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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • N2.6bn fraud: “you have a case to answer” court tells Akpobolokemi, others

    N2.6bn fraud: “you have a case to answer” court tells Akpobolokemi, others

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Monday, overruled a no case submission by former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), Patrick Akpobolokemi, charged with N2.6 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) had on Dec. 4, 2015, arraigned Akpobolokemi alongside five others, for allegedly diverting N2.6 billion from the coffers of NIMASA between December 2013 and May 2015.

    EFCC claimed the funds were approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project.

    Also charged along with Akpobolokemi are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to the 22 charges pressed against them.
    The prosecution had then opened its case and during trial, called a total of 12 witnesses and tendered 77 exhibits in a bid to establish its case.

    After the prosecution closed its case, the accused, through their lawyers, filed no-case submissions, contending that the prosecution failed to established a prima facie case against them to warrant their entering any defence.

    They had urged the court to uphold the no case submission and discharge the accused.

    Delivering his ruling on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba noted that a plethora of cases had been cited by learned counsel in arguing their application for a no case submission.

    Buba, however, pointed out that in delivering ruling on such no case submission the court is enjoined to keep its ruling as short as possible.

    He said:“There are a plethora of cases listed by counsel, but the court is enjoined not to write its ruling as if it is writing its final judgment, but must keep its ruling as short as possible”.

    Buba held that the charge was before the court and its ingredients are clear.

    “The court therefore, cannot see the fuse in the argument that the prosecution has not made out a prima facie case against the defendants.

    “When a judge is faced with a ruling on a no case submission, it is permissible for the ruling to be brief and simply read: “you have a case to answer.

    “Consequently, the no case submission fails and is hereby overruled”.

    The court therefore, adjourned the case to Oct. 30, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 for the defence to open its case.

    Akpobolokemi’s no-case submission, his lawyer, Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), had contended that the EFCC failed to link his client with the alleged diversion of funds from NIMASA.

    He added that his signature to such effect was never shown to the court, as such the first accused could not be held liable because he did not approve the security project and money disbursed.

    Nwobike had also described the evidence given against the accused by prosecution witness, as mere hearsay with no legal weight.

    He, had therefore, urged the court to come to the conclusion, that the first accused cannot be called upon to enter any defence, because no prima facie case had been established against him.

    Other defence counsels had also made their arguments on their no case submission.

    In response, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the testimonies of the 12 witnesses and 77 exhibits tendered had successfully linked Akpobolokemi to the alleged fraud.

    He had argued that being the head and chief accounting officer of NIMASA at the time of the alleged fraud, Akpobolokemi could not by any stretch of imagination, claim to be innocent.

    The prosecutor had further argued that even if it was the former president that approved the security project, Akpobolokemi was the head of NIMASA at the time, and constituted a committee to handle the project and also approved its funds.

    He further submitted that the prosecution had established that, rather than its intended purpose, the funds were illegally converted to the personal use of the accused.

    In the 22 count charges, the EFCC alleged that the accused induced the Federal Government to approve and deliver to NIMASA the sum of N795 million under false pretence and that the sum represented the cost for the implementation of the Security Code in Nigeria.

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

    NAN

  • Paris/London Club loan: Court orders temporary forfeiture of N1.4b

    Paris/London Club loan: Court orders temporary forfeiture of N1.4b

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Friday ordered the temporary forfeiture of N1.4bilion, being part of Paris/London Club loan, to the Federal Government.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said N1, 442,384,857.84 was fraudulently obtained from the states through the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun made the order based on an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC through its lawyer Mr Ekene Iheanacho.

    The court directed the commission to advertise the order in a newspaper for any interested person to show cause as to why it should not be permanently forfeited within 14 days.

    Melrose General Services Limited, WASP Networks Limited and Thebe Wellness Services are the respondents.

    EFCC’s investigator Usman Zakari stated in an affidavit that on May 26, last year, the NGF engaged GSCL Consulting and Bizplus Consulting Services Limited.

    He said the “GSCL Bizplus Consortium” was hired to verify, reconcile, and recover excess deductions on the loans from the accounts of states and local government areas (LGAs) between 1995 to 2002.

    The Consortium was said to have recovered $6, 483, 282, 424. 61, as the sum to be refunded to the states.

    The Consortium submitted an August 31, 2016 report showing a breakdown of the states’ debt profile and over-deductions to the Minister of Finance.

    Subsequently, the President approved an initial payment of $1,730,930.53 to the states.

    Zakari said in line with the governors’ request, the Ministry of Finance, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), paid $86,546,526.65, and N19,439,225,871.11 (representing five percent of the approved initial Paris and London Club refund) into NGF’s GTBank Plc and Access Bank Plc accounts, purportedly to defray consultancy and incidental expenses.

    The N19, 439, 225, 871.11 was paid into the Access Bank account on December 8, 2016; on December 14, 2016, the NGF paid N4,389, 207, 099 .05 to the consortium as part of agreed consultancy fee, Zakari said.

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

    Zakari alleged that Melrose General Services allegedly recopied and misinterpreted the consortium’s work to the NGF for payment.

    He said the firm was paid N3.5 billion by the NGF on December 14, 2016.

    Zakari said between December 15, 2016 and January 20, 2017, Melrose General Services moved out about N2, 277,615,142 from its account out of the N3.5billion, leaving a balance of N1,222,384,857.84, before EFCC intervened.

    The operative said N220million was voluntarily returned by the firm.

    He, therefore, urged the court to make an order for a temporary forfeiture of N1,222, 384, 857. 84 in Melrose General Services’ Access Bank account and the recovered N220 million.

    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until October 30.

  • Alleged fraud: Ex-governor Nyame justifies extra-budgetary expenditure

    Alleged fraud: Ex-governor Nyame justifies extra-budgetary expenditure

    Former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame said extra-budgetary expenditure is normal when executing government projects as there is always room for supplementary budget.

    Nyame who testified in an FCT High Court, Gudu in a N1.64 billion fraud case filed against him, said he was prudent in spending state funds during his tenure.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), slammed a 21-count charge on Nyame, bordering on misappropriation of Taraba funds to the tune of N1.64billion during his tenure as governor.

    Nyame, who was cross examined by EFCC’s prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs ( SAN ), was responding to a question on whether he regarded spending state funds outside budgetary provision as prudent.

    The prosecution served the former governor with exhibit 001, which was money budgeted for the Governor’s Office during his tenure in 2005.

    The Governor’s Office made an excess expenditure of N982million.
    In his response, Nyame said, “budgets are only estimates,’’ adding that he considered himself being prudent with state funds though he exceeded budgetary provisions “because I performed.’’

    Jacobs also made available exhibit 002, being overhead cost for 2006 for the Governor’s Office.

    The House of Assembly approved N40 million, while N713million was spent, with an excess expenditure of N673million.

    When asked by Jacobs if he regarded that as being prudent too, Nyame replied, “My Lord, I was prudent and it could have been the House of Assembly that could have proved otherwise.’’

    In 2007, N100million was budgeted for the Governor’s Office as overhead, while N2.1billion was spent, with N2billion as excess expenditure.

    When asked by the prosecution if he knew that it was an offence to exceed the budget estimate, the former governor replied that he knew, but only if there was no supplementary budget.

    Nyame said that exceeding budget estimates was normal when executing government projects and that “there is room for supplementary budget.’’

    Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned the case until Oct. 12 for continuation of cross examination.

    NAN

  • Ex-First Lady ‘used mum’s account to launder N2.1b’

    Ex-First Lady ‘used mum’s account to launder N2.1b’

    Former First Lady Patience Jonathan used her mother’s company to launder about N2.114b, according to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives.

    Besides, Magel Resort Limited, which was incorporated by Mrs., Jonathan’s late mother, allegedly secured over N200m IT contract from the National Information Technology Development Agency.

    Many people, including an hotelier in Abuja, also remitted funds into the account.

    Also, uncovered is how some domestic aides of the former First Lady remitted about N5.7billion into the accounts of three firms linked to Mrs. Jonathan.

    As part of the investigation, some Federal Government agencies were found to have remitted funds into the account of Ariwobai Aruera Reach Out Foundation,  her NGO, which has N2,475,784,487.77.

    Detectives put the cash in the two domiciliary accounts of the ex-First Lady at $20,731, 173.

    According to sources in EFCC, the major highlights of the latest investigation of Mrs. Jonathan border on the use of her mum’s firm and domestic aides to launder funds.

    The sources claimed that the ex-First Lady has a case to answer because of the “curious payments” made into more than five accounts linked to her.

    A source, who pleaded not to be named so as not to jeopardise the investigation, said: “This is not a case of witch-hunt or vendetta. We have retrieved records of transactions and those concerned. There is a strong case of abuse of office.

    “Nigerians should prevail on Mrs. Jonathan to seek equity with clean hands by subjecting herself to legal process. How did domestic aides come about billions? Why will a resort company secure an IT contract? How did a furniture firm without a fixed address come about N1.140billion?

    “As we investigate the ex-First Lady, our detectives dig out more evidence of alleged money laundering by her between 2009 and 2015.”

    The source gave an insight into the latest findings by detectives on Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    The source added: “A company owned by Mrs. Jonathan is Magel Resort Ltd. It was incorporated by Mrs. Jonathan’s late mother. But Patience Jonathan became the sole signatory to the account of the company by board resolution upon the demise of her mother.

    “The EFCC is probing the circumstance in which the firm though registered as a resort agency secured over N200m IT contract from the National Information Technology Development Agency.

    “The contract was allegedly funded through the National Information Technology Development Fund.”

    Several other persons under investigation for money laundering by the anti- graft agency were discovered to have made payments into the company’s account.

    Some of them, including a hotelier in central area, Abuja, have been invited for questioning.

    “The total sum allegedly laundered through the account of Magel Resorts Ltd run by Mrs. Jonathan and her late mother is N2.114billion.

    “Also allegedly laundered by the former First Lady through the account of Lawari Furniture and Baths Ltd is N1.140billion. The company’s address is given as 100 Akamfa Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The bulk of the money was deposited by Bureau de Change operators.

    “The BDC operators have already been invited by the EFCC for questioning.

    EFCC sources said that the addresses of most of the companies were discovered to be fictitious as mails sent to them were returned undelivered.

    Ariwobai Aruera Reach Out Foundation, an NGO, was discovered to have various accounts but the principal account is domiciled in Diamond Bank.

    “The commission stumbled on evidence in which several government agencies made payments into the account. A total inflow of N2, 475,784,487.77 was recorded in the account between 2009 and 2015.”

    The source also spoke about the deposits in the domiciliary accounts of the ex-First Lady.

    The source said: “Investigation equally discovered that Mrs. Jonathan maintains a dollar account with Diamond Bank which received huge financial inflow from her domestic aides.

    “Some of the domestic aides that made payments into the accounts are also trustees of her so- called NGO and director in her companies. The balance in the account was $12,831,173.

    “Another dollar account of the former First Lady was discovered in Skye Bank. Inflows into the account came through deposits by domestic aides of Mrs. Jonathan.

    “Intelligence reports indicate that most of the purchase of luxury items by the former First Lady was through the Platinum Card of the account. The total amount in the account is $7.9m.”

    “Also under investigation is how N1.8billion was deposited in the account of Flinchley Top Homes Ltd, a company linked to Mrs. Jonathan, by her domestic aides between 2009 and 2015.

    “Other discoveries are the N2.1billion and N1.8billion deposited into the accounts of AM PM Global Network Ltd and Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd, between 2009 and 2015. Both companies are linked to the former First Lady,” the source said.

  • PDP chair: Dokpesi faults Ahmadu Ali’s position on S/West

    PDP chair: Dokpesi faults Ahmadu Ali’s position on S/West

    The chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has faulted the position of a former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali on the choice of the next chairman of the party.

    Ali had on Tuesday, argued strongly for the slot to be given to the South West geopolitical zone, considering the fact that the zone had yet to occupy the position since the formation of the party in 1998.

    To buttress his argument, Ali had said, “We must be ready to ensure that at the convention, the main issue, which is the national chairmanship of the party, is well handled. If we don’t vote the South-West, we can as well forget the PDP”.

    But at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Dokpesi who is also a chairmanship aspirant, described Ali’s position as a mistake, stressing that the party leadership zoned the slot to the entire South and not the South West.

    Dokpesi said, “I said very clearly that I have a lot of respect for the elders of this party. I have a lot of respect for constituted authority, but they are human beings.

    “They are bound to make mistakes and the facts of the mistakes, having brought to their attention, so, they cannot continue repeating the mistakes, because the mistakes have been made”

    “The Ike Ekweremadu committee said the chairmanship should go to the entire South while the President goes to the North. We should allow all parts participate fairly

    “Anybody trying to manipulate this does so at a great risk to the party.
    An 88 member committee consisered this and affirmed that the zoning should be between North and South.

    “The National Convention zoned the position of the national chairman to the South and zoned the Presidency to the North. And there is no micro zoning; the convention would have said it is zoning it to the South West, but the convention in its wisdom did not do so”.

    Insisting that his desire to become the next PDP chairman remained strong, Dokpesi said his ongoing trial for alleged involvement in N2.1 billion arms purchase scam cannot affect his chances because no court has convicted him.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had dragged Dokpesi to court for his role in the $2.1 billion arms purchase scam, allegedly supervised by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

    Speaking about his involvement in the formation of the All Peoples Democratic Aliance (APDA), Dokpesi said the party was formed as an alternative platform during the 14-month leadership crisis that rocked the PDP.

    According to him, faced with threats by the then Ali Modu Sheriff faction, PDP elders, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, saw the need to form an alternative platform to avoid being caught off guard.

    The Makarfi and Sheriff camps were locked in a fierce battle for the control of the PDP. But the Supreme Court, in a July 12judgment, affirmed Makarfi as the authentic leader of the PDP.

    Explaining his role in the formation of APDA, Dokpesi said, “I take full responsibility for the role I played in the formation and funding of APDA. It was set up as a plan B for the PDP at the peak of its internal crisis.

    “About 99 percent of persons who formed APDA belonged to the then Makarfi faction of the PDP.

    According to him, all critical organs of the PDP, including the Board of Trustees, the Governors’ Forum, and the National Assembly Caucus, were very much involved in the formation of APGA.

    “We did not want to take chances. Our genuine members were being deprived the opportunity to contest as Sheriff kept shutting the door against them.

    “So there grew the urgent need for an alternative platform through which our ordinary members could run elections as councillors and local government chairmen. We cannot fold our arms and simply watch on.

    “It was not done by me alone. All the organs of the party were part of the decision to form APDA. At a point, I wrote to all the party’s governors to tell them that there was need for members of the party to know”.

    Some vested interests within the PDP are said to be making attempts to use the role he played in the formation of APDA as anti-party activity, a move he described “cheap blackmail”.

  • N1.162bn fraud: Ex Gov. Dariye closes case

    N1.162bn fraud: Ex Gov. Dariye closes case

    Former governor of Plateau, Joshua Dariye on Tuesday, in an FCT High Court sitting in Gudu, closed his defence in the alleged N1.162 billion fraud trial.

    Dariye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) in a 21-count charge of money laundering and diversion of ecological funds to the tune of N1.162 billion belonging to the state.

    Dariye closed his case after calling 16 defence witnesses.

    Dariye’s counsel, Mr Kanu Agabi ( SAN ), told the court that they have closed their case and applied for a written address.

    “My Lord, I am pleased to inform your Lordship we are closing the case for the defence and we will like to address you,’’ Agabi said.

    Mr O. Atolagbe, holding the brief of Mr Rotimi Jacobs ( SAN ), the EFCC prosecution, did not object to the application.

    Atolagbe said that the prosecution will also be grateful to address the court.

    Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned hearing until Dec. 7, for the written addresses.

    Dariye, on Sept. 18, employed Agabi, a former Attorney General of the Federation, as his new counsel after his lawyer, Mr Garba Pwul withdrew from the case.

    NAN

  • Court charges 2 men, companies with N3.3bn oil fraud

    Court charges 2 men, companies with N3.3bn oil fraud

    Two men, Ogbor Eliotand, Godwin Okoronkwo were on Monday arraigned Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of a Federal High Court in Lagos charged with N3.3 billion oil fraud.

    Also charged alongside the men are two companies  Danium Energy Services Ltd and Petrosol Energy Ltd.

    They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on a 10- count charge bordering on fraud.

    The accused, however, denied the charges.

    Justice Oguntoyinbo remanded them in the custody of the EFCC until Oct. 11 when their bail applications will be heard.

    According to the prosecution, the accused conspired to defraud a financial house to the tune of N3.3 billion.

    The EFCC said Eliot and Danium Energy Services Ltd had on Jan. 30 or thereabouts conspired to induce the new generation bank to deliver to Danium Energy Services Ltd a sum of N3.3 billion.

    The funds were said to be paid on the pretext that Total Nigeria Plc contracted the energy firm to supply 15,000 metric tonnes of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).

    It was also alleged that Eliot and the energy firm on Feb. 3 induced the financial institution to deliver to Danium Energy Services N3.3 billion for the supply.

    Besides, the anti-graft agency alleged that the duo on or before Feb. 9 also conspired to commit fraud to the tune of N2.8 billion by making similar false representation.

    The offences contravened the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences 2004.

    NAN

  • Exco seeks release of Fayose’s aides

    Exco seeks release of Fayose’s aides

    The Ekiti State Executive Council (Exco) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the Commissioner of Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo and Accountant General, Mrs. Yemisi Owolabi, from its custody.

    Members spoke yesterday at their meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    They described EFCC’s arrest and detention of the duo on September 28 as an “abuse of power and witch-hunt by pseudo-democrats in Abuja to diabolically incapacitate the Ayo Fayose administration”.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting, Information, Youth and Sports Development Commissioner Lanre Ogunsuyi said the anti-graft agency should, in the alternative, charge them to court if anything incriminating had been established against them.

    Ogunsuyi said the arrest of Ojo and Owolabi was “in violation of a subsisting ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction restraining the supposed anti-graft body from inviting or arresting officials of the state”.

    The commissioner urged the EFCC to “respect the rule of law by abiding by the subsisting court ruling”.

    He added: “The options available to EFCC is to either grant the arrested state officials administrative bail or charge them to court, if they had breached the law.”

    Ogunsuyi said the EFCC allegedly ignored the government’s repeated petitions to investigate the previous administration, “despite incontrovertible evidences”.

    Ekiti State Exco condemned what Ogunsuyi said was “the lopsided policies of the Federal Government, which were skewed towards developing only All Progressives Congress (APC) states at the expense of other states of the federation perceived to be stronghold of opposition”.

    It claimed this was “a result of political intolerance and ignorance of the part of the Federal Government”.

     

  • Senate panel invites seven banks’ MDs over freezing of Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    Senate panel invites seven banks’ MDs over freezing of Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    THE Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned the managing directors of some banks over the freezing of the accounts of former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

    The committee also invited  Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over the issue.

    The committee’s chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, gave the order at a sitting of his committee yesterday at the hearing of a petition by the former first lady.

    The petition brought on behalf of Mrs. Jonathan by Granville Abibo (SAN) claimed that the EFCC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had at various times “unleashed terror, dehumanising, degrading and despicable treatment on her and her blood relations without justification”.

    The committee was told that the accounts in which the former first lady’s funds are trapped include that of Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development Investment Company and Transocean Property and Investment Ltd.

    Also, the account of her non-governmental organisation (NGO), The Women for Change Development Initiative, A. Aruera Foundation as well as Finchley Top Homes Ltd and the former first lady’s salary account were frozen, according to the petitioner.

    “The accounts of her siblings, Innocent Nyegerefaka, Mohammed Oba and Esther Oba have all been frozen by EFCC without any court order – all because they are blood relations of Dame Patience Jonathan,” the petition reads.

    The EFCC chairman was absent at the hearing.

    In a letter sent to the committee, the anti-graft agency said Magu was out of the country and would be back today.

    The committee set tomorrow for the EFCC boss to appear before the committee.

    Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer also informed the committee that his client had resolved her differences with the NDLEA, hence they would like to strike out the agency’s name off the petition before the Senate.

    He also old the committee that the former First Lady’s accounts and that of her relations were frozen without any court order by the EFCC.

    He lamented that the action culminated in the death of Lazarus Eware, who is Mrs. Jonathan’s brother.

    He said: “The immediate elder brother to Patience Jonathan, Mr. Lazarus Eware, died as a result of unfortunate maltreatment of him by EFCC as he could no longer cope in the face of this repeated humiliation, terror attacks and financial handicap.

    “He could no longer meet up with his responsibilities of his family, including children’s school fees and medical bills.

    “As we speak, his lifeless body is still lying in a mortuary yet to be buried. The only offence said to have been committed by him is that he was the elder brother to Dame Patience Jonathan.”

     

  • Court remands businessmen for allegedly duping bank N7.8b

    Court remands businessmen for allegedly duping bank N7.8b

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Monday arraigned two oil service companies and their directors for allegedly defrauding a bank over N7billion.

    The businessmen, Ogbor Kehinde Eliot and Godwin Okoronkwo, and two firms, Danium Energy Services Ltd and Petrosol Energy Ltd, were arraigned before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    EFCC said they allegedly defrauded the bank of N7, 802,649,000.

    The agency said they presented forged documents to the bank after claiming to have been awarded multi-billion naira contracts by Total Nigeria Plc.

    The defendants claimed they got contracts to supply thousands of metric tons of diesel and needed funding.

    EFCC, in the charge signed by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, said the four, on or about October 5, last year in Lagos, with intent to defraud, conspired to induce the bank to deliver N1, 573,146,000.00. to Danium Energy Services.

    The commission said it was under the false pretense that Total Nigeria contracted Danium Energy Services to supply 10,000 Metric Tons of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) for the sum of N1, 990,440,000.00.

    EFCC said the accused persons, on November 15 last year, with intent to defraud, induced the bank to deliver N1, 573,146,000 to Danium Energy Services.

    The commission said Eliot and Danium Energy Services on or about January 30 in Lagos conspired to induce the bank  to deliver N3, 339,225,000.00 to Danium Energy Services.

    EFCC said they claimed that Total Nigeria, through a letter dated January 30, with Ref No: OPS/SUP/01/17/084 contracted Danium Energy Services to supply 15,000 Metric Tons of AGO for N4, 103,100,000.00.

    Eliot and Danium Energy Services were alleged to have collected the N3,339,225,000.00 from the bank on February 3.

    The prosecution said on February 9, Eliot and Danium Energy Services allegedly conspired to induce the bank  to deliver N2,890,278,000.00 to Danium Energy Services.

    According to EFCC, they pretended that Total Nigeria, vide a February 9 letter, with Ref No: OPS/SUP/02/17/125, contracted Danium Energy Services to supply 15,000 Metric Tons of AGO for N4, 015,800,000.00.

    They were said to have collected the money on February 17 in Lagos by inducing the bank to “deliver” it to Danium Energy Services.

    The alleged offence is contrary to section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3)of the same Act.

    The defendants were also accused of “uttering” (presenting) a forged document dated October 5, 2016 with Ref No: OPS/SUP/10/16/361 to the bank.

    The alleged offence is contrary to Section 19(6) and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The accused persons were also accused of “uttering” a of a forged document dated January 30 with Ref No: OPS/SUP/01/17/084 to the bank.

    Oyedepo said he needed time to respond to the defendants’ bail applications.

    He asked the court to remand them in prison.

    Justice Oguntoyinbo ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.

    Their bail applications will be considered on Wednesday.