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Nigerian Man Who Was Granted UK Asylum After Being Persecuted In Nigeria For Being A G@y Arrested for Fraud Racket
Nigerian Man Who Was Granted UK Asylum After Being Persecuted In Nigeria For Being A G@y Arrested for Fraud Racket
A Nigerian man who said he was persecuted in Nigeria for being gay and went on to father three children with three women in the UK has been arrested for masterminding a £220,000 Facebook and eBay parcel fraud racket.
Asylum seeker Saheed Azeez, 33, was allowed to reside in the UK after claiming to be persecuted by Boko Haram extremists. Still, after arriving, he had three children with three different women, and also claims to be bisexual.
Azeez began working with Nigerian scammers to develop a network of strangers for a sophisticated and well-resourced sales scam to steal products sold on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and WhatsApp after settling in Wigan, Greater Manchester, according to Mail Online.
According to the news, victims selling high-value products were convinced to deliver their items to several addresses with the promise of payment upon arrival, Azeez would pick up the goods and sell them in his brother’s electronics business.
Over 14 months, up to 272 victims shipped products worth a total of £220,000 to the houses of strangers persuaded to participate in the fraud by Azeez, who gave his ‘partners’ a cut from each transaction in exchange for taking receipt of the ill-gotten goods.
Azeez was later apprehended by police while dropping off one of his young sons at a primary school. As he was going to be arrested, he allegedly put three iPhones used in the scam inside the boy’s school bag, which a teaching aide discovered.
The phones had movies recorded by Azeez, including one sent to an underworld acquaintance entitled ‘Baddest Boy’ that displayed photographs of used smartphones seized from dealers.
Azeez accepted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiring to possess illicit property at Bolton Crown Court.
He is scheduled to be sentenced next week and faces up to six years in prison.
Nine homeowners who allowed their addresses to be used as ‘drops’ in the scam will also be punished next year.
Between September 2020 and November 2021, former Yodel delivery driver Azeez began offering ‘delivery services’ through his firm for internet fraudsters who used Nigerian phones to deceive Facebook and eBay consumers in the United Kingdom.
Police noticed a pattern of goods being shipped to locations associated with Azeez and swooped on him in November 2021 as he dropped his son off at school, later seizing the phones he tried to conceal.
‘The phones were accessed and examined, and clearly proved his role in three online frauds,’ prosecutor Andy Evans said.
‘He had supplied his services to cyber fraudsters who contacted him via Nigerian registered phone lines.
‘Azeez was not necessarily the fraud’s architect, but he did serve as a subcontractor.’
The court heard that the network of fraudsters would be informed ahead of time that a delivery under a false identity would be made. The court heard that each was ‘desperate for money’ and was urged to recruit others for the scheme.
‘The actual monetary value of the package scams and physical objects which passed through Azeez’s hands will never be known, but the number of victims impacted by him number in the hundreds,’ Mr Evans continued.
‘This was a targeted and well-resourced dishonesty and he played a leadership part in the group conspiracy. He was the only link between the online crooks and the victims. It was a complex fraud that took much planning to set up the network.’
According to the court, Azeez sold the items through his brother’s electrical shop, Eze TV, in Wigan, Greater Manchester, before passing on the earnings to his fellow fraudsters after deducting his part.
As part of the scheme, he was allegedly tied to creating 37 untraceable bank accounts under six different identities that accepted cryptocurrency. He funnelled £40,000 of tainted money into his account.
Over 30 victims submitted remarks expressing their outrage and anguish at being deceived. Other frantic vendors who sent out shipments were allegedly ‘pressured’ into providing money to the fraudsters after being falsely guaranteed that their items would be returned.
In mitigation, defence counsel Chloe Fordham stated that Azeez received only a small percentage’ of the earnings and that he fears deportation to Nigeria more than anything due to his conviction.
‘Mr Azeez was born into a Muslim family in Nigeria, but the sad fact was that he and his family were persecuted in Nigeria,’ said Ms Fordham.
‘As a youth, he was exploited, and as an adult, he fell into a gay relationship, but he now considers himself bisexual.
‘As a result of this, he was targeted by Boko Haram and informed he would be killed. He was severely assaulted and tortured on one occasion, and there is documentation and images to prove it.
‘There is no doubt that his account was credible. His gay boyfriend arranged for him to flee to Nigeria, but he was also killed.
‘When the defendant arrived here, he was destitute, and he relocated to Bolton with a guy who also exploited him, and he was later diagnosed with depression and PTSD.
‘He now has three children in the United Kingdom from three different mothers, and he is married to the mother of the third child. He is responsible for all of the children as a parent. He considers himself to be bisexual now.
‘His involvement in these crimes began when he thought he was performing legitimate job delivering and collecting parcels, but pressure was put on him to collect parcels that he knew included items gained through fraud,’ Miss Fordham added.
‘Against the backdrop of someone who had previously been exploited, tortured, and mistreated, he was not someone who could withstand such circumstances.
‘He was following orders from others and has subsequently received threats from the scammers via his partner and ex-partner about not disclosing them.’
President Tinubu honoured 50 Nigerians on Democracy Day 2026, including Dasuki, Joe Igbokwe and Dele Alake. See the full list and what it means.
On 12 June 2026, President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians described as key figures in the country’s pro-democracy struggle.
The announcement was made during the 2026 Democracy Day address, which commemorates the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election. Honourees include journalists, civil rights activists, and military officers.
President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on 50 prominent Nigerians on Friday, 12 June 2026. The honourees were recognised as central participants in the nation’s pro-democracy movement, a campaign that opposed military dictatorship throughout the 1990s.
The announcement formed part of the president’s nationwide 2026 Democracy Day address. Democracy Day marks the anniversary of the 12 June 1993 presidential election, a poll widely regarded as the freest in Nigerian history before its annulment by the military government of the period.
READ ALSO: Why I Refused To Align Any Political Party In Nigeria—Yakubu Gowon
This article outlines the context of the awards, identifies the categories of honourees, names notable recipients such as Sambo Dasuki, Joe Igbokwe, and Oladele Alake, and explains the next steps in the conferment process.
Why did Tinubu confer the national honours on 12 June 2026?
The conferment is tied directly to Democracy Day, an annual observance commemorating the 12 June 1993 presidential election. President Tinubu used the occasion to recognise individuals identified as central figures in Nigeria’s transition from military rule to civilian democracy.
In his address, the president stated that the honourees suffered persecution in the course of the pro-democracy struggle. He noted that many endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement so that Nigeria could enjoy democratic governance today.
The recognition therefore functions as both a historical acknowledgement and a formal state honour, linking the sacrifices of the 1990s to the present democratic order.
Who are the notable recipients of the national honours?
The honours list comprises several categories of recipients, including journalists, civil rights leaders, legal practitioners, and senior military officers. Among the most widely recognised names are the following:
- Oladele Alake, a long-standing public figure in Nigerian governance and media.
- Joe Igbokwe, a prominent political activist and commentator.
- Colonel Sambo Dasuki, a senior military officer included in the soldier-democrats category.
- Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, a recognised civil rights campaigner.
- Dr Arthur Nwankwo (posthumous), honoured for his role in the democratic struggle.
- Ben Charles-Obi (posthumous), recognised among the journalists and activists.
The inclusion of posthumous awards reflects the state’s intention to acknowledge contributors who did not survive to witness the present democratic dispensation.
What categories of honourees were recognised?
The honours list is organised into two broad groupings. The first comprises journalists, lawyers, academics, and civil rights leaders. The second comprises military officers designated as “soldier-democrats”.
Journalists, lawyers, and civil rights leaders
This grouping recognises individuals who advanced the pro-democracy cause through media, advocacy, and legal channels. Named recipients include:
- Barrister Ayoka Lawani
- Tunde Fagbenle
- Oladele Alake
- Olatunji Bello
- Louis Odion
- Segun Babatope
- Sam Omatseye
- Sir Ademola Osinubi
- Bola Bolawole
- Lade Bonuola
- Femi Kusa
- Debo Adeniran
- Chief Ayo Opadokun
- Chief Ralph Obiora
- Ose Osayande
- Barrister Osa Director
- Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine
- Dr Arthur Nwankwo (posthumous)
- Dr Osagie Obayuwana
- Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin
- Barrister Titus Mann
- Joe Igbokwe
- Richard Akinnola
- Ben Charles-Obi (posthumous)
- George Mbah
- Dr Niran Malaolu
- Major-General Ishola Williams (retired)
- Femi Aborisade
- Jenkins Alumona
- Gbemiga Ogunleye
- Muyiwa Adekeye
- Babajide Kolade-Otitoju
- Ike Okonta
Soldier-democrats
This grouping recognises military officers associated with resistance to military dictatorship. Named recipients include:
- Major-General M. A. Garba
- Brigadier-General Lawal Jaafaru Isa
- Colonel Umar Farouk Ahmed
- Colonel Sambo Dasuki
- Colonel Lawan Gwadabe
- Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong
- Colonel Musa Shehu
- Major-General Chris Eze
- Major-General Harris Dzarma
- Colonel Isa Jibrin
- Major-General Joseph Oshanupin
- Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom
- Lieutenant-Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus
- Colonel J. Okai
- Colonel Emmanuel Ndubueze
- Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Muazu
- Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the current Etsu Nupe and existing holder of the CFR title
When will the awards be formally presented?
The president stated that the formal presentation and conferment of the awards will be carried out in the coming days. According to the address, the full honours list will be released within the next few days.
The announcement therefore represents the declaration stage of the process rather than the formal investiture, which is scheduled to follow.
What does this conferment signify for Nigeria?
The 2026 Democracy Day honours connect the historical pro-democracy struggle to contemporary national recognition. By including journalists, activists, lawyers, and military officers, the awards acknowledge a broad spectrum of contributors to Nigeria’s civilian transition.
The presence of posthumous awards further underlines the state’s intention to honour participants across generations, including those who did not live to see the present democratic order.
Frequently asked questions
How many Nigerians received national honours on Democracy Day 2026?
President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians during the 2026 Democracy Day address on 12 June 2026.
Why is 12 June significant in Nigeria?
12 June marks the anniversary of the 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by the military government of the time. The date is now observed as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Who are the most notable recipients of the 2026 national honours?
Notable recipients include Oladele Alake, Joe Igbokwe, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, and Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, alongside posthumous honourees such as Dr Arthur Nwankwo and Ben Charles-Obi.
Were any awards conferred posthumously?
Yes. Posthumous honours were conferred on Dr Arthur Nwankwo and Ben Charles-Obi in recognition of their contributions to the pro-democracy struggle.
When will the national honours be formally presented?
President Tinubu stated that the formal presentation and conferment will take place in the coming days, with the full honours list to be released shortly after the announcement.
A short-statured Ghanaian woman has sparked online debate after making contentious remarks regarding her romantic relationship preferences.
During a recent interview with De God Son TV, the diminutive lady expressed her aversion to dating guys of shorter height despite her diminutive Ghanaian woman. She remarked that short men do not match her “specifications” for relationships.
When questioned about her explanation, she stated that she sees shorter men as resembling infants, even though they are adults.
“I have a 7-year-old son, so dating a short man feels like dating my son,” she explained, finding parallels between her personal and romantic lives.
Watch the video below.
Once again, Nigerian singer Davido has made headlines for proving his status as a rich man with two luxury cars entering Nigeria: a Rolls-Royce and a Tesla Cybertruck.
The musician posted a picture of the trip on social media, his pure white Rolls Royce parked on the runway, ready for shipment.
Another photo depicted the Tesla Cybertruck being loaded into an aircraft to verify the truck’s arrival in Nigeria.
Cubana Chief Priest, another close associate and entrepreneur, also saluted the new cars with an Instagram image. He congratulated Davido on his feats, dubbed him the “GOAT,” and hinted at a festive December with new vehicles added to the singer’s collection.
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