Gov Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has sworn in 10 judges for the state’s High Court and Customary Court of Appeal.

Hope Uzodimma, at the swearing ceremony on Monday, charged the judges to uphold integrity and honour in the discharge of their duties.

While seven of the judges are for the State High Court, three are for the Customary Court of Appeal.

The governor who gifted the newly sworn-in judges Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), said his administration prioritized welfare of the state’s judiciary because society depends on justices for stability. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

“I have always prioritized the judiciary’s welfare and upheld the institution because by virtue of their roles, the society depends on justice for stability, hence they must be supported in carrying out their responsibilities with utmost seriousness and ethical conduct,” Uzodimma said.

The Imo State governor said the 10 justices must fear God and serve the citizens with “integrity, dignity, and the fear of God in their duties.”

He advised members of the public against putting judges under pressure for them to fulfill their duties without fear of favour.

He added that “the judiciary is under intense public scrutiny and they must conduct themselves impeccably, as they are the last hope of the common man. In supporting them as a society, we must avoid pressuring the Judges, allowing them to fulfill their duties impartially and effectively.”

Gov Hope Uzodimma

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the election of Gov Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.

The court dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyawu, challenging the decision of the Imo State tribunal that affirmed Hope Uzodinma’s election.

It ruled that the appeal lacked merit, having resolved all issues formulated against the appellants in the suit. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The Court of Appeal also dismissed the appeal by the Labour Party and its candidate, Achonu Nneji, and that of the Allied Peoples Movement for also lacking in merit.

The appellants, who were dissatisfied with the tribunal Judgment, had approached the court of appeal on grounds that the November 11, 2023 election, was invalid because of non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act.

The appellants also challenged Uzodimma’s qualification with an allegation that his WAEC Certificate of Education result, was forged.

While delivering judgment, the court of appeal held that the appellants, in their appeal, failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance as alleged.

The three-man panel led by Justice Bitrus Sanga also held that the appellants failed, to prove that the governor submitted a forged certificate.

A 16-count criminal indictment has been filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, against Kingsley Inegbedion and Efemena Igbe over money laundering and internet fraud allegations of $1.5 million.

According to the FBI in the indictment filed on May 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, Messrs Inegbedion and Igbe perpetrated romance scams and business email compromise, posing as legit businesses to defraud innocent American citizens between April 2020 and May 2023.

Mr Inegbedion, a network engineer who ran training programmes for aspiring tech workers in Atlanta, was known previously to law enforcement, documents said.

Some of the banks include HSBC, Citi Bank, Synovus Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union Truist Bank, Associated Credit Union and Georgia’s Own Credit Union.

“The sham corporate entities did not have physical premises, earn legitimate income, or pay wages to employees,” the FBI said in the indictment. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

They asked victims to wire money to these accounts which appeared legit and quickly distributed the fraudulent funds into other accounts within and outside the U.S. in an attempt to conceal the fraud.

In February 2021, $50,120 was withdrawn from Camtech’s Navy Federal account number ending with 4893. Another $60,000 was withdrawn in June 2021 from the same bank, but a different account number ended with 4854, registered under Kingtech Global Auto.

The FBI also found a purchase of $160,000 cashier’s cheque #4817 from Kingtech’s Truist account ending with 0619 in September 2022, among other fraudulent transactions.

At other times, the duo conspired with unknown persons who directed victims through emails and other means to pay into the fraudulent accounts.

Mr Igbe already fled to Nigeria after security agents invited him for questioning before the indictment was filed leaving Mr Inegbedion to answer and defend the charges preferred by the FBI.

The FBI is seeking a restitution of funds and forfeiture of property obtained through the fraud scheme to the U.S. government.



“Upon conviction of the offences alleged in counts one through sixteen of this indictment, the defendants, Efemena Igbe and Kingsley Inegbedion, shall forfeit to the United States of America, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(1), any property, real or personal, involved in such offence, and any property traceable to such property including, but not limited to, a money judgement, that is, a sum of money in United States currency representing the amount of property involved in the offence,” said the FBI statement.