close
Monday, April 11, 2022

More Nigerians aged 36 to 40 in U.S. prisons: Report

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has disclosed that half the number of Nigerians in its correctional facilities had been convicted and sentenced for fraud.

• April 11, 2022
Prisoners in U.S. used to illustrate the story
Prisoners in U.S. used to illustrate the story [Photo credit: Oregon Live]

The United States Bureau of Prisons has disclosed that half the number of Nigerians in its correctional facilities had been convicted and sentenced for fraud. 

In response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by Peoples Gazette, out of the 134 Nigerians currently in U.S. prisons, those within the 36 and 40 age class make up 24.63 per cent of the total number of Nigerians.

Age group 41-45 followed with 11.94 per cent, and 46-50,51- 55 at joint 8.96 per cent, respectively. 

The Bureau of Prisons had also disclosed to The Gazette that the majority of Nigerians in their custody had been convicted on charges bordering on fraud and money laundering. 

Last August, youths and sports development minister Sunday Dare told Nigerian youths to be patient amid worsening economic and security crises that President Muhammadu Buhari was investing in them.

Frauds and ritual killings, according to media reports, have continued to rise unabated since then. 

Oyekanmi Oworu was sentenced in March to three years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. 

Mr Oworu was 35 years old when he was arrested. He later pleaded guilty to the charges. 

Mr Owuru had been collaborating with Babatunde Ajibawo, a 55-year old, sentenced to four years in federal prison last year. 

In March 2021, 37-year old Seun Banjo Ojedokun was jailed for nine years for a money laundering conspiracy related to a romance scam and other fraud schemes. 

In July, a U.S. court jailed Nigerian money launderer 38-year-old Olumide Bankole Morakinyo for engaging in a scheme that defrauded the Texas Employees Retirement System. 

In 2019, a U.S. court sentenced Lukman Shina Aminu, Mr Morakinyo’s collaborator, to four and a half years in federal prison. 

Mr Aminu pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, admitting that he used personally identifiable information (PII) from state employees to change their accounts in the Employees Retirement System of Texas internet portal.  

In July 2020, 35-year old Temitope Aminat Folorunsho pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering, use of a false passport, and conspiracy. She was sentenced in July 2021 to 37 months in prison.

More from Peoples Gazette

Economy

Buhari regime will continue to borrow without subsidy removal: Femi Adesina

“You know how much could have been saved if the subsidy was removed and how it could have been diverted to other areas and spheres of national life.

Heading 2

Buhari regime spends N12 billion monthly on school feeding programme: Coordinator

Over 10 million children are being fed through the programme at the rate of N100 a meal per child.

Gbenga Ogbara

Politics

Gunmen killed APC chairman in Osun: Police

It is being insinuated that the killing might be politically motivated, especially with the governorship election in the state being less than three months away.

Buhari and Osibanjo

Politics

Nigerians fume as Osinbajo ‘threatens’ to continue Buhari’s policies if elected

President Buhari’s misrule in almost eight years, has been with the assistance of Mr Osinbajo as his second in command.

Rape

Rights

Man blamed devil after defiling friend’s underage daughters: Police

The accused and the father of the victims were until the incident very close friends and attended the same Lords Chosen Church.

Dispatch rider

Rights

Dispatch rider in court for stealing employer’s N800,000

The defendant was employed as a dispatch rider in a food supplement company for a week when he stole supplements worth N800,000 given to him to deliver.

Court symbol used to tell the story

Rights

Police arraign man for assaulting FRSC officers in Lagos

The defendant, 37-year-old Moses Okhakumen, is being tried on a two-count charge of assault and obstruction.