The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • Ex-NIMASA chief rented Banana Island home for N40m – EFCC

    Ex-NIMASA chief rented Banana Island home for N40m – EFCC

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday heard that a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi allegedly rented his Banana Island home for two years with N40million.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Orji Chukwuma, while testifying in Akpobolokemi’s trial, alleged that the money formed part of proceeds of crime.

    Chukwuma, who the prosecution’s 11th witness, said Akpobolokemi allegedly lived far above his means.

    He said the defendant, a former lecturer at Niger-Delta University where he earned a little above N100, 000 before he joined NIMASA, had over N154 million in his NIMASA salary account.

    Chukwuma said Akpobolokemi paid the N40 million three tranches of N12 million, N14 million and N14 million for 2013 and 2014 rent.

    The witness said the former NIMASA chief also paid N38.5 million to Vision Motors for a Toyota Landcruiser Bullet Proof Jeep.

    He said Akpolobokemi paid the money in five tranches between November 11, 2011 and June 19, 2013, in addition to a cash payment of N10 million which he said was above the threshold.

    Akpobolokemi was charged along with a former Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development at NIMASA, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, his aides Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan as well as Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused them of converting N2, 658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year. They pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned until November 26 and 29 for continuation of trial.

  • Fani-Kayode for arraignment November 10 – EFCC

    Fani-Kayode for arraignment November 10 – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is to arraign former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, on new charges of fraud on November 10.

    EFCC’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), through an SMS in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Uwujaren said that the commission had already served the former minister with court processes, he did not give further details.

    Fani-Kayode, a former Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, was re-arrested by EFCC operatives while emerging from a Federal High Court room in Lagos on Friday.

    He is standing trial in the Lagos court alongside a former Minister of Finance,  Nenandi Usman, one Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Ltd.

    The three are facing a 17-count charge of unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of about N4.9 billion, a charge they denied.

    Reports say that the Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had concluded the witness’ evidence for the day, and the case adjourned till Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 for continuation of hearing.

    But as the accused emerged from the courtroom, he was flanked by two EFCC operatives who led him into a waiting Toyota Hiace bus and drove him away.

    However, shortly after the accused left the courtroom, two officers of the EFCC dressed in white Kaftans, flanked his sides and requested that he followed them to the commission.

    He has been in the commission’s custody since then.

     

  • Ex-Militants to Amnesty Coordinator: Stop bribing NASS members

    Ex-Militants to Amnesty Coordinator: Stop bribing NASS members

    Some ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region currently enrolled in the Presidential Amnesty Programme on Tuesday raised the alarm on a coordinated scheme by the leadership of the Programme to use huge sums of money from the Amnesty Office accounts to settle  members of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta.

    The Senate Committee is currently conducting investigative hearing on the Programme.

    The ex-militants decided to raise the alarm as leaders and critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta led by a former Federal Commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Ckark, are billed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, October 31,

    Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Amnesty Programme’s beneficiaries, who spoke under the aegis of the forum of Truly Transformed former Niger Delta Agitators (TTNDA), swore to drag the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if he persists in the plot to use favoured contractors to move large sums of money out of the account of the Amnesty Office towards sharing the money to members of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta.

    The National President of the forum, Preye Bosco Amasoma said: “Out of respect for President Muhammadu Buhari, who we believe means well for Nigerians, including Niger Deltans, we have been tolerating the shortcomings of the current Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen Paul Boroh (rtd); we have been tolerating his incompetence but we will not accept this extremely corrupt scheme that he is hatching using the name of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta,”

    “Very reliable and courageous staff of the Amnesty Office have informed us and have even shown us series of documents, including vouchers of urgent and sudden payments to some contractors being used for this scheme.

    “These contractors are in turn placed under immense pressure to pull out the money to help Boroh settle members of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta led by Senator Peter Nwoboshi,” the National President of TTNDA alleged.

    The group also said that they were compelled to speak out given the reluctance or inability of the Buhari administration to discipline the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in spite of the plethora of administrative and financial maleficence that have been linked to him.

    He said: “For a man who has not paid us our monthly stipend for four months and has not paid delegates in training centres across the country for several months, to be using contractors to pile up money for himself and some so-called Senators, is a shame and the EFCC and President Buhari himself will hear this matter. This is the era of total war against corruption and there must be no sacred cow.

    “Any time we ask for our money, all they tell us is that the Amnesty Office is under immense pressure from the Senate Committee on Niger Delta and that all the available money is going into settling the members of this committee. Is this fair, especially this season that President Buhari has launched a full-blown war against corruption?

    “If the President does not put a stop to the thieving currently going on at the Amnesty Office under his aide, Paul Boroh, we will consider taking to the streets of Abuja in protest,” Bosco Amasoma, who was flanked by several members of his group, said at the Press Conference in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

    The Senate Committee on Niger Delta, which is currently conducting investigative hearing on the Amnesty Programme, held a public hearing two weeks ago where several persons claimed they were ex-agitators from the Niger Delta who were unjustly excluded from the programme.

    The aggrieved groups included youths from the Ndokwa ethnic nationality in Delta State.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Peter Nwoboshi, had at the public hearing frowned at the purported exclusions and directed the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Paul Boroh, to write to the President to secure requisite approvals to include the youths in the Amnesty Programme.

    However, at the public hearing Senator Peter Nwoboshi announced that the committee had decided to schedule a later date to meet with contractors handling training or capital projects for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    The Niger Delta ex-agitators protesting “reckless spending” at the Amnesty Office at the press conference in Abuja alleged that Senator Nwoboshi was acting out a script he co-wrote with the Amnesty Programme’s Coordinator, Paul Boroh.

    “Since when did Senate Committees began staggering public hearings on one issue. The delay by the Senate Committee in discussing issues related to contracts awarded by the Amnesty Office is just to buy time for Boroh to intimidate his account staff and contractors to structure out more money for the Senate Committee on Niger Delta.

    “The truth however is that the bulk of the money raised from contractors usually goes to Boroh and some amount possibly go to members of the Senate Committee,” the forum’s President alleged.

    He added: “Well, we stand to be proved wrong by members of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta. All we are saying is that the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme is using the name of the committee to award phony and urgent contracts and money is being extorted  from the beneficiaries of the contracts.

    “So, we are challenging the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta to come out boldly to declare to Nigerians that they are not involved in this dangerous scheme at a time President Buhari is ruthlessly fighting corruption,” the President of TTNDA added

    To buttress their claim, the leadership of the forum of Truly Transformed Niger Delta ex-agitators, showed Journalists who attended the press conference, a letter purportedly written to the Amnesty Office by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwoboshi wherein he introduced to Paul Boroh the firm of Candour Capital Limited as the duly appointed consultant of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta charged by the committee to “conduct the inspection and investigation of the books and accounts of the Presidential Amnesty Programme from inception to date.”

    In the letter, Senator Nwoboshi further informed the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme that the firm of Candour Capital Limited “will report (at the Amnesty Office) for the assignment on Tuesday 25th October 2016” and urged the Amnesty Coordinator “to grant the consultants maximum cooperation and support to enable them perform and deliver urgently the required report for the Committee to finalise its mandate”

    The ex-agitators however queried the propriety of subjecting what they say are very sensitive national security documents to the firm of Candour Capital Limited.

    “The whole thing is a scam. What level of security clearance has this private company received to qualify it to have full and unfettered access to a national security programme like the Presidential Amnesty Programme? I pity this country,” the leader of the transformed Niger Delta ex-agitators stated.

  • Tompolo to judge: Refer my case to Appeal Court

    Tompolo to judge: Refer my case to Appeal Court

    Wanted ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), on Tuesday asked Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos to refer his case to the Court of Appeal for determination.
    Tompolo is seeking an order “nullifying, voiding, striking down and expunging sections 221 and 306 from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to the extent of their inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution.”
    The applicant said the issues raised in his suit were novel. According to him, since there is no precedent, it would be better for the Court of Appeal to determine the case as any decision reached on the case“would affect many criminal and civil cases all over Nigeria where the ACJA is being applied.”
    In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Oladapo Sofola, Tompolo said: “A decision of this court on these issues will eventually be submitted to the Court of Appeal for review. Valuable time and resources will be saved if these issues are henceforth referred by this honourable court to the Court of Appeal as requested. The interest of justice will be better served if the substantial issues of law are so referred.”
    Through his lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Tompolo said sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA were unconstitutional because they prevent a court from entertaining any objection to a criminal charge or an application for stay of proceedings pending appeal.
    Section 221 says: “Objections shall not be taken or entertained during proceedings or trial on the ground of an imperfect or erroneous charge.” Section 306 says: “An application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before a court shall not be entertained.”
    Tompolo wants the Court of Appeal to determine the following: (1) whether the ACJA sections are in consonance with sections 4 (8) 6 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution; (2) whether the sections are in consonance with Article 7 (1) (d) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act of 2004; and (3) whether the sections do not constitute flagrant violations of the guaranteed constitutional right of the applicant.
    Opposing Tompolo’s application, Attorney-General of the Federation, represented by Tolu Mukoro, urged the court to dismiss it. He said the Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution permits the government to enact any law such as the ACJA.
    He further submitted that since Tompolo has been consistently absent in the main criminal proceedings leading to the civil suit, he should not be allowed to take benefit of his wrongdoing to obtain any favour from the court.
    Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Mohammed also urged the court to dismiss the suit.
    Justice Ibrahim Buba, before whom criminal charges against Tompolo are pending, had on January 14, issued a warrant for Tompolo’s arrest. But Tompolo, on January 27, filed an application to set the warrant aside. OnFebruary 8, Justice Buba dismissed the application. Tompolo thereafter appealed the ruling on February 18.
    EFCC, on March 22, arraigned Tompolo in absentia over N34billion fraud after he failed to turn up despite being declared wanted. He was said to be “at large” in the charge.

    He was also absent on April 18 when his co-accused, former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi and others, were arraigned for alleged N22.7 billion fraud. He was also said to be “at large”.

    Justice Olatoregun-Ishola adjourned until December 12 for ruling on Tompolo’s application.
  • Ex-NIMASA DG proposes plea bargain with EFCC

    Ex-NIMASA DG proposes plea bargain with EFCC

    A former Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, Monday proposed to enter a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The commission arraigned him at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N304.1million fraud.

    Jauro is among four ex-NIMASA chiefs charged with corruption-related offences.

    Others are Patrick Akpobolokemi, Calistus Obi and Temisan Omatseye, who was convicted.

    Obi, ex-NIMASA’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, took over from Akpobolokemi, who is facing five separate fraud charges.

    Obi was relieved of his duties less than a week later, and replaced by Jauro, who was Executive Director, Finance and Administration.

    Jauro was charged with Dr. Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 counts of converting N304.1 million belonging to NIMASA.

    EFCC said they conspired on January 6, 2014, to convert N156, 477,500 belonging to NIMASA, knowing the money was stolen.

    They also allegedly converted N38, 170,000 between June 3 and September 1, 2014, “knowing that the sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3).”

    EFCC said on May 30 and August 14, 2014, they converted N8, 500,000.00, property of NIMASA. The prosecution said they did so “knowing that the sums were proceeds of bribery”.

    The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all counts when they were arraigned, with EFCC opening its case.

    Trial was billed to resume Monday before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, but defence counsel Babajide Koku (SAN) said his client had begun plea bargain talks with the prosecution.

    He told the judge that the defence took the decision Monday.

    “It (plea bargain decision) came up this morning. I discussed directly with my learned friend (prosecution counsel) this morning,” Koku said.

    EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed the development.

    He said: “I confirm the intention of the defence to enter a plea bargain with the prosecution.”

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola urged the parties to reach an agreement without delay.

    “By the time you come back, you would have filed the plea bargain agreement and I would have looked at it and evaluated it,” she said.

    The judge adjourned until November 21.

  • AEDC sacks 27 workers over corruption 

    AEDC sacks 27 workers over corruption 

    The management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has disengaged 27employees cutting across various cadres due to alleged corrupt practices and indiscipline. 

    The company’s Director, Corporate Services, Engr. Abimbola Odubiyi, informed the workers via an internal memo saying that 17 of the affected staff had their appointment terminated while nine others were dismissed outright due to various forms of corrupt practices such as fraud, theft and double employment. 

    According to a reliable source, the memo stated that the power firm disengaged one of the affected employees.

    The memo dated 16th of September, 2016 further revealed that AEDC disengaged some of the affected persons on account of disciplinary matters such as persistent absence from duty without permission.

    In the internal memo, the director reminded all employees of the current management’s zero tolerance for all forms of corruption and indiscipline, drawing the attention of staff to Chapter 3 of the Company’s Rules and Regulations which he said is very clear as to what constitutes an infringement on the Policy.

    Engr. Odubiyi said in the memo that “the provisions (in Chapter 3 of the Rules and Regulations) are meant to serve as a guide to employees to be aware of the implications of negative behaviours”.

    It also reminded employees that the current AEDC management, at its discretion, could refer any case involving fraud to law enforcement agencies which have the mandate to handle issues of corruption, especially the Independent Corrupt Practices and related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police. 

    Sources in AEDC revealed that all the 27 employees affected were disengaged this year and that several other staff have been reprimanded for various offences.

  • Alleged N22.8b fraud: Amosu, others’ trial stalled

    Alleged N22.8b fraud: Amosu, others’ trial stalled

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday adjourned till Monday the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.) and 10 others, facing trial for an alleged fraud of N22.8billion.

    The court made the order following doubts cast by one of the defence counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN) on the identity of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), witness, Mr Mojeed Olatunji.

    Quakers demanded that Olatunji should produce his international passport.

    Olatunji, a compliance officer with Skye Bank Plc, had commenced his testimony before the court on Thursday and the court fixed Friday for his cross-examination.

    However, the proceedings were stalled when Quakers questioned the identity of the witness and demanded that he tendered his passport to prove that he was the same person that signed a letter he had earlier presented to the court.

    When the witness could not present the passport, the lawyer asked trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, to adjourn the case to enable the witness to produce the document.

    In spite of objections from prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who argued that the development was a ploy by the defence to delay the matter, the judge granted the adjournment.

    According to the judge, it is in the interest of justice to grant the adjournment and though a trial must be conducted without unnecessary delay a defendant must be given enough time to defend himself.

    He, therefore, adjourned the case till Monday for the continuation of trial.

    Amosu was arraigned on June 29 this year by the EFCC alongside two senior serving Air Force officers, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga and seven companies.

    Companies named in the charge are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

    The EFCC accused them of conspiracy, stealing, money laundering, concealing of proceeds of crime and conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Airforce to their personal use around March 5, 2014, in Lagos.

    They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).

    However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, a development which made the trial judge, Justice Idris to grant Amosun, Adigun and Olugbenga bail in the sum of N500m each with two sureties in like sum.

    The witness, Olatunji had told the court on Thursday that Skye Bank Plc received an enquiry from the anti-graft agency on January 30, 2916, demanding for the  Nigerian Air Force operational account, which the bank in return, furnished the Commission with the Account Opening Package that includes signatories to the account, mandate, and statement of account, customer’s instructions with some transaction in the account. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of these documents were tendered and admitted as exhibits.

    The EFCC’s witness also stated that on September 11, 2014, there was debit of N2409,367,700 billion, while on September 15, 2016, the sum of N959, 750, 015, was transferred from the Account to NAF Special Emergency Operation (NSEO)

    The witnesses also stated that on September 18, 2014, the account was debited the sum of N893,295,605, while on September 24, 2014, the sum of N556,321,894, was transferred to NSEO. He added that on December 5, 2014, March 16, 2015, and May 15, 2015, there was an inflow of the sum of N4, 597, 837, 900; N1 billion, N1. 246, 052, 850 and N2. 886, 518, 800, from the office of National Security Adviser and  Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), into the NAF’s account with his bank. Adding that on June 2, 2015, there was a payment of N1,689,498,494 billion from NAF’s account to NAF Samal Lafia account.

    Olatunji further stated that on July 10 the sum of N1.072,111,675 billion was paid into the account from CBN.

    He also stated that between December 11, 2014, the sums of N N2. 274, 400, 173.38 billion, was debited inti the account of NSEO, while on December 12, one Emeka withdrew the sum of N11, 250, 000.
    And between March 18, 24 and May 19, 2015, the sum of N695,215,729; N304,784,271; N719, 206, 592; N572,446,258, and N1.247,303,186, were paid into the accounts of NSEO with a new generation Bank.

    The Skye Bank official, who was led in evidences-in-Chief by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo further stated that the sum of N1.639,215,614; N11.8 million; N896, 205,650,; N793, 292, 825; N652, 719, 825; N419, 392,560, were transferred from NAF’s account to NSEO’s account, between May 22, 2015, and July 14, 2015. While the sum of N7.908, 857.61 was withdrawn by one Sergeant Agbogidi Murphy on September 9, 2015.

    The prosecution witness said that all the transactions were carried out following January 28, 2014 directive of three signatories into the account. And the three signatories to the NAF’s account, Vice Marshal Adigun, Commodore Gbadebo and POC Ifeogu.

    In one of the counts, the defendants were accused of indirectly converting a sum of N3.6bn belonging to the Nigerian Airforce to their own.

    In another instance, the EFCC alleged that Amosun and the others stole N323,319,283.81 from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force between March 21, 2014, and March 12, 2015, to purchase for themselves a property situated at No.1, River Street, Wuse II Abuja.

  • EFCC re-arrests Fani-Kayode as N4.9b laundering trial begins

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Friday picked up former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode within the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

    Fani-Kayode was stopped by three EFCC operatives at about 1:55pm just as he stepped out of Justice Muslim Sule Hassan’s court where he and four others were on trial on a N4.9 billion money laundering charge leveled against them by the commission.

    The operatives, one dressed in white kaftan and the others in black suits, flanked his sides, and requested that he followed them to the commission but allowed him to speak to the press, where he confirmed the arrest.

    “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arrested me on a matter touching on, I believe, a case in Abuja, which we have already acknowledged the fact that the matter is for November 10, and my lawyers have appeared in court.

    “The court is seized of the matter and my lawyers have undertaken to produce me in court. They have written a letter which has been acknowledged by the EFCC, saying I’ll be in Abuja to answer to those charges on November 10,” Fani-Kayode said.

    He was then led to a white Toyota Hiace bus which had barricaded the court’s gate and driven away.

    Earlier, the EFCC opened its case against the former Director of Media and Publicity of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Fani-Kayode is standing trial alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenandi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf, as well as a firm, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.

    They were arraigned on June 28, on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion.

    They each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.

    Prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo called his first witness, Mr Idowu Olusegun, a media consultant with Paste Posters Company (PPC).

    Olusegun testified during evidence-in-chief that he was paid N30million in cash by the PDP campaign organisation, for media consultancy services worth N54 million during the entire period of the electioneering.

    The witness said his company got the contract via a proposal letter it wrote on January 28, 2015, to the campaign organisation whose address is at 14B, Samora Michael Avenue, Asokoro, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    After negotiations, his firm printed A2 sized campaign posters at N50 per unit and A4 sized campaign fliers at N20 per unit after which he was invited to the organisation’s office in Abuja and given N30 million in cash.

    He told the court that he had demanded to know why payments was made in cash, and was informed by one Mr Oke, that cash was the approved means of payment.

    The witness testified further that Mr Oke had been the person communicating with him throughout the pendency of his engagement to do the media jobs, but that he assumed that Mr Oke acted on behalf of second defendant, Fani-Kayode.

    Olusegun added that a balance of N24 million was not paid to his company.

    After his testimony, the court adjourned till November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial.

    Meanwhile, mild drama occurred during trial when Justice Hassan ordered the seizure of Fani-Kayode’s mobile phone after it rang out loud during sitting.

    The judge also warned his counsel, Mr. Wale Balogun, after Fani-Kayode was observed sipping a bottle water during proceedings.

    The judge warned counsel to seek leaving of court whenever his client needed a drink of water.

    “The court is not a market place, there must be order and sanity,” Justice Hassan said.

    The defendants, according to the charge, committed the alleged offences between January and March 2015.

    In counts one to seven, they were accused of unlawfully retaining over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

    In counts eight to 14, they were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.

    Meanwhile in counts 15 to17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, who was said to be at large, were accused of making cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

    Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No. 125, Lewis Street, Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.

    All offences were said to have contravened Sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

  • EFCC detains Fani-Kayode’s wife, eight month-old-baby

    EFCC detains Fani-Kayode’s wife, eight month-old-baby

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the wife of former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Precious Fani-Kayode in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.

    The Nation gathered that Mrs. Fani-Kayode, who was a guest of Governor Ayodele Fayose, was at the Bank for transactions when she was detained by officials of the bank claiming that the account was frozen by EFCC.

    The wife of former Minister of Aviation later found out that she was detained after she inquired from officials of the bank why she was not promptly attended to and was told briefed of the instruction from the EFCC.

    Precious, who was detained alongside her eight-month-old baby, was later released when Governor Fayose stormed the bank with some of his supporters around 7:00 pm to secure her release.

    Thereafter her release, she lamented how she badly treated by the officials while her baby was denied food, saying: “I’m not a politician and that account had been dormant for about five years. I only activated it last month in Port Harcourt.

    “I decided to go to Access Bank to make some withdrawals when I was detained on the instruction of the EFCC. They told me account had been frozen and they were asked by the EFCC to arrest me on the spot.

  • Akpobolokemi, others stole N1.5b from NIMASA intelligence committee – EFCC

    Akpobolokemi, others stole N1.5b from NIMASA intelligence committee – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and nine others converted N1.5 billion from the agency’s intelligence committee.

    Prosecution witness, Mr. Kanu Idagu, Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos, that the defendants set up several committees through which they allegedly laundered billions of Naira.

    The defendants are standing trial on a 40-count charge bordering on conversion to their personal uses, of over N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA.

    The second to seventh defendants are Captain Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.

    Also charged are two companies; Al-kenzo Ltd and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd.

    They were alleged to have committed the offences between December 2013 and July 2015.

    According to the EFCC, the offences contravened Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012.

    The defendants are on bail after pleading not guilty to the charge.

    At the resumption of trial yesterday, Idagu introduced himself as head of an EFCC Special Task Force which co-ordinates investigations and carries out searches and arrest.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, he said the commission received a petition in the last quarter of 2015, against some activities in NIMASA, during the period when Akpobolokemi was D-G.

    His team, Idagu added, investigated the allegations and found that NIMASA had set up various committees some of which were used to launder monies through firms and Bureau de Changes.

    He specified that a committee on intelligence was set up and headed by the second defendant (Agaba), with an Access Bank account number 0688939609 opened for the receipt of monies.

    “Between December 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received money in tranches running into 1.5 billion.

    “The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the director of finance and accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds were to be used for intelligence based security activities.

    “The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned or nominated by NIMASA staffs for their personal use,” Idagu said

    According to the witness, one of such companies was Aler Integrated services Ltd, whose alter ego was one Uche Obilor.

    He added: “Another company is Kofa Fada Ltd, a bureau de change company which the second defendant instructed Obilor to transfer the sum of N10 million into.

    “The sum of N2 million was also transferred into the account of one Al-Kenzo Logistics, whose alter ego is the third accused, Ekene Nwakuche.

    “The second defendant also made a claim of a business contract between NIMASA and one Kofa Fada Ltd, with the sum of N26 million transferred to the company’s account, while the dollar equivalent was handed to him.

    “The second defendant also transferred the sum of N86 million to one Usseinian Ltd and the dollar equivalent transferred to him.”

    The witness identified the third defendant (Nwakuche) who was personal assistant to the second defendant, as the person responsible for coordinating accounts for the purpose of diverting money.

    He said that the third defendant formulated an Enterprise Bank account in the name of Adams CDA Global Services, belonging to one of his friends, into which he transferred the sum of N120 million.

    He claimed that the dollar equivalent was handed over to the second defendant.

    The witness alleged that the third defendant also nominated an Access Bank account for Gidoga Investment Ltd, into which the sum of N65 million was transferred.

    He said that in all, a total of N422, 680 million was directly transferred to the second defendant, who claimed that same was remitted to the first defendant.

    After the witness’ oral testimony, the prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him present documentary evidence.

    Justice Saliu Saidu upheld his application and adjourned till December 15 and 19 for continuation of trial.