Why I pleaded guilty to $11m fraud - Invictus Obi

Obinwanne Okeke, popularly known as Invictus Obi, arrested in the United States last August for fraud, has admitted to American authorities that his participation in the fraudulent schemes for which he has pleaded guilty “was undertaken knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully and not as a result of an accident, mistake or other innocent reason.”

Mr Okeke, who was charged with two counts of computer fraud and wire fraud, also said he decided to plead guilty because he realized that the findings by investigators and the ‘statement of facts’ filed in court by prosecutors are true and accurate.

He said had the matter proceeded to trial, he was sure the United States authorities would prove the allegations against him beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Okeke’s explanations are contained in the Statement of Facts submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by G. Zachary Terwilliger (United States attorney), Brian J. Samuels (assistant United States Attorney) and Mathew P. Mattis ( special assistant United States attorney).

The document was filed in open court on June 18 as the ‘businessman’, also known as Invictus Obi in Nigeria, capitulated and pleaded guilty. He is to be sentenced on October 22.

Mr Okeke’s attorney, John Iweanoge, also agreed, saying pleading guilty remained the best course of action for his client.

“I have carefully reviewed the above Statement of Facts with him,” Mr Iweanoge said.

“To my knowledge, his decision to stipulate to these facts is an informed and voluntary one.”

The NATION

Akeredolu tests positive for COVID-19

Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who on Tuesday tested positive for COVID-19, has begun treatment at home.

Akeredolu said he is still very strong to continue working from home where he is self- isolating.

The Governor stated that he had malaria few days ago and was advised to undergo COVID-19 test by a colleague Governor.

The Nation

Redeemer’s University denies outbreak on campus

THE management of Redeemer’s University has frowned at the news of an outbreak of Covid-19 on its campus as reported by some media houses recently.

The report according to the institution  has the potential of undermining its efforts at safeguarding the health of the nation through free medical services being provided by Its  African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

The Nation

Court strikes out suit against Obaseki

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a suit filed against Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The plaintiffs, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/553/2020, accused the governor of engaging in certificate forgery.

Listed as plaintiffs in the suit are Edobor Williams, Ugbesia Abudu Godwin and Amedu Dauda Anakhu.They accused Obaseki of forging his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) certificate in Classical Studies from the University of Ibadan.

The plaintiffs contended that the alleged certificate forgery contravenes Section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).They prayed the court to among others, hold that Obaseki is “not qualified to run or seek election to the office of the governor of Edo State” in the coming 2020 governorship election.

At the mention of the case on Monday, neither the plaintiffs nor their lawyers were in court.  The defendant too was not represented.

Following the development, Justice Anwuli Chiekere struck out the suit.

The Nation

Police in search of families of stolen children

Police in Abuja on Monday called on members of the public to come forward and identify three children stolen from their families since June last year.

The children consisted of two girls and one boy.

Force spokesman DCP Frank Mba said the three children were among six rescued by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in an operation that was launched following reported cases of child theft.

The Nation