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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • Corruption charge: Justice Nganjiwa seeks transfer of case file to another judge

    Corruption charge: Justice Nganjiwa seeks transfer of case file to another judge

    Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Bayelsa Division, has asked the Chief Judge of Lagos state, Justice Opeyemi Oke, to transfer his case file to another judge for trial.

    In the alternative, he sought a court order dismissing the charge which he said constitute double jeopardy against him.

    Justice Nganjiwa is facing a $260,000 and N8.65 million (totalling about N81, 705,000) corruption charge, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice  Adedayo Akintoye of Igbosere High Court.

    At resumed proceedings Monday, Nganjiwa through his counsel, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), accused the trial judge of bias in favour of the prosecution.

    His counsel, Chief Clarke told the court that he has written a letter dated November 10, 2017 to the Administrative Judge seeking transfer of the matter to another judge.

    He said he has also filed an application objecting to trial of his client before the Judge.
    The prosecutor of the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, at this stage said he was not aware of the defendant’s application and was subsequently served in the court.

    In the letter, Clarke said “the trial judge is presiding over the charge number LD/2544/16, FRN v Rickey Mustapha Tarfa and the counts, facts of the charge
    against my client are substantially similar to the counts/facts of the charge against Ricky Mustapha Tarfa.

    “In essence, my Lord, I am of the view that opinion formed by the learned trial judge as regards charge LD/2544/16 will invariably lead to same opinion in the information against my client.

    “My Lord, as it stands, fair trial in the eye of a reasonable man is likely to be tainted as there is likely of bias”.

    Asked by the court to explain what he meant by bias, Clarke maintained that there is a presumption of bias by the trial judge in favour of the prosecution.

    “It is for the judge to decide if a prima facie case has been established against the defendant. But in the case, it is the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) that is saying a prima facie case has been established.

    Clarke also told the court that their application before the court was brought pursuant to section 36(9) of the constitution and sections 173,175 and 216 of ACJL of Lagos State 2011.

    He said their application is supported by an affidavit containing all the facts of bias against his client.

    Clarke stated further: “Our main request is for this court to return the case file to the Chief Judge for purposes of re-assignment to another judge”, he said.

    In the alternative, he sought an order dismissing the charge on the ground that “the charge as filed constitutes double jeopardy against the defendant “.

    Clarke said: “there is a sister case before this court containing virtually all the allegations and particulars in this new case.

    “You cannot make up your mind in one particular case and change it in another case. We are not afraid that justice must be done, but justice must be seen to have been done”

    In his response, EFCC prosecutor, Shittu described the application as a attempt to frustrate trial.
    He said the application was also contentious and should not be allowed.

    Shittu reminded the court of past attempts by defence to stall trial.

    “Your lordship, you cannot stay proceedings in a criminal matter.

    “The applicant is imputing bias merely on speculative conclusions that a case is pending before your lordship”,Shittu argued that there was no way the matter in the other matter involving Ricky Tarfa can influence the mattet before the court as no decision has been taken on it.

    He also asked the court to take judicial notice of the fact that the defendant is not on a joint trial with Tarfa in the other case NIR a witness in the matter.

    He contended that the defence has failed to lead evidence that the court will be bias in the matter.
    “The defence has not shown that your lordship has particular interest in the matter and that your lordship has no relation with the defendant.

    “Your lordship has not exhibited any partisanship. The court is only exercising judicial powers in relation to the matter.

    “It is speculative to say that the judge should hands off. The circumstances are different. The particulars are different.

    “There is no ground for the application from all parameters. So this application is premature. Anybody alleging bias must provide all the particulars, “he maintained.

    At this stage, Chief Clarke asked the court for a short adjournment to enable the Administrative Judge take decision on their letter, ” after all no court can transfer a judge without the approval of the Chief Judge “.

    Justice Akintoye has reserved ruling in the matter till November 22.

     

  • Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    The Presidency says it has uncovered plan by politicians seeking the destruction of national institutions such as the courts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) and “everything good that the nation stands for”.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    The presidential aide cited the recent series of interviews by a former governor of Jigawa and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Alhaji Sule Lamido, attacking President Buhari’s efforts on ongoing war against corruption, as part of the grand plan.

    He, however, described the attacks by Lamido “as” a reflection of the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the opposition in the country.

    “It is only in Nigeria that a leader will divert money belonging to the public into his children’s account then turns round to start pontificating on public morals, in the process subjecting the nation’s honest leadership to daily attacks based on falsehood.

    “It is even worse that such a person, facing criminal prosecution will start going round saying he wants to be president. Is this not one of the reasons why other countries are laughing at Nigeria?

    “This is hooliganism. It is not opposition politics,’’ Shehu noted.

    The presidential spokesman challenged Lamido to convince Nigerians that his trenchant attacks against the government and the judiciary were not a smokescreen to becloud the atmosphere of his criminal prosecution.

    “In his diatribe published in the Vanguard newspaper last week, it is clear that the former governor not only set out to mock the President but the judiciary and important national institutions.’’

    According to him, this is part of an orchestrated plot to divert public attention from his scam related cases.

    He added that, “If President Buhari’s war against corruption as he said, was a mockery what does one say of Lamido’s sworn efforts to sabotage the country’s efforts to rid itself of the cancer of corruption?

    “If accountability of public officials is the very essence of a mature democracy, it is indeed ironic that a politician, seeking the leadership of the country, making a mockery of institutions and leaders seeking to entrench that.

    “As a country, Nigeria settled for President Buhari not just as President but the watchman of people’s wealth.”

    Shehu observed that the citizens are happy with Buhari’s efforts in fighting corruption and the whole world was applauding him, while the African Union, the AU named him as the Champion of the war against corruption.

    He stated that opposition politicians like Lamido needed to come to terms with the fact that their act needed updating.

    Shehu further quoted Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) that said, “the nation’s war against corruption spearheaded by EFCC was incidentally formulated by the a past PDP administration.

    “It is a tragic irony that the leaders of the same party are doing their utmost to weaken or destroy it. Watch it, is that why he is seeking to lead the country?

    “Time and again, President Buhari had lamented that strongmen had destroyed the country’s strong institutions and that it will take strong men to rebuild them.

    “He deserves the support of everyone to rebuild such institutions because they serve a common good.”

    The presidential aide, therefore, appealed to  opposition politicians to give President Buhari the support he needed to rebuild national institutions such as the EFCC.

    NAN

  • Senate to publish names of companies in alleged N30trn scam

    Senate to publish names of companies in alleged N30trn scam

    The Senate says it is set to publish names of companies found culpable in investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue scam in the import and export value chain.

    Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, made this known in an interview with newsmen on Sunday.

    He said the committee had completed its first batch of investigation involving over 60 companies and would publish names of companies involved in various infractions leading to loss of government revenue.

    He said the committee was releasing the names because it had established culpability against the companies.

    Uzodinma added that the names to be published would contain details of how much of recoverable government revenue was with each of the companies.

    The lawmaker stressed that companies found to be involved in infractions bothering on money laundering and foreign exchange abuses would be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) for prosecution and recovery of the monies.

    He added that those bothering on smuggling and import infractions would be referred to the Nigeria Customs Service for recovery of such revenues and possibly blacklisting.

    “We got up to the point that even the companies themselves have seen that they are culpable and that is why we want to publish the names and hand them over to EFCC and Customs.

    “The reason for the delay in publishing the names all the while is to establish culpability against the companies.

    “Now through various reconciliations, it has been established and we are no longer in doubt, including the companies that are involved, that these things are in existence and that they are culpable.

    “We have presented the interim report which detailed how much we have recovered so far and the Senate approved it in plenary, while an extension was given to us to do the final reconciliation.

    “We do not want emphasis to continue to be on how much we have recovered even though it is contained in the report. We want those companies found culpable to go to government and make payments,’’ he said.

    The chairman further said that “some of the companies have started paying while others have not. None of them have fully paid what we have established against them.

    “Since they have started paying, we will now transfer the matter to the Customs, who will now do a recovery schedule with the companies that are willing to pay what is due to government.

    “By the time the names are published, Nigerians and the Federal Government will know which company is owing what and the relevant agencies will go after them to recover the money.’’

    The chairman said that the committee would commence the second batch of investigation after some oversight visits to establish culpability.

    He assured that the committee would not be deterred in its effort to assist government in recovering monies meant for the development of the economy.

    He stressed that the legislature would continue to use its constitutional powers to assist the executive in blocking leakages and increasing revenue generation, particularly in the non-oil sector.

    Uzodinma said it was appalling that in spite of government’s effort to improve revenue generation to meet the country’s development needs, some people were still involved in jeopardising such effort.

    The joint committee was mandated by the Senate to carry out investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue leakages in foreign exchange and the entire import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.

    It was mandated to identify leakages and irregularities in the system and come up with recommendations that would block further leakages and strengthen the revenue drive of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    In an interim report presented to the Senate on Oct. 18, the committee said it had recovered N140 billion.

    The report indicated that some collection banks had made remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria to the tune of N128 billion with evidence of payment received by the committee.

    It further indicated that some of the 60 companies made voluntary payment of over N12 billion to government based on internal self-audit after receiving documented evidence of culpability from the committee.

    The report also indicated that the committee identified 32 leakage channels as the major sources of revenue loss in the import-export value chain, including undervaluation, wrong tariff classification and abuse of waivers and concessions.

    NAN

  • Ex-NIA DG Oke fraudulently converted agency’s funds, says EFCC

    Ex-NIA DG Oke fraudulently converted agency’s funds, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday accused former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayodele Oke of fraudulently converting the agency’s funds.

    It alleged that Oke’s wife, Folasade, used part of the funds to buy Flat 7B in Osborne Towers on 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, where large sums of foreign and local currencies were recovered.

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday ordered the flat’s temporary forfeiture to the Federal Government.

    It will be permanently forfeited if no one turns up to justify ownership within 14 days, Justice Saliu Saidu ruled.

    He ruled on an application by the EFCC, which was moved by prosecuting counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.

    The commission said Mrs Oke made made cash payment of $1,658,000 in tranches of $700,000, $650,000 and $353,700, for the flat’s purchase between August 25 and September 3, 2015.

    EFCC, in a supporting affidavit deposed to by an investigating officer, Mr Musa Giwa, said Mrs Oke gave the cash to a bureau de change operator, Alhaji Shehu Usman Anka, to pay for the flat.

    It alleged that the money was fraudulently converted by Oke.

    EFCC said: “The sum of $1,658,000 which Mrs Folasade Oke gave in cash to Alhaji Shehu Usman was part of the funds belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria which was fraudulently converted by Mr Ayodele Oke whilst serving as Director-General of NIA.

    “The funds used to acquire the property sought to be forfeited in the name of Chobe Ventures belong to the Federal Government of Nigeria but was fraudulently converted to the use of Chobe Ventures. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”

    The sums found in the flat are $43,449,947 (about N13billion), N23, 218,000 and £27,800 (about N10.6milion).

    Read Also: ‘Handover Babachir, Oke to EFCC, ICPC’

    The court ordered their forfeiture to the Federal Government on June 6.

    The NIA through Oke claimed ownership of the funds, following which he was suspended and subsequently sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Justice Saidu Thursday granted an interim order forfeiting the flat and its appurtenances.

    EFCC said they were reasonably suspected to have been acquired “with the proceeds of unlawful activity.”

    He ordered EFCC to notify Chobe Ventures in whose possession the flat was found to appear in court and show cause within 14 days why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The court also directed the commission to publish the interim order in a national newspaper for the respondent or anyone interested in the property to show cause within 14 days as to why a final forfeiture order should not be made.

    EFCC said when it recovered the huge cash from the flat on April 12, it also recovered several documents indicating that the flat belonged to Chobe Ventures, including invoices and cash receipts issued to the company.

    It wrote the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the particulars of Chobe Ventures’ directors.

    The CAC responded, stating that the directors of Chobe Ventures were Mrs Folade Oke and Mr Ayodele Oke Jr.

    EFCC said Mrs Oke bought the flat in 2014 from a firm, Fine & County International Realty, through one Rawlings Ehumadu.

    According to the commission, Mrs Oke instructed Alhaji Anka to transfer the funds to Fine & County.

    EFCC said Fine & County acknowledged receipt of payment for the flat as well as additional N9.4million professional fees for services rendered Chobe Ventures.

    “After the payment to Fine & County, a deed of assignment in respect of the property sought to be forfeited was executed. Upon the execution of the deed, the property was handed over to Chobe Ventures,” EFCC said.

    The commission alleged that the money used in acquiring the property was “fraudulently converted” by Mr Oke while serving as NIA Director-General.

    Justice Saidu adjourned till November 30.

  • Magu in Austria, says EFCC recovered N738.9bn in two years

    Magu in Austria, says EFCC recovered N738.9bn in two years

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Wednesday in Austria said it recovered loots totaling N738.9 billion or $2.9 billion between May, 2015 and Oct. 20, 2017.

    Its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, stated this at the ongoing 7th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption holding in Vienna.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, gave account of Magu’s engagement in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    In a presentation titled: “International Cooperation in Relation to Tecnical Assistance: The Nigerian Experience”, Magu said the sum was exclusive of smaller currencies in Durham, CRA and British Pound.

    He stated that the commission had made a lot of recoveries locally using the mechanism of the non-conviction based forfeiture provided under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    “Within this year alone, the commission recovered stolen assets running into several millions of US Dollars and billions in naira.

    “These include the sum of $43 million recovered from Deziani Allison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum and N2 billion spread in seven accounts within three Nigerian banks laundered from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command Salary Accounts”, he explained.

    Magu, who was said to be a panelist at the Implementation Review Group attended by over 100 delegates, detailed the Nigerian efforts in asset recovery.

    He said the country had also made progress in specific cases related to Abacha loot, Malabu Oil, Diezani and associates, and the arms procurement scandal.

    These efforts, he said, cut across Switzerland, USA, UK, UAE, Jersey Island and Panama.
    In his recommendations, the EFCC boss sought improved coordination and cooperation among state parties in asset recovery.

    He said this could be done through the consideration and adoption of measures that would remove traditional barriers such as bank secrecy in line with Article 46(8) and dual Criminality Article 46(9) as well as simplify legal technicalities in the recovery and repatriation of stolen funds.

    He further sought measures to reduce cost of recovery of assets for developing countries and ensure speedy return of all stolen assets to victim states in line with the current resolution sponsored by Nigeria.

    He also called for sanction and prosecution of any financial institution that violates AML/CFT measures and the maintenance of a public register on beneficial ownership.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria has received global commendation for its doggedness in tracing and recovery of its solen assets, according to the commission’s spokesman.

    Uwujaren said the commendation came at a meeting between Magu and Dr Nassar Abaalkhail, the Head of International Collaboration, National Anti-Corruption Commission, Saudi Arabia.

    The meeting, which held on the sidelines of the conference, followed Magu’s presentation, Uwujaren said.

    He quoted Abaalkhail as saying that Nigeria’s efforts at loot recovery were remarkable.

    “From what I have heard, Nigeria’s effort at asset tracing is remarkable. Nigeria is indeed a role model for countries, including developed countries.

    “We have so much to learn from Nigeria”, he said.

    Uwujaren said the Iranian National Focal Point for the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, Dr Mohsen Mardal, also commended the Nigerian presentation.

    Similarly, the Commissioner, Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Agency, Ady Macauley, said the EFCC was not only “formidable, but a pride to the African States”.

    “My men were in Nigeria a fortnight ago to understudy your operations, I must confess, we have a lot to learn in investigation, prosecution and asset recovery”.

    NAN

  • How Diezani cash was allegedly shared, by EFCC

    How Diezani cash was allegedly shared, by EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has tendered documents in court showing how funds allegedly diverted by former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke was allegedly shared.

    The commission said Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to different individuals in 36 states ahead of the 2015 general election.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mohammed Belgore and a former minister of National Planning Prof Abubakar Suleiman are on trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    EFCC accused them of directly receiving N450million in cash from Alison-Madueke without going through a financial institution. They pleaded not guilty.

    The money they received, the commission said, was shared to electoral officers and others in Kwara State.

    Suleiman and Belgore, according to documents tendered by EFCC, collected N450million on behalf of Kwara.

    Every other state also got part of the cash, according to documents sighted by our correspondent Wednesday.

    For instance, two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs received N500million for Cross River State; two party chiefs got N650million on behalf of Lagos State; while two party men received N450million for Taraba State.

    Two PDP chiefs collected N700million for Kaduna State; two party chiefs got N450million for Gombe State; four party chiefs got N700million on behalf of Imo State, while two men collected N450million for Anambra State, among others.

    The commission tendered two documents marked as Exhibits 7 and 7A, with breakdown of how the monies were to be shared.

    According to one of the documents entitled: Kwara State, four polling booth agents in 2,406 units got N10, 000 each (amounting to N96, 240,000), while presiding officers got N20, 000 each (totaling N48, 120,000).

    Fifteen electoral officers received N250,000 each (totaling N3,750,000); 15 supervisors got N100,000; 15 returning officers were given N50,000 each; 193 ward returning officers got N20,000 each (totaling N3,860,000), while the state returning officer allegedly got N1million.

    According to the document, a total of N155, 220,000 was shared among the electoral officers in Kwara.

    Read : $1.5b Loot: Fresh facts emerge on Diezani ’s Nigeria trial request

    Another document entitled: Security and Transportation Per State, also tendered by the commission, contains a breakdown of how some of the money from Mrs Alison-Madueke was allegedly shared.

    The breakdown is follows: Resident Electoral Commissioner (N10million); Administrative Secretary (N5million), Head of Operations “and his boys” (N5million), other officers (N2million), Resident Assistant Inspector-General of Police (N2million), and Commissioner of Police (N10million).

    Others are: Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations (N2million), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Operations (N1million), ACP Administration (N1million); Officer in Charge, Mopol and “men in the state” (N7million), and “21c Mopol” and unit commanders (N10million).

    The rest are: Director of the State Security Services (SSS) and his men (N2,5million), military officers (N50million), other security agents (including the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) (N20million).

    In the charge, EFCC accused Belgore and Suleiman of conspiring to make cash payment of N450million, which exceeded the amount authorised by law, without going through a financial institution.

    They were also accused of making cash payment of N450million to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through a financial institution.

    The alleged offence, to which the defendants pleaded not guilty, contravened sections 1 (a), 16 (d) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).

    The trial will continue on November 13 and 14.

  • Alleged N3.2b fraud: Kalu’s trial stalled again

    Alleged N3.2b fraud: Kalu’s trial stalled again

    The trial of a former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, charged with N3.2 billion fraud,on Wednesday suffered another setback at a Federal High Court, Lagos, as the judge was unavailable.

    Kalu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo, on 34 counts bordering on fraud.

    Also charged is Kalu’s company, Slok Nigerai Ltd; the accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Justice Mohammed Idris was absent at Wednesday’s scheduled proceedings as he was said to be attending a conference outside the state.

    Consequently, the court fixed continuation of trial for Nov. 28, 29, 30 and Dec. 1.

    On Oct. 3, the absence of Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had stalled trial as he wrote to the court informing it of his absence and asked for a short adjournment which was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 8.

    The EFCC had on Oct. 31, 2016, slammed fraud charges on Kalu and Udeogo.

    The accused had allegedly committed the offences between August 2001 and October 2005 by utilising his company to retain in the account of a First Inland Bank, (now FCMB), the sum of N200 million.

    The prosecution said the money formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

    Slok Nigeria Ltd and Emeka Abone, still at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account the sum of N200 million on behalf of the first accused.

    The accused were also alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts which funds were said to belong to the Abia  Government.

    Cumulatively, in all the counts, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N3.2 billion from the Abia Government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

    The offences contravened Sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, Laws of the Federation 2005 as well as the Money Laundering Act of 1995 (as amended by the amendment Act No. 9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 1990.

    NAN

  • Trial of Amosu, other ex-service chiefs resumes Dec. 5

    Trial of Amosu, other ex-service chiefs resumes Dec. 5

    The absence of  Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday forced the adjournment until Dec. 5, 6 and 7 the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu and 10 others charged with N22.8 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) had on June 29, 2016 arraigned Amosu alongside Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga and eight companies.

    The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon HealthCare.

    The case which was earlier scheduled for continuation of trial on Tuesday, was again adjourned to the new dates following the absence of Justice Mohammed Idris.

    No reason was given for his absence.

    The accused are standing trial on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and money laundering.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.

    The accused were alleged to have indirectly converted N3.6 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force to their own.

    In addition, Amosu and others were alleged to have stolen over N323 million from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force between March 21, 2014 and March 12, 2015 and that the money was utilised for the purpose of purchasing for themselves a property situated at No.1, River Street, Wuse II, Abuja.

    The offences. according to the EFCC, contravene Sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    NAN

  • EFCC to go after human traffickers – Magu

    EFCC to go after human traffickers – Magu

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has expressed the commission’s resolve to go after human traffickers.

    Magu said this when a delegation from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) visited him in Abuja.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who reported the visit in a statement, said the NAPTIP delegation was led by its Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli.

    Magu said the anti-graft agency had jurisdiction over human trafficking, which he said, was an offshoot of corruption.

    “We are prepared to go after human traffickers, because we strongly believe that it is an aspect of corruption, and corruption is the greatest enemy of Nigeria.

    “Corruption is the reason why young Nigerians are risking their lives walking through the Mediterranean up to Spain and other European countries in search of greener pasture.

    “It is a very sad situation, and we must change the trend by ensuring that we join hands to fight corruption, as this is the only solution to the ills militating against our country’s development,” he said.

    While calling for NAPTIP’s partnership in the fight against corruption, Magu assured Okah-Donli of the EFCC’s support in combating the increasing cases of “organ harvesting” involving Nigerians.

    “EFCC has an enormous task in the fight against corruption, and NAPTIP is also a stakeholder in the fight, so we also need your assistance and collaboration,” he said.

    Okah-Donli, who said the visit was part of the agency’s familiarisation efforts, used the opportunity to highlight NAPTIP’s strides in combating human trafficking in the country.

    According to her, the agency has busted a number of criminal activities, recorded 331 convictions since 2004, with various other ongoing cases at advance stages in courts.

    She added that NAPTIP had rescued many trafficked youths who were being rehabilitated and given a new lease of life.

    Okah-Donli said: “organ trafficking, which is now becoming a big business, is another form of human trafficking”.

    She said many youths were being lured into it and they become afraid to come out to tell their stories.

    The DG requested for assistance of the EFCC in confiscating assets of traffickers, and also in the area of training and developing its own academy. NAN

  • Court dismisses Diezani’s bid for trial in Nigeria

    Court dismisses Diezani’s bid for trial in Nigeria

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed an application by former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke seeking to be tried in Nigeria.
    Ruling on the application, Justice Rilwan Aikawa said it was misconceived.
    He agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) that the application was a bid by the former Minister to escape justice in the United Kingdom.
    Justice Aikawa said the Attorney-General of the Federation has the exclusive right to decide who to bring a charge against.
    “Why did she wait all this while before she came up with this bizarre application?
    “I find this application as lacking in merit and it is hereby dismissed,” the judge held.
    He added that he would not allow his court to be misused, adding that Mrs Alison-Madueke “was crying wolf where there was none”.
    The EFCC urged Court not to order Mrs Alison-Madueke from the United Kingdom to Nigeria.
    The anti-graft agency described Diezani’s prayer to be brought back to Nigeria as a ploy to escape justice in the UK, where, according to the EFCC, she is being investigated for several financial crimes by the Metropolitan Police.
    According to the EFCC, investigation by the Metropolitan Police in Diezani’s case had reached an advanced stage and her prosecution in the UK was imminent.
    It, therefore, said it would not be in the interest of justice to grant Diezani’s application seeking to return to Nigeria.
    The EFCC said this in a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to Diezani’s application before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, wherein she is seeking an order compelling the Attorney General of the Federation to facilitate her return to Nigeria.
    In the said application, which she filed through her lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, Diezani said she wished to appear before the Federal High Court in Lagos to defend a criminal charge, bordering on alleged laundering of N450m, where her name was mentioned.