- Siblings, 10 other internet fraud suspected held in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arraigned the deputy Accountant General of Katsina State, Sa’adu Maiwada, before Justice M.S Abubakar of the Federal High Court Katsina on two counts of conspiracy and money laundering.
Also arraigned alongside Maiwada were one Sani Lawal BK, and a firm, Integrated Gas Services Limited, where the first defendant (Maiwada) doubles as managing director. The defendants, in their capacity as then Sub-Treasurer and Deputy Sub-Treasurer in the office of Accountant General of Katsina State, allegedly colluded and diverted the sum of N261,869,824.10 from the state’s coffers.
The stolen fund was allegedly laundered through Integrated Gas Services Limited’s Fidelity Bank Account with number 4010693761, between 2016 and 2019.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants executed the transaction when they ought to have known that the money formed part of the proceed of unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust, an offence that contravened Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) & (4) of the same Act.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court entered a ‘not guilty’ plea for the third defendant, Integrated Gas Services Limited.
In view of their pleas, counsel for the prosecution Aisha Tahar Habib, asked the court for a trial date.
Counsel representing the defendants, J.P. Israel moved a bail application on their behalf and the court admitted them to bail in N50 million each with two sureties who must be residents of Katsina. Additionally, the defendants shall deposit their international passports with the registry of the court. The matter was adjourned till October 19, for trial.
Meanwhile, the Abuja zonal command of the EFCC yesterday arrested 12 suspected internet fraudsters including two brothers, Maxwell and Kingsley Nwanno, at different estates in Gwarimpa, Katampe and Karu, axes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
They were arrested following credible intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.
Other suspects were identified as Owoh Chinedu, Ricaldo Francis, Thomas Pante, Chika Okoh, Okusun Destiny, Richard Anthony, Jonathan Victor, Ekulonor Emmanuel, Thompson Amieghemen and Kingsley Henry.
Items recovered from the suspects included over 20 mobile phones of different makes, nine laptops, three luxury Mercedes Benz cars, a Toyota Avalon and Lexus 330, said EFCC, adding that they would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.