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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • Whistleblowing policy yields N527b – EFCC

    The federal government whistleblowing policy has yielded N527 in two years, acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has stated.

    Magu spoke at a South-south town hall meeting on whistleblowing and the fight against corruption in Nigeria in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital by African Centre for Media and Information (AFRICMIL) in partnership with Social Development Intergrated Centre (Social Action) on Thursday.

    Represented by an official of the commission, Usman Mukhtar, the EFCC chair also said the office within the period under review equally recovered the sum of $53million as well as over  £122,000.

    He added the amounts were recovered following the whistleblowing policy of the Federal Government.

    According to him: “As at May 2018, we recovered over N527 Billion, $53 million, and £122, 89 through the Whistle Blower Policy.

    “More successes are being made and the response by members of the public to the Policy has been very encouraging.”

    He explained the policy has given avenue for patriotic Nigerians to report criminal acts which are inimical to the growth and development of the country.

    He however noted some challenges affecting the effectiveness of whistleblowing policy to include poor legislation, including that of the security of whistle blowers and those intending whilstle blowers.

    Read Also: EFCC secures 40 convictions In January

    He further lamented the problem of fear of victimisation or attacks, adding the fear of victimisation whistle blowers in their place of work is currently being addressed by the whistle blower protection act passed by the National in 2017.

    “Many would- be whistle blower are afraid of reprisals,  attacks and other attendant risks involved in volunteering information about suspicious activities around them.

    “However, this challenge is already addressed by the Whistle Blower Protection Act passed by the National Assembly in 2017.

    “The Act provides that “a person who makes a disclosure shall not be subject to victimisation by his or her employers or by fellow employees.

    “Additionally, a person who makes a disclosure has the right to take legal action if he or she is victimised, dismissed, suspended, declared redundant, transferred against his or her will, harassed or intimidated in any manner,” he explained.

  • Court issues Bench warrant for ex-NIA DG Oke, wife

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered the arrest of former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ambassador Ayodele Oke and his wife Folasade.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued a bench warrant for the couple’s arrest and detention following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to that effect.

    Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told Justice Aneke that the defendants could not be found so as to be served with a money laundering charge filed against them.

    He said the couple also refused to answer phone calls from EFCC operatives.

    Moving the application, Oyedepo also urged the court to declare the defendants wanted.

    He said: “The defendants are not in court and not represented. They are yet to be served with the charge.

    “In the course of investigation, they provided an address in their statements. We have gone to that address but we didn’t find them. Their security confirmed they live there.

    “We also made repeated calls to their numbers, but they chose not to pick our calls.

    “In view of these, I urge your lordship to grant us a warrant of arrest of the defendants for the purpose of compelling their attendance in court.

    “Section 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) empowers your lordship to do so. We’re ready to produce them if we obtain the order.”

    Oyedepo said the suspects, who had no legal representation, could not claim ignorant of the charge as the case had been in the news since it was initiated.

    Read Also: We have warrant to arrest Melaye- Police

    “We pray for an additional order declaring them wanted,” the lawyer prayed.

    Ruling, Justice Aneke held that the application was meritorious in view of the prosecutions explanations.

    “Consequent upon the difficulties encountered by the prosecution in having them appear before the honourable court to stand their trial, I am convinced that the application is not without merit.

    “In the circumstances, I hereby accordingly issue an order of warrant of arrest against the first defendant in accordance with Section 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.”

    Justice Aneke, however, refused the prayer to declare them wanted.

    He said they would only be declared wanted if EFCC does not succeed in executing the bench warrant after trying.

    Oke and his wife were charged in connection with the $43, 449, 947, 000 found in Flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Osborne Towers in Ikoyi Lagos.

    Justice Muslim Hassan had on June 6, 2017, granted a final forfeiture order of the funds.

    EFCC said the Okes, on or about April 12, 2017 in Lagos, concealed $43, 449, 947, 000, property of the Federal Government in Flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    It said they reasonably ought to have known that the sum formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust.

    The commission said the couple, between August 25 and September 2, 2015 in Lagos, indirectly used $1, 658, 000, property of the Federal Government, to acquire the flat.

    They were also accused of directly retaining $160, 777, 136.85, property of the Federal Government, between August 25 and September 2, 2015 in Lagos.

    EFCC said they “reasonably ought to have known” that the sum “formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust”.

    In the fourth and final count, the prosecution said Oke and his wife, within the same period, “directly converted $160, 777, 136.85, property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to your own use”.

    The alleged offence in all the counts, EFCC said, are contrary to Section 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    Justice Aneke adjourned until March 18 for report of compliance.

  • 2019 poll: I’m not afraid of federal might, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has declared that he is not afraid of the proverbial federal might in his 2019 re-election bid, saying that he will continue to defend his people, come what may.

    Ortom, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Monday, however said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be held responsible if anything untoward happened to him.

    The governor accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of persecuting him since he defected from the governing APC to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    “If I die today, the Federal Government should be held responsible because they are planning to eliminate me. I am not going to stop. I will continue to defend my people.

    Read Also:Ortom to security agents: Fish out brains behind Tiv, Jukun clash

    “I know that I am being persecuted because the cabal don’t like me. They do all kind of things. EFCC has been chasing me and my staff for the past 10 months. And I have not done anything wrong that they have been chasing me all over the place. Persecution is so much; there are threats on my life”.

    According to him, overbearing influence of political godfathers in the APC was responsible for his inability to pay pensions and salary arrears of workers before January 2018, saying however that he has been able to offset the arrears the moment he got the godfathers off his back.

    He took a jibe at President Muhammadu Buhari over the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, saying the President might “not be aware” of the development.

    The governor said, “Is it the first time that Mr. President is not aware of something. When we were attacked and he directed the IGP to relocate to Benue State, but the man went to Nasarawa. And when the President came, we confronted him, he said was not aware. And there are many other things which Mr. President has not been aware of that you know.

    “Even when the CJN was to be arraigned, was Mr. President aware? We were told by the Vice President, that Mr. President was not aware. Did you not hear him? Or did you not read it on the pages of newspapers?

    “So, maybe this one too, he is not aware. Because I have not met him one-on-one. I want to assume that he may not be aware. I am not holding brief for him. So, you journalists too can help us get him to be aware.

    “That is the challenge we have. But you heard our mother of the nation; Mrs. Aisha Buhari came out crying that the husband is no longer ruling. That it is the cabal. And we men should talk. If I undress now, you will see that I am a man.

    “So we must talk. That is the point I am making. I am doing it in support of our mother, the First Lady. It is a clarion call that all of us should stand up and chase that cabal away because we did not elect any cabal in that Villa.”

     

  • Abacha loot: ‘Switzerland returned over $1.040b since 1999’

    The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu on Thursday said the Swiss Government has returned about $1.040billion looted by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family members to Nigeria since 1999.

    He also said there is need for an effective international collaboration by law enforcement agencies to combat corruption in the country.

    Magu made the disclosures in a presentation at the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, IAACA, in Vienna, Austria.

    He said the cost of corruption was enormous and needed a broader approach to be tackled.

    The excerpts of Magu’s submission were made available to newsmen by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade.

    Magu said: “Successes recorded in recovery of stolen assets have been achieved through Memoranda of Understanding, MoU signed between Nigeria and several countries including Switzerland, the United Kingdom, UK, the United Arab Emirates, UAE, and the United States, US, in line with Article 57 paragraph 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC.

    “The UK government returned stolen funds to Nigeria in the cases of Dariye and Alamieyeseigha, with over 5 million pounds recovered from the former Bayelsa State governor in 2012.

    Read Also: Use Abacha Loot to fund Ajaokuta, Reps tell FG

    “In the case of Joshua Dariye, a former Governor of Plateau State in Nigeria, the British government also returned £48,000 to Nigeria in fulfillment of the UK’s commitments “under Chapter V of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

    “In 1999, the Swiss authorities pursuant to a request for mutual legal assistance, returned about $723m to Nigeria.”

    “A tripartite MoU between the Swiss government, the World Bank and Nigerian government, also led to the return of additional $320 million Abacha loot.

    “Other classes of recoveries made by the EFCC included whistle blowers cash recoveries, subsidy payment cash recoveries, third party cash recovery for NNPC, FIRS, NPA, AMCON and Banks.

    “In 2017, EFCC made a total recovery of N473, 065,195,977.50, $142,504,121.12, and most of the recoveries, were non-conviction based asset recovery.”

    He listed some of them to include Real Estates belonging to Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Petroleum Minister and her associates; $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 recovered in an apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in 2017; $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000 cash in Kaduna, belonging to Andrew Yakubu, a former Group General Manager of NNPC in 2017.”

    Magu called for more international collaboration and synergy on repatriation of stolen wealth.

    “Corruption is acknowledged to have been an impediment to sustainable development in Africa and the cost is so enormous that there is an urgent need for international collaboration for success to be achieved,” he said.

    According to him, though the international community has created legal and institutional framework for the prevention and recovery of proceeds of corruption, recovery of stolen assets stashed away in foreign lands still remained a major issue to be tackled.”

     

  • Alleged N3.5b fraud: Saraki’s aides get new trial date

    The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff Gbenga Makanjuola and two others was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday due to the judge’s transfer.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them before Justice Babs Kuewumi on 11-count charge of money laundering.

    They were accused of conspiring to disguise the unlawful origin of N3.5billion paid into the account of Melrose General Services Limited.

    The company was also arraigned, along with its operations manager Obiora Amobi and a cashier in the Senate President’s Office Kolawole Shittu.

    Trial as billed to resume on Thursday before Justice Babs Kuewumi, but the judge said he had been transferred to Sokoto.

    He urged parties to take agree on when to appear before a new judge who will take over from him.

    “I have been transferred to Sokoto and I would not like to start what I can’t conclude. We have to adjourn the matter,” Justice Kuewumi said.

    The prosecution and the defence team agreed to return on March 13 for commencement of trial.

    EFCC, which arraigned the defendants last October 7, said Melrose General Services and Robert Mbonu, said to be at large, between December 14, 2016 and last January “took control” of the money transferred from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) account to Melrose’s Access Bank account numbered 0005892453.

    The commission said they reasonably ought to have known that the money represented proceeds of their unlawful and fraudulent activity.

    Read Also:  2019 election is not about me, says Saraki

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3).

    In count 5 of the charge, Makanjuola was accused of making a cash payment of N50million to Mbonu on December 20, 2016 without going through a financial institution.

    The alleged offence is punishable under Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering Act and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).

    They pleaded not guilty.

    EFCC accused the defendants of allegedly converting N3.5billion of N19billion London-Paris Club refund to states.

    EFCC claimed that Melrose General Services, whose alter ego is Mbonu, was never engaged by the NGF for any consultancy services in relation to the Paris and London Club loan refund.

    The commission claimed that the company allegedly recopied and misinterpreted work done by another consortium to the NGF for payment.

    EFCC said Melrose was paid N3.5billion by the NGF on December 14, 2016, and that it moved out about N2.2billion of the N3.5billion, the balance of which the commission had prayed the court to order its forfeiture.

     

     

  • ‘Rivers governor lacks moral right to ask for second term’

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole, has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike lacks the moral right to ask for a second term, in view of his abysmal performance.

    Cole, on Thursday in Port Harcourt, through the Spokesman of his campaign organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives, noted while reacting to the New Year’s Day message of Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the Rivers governor had squandered whatever was left of his goodwill.

    He said: “What is Wike really coming back to do? Rivers people gave him a chance to serve them in 2015, after the abracadabra that took place. Rather than work for them, Wike turned against them and chastised them from day one.

    “Rather than for Wike to keep Rivers people safe, heads of innocent and defenseless persons were gruesomely cut off. Whole families were wasted by hit squads, while property worth millions of naira was destroyed in many parts of the state.

    “Three and a half years down the line, the Rivers governor, who has squandered the opportunity to write his name in the history books, wants a second chance. Even members of his party (PDP), who have seen how bad he is, are not looking forward to a Wike’s second term.”

    The co-founder of Sahara Group also stated that the Rivers people, pushed to the wall by Wike’s maladministration, could not afford to gamble with the future, stressing that it was time to hold the leaders accountable for their deeds, while insisting that it had nothing to do with political party.

    Read Also: ‘Wike will lead Rivers unto prosperity’

    He said: “We challenge the Rivers governor to tell people of the state what he has done with billions of naira belonging to them. Before asking for a second tenure, Wike should tell Rivers people where he kept the N117 billion that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says has been stolen from the coffers of Rivers State.

    “Wike should tell Rivers people where he is getting billions of naira that he is using to buy them out of their lands and acquire palatial structures all over Port Harcourt.

    “Rivers governor should tell us why we have the highest unemployment rate in the country, despite billions of naira that are flowing into the state. He should tell them why we are number one in all the wrong places: insecurity, waste mismanagement, occurrence of HIV/AIDS and the national misery index.”

    The governorship candidate of APC also urged Rivers people to say no to looting, while declaring that the score card of Wike’s administration was not encouraging.

    He said: “Wike has failed abysmally to improve the health sector. He has not delivered in the education sector. He has failed the civil servants and pensioners who worked tirelessly to lay the solid foundation for the growth of our dear state.

    “What Wike has is a bag full of colossal failures. Unlike Wike, Cole, who has a clear plan, will not allow the heads of Rivers people to be severed from their bodies and used gruesomely to decorate roadsides, in order to induce fear.

    “Unlike Wike, Cole understands the need to create an appropriate environment for investments and understands the place of bureaucrats and technocrats who work in the state’s civil service.

    “Cole knows that the greatest task of any responsible government is to protect lives and property. This is why Rivers people should ignore Wike’s appeal for a second tenure and vote APC.”

    Cole also assured that his government from May 29 this year, by God’s grace, would bring back security, investments, jobs and empowerment, as well as to restore the Garden City status of Port Harcourt with the greening and cleaning of the state capital and its environs, with end put to the hazardous soot.

  • EFCC intercepts $2.8m at Enugu Airport

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Enugu Zonal Office, has intercepted 2.8 million dollars from two persons suspected to be money launderers at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    EFCC Acting Spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade in a statement in Abuja, said the suspects were Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel.

    He said they were allegedly working for a company, ‘Bankers Warehouse’ and were nabbed based on intelligence report.

    “Upon their arrests, they were caught with consignments of two suitcases, containing $1.4 million each, totalling $2.8 million, at the departure lounge of the airport while about to board an Arik Air evening flight to Lagos.

    “During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have been in the business of conveying cash for “some notable banks” for over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra, when they were caught.

    “The suspects further confessed that they had so far carried out such assignments four times this year.

    “They are presently giving useful information to operatives of the commission, and will be charged to court soon.”

    Tthe commission had on Nov. 30, arrested Abbas Lakis, a Lebanese with 2 million dollars at Abuja Airport for money laundering.

    NAN

  • I don’t have two houses – Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Thursday told an Ikeja high court that he does not own two houses.

    Magu told the court that he has only one house which he said is situated in Karo, Abuja.

    He stated this while being led in evidence by his counsel, Wahab Shittu before Justice Doris Okuwobi in a libel suit instituted against The Sun Newspaper.

    The acting Chairman of the EFCC had sued the publishers of the newspaper before the court, for series of libelous publication against his person.

    He is claiming N5 billion as damages in a letter written to the publishers of the newspaper.

    He had also demanded a public apology and retraction of the said libelous publication dated March 25, 2017 in The Sun Newspaper.

    The publication titled: “Magu Under Fresh Probe” had alleged that two houses located in a high brow area in Maitama, Abuja were traced to his wife by the Department of State Security (DSS).

    He said The Sun publications damaged his person and character nationally and internationally.

    Read Also: How BDCs assist politicians to loot, by Magu

    Magu contended that there was no iota of truth in the publication by The Sun newspaper.

    “The publication is totally false. Even if I have the money, I wouldn’t buy houses in Maitama, ” Magu maintained.

    “They said the houses are located in the Darrubbe and Missouri, Maitama and that they belong to my wife.

    “My wife Fatima Yakaka Magu is a civil servant and cannot afford to buy houses in Maitama.

    “I am international man and the publication has damaged my reputation. The name Magu does not only end with me. The publication caused a whole lot of trauma for my lineage, ” Magu said.

    However, while under cross examination by defence counsel, Charles Enwelunta,  Magu said his wife is not a party in the suit he filed against the defendant.

    “Are you sure you read the story very well?” Enwelunta asked Magu.

    “Yes I read it over and over again and they did not say DSS was investigating my wife,” Magu said.

    Magu told the court that his appointment was to be confirmed by the Senate but that he does not know why the upper chamber declined to do so twice, when asked by the defence to name the arm of the government that was to confirm his appointment.

    He however said that he was not worried about the refusal of the Senate to confirm his appointment.

    When Enwelunta took him up on his activities in the EFCC, Magu maintained that he secure 200 convictions in court in respect of cases bordering on corruption.

    He said the Senate was in a better position to say why they rejected him adding, “ I have been there for three years and Nigerians are watching”.

    Magu admitted knowing Inda Sule Moses, Lawal Mammah, Najeeb Iman and Adebayo Adeleke Rafiu with whom he faced the Senate during the screening exercise.

    He said it was of no importance to him if there are forces trying to get him out of office. .

    Justice Okuwobi has adjourned the matter till February 28, 2019 for further hearing.

     

  • EFCC denies alleged witch-hunt of state govt.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday says that the fight against corruptions n in the country is not mention to witch-hunt anyone, or state government.
     The Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ibrahim Magu stated this during the 2018 anti-corruption walk  in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital with the collaboration  of Civil Society Organisations in the state on Monday.
    Represented by the Zonal Head Port Harcourt Operation of the EFCC, Nnaghe Itam, a Police Inspector,  Magu describes the graft war as a fight for accountability and  vowed the commission’s commitment to sustaining it until corruption is stamped out of the system.
    Itam said, ” The war is ongoing to force corruption out of Nigeria. It is not a fight against any State government, it is a fight for good governance and transparency.It is a fight for accountability,it is a fight to ensure we have development,it is a fight to ensure that real dividends of democracy are delivered to the people”
    The zonal EFCC boss explained,” The fight against corruption is not selective, it has to start somewhere and where it started is where it is supposed to start”

    Read Also: EFCC receives 75 petitions in Gombe in one year

    “It is for sincerity .The fight against corruption is like a moving train whatever obstacle we meet on the way, we crush it and move on”
    He extolled the achievements of the fight stressing that the gains  are obvious to the public.
    Speaking also, the Program Officer of Social Action, Isaac Green, said the CSOs decided to take the fight against corruption to the road with EFCC because corruption hinders development.
    He said, “Our collaboration with EFCC against corruption  is strong because the commission has come to belief that this fight will rid corruption out in our society”.

  • 2019: EFCC vows to stop the use of ‘illicit’ fund for election

    As the 2019 elections gather stem, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has promised to ensure that political office seekers do not monetize the electoral process in whatever form.

    The agency also said that it is working assiduously to ensure that politicians are not allowed to use what it described as ‘illicit funds’ from influencing or swaying the electoral process.  

    The anti-graft agency gave the warning on Monday through the Southwest Zonal head, Mr AbdulRasheed Bawa while addressing journalists after about 3.5km walk tagged “anti-corruption walk 2018” to commemorate this year World Anti-corruption day, marked on December 9, annually.

    The walk which had over 500 anti-corruption stakeholders as participants kicked off at the agency’s Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan Zonal office and terminated at Cocoa House, Dugbe, Ibadan.

    The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Say no against corruption and let your no counts”

    According to the Southwest Zonal Head, the theme is geared toward sensitising the Nigerians to let their votes count by way of electing credible politicians to run the affairs of the country for the next four years.

    Other stakeholders who joined the EFCC in the anti-corruption walk include, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Chaplain Corps, RESCUE organisation, members of the National Youth Service Commission (NYSC) anti-corruption CDS, the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade, Nigerian Immigration Service officers, National Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo state wing, Federal Road Safety Corps, Eleyele unit, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDCS) officers among others.

    The participants also displayed placards with various inscriptions sensitizing the people on the menace of corruption and the need to participate in the fight against same.

    Some of the inscriptions read: “Say no to corruption, support the fight”, “Speak out and say no to corruption”, “Nigeria is our country, we shall change it”, “Red card against corruption”, “see something, say something, EFCC will do something” and “Beware of juju scam”, among others.

    Bawa who led other top management teams of the EFCC and the stakeholders in the walk also called on people to be enlisted in the fight against corruption in the interest of the future of the country.

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    He said, “The movement in the country now is geared towards 2019 general elections. It is the period which we should make sure that our ‘no’ counts by electing credible leaders to govern the affairs of Nigeria as from 2019 to 2023.

    “This exercise is to make sure that we are doing our mandate which is to rid this county of economic and financial crimes. The EFCC condemns totally, the monetization of electoral processes in this country. We are all aware of what happened in the 2015 general elections. The EFCC is still battling to conclude the case involving $115 million INEC bribery funds that were used during the 2015 general election, so we want to make sure that the 2019 election is free from the monetization of the polls by using illicit funds to finance elections.”

    On whether the Commission has a hand in ensuring that alleged corrupt aspirant is not allowed to contest the election, the zonal head said only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is saddled with the responsibilities of screening of candidates, but was quick to add that the agency is not, however, folding its hands, but has been working to ensure that all works out well for the country.

    “The EFCC is working hard with all the stakeholders with all hands on board to make sure that we do the right thing on our part as an agency saddled with the responsibility of fighting economic and financial crimes.

    “There is nothing that is wrong with Nigeria as a country that can never be corrected in Nigeria. So, Nigerians must cooperate with the EFCC determination and resolve to reduce corruption to its barest minimum in Nigeria”, Bawa added.