Nigerian man sentenced to five years for sextortion scheme linked to US teenager's death
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Afeez Olatunji Adewale, a 27-year-old Nigerian, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a United States court for his involvement in a sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of an American teenager. The US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handed down the sentence on Friday after Adewale pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. He will also serve three years of supervised release. Adewale was arrested in Nigeria on August 17, 2023, during a joint operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation targeting sexual extortion suspects. He was extradited to the US in February 2026 with assistance from US authorities and the Nigerian government, and subsequently pleaded guilty in April. David Metcalf, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, stated that Adewale was the last of three Nigerian suspects convicted in connection with the case. His co-defendant, Samuel Abiodun, received a five-year sentence in June 2025 for money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. Another accomplice, Imoleayo Aina, also known as "Alice Dave," was sentenced to six years in October 2025 after pleading guilty to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Philadelphia, Wayne A. Jacobs, emphasized that the sentencing demonstrates that offenders cannot escape justice by operating outside the United States. Patrick Moll
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Must ReadThe Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of Private Mohammed Yusuf, a soldier declared wanted for allegedly supplying military accoutrements to terrorist and criminal elements. He was apprehended by troops of 7 Provost Group, Operation Hadin Kai, at Jidari Bus Stop, Maiduguri, on July 25, 2026, while reportedly attempting to flee to Cameroon. According to Captain Muhammed Goni, acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Private Yusuf, 23NA/84/1939, absconded from his unit on July 7, 2026, and went into hiding in Maiduguri. He had been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on July 23, 2026, for these allegations. The Army stated that his arrest highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and their commitment to holding personnel accountable. Private Yusuf is currently in custody, and further investigation is ongoing to determine the full scope of his activities and identify any accomplices. The Army emphasized its resolve to maintain professionalism and integrity in counter-insurgency operations and urged the public to continue providing credible information to security agencies.
The Federal Government has approved an upward review of hazard allowances and other benefits for members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions NASU in federal universities. This new remuneration package, effective retrospectively from January 1, 2026, follows an agreement between the Federal Government and NASU on June 29, 2026. The approval, conveyed in a circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, increases the annual laboratory hazard allowance for senior employees by N126,000, bringing it to N486,000 for workers on CONTISS 6-15. For employees on CONTISS 1-5, the annual hazard allowance rises by N63,000 to N243,000. Responsibility allowances for senior non-teaching officials also saw increases; registrars and bursars will now receive N840,000 annually, while directors, who previously had no such allowance, will receive N600,000 annually. Deputy registrars, deputy bursars, and deputy directors will receive N480,000 annually. Allowances for field trips, teaching practice, industrial supervision, and the Students Work Experience Programme were also reviewed upwards. Additionally, an annual uniform and protective wear allowance of N80,000 was introduced for laboratory, workshop, and studio personnel across all CONTISS levels. The circular also stated that the Provision Tools Allowance has been absorbed into the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, and Project Supervision Allowance will no longer apply. The Exces
Must ReadThe plan for Nigerian opposition parties to unite behind a single presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election is facing challenges, with various factions adopting different stances. While a Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP remains open to the idea, a Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction has ruled out any alliance. Similarly, the camp of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar stated that opposition parties have already produced their candidates but are committed to working together. The All Progressives Congress APC has dismissed the opposition's proposal as ineffective against President Tinubu's re-election bid. An April 25 summit in Ibadan saw opposition leaders resolve to work together and explore a single candidate, with attendees including former Senate President David Mark, Tanimu Turaki, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, and others. However, many of these leaders have since emerged as presidential or vice-presidential candidates for various parties, such as Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi for the African Democratic Congress ADC, and Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso for the Nigeria Democratic Coalition NDC. The National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP, Ini Ememobong, emphasized that a single candidate remains a viable strategy, stating that no single opposition party can win alone. Conversely, the Wike-backed PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed, denied any alliance, asserting the party's focus o