The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • Navy intercepts 1.1m litres of alleged stolen diesel in Rivers

    Navy intercepts 1.1m litres of alleged stolen diesel in Rivers

    The Nigerian Navy has intercepted 1.1 million litres of diesel allegedly stolen from pipelines belonging to multinational oil companies in Rivers.

    No fewer than 13 suspects have also been arrested on account of their alleged role in illegal shipment of petroleum products to undisclosed locations in the state.

    Capt. Victor Choji, the Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder (NNS), Port Harcourt, disclosed this to journalist on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

    Choji said the seizure and arrest was sequel to the intensified mop-up operation in the Niger Delta ordered by naval authorities to stamp out oil theft and illegal refining in the region.

    He said that a vessel, a tug boat, a barge and five large wooden boats were also seized at different locations during the operation.

    The seized items and suspects were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further action.

    “In line with strategic directives to rid Rivers State of oil theft and illegal bunkering, troops of NNS Pathfinder under Operation Delta Safe, made some arrests and seizures at different locations.

    “On May 6, troops intercepted and seized a vessel, MT Preye I and five very large wooden boats with about 409,399 litres of suspected refined diesel at Eagle Island.

    “Eleven crew members on board the vessel were subsequently arrested and had been in our custody undergoing investigation,” he said.

    Choji said the suspects were caught while loading the petroleum product from five wooden boats in the late hours of the night.

    “Similarly, on June 19, troops impounded a tug boat, PK II, and a barge, Naomi 03, laden with about 700,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel.

    “Two suspects were arrested over their involvement in the illegal shipment of the petroleum product,” he added.

    He said that a large number of troops had been deployed in the region in line with a harmonised standard operating procedure aimed at enforcing law and order in the area.

    The executive officer of the NNS assured that the navy would not rest in its bid to stop all forms of illegalities in the maritime environment.

    Receiving the items and the suspects, Mr Micheal Adukwu, a senior official of the EFCC, commended the navy and said that there was a synergy in the operations of the two security outfits.

    Adukwu assured that EFCC would carry out further investigations and prosecute the suspects.

  • Alleged $565,000 scam: American seeks bail variation 

    Alleged $565,000 scam: American seeks bail variation 

    An American, Marco Ramirez, who allegedly defrauded three Nigerians of $565,000 in a United States Green Card scam, has asked a Lagos High Court in Ikeja to vary the terms of his bail.

    Last June 22, Ramirez was arraigned for the alleged offence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Josephine Oyefeso.

    He pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of obtaining $565,000 under false pretence from three Nigerians.

    On July 10, Justice Oyefeso granted him $250,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum among other conditions.

    One of the sureties, the judge added, should be resident in Lagos, be a director of a reputable company and have landed property in Lagos.

    Ramirez was remanded in Kirikiri Prison pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.

    He approached vacation judge Justice Ganiyu Safari Friday through his counsel Ademola Adefolaju, seeking a reduction of the bail conditions.

    Adefolaju told Justice Safari that Ramirez’s health condition had deteriorated in Kirikiri Prison since his detention.

    He prayed the court for an order to allow the defendant to bring one surety that is in a directorate cadre in the Lagos State civil service as a substitute for a director in a reputable company.

    Adefolaju, who stated that the application was served on the EFCC on August 21, said Ramirez was dying in prison and the failure “to expeditiously determine the motion is dangerous as his health is deteriorating in prison custody.”

    However, Justice Safari reasoned that since the EFCC was not aware of the proceedings it was better for the matter to be adjourned.

    He ordered that a hearing notice be issued to the commission informing it of Ramirez’s application.

    The judge adjourned hearing of the application till Monday, August 24.

    According to the anti-graft agency, Ramirez, the Managing Director of three companies – USA Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Capital Group – committed the offences between February 2013 and August 2013.

    The American was alleged to have fraudulently received $545,000 dollars from one Godson Echejue to invest in one of Ramirez’s firms.

    The plan was to procure an American green card (permanent residency card) for the Nigerian.

    Ramirez also allegedly received $10,000 from one Abubakar Umar through a non-existent investment programme in the U.S. which would make Umar eligible to obtain an American passport

    The EFCC also accused Ramirez of illegally receiving $10,000 from one Olukayode Sodimu on the pretext that the funds were facilitation fees with the American Immigration Services for an American Green Card.

  • Court siezes ‘Diezani’s’ 56 houses worth N2.6b

    Court siezes ‘Diezani’s’ 56 houses worth N2.6b

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of 56 houses allegedly bought for $16,441,906 (N2.6billion) by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Justice Abdulaziz Anka, a vacation judge, made the order following an ex parte application by a counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Anselem Ozioko.

    The EFCC, in documents filed in court, described the properties as including 29 terraced houses, 21 mixed housing units, six flats, six apartments, two maisonettes among others, in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

    Ozioko persuaded Justice Anka that Diezani paid $16,441,906 cash for the properties through several shell companies from the proceeds of suspected unlawful activity during her tenure as minister.

    The $16,441,906 was allegedly picked up from her house by bank officials via a pick-up service.

    Details later…

     

  • Attack on EFCC sign that anti-corruption war is being won – NLC

    Attack on EFCC sign that anti-corruption war is being won – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said Friday that the attack on the Wuse Zone 7 office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was a clear sign that the won on corruption was being won, hence the resort to violence to stop the commission from concluding vital investigations.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the congress asked the commission not to be deterred by the attack.

    The congress also said there was the government to give the commission the needed technical support to build their forensic capacity without which good cases are lost or drag on indefinitely, thus exposing their personnel as well as set dedicated courts to try corruption cases.

    The statement reads: “We condemn the attack by gun men on the Area 7 office of the EFCC which houses key investigation units of the Commission. The attack represents the audacity of corruption and the shifting of the battle ground from the court room to the streets and should be condemned by all those who love this country.

    “The attack, clearly, was intended to deter and compel operatives of the Commission from carrying to a logical conclusion their ongoing investigations/prosecutions. In the light of an earlier attack during which an operative sustained injuries, this cannot be a lone incident. Indeed, we see it as the new phase of corruption fighting back!

    “While we are not insensitive to the manifest danger in this new phase of corruption fighting back, we urge the Commission and its operatives not to succumb to these desperate tactics or intimidation.

    “We have no doubt the resort to Violence shows they have come to their wit’s end. Accordingly, we urge the Commission and other related agencies to do all that is necessary to secure their premises and personnel.

    “They equally need technical support to build their forensic capacity without which good cases are lost or drag on indefinitely, thus exposing their personnel.

    “We also find it necessary to call on the government to give the Commission the requisite support including the setting up of dedicated courts for speedy disposal of corruption cases.”

     

  • SERAP seeks more protection for EFCC officials

    SERAP seeks more protection for EFCC officials

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the acting President Pro. Yemi Osinbajo to order the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, to lead the investigation of Wednesday’s attack by gunmen on the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

    The organization emphasized the need to ensure the safety and security of those in the frontline of the fight against corruption.

    It pointed out that the attack amounted to threat to the lives of officials of the commission urged government to bring anyone suspected to be responsible to justice without delay.

    The EFCC had on Wednesday reported attack on its Abuja premises and a death threat to its official, Ishaku Sharu, who heads the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Fraud Section and oversees corruption investigation involving several politically exposed persons. This followed another attack on EFCC investigator, Austin Okwor, who was shot and wounded by unknown assailants in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    In a statement issued Friday by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale the organization said, “We stand with the EFCC as it works to carry out its mandates to prevent and combat grand corruption.

    “We condemn any attacks against the agency and its officials which are clearly aimed at harassing, intimidating and stopping them from prosecuting grand corruption cases. We urge the EFCC to remain steadfast to its mandates and not be intimidated by these attacks and threats.”

    The statement further read in part: “SERAP urges Prof. Osinbajo to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotun Idris to immediately improve the system of protection for the officials of EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.

    “Promoting and ensuring the safety and security of those in the frontline of the fight against corruption is the surest way to demonstrate the government’s commitment to combat the problem and end impunity of perpetrators.

    “The protection, safety and security of anti-corruption agencies and their officials is absolutely critical to fighting grand corruption and holding those in power to account. The absence of enhanced protection and security for the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies could ruin the government’s anti-corruption efforts and weaken citizens’ trust and confidence in its ability to effectively and successfully prosecute grand corruption.”

  • Cybercrimes: EFCC detains over 100 undergraduates in nine months

    Cybercrimes: EFCC detains over 100 undergraduates in nine months

    Over 100 undergraduates of tertiary institutions across Southwest have been detained for various cyber crimes by the Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it was learnt Month.

    While addressing reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Monday, the commission’s Deputy Zonal Head, Ibadan, Kazeem Oseni, who spoke on behalf of the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, also disclosed that the suspects were arrested for mainly online love scam, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraud and online marketing scams.

    Oseni also disclosed that that the Ibadan office had recovered around N277.9 million from fraudsters in the past nine months, adding that 50 cases had been instituted against the suspects with 381 others being investigated.

    “The commission is attending to 431 cases among which 50 cases are already in court. In the past nine months, we have arrested 195 individuals in connection with bank fraud, internet fraud, land and general disputes. Among the cases in court are the ones involving the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, that of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

    “The prevailing case in Ibadan is internet frauds involving young people. The Ibadan office has so far recovered N277, 931,341m from various financial criminals while we have also recovered objects like cars used by fraudsters to perpetrate crimes.” He said.

    While shedding more light on the number of arrests made by the commission, the Head, Public Affairs of the zone, Mr Ayo Oyewole, told explained that undergraduates formed larger part of those in custody, adding that some hotels were also seized.

    “Many cars were recovered from undergraduates who were investigated or being investigated. They deal in fake online marketing, fraudulent online dating, ATM fraud and other forms of internet crimes. Over 100 of them have been arrested in the past nine months by the Ibadan office of the EFCC. We have also seized some hotels from fraudsters,” Oyewole said.

  • Campaign Funds: EFCC hunts Gombe state govt

    Campaign Funds: EFCC hunts Gombe state govt

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently on the tracks of politicians indicted in cases of economic and financial crimes, the Commission’s Zonal Head of Operations, Northeast, Aminu Ado Aliyu  has said.

    The Commission started investigation sometime last year with the detention of one Mohammed Balbaya, Accountant, Gombe State Government House over the allegation of N388 million 2015 election campaign.

    The funds was allegedly intended to compromise elections results in favour of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    EFCC’s Zonal Head of Operations, Northeast, Aminu Ado Aliyu spoke in Gombe while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after a briefing on the zonal office’s achievements from January to the end of July this year.

    He said the cases were under investigation and some of the investigations would soon be completed after which the press will be briefed.

    “The investigation is still on, and very soon, it will get to the politicians. If you observed, we have been inviting some of the various security heads that were on ground during the elections.

    “But for now, the Commission does not want to rush to the media and at the end, the indicted persons are not guilty,” he said.

    The Commission’s Head of Public Affairs in the zonal office had in a press statement said that Mr. Mohammed Balbaya was interrogated over his role in the N338million campaign fund sent to the state.

    The statement said Balbaya admitted to collecting the said money in cash from a Fidelity bank official in the state, as directed by Senator Saidu Umar Kumo, the Director-General of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s re-election campaign organization during the 2015 election.

    It added that Balbaya said he contacted the Permanent Secretary and Principal Private Secretary to the governor of the state, Dr.Sani Jauro who directed him to share the money to the beneficiaries.

    The Gombe State Government House Accountant however denied deriving personal benefit from the process.

    The statement had said that the Gombe State Government House Accountant did not disclose who the beneficiaries were and the amount of money given to each individual or group, but that he gave useful information.

     

  • EFCC arrests 191 suspects, recovers N110,820m in North-East

    EFCC arrests 191 suspects, recovers N110,820m in North-East

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), North-East zone, says it has arrested 191 suspects and recovered N110,820,023 million in the area from January to July.

    Malam Aminu Aliyu, the Commission’s  Head of Operations in the zone, stated this at a news conference in Gombe on Tuesday.

    Aliyu said the amount recovered from suspects under investigations are:  N79,074, 743.53 in bank drafts and N31,745,280 in cash.

    He said the office had also secured seven convictions of those arraigned in various courts, while concluding investigation into 54 other cases.

    He expressed the commission’s commitment to tackle economic and financial crimes by securing  conviction of  criminals and sensitising the public to  the evil deeds of fraudsters in the society.

    The zonal head also appealed to the public to continue to  report activities of  any suspects in both private and public sectors.

  • Court forfeits Diezani’s $37.5million Banana Island property to FG

    Court forfeits Diezani’s $37.5million Banana Island property to FG

    …Ex minister loses $2,740,197.96, N84, 537,840.70

     
    A Federal High Court in Lagos has permanently forfeited to the federal government a $37.5million Banana Island property bought in 2013 by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    A vacation judge, Justice Chuka Obiozor, made the order Monday following a motion on notice argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge also ordered that the sums of $2,740,197.96 and N84, 537,840.70 realised as rents on the property be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

    Details later…

     

  • AMCON, EFCC collaborate on debt recovery

    AMCON, EFCC collaborate on debt recovery

    The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) says it is collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as strategy to recover N4.6 billion from debtors across the country.

    The corporation said this   in a statement issued after a meeting with the management of the EFCC on Thursday in Lagos.

    It said the decision was for both agencies to consolidate on the gains in the areas of investigating, prosecuting and compelling all obligors of AMCON in accordance with the relevant statutes.

    The agencies said they were working on taking another look at some banks and their officials that were instrumental to the abuse and violation of internal processes that led to the huge non-performing loans in AMCON’s portfolio.

    “The agencies are planning to revisit, reinvestigate and duly prosecute such banks and the responsible officials,” the statement said.

    The EFCC Acting Chairman,Mr Ibrahim Magu, who welcomed the Managing Director,AMCON Mr Ahmed Kuru, and his team described the assignments of both agencies of government as “very tough, overwhelming and challenging.”

    He however added that he was happy that AMCON under Kuru is doing everything within its mandate to confront the obligors with all the risks involved in the process of doing so.

    He said it was for that reason that EFCC established AMCON Desk with dedicated EFCC officials that ensured that all AMCON related cases in EFCC received speedy attention.

    Magu assured Kuru that the AMCON Desk at EFCC would continue to be functional adding that the EFCC was willing to increase the number of personnel on the desk if so required.

    He said that the agency would be willing to establish a Lagos branch if necessary to make sure these huge loans are recovered in the interest of the Nigerian economy.

    The EFCC boss affirmed that some of those obligors “who took loans without the intention of paying back” did not envisage that someday an agency like AMCON would come knocking on their doors seeking to recover the loans.

    Magu, therefore, condemned the impunity with which those transactions were done.

    According to him, giving the similarity in the objectives of both agencies, the acting EFCC boss said there was need for joint training towards fostering better understanding between AMCON and the EFCC.

    While reaffirming the commitment of the EFCC to cooperate and provide the much needed support to AMCON, Magu urged AMCON to ensure justice is done in all cases.

    He said that was because most of the obligors might not have acted alone in their unwillingness to repay, but might involve the connivance of some of the bank officials whose motive was to cheat the banks ab-initio.

    He, however, disclosed that “in appropriate circumstances, these bankers would also be called upon to account for their roles in granting these questionable facilities.”

    Kuru thanked the Acting Chairman of EFCC for receiving the AMCON delegation and appreciation for his passion and cooperation in the collaboration with AMCON toward recovering the enormous bad debts from recalcitrant obligors of AMCON.

    He also  thanked the acting chairman for creating that unit that had led to several recoveries.

    while appreciating the contribution of the AMCON Desk at EFCC.

    He said that AMCON was willing to provide the required support to the AMCON Desk at EFCC by providing information, logistics and training to the team.

    Recounting AMCON’s role in the economy especially in the banking sector, Kuru said that since its establishment, AMCON acquired debts from 22 banks worth N3.7 trillion and provided financial accommodation to 10 banks of about N2.2 trillion.

    He observed that despite AMCON’s recovery efforts, the corporation still holds unresolved loans in excess of N4.6trillion which represents about 75 per cent of total national budget.

    The managing director expressed concern that failure on the part of AMCON to resolve the debts will have far reaching implication for the nation at large.