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Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

  • Three CPs, EFCC operatives deployed in Ekiti for polls

    Three Commissioners of Police and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are now on ground in Ekiti State for the conduct of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The commissioners, Mr Kosi Ajuwon, the CP in charge of Welfare at the police headquarters in Abuja and CP M. Kura from the Nigerian Ports Authority in Lagos, are to work in collaboration with the CP in charge of Ekiti Command, Mr. Asuquo Amba to make the elections free, fair and peaceful.

    The Command’s public relations officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, who spoke with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Friday, said: “The CPs came last week only for the elections to be postponed, which made them return to Abuja temporarily.

    “They returned to Ekiti on Thursday and each of them shall be in charge of the three senatorial districts of the state”.

    Ikechukwu added that the command received operatives of the EFCC on Thursday, whom he said came for the purpose of dealing with vote buyers.

    ” They came to Ekiti on Thursday for the purpose of dealing with vote buyers.

    “They will dress in mufti and sniff around to arrest politicians who used to buy votes”.

    The PPRO stated that policemen and other sister agencies are already on ground in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

    He said they will be distributed across all the 2,195 polling units and registration areas by midnight for smooth conduct of the elections.

    ” Also, our Special Protection unit and Special Tactical unit, as well as mobile policemen, are on ground to protect election materials, quench any case of violence and deal with other emergency situations “.

  • Buhari, EFCC worry over influx of foreign currency

    •Anti-graft body: fake dollar notes in circulation

    THERE are fake dollar notes in circulation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) warned yesterday.

    The anti-graft agency raised the alarm a day after President Muhammadu Buhari expressed concern over the influx of the foreign currencies, especially in the build-up to the elections.

    Buhari had at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja on Wednesday alleged that some politicians have flooded the country with foreign currency to influence the elections.

    The rescheduled polls begin tomorrow with the presidential/National Assembly elections. The Governorship/State Assembly and the Federal Capital City (FCT) elections are billed for March 9.

    EFCC spokesman Tony Orilade warned Nigerians to be wary of fake dollars, in a statement yesterday.

    Orilade said the agency issued the warning following the intelligence gathered in the build-up to the elections.

    According to him, the anti-graft agency has urged Bureaux de Change operators to be cautious.

    The statement reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised the alarm over the circulation of fake dollar notes ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “In a statement personally signed by the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, the agency stated that the warning follows intelligence gathered in the build-up to the elections.

    “The intelligence indicates that the Dollar notes have features of genuineness, but forensic analysis by the Commission reveals otherwise.

    “We, therefore, warn the BDC operators to be cautious in their transactions from now till the end of the elections.”

    Also in a statement, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the President accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

    He added that the President, however, praised the EFCC for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States (U.S.) dollars”.

    “The EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases,” the President was quoted as saying.

    Reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorism financing, the President urged Nigerians, especially politicians, to place the interest of the country above theirs.

  • What happened to power sector cash, by Obasanjo

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo is of the view that those who believed his administration wasted $16 billion on power project implementation with nothing to show for it lacked proper understanding.

    In a reply to queries on what happened to the $16 billion power sector funds under his administration, the former president said it was wrong for anybody to reply on what he called “unsubstantiated allegations against him by the then leadership of House of Representatives over the project”.

    Before President Muhammadu Buhari vowed yesterday to probe the multi-billion dollar project, he had in May last year, queried where the funds went.

    The former President, who responded through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, blamed the query on lack of proper understanding.

    He said:  ”It has come to the attention of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that a statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari, apparently without correct information and based on ignorance, suggested that $16 billion was wasted on power projects by “a former President.

    “We believe that the President was re-echoing the unsubstantiated allegation against Chief Obasanjo by his own predecessor but one.

    “While it is doubtful that a President with proper understanding of the issue would utter such, it should be pointed out that records from the National Assembly had exculpated President Obasanjo of any wrong-doing concerning the power sector and has proved the allegations as false.

    “For the records, Chief Obasanjo has addressed the issues of the power sector and the allegations against him on many occasions and platforms, including in his widely publicised book, “My Watch” in which he exhaustively stated the facts and reproduced various reports by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which conducted a clinical investigation into the allegations against Chief Obasanjo, and the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the Recommendations in the Report of the Committee on Power on the Investigation into how the Huge Sums Of Money was Spent on Power Generation, Transmission And Distribution between June 1999 and May 2007 without Commensurate Result.

    “”We recommend that the President and his co-travellers should read Chapters 41, 42, 43 and 47 of My Watch for Chief Obasanjo’s insights and perspectives on the power sector and indeed what transpired when the allegation of $16 billion on power projects was previously made.

    “If he cannot read the three-volume book, he should detail his aides to do so and summarise the chapters in a language that he will easily understand.

    “”In the same statement credited to the President, it was alleged that there was some bragging by Chief Obasanjo over $16 billion spent on power. To inform the uninformed, the so-called $16 billion power expenditure was an allegation against Chief Obasanjo’s administration and not his claim.

    “The President also queried where the power generated is. The answer is simple: The power is in the seven National Integrated Power Projects and eighteen gas turbines that Chief Obasanjo’s successor who originally made the allegation of $16 billion did not clear from the ports for over a year and the civil works done on the sites.

    “”Chief Obasanjo challenges, and in fact encourages, anybody to set up another enquiry if in doubt and unsatisfied with the EFCC report and that of the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal-led ad-hoc committee.”

     

  • Alleged N544.1m contracts: EFCC detains ex-SGF Babachir

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal was yesterday detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Lawal will be arraigned today.

    The commission had filed a 10-count charge against the former SGF and five others.

    Others are: Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh John Monday; Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

    All the suspects will face trial in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for alleged N544, 119, 925.36 for the removal of Invasive plant species and simplified irrigation.

    But ahead of the arraignment, the former SGF was taken into custody yesterday day.

    A source said: “We have detained the former SGF and some suspects in preparation of their arraignment in court on Tuesday.

    Read also: APC to U.S. envoy: Buhari will win without rigging

    “They have been served charges and their trial will commence. The EFCC team is ready for the prosecution of the suspects with its witnesses ready accordingly.”

    On the charge sheet dated January 30, and filed by Offem Uket, M. S. Abubakar and Abba Muhammed, the EFCC accused Lawal of holding “indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Ltd by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).

    The contracts are:

    Consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N7,009,515.96

    Consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N6,453,318.38.

    Contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N272,524,356.02.

    Contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N258,132,735.00.

    The charges read in part:  “That you, Engr, Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a Director of Rholavision, Hamidu David Lawal being a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, Sulaiman Abubakar being a staff of Rholavision Engineering Limited on or about the 7th of March 2016 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of property and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c ) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

    “That you, Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh Monday John being the Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Ltd and Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about February, 2016 at Abuja did conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of a private interest in contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

    “That you, Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about the 4th of March, 2016 at Abuja did knowingly hold indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N272,524,356.02 by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    “That you Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about the 22nd August, 2016 at Abuja did knowingly hold indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N258,132,735.00 by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

  • I didn’t receive N450m in cash – Belgore

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Dele Belgore on Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he did not receive the N450million he was accused of laundering in cash.

    Testifying in his defence before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, Belgore admitted being invited by the bank manager on March 26, 2015.

    He said he could not move the money because it was too risky to do so two days to election.

    The Kwara State Coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation said he realised that the money was too huge for his Toyota Prado jeep.

    “I indicated to PW1 (bank manager) that I could not collect the money and I gave two reasons.

    “First, I said this money was coming two days before the election; all the stakeholders and party members were aware of the arrival of the money.

    “Therefore, I did not consider it safe to move such a huge amount of money out of the bank in the middle of the night.

    “The second reason was that I did not come prepared to receive and take away such a large amount of money, as I came only in my vehicle, a Toyota Prado jeep.

    “As I said earlier, the heap of cash that I saw in the bank’s loading bay was at least three to four feet high.

    “So, I told PW1 that if it took a bullion van to transport the cash from the Central Bank of Nigeria to Fidelity Bank, there was no way I would be able to evacuate those funds with my Toyota Prado.”

    Belgore said he signed for the money and agreed to leave it in the bank’s vault.

    “After signing the document, I left the bank without the money. I did not take a penny out of the bank; I left the bank empty-handed,” he said.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Belgore with a former National Planning Minister Prof Abubakar Suleiman and former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke (who is said to be at large).

    EFCC said they “directly took possession of the sum N450million,” adding that they “reasonably ought to have known [that the money] forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act.”

    It also accused them of “indirectly” using the sum of N450million on March 27, 2015 and making cash payment of N450million, which exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo.

    The commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner of Police in the state Garba Saliu.

    According to EFCC, they allegedly made the payments on March 27, 2015 without going through a financial institution.

    The sums, the commission said, exceeded the amount authorised by law and violated Section 1(a) and Section 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).

    The defendants were also accused in the amended charge of making cash payment of N61,656,000 to Isa Biu on the same day, exceeding what is authorised by law.

    EFCC said they also paid N87,962,000 to Sola Adeoti and Hajiya Dankaka on the same day “without going through a financial institution.”

    According to the commission, Mrs Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Sulieman, on the same day, made cash payment of N50million to one Sheriff Shagaya, an amount exceeding what is authorised by law.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned until February 28.

  • EFCC accuses 10 banks of money laundering

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Friday accused 10  unnamed commercial banks of money laundering.

    The EFCC chief condemned the increasing wave of illicit financial flows and vote buying in the country during elections.

    He spoke in Lagos during a round table meeting with managing directors of financial institutions in Nigeria.

    The EFFC boss said: “It is worrisome to note that in 2018, statistics available to the EFCC shows that out of about 28 commercial banks in Nigeria, 10 banks evacuated out of Nigeria through Travelex Nigeria Limited the sums of GBP- 50,832,560; USD-8,057,756; EURO-39,986,560 and RAND-7,500,000. The reasons for these evacuations are still sketchy. We must note that the impact of illicit financial flows from the country undermine the stability and integrity of the financial institutions.”

    The EFCC boss also expressed concern that the culture of large cash transactions was still being allowed in some banks, adding that there was no commensurate reporting of those transactions to the relevant agencies.

    According to him, the banks still operate accounts without Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and have remained complacent in reporting those accounts to the relevant authorities, or freeze the accounts in accordance with the CBN policy.

    “The banks are rather complacent in dealing with Crypto-currency or bitcoins as the case may be and have not taken measure to monitor such transactions or put adequate surveillance on such accounts. The banks are observed to still hold customers accounts in their suspense accounts, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace and have access to those funds”, he observed.

    Read also: Looters stashing funds in Seychelles, South Africa, Niger, Ghana, says Magu

    According to him, intelligence reports have shown that banks are aiding their customers to receive foreign financial inflows to their accounts in neighbouring countries, where they have branches like Ghana, Republic of Niger and other West African countries.

    “The money is then couriered into Nigeria through the land borders to circumvent declaration and reporting”, he stated.

    He added that banks had the habit of under-reporting transactions in some cases while carrying out defensive filing of transactions after they had been consummated.

    Describing them as “gatekeepers”, Magu said no country could control illicit financial flows without the cooperation of financial institutions.

    He, therefore, charged the managing directors to join hands with the Commission to save the country from being hijacked by criminals.

    Magu, who spoke on the theme: “Roles and Obligations of Managing Directors of Banks in Nigeria in Curbing Vote Buying During an Election, Illicit Financial Flows and Other Related Matters in Nigeria”.

    The EFCC Chair, in his address, recalled that the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, during a meeting with Bankers’ Committee sometime in September 2018, made a commitment to work with the EFCC and the banks to curb this menace.

    He said illicit financial flows would reduce the amount of resources available to the government to provide critical social services to the citizenry.

    According to the anti-graft czar, vote buying during elections would prevent credible candidates from running for political offices, adding that “in Nigeria, vote buying has reached an alarming proportion to the extent that politicians have now spread their tentacles to election officials, security agencies, election observers and even the media”.

    Magu, however, lamented that the illicit financial flows out of the country was on the increase and that politicians were still “perpetrating and trying to finalise their acts of vote buying.”

    “It is also worthy of note that illicit financial flows during election are a common denominator and can be tied to vote buying. Politicians either bring in money to further their cause or try to export money to their cohorts outside the country to get them to influence the elections in one way or the other”, he added.

     

  • Looters stashing funds in Seychelles, South Africa, Niger, Ghana, says Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu on Friday said looters now stash illicit funds in African countries such as Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Niger Republic, Morocco and others.

     He said the preferred destinations for looters have traditionally been the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Seychelles but they have started expanding down home to African countries.

    Magu made the disclosures at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and its Niger Republic counterpart, the High Authority Against Corruption and Relating Crimes (HALCIA) in Niamey.

    He said: “From available intelligence and our investigations, it has been revealed that looters from Nigeria now go to Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Morocco, Seychelles and so on, to stash their loots.

    “This has led to sharp increase in the number of Nigerians buying properties in African countries.

    “Nigerians “even go to the extent of changing their names and acquiring the destination countries’ international passports in collusion with corrupt public officers in their countries of residence in order to hide their identities and evade detection.”

    Read also: Ganduje promises to welcome back Kwankwaso to APC if…

    He said: “the fight of the EFCC against looters’ safe havens is total.”

    The EFCC boss further disclosed his visit to Niger Republic was part of his continuing tour at mobilizing international efforts against looters’ safe havens.

    He added: “We have already visited Ghana and Cameroun, today we are in Niger Republic and we will continue to reach out to other preferred looters destinations in Africa and beyond.

    “Interestingly, the efforts of the Nigerian Government to trace, recover and return assets stolen from Nigeria coupled with our increased advocacy to discourage safe havens have begun to yield results.

    “It is my conviction that our collaborative efforts will go a long way in eliminating safe havens.

    “In fact, this is in tandem with renewed global commitment by countries to shut their doors to stolen funds.

    “I also want to call for conscious measures to sanitize and strengthen the legal framework so as to make it difficult for looters to transfer illicit funds to Niger Republic for investment or whatever purpose.”

    He called on the global community to urgently redouble its efforts towards strengthening the mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption.

    He also called on the international community to ensure the return of stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin.

    According to a statement by Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, the MoU will strengthen the collaborative efforts between the Nigerian front row anti-corruption agency and that of its Niger Republic counterpart.

    HALCIA, which is the agency in charge of the prevention and fight against corruption and related offences in Niger Republic was established by the country’s Law No 2016-44 of December 06, 2016.

    The signing of the document followed a two-day working visit to Niger Republic by the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

  • EFCC denies deal to exclude Dikko from prosecution

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has denied being part of any deal to exclude former Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Inde Dikko from criminal prosecution bothering on fraud and money laundering.

    EFCC made the clarification in a notice of preliminary objection it filed in a suit by Dikko, in which the ex-Customs chief claimed to have entered an agreement with the EFCC to refund about N1.6billion to Federal Government’s coffers, following which he would excluded from prosecution.

    Lawyer to Dikko, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), while arguing his client’s counter-affidavit to EFCC’s objection on Thursday, contended that it was a breach of an existing agreement and contract for EFCC to seek to prosecute the ex-Customs chief after he has kept to his side of the bargain and made huge refund to the government.

    Magaji also faulted EFCC’s claim that the suit was wrongly commenced by way of origination summons.

    He argued that, contrary to EFCC’s contention, facts in the case were not contentious. He added that the issue involved in the case was simple.

    Mahmud said: “Our case is simply about the interpretation of Section 174 of the Constitution and Section14 (2) of EFCC Act, and no more.

    “Our decision to bring this action by way of an originating summons is the appropriate position. There is no hostility in the whole case.

    “Our client was to be prosecuted for financial crimes. When he was invited, he was confronted by information the EFCC said it has against him by virtue of its investigation activities.

    “He (Dikko) was confronted with options of either to enter a refund agreement of be prosecuted. He agreed to a refund. And made refund in several tranches.

    “At every payment, we ensured that we get evidence of payment from the bank,” Magaji said.

    Read Also: EFCC denies deal to exclude ex-Customs chief Dikko from prosecution

    He identified the evidence of payment as reflected in some court documents marked as Exhibit 1 to 20D, and said “these are the evidence of the refund we made”

    When asked by the judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, about where the said agreement was reached, Magaji said a meeting was held at the instance of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    Magaji added that after the agreement was reached by parties, an official of the EFCC, who he identified as Hajeed (who was the IPO in the case), provided an account number into which his client (Dikko) made all the refund he made.

    He added: “We have fulfilled our side of the agreement. It is for the EFCC to fulfil its own side of the agreement, by complying and allowing things to settle

    “We are asking that under Section 174 of Constitution and Section 14(2) of EFCC Act, the EFCC is not bound by this agreement.

    “We are asking this court to enforce this agreement on them. They should be bound by the agreement,” Mahmud said.

    In a counter-argument, EFCC’s lawyer, Chile Okoroma urged the court to decline jurisdiction over the suit because it was wrongly instituted.

    Okoroma argued that the case was brought under the originating summons rules when facts in the suit are disputed.

    He added: “They said they made some payments by agreement and we said no, we are not aware of any payment.

    “They claimed Magu (EFCC’s Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu) was part of the agreement, but we said no. We do not know anything about the agreement they claimed to have with the AGF.

    “These are triable issues. There are contentious facts and we say, we need those disputed facts to be resolved by calling oral evidence. That is our ground of objecting to the suit.

    Before entertaining arguments from the two lawyers, Justice Dimgba observed that while there was evidence that the AGF was aware of the case and had been served all documents relating to it, the AGF has not filed any process in response to the case since it was commenced last year.

    In a ruling, Justice Dimgba upheld EFCC’s objection in part.

    The judge agreed that facts were contested by parties and ordered them to file pleadings.

    He said: “Having reviewed the processes filed, I am of the view that the suit was wrongly commenced. The facts are so hostile. Parties are to file pleadings.

    The judge adjourned to March 1 this year.

  • EFCC secures 40 convictions In January

    The spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Tony Orilade, yesterday said the commission recorded 40 convictions in January.

    He made this known in a statement in Abuja, adding that the number was cumulative convictions secured across the commission’s zonal offices.

    Orilade said a breakdown of the figure showed that the commission‘s Lagos office secured 20 of the convictions, followed by Abuja office which recorded nine.

    “Six of the convictions were recorded by Port Harcourt and Kaduna offices with three convictions each, Kano recorded two, while Benin, Ibadan and Gombe offices had one conviction each,” he said.

    Orilade said that the convictions included that of two former officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, adding that they were sentenced to 91 year jail term and forfeiture of their properties to the Federal Government.

    “The duo was found guilty of laundering N264.8 million in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

    “The sum was believed to be their share of the 115 million dollars illicitly dispensed by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    “Another conviction of interest is that of a fraudster, named Ibrahim Suleiman, who defrauded the former First Inland Bank, now FCMB Plc of the sum of N400,700,000.

    “The money was fraudulently diverted from an account domiciled in First Inland Bank to the convict’s account from where he transferred various sums to different accounts. He bagged 32 year jail term,” Orilade said.

    The spokesman added that also of interest, was the case of Adewale Dalmeida, a staff of Dangote Cement Group who was sentenced to five year jail term.

    He said that Dalmeida was sentenced for the diversion of nine trucks loaded with 800 bags of cement each valued at N15 million each, which belonged to his employer.

    Orilade said that the enhanced counter-fraud strategies of the commission have also yielded good dividends following new trends in internet fraud.

  • EFCC, ICPC should investigate 2016 audit report – CSO

    A civic organization, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) on Wednesday called on the anti-graft agencies the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to investigate the 2016 Audit Report.

    The organization stated that N2.97 billion meant for 30 critical projects in the country was unaccounted for as stated in the report.

    Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, stated these at the launch of its Independent Findings of priority projects captured in the 2016 audit report.

    Elomo stated that the organization monitored 19 priority projects in 12 states captured under the report this year and found out that most of them have been abandoned.

    According to him, ten out of the projects have been abandoned even when monies have been paid for them.

    He noted that only one out of the 19 projects had been completed when PLSI visited the states this month.

    The monitored states by PLSI include; Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Imo and Enugu.

    Some of the abandoned projects include; construction of mini-water scheme phase two, contract for the construction of small earth dam, rehabilitation of two-township water supply schemes, improvement of Olode water supply scheme under the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Others are construction of Weru bridge fencing of Okene water works among others which was supposed to be implemented by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests six suspected internet fraudsters

    Projects abandoned under the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing include the rehabilitation of Ikorodu road with about N112.8million unaccounted for, also the rehabilitation of 24km Akungba-Ikare-Omuo-Kabba road among others.

    Elomo said: “We visited 12 states over the last six months and monitored 19 out of the 30 priority projects highlighted in this report. While one of the projects had been completed, two were not executed, 10 abandoned, three poorly implemented, another two currently ongoing and one now provided for in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “The major issue for us is how procurement laws and financial regulations are flagrantly disregarded at the risk of public funds and the negative effect on Nigerians, many of which are in rural areas in terms of access to clean portable water, access roads, quality health facilities.

    “A total of N2.97 billion is said to be unaccounted for by different contractors on these 30 projects and we are calling on the anti-corruption agencies to quickly investigate these cases in order to ensure deserved value for money is achieved.”

    Also, Project Director, TrustAfrica, Chinedu Nwagu, called on the National Assembly to carry out a review of the 2016 report.

    He said it is only when a review of the report is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive arm of government that the anomalies found in the report could be corrected.

    Nwagu said: “There is need for the National Assembly to do the needful by ensuring extensive review of the 2016 audit report of the federation. It is only when this is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive Arm that these anomalies can be corrected.

    “Parliament should equally make effort in sending the new Audit Service Commission Bill 2018 to the president for assent. The new law will go a long way in preventing such illegality from occurring again,” he said.