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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • FCT administration suspends 13 over EFCC probe

    FCT administration suspends 13 over EFCC probe

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced the suspension of 13 officers who are undergoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye stated that the suspension is in line with the Public Service Rule 030406, as contained in a statement made available to newsmen and signed by Deputy Director/ Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule.
    The statement reads: “The FCT Administration has approved the suspension of 13 officers undergoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    “The suspension is in line with the Public Service Rule 030406, which states, where a prima facie case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying out his/her duties, pending the determination of the case.
    “It therefore becomes expedient to suspend the following officers in line with the extant rules. The affected officers are: Engr. Suleiman Idris – Assistant Director, Transportation Secretariat, Idris Usman – Assistant Director, Engineering Services Department, FCDA, Mohammed Ishaq – Chief Planning Officer, Urban & Regional Planning Department.
    “Helen Olokpo – Principal Town Planning Officer, Urban & Regional Planning Department, Bamidele Olaitan – Principal Education Officer, Education Secretariat, Ambrose Samchi – Principal Accountant, Treasury Services Department.
    They also include, “Hassan Argungu – Principal Land Officer, AGIS, Saba Mohammed – Senior Data Officer, AGIS, Yusuf Baba – Senior Administrative Officer, AGIS, Abdullahi Musa – Senior Administrative Officer, Deeds Registrar’s Office, Abraham Murtala Belel – Senior Accountant, Treasury Services Department
    “Andrew Gwani – Land Officer, Abdulmalik Teina – Senior Accountant, Treasury Services Department.”
  • Rickey Tarfa falsified his age, EFCC insists

    Rickey Tarfa falsified his age, EFCC insists

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday insisted that Mr. Rickey Tarfa SAN falsified his age in an official statement he made at the commission’s Ikoyi, Lagos office last February 5.

    Prosecution witness Tosin Owobo testified yesterday before Justice A. A. Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, that what Tarfa declared on the age declaration form he filled differed from what he declared in other official documents.

    Tarfa is standing trial on a 27-count charge bordering on offering of gratification to a public officer, failure to declare assets and making a false statement of age.

    According to the charge, the lawyer allegedly made the false statement on February 5, to one of the agency’s senior detectives, Usman Zakari, by claiming that he was 43 years’ old.

    Owobo, an EFCC operative, stated during cross examination that while investigating Tarfa, the anti- graft agency requested for information on his account from three banks: Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Zenith and Fidelity banks.

    He said GTB’s response indicated that Tarfa was born on February 23, 1962, making him 54 years old, which corresponded with the age on his International Passport, but that, according to Tarfa’s statement made before the commission, he was 43.

    In furtherance of the commission’s claim that the lawyer offered gratification to a public officer the witness revealed two payment made in Tarfa’s domicilary GTB account.

    Owobo said that the defendant paid a cash sum of $10,000 on November 21, 2013 and another cash deposit of $10,000 into the same account last January 29.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned the matter till today for continuation of trial.

    At the last adjourned date on June 28, Owobo, led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that Tarfa paid money into the bank accounts of two Federal High Court judges.

    He said the EFCC wrote letters to Zenith and Fidelity banks requesting information on accounts owned by Tarfa and a firm, Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited.

    The responses, Owobo added, indicated that a signatory to the firm’s account was a judge, which the commission later discovered to be Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.

    He further alleged that another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, also featured in the statement of account.

    The witness gave a breakdown of some transactions in the account which he claimed linked Tarfa and the two judges from the statement of account received.

    ‎Owobo testified that several payments made into the account at different times were done by the defendant and they included the following:

    On August 6, 2013, a cheque of N500,000 was paid to H. A. Nganjiwa.

    On January 29, 2014, the sum of N1.5m was paid to H. A. Nganjiwa

    On October 3, 2014, a cheque in the sum of N835,000 was paid to Nganjiwa.

    On December 23, 2014, Nganjiwa received N500,000 which was cleared from Rickey Tafar’s account.

    On October 27, 2015, a cash deposit of N1.5m was made into the account of H. A. Nganjiwa.

    On November 30, 2015, there was a transfer of the sum of N200,000 from Hauwa Nig. Ltd. to Yunusa, while on December 15, 2015, a transaction of the sum of N500,000 was made to Yunusa.

    On December 30, 2015, there was also a cash deposit in the sum of N500,000.

    On January 8, 2016, a cash deposit of N500,000 was made to Awa Ajia Nig. Ltd.

    On February 9, 2016, the sum of N300,000 was transfered from Hauwa Nig. Ltd. to Mohammed Yunusa.

  • EFCC to re-arraign two Beninoise for alleged N630m theft

    EFCC to re-arraign two Beninoise for alleged N630m theft

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on October 31, re-arraign two citizens of the Republic of Benin, Gnanhoe Sourou Nazaire and Senou Modeste Finagnon, at the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, for an alleged N630 million theft.

    The commission yesterday filed an amended 12-count charge against the Beninoise before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo in Lagos, but their re-arraignment was stalled due to the absence of an English to French interpreter.

    The defendants were first arraigned before Justice Taiwo on February 17, on a seven-count charge of forgery, stealing and conversion of N630m belonging to Mrs. Rachidatou Abdou and her company.

    They pleaded not guilty and their lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), moved the court to strike out the charge on the ground of incompetency. He also argued that the EFCC was prosecuting them without a valid petition.

    But, dismissing his application, Justice Taiwo upheld the contention of prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo that the Commission received a valid petition from the complainant alleging conspiracy and stealing against the defendants.

    At the resumed hearing of the suit yesterday, EFCC counsel Kayode Oni informed the court of the amended charge and urged the court to allow it to be read to the defendants.

    Defence counsel Tarfa did not object but requested for an interpreter since the defendants spoke only French.

    Justice Taiwo granted his application but the prosecution was unable to provide an interpreter.

    ‘’We cannot proceed without an interpreter. The prosecution needs to expedite action in this case’’, Justice Taiwo added and adjourned till October 31.

  • Ijaw youths threaten total shutdown installations if…

    Ijaw youths threaten total shutdown installations if…

    Ijaw youths across the various clans in the Niger Delta on Thursday staged a massive protest in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State over what they described as the persecution of former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Dame Patience and other close associates.

    The youths, in a large number, carried several placards with inscriptions that condemned sponsored media attacks and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s conspiratorial prosecution of the former first family.

    The group demanded an immediate cessation of what it called state-sponsored attacks and warned of a complete shutdown of oil installations should they persist.

    It would be recalled that the EFCC ordered the freeze of accounts belonging to the former first lady and through media outlets have bandied several amounts allegedly held by Mrs. Jonathan as being proceeds from crimes.

    Some lawyers, while insisting on Mrs. Jonathan’s innocence have insisted that the EFCC is being sensational with the issue as the bank balances of her accounts are far less than the various figures being touted. Mrs. Jonathan on her part has sued the management of Skye Bank in a joint suit with the EFCC.

  • APC members hail EFCC over probe of Fayose

    APC members hail EFCC over probe of Fayose

    • Say Ekiti commonwealth must be recovered

    Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that all the state’s funds and assets purchased with state funds are recovered.

    The plea was made at the APC members’ monthly meeting at Ward Five in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, where about 15 people in the ward were empowered by a chieftain of the party, Faleye Rotimi.

    Faleye, who distributed cash in aid of their businesses, said the gesture was to assist the less privileged in line with the party manifesto.

    Addressing the gathering, Ayodele said the people of the state are happy with the EFCC probe of Fayose maintaining that all illicit funds traced to the governor must be recovered.

    Ayodele said: “We APC members are happy with EFCC for investigating Fayose, what is happening to our treasury? What is happening to our funds? Fayose must face the music for the way he has been handling our funds and the arms funds diverted to his campaign.”

    Former Chairman of the State Sports Council, Ade Adetola, called for the understanding of Nigerians saying the 16 years of alleged destruction of the economy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration cannot be rectified within two years by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ward Chairman Olumide Ajibade said the ongoing economic recession was not caused by Buhari but “unprecedented corruption wreaked on Nigerians by the PDP government” urging Nigerians to repose their confidence in the President.

    He described the PDP administration in the state as “non-responsive and irresponsible to the welfare of Ekiti people” adding that the move to instal the people’s government led by the APC had just commenced.

    APC members in Ekiti State hailed the EFCC on the probe of Governor Ayo Fayose over alleged money laundering and purchase of some assets after assumption of office.

    Party leaders who attended the meeting include former Ekiti House of Assembly Speaker, Femi Bamisile, former House of Assembly member, Tope Olanipekun, former Commissioner for Culture, Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele, ward and local government executives.

     

  • Court convicts Polish woman, firm over N9m fraud

    Court convicts Polish woman, firm over N9m fraud

    A Polish woman, Dora Gilmaska and her company, Icon Media and Marketing Agency Limited were Thursday convicted for fraud by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja.

    Justice Abubakar Umar, in a judgment Thursday, found the two guilty of one-count charge of fraud brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    This information is contained in a statement issued Thursday by the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren.

    “Gilmaska was found guilty of forging and issuing a dud cheque of N9million to one Tayo Olugbemi sometime in 2012.

    “She was arraigned on November 7, 2012, and upon arraignment pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    “After diligent prosecution, Justice Umar found Gilmaska guilty and she was consequently convicted.

    “However, her sentencing has been reserved till October 4, 2016,” Uwujaren said.

  • Ex-Naval Chief, three others arraigned over alleged N600m fraud

    Ex-Naval Chief, three others arraigned over alleged N600m fraud

    …Court to hear bail application today

    A former Chief of Naval Staff (CONS), Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin was arraigned Tuesday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja over alleged N600million fraud.

    Jibrin was arraigned with Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia (rtd), Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu (rtd) and a firm, Habour Bay International Limited on a 4-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    They were said to have, while in office, bought a house worth N600million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without the said purchase contract being captured in the budget.

    The prosecution also alleged among others, that the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant (Vice Admiral Jubrin) became the buyer.

    The offence, the prosecution said, is in contravention of Section 26 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.

    Jibrin, Msheilia and Ahmadu pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

    Shortly after their plea was taken, prosecution lawyer, Abdullah Faruk sought a date for the commencement of trial.

    Defence lawyer, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) informed the court about the bail application he filed for the defendant, a copy of which he had served the prosecution.

    Trial judge, Justice A. S. Umar adjourned to Wednesday for the hearing of the bail application.

  • Ijaw youths accuse EFCC of humiliating Jonathan’s family

    Ijaw youths accuse EFCC of humiliating Jonathan’s family

    • Ask EFCC to return Bayelsa’s seized funds

    Ijaw youths on Thursday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of deliberately executing a planned witch-hunt against former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.

    The youths said it was “unacceptable, immoral and illegal” to place the former first family on media trial without following due process.

    The angry youths under the aegis of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, said it was unfortunate that the EFCC could not learn from the fallout of the way it handled the case of former ex-militant leader, Government Ekpuompolo, alias Tomoplo.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the President of IYC, Mr. Udens Eradiri, said the EFCC’s indiscreet media trial of Tompolo led to the crisis in the Niger Delta that plunged the country into the current economic mess.

    Eradiri explained that Jonathan’s wife like most former First Ladies made her money from gifts and gratifications insisting that there was no law against such gestures.

    He said: “First Ladies in Nigeria do not do any work. A woman naturally attracts a lot of gifts from men let alone a First Lady who has the power to recommend you for something.

    “They receive a lot of thank you and gratifications because most cases they recommend people who come back to thank them. Even when they do not recommend, people go and say good morning with a million dollar. It did not start with Patience Jonathan.

    “We know how influential the former First Lady of this country and other First Ladies were. We know how powerful, rich and wealthy they are and the property they acquired as a result of gratification.

    “If you say Patience should show how she made her money, you must start with all the First Ladies, otherwise, it is a witch-hunt. Patience Jonathan got her wealth from thank you and there is nowhere in the law that says we should not receive thank you.

    “So, EFCC should stop this nonsense. If you have issues, go and follow the due process and don’t begin to use the media to tarnish the image of the former first family”.

    He said the youths would not tolerate further attacks and insults on Jonathan’s family adding that the former President deserved respect.

    According to him despite the humiliation Jonathan suffered from the wife of late former President Musa Yar’Adua, he never harassed the late President’s family.

    “Jonathan should be respected in Nigeria. You heard what happened during the time of late President Yar’Adua, Jonathan did not witch-hunt that family irrespective of the humiliation he suffered despite the position of the law.

    “This is a witch-hunt and the EFCC must stop this attitude because very soon, people will begin to resist them. Nigerians will get to the point where they will no longer accept it.

    “We support the fight against corruption. All of us know that corruption has eaten deep into our fabric, but this selective fight especially geared towards the region must not be allowed”, Eradir said.

    He lamented that despite the corruption traced to the former late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family, the government still approved a university for his wife.

    “It is in this country that they talked about Abacha’s loot, yet a university had been approved for Abacha’s wife. In this same country where they said Abacha was corrupt. So, why are you treating one former first family differently and then everybody wants to humiliate Jonathan’s family in the best of their ability.

    “The former First Lady, Patience, has no question to answer.. The EFCC is destroying Buhari’s anti-graft policy because when your anti-graft is beginning to show it is one-sided, it will lose credibility,” he said.

    The IYC boss further asked the EFCC to to return about N23bn, $100million and other assets it seized from the former Governor of the state, late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

    He wondered what the EFCC was still doing with the money when Bayelsa and other states were facing financial difficulties.

    “Bayelsa State funds are in their hands, they have not returned it. Why are they keeping the funds? Are they meant to keep funds that they recovered. Why is the money not being paid into TSA of they believe they are proceeds of corruption. They should return our money. Those are the issues they should focus on”, he said.

    He added: “I thought that the EFCC by now will begin to face squarely its job of ensuring that criminals are brought to book and not the media charade that is usually its modus operandi.

    “They have not learnt from the Tompolo incident. Instead of focusing on facts and doing their jobs via due process, they quickly went to the media and that incident led this country to where we are today.”

  • Alleged N74.6b fraud: I’m a victim of political persecution – Shema insists

    Alleged N74.6b fraud: I’m a victim of political persecution – Shema insists

    The detained former Governor of Katsina State, Alh. Ibrahim Shema on Wednesday insisted that he is a victim of political persecution.

    Shema is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the ongoing probe of the alleged N74.6billion fraud.

    The former Governor maintained that he is also ready to defend himself based on the fairness, justice and the rule of law.

    However, Shema faulted Governor Aminu Bello Masari for advising him to go and defend his reputation.

    Shema, who made his views known in a statement through the Head of his Media Team, Oluwabusola Olawale, said that he should be charged according to the rule of law not according to political and media trial which is presently the trend.

    The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the statement credited to Governor Aminu Bello Masari in the media offering unsolicited advice to former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema on the need to defend his reputation.

    “ That has been our position since Governor Masari embarked on character assassination and witch hunting of Ibrahim Shema,  we have said it several times that Shema should be charged according to the rule of law not political and media trial which is presently the trend.

    “It is curious and surprising that more than a year that Governor Masari has been telling the whole world through over 100 radio, television and newspapers interviews that he has evidence to prosecute Ibrahim Shehu Shema of PDP, he has failed to prosecute and charge Shema to the court of competent jurisdiction with his evidence yet he has pronounced Shema guilty of the offences through the media without trial.

    “Governor Aminu Bello Masari further exposed himself and his hatred for Shema in his statement published on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 in some selected newspapers when he stated that ” our advice to the former Katsina state Governor is that he should be manly enough to bear his cross without casting himself as an injured party innocent of the offences he willfully committed.”

    “With this statement, Governor Masari of APC has pronounced Shema guilty of offences without trial and we are leaving the rest to the public to judge.”

    Shema insisted that his travails were nothing but political persecution.

    The statement added: “So far we have been vindicated that Shema is facing nothing but political persecution. This is further confirmed by the fact that the government is yet to charge Ibrahim Shehu Shema to court for any of the offences he was said to have committed despite more than a year of investigation by Governor Masari of APC by setting up over 13 different committees populated by APC card carrying members/ even members of his cabinet,  a judicial commission of inquiry which is currently sitting in Katsina,  ICPC  and EFCC, etc, all these for just one man who served Katsina state as a Governor for 8 years without obtaining any loan both local and foreign; not owing workers any salary arrears as at May 29,2015; executed numerous laudable projects that have become a nightmare to his predecessor, and left a debt free state.

    “We are not surprised that Governor Masari is now denying the fact that he is the sole architect of Ibrahim Shehu Shema witch hunting using the institutions of government through his wicked allegations and frivolous petitions.

    “We are not surprised that Governor Masari of APC  in his publication changed the EFCC figure of N68 billion to N106 billion as the amount of which EFCC is investigating Shema activities as a governor; we are not surprised  about the denials and daily changing the figure of allegations because that is his traits.

    “It is a public knowledge the claims  of  Governor Masari that he inherited empty treasury from his predecessor only for his Special Adviser on Budget, Abdullahi Imam to disclose on August 24, 2016, during the sitting of the Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Masari that about N 4 billion was left in the Sure P account by Shema administration.

    “Therefore,  Governor Masari should not run away from being responsible for witch hunting Ibrahim Shehu Shema and whatever happens to the former Governor through this political persecution, he will be held responsible.

    “On the issue of declaration of Shema wanted by the EFCC, we have stated the facts and truths in our open letter to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and if Governor Masari has now become the spokesman for EFCC we are not going to join issues with him.

    “Our appeal to the institution of government like EFCC and its respected leadership  who has reputation to protect, is not to allow its image to be tarnished through the desperation of Governor Masari of APC to destroy Ibrahim Shehu Shema, the Commission should allow fairness, justice and rule of law to prevail against Governor Masari wicked, malicious and spurious allegations.

    “Our position still remains the same, that former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of PDP is ready to defend himself based on the fairness,  justice and rule of law against the malicious and frivolous petitions of Governor Masari of APC, but not political and media trial.

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  • EFCC prosecutes woman for allegedly issuing N50m dud cheques

    EFCC prosecutes woman for allegedly issuing N50m dud cheques

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced the prosecution of an Abuja-based businesswoman, Mrs Joy Folake Yobah for allegedly issuing dud cheques valued at N50million to a business partner.
    It will be recalled that Mrs Yobah, Managing Director of Skyhigh Ventures Ltd, was earlier this year arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja on a 5-count charge, to which she pleaded not guilty.
    The court, on September 19, 2016 admitted some documentary exhibits tendered by prosecution lawyer, Dalyop Eunice. They include report of the investigation, the alleged dud cheques and the defendant’s statement.
    Justice Oriji adjourned to October 2 for the prosecution to call its witnesses.
    Mrs Yobah was said to have entered into a project financing agreement as “the contractor ” with United Surgicals Ltd as “financier”.
    The financier and the contractor had entered into an agreement for United Surgicals Ltd to finance Skyhigh’s sub-contract awarded to it by the Central Bank of Nigeria through an award letter referenced PSD/PP/GEN/PEL/001 dated 21st May, 2012 to install security surveillance systems at its Bauchi branch.
    The contract was for N222,836,551.07. By the earlier agreement by the parties, United Surgicals was said to have given N40million to Skyhigh as a loan, to attract a monthly interest of 15 percent.
    The prosecution alleged that on January 1, 2014, interest on the said loan was stopped, and the total of money due to the financier (to wit the loan and interest) amounted to N64million.
    It added that on the same day, the contractor paid the sum of N25million to the financier leaving a balance of N39million.
    Mrs. Yobah and her company were alleged to have, in a bid to settle the loan, issued dud cheques of N10million to the Managing Director of United Surgicals, Emmanuel Uzomah, which were allegedly not honoured by banks.
    Dissatisfied that the cheques were dishonoured, Uzomah petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the case and found Yobah liable.