An Internet fraudster has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Federal High Court, sitting in Benin-City, Edo State.

The convict identified as Collins Osadolor alias Albert Lin was first arraigned by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 13, 2015, on a three-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents containing false pretences, Daily Post reports.

Osadolor is accused of defrauding an American woman identified simply as, Karry, of the sum of $250.

Osadolor reportedly admitted to the allegation and refunded the sum. Following his arraignment, the convict pleaded not guilty to the charge levelled against but later changed his plea to guilty.

Justice P. I. Ajoku who presided over the case sentenced Osadolor to 18 months imprisonment without an option of fine.

Zamfara State Senator, Kabir Marafa has lost two of his children to a car accident.

The victims, Awwal and Maryam, died on Monday, November 7, while returning to Abuja from Kaduna.

The incident was confirmed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) after Group Managing Director, Dr. M.K. Baru paid a condolence visit to Marafa, who’s the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum.

Earlier today, GMD @NNPCgroup, Dr. M.K.Baru paid a condolence visit 2 d Chairman, Senate C'ttee on Downstream Petroleum, Sen. Kabiru Marafa. pic.twitter.com/IGJDD3NvVe

— NNPC Group (@NNPCgroup) November 7, 2016

Sen. Marafa lost 2 members of his family y'day. The GMD, who described their death as an act of God also prayed for d repose of their souls

— NNPC Group (@NNPCgroup) November 7, 2016

Baru also described the deaths as an act of God and prayed to God for the repose of the victims’ souls.

There is tension on E1 Close, 7th Avenue in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State after gunmen invaded the area and abducted two residents.

The victims are a 26-year-old married woman, Oluchi Jovita, and a 45-year-old man, Remigus Igwe.

Punch Metro learnt that the assailants, said to be four men in military uniform, went to the area in a speedboat around 10pm on Thursday.

It was gathered that the gunmen, who also wore masks, dragged Jovita out of her apartment.

The abductors, who were said to have sneaked into E1 Close through an opening created in a fence, also brought out Igwe, who lived close to Jovita, and whisked away the two victims through a bush path.

Punch was told that the gunmen escaped in a speedboat through the river beside the FESTAC Town link road.

The matter was reported at the FESTAC Town Police Division, and operatives went to the scene, where they searched in vain for the abducted residents and the gunmen.

When Punch Metro got to the area on Monday, Jovita and Igwe’s apartments were locked.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen did not shoot in order not to alert anyone, adding that it was the woman’s husband who went to the police station.

He said, “It was around 10pm on Thursday. Most of us had locked our gates. The gunmen went to the apartments of their victims and ordered them out at gunpoint. They did not use the gates and they did not shoot so as not to arouse suspicion.

“It was after they had left that news got to me that two persons were abducted. The policemen came to this place, but the gunmen had escaped. We suspect that there could be an insider giving information to the kidnappers.

“The two residents have yet to return home. Their families may have been contacted for ransoms, but nobody knows.”

A police source at the division said the operatives saw the footsteps of the gunmen, adding that their escape was successful because they came on a speedboat.

He said, “The woman’s husband, Eze, came to the station around 11pm to report that his wife and another neighbour had been abducted.

“Policemen from the division mounted a stop-and-search points on the roads, but there was no result.

“We came across the kidnappers footsteps along the bank of the Amuwo Odofin river. That made the arrest difficult because the hoodlums came and escaped through the waterways. They broke the fence and attacked their victims.”

Punch correspondent gathered that the matter had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Intelligence and Investigation, Yaba.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident.

She said, “The case is under investigation. Effort is in top gear to get the abductees freed.”

Yomi Adagazu, Director of Child Development in the Nasarawa State Ministry of Women Affairs, has raised alarm over increasing cases of abandoned babies in Lafia, the state capital, and environs.

Mrs. Adagazu expressed concern over the trend in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Tuesday in Lafia.

She noted that three babies were abandoned at different locations in Lafia and environs within the last one month.

“We recall that a day-old baby girl was abandoned along Shendam Road, Lafia on November 1, while another baby boy was dumped at the Bukan-Sidi cemetery the following day.

“The mother of the baby girl, a 17-year-old lady eventually turned herself in to the police and claimed maternity of the child.

“She cited frustration as reasons for her action and had been reunited with the baby while efforts are on to establish the veracity of her claims,” Mrs. Adagazu added.

The director said that the baby boy had been taken to Maimuna Katai Orphanage in the metropolis for proper upkeep.

She described as unfortunate the way girls were abandoning their babies in spite of the fact that these babies were precious gifts from God.

She appealed to members of the public and organisations to assist the orphanages in the state in catering for the children and assured of the ministry’s commitment to the proper upbringing of the orphans.

The official implored parents to closely monitor their children and wards, especially the female ones and properly educate them on sexual issues.

Mrs. Adagazu equally cautioned young girls to guard against peer pressure that could result in early sex, which could jeopardise their future.

NAN