Visa Racketeer Suspect Yomi Samson Arraigned

A Visa racketeer suspect, Yomi Samson, was on Monday, March 18, 2019, arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdumalik of the Federal High Court 2, Ibadan, on a three-count charge bordering on possession of fake documents, obtaining money under false pretence and misleading an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Samson (aka Becky Wellington), was dragged before the court by officers of the commission after interrogating him, based on a petition from one of his victims.

Part of the charge against him as contained in the document before the court reads: That you Yomi Samson (a.k.a Becky Wellinghton, a.k.a Amanda Luccero) sometimes in 2019, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to mislead, knowingly made false statement, wherein you lied to an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission about your true age and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39(2) (a) and punishable under Section 39 (2) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.”

Another count reads: That you Yomi Samson (a.k.a Becky Wellinghton, a.k.a Amanda Luccero) sometimes in 2019, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained a total sum of N45,000 (Forty-Five Thousand Naira) from one Chris when you falsely represented to him that the money was for Visa Clarifications, and other pretences, which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.” 

Though, he pleaded not guilty to the charges, the defendant later opted to enter into a plea bargain with the EFCC, prompting his lawyer, Kehinde Olawumi, to ask for a date to come for the final decision, rather than go for full trial.

The EFCC’s counsel, Shamsudden Bashir, who had earlier applied for a trial date also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

After listening to both counsel, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to March 25, 2019 for hearing of plea bargain and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison pending the determination of his case.

Family Picks May 2 For Late Olatoye Sugar's Burial

While investigations are still ongoing to unravel the mystery surrounding his gruesome killing, family of slain honourable, representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Temitope Olatoye popular known as 'Sugar' has fixed May 2nd, 2019, for his burial.

This, we gathered, was disclosed by the deceased's elder brother, Mr. Dotun Olatoye after a press conference called by the family on Sunday 17 March, 2019.

It would be recalled that Sugar was killed by unknown gunmen during the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the Lalupon area of Lagelu Local Government area of the state.

The family has also urged the government and the security agents to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were brought to book as investigation still ongoing on the root and immediate causes of his death. As some suspected hoodlum involved in his killing have been arrested for interrogation.

The family also debunked rumour perpetrated on some section of social media on Olatoye’s former landlord describing it as fake news that should not be taken serious.

Akpabio Moves To Reclaim Mandate At Election Tribunal

Following the withdrawal of his case filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, which sought to challenge his Senate re-election loss, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the  Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in the February 23rd Senatorial election, Godswill 

Akpabio, and his party, have approached the Election Tribunal, sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to kick-start the legal processes, that would lead to the validation of his victory at the poll.

Akpabio is seeking to upturn the victory of Mr Christopher Ekpenyong and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), based on perceived electoral irregularities which characterised the said election. 

The former Senate Minority Leader, had while the election was ongoing, besieged the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging cases of infractions and deliberate violations of the electoral law and guidelines during the senatorial election.

In the said election, INEC had in collaboration with some PDP chieftains in the senatorial district, wrongfully declared Mr. Ekpeyong and his party, the PDP, winner of the poll, having scored 118,215 as against Akpabio’s 83,158. 

However, incontrovertible result sheets from Akwa Ibom INEC office showed different figures that had Akpabio securing 138,256 votes as against Ekpeyong’s 123,843.

Dissatisfied with the conduct and outcome of the election, the former governor of Akwa Ibom and his party vowed to approach the election petition tribunal to ventilate their grievances as well as reclaim their  stolen mandate.