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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • Senate moves against Osinbajo over Magu

    Senate moves against Osinbajo over Magu

    …Suspends all confirmation requests

     

    What appeared to be the resumption of the face-off between the Executive and the Legislature took place in the Senate Tuesday.

    The upper chamber resolved to ask the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to immediately take steps to implement its resolutions including the immediate removal of Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibahim Magu.

    It also resolved to suspend any form of confirmation of nominees referred to it by the executive until issues relating to the power of the Senate to confirm executive nominees as contained in the constitution are resolved.

    The lawmakers further resolved that the Acting President must respect the constitution as it relates to the issue of confirmation.

    The Senate insisted that its resolutions especially the rejection of nominees must be adhered to by the Acting President.

    Those, whose nominations were rejected, the lawmakers said, must be relieved of their duties.

    The lawmakers wondered why the Acting Chairman EFCC whose nomination was turned down was still being haboured by the Executive.

    The Senate also resolved to ask Osinbajo to withdraw a statement credited to him that the Senate lacked the powers to confirm nominees.

    The resolutions came after over one hour closed session where the lawmakers were said to have discussed the issues that formed the thrust of the decisions.

    The lawmaker tacitly warned of dare consequences should the resolutions be ignored by the Executive.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki had read a letter of request for the confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, as Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission sent to the Senate by Osinbajo.

    Hardly had Saraki concluded reading the four paragraph letter dated 12 June, 2017 when Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima moved a point of Order that Acting President’s position on confirmation of nominees should be discussed before the nomination Gbajabiamila should be treated.

    Senator Yerima’s Point of Order opened a flood gate of attack on the Executive as senators took turns to bear their minds on the relationship between the two arms of government.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who summed up the contributions of apparently angry senators, alluded to this when he insisted the resolutions must be complied with.

    Saraki said “Distinguished colleagues, let me thank Senator Yerima for coming under Privileges. I think this matter is a very important matter but I think we need to address it once and for all and put it behind us.

    “Because as a society, we can’t pass laws and say these laws should not be obeyed. It is very clear these resolutions as passed must be acted upon by the Acting President.

    “And ensure that we continue to respect our democracy, our laws and constitution. It is not for us to choose which laws we obey and which laws we don’t obey.

    “That is not the way any civilised, modern society work. And we hope that the Acting President will take appropriate action in line with these resolutions.”

    Yerima (Zamfara West) who raised Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rules (Previleges) noted that since the Acting President concluded that the Senate lacked the power to confirm nominees, there was no need to acknowledge any letter from the executive on issues related to confirmation of appointments.

    He said, “I want to draw the attention of the Senate to a statement credited to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo that the Senate does not have the power to confirm.

    “I was surprised to see the Senate President read a letter from the same Acting President who said the Senate does not have the power to confirm a nominee from the executive.

    “I am raising this point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to this issue and urge that we suspend any further action on confirmation of any nominee until the issue is resolved.”

    Senator George Sekibo (River East) on his own asked the Senate to take a firm position and reject any attempts to weaken the National Assembly.

    Sekibo said: “A careful look at what is happening will tell Nigerians that they are trying to indirectly take over our responsibilities. The main function of the National Assembly is to make laws. The clearing of nominees from the President is one of the major functions of the Senate.

    “All the various laws made to establish agencies of the Federal Government state that we will confirm nominations into such bodies. When an Acting President says that the Senate has no powers to confirm, I wonder if he is familiar with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    “In a civilian democracy, there is nothing like an executive order. You cannot wake up and issue executive orders. You cannot also wake up and tell nominees to take over office. This goes contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

    “The moment you are playing down on the constitution,then you are playing down on the integrity of the Nigerian people. If the Acting President said we do not have the powers to confirm and he is sending a name that we should confirm, then what do we do? Senate should place a suspension on nomination until we determine whether we have the powers to confirm or not.”

    Senator Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi North) lamented what he described as “the hypocrisy of the executive.”

    Misau wondered why “the National Assembly should always blackmailed by the executive to do their bidding.”

    He said, “This is a double standard or an act of hypocrisy. It is like they do not want this National Assembly to function properly. Sometimes, we associate corruption with only financial misappropriation. But there is also corruption in the area of appointments. When you appoint your friend into an office, it is corruption. We are here to serve the people.

    “The National Assembly is being blackmailed. They stormed the house of the Deputy President of the Senate and the house of the Appropriation committee chairman. They lied that it was the police that carried out the raid. But we know that it was the EFCC. It is time that we challenge the executive whenever they attack us.”

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) said “We must situate this issue. I am surprised that we still accept nominations in this chamber. We agreed that we will not take nominations again from the executive until certain things are resolved. We must take a stand. The leadership does not do anything about this issue within 48 hours, we will move against the leadership.”

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) on his on his own said that the Executive is always playing  “blues and ragea.”

    Melaye who is fighting a battle of his life to fence off attempts by some of his constituents to recall, said that the Senate should stand up to the Executive and its antics.

    He said, “There is a call on senators to serve Nigerians. It is time for us to tell the executive to stop playing blues and dance reggae. The executive must stop approbating and reprobating powers to itself.  In this same chamber, we invited the Acting EFCC chairman. We invited him for a job interview and he failed. We rejected him.

    “As I speak, Magu is still parading himself as EFCC chairman. Now, the same executive is sending a name for us to confirm. We confirmed Resident Electoral Commissioners before we went on break. They have sworn-in some people and have refused to do same for others. This Senate leadership must act and take a position.

    “It is time for the Senate to apply force. I am moving a motion that it becomes abominable for the Senate President to read another confirmation letter until the integrity of this Senate is respected by the executive.”

    Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, (Osun Central) in his contribution insisted that it is incumbent on the executive to obey the provisions of the constitution.

    Adeyeye warned against attempts by the executive to destroy the institution of the Senate and insisted that anybody who is uncomfortable with any law should go to court to challenge it.

    He said: “These are frightening times. This is because many Nigerians, including many of us here put our lives on the line to ensure that we have democratic governance in Nigeria.

    “We need to remind the republic that the difference between the military and a democratic regime, is the existence of the legislature.

    “Every public servant is bound to obey every law of the republic. Nobody, not the President, vice or the Senate President has the right to disobey our laws. Whoever has problems with our laws should go to court and declare them null and void. Until that is done, every law of the law must be respected.

    “I voted yes for Magu. But the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria voted no. I stand with the Nigerian Senate. I choose a strong institution. We should not allow our institutions to be weakened. I want to lend the whole of my being to the first realm of the estate which is the legislature. I pray that we assert the independence of the legislature and not as a sign of power mongering, but to show that this is not the government of strong individuals.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who also added his voice to the debate said that the executive must obey the contents of the constitution.

    Ekweremadu who cited different sections of the constitution said that Section 171 of the Constitution relied upon by the Executive to retain Magu talked about personal staff of Mr. President.

    He noted that the issue under discussion has nothing to do with Magu or the DG National Lottery Commission but has a lot to d with what the Constitution said.

    Ekweremadu said, “Let me make it clear that this has nothing to do with the Director-General of Lottery Commission or Ibrahim Magu, but about our constitution. One of the features of the Senate is the power of confirmation. The framers of the constitution gave the power to the Senate.

    “If the law says that an appointee requires confirmation, we must obey what the law says. The executive must follow the provisions of the constitution.”

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) caused a stir in the Senate when he said that there is a vaccum in the Presidency.

    Abaribe  drew the attention of the Senate to what he tagged a vacuum created in the country, following the two-day absence of the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo from the country.

    Osinbajo travelled to Ethiopia on Sunday to attend an African Union (AU) meeting and returned to the country yesterday.

    Abaribe said, “The Acting President is the head of government now. We have a serious problem. As of today, there is nobody who is the head of government. The law and the procedure state that you cannot have a vacuum. The Acting President is out of the country and there is a vacuum.”

    Abaribe’s comment threw the chamber into confusion as some Senators agreed with him while others attempted to shout him down.

    He persisted until Senator Kabiru Marafa moved a Point of Order to stop him.

    For over 10 minutes, the Chamber was rowdy.  Senator lined up on political affiliation.

    Senator Marafa who relied on Order 53(4) of the Senate Standing Rules said the issue Abaribe raised was not part of the issue before the Senate. Marafa said that the constitution made it clear that in the absence of the President, the Vice President takes over and in the absence of the Vice President, the Senate President is the next in command and the President.

    There was a loud roar in the chamber as some Senators shouted “you are correct.”

    Saraki agreed and ruled Abaribe out of Order.

    The issue we are discussing has nothing to do with what Abaribe raised. We may have to discuss that at another day if need be. I have to rule you out of order Abaribe.”

    Saraki called Melaye who reeled out the resolutions adopted by the upper chamber.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who spoke at a news conference said that the import of the resolutions of the Senate was that rule of law should be supreme at all times no matter who is involved.

    He noted that the resolutions were clear that the Senate Should suspend all confirmations referred to it until issues relating to confirmation as contained in the constitution were resolved.

    Abdullahi said that the Executive must do what “needs to be done at all times.”

    “We are asking the Acting President to respect the resolutions of the Senate. The Senate rejected Magu and Magu is still acting as EFCC chairman,” he said

     

  • EFCC confirms arrest of another ex-Gov

    EFCC confirms arrest of another ex-Gov

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, has confirmed the arrest of a former Governor of Jigawa, Sen. Saminu Turaki, by the anti-graft agency.

    “What is there to confirm? It is true,” Uwujaren told a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent on phone.

    A source in the commission had earlier told NAN that the former governor was arrested by EFCC operatives in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon.

    According to the source, Turaki was picked up at the venue of the public presentation of a book on Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, the first regular combatant officer in the Nigerian Army.

    The ex-governor, who was in office between 1999 and 2007, was declared wanted by the agency in 2014 after allegedly failing to present himself for trial since 2011.

    He faces a 36-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds before the Federal High Court in Dutse, his state capital.

    The source added, “The court had issued a warrant directing the Inspector General of Police or his officers, and the EFCC to arrest Turaki and bring him before the court.

    “Justice S. Yahuza gave the order after Turaki consistently failed to attend the trial.

    “But attempts to execute the warrant failed as Turaki remained elusive.”

    “On May 19, 2016, operatives of the commission acting on a tip-off had stormed the 16 Denis Osadebey Street Asokoro, Abuja, home of the former governor but he slipped through their hands.”(NAN)

  • Senate to Osinbajo: Remove Magu now

    Senate to Osinbajo: Remove Magu now

    The Senate on Tuesday demanded that the acting President Yemi Osinbajo must obey the resolutions of the Senate, including the immediate removal of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

    It also suspended all confirmation of appointments until compliance with its resolution.

    Recall that the confirmation of the Chairman of the EFCC, who was appointed in Acting capacity by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 9, 2015, was first rejected by the Senate on December 15, 2017, and has consistently been rejected.

    Upon his appointment, Magu said he was committed to the anti-corruption war, drawing a connection between the economic challenges facing the country and the endemic corruption in the country.

    Similarly, on December 15, the Senate after a lengthy closed session drafted the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, to address journalists and announce the rejection of the Magu’s nomination.

    Abdullahi said Senate’s decision not to confirm Magu was due to unfavourable security reports against his nomination. He, however, did not give details of the security reports that stopped Magu’s confirmation as EFCC chief.

     

     

     

  • Green card scam: American to remain in Kirikiri prison till July 10

    Green card scam: American to remain in Kirikiri prison till July 10

    An American national, Marco Ramirez, who allegedly obtained 565,000 dollars under false presences from three Nigerians in an American Green Card scam, is to remain behind bars until July 10, a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, has ruled.

    His remand in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons followed the absence of his defence counsel at the hearing of his bail application on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on June 22, Justice Josephine Oyefeso had ordered the remand of Ramirez at  Kirikiri Prisons following his ‘not guilty’ plea.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed on Ramirez a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining 565,000 dollars under false presences from three Nigerians to get them American green card.

    Oyefeso had adjourned the case until July 3 for the hearing of his bail application.

    At the resumption of proceedings, Ramirez explained the reason for the absence of his lawyer, Mr Chukwudi Maduka.

    “My Lord, my counsel’s flight from Abuja was cancelled this morning at 8.00 a.m., they are making alternative arrangements to come,” he said.

    Justice Oyefeso taking note of the absence of his lawyer, stood down the case until afternoon.

    “The day is well spent, this is past 1.00 p.m., his counsel should be here by now, the case is stood down.”

    During the approximately three-hour waiting period for Ramirez’s lawyer, the EFCC had served him documents opposing his bail.

    However, at 4.00 p.m. when the case was called for hearing, the defence team of the American had still not showed up in court.

    “I haven’t spoken to my lawyer since morning; the prosecution just served me with an objection to my bail, I’ll like to ask for a short adjournment so that my attorneys could look into it,” he said.

    Mrs V.O. Aigboje, counsel to the EFCC, expressed displeasure at the absence of the defence counsel and requested that the trial should begin immediately.

    She said: “It is the defendant’s constitutional right to get legal representation, in the circumstance instead of waiting for the defence counsel, the bail can be taken at any stage of proceedings.

    “I ask that the case be adjourned for trial and the bail application be taken at any time during his trial.”

    Interjecting, Ramirez said: “I will ensure that my attorneys fly in a day before proceedings My Lord.”

    Oyefeso then adjourned the case to 9. 00 a.m. on July 10 for hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

    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, according to the EFCC.

    Ramirez was alleged to have fraudulently received 545,000 dollars from Amb. Godson Echejue to invest in his company, Eagleford Instalodge Group, in order to procure an American green card ( permanent residence card) for him (Echejue).

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

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

  • Court admits Oronsaye’s co-defendant’s confessional statement

    Court admits Oronsaye’s co-defendant’s confessional statement

    After about 12 months of denial, a Federal High Court in Abuja Monday out a lie to claim by the Managing Director of Federick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Osarenkhoe Afe that he was compelled to make confessional statements to investigators with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a ruling Monday on a trial-within-trial conducted from June 21, 2016, held among others that Afe voluntarily made the statements, and proceeded to admit them in evidence.

    Afe is being tried with a former Head of Service to the Federation (HOSF), Steve Oronsaye on an amended 35-count charge in which they are accused of “stealing and obtaining money by false pretence” about N2billion.

    Shortly after their arraignment last year, Afe, through his lawyer Oluwole Aladedoye, objected to the admission, in evidence, Afe’s the statements, arguing that they were obtained from his client by “oppression”, a development that necessitated the conduct of the trial-within-trial, which began on June 21, 2016.

    The statements are confessional ones made by Afe to the EFCC on February 24, 2011 and March 16, 2011 in the course of investigating five companies – Hamilton Global Services Limited; Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited – alleged to have been used to perpetrate the fraud.

    Prosecuting lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe called three witnesses to prove that Afe made the statements to EFCC’s investigators voluntarily.

    The witnesses, who were operatives on the EFCC’s Pension Task Force, testified to the effect that Afe made the confessional statements, and that “he was not coerced” into making them.

    Ruling yesterday, Justice Kolawole said: “The second defendant (Afe) was in a good state of mind when he made the statements.”

    The judge said if indeed, he was coerced into making the statements as claimed, he never took any steps, like writing “a letter of protest” and asking “the court to order the EFCC to produce the statement he was coerced to write.

    “If in the course of proceedings, there are new developments, which put the statement in great doubt; this court has the power to expunge it, as it is easier to do that, and I don’t have power to remove evidence that has already been objected,” the judge said.

    Justice Kolawole proceeded to admit the statements as exhibits in the case

    Earlier, the judge granted a motion brought by Oronsaye’s lawyer, Barth Ogar, praying the court to release his client’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medicals.

    In granting the motion, the judge ordered Ogar to, in the next 48 hours, file a personal undertaking that the defendant shall return his passport on or before September 30 for purposes of his further trial.

    Justice Kolawole adjourned to October 12, 2017 for the “continuation of judicial trial of the defendants”.

    The EFCC, on May 18, 2016 re-arraigned Oronsaye and Afe before Justice Kolawole on the amended 35-count charge. Oronsaye, Afe, his company and other firms – Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limitd, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited – are named as defendants in the charge dated November 2, 2015’

    Count one of the charges reads: “That you Stephen Oronsaye, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina (now at large) Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited on or about 2nd July, 2010 in Abuja, collaborated in disguising genuine nature of the sum of N161,472,000 derived from an illegal act to wit: conducting procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act on the contract extension of biometric enrolment purportedly awarded to Innovative Solutions Limited by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation without following due process and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.”

    Another count reads: “That you Stephen Oronsaye and Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina (now at large) between April and May 2010 in Abuja, collaborated in disguising genuine nature  an aggregate sum of N131,038,425 derived from an illegal act to wit; conducting procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act on the contract of biometric enrolment purportedly awarded to Moshfad Enterprises by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation without following due process and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.”

    The case was first taken before Justice Kolawole on July 13, 2015, where a 25-count charge was filed against Oronsaye and others, to which along with his co-defendants they pleaded not guilty. Before trial could commence before Justice Kolawole, the court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta reassigned the case file to another judge, Justice John Tsoho.

    On March 1, 2016 when proceedings were to commence before Justice Tsoho, the judge stunned all when he said: “It has been realized that the case came to me in error, and I’ve been instructed that it should be returned to my brother judge, Justice Kolawole, who started it. He should continue where he stopped. I wish you the best of luck.”

    When parties returned to his court, Justice Kolawole said: “the Chief Judge wanted to redistribute cases to new judges transferred to the Federal High Court, Abuja in order to decongest the court, but this case file of Oronsaye was taken in error to Justice Tsoho. This explanation becomes necessary so the public will not be wondering why such back and forth movement.”

     

  • Separatist agitations is being funded by corruption – Magu

    Separatist agitations is being funded by corruption – Magu

    The acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has identified corruption as the root cause of separatist agitations and militancy in the country.

    Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that Magu made the remarks at the opening session of a two-day Electronic and Social Media Review and Training Conference held at the EFCC Academy in Abuja on Thursday.

    In the statement, Uwujaren quoted Magu as saying “people would not be engaging in needless agitations if the country was corruption-free.”

    The EFCC boss also said that Nigeria’s unity was one that could not be compromised, and urged participants at the conference to step up public sensitisation on the ills of corruption.

    He said “we can change the negative perception of this country. I urge you all to be committed in this fight using your various platforms.

    “The root cause of the hate speeches by the Arewa and Igbo youths is corruption. Some people are actually funding them.

    “The looters of our common wealth are the ones responsible for the woes bedevilling Nigeria. We must do everything possible to secure the unity of this country.

    “People who don’t deserve anything are taking everything and if there is no common consensus to halt the trend, the future of our children yet unborn will be mortgaged.’’

    Magu urged the participants to take a critical look at the social media platforms of EFCC and come up with suggestions on how to make them better.

    In a presentation, Mr Joe Abah, the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Service Reforms, commended the EFCC, describing it as the leading anti-graft agency in Nigeria.

    Abbah said “EFCC deserves a lot of credit. You are doing a great job. Your work is what we all need you to do but many of us don’t want you to do the work.

    “EFCC is clearly chatting a new path for social media engagement for the anti-graft agencies looking at its statistics on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, and Instagram.”

    He stressed the need for all anti-graft agencies to constantly compare note to improve information sharing and synergy across the social media.

    A prominent blogger, Mr Joshua Omojuwa, who spoke on “Digital Media in Nigeria”, said “one could not deny the great works and achievements of the EFCC.”

    Omojuwa noted that the EFCC Twitter handle “was strong”, rating it as the twitter handle of the year 2017.

    He further shed light on how the new media could be used to make the job of corruption fight more effective.

    He said “social media pages should be domiciled in your website, which is the headquarters of your activities in the commission. “You need to start creating visual contents.”

    He warned that the commission should be wary of hackers, saying he had noticed that the EFCC had many fake Facebook accounts.

    While noting that this could be damaging to the image of the commission, the blogger advised that Facebook should be contacted to block the fake accounts.

    Lauretta Onochie, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, urged Nigerians to join the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration in tackling the “hydra-headed monster called corruption.

    “Corruption has been a hindrance in the wheel of progress of the country. We need to stand up against corruption.

    “Let us live as patriots of our nation. I plead with every Nigerian to support the nation and the EFCC in the anti-corruption war. Let us all come together and kill corruption.”

    The conference was an initiative of the Public Affairs Directorate of the EFCC, the first social and electronic media programme review by the agency.

    The initiative was part of the commission’s efforts to enhance its communication strategies and channels used in engaging the public in the fight against corruption.

  • Court to hear suit seeking Magu’s removal Oct. 10

    Court to hear suit seeking Magu’s removal Oct. 10

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed Oct. 10 to hear a matter filed by Johnmary Jideobi, a lawyer, seeking to remove Mr Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    When the matter was called on Thursday, Mr Mohammed Shehu, counsel to one of the respondents, asked the court for an adjournment to enable him familiarise himself with the case.

    Shehu prayed the court to grant his request as this was his first appearance in the matter.

    Jideobi who represented himself, said he had no objection to the application for adjournment.

    Justice B.O Quadri adjourned the matter until Oct. 10 for hearing.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jideobi is asking the court to make a pronouncement terminating the continuous stay of Magu as Acting Chairman of EFCC.

    He said that the Senate rejected Magu’s appointment and by virtue of that expediency, the commission being headed by an acting chairman ended when the president wrote requesting for a substantive chairman.

    However, the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney- General of the Federation, objected to the application on certain terms.

    Counsel to the Federal Government, Mrs Maimuna Shiru, said that one of the terms had to do with the powers of the president to appoint a chairman for the EFCC, whether in acting or substantive capacity.

    Besides Magu, others named as defendants in the matter include the Senate, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the EFCC.

  • EFCC arrests NABDA DG over alleged N23m scam

    EFCC arrests NABDA DG over alleged N23m scam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested Prof. Lucy  Ogbadu, the Director-General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), over alleged N23 million fraud.

    Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Thursday.

    Uwujaren said Ogbadu was picked up by EFCC operatives in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, following her alleged link with the Bayelsa State Director of Bio-resources Development Centre, Josiah Habu.

    Habu, according to him, is being investigated by the anti-graft agency in a case of fraudulent diversion of N75 million.

    He said investigations by the EFCC revealed that Ogbadu allegedly received N23m through a bank account belonging to the wife of Habu, Mrs Esther Habu.

    The EFCC spokesman stated that Ogbadu admitted the transaction in a voluntary statement made to the commission’s investigators.

    “Further investigations also revealed that Mrs Habu is one of the contractors with Bio-resources Development Centre, Odi, Bayelsa State.

    “A total of N603 million has been traced to her in different deals involving over 20 directors of the centre across the country.

    “Ogbadu’s involvement is being investigated. She has been duly served with bail conditions while investigations continue,’’ Uwujaren added.
    Ogbadu, a professor of microbiology, was appointed NABDA director-general in November 2013.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested Prof. Lucy  Ogbadu, the Director-General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), over alleged N23 million fraud.

    Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Thursday.

    Uwujaren said Ogbadu was picked up by EFCC operatives in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, following her alleged link with the Bayelsa State Director of Bio-resources Development Centre, Josiah Habu.

    Habu, according to him, is being investigated by the anti-graft agency in a case of fraudulent diversion of N75 million.

    He said investigations by the EFCC revealed that Ogbadu allegedly received N23m through a bank account belonging to the wife of Habu, Mrs Esther Habu.

    The EFCC spokesman stated that Ogbadu admitted the transaction in a voluntary statement made to the commission’s investigators.

    “Further investigations also revealed that Mrs Habu is one of the contractors with Bio-resources Development Centre, Odi, Bayelsa State.

    “A total of N603 million has been traced to her in different deals involving over 20 directors of the centre across the country.

    “Ogbadu’s involvement is being investigated. She has been duly served with bail conditions while investigations continue,’’ Uwujaren added.
    Ogbadu, a professor of microbiology, was appointed NABDA director-general in November 2013.

     

  • EFCC arrests NABDA DG over alleged N23m scam

    EFCC arrests NABDA DG over alleged N23m scam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has arrested Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, the Director-General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), over alleged N23 million fraud.

    Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Thursday.

    Uwujaren said Ogbadu was picked up by EFCC operatives in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, following her alleged link with the Bayelsa State Director of Bio-resources Development Centre, Josiah Habu.

    Habu, according to him, is being investigated by the anti-graft agency in a case of fraudulent diversion of N75 million.

    He said investigations by the EFCC revealed that Ogbadu allegedly received N23m through a bank account belonging to the wife of Habu, Mrs Esther Habu.

    The EFCC spokesman stated that Ogbadu admitted the transaction in a voluntary statement made to the commission’s investigators.

    “Further investigations also revealed that Mrs Habu is one of the contractors with Bio-resources Development Centre, Odi, Bayelsa State.

    “A total of N603 million has been traced to her in different deals involving over 20 directors of the centre across the country.

    “Ogbadu’s involvement is being investigated. She has been duly served with bail conditions while investigations continue,’’ Uwujaren added.

    Ogbadu, a professor of microbiology, was appointed NABDA director-general in November 2013.

  • NIS recruitment scam: Court chides EFCC over failure to produce witness

    NIS recruitment scam: Court chides EFCC over failure to produce witness

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday chided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over its conduct in the prosecution of former Interior Minister, Abba Moro, describing it as “sloppy prosecution.”

    Moro is being prosecuted alongside a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, and a Deputy Director in the ministry, F. O. Alayebami, over alleged N676 million recruitment fraud.

    Others being tried with Moro are one Mahmood Ahmadu, who is at large, and Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited, the firm that handled the Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS) recruitment in 2014.

    The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, criticised the anti-graft agency over its failure to produce the fourth prosecution witness in court for continuation of trial.

    “This is your case and you have to arrange it in such a way as to avoid such occurrences. Your reasons sound a little sloppy with due respect.

    “If I strike out this case for want of diligent prosecution, a lot of noise would be made by people who were not in court.

    “We have to stop this nonsense and let it not repeat itself, you have to be ready for trial at the next adjourned date or else I will take the necessary action.”

    The prosecuting counsel, Mrs Elizabeth Alabi, who held brief for Mr Aliu Yusuf, informed the court, when the matter was called that the witness, a bank official based in Lagos, could not be communicated with during the Sallah break.

    Alabi said that as a result of the prosecution’s inability to reach the witness, he could not be prepared to give his testimony.

    She said that the witness was on subpoena and prayed the court for an adjournment.

    “My lord, the fourth prosecution witness is not in court. He is a subpoenaed witness and we were unable to hold a pre-trial session due to the two days public holiday, we were unable to communicate with him.

    “The witness is a banker and resides in Lagos. In the circumstances, we shall be asking for an adjournment to enable us bring our witness to court.”

    Mr Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), Moro’s lawyer expressed his dissatisfaction over the failure of the prosecution to bring the witness to court.

    Kehinde opposed the application for adjournment and urged the court to compel the prosecution to sign an undertaking to have its witness in court on the next adjourned date.

    Mr Chris Uche (SAN), counsel to Daniel-Nwobia maintained that when the prosecution failed to reach the witness in Lagos, other witnesses in the matter should have been prepared to attend the day’s proceedings.

    Similarly, S. I. Ameh, another defence counsel, argued that a subpoena was not just a document but an authority issued by the court.

    He held that since the subpoenaed witness disobeyed the order, the legal thing to do was to teach the witness a legal lesson by ordering for a warrant to be issued on him.

    The matter was adjourned until Oct. 4.