The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alleged fraud

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC opens case against bank, staff

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday opened its case against Ecobank Plc and one of its employees Anieka Udoh at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    It accused the bank and Udoh of “negligently” failing to exercise due diligence in relation to conduct of financial transactions with Major-General Umaru Mohammed.

    The prosecution called its first witness, Jones Oboh, in the alleged $50,000 and N9.2 million fraud case.

    The commission said the defendants fraudulently converted the Army chief’s Ecobank MasterCard account numbered 0015052989 from debit card to credit card.

    It said they debited the account of over USD 50,000 “without the knowledge and authority of Major-General Umaru Mohammed.”

    Oboh, a former Loan Recovery and Collection Officer with the bank, said the bank operated the account for five years without the customer’s knowledge.

    Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Bilikisu Buhari, the witness said it reflected on his system that Mohammed owed the bank N9.2million.

    “After checking the records of those owing the bank, I discovered that Mohammed was one of those granted loans by Ecobank Plc.

    “Sometime in March 2018, I called Mohammed on the phone to find out when he was going to pay back his loan.

    “But to my surprise, he said he did not owe the bank and that there was no time he applied for any form of loan from the bank. Thereafter, a meeting was set up between the bank and Mohammed through me.

    “It was in the meeting that Mohammed was told that his account was in the debit of N9.2million, showing that he utilised his Master Credit Card over a period of time.

    “Mohammed informed the bank that there was no time he applied for a Master Credit Card from Ecobank and that the only transaction he had with the bank was that he applied to open a domiciliary account in which a debit card was issued to him so as to use it whenever he travels out of the country,” Oboh said.

    The witness said he found out that in April 2013, t $38,725 was recorded against the complainant.

    “In July 2014, a reversal of $32,887 was made on the account of Mohammed, leaving a debit of $6,125 in 2014.

    “Afterwards, the bank opened a naira account in Mohammed’s name without his knowledge and dollars were converted to N261 to a dollar from his domiciliary account, leaving a debit balance of N3.1million on the Naira account.”

    The witness said the bank never wrote or invited the complainant to bring to his notice all the “eventualities” on his accounts for five years until he took a step to do that.

    “The bank left the account to grow in debit from N3.1million to N9.2million without informing the account owner.

    “The second defendant, Anieka Udoh, was the account officer of the complainant,” the witness said.  Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned until April 18 for continuation of trial.

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC says defendant wants plea bargain deal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday told the FCT High Court, Apo that Valentine Ezeife, a suspected Internet scammer, known as “yahoo-yahoo boy”, has approached the commission for plea bargain deal.

    NAN reports that on February 20, the EFCC arraigned Ezeife, who was arrested with N20 million, a Lexus 570 and Toyota Camry car 2013, before the court.

    The EFCC charged Ezeife with two counts of Internet fraud and unlawful possession of N20 million.

    Prosecution counsel Olu Adeola told the court that the terms of the bargain were agreed on by both parties, but the head of their legal team was not in town to sign the agreement.

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    Adeola requested an adjournment to report the terms of the bargain.

    Justice Valentine Ashi adjourned the case till March 8, for report of plea bargain terms.

    EFCC said the defendant was arrested on January 16 at Life Camp residential area in Abuja, following intelligence reports of shady activities traced to him.

    The offence, Ugwuebulam said, contravened section 319 of the Penal Code Act.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

  • Suspect arraigned for alleged fraud

    An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun State has arraigned a 35-year-old man, Tunde Adebayo, for alleged N350,000 fraud.

    Prosecutor Sunday Osanyintuyi said the accused committed the offence between July 2017 and June 2018 on Ajanaku Estate, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife.

    He alleged that the accused collected N350,000 from the complainant, Falope Mary, on the pretext of buying a plot of land for her at Gbarin Quarters, off Ifewara Road, Ile-Ife.

    Osanyintuyi alleged that the accused failed to purchase the land and fraudulently converted the sum to his own use.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of pretence and fraud.

    Counsel to the accused, Mr. Sunday Olagbaju, pleaded for the bail of his client in most liberal term, saying he would not jump bail, but would produce reliable sureties.

    Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode granted the accused N100,000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    He said the surety must swear to affidavit of means, live within the court’s jurisdiction, while the address should be verified by the court.

    The case was adjourned till February 2 for mention.

  • Police arraign businessman for alleged fraud

    The police yesterday arraigned a businessman, Abraham Moses, for allegedly converting N200,000 meant for his neighbour’s rent to personal use.

    Moses, who lives on Ajegunle Road, Mpape Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating before a Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja.

    Prosecutor Emmanuel Ochai said Onyedika Paul of the same address, on November 22, reported the matter at the Metro Area Command, Abuja.

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    He said the complainant alleged that the defendant claimed to be an agent in charge of a self-contained apartment and that he gave him N200, 000 meant for the rent of the apartment.

    Onyedika said the defendant refused to allow the complainant take possession of the apartment and dishonestly converted the money to personal use.

    Moses pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Njideka Nwosu-Iheme admitted the defendant to N500, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    The case continues on January 16.

  • Banker in court for alleged fraud

    A 28-year-old micro finance bank teller, Gbenga Okubajo, who allegedly defrauded five customers of N600, 000, yesterday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Okubajo, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecutor Ben Ekundayo said the accused committed the offences on May 15 at Broad Street, Lagos Island.

    He alleged that the accused, a teller at Finex Micro Finance Bank Ltd., stole N600,000 belonging to the bank when he siphoned the deposits of the customers to his account.

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    “He collected the N600,000 from the customers on the pretext of depositing the money into their accounts .

    “The theft became known when the customers came for their money and found out that they were neither deposited into their accounts nor recorded, ” Ekundayo said.

    Magistrate A.M. Olumide-Fusika granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said one of the sureties should be a relative of the accused and the other, a community leader.

    The case continues on January 21.

  • Alleged fraud: Court grants Green Party governorship candidate bail

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has granted Kano State gubernatorial candidate of the Green Party of Nigeria (GNP), Abdulsalam A. Zaura, N100 million bail and one surety who must have a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Zaura before the court for alleged N100 million fraud.

    The defendant is standing trial on a nine-count charge contrary to sections 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

    Zaura is standing trial alongside two other accused persons Ebere Chukwu.

    EFCC alleged that the two defendants and Michael Edosa, now at large, in August 2014 conspired and obtained $1.3million from Dr Jamman Al-Azmi.

    1. Ojogbane, counsel to the commission, alleged that Zaura and other defendants represented themselves to the complainant that they have the capacity to partner him for a joint venture business, which representation they knew was false.

    The prosecutor alleged that Zaura sometime in August 2014 in Kano within the judicial division of the High Court, with intent to defraud, obtained $200,000 from the complainant, Al-Azmi, when he represented that he had the capacity to partner him for a joint venture business.

    He added that in August 2014 and September. 2014, Zaura within Kano Judicial High Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $678,000, $242,000 and $200,000 from Al-Azmi, totaling N100 million.

    Zaura and Nzechukwu pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Lewis Allagoa adjourned the case till December 29 and 30 for hearing.

  • Alleged fraud: Suspended NHIS boss sues minister, AGF

    THE embattled Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has sued two ministers and NHIS to a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    He is challenging his suspension from office.

    In the suit number, Yusuf instituted legal action against the Minister of Health, and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the NHIS.

    The six-page summons was filed by Chief Uchechukwu Obi (SAN) of Alliance Law Firm, Abuja, on behalf of the plaintiff.

    According to the document, the respondents are expected to cause appearance within 21 days after the service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of service.

    The summons read in part thus: “The plaintiff prayed whether the Governing Council of the NHIS has the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act, particularly Sections 6 and 7 of the Act, to suspend or remove from office the plaintiff, who was appointed by the President.

    “Whether the Governing Council of NHIS has the powers under the provision of NHIS Act to discipline the plaintiff or to investigate allegations made against him as purported by their internal memorandum dated October 19, 2018.

    “Whether the Minister of Health under the NHIS Act Section 47 of the Act is equipped with the statutory powers to authorise the suspension from office of the ES of NHIS without the approval of the President.

    “Whether the decision of the Governing Council to suspend the ES of the NHIS taken by four out of 11 members of the council can be said to be a decision of the council in accordance with the NHIS Act.

    “Whether the Governing Council can appoint the General Manager, Legal Department, or any other employee of the scheme to oversee the affairs of the scheme in acting capacity without the approval of the President,’’ among others.

    Yusuf, therefore, prayed the court to determine all the aforementioned questions in his favour and consequently sought for the following reliefs:

    “A declaration that the Governing Council of NHIS lacks powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend or remove the plaintiff who was appointed by the President for a five year term.

    “A declaration that the members of the council lacks the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act to discipline, or set up the machinery to discipline the plaintiff or investigate allegations made against him as purported by the internal memorandum dated October 19.”

    “A declaration that the internal memorandum dated October 19, which was purportedly issued by the council and signed on their behalf by its Chairman in which it purported to have suspended the plaintiff as the ES of NHIS is ultra Vires, null and void and of no effect.

    “An order of court setting aside and cancelling the purported suspension of the plaintiff from office as the ES of NHIS.

    The case is yet to be assigned for date for mention to be fixed.

     

    “An order of court reinstating the plaintiff as the ES of the NHIS.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their members, servants, employees, agents, officers or any person from disturbing, obstructing the plaintiff from carrying on his official duties as the ES of the NHIS,’’ among others.

    A copy of the summons was stamped and received by the NHIS head office in Abuja on October 30.

    Yusuf was first suspended by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on July 6, 2017, over alleged maladministration, but was recalled by the Presidency on February 6, 2018.

    Again, the Governing Council of NHIS led by Mrs. Ifenne Enyanatu, later slammed an indefinite suspension on Yusuf on Oct. 18 over similar allegations of fraud.

     

  • Alleged fraud: ‘Mainstreet Bank registrar, ex-MD  misinform police’

    An investigation report released by the Nigerian Police on the ownership crisis in Mainstreet Bank Registrar Limited has revealed  that former Managing Director of the company, Chester Ukandu, allegedly gave false information to the police on an alleged N1billion fraud.

    The Nigeria Police Force Crime Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Lagos had last year arraigned Chairman of  the company, Sulaiman Adedokun, Managing Director, Oluwadare Akingbola and  Elijah Adegoke before a Federal High Court, Lagos, following a petition by Ukandu alleging over N1billion fraud in the company.

    Ukandu had alleged in the petition backed by a document, which the police report says is false, that Adedokun, Akingbola and Adegoke stole shareholders shares and unclaimed dividend worth over N1billion.

    However, following a complaint to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) by lawyers to the trio of Adedokun, Akingbola and Adegoke over alleged use of some police officers in FCIID, Alagbon, Lagos, to persecute and intimidate their clients, the IGP ordered another investigation into the matter.

    After an investigation, the police on July 6, issued a report stating that Ukandu had simply attempted to drag the police into a civil dispute with false documents.

    The police report with reference number CR: 3000/IGP. SEC/MU/ T.G/ ABJ/Vol. 53/40 was signed by Superintendent Usman Garba, Officer in Charge, Team G of IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    “The attempt of the suspect (Ukandu) to criminalise this civil matter with false document and dragging police into the plots to gain advantage towards a forceful takeover of the company is to say the least regrettable”, the report said.

    The report exonerated Adedokun, Akingbola and Adegoke of any fraud allegation, stating that there is no case of fraud or stealing associated with Mainstreet Bank Registrar  as attested to by a 2014-2017 audit report on the company by Pedabo Audit Services.

    The report further stated that following an advice of the Attorney General of the Federation , DPPA/REQ/123/18 of  March 20, 2018 signed by Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed U.E., which also indicted Ukandu for forgery, giving false information, impersonation and conspiracy, police authorities has ceded the prosecution of the suspect to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    The EFCC has since charged Ukandu and Achi George before Justice Olusola Williams of a Special Offences  Court on alleged three count charge bordering on  conspiracy, forgery, giving false information and impersonation.

    Another two-count charge on false claim against Ukandu and   George,  is also pending before before Justice Rilwan Mohammed Aikawa, of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, for allegedly claiming to be directors of Mainstreet Bank Registrars Limited.

    Ukandu and George have, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them in all the courts.

    According to the report by the Police, the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC has also confirmed that the new ownership of Mainstreet Bank Registrars Limited is Wizpick Exotic Investment Limited, which is owned by Adedokun, Akingbola and Adegoke,  having allegedly acquired 91.67 per cent shares of the company.

  • Alleged fraud: Court orders EFCC to produce auto firm’s boss Innoson for arraignment

    JUSTICE Olusola Williams of a Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja yesterday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce Innosson Motors Limited Chairman Innocent Chukwuma in court for arraignment.

    Justice Williams made the order following Chukwuma’s absence in court to face forgery charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

    The judge said: “I believe it is the job of the prosecution to bring the defendant to court. The judge is just to make an order that he should appear in court, but we cannot enforce the order. The responsibility of enforcing the order still lies on the EFCC to make sure he is in court.”

    Innoson had earlier on six occasions failed to appear in court before Justice Mojisola Dada also of a Special Offence Court, Ikeja.

    The development made Justice Dada to declare him wanted, following the failure of the commission to produce him in court.

    Justice Dada later withdrew from Innoson’s trial on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in response to a February 12 petition against her by the automobile businessman.

    The matter was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Williams for arraignment.

    But at the resume of the proceedings yesterday, Chukwuma was also absent in court when the matter was called.

    The prosecution, A.B.C Ozioko, informed the court that the defendant and his counsel were absent in court.

    “My lord, it appears that the second defendant and my learned colleagues from the other side are not in court.

    “He has refused to come for his arraignment for the sixth time, even when the matter was before your learned brother, Justice Dada, despite all efforts to bring him here.

    “He has also files seven different applications in-between the period he was supposed to be arraigned,” he said.

    Ozioko told the court that the second defendant is the alter-ego of the first defendant, which is his company.

    He said the applications he submitted before the court earlier include: an application challenging the jurisdiction of court, an application to disqualify himself from the charge before the court.

    Other applications include: an order of stay of execution on bench warrant issued by the court and a stay of execution of warrant of arrest, among others.

    The prosecution informed the court that the Innoson Motor boss has refused to honor the court order by his continuous absence in court after he was granted an administrative bail by the EFCC.

    “My lord, in view of the absence of the defendant, we shall be asking for an adjournment date,” the prosecution counsel said.

    Justice Williams, however, told the EFCC’s counsel to do all he can do to bring the defendant to court.

    “It is the prosecution’s duty to make sure the defendant is in court to answer his case. I can’t be issuing an order to a defendant that seems not to be existing.

    “I will give you a date and anytime you are able to arrest the defendant, just inform the court registrars and bring him to court for arraignment.

    The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till October 10, 2018 for arraignment.

    Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd., were to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretences, obtaining property by false pretences, stealing and forgery in a transaction with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

    According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

    The EFCC alleged that the defendants, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain by false pretences containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, property of

    The offences contravened Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

  • Man arraigned for alleged fraud in Ondo

    The Ondo State Police Command has arraigned Afeez Smith before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ondo town for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence.

    The accused was charged with five-count charge of fraud, stealing and unlawful possession of property.

    Smith had earlier been arrested by the Yaba Divisional Police Station in Ondo for allegedly claiming to be the biological son of a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and current Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Alhaji Musiliu Smith.

    The accused was also said to have used the name to defraud suspecting persons in Ondo town, including some policemen serving in the community.  He was accused of obtaining N750,000 from Fabode Akinsola under false pretence to supply a Toyota Corolla car, which he reportedly failed to produce.

    Smith was also accused of stealing N50,000, N30,000 and N220,000 from Akinlade Ajibola, Komalafe Abiodun and Akinbobola Olukayode.

    When the charges were read to him, the accused pleaded not guilty to them.

    The police prosecutor, Olagbayi Bernard, told the court that the accused committed the offences, contrary to and punishable under sections 430, 390, 419 and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

     

    He urged the court to grant him a short adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses to prosecute the case.

    Lawyers to the accused, Mr. O. O. Afolayan and Ikuemonisan prayed the court to grant him bail on most liberal term.

    They said he would not jump bail, if it was granted him.

    Presiding Magistrate B. F. Ajibade granted the bail with N1 million in the like sum with two sureties who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

    She ordered the sureties to swear to an affidavit of means with evidence of tax payment while their identities must be verified by the police.

    The magistrate adjourned the matter till July 4 for hearing.