The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alleged fraud

  • Police arraign cow dealer for alleged fraud

    The police in Lagos have arraigned a 30-year-old cow dealer, Aliyu Usman, at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for alleged N3.18 million fraud.

    He was also accused of conducting himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by selling cows, valued at N3.18 million without remitting the money to the owner.

    The accused, who lives at Kara Abattoir Complex, Agege, Lagos, is facing a four-count charge on conspiracy, breach of the peace and false pretences.

    Police prosecutor Rachael Williams told the court that the accused committed the offences in 2016, about 10 am at Abattoir Cattle Market, Oko-Oba, Agege, a Lagos suburb.

    She said the accused, with others at large, obtained cows, worth N3.188 million from the complainant, Alhaji Ibrahim Umaru, on the pretence of selling and remitting the money to the owner, but failed to do so.

    The prosecutor alleged that the accused sold the cows and diverted the money to his purse.

    The offences contravene sections 168, 285, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The suspect pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. O. I. Raji, granted him bail at N250,000 with two sureties.

    She said one of the sureties must be a relation and the two should be employed with evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    Raji adjourned the case till April 30 for mention.

  • Tanker driver arraigned over alleged fraud

    Tanker driver arraigned over alleged fraud

    The Police yesterday arraigned a 52-year-old tanker driver, Oladiti Lukman, in an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly obtaining N400,000 under false  pretence.

    Lukman, a resident of Ilekun Ayo Seeni village, Apata, Ibadan, was arraigned on a two- count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sunday Ogunremi, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) told the court that Lukman  collected the N400,000 from  one Daramola Olubode of  23, Amunigun area, Ogunpa , Ibadan, on the pretext of  selling a plot of land to him.

    Ogunremi said the offence contravened sections 390 (9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State,  2000.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Abdulateef Adebisi granted the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Adebisi adjourned the case till February 13.

  • Bishop remanded for alleged fraud

    A Federal High Court in Enugu has remanded a cleric, Bishop Ginika Obi, in Enugu Maximum Prison.

    He was arraigned on 82-count charge of Advance Fee Fraud.

    The clergyman was arrested by the police for his alleged nefarious activities.

    Obi pleaded not guilty.

    Justice A. Liman granted him bail at N50million with two sureties, who must be a director in a ministry and a traditional ruler of his community.

    The bishop could not meet the bail conditions.

    The prosecution alleged that the suspect conspired with others at large to dupe victims.

    The offence was alleged to have been committed in his church/office at Km 111, Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway in Enugu South Local Government.

    He was arrested and arraigned after investigation by operatives of the Police Monitoring Unit, following petitions against him and others at large.

  • Alleged fraud: Court grants temporary forfeiture of firm’s N206m

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday froze N206 million belonging to a firm being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud.

    The EFCC said it reasonably suspected the sum to be part of a fraudulent transaction and proceeds of crime by two respondents, Vermilion Studio Products Ltd and a woman, Akintola Olubunmi Vera.

    Vacation judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka, authorised the agency to confiscate the sum pending the determination of its investigation and possible prosecution of the case.

    Justice Anka made the interim order following an ex parte application of August 10, 2017 by the commission’s lawyer, George Chia-Yakua.

    Chia-Yakua told the judge that the sum was domiciled in two First Bank accounts numbered 3100844602 belonging to Vermilion Studio Products and 3011147218 belonging to Vera.

    According to a supporting affidavit by an EFCC investigating officer, Paul Ugema, the agency began investigation of the matter following a petition it received.

    The petition alleged that the respondents diverted over N206 million property of Mooncrest Enterprises Nig. Ltd.

    “It was discovered that the respondents were making suspicious funds transfer into the accounts which are subject of investigation.

    “I know as a fact that the money found in the accounts of the respondents is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime,” Ugema said.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of hotel to Fed Govt

    Court orders interim forfeiture of hotel to Fed Govt

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday gave an order temporarily forfeiting Victoria East Park Hotel and Suites on Igbogbo-Mayegun Road at Ikorodu in Lagos State to the Federal Government.

    The owner of the property, Ebiesuwa Fredrick, is said to have acquired along that proceeds  with N53.7 million alleged  fraud.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor authorised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize the hotel for 21 days to enable it conclude investigation on the alleged fraud.

    The order followed an ex parte application by the EFCC, stating it believed Fredrick acquired the hotel with fraud proceeds.

    The agency accused Fredrick of being the ringleader of a syndicate of fraudsters in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, with accomplices in Lagos.

    EFCC’s lawyer Ayanfeoluwa Ogunsina said the commission sought to take over the hotel to prevent its sale while investigation was being conducted on it, thereby “defeating the ends of justice”.

    Ogunsina said the EFCC was investigating Fredrick and suspected members of his syndicate, who are on the run, following a petition from Dunni Olagbegi, who claimed to have been defrauded of N53.7 million by the suspects.

    An EFCC investigating officer, Chris Odofin, who deposed to an affidavit filed in support of the application, accused the suspects of hypnotising their victims.

    He said: “The antics of these fraudsters include luring people into their criminal den where they present one of them as a pastor, hypnotise their victim, make the victim take an oath never to reveal what they say or do and then use all sorts of deceitful methods to collect money from the victim.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the respondent (Fredrick) is a member of the syndicate of fraudsters that specialise in duping unsuspecting people and have duped several people through this means and are still on the prowl, seeking more people to devour.

    “The respondent and some members of his syndicate are based in Ibadan while they also have accomplices in Lagos.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Alleged fraud: mum defends singer Dammy Krane

    Alleged fraud: mum defends singer Dammy Krane

    Reacting to the fraud charges labeled against her son, mother of Nigerian singer, Dammy Krane, Elizabeth Adeola Oshodi, is claiming that her son is innocent of all charges.

    Explaining the incident that led to his arrest, his mother claimed that the singer’s flight ticket and hotel bookings were fraudulently purchased by a show promoter before he got arrested while trying to board the flight from Maimi to Washington.

    “As an artiste, promoters book your hotel stays and often buy your destination tickets. It’s never once crossed our hearts as a performing entertainment family, to have to verify that the sources of bookings are legitimate,” she wrote on Facebook.

    Explaining further, she said that they’ve been in the industry for almost 15 years. “Then came the unfortunate past Friday, when Dammy Krane got arrested trying to board a flight from Maimi to Washington: Maryland. His ticket and hotel bookings were fraudulently purchased by the next show promoter (s). And because of Dammy Krane’s fame, all accusatory hell, broke loose,” Oshodi added.

    She further said that the singer will clear his name in court and advised all artistes to purchase their ticket by themselves to avoid a similar incident.

    Meanwhile, OAP Daddy Freeze has reacted to the singer’s arrest in the US, describing him as a good person.

    “This gentleman is a good person. One of the most respectful young people I know. One mistake doesn’t define him,” Freeze wrote.

    Last Friday, Dammy Krane was arrested for allegedly using a stolen credit card to book a private jet in Miami, United States, US.

    The charge sheet shows that Dammy Krane was arrested for Grand theft 3rd degree/armed/conspiracy, credit card/forgery/intent to defraud among other charges.

     

  • Alleged fraud: Suswam’s health stalls trial

    Alleged fraud: Suswam’s health stalls trial

    The trial of former Governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam, over alleged financial misappropriation before the Federal High Court, Abuja, was on Tuesday stalled on the ground of his ill health.
    Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine- count charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion.
    They were alleged to have diverted proceeds of the sale of shares owed by Benue Government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
    The offence, the EFCC said was punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
    At the resumed trial before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, counsel to Suswam, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN) informed the court that his client was currently on admission in an Abuja hospital.
    According to Raji, following the detention of his client by the Department of State Services(DSS), and his release by the same authority, he took ill and is now on admission.
    Raji showed a copy of the medical report from the hospital ,where Suswam was admitted, to the prosecuting counsel, Mr A.O. Atolagbe and the court.
    He prayed the court for an adjournment to allow his client get the required medical treatment to enable him attend to his trial.
    The prosecutor raised no objection to the application for an adjournment.
    “I was informed this morning about the ill health of the first defendant, but I am yet to see the copy of his medical report.
    “I can, however, now confirm that I have seen the medical report,” he said.
    The judge adjourned the matter until June 21 and June 22.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Suswam’s case was on March 28, stalled because of his detention by the DSS.
    His counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN), had told the court that he was absent in court on that day on account of his detention.

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Chief of Air Staff Umar

    Alleged fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Chief of Air Staff Umar

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned, a former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Umar was re-arraigned yesterday on a seven-count charge of money laundering before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba. He pleaded not guilty.

    Dimgba, in his ruling after arguments by counsel, held that the defendant should continue to enjoy the bail conditions granted by Justice Binta Nyako.

    He, however, ordered the defendant to provide two sureties, who must be civil servants or top management workers of private companies in the jurisdiction of the court, excluding satellite towns, within two weeks.

    The judge adjourned the matter till February 13 to February 16 for trial.

    At the resumed hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Tahir Sylvanus, told the court the matter was for re-arraignment.

    Sylvanus urged the court to accept the charge and allow same to be read to the defendant for his plea.

    Counsel to the defendant Mr. Hassan Liman (SAN) prayed the court to allow his client to continue with the bail and conditions granted by Nyako.

    He said the defendant had not violated any of the conditions set out by Nyako, adding that his client had been around.

    Sylvanus did not oppose Liman’s oral application, contending that such decisions were left to the discretion of the court.

    He, however, prayed the court to compel the defendant to present sureties before the court as guarantors for his bail.

    The counsel said the prosecution was not comfortable when Nyako admitted the defendant to bail on self-recognisance.

    EFCC, on May 11, 2016, arraigned Umar before Justice Nyako before the case was transferred to Justice Dimgba.

    Nyako had granted the defendant bail on self-recognition.

    The prosecution said the offence contravened Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended.

  • Nine workers, director sacked for alleged fraud

    Nine workers, director sacked for alleged fraud

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje yesterday ordered the sack of nine workers of the Ministry of Local Government for alleged financial misappropriation.
    A statement by the Head of Service, Muhammed Naiya, also ordered the immediate suspension of a director in the Ministry of Finance for his alleged connivance to divert money from the ministry.
    The statement added that four employees of the State Pension Funds Trustee have been handed over to the police for alleged financial fraud.
    According to the statement, preliminary investigation by a special committee indicted the sacked workers.
    Governor Ganduje further warned that any violation of due process, contravening the government’s war against corruption would not go unpunished
    The statement added that the cases have been handed over to the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation.

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC arrests Ministry of Environment official

    Alleged fraud: EFCC arrests Ministry of Environment official

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it  has arrested one Tariah Otumba Fred, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Environment in  Bayelsa State for allegedly being a serial fraudster.

    According to a statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, several incriminating items including fake Identity cards have been recovered from the suspect.

    The statement said: “The suspect is alleged to have been involved in forgery, extortion, obtaining money under false pretence, impersonation and other fraudulent activities.

    “Fred is said to head a notorious syndicate who defrauded unsuspecting members of the public and corporate organizations using the office of the Federal Controller of Environment, Yenagoa.

    “The suspect is alleged to have opened an account in Sterling Bank using the name, the Controller, Federal Ministry of Environment, Bayelsa State in which he was a signatory alongside one Mr. Education Zghadina who has also been arrested by the Commission.

    “Fred’s modus operandi was to give companies in the state demand notice that they should make payment to the Federal Ministry of Environment for environmental impact assessment permit.

    “The suspect who also presented himself as pollution coordinator of the ministry, a position that does not exist, employed officers whom he issued identity cards as Revenue Collecting agents for the ministry.

    “When a search was conducted in his house, several incriminating items including fake Identity cards of various organizations, stamps of different organizations, letter heads of the National inland Waterways and Ministry of Environment, and Identity card with his picture as a Navy Captain were recovered.

    “The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.”