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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • EFCC Arrests Atiku’s son-in-law Babalele

    • Ex-VP vows: I’ll not mortgage peoples’ mandate • Inaugurates legal team

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday arrested Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi, a son in law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    It was not clear why he was arrested, but the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believed it was politically motivated.

    He vowed that under no circumstance would he mortgage “the mandate of Nigerians as freely expressed on the 23rd of February, 2019.”

    Atiku’s media team said in a statement in Abuja that the EFCC operatives invaded Abdullahi’s residence at Maitama, Abuja to effect his arrest.

    He doubles as finance director of Atiku’s group of companies.

    The Atiku Media team said: “The EFCC agents numbering about two dozen came in two regular vehicles, an 18-seater Toyota bus (registration Abuja CS 522 RSH) and a Hilux van.

    “They came with a search warrant to search the house and office of Babalele and found nothing incriminating.

    “They then proceeded to his office at Oakland Centre in Maitama and found nothing incriminating there. However, they took away some documents of landed property.

    “Not done, the EFCC officials stormed his Wuse residence where they again found nothing incriminating after the search.

    “Afterwards, Babalele was taken away to the EFCC office in Wuse to make a statement alongside Mr. Lawan Ayuba.

    “It was gathered that the petition relied upon to invade the residence and office of Babalele was authored by a brother of the wife of President Buhari.

    “As a law abiding citizen, Atiku Abubakar recognizes the constitutional role of the EFCC and indeed any other agency of the government to carry out investigations, but will not be cowed by any attempt to blackmail him into mortgaging his mandate.”

    In a separate statement, the Atiku Media office said he inaugurated a legal team to challenge the result of the 23 February presidential election.

    The legal team is headed by Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN).

    He was quoted as saying: “I am encouraged by the presence of fearless men and women of the Bench.

    “The judiciary which had in the past discharged itself ably is once again being called upon to deliver judgement on this matter that will be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power.”

     

  • EFCC invades home of Finance Director of Atiku’s company

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were on Saturday, said to have invaded the Abuja residence of the Finance Director of Atiku’s group of companies, Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi.

    A statement by Atiku’s media adviser, Mr, Paul Ibe, said the EFCC operatives, numbering about two dozen, stormed Absullahi’s Maitama District home at 8.30 am.

    Ibe stated that the operatives came in two regular vehicles, an 18-seater Toyota bus, marked Abuja CS 522 RSH; and a Toyota Hilux van.

    The statement said, “They came with a search warrant to search  the house and office of Babalele and found nothing incriminating.They then proceeded to his office at Oakland  Centre in Maitama and found nothing incriminating there.

    However, they took away some documents of landed property.

    “Not done, the EFCC officials stormed his Wuse residence where  they again found nothing incriminating after the search.

    Afterwards, Babalele was taken away to the EFCC office in Wuse  to make a statement alongside Mr. Lawan Ayuba.

    “It was gathered that the petition relied upon to invade the  residence and office of Babalele was authored by a brother of  the wife of President Buhari.

    “As a law abiding citizen, Atiku Abubakar recognizes the  constitutional role of the EFCC and indeed any other agency of  the government to carry out investigations, but will not be cowed  by any attempt to blackmail him into mortgaging his mandate”.

    The statement added that the invasion of Abdullahi’s home was  part of the desperate moves by the authorities to make Atiku  congratulate and concede the mandate to President Buhari.

  • EFCC arraigns 19 for alleged illegal oil deal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned 19 men at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in petroleum products illegally.

    They were charged before Justice Rilwan Aikawa with conspiracy, unlawful dealing in petroleum products and illegally storing them.

    EFCC alleged that they conspired to deal in about 21,840 litres of Automotive 605 Oil (AGO) (diesel) without licence.

    They were said to have stored the products “in two fibre boots”, contrary to Section 4 of the Petroleum Act of 2004.

    Read also: Security agencies uncover plot by PDP, others to discredit poll

    Prosecuting counsel Abubakar Idris said the Navy arrested the suspects last September and handed them to the EFCC.

    They are Ayeni John, Emmanuel Tosu, Emopin Moneyin, Malade Aiyetimiyi, Odroja Ojuene, Ikedehinbu Idowu, Abogun Ota, Elamah Augustine, Olarotimi Elikanah, Thankgod Benjamin, Abbas Friday and Victor Goldsmith.

    Others are Gbenga Thomas, Ibane Austine, Idowu Surprise, Asemia Thomas, Agbayoh Lawrence, Saliu Malik and Ayetiniyi Ademola.

    The alleged offence also contravenes sections 1(17), 3(6) and 4 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act of 2004, punishable under Section 17.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Aikawa ordered that they be remanded in prison custody pending hearing of their bail applications.

  • ‘How Okupe got N702m for doing nothing’

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Wednesday how former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe was allegedly paid N702m by the Federal Government without doing anything.

    Okupe is being tried on a 59-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal diversion of funds, estimated at N702m.

    He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    First prosecution witness, Osas Azonabor, an operative of the EFCC, told the court that sometime in 2016, the commission got an intelligence that some individuals were paid by the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for doing nothing.

    Azonabor said when investigations began, it was realised that one of the beneficiaries was Okupe, who is the first defendant.

    The witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecution lawyer, Ibrahim Audu, told the court that the EFCC wrote to the ONSA, demanding the vouchers of the payments made to Okupe, who was once an aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasnajo.

    He said after analysing the payment vouchers, it was realised that cash payment of N50m was made into Okupe’s account as stated in the voucher of April 8, 2014.

    The witness added another cash payment of N6million was found to have been made to Okupe on April 2, 2014.

    Azonabor said there were series of payment in multiples of N10 million made to Okupe between 2012 to 2014.

    He said EFCC’s investigation found the sum of N50million paid into Zenith Bank account of Value Trust Investment Limited, which Okupe is a director.

    The witness added that another N35 million was paid into the account of Abraham Telecoms Nig Limited, in which Okupe is a signatory.

    Read Also: EFCC releases Doyin Okupe

    Azonabor said: “He (Okupe) told us he was the Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2012 and was placed on a monthly salary of N835, 000 paid to him by the SGF,” Azonabor said.

    “Okupe said he was paid N10 million monthly for 24 months by ONSA and that the money was reduced to N5million monthly from January 2015 to May 2015”.

    “Okupe said the money was for special services and when asked to elaborate what he meant by ‘special services’, Okupe said part of the money was used to sponsor ‘Insight’, a programme on NTA.”

    Azonabor told the court that when a letter was written to NTA to confirm the authenticity of the document that emanated from the station, the television station agreed that the document emanated from it.

    The witness added: “We also got a follow up letter from the NTA that the programme, ‘Insight’, was later aired free-of-charge as directed by the then Director General of NTA who accepted the programme as part of the station’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Azonabor said Okupe claimed that part of the money collected from ONSA was used to pay workers, but when asked to show proof of payment he only brought a list of names on written piece of paper and also a typed paper.

    “There was no payment voucher, receipt or pay slip to show evidence of payment and when we asked him to produce staff he paid to, he couldn’t produce any,” Azonabor said.

    Further hearing in the case resumes today.

  • Court reserves judgment in trial of Jonathan’s ex-aide

    The Federal High Court Lagos Wednesday reserved judgment in the trial of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, Dr Waripamo Owei-Dudafa, for alleged N1.6 billion fraud.

    Justice Mohammed Idris reserved judgement after counsel adopted their final addresses.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Dudafa along with Joseph Iwejuo, a staff of Heritage Bank, on a 23 count charge bordering on money laundering.

    The prosecution closed its case on March 16, 2018, after calling seven witnesses and tendering several exhibits.

    The defence had initially filed and argued a no-case submission in its defence and had urged the court to dismiss the case, on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish any case against them.

    Justice Idris had in a ruling last August dismissed the no case submission.

    Defence had consequently, entered its defence, calling two witnesses and tendering exhibits.

    It closed its case in November 2018 after which the court adjourned for adoption of final addresses.

    Prosecuting Counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo argued that prosecution had been able to lead sufficient evidence in establishing a case of money laundering, conspiracy as well as concealment of proceeds of unlawful act, against the defendants.

    He argued that from the evidences before the court, it is clear that the various monies traced to the account of some companies such as Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd, were not the legitimate salary of the first defendant.

    Read Also: Breaking: Atiku rejects Buhari’s victory, heads to court

    He argued that the defendant employed the best form of concealment of proceeds of unlawful act, by keeping the money in an account without his identity, and engaging the second defendant to operate it.

    “From the manner in which these transactions were consummated, the court can see clearly a meeting of minds to commit same.

    “The second defendant was running an account under different identity so as to conceal the offence.

    “If it was a legitimate transaction, the first defendant will not procure the second defendant to run the account and receive funds in same.

    “All that the prosecution is enjoined to know is the reasonability of their knowledge that same constitutes an offence,” he said.

    Oyedepo argued that the claim by the defendant that the monies were donated to a church, was only an afterthought which the court is not expected to act upon.

    Defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendant as the prosecution failed to establish any ingredient of the offence against the defendant.

    According to him, the defendant had pleaded not guilty to three phases of counts in the charge, and the onus remained constant with the prosecution to establish the sources of the funds as alleged.

    According to him, none of the prosecution witnesses led any evidence or tendered any exhibits to establish essential elements of the charge against the defendant.

    For instance, he argued that the purported owner of the account in which monies were paid was never called as a witness and one Festus Iyoha to whom monies were allegedly handed to, was also not called as a witness.

    He said that this failure to call the desired witnesses was fatal to the case of the prosecution, adding that the charge against the defendant must fail consequently.

    “Of all the assertions made by the defendant in relation to the source of the funds, no further investigations was made by prosecution; they did not call the people mentioned by the defendant or take their evidences.

    “If you allege that the source of a fund is illegal then you ought to discharge that burden of proof and call witnesses to establish same,”

    According to him, the defendant merely acted on instruction to” pay”, adding that before a court can safely convict it ought to look at the provisions of the law and the charges.

    He argued that it was not a strict liability offence and urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendant.

    Second defence counsel Mr. Ige Asemudara also adopted his final address in urging the court to discharge and acquit the defendant.

    After listening to the respective submissions of counsel Justice Idris reserved his judgment to a later date which will be communicated to parties.

     

  • Nobody really loses, be proud of your role – Nuhu Ribadu tells candidates

    Former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, has appealed to candidates in Saturday’s elections to accept the outcomes in high spirits whether they are announced winners or not as winners and losers alike played significant roles by their participation.

    Ribadu who addressed newsmen in his Yola home on Sunday, said all participants in Saturday’s elections played significant roles in the electoral process and that they should take solace in the fact that they must have learnt lessons for their good in the future even if they lose the their elections this time.

    Read Also: Ribadu donates campaign structure to Buhari

    Ribadu who worked as the director in charge of field operations in President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election campaign, said, “This is election. It’s democracy. There will be winners and there will be losers, but the true winner is Nigeria, our country, because we are better off as a result of this. Those who win should react with humility.

    “Those who have not made it should understand that, yes, they have played their own role in democracy. They should be proud of their part in democracy. They have played their significant part to where we are today.

    “They should accept what they get, more so because life does not end with one election. A lot of lessons are learnt even in defeat and can easily be a step forward.”

     

  • Maina: EFCC vows to appeal court judgement

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will appeal Tuesday’s judgement of a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, restraining the commission from declaring the Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Mr Abudulrasheed Maina, wanted.

    EFCC Acting Spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade, made this known in a press statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court also gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the commission and its affiliates, from further declaring Maina wanted in relation to the issue of pension scam.

    Orilade said “As a commission, we state that such a pronouncement amounts to a clog on the wheels of our operations in execution of our statutory duties.

    “The judgment must not be allowed to stand because it is not only a miscarriage of justice but grossly inimical to the culture of corrupt-free society which the commission is striving so hard to enthrone.

    “We will, therefore, appeal the judgement.

    “We further wish to state that we will not relent to do all that is required within the ambit of the law in our avowed commitment to bring every Nigerian with ill-gotten wealth to justice,” he said

    NAN reports that the EFCC had in 2017, declared Maina wanted, following his refusal to honour the commission’s invitations.

    Maina, however, on Sept. 5, 2018, in a suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/957/2918, asked the court to decide whether the commission could lawfully exercise powers of declaring him wanted. (NAN)

  • Polls: Activists urge EFCC to probe Kwara govt over alleged N1b loan

    Activists, under the aegis of Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (Kwara-CGGA), have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe a N1 billion loan the state government allegedly secured from a bank few days to the general elections.

    Kwara-CGGA insisted that the loan was suspect and in bad faith.

    A statement by its Secretary General, Hassan Omoiya, said Kwara-CGG was privy to intelligence that the state government obtained the loan on February 13 from a first generation bank, using the remittance of the state’s Value Added Tax (VAT) allocation due in February and March as collateral.

    The statement said: “We urge the EFCC and, indeed, the Federal Ministry of Finance, to determine the appropriateness of utilisation of credit facility of N1 billion by Kwara State government at the twilight of the general elections and the status of VAT Account as collateral for the credit facility in the absence of prior approval and authorisation from the Debt Management Office and Federal Ministry of Finance in tandem with extant laws and regulation on granting of loan to state governments.

    “It is our expectation that your investigation will extend to individuals and corporate institutions that participated in the unwholesome act with a view to prosecuting the affected individuals and institutions with attendant cost and penalty.”

    The statement stressed that the loan would be used to prosecute elections for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, adding: “It seems the state government, remote-controlled by Senator Bukola Saraki, does not want to change its ways, despite efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to end misuse of public funds.”

    But Finance Commissioner Demola Banu said the state often secured short-term loans from banks to augment dwindling monthly Federal allocations.

    Banu said: “Owing to the consistently low and unstable Federal allocation, the state government often secures short-term loans from banks to augment inflows to meet monthly obligations.

    “These obligations include salaries, pensions and overheads as well as liabilities, such as payments to contractors and gratuity arrears.  States affected by the consistent drop in monthly allocation often augment the shortfall with bank loans. Kwara State is no exception.

    “Additionally, banks only grant loans, following due diligence, which examines the capacity to repay and what the facility will be used for. Any facility obtained by the state government, therefore, goes only towards budgeted expenditure.

    “It is through this prudent management of funds that we are able to pay salaries, pensions and subventions as well as fund major infrastructure, besides providing repayment guarantees.

    “This administration will also liquidate these short-term loan interventions by or before it leaves office.”

  • Patience Jonathan’s ally Shagaya’s account lawfully frozen, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that it lawfully froze the account of a businesswoman and socialite, Hajiya Bola Shagaya.

    It prayed the court to dismiss her application seeking to unfreeze it.

    Besides, EFCC said Shagaya, an ally of ex-First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, allegedly frustrated its efforts to conclude investigations on a suspicious Unity Bank account with a balance of over N1.9billion.

    The commission said it invited the woman but she refused to honour it.

    This, EFCC said, made it difficult “to conclude investigation and file a charge against her.”

    An operative, Oghare Ogbole, in a counter-affidavit opposing Shagaya’s suit, justified the No Debit Order placed on the account.

    Justice Muslim Hassan made the interim freezing order on December 29, 2016.

    The businesswoman filed an application urging the judge to vacate it.

    She said she was denied fair hearing.

    But, EFCC claimed that the N1.9billion found in the Unity Bank account was the balance of a total of N3,305,150,000, which Shagaya received as “founder fees” on behalf of an organisation, “Women for Change” being spearheaded by Mrs Jonathan.

    The EFCC claimed that the N3.3billion was realised through Shagaya’s “fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,” where she allegedly “influenced the fraudulent allocation of Dual Purpose kerosene to Index Petrolube Africa Ltd., with the aid of the former First Lady, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan.”

    According to the EFCC, the N3.3billion was paid by Index Petrolube Africa Ltd and its sister company, Autodex Nigeria Limited.

    The two companies, it said, belong to one Honourable Ezeani ThankGod, adding that the reason for the N3.3bn payment was to “fraudulently facilitate Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Ltd.”

    The anti-graft agency claimed that out of the N3.3bn, Shagaya had “paid a cumulative sum of N1,212,000,000 to the former First Lady, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, through her account, ‘Women for Change Initiative’ account domiciled in Diamond Bank, to which the former First Lady is the sole signatory.”

    It said after paying N1.2billion to Patience, Shagaya kept the balance of N1.9bn for herself by “warehousing” same in her personal bank account in Unity Bank.

    The EFCC said it was on this basis that it secured an order of Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos on December 29, 2016 to freeze the account.

  • Trial of American for alleged green card fraud stalled

    The trial of an American, Marco Ramirez, who allegedly defrauded three Nigerians of $545,000 in a green card scam, was stalled Thursday at an Ikeja High Court due to the absence of the prosecuting counsel.

    At resumed proceedings Thursday, it was revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lead prosecutor, Mrs Vera Agboje, had notified the court in a letter that she would be absent in court due to another official engagement.

    The trial judge, Justice Josephine Oyefeso acknowledged that Agboje had written to the court ahead of proceedings to inform her that she will be absent.

    Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ademola Adefolaju, also admitted receiving a letter from the prosecutor.

    Adefolaju therefore requested for an adjournment.

    Justice Oyefeso granted the request and adjourned the case until May 7 for hearing.

    Ramirez is facing a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining under false presences before the court.

    He was first arraigned on June 22, 2017.

    He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of $250,000 with two sureties in like sum on July 10, 2017.

    Ramirez is alleged to be the Managing Director of three companies – USA Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Capital Group.

    According to the EFCC, he committed the offences between February 2013 and August 2013 in Lagos.

    The American was alleged to have fraudulently received $545,000 from one Amb. Godson Echejue to invest in his company.

    EFCC alleged that the plan was to procure an American green card (permanent residence card) for Echejue.

    Ramirez also allegedly received $10,000 from one Abubakar Umar through a non-existent investment programme in the U.S. which would make Umar eligible to obtain an American passport.

    The EFCC is also accusing Ramirez of illegally receiving $10,000 from one Olukayode Sodimu on the pretext that the funds were facilitation fees with the American Immigration Services for an American Green Card.