According to the statement, the solidarity lockdown is not an enforcement action but a collective response by residents angered by what IPOB called punitive measures against traders whose livelihoods depend on the Onitsha Main Market, widely regarded as one of the largest markets in Africa.

The group called on traders, transport operators, banks, schools, civil servants, and other sectors across Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and other parts of the former Eastern Region to remain indoors and suspend activities on the day of the protest.

IPOB reiterated its commitment to non-violence and urged supporters to remain law-abiding and avoid confrontations.

The group warned against what it described as possible “false flag operations” aimed at discrediting its cause.

It maintained that its agitation is focused on dialogue and a referendum on Biafran self-determination.

The group further accused the Anambra State governor of acting against the interests of traders and residents, insisting that any action against Onitsha traders amounted to an attack on all Biafrans.

 

Governor Soludo on Monday announced the temporary closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week over traders’ continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home earlier ordered by IPOB.

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