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Posts by solomon2day

  • Posts by solomon2day
    • Conflict Analyst

Interests and hobbies: Reading, Travelling and Meeting People

About the author Solomon Adewunmi attended Local Authority Primary School, 1A, Osho-Drive, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos(October 1976-June,1982), and Sinclair Grammar School(October 1982-July1985 and Ibadan Grammar School(September, 1985-June, 1987. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, where he studied Sociology. He graduated in October, 1992. He was a reporter, Senior Reporter(News) and Assistant News Editor of The Nigerian Tribune between August 1999 and June 2002. After voluntarily resigning his position as Assistant News Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, he was hired as a Correspondent by Insider weekly magazine, a Lagos based general interest magazine. He was there from June 2002 to December, 2007. He was again hired by Scroll Nigeria, also a Lagos based weekly news magazine as a Correspondent. A position he held from December, 2007 to December, 2009. Still on the move, he was engaged by the Pulse magazine in December, 2009 as a Senior Correspondent. And in January, 2010 he was promoted Assistant Editor. He is a member Economist Intelligence Unit, Global Executive Forum, The Economist, London. Solomon is also a member of the International Association of Religion Journalists(IARJ) Solomon also possesses the following : * BBC/EC CERTIFICATE IN NEWS JOURNALISM (FEB. 2001) * CERTIFICATE IN ARTS AND CULTURE CRITICISM (NANTAP MAY 2001) * CERITIFICATE IN PEACE JOURNALISM (JUSTICE,DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE COMMISSION) *CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS[UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMME, OCT.2004] *CERTIFICATE IN INTERFAITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION( UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, JAN. 2009). In addition he has the following professional awards : 1. NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), OYO STATE COUNCIL, REPORTER OF THE YEAR AWARD (PRINT) FOR YEAR 2000. 2. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, COURT./CRIME REPORTER OF THE YEAR, 2000. 3. COMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN MEDIA MERIT AWARD (NMMA) IN THE CATEGORY OF ERNEST SESEIIKOLI’S PRIZE FOR NEWSPAPER REPORTER OF THE YEAR 1999/2000 4. COMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE MANAGEMENT OF AFRICAN NEWSPAPER OF NIGERIA PLC. FOR EXCLUSIVE STORIES JUNE, 2000. 5. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, REPORTER OF THE YEAR 2001 6. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER OF THE YEAR 2001.

Favorite quote:

Be as you wish to seem

  • B 1

    Remembrance - Mrs. B. ADEWUMI (1938-2006)March 8, 2024

    Full picture 216  years gone by, you are still in our minds.

    Fondly remembered by

    Mrs. Victoria Ande

    Mrs. Susan Takure

    Mrs. Hannah Mujakperuo

    Mr. Solomon Adewunmi

  • The Electricity Issue

    Energy poverty increase

    Over 10 years after the privatization of the electricity sector in Nigeria, millions of Nigerians still remain without meters and regular electricity supply.

    Indeed, the set objectives of the privatization are yet to be achieved, while the number of defects in the regulatory policy have been brought to the fore.

    Infrastructural development in the sector remains a major issue, just as distribution and generation companies struggle to impress electricity consumers.

    The situation remains the same as a result of the unknown interest of government officials.

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  • A True Reflection of the Leadership Mindset

    Poor leadership quotes 7
    The unfolding events in Rivers state is a reflection of the warped mindset of the leadership at the  highest level of governance in Nigeria.

    Not surprisingly, mum is the word at this very important level of government. Why?

    Those in leadership positions are yet to imbibe the tenets of democracy.

    Indeed, a lot is wrong with the approach, template and structure of governance, even though deceit, lies, falsehood and depraved actions of those in government continue with impunity.

  • Untitled 2

    Zimbabwe Judiciary in Tanzania to Learn

    ZIMBABWEAN Judicial officers led by Judge President of the High Court Justice Mary Dube are currently Tanzania observe how the country operates its judiciary with a major focus on Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    “We do not know exactly how you go about this, that is one of the reasons why we are here, we want to learn so that when we go back home, we will be able to implement the system. We are also here to know how Tanzania got a way to get people from rural areas become connected easily to the system,” she said.

    “As you highlighted earlier on, Tanzania is an old friend of Zimbabwe… and there are so many other African countries in this continent, which are ready on this system, but we choose you (Tanzania) because of your existing good relationship with us,”

    “We are here to learn, we have embarked on the system, but we obviously want to make improvements …. before we embarked on the system, we used to hear matters physically, pleadings were being filed physically. We hope that we will be able to learn from your experience(s), we will share the little that we have gathered so far in the past two years,” Justice Dube disclosed.

  • Psalm 119 169 let my cry come near before thee o lord give me understa

    Understand the Bible

    Take time to know the major divisions major divisions of the Bible, the old and new Testaments and how they are related. In addition, be familiar with the general themes of the Bible and the specific theme of each book, who wrote the books, to whom they were written and their period of time.

     

    Also get to know the different types of literature i the Bible-history, prophecy and poetry.

    Palm 119 : 161-176

    161 SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

    162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

    163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

    164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

    165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

    166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

    167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

    168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

    169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

    170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

    171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

    172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

    173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

    174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

    175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

    176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

  • Min 1

    N35, 000 Wage Award-Workers are only Relieved Psychologically-Member NASU NEC

    MiniThe N35, 000 wage award recently announced by the Federal Government  has only relieved workers in Nigeria psychologically and not economically.

    This assertion was made by a member of the National Executive Council(NEC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU), who is also the branch chairman of the union at the University College Hospital(UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona.

    ''The announcement has calmed frayed  nerves, but the government is yet to pay as at now. The review of CONHESS/CONMESS effectual from June 1st has not been implemented. The government says it has no funds. However, because of the N35, 000 wage award, workers were relieved psychologically, but economically the difficulties and hardships persist. We are yet to be paid the wage award because it did not reflect in our September salaries, Comrade Abiona stated.

    In his view, a former Oyo state chairman of the NASU, Comrade Fatoki Olusola-Cole, insisted that the wage award was far below the expectations of workers, saying,'' the government says we should sacrifice, but the cost of governance is extremely high. The government has pushed Nigerians into the dungeons of poverty.''

    ''N35, 000 is grossly inadequate to cater for the needs of workers. We are suffering, workers accepted the award, hoping that it will go higher,'' Comrade Olusola-Cole stressed.

  • Despe 2

    Awake to the Reality of the the Times

    DespeDesperation to continue the status quo- a period during which  Nigerians have over the years been deceived into perpetual political, economic  and social bondage-informs the insensitivity of the leadership[ at all levels of government.

    To this  extent, confusion, disagreement and rancor now characterize the relationship between the leadership, their cronies, proteges and fronts.

    Interestingly, millions of Nigerians have eventually woken up from their  deep slumber  and are now anxious to know what befell them.

     

  • It has been 100 days of torture and hardships for Nigerians-Comrade Emelieze

    The 100 days of the present administration in Nigeria have been described as a period of torture, difficulties and hardships. 

    This is the submission of a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC) Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The first 100 days of this administration have been 100 days of torture, difficulties, hardships, sorrows and lamentations for Nigerians. The administration should come out with distinct and clear-cut policies that will take the country out of the deep pit it now finds itself.'' ''Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of the so-called distribution of palliatives in the states because of the dubious ways these palliatives were shared among those who know themselves. Almost nothing got to the majority of impoverished Nigerians,'' Comrade Emelieze declared.

  • Ezra

    Leadership in a Bad Situation

    Write and Earn. Get Started here

    Leadership also involves taking reponsibility in a bad and hopeless situation.

    Ezra 9

    1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. 3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. 4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, 6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

  • Hunger 6

    Dormant LGs may Mar Distribution of Palliatives-NASU warns

    Hunger 4

    Supoort Us

    The successful distribution of economic support to poor Nigerians may be marred by the dormant status of the Local Government system in many states in the country.

    This assertion was made by the chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU) University College Hospital(UCH) branch, Ibadan, Nigeria, Comarade Kehinde Abiona.

    ''Go to so many Local Government councils, they hardly have money to clear their bushy environment, talkless of money to renovate bad roads. The Ministry of local governments and chieftaincy affairs now think about local governments. The distribution of palliatives is supposed to be handled by the local governments, not the state governors. But what you have now is that the state governors will buy and distribute them from household to household. Let the local governments be in charge of distribution, not the other way round. Let the governors hand over the responsibilities to the local governments to distribute. A decentralized system of distribution would be effective, instead of a centralized system. It is problematic.

     1 4                                                                                 CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW FROM JUMIA

    Backed by Criminal Elements in Uniform

    The era of lawlessness, indiscipline and criminality is ongoing in Molusi, Onafuwa Solanke, Oyegbami, Oshodi, Aluko, Scout Camp, Felele and several other communities in Ibadan, Oyo state, among others in Nigeria. The insinuation is that those-in-charge lack the political will to address the ugly turmoil. Perhaps.

  • Hunger 4

    Dormant LGs may Mar Distribution of Palliatives-NASU warns

    Hunger 5Support Us

    The successful distribution of economic support to poor Nigerians may be marred by the dormant status of the Local Government system in many states in the country. This assertion was made by the chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU) University Coellge Hospital(UCH) branch, Ibadan, Nigeria, Comarade Kehinde Abiona. ''Go to so many Local Government councils, they hardly have money to clear their bushy environment, talkless of money to renovate bad roads. The Ministry of local governments and chieftaincy affairs now think about local governments. The distribution of palliatives is supposed to be handled by the local governments, not the state governors. But what you have now is that the state governors will buy and distribute them from household to household. Let the local governments be in charge of distribution, not the other way round. Let the governors hand over the responsibilities to the local governments to distribute. A decentralized system of distribution would be effective, instead of a centralized system. It is problematic,'' Comrade Abiona stated.

    1 3                                                                                  CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW FROM JUMIA

    Backed by Criminal Elements in Uniform

    The era of lawlessness, indiscipline and criminality is ongoing in Molusi, Onafuwa Solanke, Oyegbami, Oshodi, Aluko, Scout Camp, Felele and several other communities in Ibadan, Oyo state, among others in Nigeria. The insinuation is that those-in-charge lack the political will to address the ugly turmoil. Perhaps.

  • Hae

    The Number of Nigerians infected with Haemophilia is Unknown-Prof. of Haemotology

    Hae 1Support Us

    The population of Nigerians infected with Haemophilia is not known.

    This assertion was made on Monday by a Professor of Haemotlogy and Consultant Haemotologist, University of Benin(UNIBEN) and University of Benin Teaching Hospital(UBTH), Benin, Edo state, Prof. Omolade Awodu at the valedictory lecture for Prof. Wuraola Adebola Sokunbi./

    ''The population of Nigerians with haemophilia is not yet known. Haemophilia is not the disease of the white. 93 per cent of Nigerians infected are not diagnosed. That we do not know the number of Nigerians infected with the disease shows that very few men and women are interested in the disease. We have inadequate knowledge. We are still very ignorant of the disease in Nigeria. With 93 per cent of patients undiagnosed in Nigeria, the reality is that many of them will die young. There should be proper diagnosis and management,'' Prof. Awodu stated.

  • Model 1

    Prof. Sokunbi the Mirror of Women-Dean Faculty of Medical Sciences UI

    ModelProfessor of Hematology, Prof. Wuraola Sokunib is the mirror of women in clinical science. 

    Support Us

    This assertion was made on Monday by the Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences of the University of Ibadan(UI), Nigeria, Porf. Oyeronke Odunola at the valedictory lecture in honor of Prof. Sokunbi by the Department of Hematology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and the University College Hospital(UCH), in Ibadan, Nigeria. ''Prof. Sokunbi is the mirror of women in the organization of clinical sciences not only in Nigeria and Africa but the world at large. She is the voice that makes others silent,'' Prof. Odunola stated. For the Provost of the College of Medicine, UI, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, '' Prof. Sokunbi is a world-renowned haemotologist and also a role model to women and a leader among women.'' In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Fola Esan declared that the new generation universities should seek the wealth of experience of Prof. Sokunbi saying, ''all her life she has been golden, from Christ's school, Ado-Ekiti where she had distinctions and also in the University of Ibadan where I also had the opportunity to mentor her.''

    Posted 3 minutes ago by 

  • Eco

    Life has become Unbearable for Nigerians-Labor Leader

    Eco 1Life has become unbearable for millions of Nigerians as a result of government-induced hardships and difficulties.

    This assertion was made by the deputy chairperson of the Association of Senior Civil Servants(ASCSN), Comrade(Mrs) Tayo Adebanjo-Adesida.

    ''Life has become unbearable for Nigerians due to the removal of the petrol subsidy and other policies of the government. This removal without consulting stakeholders is a big mistake,'' Comrae Adebanjo-Adeisda stated.

    Similarly, a former chairman of the University College Hospital(UCH)Ibadan branch and the Oyo state council of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Comrade Olusegun Sotiloye has blamed the disturbing situation across the country on the long silence of the government.

    ''The government has been silent for too long, and this has made the situation degenerate. As things stand now, there is no hope. Patients are finding it extremely difficult to visit the hospital due to the high cost of petrol. The volume of patients has reduced drastically. It is a tough period for everybody and the increase in salaries is a drop in the ocean, '' Comrade Sotiloye noted.

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  • Govt 2

    Calls for Urgent Deliverance

    Govt 8The key elements of tyranny include, but are not limited to, insensitivity, brutality, random arrests, incarceration and unresolved cases of killings.

    Support New Federation

     Curiously, the prohibitive price of the Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) is already having multiple negative effects on the economy, even as Nigerians persist in their daily lamentations of the unbearable hardships that have been their lot in recent times.

    Indeed, governance on the platform of deformed democratic institutions attracts tyranny, which is not in tandem with the wishes and expectations of Nigerians.

    Interestingly, the people are yet to identify any conceivable reason for the policy direction of Those-in-Charge towards the worrisome and disturbing situation that called for urgent deliverance.

    The cost of living is on the rise on a daily basis and Those-in-Charge continue to appeal and cajole citizens to take their sufferings as sacrifices that must be made for the anti-people policies that are ravaging the land. 

    Self Preservation in the Midst of Evil

    These are very dangerous times in so many states in Nigeria, which have, long before now, become the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.

    Indeed, the overlords in the states have succeeded in remodelling their domains into havens of all that defies morality and decency.

    Of worry is the increase in the cases of death revolving around drink and food poisoning, in addition to sexually transmitted diseases. All the afore mentioned are weapons of destruction by those obsessed with temporal power.

    Curiously, the services of migrants from other states are engaged to carry out the unthinkable and unbelievable. The only option now open to Nigerians is to adopt measures that would ensure self preservation in the midst of evil by Those-in-Charge.

  • The Update

    PhotoRussian Defence Minister thought ‘outside the box’ on how to tell Putin of the Kerch bridge bombing

    At his Monday morning briefing, Putin’s spidy senses told him something was amiss in Putinland.

  • S

    Learn a Skill-Miss Animashaun to Nigerian Youths

    Skill 1Nigerian youths have been called upon to learn a skill as a step towards becoming assets to society.

    This call was made on Saturday by Miss Aminatu Aderayo Animasahun of Derayo Vocational Limited at an event in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

    ''Nigerian youths should not be distracted by hard drugs, lawlessness and criminality, they should learn a skill so that they will become assets to society, rather than liabilities.

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  • Wrong

    A Few Wrong Steps

     

    Nigerians are astonished that violent crimes have once again occurred in different parts of the country.

    Numbers of lives have been lost and property running into millions of Naira has been destroyed, as a result of a few wrong steps by Those-in-Charge of governance at all levels.

    Those who know are reluctant to expose the deep involvement of the acclaimed representatives of the people.

    This is unfortunate, as can be seen in Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

    AGM OFFICIAL STORE

  • Kings

    Hold on to the right beliefs

    AGM OFFICIAL STORE

     

    The right beliefs ensures the preservation of life, just as the wrong ones results in disaster. By understanding the Word of God you will avoid the wrong beliefs. 1 Kings 20 : 1,20-30

    And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. 22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. 23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 24 And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: 25 And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. 26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day. 30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

     

  • U.K. Citizen Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Cybercrime Offenses

     

    Cases Brought by the Southern District of New York, the Northern District of California, and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division

    Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSEPH JAMES O’CONNOR, a/k/a “PlugwalkJoe,” a U.K. citizen, was sentenced today to five years in prison for his role in a wide array of cybercrime offenses.  O’CONNOR was extradited from Spain on April 26, 2023, and pled guilty on May 9, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff to two sets of charges: (i) conspiracy to commit computer hacking and other charges pending in the Southern District of New York relating to a fraudulent scheme perpetrated by O’CONNOR and his co-conspirators to use a cyber intrusion technique known as a SIM swap attack to steal cryptocurrency, then valued at approximately $794,000, from a Manhattan-based cryptocurrency company and then to launder the proceeds of the scheme (the “SDNY Case”), and (ii) a set of charges filed in the Northern District of California, and transferred to the SDNY under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 20, relating to O’Connor’s role in the July 2020 hack of Twitter, computer intrusions related to takeovers of TikTok and Snapchat user accounts, and cyberstalking two separate victims (the “NDCA Case”).  Judge Rakoff imposed today’s sentence.

    According to the publicly filed charging documents against O’CONNOR, court filings, and statements made in court:

    The SDNY Case

    During a cyber intrusion known as a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) swap attack, cyber threat actors gain control of a victim’s mobile phone number by linking that number to a SIM card controlled by the threat actors, resulting in the victim’s calls and messages being routed to a malicious unauthorized device controlled by the threat actors.  The threat actors then typically use control of the victim’s mobile phone number to obtain unauthorized access to accounts held by the victim that are registered to the mobile phone number.

    Between approximately March 2019 and May 2019, O’CONNOR and his co-conspirators perpetrated a scheme to use SIM swaps to conduct cyber intrusions in order to steal a large amount of cryptocurrency from a Manhattan-based cryptocurrency company (“Company-1”), which, at all relevant times, provided wallet infrastructure and related software to cryptocurrency exchanges around the world.

    As part of the scheme, O’CONNOR and his co-conspirators successfully perpetrated SIM swap attacks targeting at least three Company-1 executives.  Following a successful SIM swap attack targeting one of the executives on or about April 30, 2019, O’CONNOR and his co-conspirators successfully gained unauthorized access to multiple Company-1 accounts and computer systems.  On or about May 1, 2019, through their unauthorized access, O’CONNOR and his co-conspirators stole and fraudulently diverted cryptocurrency of various types (the “Stolen Cryptocurrency”) from cryptocurrency wallets maintained by Company-1 on behalf of two of its clients.  The Stolen Cryptocurrency was worth at least approximately $794,000 at the time of the theft and is currently worth more than $1.6 million.

    After stealing and fraudulently diverting the Stolen Cryptocurrency, O’CONNOR and his co-conspirators laundered it through dozens of transfers and transactions and exchanged some of it for Bitcoin using cryptocurrency exchange services.  Ultimately, a portion of the Stolen Cryptocurrency was deposited into a cryptocurrency exchange account controlled by O’CONNOR.

     

    JUMIA ANNIVERSARY - AFTER PARTY DEALS

    The NDCA Case

    Between 2019 and 2020, O’CONNOR participated in a variety of crimes associated with exploitation of social media accounts, online extortion, and cyberstalking.

    In July 2020, O’CONNOR participated in a conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to social media accounts maintained by Twitter, Inc. (“Twitter”).  In early July 2020, O’CONNOR’s co-conspirators used social engineering techniques to obtain unauthorized access to administrative tools used by Twitter to maintain its operations.  Those co-conspirators were able to use the tools to transfer control of certain Twitter accounts from their rightful owners to various unauthorized users.  In some instances, the co-conspirators took control themselves and used that control to launch a scheme to defraud other Twitter users.  In other instances, the co-conspirators sold access to Twitter accounts to others.  O’CONNOR communicated with others regarding purchasing unauthorized access to a variety of Twitter accounts, including accounts associated with public figures around the world.  A number of Twitter accounts targeted by O’CONNOR were subsequently transferred away from their rightful owners.  O’CONNOR agreed to purchase unauthorized access to one Twitter account for $10,000.
    O’CONNOR also accessed without authorization one of the most highly visible TikTok accounts in August 2020, which was associated with a public figure with millions of followers (“Victim-1”).  O’CONNOR and his associates obtained unauthorized access to Victim-1’s account via a SIM swap after discussing a variety of celebrities to target, and O’CONNOR used his unauthorized access to Victim-1’s platform to post self-promotional messages, including a video in which O’CONNOR’s voice is recognizable.  O’CONNOR also stated publicly, via a post to Victim-1’s TikTok account, that he would release sensitive, personal material related to Victim-1 to individuals who joined a specified Discord server.

    O’CONNOR targeted another public figure (“Victim-2”) in June 2019.  O’CONNOR and his associates obtained unauthorized access to Victim-2’s account on Snapchat via a SIM swap.  They used that access to obtain sensitive materials, to include private images, that Victim-2 had not made publicly available.  O’CONNOR sent copies of these sensitive materials to his associates.  O’CONNOR and his associates also reached out to Victim-2 and threatened to publicly release the stolen sensitive materials unless Victim-2 agreed to publicly post messages related to O’CONNOR’s online persona, among other things.

    Lastly, O’CONNOR stalked and threatened a minor victim (“Victim-3”) in June and July 2020.  In June 2020, O’CONNOR orchestrated a series of swatting attacks on Victim-3.  A “swatting” attack occurs when an individual makes a false emergency call to a public authority in order to cause a law enforcement response that may put the victim or others in danger.  On June 25, 2020, O’CONNOR called a local police department and falsely claimed that Victim-3 was making threats to shoot people.  O’CONNOR provided an address that he believed was Victim-3’s address, which would have the result of causing a law enforcement response.  That same day, O’CONNOR placed another call to the same police department and stated that he was planning to kill multiple people at the same address.  In response to that call, the police department dispatched every on-duty officer to that address in reference to an armed and dangerous individual.  O’CONNOR sent other swatting messages that same day to a high school, a restaurant, and a sheriff’s department in the same area.  In those messages, O’CONNOR represented himself as either Victim-3 or as a resident at the address he believed was Victim-3’s.  The following month, O’CONNOR called multiple family members of Victim-3 and threatened to kill them.

    The NDCA Case was transferred to the Southern District of New York pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 20 and consolidated with the SDNY Case before Judge Rakoff.

    *                *                *

    O’CONNOR, 24, of the United Kingdom, pled guilty before Judge Rakoff to the following charges: (i) as part of the SDNY Case — conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering; and (ii) as part of the NDCA Case — conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, two counts of committing computer intrusions, making extortive communications, two counts of stalking, and making threatening communications.  In addition to the prison term, O’CONNOR was sentenced to THREE years of supervised release.  O’CONNOR was further ordered to pay $794,012.64 in forfeiture.

    Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for its assistance in the extradition.

    The SDNY Case is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga I. Zverovich is in charge of the prosecution of the SDNY Case.  The NDCA Case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (“CCIPS”) of the Department of Justice.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew F. Dawson and CCIPS Assistant Deputy Chief Adrienne L. Rose are in charge of the prosecution of the NDCA Case.
    <b>Source-FBI</b>