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Nigerian jailed for defrauding over 400 Americans in $6m inheritance scam

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4 weeks ago

February 7, 2026

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A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Tochukwu Albert Nnebocha, to more than eight years in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable Americans.

According to a statement published on the US Department of Justice (DOJ) website on Friday, “a Nigerian National was sentenced today to more than eight years in prison for participating in a years-long conspiracy to defraud elderly and vulnerable Americans through an inheritance fraud scheme.”

The DOJ said Nnebocha, 44, and his accomplices ran the operation for over seven years, describing it as a sophisticated international fraud network that preyed on victims across the United States.

The statement read, “According to court documents, Tochukwu Albert Nnebocha, 44, of Nigeria, and his co-conspirators operated a lucrative transnational inheritance fraud scheme that exploited vulnerable people in the United States.

“Over the course of more than seven years, Nnebocha and his co-conspirators sent hundreds of thousands of personalized letters to elderly individuals in the United States, falsely claiming that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left by a deceased family member.”

Victims were later instructed to make multiple payments before they could access the supposed inheritance.

“The conspirators then told the victims that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for purported delivery fees, taxes, and payments regarding the inheritance. In total, the defendant and his co-conspirators defrauded over 400 U.S. victims of more than $6 million,” the statement read.

The DOJ added that “in total, the defendant and his co-conspirators defrauded over 400 U.S. victims of more than $6 million.”

Authorities disclosed that Nnebocha was arrested in Poland in April 2025 and extradited to the United States in September 2025. He subsequently pleaded guilty in November 2025 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.

At sentencing, the court imposed a 97-month prison term, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered restitution of more than $6.8 million to the victims.

The department noted that “this is the second indicted case related to this international fraud scheme,” adding that eight co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal and Nigeria had already been convicted and sentenced.

Investigations were conducted by the US Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations, with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Legal Attaché in Poland, INTERPOL, Polish authorities, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs.

Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Joshua D. Rothman of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, the statement said.

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‘Why I’m keeping quiet’ — El-Rufai fires back at ICPC

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1 day ago

March 4, 2026

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Former Kaduna State governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has explained why he refused to answer investigators’ questions, saying his decision to remain silent was deliberate and based on his belief that the probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission is politically motivated.

The position was contained in two handwritten statements he made under caution on 19 and 20 February 2026 while in ICPC custody and in the presence of his lawyer, Ubong E. Akpan.

El-Rufai may regain his freedom on Thursday if the ICPC fails to file charges against him before the expiration of the court-approved remand order. The anti-graft agency had obtained a 14-day detention warrant from a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, which is due to lapse on March 5, 2026.

In his first statement dated 19 February, El-Rufai wrote in full: “I have read the above cautionary statement and I understand its meaning and implication. I wish to voluntarily state, in the presence of my lawyer, Ubong Akpan, Esq., from the chambers of Ubong Akpan. My name is Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. I was born in Dandawa, Katsina State, in 1960, and grew up mostly in Kaduna State.

“I attended school in Kaduna, and went to Ahmadu Bello University from my first degree in Quantity Surveying. I also attended Harvard university and the University of London, among others. I studied Business Administration, Public Administration and Law, Public Administration and Law.

“My working career spans quantity surveying consulting, mobile telecommunications and public service. I was Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (1999–2003), Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (2003–2007) and twice- elected Governor of Kaduna State (2015–2023). I am retired and live mostly in Egypt with half of my family and 96-year-old mother.

“I am a leading member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the only surviving opposition party in Nigeria, which is the real reason you are investigating me.

“In response to your question (and indeed all your questions), I have, on the advice of counsel, decided to exercise my right to silence. I will make no further statement or respond to any question. I believe that after nearly two years of intensive investigation, the ICPC should present its findings to a judicial tribunal and not to me. I will respond to any allegations in a court of law only.

“This is because I do not believe these investigations amount to lawful entitlement, as in political persecution, which only a judge can decide upon. Thank you.”

In a follow-up statement dated 20 February 2026, the former governor reiterated his position, writing: “In furtherance to my statement dated 19 February, 2026 and in the presence of my lawyer Ubong E. Akpan, I wish to state further that upon presentation of further documents and questions, I reserve my constitutional right to silence to all the documents and further questions. As clearly stated in my statement dated 19 February 2026, I will respond to these documents and questions only when presented in a Court of Law.”

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Screening For Recruitment Of 50,000 Police Constables Set For March 9

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1 week ago

February 25, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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The Police Service Commission (PSC) has fixed March 9, 2026, for the physical and credential screening of all candidates who successfully completed the online recruitment registration for the recruitment of 50,000 police constables.

The exercise is set to hold between March 9, through April 18, 2026, across the federation.

Spokesperson of the PSC, Torty Njoku Kalu, in a statement on Tuesday, said: “applicants are requested to login to the recruitment portal: npfapplication.psc.gov.ng, to check their status and print the following documents which they must present at the screening venue on the date and time indicated in their Invitation Slip: Guarantors form; Application Submission Slip; Invitation Slip; Credentials Screening Form; and Physical Screening Form.”

He further stated that other items to be presented for the screening include: “Invitation Slip (with assigned table); Credential Screening Form; Original National Identity Number (NIN) printout or Card issued by NIMC; O’ Level (GCE/SSCE) Certificate; Birth Certificate or Declaration of age; LGA/State of Origin Certificate; Trade Test/Certificate (for Specialists only); Duly completed and signed Guarantors form with photocopies and passports of referees attached and original and duplicate copies of credentials are to be neatly packaged in two separate white flat files, with recent passport photographs attached.”

The PSC further stated that applicants are to appear at the various screening venues wearing white canvas shoes, white T-shirts, white shorts, and white stockings.

The screening exercise will take place at designated locations within each State and FCT as indicated on the invitation printout.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd), reiterated that the recruitment exercise was absolutely free of charge and without any pecuniary obligation.

The chairman assured that the process will be conducted in the best tradition of transparency and accountability and advised the applicants to be wary of online impostors, scammers and other criminal elements who might want to take advantage of the recruitment process to defraud innocent applicants, stating that anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted.

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Police grill man for killing girlfriend in Abia

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1 week ago

February 25, 2026

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The Abia State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Edward Okorie from Isiugwu, Ohafia, in the Ohafia Local Government Area for allegedly killing his girlfriend, a young nurse identified as Sophy Chika, during a domestic altercation.

Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Monday, at Isiugwu, Ohafia. The deceased, who hailed from Ozu Abam in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state, was reportedly involved in a dispute with her boyfriend before the situation escalated.

It was gathered that the lovers had been cohabiting in Okagwe village, Ohafia, for over three years prior to the tragic incident. Community sources claimed that an argument between the two turned violent, leading to the nurse’s death.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the suspect had been arrested.

She told our correspondent that the Divisional Police Officer in Ohafia informed the command about the incident and that the matter would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Umuahia, for thorough investigation.

“Yes, the attention of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ohafia, was drawn to the incident. The suspect has been apprehended, and the case will be transferred to the SCID today (Tuesday) by the DPO,” she said.

Chinaka assured the state command had commenced an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The development has thrown the Abam community into mourning, with residents calling for justice and a comprehensive probe into the matter.

Source: Punch.