The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • Anti-graft agency nabs Kwara Finance Commissioner, AG, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has uncovered about N1 billion cash withdrawal by the Kwara State Government a week before the last presidential and National Assembly elections.

    It also confirmed the arrest of six suspects by its Ilorin Zonal Office over the withdrawal.

    Those arrested and currently being interrogated include, Commissioner for Finance, Nurudeen Banu; Accountant-General, Sulaiman Ishola; Commissioner for Water Resources, Yusuf Abdulkadir; Head of Service, Susan Modupe Oluwole; Special Adviser, Commissioner for Energy, Eleja Taiwo Banu; Chief of Staff, Abdulwahab Yusuf; officials of the Secretary to the State Government, and those of the Government House.

    Investigations by EFCC operatives revealed that the said money was withdrawn from the state’s account domiciled with Sterling Bank.

    An official of the state government, Hafees Yusuf, confirmed to the operatives that he got instructions from his “boss” to withdraw some money sometime in February 2019.

    He said: “My Controller of Finance told me that the sum of N350,000,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) was paid into the account of Kwara State Government, and I was instructed by my boss to raise cheques of various sums of money, which I did and were duly signed by the Controller of Finance. I withdrew the monies as I was instructed by my supervisor.”

    A senior staff of Sterling Bank, who is currently being interrogated by operatives, revealed that the Accountant General, Commissioner for Finance and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, are signatories to the account whereN720,000,000 (Seven Hundred Twenty Million Naira) cash were withdrawn from the Kwara State Government Account domiciled in the branch of the bank located at Post Office in Ilorin between February 7 and 11, 2019.

    Three Relationship Managers of the bank, Rahaman Alimi, Akinleye Ademola and Olarewaju Sarafa, were said to be the ones who parked the said money in bullion van and personally delivered it to the Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor, Abdulwahab Yusuf.

    The bank officials further told operatives that they acted on the instruction of their “boss” who was identified as Rasaq Abolarin.

    Meanwhile, the officials of the Kwara State Government have been granted administrative bail, even as investigations continue. They are expected to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Ilorin next week.

    The suspicious withdrawals were uncovered after operatives acted on a petition by a Non-Governmental Organization, the Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (KWARA-CGGA) asking for the probe of over N1 billion loan the state government secured from a bank a few days before the general elections.

    Hassan Omoiya, Secretary General of the organisation, noted that intelligence had it that the state government obtained the loan on February 13 from a bank, using the remittance of Kwara State VAT allocation due in February and March 2019 as collateral.

    He further urged the EFCC to “determine the appropriateness of utilization of credit facility of N1 billion by Kwara State Government at the twilight of general election.”

    The Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade confirmed the arrest of the suspects and the administrative bail given to them.

  • EFCC advises tribunal judges, lawyers against stolen funds 

    •Anti-graft war: EFCC faults UK agency 

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu yesterday warned judges and lawyers involved in election petition tribunals against money laundering.

    He said they must not allow the corrupting influence of money and other inducements to influence the process and determine the outcome of petitions.

    Magu, in a statement, noted that many judges wrongly see Election Tribunals and Appeal Panels as potential gold mines.

    “Consequently, we want to remind all lawyers, judges, elected public officials and members of the wider society not to use the Election Petition Tribunals as conduits for siphoning public funds because there is a huge price to pay for such.

    “The EFCC has the statutory powers to monitor, track, investigate, arrest and prosecute such and other offences.

    “Our Commission shall exercise such powers throughout this election period and beyond in the interest of building a corrupt-free democratic society where probity and accountability are enthroned for good governance.

    “The guiding principle of the EFCC on this matter is simple and straightforward: the right of choice of Nigerian voters is sacrosanct, and justice is not for sale,” Magu said.

    According to Magu, all lawyers and judges at the Tribunals have a responsibility to dispense justice without inducement, fear or favour.

    He said with the international community watching, Nigerians have a patriotic duty to act responsibly, and portray a good image for Nigeria.

    “The principal actors at the Tribunals comprising petitioners, defendants, lawyers and judges have greater roles to play in this than the rest of us.

    “The EFCC wants to strongly state that the rights of Nigerian voters to freely choose their leaders are sacrosanct and that their choice should not be thwarted on the altar of corrupt material inducement by anyone,” Magu said.

    Urging Nigerians to come out enmass to vote tomorrow, Magu said elections are the only way they can collectively build a free, stable and prosperous democratic society for the benefit of all citizens.

    The statement adds: “As a law enforcement agency, our first duty is to advice all parties in the electoral process to abide by all rules and regulations of the electioneering process.

    “This advice is necessary, because, following the conclusion of the elections held last week, the battleground is now shifting to the courtrooms for election litigations.

    “This will be more so when the Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections are held this weekend.

    “In anticipation of the flood of petitions that may be received at the end of the elections, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, has already sworn in the members of the Election Petition Tribunals on 26th January 2019.

    “As the Tribunal members get set to begin handling complaints from aggrieved parties and contestants, millions of Nigerians are placing high expectations on its just and fair outcome.

    “Hence, the EFCC has the responsibility of reminding all those that may be involved in the litigations that the courts are temples of justice where only the facts of the case(s) should determine the outcome.

    “Deploying monetary and other non-monetary externalities will be a fruitless and harmful exercise that must be avoided by all means.

    “Beside contestants, the attention of members of the Bar and Bench, and other stake holders, is hereby drawn to the dangers and perfidy of allowing the corrupting influence of money and other inducements to influence the process and determine the outcome.

    “This is necessary, because, many Judges wrongly see Election Tribunals and Appeal Panels as potential gold mines, desperately lobbied and continue to lobby, to be included as members.

    “Some ‘smart’ judges lobby and salivate to be posted to states, criminally conceived as the juiciest gold mines.

    “This uncontrolled and suicidal temptation of acquiring undue riches overnight is already enticing and trapping a certain number of lawyers and Judges with possible prosecution and certain professional ruin.

    “Therefore, all lawyers, judges, state governors, top government officials, politically-aligned businessmen and other stakeholders should be wary of this undesirable and ignominious fate.

    “The Tribunals should be allowed to operate in accordance with due process, devoid of using illicit monies and means to negatively influence the course of justice.

    “The EFCC possesses ample information on how the perversion of justice with ill-gotten money is initiated, organised and executed by individuals and groups within the political, bureaucratic and judicial systems of the nation.

    “The EFCC also possesses information on how the beneficiaries of corrupt monies receive, hide, transfer and invest the loot at home and abroad in order to conceal their true source.

    “We want to make it clear that, in this day and age of the information technology, international legal instruments and Mutual Legal Assistance between countries across the globe, there is no hiding place for corruption and money laundering no matter how witty or crafty the perpetrators may be.”

    Magu cited an example of a money laundering case that arose from a previous election.

    “After the 2015 elections, a gubernatorial candidate from one of the South-South states hired the services of a lawyer (SAN) to file a petition at the Election Tribunal over the outcome of the election.

    “When he was eventually sworn into office, he paid an astronomical and heart-wrenching N1.4 billion to the lawyer from the coffers of the state for ‘services’ rendered before he became governor.

    “The EFCC was following the money trail and discovered that a large part of the sum was diverted and shared between several accomplices, all of whom are now standing trial at the Federal High Court for violating the provisions of the Money Laundering Act 2011.

    “I conclude by recalling what Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, said recently on the centrality of the judiciary and corruption to our nation’s quest for survival.

    “He said: ‘Corruption has eaten deep everywhere in Nigeria, and if corruption creeps into the judiciary, that is the end of the nation.’ This is a warning we must all take very seriously,” Magu said.

  • Anti-graft war: EFCC faults UK agency

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is defending its integrity after the Programme Manager of the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Programme of the British Council, Mr. Uche Emmanuel, alleged that it was frustrating the anti-corruption war.

    The EFCC stressed that: *it had been frustrated by the prolonged investigation of former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom;

    • with 314 convictions secured in 2018, it is wrong for the UK to claim that it has been frustrating the anti-corruption war;
    • the collaboration between the U.K government and the EFCC over the years has earned the Commission support in many areas, including donation of equipment and capacity-building from the UK; and
    • some officials of UK security and intelligence agencies are currently operating from EFCC offices in Abuja and Lagos.

    These collaborations could not have been possible if the British Government or its agencies have a negative perception of the Commission’s strategies and decision taking modules, the EFCC said.

    The EFCC made its position known in a statement by its Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to a report under the headline: “UK: Nigeria’s Anti-corruption Fights Frustrated by EFCC, Others.”

    “We observe that the report contains several illogicalities, credited to the Programme Manager of the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Programme of the British Council, Mr. Uche Emmanuel, which if ignored are capable of misleading both Nigerians and the international community.

    “Without the slightest of attempts to cross-check his claims, Mr. Emmanuel alluded that the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies in the country were frustrating the corruption fight by an alleged lack of synergy among them, and their inclination to operate as islands unto themselves.

    “As a commission, we are horrified that a ranking official of the British Council, in charge of rule of law and anti-corruption programme, who ordinarily should be abreast of the robust interface that exists between the EFCC and various local and international law enforcement organisations is the one we are painfully subjecting to this type of schooling.

    “Fact is that Nigerian anti-corruption agencies collaborate in many ways that Mr. Emmanuel cannot comprehend.

    “Remarkable is that the collaboration between the U.K government and the EFCC over the years, has earned the Commission support in many areas including donation of equipment and capacity-building from the U.K.

    “In a collaboration that is on-going at the moment, officials of U.K security and intelligence agencies are currently operating from EFCC offices in Abuja and Lagos.

    “We strongly believe that these collaborations could not have been possible if the British Government or its agencies have a negative perception of the Commission’s strategies and decision taking modules.

    “Within the global community, the EFCC is acknowledged as the lead anti-graft agency in Nigeria and a model for the rest of Africa. It is not by happenstance that anti-corruption officials from Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Niger and South Sudan come to under-study the EFCC.

    Given the Commission’s track record and the confidence which Nigerians have in it, the agency is daily inundated with cases, which it is struggling to grapple with. These cases run into thousands yearly and make the lumping of the EFCC by British Council or its agent among the fixated in “pursuing one highly exposed person forever” all the more baseless.”

    The EFCC said it has been frustrated by the prolonged investigation of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke in the United Kingdom.

    The statement added: “No one with ill-gotten wealth enjoys peace from the Commission. From the undergraduate Yahoo-Yahoo boy who’s combing the Internet for a lonely woman to scam under love pretences to the Politically Exposed Persons, such as former Petroleum Minister, Mrs.  Diezani Alison-Madueke, now a fugitive of the law in the U.K, who looted the public treasury to a horrible measure-we go after all of them with same degree of resolve and tenacity.

    “We are intent on bringing Diezani to justice and despite the spirited efforts of the commission in ensuring that she returns to Nigeria and face trial, she has been held back in the U.K by an investigation that has spanned for almost four years without any signal about when she will be available in Nigeria for prosecution.

    “The EFCC has been frustrated over Diezani, a development that prompted it to seek her extradition to Nigeria, so that she can have her day in court, yet we have a lot more successes to show.”

    Notwithstanding, the EFCC said with 314 convictions secured in 2018, it was wrong for the UK to claim that it had been frustrating the anti-corruption war.

    It said: “Today, the average Nigerian can easily reel out names of ranking former officials of government and their counterparts from the private sector who have been successfully investigated and prosecuted by the Commission, with staggering amounts of money and fixed assets also recovered by the Commission from them.

    “It is important to state that the EFCC secured 314 convictions in 2018 including that of two former state governors who were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment without option of fine, while the commission has recorded about 120 convictions this year already.

    “Just few days ago, the former Chief of Defence Staff, the late Alex Badeh forfeited six choice properties and $1 million to the Federal Government, on the order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja. It could also be recalled that the EFCC on Friday, March 1, 2019, secured a final forfeiture of the sum N732.85 million being proceeds of fraud perpetuated by 17 individuals in the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office.

    “We wish to further state that in the area of convictions, Air Vice Marshall Tony Omenyi (retd), was on Thursday, February 28, 2019, jailed for 21 years by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court, Abuja, having been found guilty of the amended three-count charge brought against him by the EFCC. He also forfeited his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited, and N60 million to the Federal Government.

    The EFCC is committed in fulfilling the mandate of the commission within the ambit of the rule of law; we are the hope for Nigeria’s success in the fight against corruption, therefore we should not be distracted.”

  • EFCC charges banker with defrauding general

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned an Ecobank employee, Anieka Udoh, for alleged fraud.

    The commission said he fraudulently converted $60,000 and N9.2million belonging to a customer, Major-General Umaru Mohammed.

    The bank is named as a defendant in the charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The judge ordered Udoh’s remand in prison after he pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge.

    EFCC said the defendants allegedly committed the offence in 2016.

    Read also: NBC gets public affairs director

    The commission said they failed to exercise due diligence in relation to the conduct of financial transactions with General Umaru’s Ecobank MasterCard.

    EFCC said on or about January 28, 2016, a transaction occurred “in the name of Mohammed Umaru without the knowledge and authority of the customer, Mohammed Umaru”.

    The anti-graft agency said the complainant lost $60,000 and N9.5million from the unauthorised transaction.

    EFCC accused the defendants of fraudulently converting the money.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 7(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, said the prosecution.

    Justice Saidu adjourned until March 12 for hearing of Udoh’s bail application.

  • Ex-air chief ‘received’ N6b from NAF funds, says EFCC investigator

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday heard how former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun admitted to have received N6billion from NAF for his personal benefit.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him along with former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

    EFCC said the three, on or about March 5, 2014 in Lagos, conspired to convert N21,467,634,707.43, property of NAF, which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: criminal breach of trust.

    An EFCC investigator, Tosin Owobo, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that Adigun made a statement at EFCC, which was tendered in court.

    He said the second defendant disclosed in his statement that he incorporated Delfina Oil and Gas, Hebron Housing Limited, Mcallam Oil and Gas, Trapezites BDC Limited.

    Owobo added: “He said he is the sole signatory to the accounts of the companies.

    “He said the names of the directors are all pseudonyms and not names of any member of his family.

    “In his statement, he wrote that out of about N16.9billion inflow from the Nigeria Air Force related accounts into his companies, he only benefited about N6billion

    “He said the chief of Air Staff and others would account for theirs.

    “He also stated that the whole money was not shared, as some jobs were executed.

    “He further wrote in his statement that he would be willing to let go of properties worth the sums of money he benefited.”

    Read Also: NAF recruitment now March 16 to 30

    When asked to state how he came about Trapezites Bureau de Change Limited and his findings, the witness said upon analysis of Trapezites’ statement of accounts, it was discovered that about N3.6billion was received from various NAF accounts.

    They are NAF Jet A1 Training account, NAF Air Men Subsidy account, NAF Special Emergency Operations account, HQ NAF Camp Operations account, UCA NAF 37 Operations account and 106 NAF Camp Training account.

    The defendants were alleged to have made several transfers amounting to N21billion to different companies charged with them.

    The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Lebol Oil and Gas Ltd, Trapezites Bureau De Change, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd and Timsegg Investment Ltd.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence which EFCC said contravened Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3).

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned until April 15 and 16 for continuation of trial.

  • EFCC charges banker for defrauding general

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned an Ecobank employee, Anieka Udoh, for alleged fraud.

    The commission said he fraudulently converted $60,000 and N9.2million belonging to a customer, Major-General Umaru Mohammed.

    The bank is named as a defendant in the charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The judge ordered Udoh’s remand in prison after he pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge.

    EFCC said the defendants allegedly committed the offence in 2016.

    The commission said they failed to exercise due diligence in relation to the conduct of financial transactions with General Umaru’s Ecobank MasterCard.

    EFCC said on or about January 28, 2016, a transaction occurred “in the name of Mohammed Umaru without the knowledge and authority of the customer, Mohammed Umaru”.

    The anti-graft agency said the complainant lost $60,000 and N9.5million from the unauthorised transaction.

    EFCC accused the defendants of fraudulently converting the money.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 7(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, said the prosecution.

    Justice Saidu adjourned until March 12 for hearing of Udoh’s bail application.

  • Guber poll: EFCC warns against vote buying

    Ahead of the Saturday gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has warned against vote buying during.

    The new Head of Kaduna zonal office of the commission, Mailafia Yakubu gave the warning in Kaduna on Thursday when he paid a courtesy call to Kaduna State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Yakubu while calling on journalists to help in the fight against corruption said, vote buying is a big crime that attracts 12 years in prison or an option of fine of N500, 000

    He said the commission has a way of tracking down vote sellers and buyers, but will not disclose such strategy for security reasons.

    This was even as he commended the journalists for making EFCC a success story in the state, adding that, “am a friend to all in order to make my work a success.

    “The election is here, and we will like to tell members of the public that vote buying is a big crime. We all owe the State and the country a duty to expose culprits.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Atiku’s campaign chief

    “Offender of vote buying if eventually found guilty, he or she will spend 12 years in prison or an option of N500, 000 fine.

    “We are ever ready to partner journalists and NUJ in general in the fight against corruption, as well as the fight against vote buying in this election period”. The EFCC Head said.

    Earlier, the NUJ State chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf thanked the EFCC boss for the visit, assuring him that the State council is always prepared to partner with the Commission for the benefit of the larger society.

  • EFCC seizes Atiku’s son-in-law’s passport

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law’s Abdullahi Babalele’s passport has been seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He is under investigation for alleged laundering of 150million Euro.

    Babalele was released on bail yesterday after undergoing interrogation for about 72 hours.

    He is being investigated alongside Mr. Uyi Giwa-Osagie (an associate of Atiku) who had earlier been arrested by detectives.

    But the anti-graft agency held on to Uyi as at press time because “investigation is still in progress”.

    About €67, 950,000 of the 150m Euro has been traced to the accounts of Osagie, Babalele, two slush firms and two Bureau De Change operators.

    Of the € 67.9m, Uyi’s account received 26,050,00million Euro between January 9th and 28th, 2019. Babalele is expected to account for 41,900,000 Euro.

    An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Atiku’s son-in-law has been granted bail but with some conditions, including the seizure of his international passport. The high-level investigation on cash-for-poll allegation requires that we should restrict his movement to the country.

    “These conditions will subsist until the ongoing probe is completed.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Mr. Uyi Giwa-Osagie, who is an associate of Atiku, is still being detained in Lagos. I cannot tell you when he will be released.

    “But we have granted bail to a former Minister of Special Duties, Alh. Tanimu Turaki.”

    The EFCC released more details of transactions involving Osagie.

    A document said: ”On receipt of this intelligence the team booked to Lagos Island market and arrested two BDC operators namely: Abdullahi Shehu who works with Abdullahi Munaciki of Hasbunallahu BDC, Abuja and Lawal A. Abdullahi of Three Brother BDC. Also the team recovered the said $1.6million USD but already $141,000.00 USD had been exchanged to Naira at N358/ per dollar which amounted to N50,500,000.00 while the balance of $1,459.000.00 USD could not easily be exchanged due to the Naira scarcity in the market.

    “Investigation conducted regarding the ownership as well as the source of the money so far revealed that Hasbunallahu BDC who is also the owner of Clean and Integrity Services Ltd received three transfers amounting to $5,000,000.00 USD on the 4th and 14th February, 2019 from Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited which is an investment company that is being managed by  Uyiekpan Giwa-Osagie in trust on behalf of xxx.

    ”Investigation carried out on the accounts of Guernsey Trust Company Nig Ltd reveals that various transfers in millions of dollars and cash payments were made to various individuals and companies.”

    The details of these transfers are as follows:

    • On the 1st February, 2019, Abdullahi Munaciki of Hasbunallahu BDC received a transfer of $500,000 USD in his Guaranty Trust Bank Dollar Account Named: Clean & Integrity Services Ltd with Account number: 325/391103/2/1/0. The transfer came from Uyiekpan Giwa-Osagie of Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited.
    • And on the 18th January, 2019, Root Capital Ltd received the sum of $1,000,000.00 into its account in Keystone Bank PPC from Guernsey Trust Company Nig Ltd account in Keystone Bank Plc. There after the naira equivalent was paid into Andrew Pitchford account by Spring Creek on behalf of Root Capital Ltd.
    • After that, on 4th February, 2019 another transfer in the sum of $1,500.000.00 USD was received into the said Clean & Integrity Services Ltd account in GTB from the same company Account Guernsey Trust company Nigeria Limited in keystone bank on Instruction of the said Uyiekpan Giwa-Osagie.
    • And the third transfer was made in bulk on 14th February, 2019 in the sum of $3,000,000.00 USD, similarly from Guernsey trust company Nigeria Limited in keystone bank to Clean & Integrity Services Ltd account in GTB.
    • Painstaking investigation conducted on how the said Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd sourced the above mentioned $5,000,000.00 USD showed that the company received into its Keystone bank Euro Account number 1002523061 two Inflows of N13,050.000.00 Euro on 9th January, 2019 and N13.000,000.00 Euro on 28th January,  2019 totaling N26,050,000.00 Euro from one off-show company called  Intels West Africa Limited.
    • Further Investigation has shown that the said Euro inflows were converted to about $30,346,150.12 USD and transferred in tranches of $14,362.500.00 USD, $14,977,194.13 USD, and $1,000,000.00 USD to Guernsey Trust company Nigeria Limited’s Dollar Account number: 1003057653 to Keystone bank between 11th January and 12th February 2019.
    • On the 18thJanuary, 2019 Guernsey Trust Company Nig Ltd paid the sum of $750,000.00 to Bluebeam Capital Ltd, the money was subsequently transferred to BLK Prestige Investment
    • Also on the 29th January, 2019 Guernsey Trust Company  Nig Ltd paid total sum of $2,065,934.00 to Capital filed Investment Group Ltd account in Keystone Bank Plc and the naira equivalent of the said amount in the sum of N856, 569,200.00 was paid in tranches to Andrew Pitchford Ltd account. The company is owned by one Mr. Erhunse Giwa Osagie, a brother to Mr. Uyiekpen Giwa Osagie.
    • Furthermore on the 6th February, 2019, Guernsey Trust Company Nig Ltd paid Bluebeam Capital Ltd the sum of $1,000,000.00 the money was subsequently transferred to BLK Prestige Investment Ltd with UBA Zambia while the naira equivalent was paid into the account of Andrew Pitchford Ltd by Spring Creek Ltd on behalf of Bluebeam capital Ltd.
    • Again on the 11th February 2019, Bluebeam Capital Ltd received the sum of $2,000,000.00 from Guernsey Trust Company Nig Ltd. On the instruction of Mr. Erhunse Giwa Osagie out of which the sum of $1,000,000.00 was transferred to account of BLK Prestige Investment Ltd United Bank for Africa in Zambia while the remaining $1,000,000.00 was converted into naira and paid into Sterling Bank Plc account of Andrew Pitchford Nig Ltd with account number 0689724732.

     

  • EFCC probes Atiku’s son-in-law over €150m

    •PDP demands detainees’ release

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives are probing Abdullahi Babalele, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law, for suspected laundering of about €150million (Euro).

    Babalele is in EFCC’s custody with his alleged accomplice, Mr. Uyi Giwa-Osagie, who had earlier been arrested by detectives.

    About €67, 950,000 of the suspected 150m Euro has been traced to the accounts of Osagie, Babalele, two slush firms and two Bureau de Change operators.

    Of the € 67.9m, Uyi’s account received €26,050,00million between January 9 and 28. Babalele is expected to account for €41,900,000.

    Detectives believe, going by their findings, that the €150million was allegedly laundered for the general elections.

    Both Uyi and Babalele, who is the Group Finance Director of Atiku’s companies, were still in custody as at press time yesterday, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

    The EFCC intercepted a $1.6m transaction on February 11 at a Bureau de Change on Lagos Island.

    It was gathered that a comprehensive trail of the affected BDC exchange activities led to the unraveling of the huge cash.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, gave insights into how the hefty cash was being moved around to avoid the prying eyes of the EFCC.

    The source said: “In the course of our routine exercise of monitoring BDCs, our operatives went to a market on Lagos Island where they intercepted $1.6million at a Bureau De Change. We intercepted the dollars because they were unable to convert it into Naira.

    “The $1.6m was already given to the BDC operator on the island for exchange into Naira. As at the time our operatives moved in, about $141,000 out of the $1.6million was already converted into Naira at the rate of N358 per dollar. The balance of $1, 459,000 was still intact because of the scarcity of Naira.

    “Those interrogated claimed that the $1.6m belonged to a BDC man in Abuja. Further investigation on the real owner of the cash led to the identification of Mr. Uyi Giwa-Osagie.

    “We interviewed Uyi but he was not forthcoming on how he came about the money.

    “We, however, traced huge inflows into Uyi Giwa-Osagie’s account (Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited) to the tune of €26,050,00million. The same money was later converted to $30m and lodged in a dollar account.

    “From this dollar account, transfers were made to BDCs and that was how we intercepted the $1.6m.”

    Detectives also uncovered how Babalele got involved in the alleged money laundering.

    Another source said: “Our operatives discovered how €41,900,000 was wired into an account of a suspected shell company called Afritech Utilities by Intels West Africa Limited.  Part of the same inflows was transferred to various BDCs for the purpose of conversion to Naira.

    “The signatory of Afritech Utilities happens to be Abdullahi Babalele. We, therefore, felt there was the need to invite Babalele to explain how he came about this humongous money.”

    Replying to a question, the source said: “Investigation confirmed that Afritech Utilities has three members of staff two directors and one secretary.

    “The profiling showed that there is no particular business that Afritech is engaged in. Babalele at a point claimed the company is engaging in importation of cars but no shred of document to prove. Later, he said the importation of the cars was for family use.

    “It is more or less a shell company. Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited is only protecting the interest of others.”

    Two BDC operators (one in Abuja; the other in Lagos) have been quizzed by the EFCC.

    “We have interrogated these two BDC owners but investigation is still on,” the source said.

    Uyi and Babalele have maintained that they have nothing to do with money laundering.

    They alleged that the € 67.9m was a loan granted by Intels West Africa Limited to enhance business capital.

    “Some loan agreements by Intels, Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Limited and Afritech Utilities were presented to the EFCC’s team but no evidence of board or shareholders’ resolutions. It was not clear what the loan was meant for.

    Read also: ICPC arraigns public servants for alleged N26.7m fraud

    “The agreements appeared anticipatory in case of any issue. We are detaining the two suspects pending the conclusion of investigation when we will grant them bail,” another source said.

    Asked to be specific on the summary of the findings, the source said: “Those funds intercepted in BDCs and the withdrawals were suspected to be cash-for-poll deal in order to influence the general elections.”

    The Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, gave terse response to enquiries.

    He said:  “Yes, Babalele is with us. We don’t do our investigation in the media.

    “I don’t have details for now but at the appropriate time, we shall speak.”

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Deputy Director-General (Admin) of its Presidential Campaign Organisation, Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

    Turaki, who was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was reportedly being detained by the anti-graft agency.

    A statement last night by the PDP spokesman said Turaki’s arrest and detention was part of the grand plot to use state apparatus of power to intimidate opposition leaders and scuttle the PDP’s determination to reclaim its February 23 presidential election victory in court.

    Demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Turaki, who was said to have been arrested Monday, the party claimed the campaign chief was arrested and detained for no reason.

    The statement reads: “Since the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP expressed our unwavering determination to reclaim our victory at the tribunal, being armed with overwhelming evidence, our leaders have been subjected to escalated harassments, constant threats, blackmails, cajoling and contrivances by the APC to drop our legal option.

    “It is instructive to state that Tanimu Turaki was arrested and detained upon invitation by the EFCC to endorse a bail document for the Finance Director of Atiku Abubakar’s company, Babalele Abdullahi, who was arrested earlier by the commission over flimsy allegations.

    “The PDP, however, states in clear terms that the APC and the Buhari Presidency are fighting a lost battle as no amount of harassment and threats will ever make the party to buckle in its determination to take back the mandate.”

  • EFCC arrests Atiku’s campaign chief

    The Deputy Director General (Admin) the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization, Tanimu Turaki SAN, has been reportedly arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A statement last night by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Turaki’s arrest and detention was part of the grand plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use state apparatus of power to intimidate PDP leaders and scuttle the party’s determination to reclaim its February 23 presidential election victory in court.

    Demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Turaki, who was said to have been arrested Monday, the party said the campaign chief was arrested and detained for no reason.

    The statement said, “Since the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP expressed our unwavering determination to reclaim our victory at the tribunal, being armed with overwhelming evidence, our leaders have been subjected to escalated harassments, constant threats, blackmails, cajoling and contrivances by the APC to drop our legal option.

    Read also: Buhari hosts Presidential Campaign Council to dinner

    “It is instructive to state that Tanimu Turaki was arrested and detained upon invitation by the EFCC to endorse a bail document for the Finance Director of Atiku Abubakar’s company, Babalele Abdullahi, who was arrested earlier by the commission over flimsy allegations.

    “The PDP, however, states in clear terms that the APC and the Buhari Presidency are fighting a lost battle as no amount of harassment and threats will ever make the party to buckle in its determination to take back the mandate, in line with the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

    “Nigerians are resolute on this struggle to reclaim the mandate freely given to Atiku Abubakar at the polls and the PDP will pursue this decision to its logical end and secure justice for the Nigerian people”.