Nigerian convicted in bank fraud case
Lagos, Nigeria A court convicted a Nigerian woman of helping defraud a Brazilian bank of $242 million in the West African country’s biggest international fraud case.
Amaka Anajemba was convicted Friday, sentenced to 2½ years in prison and ordered to give up $25.5 million in cash and assets – including houses in Nigeria, the United States, Britain and Switzerland – to help repay the bank.
According to court papers, Anajemba helped her late husband in a fraud ring that tricked a top employee of the Brazilian bank into siphoning millions to overseas accounts on the promise of $13.4 million kickback from a bogus Nigerian airport contract.
In all, Banco Noroeste of Sao Paolo, Brazil, was reportedly fleeced of some $242 million over seven years until 2001.
Nigeria has earned global notoriety as a base for criminals arranging “advance fee” or “419” scams, named after the section of Nigeria’s criminal code that prohibits the schemes.
The Brazilian bank case is the biggest ever publicly disclosed in Nigeria.
Council wants party barred from office
Port-au-Prince, Haiti A U.S.-backed advisory council that oversees Haiti’s interim government recommended Saturday that ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s political party be barred from upcoming elections, accusing the party of encouraging violence.
The seven-member Council of Sages, which picked the interim government, accused Aristide’s Lavalas Family Party of promoting violence, including the slaying of a well-known Haitian journalist whose body was found with signs of torture Monday.
“Political groups who identify themselves with the Lavalas Family Party, and particularly with Mr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, continue to promote and tolerate violence,” the council said.
Lavalas leader the Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste, whose sermons electrify worshippers who have urged him to run for president, said he would consider doing so if his party asked.
“I will consider it, but it is not my intention to run for president,” the priest said.
Duchess of Cornwall to receive coat of arms
London Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will get a coat of arms on Sunday to coincide with her 58th birthday.
The blue, red, gold and green crest features a boar taken from the crest of her father, Maj. Bruce Shand and a lion copied from her husband Prince Charles’ arms, Charles’ office said.
Queen Elizabeth II took a “keen interest” in its creation, Clarence House added.
The duchess’ coat of arms also has a crown – the Coronet of the Heir Apparent – copied from Charles’ design. It was restricted to the heir’s crest until King Charles II issued a warrant in 1661 so the heir’s spouse could use the symbol too.
The duchess and Prince Charles were married in Windsor on April 9.
Prince William received his coat of arms, featuring a lion and unicorn, for his 18th birthday in 2000. Prince Harry helped design his own coat of arms for his 18th birthday in 2002, which includes an emblem from the crest of his mother, Princess Diana.