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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • EFCC re-arraigns Kalu for ‘laundering’ N7.6b state funds

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday re-arraigned former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu for allegedly laundering N7.65billion state funds.

    He pleaded not guilty to an amended 39-count charge that was read to him before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    EFCC said Kalu, whist being governor between 2001 and September 2006, procured Slok Nigeria Ltd, a company owned by him and members of his family, to retain N7.2billion in its Inland Bank Plc account, on his behalf.

    Read Also:EFCC fails to present witnesses in Sen Jang’s case

    The commission said the money “formed part of the funds illegally derived from the treasury of Abia State government and which was converted into several bank drafts before they were paid into the said company’s account”.

    Kalu was accused of collaborating with Udeh Jones Udeogu Slok Nigeria and Emeka Abone (at large) “in concealing the genuine origin of an aggregate sum of N7, 197,871,208.70…”

    The alleged offence violates Section 17(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, and was liable to be punished under Section 16.

    Kalu and Udeogu, a former Director of Finance in Abia State Government House, pleaded not guilty to the charge. They were initially arraigned on a 34-count charge to which five fresh counts were added.

    Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) said the amendment was needed because of new evidence provided by the 19 witnesses who testified in the trial. He said he would not call additional witnesses despite the amendment having closed the prosecution’s case on May 11.

    Beside the N7.2billion, the defendants were also accused of receiving N460million allegedly stolen from the Abia State Government treasury between July and December 2002.

    EFCC said they breached Section 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

    Udeogu, Slok Nigeria, Abone and Michael Udo, also at large, were accused of collaborating with Kalu to conceal the “genuine origin” of allegedly stolen funds.

    Justice Idris, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal but was permitted to conclude the case, allowed the defendants to continue on the bail granted them 11 years ago when they were first arraigned.

    Defence counsel Gordy Uche, Solo Akuma and K.C. Nwofor, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, said they had pending no-case submissions, and that they needed time to respond to EFCC’s written address opposing their applications.

    Justice Idris adjourned until July 25.

  • EFCC fails to present witnesses in Sen Jang’s case

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday failed to bring witnesses to testify in the case of alleged misappropriation of state funds involving former Plateau Governor Jonah Jang.

    EFCC had, on May 7, preferred a 12-count charge bordering on alleged corruption and misappropriation against Jang.

    It alleged that Jang, who served as Plateau governor between 2007 and 2015, misappropriated N6 billion, two months to the end of his tenure as governor.

    According to the charges, the former governor allegedly embezzled N4 billion from the state coffers through Mr Pam Yusuf, then a cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

    Read Also:Jang, TY Danjuma prosecuted over Jos killings

    The court, on May 24, adjourned the matter to July 17, 18 and 19 for definite and accelerated hearing.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter before Justice Daniel Longji of Plateau High Court IV, its counsel, Mr Henry Ejiga, stated that the commission could not bring the witnesses “due to the security situation in Plateau”.

    Ejiga prayed the court to adjourn the matter to another date to enable him bring the witnesses to court.

    Counsel to Jang, Mr Robert Clarke (SAN), while responding, stated that criminal trials were expected to be “fast and speedy”, adding that justice delayed was justice denied.

    He said that the reason given by the prosecution was very surprising.

    “The reason given by the prosecution is very surprising. Security cannot be a good reason for not bringing the witnesses.

    “If people like us that do not have security guards can come all the way from Lagos without problems, then it is wrong for the EFCC to use security as an excuse not to bring the witnesses to court.

    “EFCC has the control of arms and ammunition; they say the red eagle will always catch up with you, how comes the eagle has stopped flying?

    “It is appalling that the custodian of security is afraid of coming to court because of security issues. The court should not accept this flimsy excuse.

    “We should have an affirmation statement by the prosecution that they would be ready at the next adjourned date,” he stated.

    Responding, the prosecuting counsel said that the EFCC was not the Ministry of Defence, saying that its personnel were as vulnerable as any other Nigerian.

    “We have good reasons to be afraid and careful because there were instances where witnesses have been gunned down while being conveyed to courts,” he claimed.

    Ejiga said that the protection of witnesses was very paramount to the EFCC, and declared that the development was not a tactic to delay justice.

    Longji, who frowned at the excuse given by the EFCC, stated that the court was a serious one and should not be taken for granted.

    He added that section 165 of the Criminal Procedure Code gives the court the discretion of striking out a matter if it is stalled or the complainant is absent.

    The Judge, however, noted that the counsel to the defendant had not asked the court to strike out the matter and could not, therefore, do that.

    He adjourned the matter to Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1, for definite continuation of hearing.

     

     

  • EFCC seizes N200m from military officers

    A Robert Egbe  in Lagos Wednesday authorised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize N200 million allegedly kept in several commercial banks by two military officers and their three firms.

    Justice Sule Hassan ordered that the sum be forfeited to the Federal Government, pending the conclusion of investigation as to their origins.

    The officers are: Adamu Bello Argungu and John Onimisi Ozigi, while their firms are: Falsal & Co Global Services Nigeria Ltd; Diamond Head Ventures & Development Company Ltd; and Sweetex Bureau De Change Ltd.

    Read Also:EFCC begins investigation of Pinnick, Dikko, others

    The EFCC told the judge, through an ex parte application, that the defendants fraudulently withdrew the sum from the Defence Headquarters over-head expenses accounts.

    Its counsel, Mr. Nkereuwem Mark Anana, alleged that the sums were warehoused in five banks.

    The commission’s application, marked FHC/L/CS/1094/18, was supported by an 18-paragraph affidavit deposed to by its operative, Mr. Clever Ibrahim, two exhibits and a written address.

    Ibrahim averred that Argungu and Ozigi are of the Nigerian Army and Air Force respectively, made several unauthorised withdrawals from the Defence Headquarters Overhead Expenses Account.

    The deponent alleged that the money was neither deposited in their salary accounts, nor accounts belonging to the Defence Headquarters, but in corporate accounts and other accounts belonging their companies.

    He alleged further that although a post-no-debit order was placed on the accounts in compliance with Section 6(5) of the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act, 2011, it lapsed after 72 hours.

    Thus, the order of the interim forfeiture was sought to debar the respondents from tampering with the money.

  • EFCC recovers N20b, secures 42 convictions in Lagos 

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it recovered N20 billion from corruption suspects in Lagos State alone this week.

    EFCC acting-chairman Ibrahim Magu said it also secured 42 convictions in the state between January and July.

    Magu, who was represented by EFCC Zonal Head in Lagos, Akaninyene Ezima, spoke in Lagos Wednesday during an anti-corruption walk to mark the African Anti-Corruption Day with the theme ‘Africa unite against corruption.’

    The walk was organised in collaboration with civil society organisations including Women Arise for Change Initiative and Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA) among others.

    Read Also:EFCC begins investigation of Pinnick, Dikko, others

    Magu said: “This year, the Lagos Zonal office has recorded 42 convictions so far, and we have recovered funds running into billions of naira.

    “As at this week, we’ve even made a recovery of about N20 billion. So, while I cannot give you an exact figure right now, I know we’ve recovered tens of billions of naira so far this year. We’ve also recovered sums in foreign currencies, vehicles, etc.

    “Some of the convictions we recorded were against ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ fraudsters, and they were not just convicted, their assets were also seized; vehicles, monies etc. So, we’ve really gone a long way and I’m sure before the year ends we’re going to double that.”

    Magu reiterated EFCC’s determination to win the war against corruption.

    He added: “The depth and gravity of corruption in our country is alarming. This is because our country has one of the most extensive and deeply entrenched cultures of corruption on the African continent, if not universally.

    “We are determined to win the corruption war, no matter how long it would take. The commission has traced and recovered illicit funds as well as properties worth billions of dollars.
    “This level of corruption is shocking, destructive and totally unacceptable,” he said.

    He emphasised that the fight against corruption cannot be won by the EFCC alone, urging all Nigerians, especially judges and judicial officers to support and cooperate with EFCC in the struggle to free Nigeria from corruption.

    Women Arise president, Joe Okei-Odumakin, urged Nigerians to speak out against corruption and keep the faith that the country would get better.

    Head of GIABA, an anti-money laundering and terrorism agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Timothy Melaye, hailed EFCC as a credible partner in the anti-graft war.

    He described the country’s low Transparency International ranking as perception, not reality and encouraged Nigerians to not be discouraged by it.

    Melaye added: “We have been working together with the EFCC. EFCC has remained one of our key partners not just in Nigeria but across West Africa.

    Participants in the event, singing, dancing and displaying banners, walked through parts of Ikoyi, from the agency’s office on Awolowo Way, to Obalende, past Tafawa Balewa Square, back to Awolowo Way.

  • EFCC arraigns contractor over alleged issuance of N5m dud cheque

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Wednesday arraigned one Emmanuel Ogbu and a firm, Next Tech- Global Services Ltd. in an FCT High Court over alleged issuance of N5 million dud cheque.

    Ogbu was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on breach of trust and issuance of dud cheque.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mrs Ashibi Amedu, told the court that on March 12, 2013 in Abuja, Ogbu borrowed N5 million from Mr Michael Omefe, the nominal complainant.

    He said that the defendant borrowed the money to enable him construct four unit cell blocks at Yenagoa Prisons.

    The contract was awarded the defendant by the Nigeria Prisons Service.

    Read Also: EFCC arraigns ex minister, four others over money laundering

    Amedu alleged that Ogbu issued a dud cheque to Omefe, as on presentation at the bank, it was discovered that there was insufficient fund in his account.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of Section 311 of the Penal Code and Section 1 (1) b of the Dishonoured Cheques Offences Act Cap D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Ogbu pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.

    The defendant’s counsel, Mr Collins Shaka- Momadu, applied for his bail and it was not opposed by the prosecution.

    The judge, Justice Peter Affe, upheld the administrative bail granted the defendant by the EFCC and adjourned the matter until Oct. 11 for trial.

  • Alleged theft: Court rules on First Nation Airlines MD’s objection Sept 21

    An Ikeja Special 0ffences Court has fixed September 21 for ruling on an application filed by the Managing Director of First Nation Airways, Mr Kayofe Odukoya seeking to quash a N1.7 billion theft charge proffered against him.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Odukoya alongside First Nation Airways and Bellview Airline.

    They are facing a four-count charge bordering on forgery, use of false document, perjury and stealing before Justice Mojisola Dada.

    At resumed sitting of the court Friday, Odukoya’s counsel, Mr Olawale Akoni (SAN), said they have filed a preliminary objection dated April 30.

    Akoni prayed the court to strike out the charges against his client for lack of jurisdiction.

    Read Also:N1.7bn theft: Court to rule on First Nation MD’s objection

    He said the application was supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit.

    The defendants said in their objection that the charge by the EFCC dated December 11, 2017, contravened Sections 249, 252 and 77 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), No. 10, 2011.

    He argued that the Information/Charge No. ID/239C/2012 filed against the applicants does not comply with Section 249 of the ACJL as stated above.

    According to him: “Section 249 of the ACJL stipulates that prosecutorial authority before the High Court of Lagos State shall be exercised only in the name of `The State of Lagos’.

    Opposing the application, EFCC counsel, Mrs. Zainab Ettu, argued that the anti-graft agency did not require a fiat from the attorney-general of Lagos State to prosecute the case.

    She urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that it lacked merit and constituted abuse of court processes.

    The EFCC had claimed that Odukoya and the other defendants committed the offences on March 21, 2013.

    According to the commission, the defendants forged the Memorandum of Loss of Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy registered as No. 33 on Page 33, Volume 1011 at the Lagos State Land Registry, Alausa, Ikeja.

    It said that the defendants intended that the document would be acted on as genuine.

    The anti-graft agency said the forged document is in respect of a property located at No. 29, Oduduwa Street, Ikeja GRA.

    It said that Odukoya used the false document and also gave false information on oath concerning the loss of the certificate of occupancy at the Lagos State Land Registry.

    The anti-graft agency added that Odukoya stole and converted N1.7 billion belonging to Skye bank for his own use, on October 7, 2016.

    It said that the alleged offences violate Sections 85, 86(1) 278(1) (b), 285, 361(1) (a) and (b), 363 and 364 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

  • Court forfeits N325.4m land linked with Diezani

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government a parcel of land in Lekki, Lagos State, linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Justice Babs Kuewumi made the order following an ex parte application by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Anslem Ozioko.

    Joined as defendants in the ex parte applications were Diezani, one Mr. Donald Amamgbo and a firm, Mez Group LLC.

    The land, valued at N325.4m, is designated as Plot 13, Block II, Oniru Chieftaincy Private Family Estate.

    Ozioko told the judge that the land was suspected to be acquired with proceeds of crime.

    Read Also:‘Diezani loot’: Court remands Shagari, four others in police custody

    Justice Kuewumi also directed the anti-graft agency to publish the temporary forfeiture order in a national daily to put interested parties on notice.

    He adjourned till July 14, for anyone interested in the property to appear before him to show cause why the land should not be permanently forfeited.

    The EFCC is seeking an order of the court to appoint “a competent person(s) or firm to manage the assets/property named and described in the schedule to this application.”

    An EFCC investigator, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said the anti-graft agency stumbled on the documents of the land sometime in 2016 while executing a search on the office of Amamgbo, an ally of the ex-petroleum minister.

    Bawa said the anti-graft agency also recovered from Amamgbo’s office an undated report titled, “Highly Confidential Attorney Work Product August Report,” among others.

    He added: “The report contained a list of 18 companies and several properties located in the United Kingdom, Nigeria and the United States of America.

    “During the course of his interview, Mr. Donald Chidi Amamgbo told us that he registered the 18 companies to assist Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke in holding titles of her properties and that all the properties belong to her.”

  • Court rejects Nyame’s bid for bail

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gudu, Abuja Wednesday rejected an application for bail filed by the immediate past Taraba State Governor Reverend Jolly Nyame.

    At resumed hearing Wednesday counsel to the defendant Mr Olalekan Ojo brought an application of 29 paragraph affidavit with two medical reports from Jalingo urging the court to release the defendant on bail due to health reasons.

    According to Ojo; “I urge this honourable court to grant the defendant bail on health grounds because as it is he is suffering from hypertension and diabetes”

    In response to the application filed by his learned brother the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the application for bail because the two medical reports cannot be relied upon.

    Read Also:N1.64b fraud: Ex-Governor Nyame goes to jail for 28yrs

    ”My lord the defendant did not state that the prison authorities are unable to take care of his illment and so i urge my lord to dismiss the application for bail,” Mr Jacobs said.

    In her ruling Justice Adebukola Banjoko rejected the defendant’s application for bail because his medical reports tendered in court are contradictory.

    ”The defendant’s medical reports are contradictory and they don’t collerate in anyway.His health ought to be taken care of by the prison authorities,” Justice Banjoko held.

    Justice Banjoko also added that the defendant failed to prove that the medical team in the Kuje prison lack medical facilities.

    However on the 30th of May Justice Adebukola Banjoko had convicted the ex-governor on 27 out of the 41 counts contained in the charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in July 2007.

    The breakdown of the sentence is as follows: 14 years upon conviction for the offence of criminal breach of trust; 7 years for receiving gratification; 5 years for obtaining valuable public properties without consideration, and 2 years for criminal misappropriation.

    The judge said the sentences would run concurrently, implying that the ex-governor may end up spending 14 years in prison.

    Justice Banjoko, who said the defendant betrayed his claim to be a clergyman and Reverend, wondered why it was only the ex-governor that was prosecuted in view of the level of impunity displayed, while Nyame was in office.

    The judge, in the over 300-page judgment, which she read for over six hours, said after carefully examining all the evidence tendered by the prosecution, she was left with no option than to conclude that it was “either Nyame entered into office without a corrupt mind, but later became corrupt or he was corrupt ab-initio.

  • Alleged money laundering: EFCC opposes SAN’s bid to travel abroad

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Monday opposed an application by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Dele Belgore praying the Federal High Court in Lagos for permission to attend his daughter’s graduation in the United Kingdom.

    Belgore is on trial with a former National Planning Minister Prof Abubakar Suleiman and former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke (who is said to be at large).

    EFCC said they “directly took possession of the sum N450million,” adding that they “reasonably ought to have known (that the money) forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act.”

    It also accused them of “indirectly” using the sum of N450million on March 27, 2015 and making cash payment of N450million, which exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    Belgore, through his lawyer Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) prayed the court to order the release of his passport to enable him to attend his daughter’s July 4 graduation as a medical doctor from the University of London, UK.

    The SAN said he also plans to visit his doctor in the UK for a medical check-up in the last week of August.

    But, prosecuting counsel for Rotimi argued that since Belgore had a pending application urging the court to quash the charges, he had no right to seek favour from the court until his application was decided.

    He asked: “Can a party challenging the validity of proceedings be asking for favour from the same court?”

    Justice Rilwan Aikawa adjourned the application, as well the pending one challenging the charge, for hearing.

    The judge granted Sulaiman’s application to change his counsel from Chief Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN) to Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).

    A lawyer from Oyetibo’s law firm, Mr. Olaniran Obele, appeared for Sulaiman Monday.

    In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo.

    The commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner of Police in the state Garba Saliu.

    According to EFCC, they allegedly made the payments on March 27, 2015 without going through a financial institution.

    The sums, the commission said, exceeded the amount authorised by law and violated Section 1(a) and Section 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).

    The defendants were also accused in the amended charge of making cash payment of N61, 656,000 to Isa Biu on the same day, exceeding what is authorised by law.

    EFCC said they also paid N87, 962,000 to Sola Adeoti and Hajiya Dankaka on the same day “without going through a financial institution.”

    According to the commission, Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Sulieman, on the same day, made cash payment of N50million to one Sheriff Shagaya, an amount exceeding what is authorised by law.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned until Thursday for hearing.

  • N14bn police pension scam: Onyegbula closes her case

    Mrs Veronica Onyegbula, a defendant in the N14billion police pension scam, on Wednesday, closed her case at the FCT High Court, Maitama, in the trial- within –trial, to ascertain the voluntariness of her statement to EFCC.

    Onyegbula, is the fourth defendant in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against her and six others.

    Others are: Esar Dangabar, Atiku Kigo, Ahmed Wada, Sani Zira, Uzoma Attang, and Christian Madubuke.

    EFCC alleged that they were responsible for the disappearance of N14 billion police pension fund.

    Onyegbula’s counsel, Mr Ernest Ikeji, had earlier, informed the court that EFCC forced his client to make the statements which the anti-graft agency wanted to tender and prayed for trial-within-trial.

    Onyegbula, cross examined by Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN ), the prosecuting counsel, told the court that she made10 statements to the EFCC.

    She added that five out of the statements were not made voluntarily.

    Onyegbula further told the court that she made the statements in the recording room of EFCC in the presence of Mustapha Gandaya and Aliyu Habibu.

    “They were dictating what to write on the first day, they told me to write my personal information and I did, they said I should write everything about myself,” she said.

    Read also : Raped teenagers’ parents raise alarm over daughters’ whereabouts

    She told the court that all the five contentious statements were dictated to her and that the EFCC asked her to co-operate so that they will call her as a witness to testify against her directors.

    She added that the EFCC officers dictated to her to write that she stole N14 billion with her directors, and that she refused to write it, but rather told them that she never saw such money.

    Onyegbula said that she was promised by the EFCC that if she cooperates, her name will be dropped from the allegations.

    She said that after she was released on bail, she made five additional statements.

    The judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, after listening to her testimony, adjourned the matter until October 9 for adoption of written addresses.