The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)

  • ‘Why we invaded Magu’s farm house, killed policeman’

    Three Air Force (NAF) personnel and two civilians, who allegedly took part in the December 2017 attack on the Abuja farm house of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The robbery attack  was said to have caused the death of a police sergeant and the loss of two police rifles stolen by the five- man gang.

    Explaining how they were able to penetrate the farm, a source said the gang’s members claimed that they were trying to enforce the Federal Government’s whistle-blowing policy, which was aimed at recovering stolen or misappropriated government funds.

    The suspects were identified as Franklin Ochife, Inanegwu Omikpa, Awua Theophanous, Sunday Paul and Vincent Michael.

    They were arrested separately by IRT operatives over the incident, while they claimed that they were not aware that the farm in question belonged to the Acting Chairman of EFCC at the time they invaded it.

    They said they got the obviously wrong information that the owner of the farm, who they said was a top government official, stole government money and had kept the supposed  stolen money in a big container in his farm and ordered that the money be buried in septic tanks.

    The suspects also claimed that the owner of the farm allegedly ordered everyone working and staying in the farm not to use the toilets in the farm.

    They said further that they even tried to get the EFCC involved, but an official of the EFCC they spoke with warned them to be sure that money was truly buried inside the farm so as not to make the commission an an object of mockery.

    They explained that they decided that they would break into the farm and ascertain that there was money in it before bringing in the EFCC.

    Narrating how they got information about the money supposedly being kept in the farm house and how they brought in the three personnel of the Nigeria Air Force, 38-year-old, Frankly Ochife, a native of Otukpo, Benue State, said: “In November 2017, there was this bike rider living close to the farm, and he had easy access to the farm. One day, he came to me and said that a huge sum of money was being buried in a septic tank in the farm.

    “He asked if I knew how to contact whistle-blowers because the money in the septic tank was so huge and the owner of the farm had instructed the people on the farm not to use any of the toilets.

    “With that information, I became convinced that there was money hidden in the compound, and with the whistle-blowing policy still active, I believed that I would get 10 per cent of the money if I blew the whistle, which would be a very huge sum.

    “I contacted my friend, Inanegwu, and informed him about it, and he advised me not to contact the police. He equally said we would use the military, and once they discovered the money, we would expose it and government would do the needful.

    “He then brought one Cacidi and three soldiers. We had a meeting at Maraba and went to the farm house in two vehicles.

    “When we got there, I alighted from the vehicle because I reside close to the house. I came down and started monitoring events from afar.

    “But while I was there, I received a call from one Peter, the bike rider, and he told me to tell all the people at the farm house to leave, because one of the mobile policemen, who were posted to guard the house, had seen what was going on and had come to take him to the police station.

    “I quickly called Inanegwu (Omikpa) and informed him about the development and left the spot. I didn’t see them until the next day. But Peter, the bike rider, called me the next day and said he had been informed that one of the policemen guarding the farm was dead.”

    On his part, 35-year-old Omikpa, a native of Ohimini area of Benue State, said: “I am in business and schooling. I am married with two kids and was having a beautiful life until November 2017 when he told me that his friend  told him that there was a container filled with foreign currencies.

    “I thought it was a lie, but he kept disturbing me, saying that his informant was so sure of the money in the septic tank.

    “I then contacted my friend, an Air force personnel known as Anwa. I explained it to him and he showed interest.

    “Before then, I had told my friend, Cacidi, and he advised that if we informed the EFCC, the matter would die completely. Then Cacidi said he had a friend known as Vincent who was also an Air Force personnel and he could assist us in securing the place so that the authorities would come and see the money.

    “Awua (Theophanous) then said that he had a friend named Sunday, who had worked with the DSS before, and that he could bring him in. But he said we had to be careful and ensure that the money was truly in that farm before breaking into the compound.

    “On December 12, 2017, we went to the compound in two vehicles. Then Anawa and his friend entered the compound and they came out angrily.

    “When I entered, I saw a policeman tied to the ground. There was another civilian security guard coming and we also held him.

    “At this point, Vincent started breaking the septic tank, and I also received a call from Franklin that another policeman who was outside was calling the police to the farm house.

    Read Also: EFCC probe of Saraki not personal, says Magu

    “So, while we were leaving, two police rifles were on the ground; Casidi and Vincent took them. They said they would sell the rifles and give us our own share.

    “I did not know that the policeman who was tied was dead. I only got a call from Franklin, saying that one of the policemen was dead, and I saw the story in the news.

    “On January 25, 2018, I was on my way back from church when I was arrested. I was shocked and I wanted to know why, but was asked to keep quiet; that there would be enough time for me to know why I was arrested when we reached the police station.”

    In his own confession, Awua Theophanous (27), an indigene of Gboko, Benue State, said: “I am an Air Force personnel and I was enlisted in 2012. I am currently a corporal serving at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, as an engineer in the Logistics Department.

    “He met me at the Mammy Market where I was drinking and told me that there was a farm where cows were reared and stolen money was buried there. He said he needed a whistle-blowing assistance and I told him that I didn’t know any one who worked at EFCC’s office, and that if I later found one, I would contact him. I didn’t know that the farm he was talking about belonged to an EFCC personnel.

    “On December 2017, I was called to rectify an electrical fault in an office, and while I was working, a Brigadier-General came in and was asking the chief clerk in DRDB, and he said he wanted someone to accompany him to the office of the EFCC to dispatch a letter.

    “The chief clerk called Sgt. Sunday Paul, who is also the clerk working in that office, and a friend, and asked them to follow the Brigadier-General to the office.

    “Then I called Sergeant Paul and told him that one Inenagwu told me about a farm where money was kept, and I said he should enquire how the whistle-blowing works. When he returned, he told me that when he spoke with an official of the EFCC about the whistle-blowing policy, he said he was advised to make sure that the allegation that money is kept in the farm is confirmed and it does not cause an embarrassment for the EFCC.

    “Then I called Inenagwu and told him that I had been able to establish contact with the EFCC, and they insisted that our information must be 100 per cent correct.

    “Then he said if I was in doubt, the person who brought the information worked in the farm and he was ready to take us to the spot where the money was kept.

  • Court admits bank’s documents as evidence against Jang

    Plateau State High Court on Wednesday admitted banks documents tendered as evidence of fraud against former governor of Plateau state Jonah Jang.
    The court said it relied on section 83 and 84 of Evidence Act to admit a bank documents.
    Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and that of the accused Jonah Jang has urged reverently for two days trying to convince the court to accept the bank documents or dismiss it as evidence in the anti-corruption case.
    Jang is standing a trial in the court on charges of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the Governor of the state.
    The case had come up on Wednesday with the third prosecution witness, from Zenith Bank, Emmanuel Anja, a banker and marketer, led by the EFCC prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) to testify.
    Anja told the court that he did not know the account of Plateau State government but he admitted knowing that of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. He also admitted that his main pre-occupation in the bank is relationship management whose basic duty is to manage the accounts on behalf of customers.
    He added that he was aware that his bank was asked to supply details to EFCC concerning transactions with the Plateau State Government and he identified all the documents presented as his.
    But Counsel to Jang, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) had objected to the admissibility of the documents presented by Prosecution Witness (PW3), Emmanuel Anja, saying that no foundation was laid by the prosecution as to why Anja was the one tendering the documents before the court, adding that his name was not even written on the letter.

    Read Also: EFCC traces N500m assets to Jang

    Ozekhome said, “The signature on the document is that of John Olorundare of Compliance Department of the bank. In his evidence-in-chief, he told the court that he was a compliance officer but that he was in compliance department. So, tendering the documents put themselves in computer-generated evidence. It is a direct assault on Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.”
    He argued that it was wrong for the Prosecution Counsel to neither seek to tender document through a witness that was not a party to it nor know the content of the document.
    “My Lord, although the document appears to be the original, there is no foundation for the Prosecution Counsel to seek to tender it through the witness whose name is not on it neither does he know the content. This is a direct assault on Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act. I therefore urge the court to reject the document in its entirety.”
    He urged the court to reject the documents, citing many legal authorities to buttress his arguments.
    Also rejecting the document, Sunny Odey, Counsel to the second accused, Mr Yusuf Gyang Pam told the court that the person qualified to be the maker of the documents should be capable of taking responsibility of his contents. Odey pointed out that the documents cannot be tendered for the purpose and therefore urged the court that the documents be rejected.
    Having listened to the parties, the judge, Mr. Justice Daniel Longji adjourned ruling on the matter to Wednesday.
    Longji overruled the 1st and 2nd accused, saying he was relying on section 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act to rule that he document is admissible.
    He said the law is not ignorant and must not shut its eye to the mysteries of the computer in the modern days. He said not admitting the document will be like throwing a baby with the bathwater.
    Having admitted the document, the witness was then called up to testify.

  • EFCC recovers over N1.5b, others in P/H in nine months

    …also 283 oil theft  trucks, forfeited 59 

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday said that it has recovered a total sum of N 1, 592,568,524.38 in their operations between January and September,  2018.
    The Anti-Graft agency also disclosed that it equally recovered a total of $678,354.80 (U S) as well as the sum of 5,254 Euro within the period under review.
    The head of operation of the agency in Port Harcourt zone, Mr. Nnaghe Obono Itam who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital  yesterday also said a total number of 283 trucks laden with illegal petroleum substance were apprehended and handed over to them by the Army in the period.
    Itam said laboratory test conducted by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), on the products confirmed that 121 of the trucks were loaded with adulterated diesel, 39 of them has high pour Fuel oil(HPFO) and  low Pour Fuel oil(LPFO), whereas 31 of the vehicles were Kaden with waste/lube oil,  among others.
    He however noted that 59 of the truck with estimated quantity of 1, 013.7 metric tons(1,180,00 litres) of the petroleum product(diesel, kerosene and crude oil),  have been forfeited to the Federal Government after investigation.

    Read Also: EFCC, INEC partnership targeted at opposition – Wike

    However the commission is worried that the owners of the trucks have not shown up to claim their property since the vehicles were impounded.
    Itam equally expressed challenge in prosecuting the drivers who he said are presently on Army bail. According to him the Army officers who arrested the drivers and impounded the trucks have equally refused to liaise with the legal department if the commission for proper statement to enable them commence prosecution of the  suspects.
    He said,  “It is pertinent to note that some of the owners of the trucks are yet to report to claim ownership of their trucks.  This may be due to the fact that the drivers after their release by the Nigerian Army never reported the incident to their respective owners.
    “Some owners that reported assisted the commission in the arrest of their drivers. Charges have been prepared against the drivers and they will be arraigned in court soon.” he stressed.
    Expressing handicap in the their investigations said,  “The commission in locating the owners who are yet to claim their trucks is currently liaising with various states’ motor licencing agencies for registration of the trucks. The ones without owners will be published on the newspapers before their final forfeiture.” he said.
    Speaking further said,  “The arresting officer of the Army who are key in the successful prosecution of these cases in court are yet to report for statement despite several appeals.” he expressed.
    However when contacted,  the spokesman of 6 Division, Nigerian Army Bori Camp Aliu Illiyasu, where the concerned Army officers are attached to fie reaction on the allegation, denied any suspected  plans by men of the  Army to frustrate the process of justice delivery,  but promises to find out what went wrong and them get back to the Reporter, but to no avail; at least as at the time of filing this report.

  • Bafarawa: I left N13bn in Sokoto State Government’s treasury

    A frontline presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, said he left N13 billion in the Sokoto State Government’s treasury after his tenure as governor.

    Bafarawa disclosed this in Owerri on Thursday at the PDP party state secretariat during a visit to party stakeholders to solicit support for his presidential ambition.

    The former governor said during his eight years in office he did not receive any salary, but rather he used the money to develop the state.

    The presidential contender said his victory over the criminal charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) showed that he was a politician with a clean record.

    He said his ambition for the presidential position was borne out of his zeal to revive the country’s economy for the benefit of all citizens.

    “I have experience and the most qualified to preside over the present Nigeria and as a good manager I will correct all the anomalies.

    Read Also: I will support any PDP presidential aspirant – Bafarawa

    “PDP delegates should not make any mistake during the party’s primaries by electing inexperienced aspirants for this job, that is why I have come to present myself to you,” he said.

    In his reaction, a PDP Board of Trustee member, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, described Bafarawa as a `true democrat and detribalised politician’.

    He said Bafarawa had a very strong political track record which stood him out among other aspirants.

    Iwuanyawu, who expressed optimism that South-East would not be marginalised under Bafarawa, pointed out that most of his close allies were Igbos.

    PDP Chairman in Imo, Mr Babatunde Ezekwe, assured Bafarawa of the state delegates’ support.

    “We are strongly behind your aspiration, go and do your underground work well; as for us we are working tirelessly to ensure that PDP wins in Imo and the presidency,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Bafarawa has been on tour of the South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

  • Seiyefa, acting DG DSS meets Osinbajo 

    The most senior Director in the Department of State Service (DSS), Matthew Seiyefa, the Acting Director General on Tuesday met with Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Seiyefa, from Bayelsa State arrived the Presidential Villa in an official SUV at 4pm, clutching a file and was received at the entrance by the ADC to the Acting President.

    Read Also:Breaking: Osinbajo sacks DSS boss

    Shortly after, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, also arrived, and walked briskly into Osinbajo’s office.

    Magu, however was seen rushing out at about 4:40pm.

    Seiyefa, who came out of the Acting President’s office around 5p.m, left the Villa in another car.

    He was shielded from journalists.

     Seiyefa, MNI, who hails from Bayelsa State, was before his new appointment the most senior director in the DSS – Assistant DG.
    He was also the Director, Institute of Security Studies, Abuja.
    With about 34 years of experience, Seiyefa has served in different capacities, including the State Director in Osun, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos States.
    Seiyefa is also a member of the National Institute.

  • Alleged N5.9m car gift: AVM Mamu knows fate June 29

    An FCT High Court, Maitama, on Monday reserved judgment until June 29 in the alleged N5.9 million car gratification leveled against retired AVM Alkali Mamu.

    The judge, Justice Salisu Garba, adjourned the case after listening to the submissions of the counsel in the matter.

    Mamu, was a former Fleet Personnel Officer, Presidential Air Fleet; former Air Training Command, Kaduna, and member Committee for Procurement, Ministry of Defence.

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ), on June 21, 2016, arraigned Mamu on a four-count charge bothering on receiving gratification.

    The commission had alleged that Mamu collected a cash gift of 300,000 dollars and N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque, as a member of Procurement and Planning Committee of Ministry of Defence.

    EFCC also alleged that Mamu received two vehicles (Ford Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon) valued at N15 million and N12 million, respectively, from Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Ltd., a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force.

    EFCC said the offence contravened Section 17 (a) of the Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and punishable under Section 17 (c) of the same Act.

    Adopting his written address, Mr Joesph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to acquit Mamu because the prosecution did not prove the ingredient of the offence.

    “Upon a review of the four counts, the prosecution did not prove any ingredient of the offence alleged against the defendant.

    “The offence is not strict liability offence under the sections he was charged,” he submitted.

    He added that the prosecution failed to call the alleged giver of the gift to testify in court against the receiver of the gift.

    “That makes the foundation of the allegation to fail.”

    He submitted that because money was found in someone’s account; means that it was a proceeds of a bribe.

    He added that there was no nexus between the named giver of the bribe and the receiver, and should jettison the allegations and acquit the defendant.

    He urged the court also to order that anything ceased from the defendant should be returned to him.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court to go ahead and convict Mamu because the prosecution had made a prima facie case against the defendant.

    He added that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    “Our argument is copiously stated in our final written address and we urged the court to carefully go through it” he submitted.

    He urged the court to go ahead and convict the defendant.

    NAN

  • Campaign funds: Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe, others

    Campaign funds: Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe, others

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has been commended for investigation the embezzlement of government money by previous administration to fund the 2015 elections.

    The group, Coalition of Youths Congress of Nigeria said what EFCC is doing is instructive as another election year approaches and expressed the hope that those involved in diverting public fund to finance elections must be punished to deter others in future.

    The group, which addressed journalists  Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was reacting to the arraignment of a former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Plateau State, Mr. Raymond Dabo and the Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Plateau State, Evangelist Lyons Sunday Jatau who were dragged to court over allegation of embezzlement of N450 million belonging to the federal government.

    The leader of the group, Mr. John Pam said the anti-corruption stance of the present administration would ensure that such perfidy and use of money meant for the development of the country by politicians at the corridor of power would not happen again.

    The trio would be arraigned on February 13, 2018 at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital on charges of receiving the money from the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to finance the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy.

    At the first hearing of the suit, Ochekpe had told trial Justice Justice Musa Haruna Kurya that she gave the money to the late PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Plateau G.N.S Pwajok.

    The group therefore urged EFCC to leave no stone unturned to make sure that money politics in Nigeria is discouraged and also to ensure that those in the custody of public fund do not deep their hands into the till to serve themselves.

    “We are commending EFCC for taking these people to court so that when found guilty justice will take its cause, which will sound as a warning to others who may want to so corrupt themselves by diverting public funds meant for the provision of social amenities for our citizens. The interest of our group is to ensure corrupt free society and for the first time we have seen a government that is determined to rid this scourge from the country,” Pam said.

  • Alleged N11bn fraud: Shema ‘s trial to begin Feb.13

    Alleged N11bn fraud: Shema ‘s trial to begin Feb.13

    A Katsina State High Court has fixed Feb 13, 2018, for mention of the case filed by Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) against ex-governor Ibrahim Shema, alleged to have misappropriated N11 billion state fund.

    Shema had challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear the case but lost at the Court of Appeal in Kaduna.

    The ex-governor is now at the Supreme Court, which has fixed Nov. 8, to hear his appeal on the verdict by the appellate court.

    During the proceedings at the state High Court on Tuesday in Katsina, the defence counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), prayed the court to adjourn the case, pending the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on jurisdiction.

    However, the prosecution counsel, Mr Earnest Obunadike objected to the request by  the defence, urging the court to proceed with the trial.

    The judge, Justice Ibrahim Maikaita-Bako, who adjourned the case to Feb. 13, 2018, for mention, however, said the court might fix an earlier date, if the Supreme Court delivers its verdict before the adjourned date.

    NAN reports that the Katsina State Government had petitioned the EFCC accusing Shema of misappropriating about N11 billion during his tenure.

    NAN

  • Adamawa: Ex-PDP chairman, others in prison over IDPs food

    Adamawa: Ex-PDP chairman, others in prison over IDPs food

    A Federal High Court in Yola has ordered the remand of former Adamawa PDP Chairman, Alhaji Abdurrahman Bobboi, in prison for allegedly diverting food meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Also remanded were Mr Sanda Lamurde, a former Commissioner for Finance, and Feredan George, a former Chief Store Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA ).

    Justice Bilkisu Aliyu gave the order on Wednesday, at the hearing of a case of alleged forgery and stealing brought against the trio by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC ).

    The accused are facing 16 charges bordering on forgery, theft and fraud.

    According to the EFCC Counsel, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, the suspects were arraigned following a petition received from members of Agricultural Transformation Agro-Allied Farmers Cooperative Union, Adamawa chapter.

    The union, in its petition to the EFCC, had alleged that the loan granted to Adamawa State farmers, from the Central Bank of Nigeria. were not disbursed to them.

    It claimed that the funds were diverted into the purchase of food for IDPs by the state government.

    Aliyu said that after investigation, the commission decided to arraign the suspects over the said transaction.

    He alleged that the accused persons took advantage of their membership of the State Committee on the Welfare of the IDPs, to perpetrate crime.

    According to him, Lamurde, who served under former governor Bala Ngillari, was the chairman of the committee while Abdurrahman Bobboi, a former Chief Protocol Officer to the governor, was a member.

    “The suspects conspired among themselves and diverted the funds amounting to N587 million released by the Adamawa State Government to buy food and  other basic needs of IDPs” he said.

    He said that the crime was committed between March and May, 2015.

    The judge, who adjourned the case to Nov. 10 for trial, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their bail application.

  • NLC tells EFCC not to succumb to intimidation

    NLC tells EFCC not to succumb to intimidation

    The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) not to succumb to any threat of intimidation.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President said this in statement he signed on Friday in Abuja.

    Wabba condemned the attacked by gunmen on the Area 7 office of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) which houses key investigation units of the Commission.

    According to him, the attack by gunmen on the Area 7 office of the EFCC which houses key investigation units of the Commission is condemnable.

    “The attack represents the audacity of corruption and the shifting of the battle ground from the court room to the streets and should be condemned by all those who love this country.

    “The attack, clearly, was intended to deter and compel operatives of the Commission from carrying to a logical conclusion their ongoing investigations/prosecutions.

    “In light of an earlier attack during which an operative sustained injury, this cannot be a lone incident. Indeed, we see it as the new phase of corruption fighting back!

    “While we are not insensitive to the manifest danger in this new phase of corruption fighting back, we urge the Commission and its operatives not to succumb to these desperate tactics or intimidation.

    “We have no doubt the resort to violence shows they have come to their wit’s end, ‘’he said.

    The NLC president urged the commission and other related agencies to do all that was necessary to secure their premises and personnel.

    Wabba also stressed the need for technical support that would build their forensic capacity without which good cases are lost or drag on indefinitely, thus exposing their personnel.

    “We also find it necessary to call on the government to give the commission the requisite support including the setting up of dedicated courts for speedy disposal of corruption cases,’’ he added.