The Nation Newspaper

Tag: arrests

  • Navy arrests eight in Cross River

    The Navy has arrested eight persons for ‘illegal bunkering’ in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    A boat containing over 200 drums of illegally produced diesel was seized.

    The Commanding Officer, NNS Victory, Commodore Kingdom Itoko, parading the suspects, said they were arrested in a boat on Parrot Island on December 21.

    He said:”Stopping bunkering or oil theft is a social matter and far beyond what we can do since it is social problem. I think employment should be encouraged, social welfare services should be provided for Nigerians because poverty is what led them to such crime.”

    Itoko said the suspects would be handed over to relevant agencies for prosecution.

  • Alleged N1.5b fraud: EFCC arrests bank manager

    Alleged N1.5b fraud: EFCC arrests bank manager

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has arrested a former manager with the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Olayinka Sanni and Mr. Oyebode Atoyebi for alleged fraud of about N1.5billion.

    The two suspects will soon be arraigned in court.

    A statement by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, accused the manager of brokering many shady deals.

    The EFCC alleged that he transferred about N1.2billion from Murhi International Limited and N306million from Falana and Falana Chambers.

    The statement reads: “A former manager with the Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Mr. Olayinka Sanni and Mr. Oyebode Atoyebi have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a case of conspiracy, stealing and forgery amounting to about N1.5billion.

    “Sanni, a chartered accountant and operator of SIDAW Ventures (a Bureau de Change), was alleged to have fraudulently transferred various sums of money from more than seven customers of the bank into the account of SIDAW Ventures owned and operated by him without the customers’ consent.

    “He transferred N65million from the account of Babington Junior Seminary; N40million from P.W. Nigeria Limited’s account; N15million from Mikano International’s account; N20million from Viju Industries Limited’s account; N306million from the account of Falana & Falana Chambers and Fafun Nigeria Limited; and N1.2billion from Murhi International Limited’s account into his SIDAW Ventures account without the consent of the account owners.

    “Besides, Sanni also collected $461,200 from Chukwurah Nkiru, who sold it to him for the equivalent of N76, 559,200, but was not paid.

    “Sanni is also embroiled in a foreign exchange scam where his SIDAW Ventures account was used to handle N104, 405, 000 where only N72,229,000 worth of foreign exchange was paid to the customer, leaving a balance of N32, 185, 000 being hotly contested between his firm and the customer.

    “Oyebode Atoyebi was arrested for complicity and conspiracy with Sanni for allowing his passport-sized photograph and name to be used to open an account in SIDAW Ventures Limited in the name of Akanmu Babatunde.

    “With this fictitious name, Sanni brokered many shady deals and duped many innocent people.

    “The two suspects will soon be arraigned in court.”

    Femi Falana SAN, yesterday confirmed that N306million was transferred from his chamber’s accounts.

    In a statement, he said: “My attention has been drawn to the statement by the EFCC pertaining to Mr. Sanni Olayinka of the defunct Intercontinental Bank PLC indicted in a N1.5 billion fraud.

    “I confirm that N306 million was stolen from our clients’ account by the officer. But I wish to say that the management of the bank refunded the money to avoid a legal action from our chambers.

    “It is hoped that the EFCC will fish out and bring to book the other officials of the bank involved in the N1.5 billion fraud.”

  • EFCC arrests Lamido’s son for alleged money laundering

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has arrested Aminu Sule Lamido, one of the children of Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

    The commission said it suspected that Aminu was trying to launder $40,000 (about N6.28million) abroad.

    It claimed that the suspect was in its custody in Kano, preparatory to his arraignment in court.

    It was learnt that Aminu was arrested about midnight on Wednesday when he was about to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

    A top official of the commission, who spoke in confidence, said: “When the suspect was accosted by Customs officers, he declared that he had $10,000 on him. He said he was going to Egypt on vacation.

    “But when the EFCC operatives searched the suspect, they found additional $40,000, which he refused to declare.

    “At that point, he told the EFCC team that he was on his way to Cairo for a medical treatment. This twist on his mission made the anti-graft agency to become curious. It, therefore, arrested him for interrogation.

    “He is presently being kept in EFCC custody in Kano, where he is also undergoing interrogation.

    “We are also grilling him in preparation for his arraignment in court. At the end of the investigation, he will be charged for false declaration to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and Section 2 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

    “If found guilty, he might be committed for an offence punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.”

    EFCC Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “We arrested Aminu Sule Lamido at Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for alleged money laundering. You will be briefed later on the outcome of our investigation.”

    The arrest came barely 72 hours after EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde said the anti-graft agency had intercepted no less than N15.5billion at the nation’s airports from January till date.

    He said the EFCC had filed 353 cases at various courts this year and had recorded about 53 convictions.

  • Fashola arrests police officer riding Okada

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday arrested a police officer who rode a 100CC engine motorcycle popularly called Okada on the Agege Motor Road, Ikeja.

    The officer, Mr. Ebahan Johnson was accosted on the ever busy express road by the Governor during an inspection of projects in the Lagos-West senatorial district.

    Johnson, who had earlier resisted arrest, surrendered on realising it was the Governor. Fashola had warned that Okada should not ply the express road with a motorcycle with such capacity and without helmet.

    Fashola said: “There is no one that is above the law. If anyone cannot submit itself to the law of the state, then that person should please leave.”

    He warned that the state government will not condone any act by anyone violating the state’s road traffic law which was signed to bring sanity into road transportation.

    “There is no society where laws are not broken but the state government will increase its enforcement in order for residents to comply with the law. And as we move on the road and we see any one violating the law, we will stop and arrest them”, Fashola said.

    On the officer, the governor stated that the officer would be handed to the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko for proper prosecution.

    “I am sure he would be prosecuted,” he said.

  • EFCC arrests Kaduna ex-council chief

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Chairman of Sabon Gari Local Government in Kaduna State, Kasimu Lawal Abubakar (aka Abasco), for allegedly acquiring illegal property worth billions of naira.

    The suspect, who was in office between 2007 and 2011, is being interrogated.

    A statement by EFCC Head of Media and Publicity Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, alleged that vital document were destroyed when the Council’sTreasury Department was allegedly set on fire.

    The statement reads: “The operatives of the EFCC have arrested Kasimu Lawal Abubakar (aka Abasco), the former Chairman of Sabon Gari Local Government, Zaria, Kaduna State.

    “The arrest followed a petition alleging that the former council boss abused his office to enrich himself. Other allegations contained in the petition include illegal acquisition of property worth billions of naira.

    “In the course of investigating the allegations, operatives of the commission stormed the council only to discover that the evidence that could assist the investigation had been destroyed in an inferno that gutted the council secretariat building, particularly the Treasury Department.

    “However, in the course of executing a search warrant at the home of the suspect, several official documents belonging to the local government, including but not limited to original copies of payment schedule of the local government staff, tax clearance certificates and official files of the local government that are not supposed to be in his custody as an ex- official of the council, were recovered.

    “Further investigation uncovered property acquired by the council chief while he was in between 2007 and 2011, first as interim chairman and later as substantive chairman.

    “The properties, which are scattered in different locations in the state, include a farm house, private school, (ABC Academy, Zaria, which is an acronym of his nick name Abasco), residential houses and a block industry, all in Kaduna State.

    “Apart from the alleged property, it was also discovered that the suspect converted some of the local government’s property to his personal use. The suspect has made useful statements while investigation continues.”

  • NDLEA arrests student with cocaine

    A 23-year-old Management Accounting student has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    The drug suspect tested positive to drug ingestion during the screening of passengers on an Arik flight to London. He has completed the excretion of 92 pellets of substances that tested positive to cocaine, weighing 1.535kg.

    NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, gave the name of the suspect as Chiwuzie Godson Chiedozie.

    He said the suspect was also found in possession of two tickets.

    “Chiwuzie presented a valid Asky ticket from Lagos to Lome at the screening, but during a search, a valid Arik ticket from Lagos to London was found in his luggage. The Lome ticket was to divert attention from him. Besides having multiple tickets, he also tested positive to drug ingestion” Mr. Umar added.

    Investigations showed that Chiwuzie is a student at Waltham College, London where he has lived since 2009. He reportedly told narcotic investigators that he was recruited to smuggle drugs in his school in London. He said he was promised £3,500, which he intended to use to pay his tuition fees.

    According to the suspect, “I smuggled drugs against my wish because of my financial predicament.

    “I was at a crossroads and there was no help in view. They promised to pay me £3,500. They gave me two tickets as a safety measure.

    “They contacted me in my school in London and directed me to a man in Lagos. My travel expenses were paid and when I arrived in Nigeria, they took me to a hotel in Lagos where they gave me the drugs. I ingested 92 wraps because I had no option. I regret my action.”

    He hails from Oba in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, reiterated his call on the public to be strong-willed and resist temptation to make them traffic in drugs.

    He said: “We have the keys to our success. Unless you agree, nobody can make you a drug trafficker. Those who lure this student into drug trafficking are not with him now. Those who come to you with drug trafficking offers do not wish you well, resist them.”

  • Navy arrests merchant vessel with arms

    The Nigerian Navy has arrested a Merchant Vessel (MV), Myre Seadiver, carrying assorted AK47 rifles and 22 Benelli MR1 20 Barrel rifles.

    MV Myre Seadiver was intercepted by the Navy’s patrol boats at the Lagos Roadstead on October 20 following suspicions that it was carrying arms and ammunition.

    The vessel, which was docked at the Nigerian Navy Beecroft’s harbour, Western Naval Command, Apapa, allegedly had assorted AK47 rifles with 3, 643 ammunitions, as well as 22 Benelli MR1 20 Barrel rifle with 4, 955 ammunition.

    Confirming the arrest, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear-Admiral Ameen Ikioda, said the vessel had a 15-man mostly Russian crew.

    He said: “Part of our activities in the Lagos area is to ensure that we create a conducive maritime atmosphere to promote legitimate maritime business and anytime we see something that infringes on that mandate, we always strive to see how best to avert it.

    “Yes, we intercepted an MV Myre Seadiver on the suspicion that it was carrying arms.

    “The vessel had a mixed 15-member crew, but most of the crew members were Russians.

    “The vessel belongs to Moran Group, Moscow and it was flying a Dutch Island flag.

    “We discovered that the vessel came into our waters without due notification and on further facts, we realised it had weapons inside, which is an infringement on the laws of this great country,” he said.

    Ikioda said investigations were still ongoing to ascertain the number of weapons that were there.

    “So far, we have uncovered 14 AK47 rifles and 22 Benelili rifles.”

    Investigation, however, revealed that the ship, which is a Det Norske Veritas (DNV) marked E5U2529 is from Cook Islands and was sighted in Lagos on Friday. Information available on the ship company’s website revealed that its International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number is 6505662.

    We also gathered that the vessel, which was last received at the Atlantic South, has had its operations suspended following the arrest.

    With its DNV number 04795, official number 1618, Myre Seadiver Avatiu was built in 1965 and operates at a speed of 7.5\6.4 knots.

     

  • NDLEA arrests NURTW chair, others in Ondo

    Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Taxi Unit in Ondo State, Mr. Ojo Adewole and seven other union officials have been arrested by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    It was learnt that the suspects were caught with 18 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be Indian hemp in their office.

    Fourteen AK 47 rifles, machetes, axes and cudgels were allegedly found in their possession.

    It was gathered that some top government officials are mounting pressure on the NDLEA to release the suspects.

    It was learnt that the suspects are loyalists of a party and alleged to have been induced to cause mayhem during the rally of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as well as disrupt the October 20 governorship election.

    NDLEA spokesman Peter Achibong confirmed the report, but said the suspects were not arrested for possession of illicit drugs.

    Some political observers urged the NDLEA not to succumb to the pressure from top government officials seeking the suspects’ release.

    They suggested that the suspects be detained until after the election.