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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • EFCC: Maina paid $2m cash for Abuja house

    EFCC: Maina paid $2m cash for Abuja house

    Wanted civil servant AbdulRasheed Maina bought a $2 million house in Abuja, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has claimed.

    The mansion was allegedly acquired by Maina when he was the chairman of the controversial Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reforms.

    Maina also has a 24-charge case pending before a Federal high Court. He has been reinstated as director, an action that has sparked a big row over the anti-graft war.

    Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC in November 2015 for alleged fraud. The EFCC reported him to the International Police (INTERPOL).

    He resurfaced this month as an acting director in the Ministry of Interior.

    An EFCC fact-sheet shows that Maina was under probe for multiple allegations, including fraudulent biometric contracts, which resulted in the mismanagement of over N2billion of pension funds and acquisition of choice mansions in Abuja.

    According to the document, an investigative team led by Habibu Aliyu, an EFCC official, uncovered how Maina paid $2million for a property at 10, Amisi Musa Street in Jabi Lake, Abuja.

    Part of the fact sheet says: “Our findings confirmed that he paid $2million for the house in cash in one day when he was the chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team.

    “Investigation showed that the house was sold to him in June 2012 by one Adamu Modibbo. It is located at 10, Amisi Musa Street, Jabi Lake Area. The house was bought at the time he was in charge of pension reform.

    “The EFCC marked the house as a property under investigation but all the marks were removed and the walls repainted. Maina has other properties which he acquired as an Assistant Director in the Federal Civil Service.”

    The fact-sheet gives an insight into attempts to bring Maina to book, including when he relocated to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    •The frontage of the $2m house in Abuja

    The document states: “Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC. On November 11, 2015, the EFCC wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, with an attention to the Commissioner of Police (INTERPOL), requesting for the publication of Abdulrasheed Maina on INTERPOL Red Alert.

    “The letter sought assistance for the arrest of Maina who has a fraud case, FHC/ABJ/ CR/, requesting for the publication of Abdulrasheed Maina on INTERPOL Red Alert.

    “The letter sought assistance for the arrest of Maina who has a fraud case, FHC/ABJ/ CR/97/ 2015 dated July 10, 2015.”

    A source told our correspondent: “This INTERPOL step was taken barely a week after Ibrahim Magu took over as the Acting Chairman of EFCC.

    “It will be interesting to tell you that when we sent the letter to the INTERPOL initially, it got missing, but unknown to them, we had the acknowledged copy. We were undeterred; we had series of correspondences with the INTERPOL.

    “After many months, on January 12, 2016, the commission received a response from INTERPOL acknowledging the receipt of the letter to place Maina on Red Alert.

    “But INTERPOL requested for more information to take some steps. This was the position in INTERPOL while the EFCC went ahead with the trial of Maina and others.”

    It was learnt that the EFCC was on the trail of Maina.

    “Our detectives are on standby to arrest him any moment from now. We are already trailing his whereabouts. As of Sunday, he was said to have shifted base to Kaduna.

    “I can tell you that Maina, who was declared wanted by EFCC, is being protected by some armed policemen. No one knows how he came about special protection.”

    The EFCC had on November 2, 2015 declared the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team wanted.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Maina was wanted for his alleged role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and former Head of Service Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly mismanaged over N2billion of pension funds.

    The statement said: “Maina was on July 21, 2015 charged alongside Oronsaye , Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.

    “While Oronsaye and two others were in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge, Maina had been at large.

    “However on July 21 when the court heard the bail applications of the accused persons, Maina through his counsel, Esther Uzoma, told the court that he was not at large, claiming that the EFCC had never invited him.

    “Consequently, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, pleaded with the court to prevail on the accused’s counsel to produce Maina in court as the Commission had no clues as to his whereabouts.

    “The court granted Rotimi’s prayers, yet Maina continued to shun court proceedings, leaving the Commission with no option than to declare him wanted.

    “Indeed, since the Commission filed charges against Maina, more damning evidence have emerged on how the ebullient former Pension Task Team boss siphoned pension funds using secret accounts in a new  generation bank in Abuja.

    “Two officers of the bank were quizzed two weeks ago. Commission’s sources said they made damning revelations of several opaque transactions through which Maina allegedly lined his pockets at the expense of thousands of hapless pensioners.”

    Oronsaye has been discharged and acquitted by the Federal High Court of the charges preferred against him.”

  • EFCC re-arraigns firm’s MD for alleged N160m fraud

    EFCC re-arraigns firm’s MD for alleged N160m fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned the Managing Director of First Options Motors Company Ltd, Wali Olayiwola Akande, for an alleged N160million fraud.

    First defendant Akande and second defendant First Options Motors were docked before Justice Sybil Nwaka of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere.

    They are standing trial on an eight-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

    The EFCC said the defendants, with intent to defraud, conspired and obtained the sum in tranches of N100million, N30million, N20million and N10million.

    EFCC counsel, Mr S. O. Daji, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on January 27, March 1, 8, 12 and May 4, 2012.

    He said Akande persuaded a firm, Olam Nigeria Ltd, to hand over the sums as part payment for the purchase 14.960 hectares of land at Flowergate Scheme, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

    According to him, the money was the property of another firm, Records Manufacturers Nigeria Ltd.

    The offences, Daji added, contravened sections 1(3) and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Upon enquiry from the judge, Daji explained that the defendants were arraigned for the same alleged offences before Justice D. Oluwayemi on May 30, 2013,

    But, following Justice Oluwayemi’s retirement three years later, the suit was transferred and is beginning de novo (anew).

    “We have nine witnesses and we shall be asking for a trial date. The case was formerly before another judge, who is now retired. I was not involved in that matter, but I understand that almost three years was spent cross-examining one witness,” Daji said.

    However, defence counsel, Prince Wale Oloke, blamed the EFCC for the trial delay.

    He said: “I was in that matter and the EFCC’s excuse was that it was short-staffed. For three years they were wasting time.”

    Oloke urged the court to allow Akande enjoy bail on the terms granted him by the previous court.

    Upholding his application, Justice Nwaka adjourned till December 19 for trial.

  • ‘How ex-aide laundered N5.1b for Patience Jonathan’

    ‘How ex-aide laundered N5.1b for Patience Jonathan’

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has heard how a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa allegedly laundered about N5.1billion for the former president’s wife Patience.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) before Justice Mohammed Idris on 23-counts of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

    They are on trial for alleged conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013, among others.

    A prosecution witness, Orji Chukwuma, in his testimony on Tuesday, said Dudafa allegedly used different companies to fraudulently launder various sums of money to the tune of N5.1 billion.

    The EFCC operative said a Bereau de Change operator Murtala Abubakar admitted to have collected several millions in dollars from Dudafa.

    “We discovered, in the course of our investigation, that Abubakar was directed to pay the various sums of money into different accounts provided by Dudafa,” the witness said.

    Chukwuma, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, said Mrs Jonathan gave the money to Dudafa at the Aso Rock Villa.

    The former aide, the witness said, allegedly used some companies to launder the money.

    They are ABY Resources Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Ibejige Services Limited and DeJakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Limited.

    Chukwuma said the defendant ware-housed and managed the money through the companies.

    The court also heard that Dudafa did not declare his interest in the companies in his Asset Declaration Form.

    According to the witness, the monies found in his accounts at two new generation banks were proceeds of crime.

    Dudafa, through his lawyer, applied to the court to release his international passport temporarily to enable him go for a medical appointment outside the country.

    He claimed that he suffers from spinal cord dislocation, which he said he sustained while he was at EFCC’s detention.

    But, Oyedepo urged the court not to grant the application, saying EFCC had written to a government hospital to determine whether Dudafa could be treated in Nigeria but was yet to get a response.

    Justice Idris adjourned till October 24 for hearing of the application to travel.

    Trial will continue on November 14 and 15.

  • Court adjourns Sule Lamido ’s trial until Nov. 15

    Court adjourns Sule Lamido ’s trial until Nov. 15

    Justice Babatunde Quadri of Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned trial of former Governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, until Nov. 15.

    Lamido is being prosecuted alongside his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, and two others by  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on 27-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to the defendants, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court of his appearance in the matter for the first time.

    Agabi said “I am coming here for the first time in this case and I am pleading with the court to give me time to familiarise with the case.

    “I know this is a court of justice and the court is interested in speedy trial but I am pleading for time to get to know about the case.”

    The senior advocate took over from Joe Agi (SAN), who was the defendants counsel.

    The prosecuting counsel, Chile Okoroma, who did not oppose the defence counsel’s plea, told the court that he had assembled his witnesses and they were ready to go on with the trial.

    He said he would not oppose the defendants’ right to adequate defence representation in the interest of justice.

    Consequently, Justice Quadri adjourned the matter until Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 for continuation of trial.

    It would be recalled that Justice Babatunde Quadri had on July 7 dismissed an application by the former governor requesting that the trial be returned to former trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

    Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, assigned the case to Justice Quadri when Justice Ademola went on suspension following corruption charge against him and his wife.

    But following judgment exonerating Ademola and wife, Agi requested that the Chief Judge
    return the case to him.

    NAN

  • Magu calls for bottom-up anti-corruption initiatives

    Magu calls for bottom-up anti-corruption initiatives

    Mr Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), has called for anti-corruption initiatives at the grassroots level.

    Magu made the call on Tuesday while receiving an honorary award of excellence from a delegation of the National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS ) which visited him in Abuja.

    He said in a statement by EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, that there was need for education to be in the vanguard of teaching and awareness-creation on anti-corruption as a proactive measure to tackling the monster.

    The call came amid suggestions by anti-corruption campaigners that state and local governments are aloof in the ongoing anti-graft war.

    Mr Peter Adeyemi, Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), emphasised this point at an anti-corruption dialogue in Abuja in March.

    Adeyemi had said there was no evidence to show that the state and local governments were in support of the Federal Government’s war against graft.
    “If we are seriously fighting corruption as a nation, we must ensure that all strata of government keys in,” he said.

    “The invitation to curb corruption in Nigeria is open to everyone.

    “It is my desire for the Nigerian youth and indeed, everyone to partner with EFCC in this fight against corruption.

    “The celebration of corruption must stop as corruption is evil. We must join forces to combat this societal ill,” Magu said.

    The leader of the delegation, Jamilu Hassan of the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, said the award was in recognition of Magu’s outstanding contribution to the war against corruption.

    NAN

  • Fraudsters using Magu’s name to extort money, says EFCC

    Fraudsters using Magu’s name to extort money, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has again warned the public against the activities of fraudsters using the name of its Acting Chairman to dupe public office holders.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Tuesday that the repeated alerts were necessitated by the persistence of the criminals.

    “For the umpteenth time, the EFCC is constrained to alert the public on the activities of fraudsters who have been extorting prominent office holders using the name of its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    “Their targets include sitting governors, ministers, and national chairmen of leading political parties.

    “Members of these criminal gangs, from available information, have been writing invitation letters to some politically exposed persons on the pretext that such communication emanated from the office of the acting chairman of the EFCC.

    “The commission has had cause to issue public disclaimer of such fraudulent letters, still the criminals are undeterred,” Uwujaren said.

    He said there were also cases in the past where fraudsters sent messages demanding bribes from unsuspecting members of the public using cloned email and Facebook accounts of Magu.
    The situation, according to him, is compounded by the fact that not all recipients of such fraudulent invitations had the courage to approach the commission for clarification.

    “The EFCC wishes to dissociate itself from the activities of these criminal gangs.

    “It is important to state that Magu has not written or mandated any one to write any invitation letter to any state governor.

    “He has no reason to do so as they belong to the category of officials that enjoy constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution while in office,” he said.

    The EFCC Spokesman urged affected public officers to be wary and endeavour to verify the authenticity of any supposed letter of invitation they received from the acting chairman.

    “Under no circumstance should members of the public offer gratification to anyone that claims to be an officer of the EFCC.

    “Indeed such demand for gratification is enough indication that an impostor was up to mischief and should immediately be reported to the nearest office of the commission or police station.

    “Magu has not mandated any one to approach anybody to collect bribes on his behalf.

    “Any one claiming to represent his interest in any such unwholesome transaction should be apprehended,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the second time the commission is issuing this alert this year, the first being in August.

    A similar warning also came in June, 2016.

  • We don’t owe Union Bank – Ontario

    We don’t owe Union Bank – Ontario

    The management of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited has denied any fraudulent sale of refined petroleum products, as alleged by Union Bank Plc in what the company described as a “hurriedly” procured ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ).

    The company spoke on Monday in the matter of a commercial transaction between her and the bank which dates back to 2014.

    Speaking through its counsel, Ben Udoh, Ontario acknowledged that it did approached Union Bank Plc for a facility to import and market petroleum products in 2014.

    “Indeed, we approached Union Bank in 2014 for an $11 million facility. A letter of Credit (LC ) was issued same year but was amended to $9.9 million in May 2015. The said sum ($9.9)was paid to the supplier, Petrocam Trading Limited.

    “Contrary to impressions created by Union Bank, there was no case of fraudulent diversion and conversion of proceeds as alleged. We would like to confirm on good authority that the products were duly imported and sold in the open market,” Mr Udoh said.

    He added, “Total proceeds from the transaction was N1.9billion, and in line with our offer letter and best practice, same amount was provided for. The management of Union Bank was subsequently advised to bid for appropriate foreign exchange to discharge the LC.

    “Unfortunately, Union Bank, for reasons best known to them, failed to heed several exchanges for the liquidation of the debt which Ontario diligently dealt with within the 60-day expiration of the facility.”

    Speaking further, he regretted that “Union Bank had unwittingly shot itself on the foot by its failure to register the Form M with Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ), nearly 8 months after, which made it difficult for them to successfully bid for forex to tidy up the transaction.”

    “Finally, we are surprised that the ex parte order which targeted Ontario Oil and Gas Limited was used to seize the assets of The Renoire Logistics which is an independent entity with no similar directors or ownership. Union Bank failed to transparently manage this transaction and should blame itself for allowing the devaluation of the Naira to hurt its interests.

    “We do not owe Union Bank. All proceeds arising from the transaction has been fully redeemed. Any differential is as a result of devaluation of the Naira. Ontario would do everything legal to vacate the ex parte application,” Mr Udoh noted.

  • Ajudua seeks to quash $1 million fraud charge

    Ajudua seeks to quash $1 million fraud charge

    Lagos socialist, Fred Ajudua, Monday prayed an Ikeja High Court, to quash a $1 million fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The EFCC, had in the charge, alleged that Ajudua and his an accomplice, Joseph Ochunor, in 1993 defrauded one Ziad Abu Zalaf of Technical International Limited, a company based in Germany of $1 million dollars.

    At resumed proceedings before Justice Josephine Oyefeso Monday, his counsel,   Norrison Quakers (SAN) told the court that he has two applications pending before the court and that the prosecution had been copied.

    Quakers however accused the EFCC of not filing their court response on time.

    “My Lord, our application is dated May 9 and we are seeking that the fraud charge should be struck out.  We served the prosecution with a copy of the application on May 10.

    “The counter-affidavit of the prosecution was not filed within time and there was no application before the court to regularise same,” he said.

    Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Mr.  Seidu  Atteh, however disputed the senior lawyer’s claims insisting that the prosecution responded within time.

    “We filed a counter-affidavit dated May 17 and the learned senior counsel noted that there was a mistake on the date and we filed another one on October 10.

    “With the kind permission of the court, we will like to regularise same with an oral application,” he said.

    After the oral application of the EFCC counsel, Quakers told the court that he would respond to the counter-affidavit of the prosecution within seven days.

    Justice Oyefeso adjourned the case to November 30 for the hearing of the application seeking to quash the fraud charge.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of N1.96bn linked to Ontario Oil

    Court orders interim forfeiture of N1.96bn linked to Ontario Oil

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of N1.96 billion allegedly belonging to an oil company, Ontario Oil and Gas, over alleged fraudulent sale of refined petroleum.

    Justice Hadiza Shagari, issued the order, following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) seeking attachment of the funds.

    “That the property mentioned in paragraphs nine of the affidavit viz, Renoir Logistics Ltd currently under investigation be interim attached/forfeited pending the determination of the investigation and possible prosecution of the case.

    “That the said property attached/forfeited, ad-interim be managed and controlled by the EFCC,’’ the judge held.

    In the suit labeled FHC/L/CS/1464/17, the commission joined as first and second respondents respectively, Ontario Oil and Gas Ltd, and Mrs Ada Ugo-Ngadi, Managing Director of the company.

    An affidavit of urgency elicited by an investigating officer of the EFCC, Mr Abdukarim Acheneje in support of the ex parte motion, chronicles as follows:

    “That the EFCC received a petition from Ms Joan Ganadanu, a legal practitioner, against the second respondent, complaining of diversion and conversion of proceeds of sale of refined petroleum products valued at N1.96 billion.

    “That the petition alleged that the first respondent is a customer to Union Bank Plc, of Stallion Plaza branch, Marina Lagos.

    “That union bank granted a loan facility to the first respondent in the tune of 70 million US dollars to import and/or purchase locally refined petroleum products PMS, DPK and AGO.

    “That the loan was to be repaid from sale of the products and the second respondent guaranteed repayment of the said loan personally.

    “That further investigations revealed that the respondent have lifted the product on the order financed by the bank for 10,000 metric tons of AGO, since July 2016.

    “That the respondent have sold same, but have refused to lodge the proceeds in the company’s account, and pay back the facility to union bank among other financial infractions.”

    NAN

  • Akpobolokemi ordered to explain role in alleged N2.6b fraud

    Akpobolokemi ordered to explain role in alleged N2.6b fraud

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, to explain his role in an alleged N2.6billion fraud.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba overruled and dismissed the ‘no case’ submission filed by Akpobolokemi and five other co-defendants.

    The other defendants are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and two firms, Blockz and Stonz Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

    The judge ordered them to enter their defence on October 30.

    Justice Buba said the arguments on the no-case submission by defence counsel, Joseph Nwobike SAN, was without merit.

    He upheld the argument of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel Rotimi Oyedepo that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants.

    Justice Buba held: “From the evidence of the first prosecution witness, it is well established that all the defendants have a case to answer.

    “The exhibits tendered and testimonies of other witnesses have established that there is a prima facie case against the defendants. I see no merit in this application. This application lacks merit, so, it is overruled. The defendants should open their defence to prove their innocence”.

    On December 4, 2015 the EFCC arraigned the defendants on a 22-count charge of diverting N2.6b from NIMASA coffers between December 2013 and May 2015.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the funds were approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project.

    The alleged offences contravene Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecution closed its case after calling 12 witnesses.

    But the defendants, rather than open their defence, filed no-case submissions, claiming that the EFCC failed to link their clients with the alleged funds diversion.

    Specifically, Nwobike said Akpobolokemi could not be liable because ex-President Jonathan, and not Akpobolokemi, approved the security project and the money disbursed.

    Other defendants’ counsel, Mr. Seni Adio (SAN), Ige Asemudara and Emeka Onyeke similarly urged the court to hold that the prosecution failed to link their clients to the alleged crime.

    But opposing the application, the prosecution maintained that the testimonies of the 12 witnesses called and the 77 exhibits tendered had successfully linked Akpobolokemi and others to the alleged fraud.

    Oyedepo argued that Akpobolokemi, as head and chief accounting officer of NIMASA at the time of the alleged fraud, could not “by any stretch of imagination, claim to be innocent.”

    He said even though it was ex-President Jonathan who approved the security project and sanctioned the disbursement of the funds, Akpobolokemi was the head of NIMASA who constituted a committee to handle the project and also approved funds for the activities of the committee.