A gang of fraudsters have been jailed for a total of more than 43 years for their parts in the theft of millions of pounds from businesses and individuals in the UK and abroad.
The following people were convicted between 26 and 28 March for their roles in a large-scale “diversion fraud” scam using hacking software following a six-month trial, and sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Thursday, 2 May:
- Bonaventure Sunday Chukwuka, 41 (21.08.77) of Roding Gardens, Loughton was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property (money laundering). He was also found guilty of possession of a prohibited item (a phone) in prison - sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment.
- Andrew Chike Chukwu, 35 (19.09.83) of River Road, Buckhurst Hill was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property - sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Emmanuel Chike Chukwuka (brother), 27 (11.12.91) of Roding Gardens, Loughton was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud. He was found not guilty of conspiracy to money launder - sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.
- Christian Chukwuka (brother), 39 (24.12.79) of Latchetts Shaw, Basildon, Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property - sentenced to five years and nine months’ imprisonment.
- Nadeem Abbasi, 48 (20.04.70) of St Michaels Avenue, Wembley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert/conceal criminal property - sentenced to two years and three months’ months imprisonment.
- Mansoor Zaman, 27 (31.03.91) of no fixed abode was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property. He was sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment.
- Queen Chukwuka, 32 (01.10.86) of Roding Gardens, Loughton was found guilty of acquiring/possessing criminal property - sentenced to a community order
- Grace Plange Chukwu, 39 (20.02.80) of River Road, Buckhurst Hill was found guilty of acquiring/possessing criminal property – conditional discharge.
- Ionut Relu Muresan, 34 (09.09.84) of Long Deacon Road, E4 pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to money launder - sentenced to five years’ imprisonment
- Mohammed Rahman, 31 (25.12.87) of Garnies Close, Peckham was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property – to be sentenced at a later date.
The court heard during the trial that Bonaventure Chukwuka led an organised criminal gang that targeted businesses and individuals by hacking into their email accounts, and stealing large sums of money.
Officers from the Met’s Falcon Fraud Squad launched the investigation after receiving referrals from Action Fraud.
Detectives identified a total of 228 separate frauds committed by the same network between 2014 to 2018, and totalling £10,112,312.54.
A total of 69 victims provided evidence during the trial. Many of them have been unable to recover their losses.
Several victims were traced with the help of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau whose Action Fraud service allows both domestic and overseas victims to report fraud online.
The gang used computer malware to intercept and steal the log-in details of email accounts belonging to businesses and private individuals worldwide, with the intent of identifying high-value financial transactions.
They then intercepted emails about these transactions and sent spoof emails, duping the victims into paying the funds into alternative UK-based “mule” bank accounts – accounts obtained and controlled by the fraudsters for this purpose - instead of the intended recipient.
A total of 165 “mule” accounts, opened with fake identification documents or bought from unscrupulous account holders, were identified by detectives.
They were used to receive the proceeds of the diversion fraud, where the money was quickly transferred onto other accounts, some of which were untraceable.
The fraudsters also used the funds from mule accounts to buy and export thousands of pounds of baby milk to Nigeria, to launder the money.
One of the fraud victims was a small construction company with a small team of employees based in the south west of England. It was defrauded out of nearly £13,000 by the group in 2017 and had to close as a result.
Bonaventure, Emmanuel and Christian Chukwuka were arrested on 26 January 2018 on suspicion of fraud. They were charged the following day.
Abassi established a sham company and opened business bank accounts, one of which received £1.9m on behalf of the wider gang. Abassi was arrested at Heathrow airport on 14 February 2018. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money on 2 November 2018.
Zaman and Rahman sourced mule accounts. Zaman was arrested at Gatwick Airport on 4 April 2018. Rahman was arrested on 11 April.
Following the arrest of the Chukwuka brothers, Andrew Chike Chuwku was identified as a significant associate. He was arrested on 11 April 2018.
Queen Chukwuka and Grace Chukwu - the wives of Bonaventure and Andrew - received funds into their own personal bank accounts.
Officers will now begin confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to try and recover the money stolen.
- Bonaventure Sunday Chukwuka, 41 (21.08.77) of Roding Gardens, Loughton was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property (money laundering). He was also found guilty of possession of a prohibited item (a phone) in prison - sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment.
- Andrew Chike Chukwu, 35 (19.09.83) of River Road, Buckhurst Hill was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property - sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Emmanuel Chike Chukwuka (brother), 27 (11.12.91) of Roding Gardens, Loughton was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud. He was found not guilty of conspiracy to money launder - sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.
- Christian Chukwuka (brother), 39 (24.12.79) of Latchetts Shaw, Basildon, Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property - sentenced to five years and nine months’ imprisonment.
- Nadeem Abbasi, 48 (20.04.70) of St Michaels Avenue, Wembley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert/conceal criminal property - sentenced to two years and three months’ months imprisonment.
- Mansoor Zaman, 27 (31.03.91) of no fixed abode was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property. He was sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment.
- Queen Chukwuka, 32 (01.10.86) of Roding Gardens, Loughton was found guilty of acquiring/possessing criminal property - sentenced to a community order
- Grace Plange Chukwu, 39 (20.02.80) of River Road, Buckhurst Hill was found guilty of acquiring/possessing criminal property – conditional discharge.
- Ionut Relu Muresan, 34 (09.09.84) of Long Deacon Road, E4 pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to money launder - sentenced to five years’ imprisonment
- Mohammed Rahman, 31 (25.12.87) of Garnies Close, Peckham was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to conceal/transfer criminal property – to be sentenced at a later date.
The court heard during the trial that Bonaventure Chukwuka led an organised criminal gang that targeted businesses and individuals by hacking into their email accounts, and stealing large sums of money.
Officers from the Met’s Falcon Fraud Squad launched the investigation after receiving referrals from Action Fraud.
Detectives identified a total of 228 separate frauds committed by the same network between 2014 to 2018, and totalling £10,112,312.54.
A total of 69 victims provided evidence during the trial. Many of them have been unable to recover their losses.
Several victims were traced with the help of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau whose Action Fraud service allows both domestic and overseas victims to report fraud online.
The gang used computer malware to intercept and steal the log-in details of email accounts belonging to businesses and private individuals worldwide, with the intent of identifying high-value financial transactions.
They then intercepted emails about these transactions and sent spoof emails, duping the victims into paying the funds into alternative UK-based “mule” bank accounts – accounts obtained and controlled by the fraudsters for this purpose - instead of the intended recipient.
A total of 165 “mule” accounts, opened with fake identification documents or bought from unscrupulous account holders, were identified by detectives.
They were used to receive the proceeds of the diversion fraud, where the money was quickly transferred onto other accounts, some of which were untraceable.
The fraudsters also used the funds from mule accounts to buy and export thousands of pounds of baby milk to Nigeria, to launder the money.
One of the fraud victims was a small construction company with a small team of employees based in the south west of England. It was defrauded out of nearly £13,000 by the group in 2017 and had to close as a result.
Bonaventure, Emmanuel and Christian Chukwuka were arrested on 26 January 2018 on suspicion of fraud. They were charged the following day.
Abassi established a sham company and opened business bank accounts, one of which received £1.9m on behalf of the wider gang. Abassi was arrested at Heathrow airport on 14 February 2018. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money on 2 November 2018.
Zaman and Rahman sourced mule accounts. Zaman was arrested at Gatwick Airport on 4 April 2018. Rahman was arrested on 11 April.
Following the arrest of the Chukwuka brothers, Andrew Chike Chuwku was identified as a significant associate. He was arrested on 11 April 2018.
Queen Chukwuka and Grace Chukwu - the wives of Bonaventure and Andrew - received funds into their own personal bank accounts.
Officers will now begin confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to try and recover the money stolen.
from news.met.police.uk
Fraud nor be work..how can three brothers be doing the same fraud.
ReplyDeleteSelfishness
Fraud dey their lineage obviously.
DeleteHow can all 3 of them choose this path? So shameful.
Awon naa ni,awon omo iran Kiran
DeleteJust shut up 10.36, like any tribe in Nigeria is a saint. The other Yoruba guys caught in the US weeks ago were also igbo kwenu abi? Alainironu.
DeleteAnon 10:36 iyalaya baba e ni omo iran kiran. Alaye baje
DeleteGosh gosh gosh....
ReplyDeleteSeems I will quit this shit
This really touch me...
Don't quit. Continue.
DeleteNo oo continue o
DeleteSee process, just that uk is always linient with sentencing, not like America. As soon as they finish their sentence, if they are British, they should collect their citizenship and deport them straight, heartless souls.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, Uk is not smiling now. They will be stripped off their citizenship and deported, awon ole alspamasise.
DeleteWhy do they continue after 1st attempt????
ReplyDeleteBecause the spirit behind the first attempt is still very much around.
DeleteIt's called greed. The more you have, the more you want cos it's "easy" money. They can never be satisfied. Plus the high standard of living has to be maintained.
DeleteThe same reason armed robbers don't stop after the first time.
DeleteNa them.
ReplyDeleteFlatinos the developers.
Please carry your rubbish away, this is not Nairaland where you people are so uncouth.
DeleteImagine four years and they couldn’t stop or put it into better things. Greed is such a bad thing. Awon pepper them gang, slay mama, my husband bought me.
ReplyDeleteGood for them
ReplyDeleteHow can three brothers go into fraud? Laziness at is peak
ReplyDeleteWell done Stella, glad you posted it. For all those suppprting yahoo yahoo and scams in the other post, come and read.
ReplyDeleteEvery day for the thief one day for the owner.
ReplyDeleteNa wa for this four brothers oo. Make them check if dem build houses in their village. Shame on them.
ReplyDeleteToo much greed
This is a disgrace! One family? What will their parents say?
ReplyDeleteTheir parents will say "My children are abroad and doing very well. See what they sent us."
DeleteMy own mother is a pastor and is still very angry and bitter that I refused to sell my body in the abroad to send her and her GO foreign currency! That afterall, what's there? Is it not what my mates are doing? I just laugh cos a) I don't know these mates, b) if she like, make she no take wetin I fit afford. Normal people don't send cars home to Africa within a year of their arrival in anywhere abroad but they don't hear. Parents like trying themselves. That's why I could be given out in marriage in the palace at home, a big party I didn't even plan happened, and not even one elder felt bad about not telling my mother.
I was thinking the other day that there was a time I heard parents will call family meeting on your head if you spend above what they know is your means. Even when you're legitimately rich, they doubt you and ask you to explain your salary in pidgin or your native dialect. Some people didn't steal, not just because they were good but cos "my father will kill me and I'll be banished from village". Today, we have parents that hide the bad their children do. And even when the child doesn't want to do bad, they manipulate and abuse themselves. They want to slay on top of their child's destiny. RME.
Anon 1145, your words are the truth! May God guide us against families that will manipulate us into doing what God will be angry with us .can you imagine, sending cars after just a year of reaching "the abroad" and selling your body as your ymates are doing? Wow!
DeleteDearest Anons, it is well with you guys. Please stay far away from your mothers or relatives who put unnecessary pressure on you. I'm barely making ends meet but if i gift my mum something as little as Recharge card, she will question me and ask me to take care of myself first. When i had a good job i was sending her monthly allowance,she knew i could afford it. If she calls by 8pm and hears another voice, she starts questioning me, where are you? Who is there? Its late, please ask that person to leave.
DeleteBut my elder sister isn't speaking to me, since over a year because i dont send her monthly allowance again or buy phones, shoes and bags to send to Rivers state. I have kept her one side. Please do same to those relatives that will mount unnecessary pressure on you, appreciate those who appreciate you. Imagine the epic disgrace on a family. One thing i hate is being called a thief or prostitute!
Thatnigerdeltagirl - My mother cannot pressure me and na that one dey vex her. She wants to form na she suffer train pikin pass. Of what use is the training if I do such things? So that means I went all the way to abroad just to perfect oyibo accent? God forbid! This is the kind of things that can scatter marriage plans; a man will go to a lady's village, just hear "This is how the mother behaves" and if not for God, a lady will be punished for the sins of her mother that she's never done! Even in the workplace, some people are suffering for the sins of their father cos as soon as you mention your surname, everybody assumes you're a thief.
DeleteNawa Noooo family business
ReplyDelete-Igbo with Fraud, kidnapping, Drugs, smuggling.
ReplyDelete-Yoruba with Rituals, kidnapping and Yahoo+
-Edo with Yahoo+ and Rituals
-Hausa with Boko Harram killings
-Rivers with Cultist
-Calabar with Cultist
-Benue with tribal killings
-Kogi with tribal killings
Add your own.
You forgot to add baby factory to the first one.
DeleteI don't pity them. Fraudsters are wicked and heartless set of people
ReplyDeleteI'm worried about thier mother and family members.
ReplyDeletei hope she don't commit suicide.
Knowing their people, the parents were probably in the know and spending the money in their village meetings. Mtcheew
DeleteMy dear, don't pity their mother. If it's one child that did this, I'll say yes pity their mother. But three children? Sons??? Sorry but their parents know and are comfortable with it. They should banish their parents from their hometown sef
DeleteI laugh in Swahili. You think 419 started today. Ade Bendel,Fred Ajudua will have grown kids like this too.
DeleteIt may be a family thing. The father may just be retired from their family business. For 3 brothers and their wives to be in it, it's a crime family.
Knowing their people? Really? You yorubas are very disgusting triabalist! But are quick to accuse others because that’s what devilish wicked hypocrites do! More than half the people involved in cyber crimes are YORUBAS yes Yorubas! But I don’t see igbo people taunt you hypocritical sycophants! Infact igbo People NEVER argue the fact that some of their kinsmen do crimes like drugs especially BUT you Yorubas/ Yorubas are full of pretense! Every ritual in Nigeria is orchestrated by your kit and Kin every advanced fee fraud, yahoo office corruption stealing by pen, all kind of deceptive vices yet y’all want to shame ibos! Fools! Stella better post my comment! Someone needs to tell these deceptive tribe what they are!
DeleteKnowing their people? Really? You yorubas are very disgusting triabalist! But are quick to accuse others because that’s what devilish wicked hypocrites do! More than half the people involved in cyber crimes are YORUBAS yes Yorubas! But I don’t see igbo people taunt you hypocritical sycophants! Infact igbo People NEVER argue the fact that some of their kinsmen do crimes like drugs especially BUT you Yorubas/ Yorubas are full of pretense! Every ritual in Nigeria is orchestrated by your kit and Kin every advanced fee fraud, yahoo office corruption stealing by pen, all kind of deceptive vices yet y’all want to shame ibos! Fools! Stella better post my comment! Someone needs to tell these deceptive tribe what they are!
DeleteAnon 14:03 please tell them. Kwam 1's son that was arrested in US few months ago, he was Igbo too abi? The truth of the matter is NIGERIA has a crime problem and the earlier we addresss it rather than descending into shallow finger pointing tribalisn, the better for everyone.
DeleteAnd you venting allover, how do you know anon 11.36 is Yoruba. So the person making the comment cant be Igala, Efik, Hausa or TIV.
DeleteThe hate you have for yorubas will soon consume you, yet no one forced you to live with them or associate with him. See how you wrote textbook untop two sentence comment.
Anon 14:03, please don’t burst a vein. Calm down. The anon that made the comment didn’t say he or she was Yoruba but look at the HBP you want to give yourself when you don’t even know where shots were fired from. You’ve got to admit though, 3 siblings in one family including their wives? It is highly likely that their parents are fully aware and spending the money. You can lash out at whomever lashes at you but to lash out at an entire tribe over a comment an anonymous person who didn’t affiliate themselves with a particular tribe said? Are Yorubas the only other tribe in Nigeria? Abeg, Yoruba people are not the cause of your problems please.
DeleteAnd EV, you don’t want peeps to descend into shallow fiver-pointing tribalism but yet you agreed with anon 14:03 whose bigotry and hate could be smelled from a mile away. You too don’t know the tribe of the first anon but decided to “shallow finger-point” at a Yoruba- kwam 1’s son. Hypocrite much?
The point obviously flew over your head. Different tribes have been involved in this, it is a NIGERIAN problem considering how all sides have been caught in it.
DeleteEV, this your half baked explanation is only an afterthought. If you were really only trying to say that then you would have stated examples of the different tribes etc. But no, you agreed with a bigoted and hateful comment directed at Yorubas as a whole without knowing if the first anon to comment was from the tribe or not. You then pointed out a Yoruba person's son as a fraudster t further buttress the bigoted anon’s comment. If you were coming from a place of live and oneness, you wouldn’t support a hateful comment. You’re now coming back to act like you were only trying to make a general point. Your point is very loud and clear. In your exact words, “anon 14:03, please tell them”. Imagine agreeing with such hatefulness and bile and then turning around to act “mr preacher”? Your hate for Yorubas didn’t let you care whether the first comment was from Yorubas or not. Please change your ways instead of trying to cover it up or make excuses, it is glaringly clear. We are one Nigeria after all. I see this kinda thing a lot because I’m a mix of both tribes and it’s disgusting. Y’all need to stop and allow peace to reign.
DeleteThere is no point preaching to the choir. My mum is Yoruba, my dad is Igbo and I maintain my initial comment and all following comments. Fyi, I was the one who provided the link to this story to Stella because I am indifferent to whichever tribe the offenders are from as long as we all condemn the evil. I am sick and tired of people thinking they have the monopoly of calling out "the other tribe" when they are equally guilty. It's absolute nonsense.
DeleteAll of you insulting their parents and accusing them of spending the proceeds of the money, what if these men were born and raised in england and have never set foot in Nigeria ?
DeleteEV, you're purposely avoiding the bone of contention here. So why did you agree with an attack on Yorubas when you have no clue what tribe the first anon 's tribe is? Can you answer that? If you're mixed-tribe then it's very obvious which tribe you mean more Howard's that's all. I'm also mixed-tribe and the first thing I noticed was that we all don't know the who's tribe so why should Yorubas get attacked? If a Yoruba person had attacked all Igbos in a similar situation, I would have said exactly the same thing but you instead encouraged the attack.
DeleteThere are several comments on this blog where Yorubas are so quick to abuse the entire Igbo tribe once there is a crime even though none of the two are saints. It is not limited to just this post. Igbokwenu 10:36 up there is just one example. I assume you didn't see that right? This is my last reply by the way as I have already made it clear I stand by my comment whether or not it's palatable to you. You also have no right to speculate which tribe I lean towards because you do not know me. Thank you.
DeleteVery, very good development 👌👏👏👏👏👏👏
ReplyDeleteWhat should we call this one now.... FAMILY SCAM BUSINESS
ReplyDeleteNa wa for this one
ReplyDeleteNa wa o
ReplyDeleteStella two of the three brothers were arrested with their wives and their kids have been taken by government....We grew up in same block of flats in festac and they were really poor,bonaventure started fraud and started making money that was over 15years who,he took all his siblings abroad,bought houses,married queen the girl that stood by him when he was poor and got husband parents a house as well.....he is stinkingly rich and I wonder why he didn’t just stop!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy father used to tell us “bona did this and that for his parents”indirect comparison so as soon as the news broke out I sent him the link and he was speechless.....This family was runied by nothing but greed!!
Wow! Send it again to your father, oh. Do as if you didn't know he received it before
Delete18:59 wisdom will not kill you 😂😂😂😂😂😂
DeleteBona Onye wayo! Repping festac hood those days... Na boys money wey you chop for westy and account na em make God don punish you nau. Your houses for festac and Island Interpol must collect all Idiot. Shey 2017 November you dey avoid my call because of my money abi, I go still cast you for social media. Your deportation sure after atleast 5-6yrs wey you go serve.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, you comot from 512Rd go Uk come forget say table dey turn abi? Go ask dem Dagogo how market now? Life no be so. I dey Toronto like this dey clear you my mind because you fuck me up big time. Boys wey you chop there money plenty so we dey wait you, very soon we go meet. My money na 32k pounds no forget.
ReplyDeleteAnon 15:44 you know d whole matter. We all started on the streets of 512 together. God do am for bona him begin do anyhow. Even when he was home in Nov 2017 he was hiding from some of us that he stole from us.
ReplyDeleteUpon all the things dey don write for this post, you still dey say na God do am for am? How naa? The blessings of God maketh rich and addeth NO SORROW. This na trailer load of sorrow oooo
DeleteAnon 16:32 Why are you calling the name of God in the matter of a known thief?
DeleteSmh @ God do am. Shows the extent we've lost our values totally in this country.
Delete