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Tag: EFCC probe

  • Ekweremadu opens up on EFCC probe

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday revealed what transpired between him and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.

    He said it was true that he told the EFCC that he was not feeling well, but not based on a fresh list of properties shown him.

    He said he was examined by a doctor attached to the EFCC and it was confirmed he was unwell.

    Ekweremadu is being probed by the anti-graft agency for allegedly acquiring about 60 properties with suspicious funds.

    The Federal Government had already filed a motion in a Federal High Court for an interim forfeiture order on 22 of the assets.

    Although he appeared for a second round of investigation on Wednesday, he faulted media reports on what transpired.

    Ekweremadu opened up on his date with the EFCC in  a statement through his Special Adviser on Media,  Uche Anichukwu.

    The statement said: “My attention has been drawn to false reports in some national dailies that the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, developed high blood pressure in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (upon alleged presentation to him of a fresh set of purported ‘hidden properties’ supposedly acquired by him. There is no truth to this propaganda.

    “It would be recalled that operatives of the EFCC and men of the Nigeria Police laid siege to his residence at about 6am on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, requesting him to report at its headquarters at 10am the same Tuesday. However, no letter of invitation was delivered to him until around 9am of that day.

    “Since the siege would not allow him to honour the belated invitation the same day, he, as a law-abiding citizen, wrote to the EFCC to request another date, hence the rescheduled appointment of Tuesday, July 31, 2018.

    “Senator Ekweremadu honoured the 10am appointment on the fixed date and left in the evening of the same day when he was granted bail on self-recognisance, with an understanding that he would report at the EFCC Office at 10am the next day for a continuation of the interview.

    “He reported at the EFCC Office on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 10am as scheduled, but informed them that he was not feeling well, a fact the EFCC’s doctor confirmed.

    “He was then allowed to leave to see his doctor and it was agreed that a new date would be fixed for the continuation of the interview.

    “The office feels compelled by the mischief and orchestrated media trial to put the facts straight on this particular issue.”

    In suit FHC/ABJ/CS/284/2018, the Federal Government, through the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, had traced 22 assets to Ekweremadu.

    The said assets were suspected to have been acquired through illicit funds.

    The properties are at No. 11, Evans Enwerem Street, Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja;  Plot 2633 Kyami, Abuja; Housing Estate (Plot 1106 CRD, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Lugbe, Abuja; Plot 2782 Asokoro Extension, Abuja, and    Houses at Citi Park Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

    Others are located at Plot 1474 Cadastral Zone BD6, Mabushi, Abuja;  Congress Court, Abuja; Flat 1, Block D25, Athletics Street, (24th Street) Games Village, Abuja;  Plot 66, 64 Crescent, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.

    Traceable assets of Ekweremadu in the United State include  4507, Stella Street, Bellavida Estate Kissime, Florida, USA; 2747 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida, USA and 2763 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida, USA.

    The properties abroad in London include Flat 4 Varsity Court, Harmer Street, WIH 4NW, London; and 52 Ayleston Avenue, NW6 7AB, London.

    Those in Dubai are Room 1903, The Address Hotel, Downtown Dubai; The Address Boulevard, 3901, Dubai; two flats of Burij Side Boulevard (the signature), Dubai; Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/1/114, Dubai; Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/115, Dubai;  Apartment No. DFB/12/B 1204, Park Towers, Dubai; Flat 3604, MAG214, Dubai; and Villa No 148, Maeen 1, the Lakes Emirates Hills, Dubai.

  • NJC to judges under DSS, EFCC probe: step down

    NJC to judges under DSS, EFCC probe: step down

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has barred judges being investigated for criminal offences from presiding over cases and performing other functions relating to their offices pending when their innocence is established.

    The NJC made the decision at its 79th meeting held in Abuja between Wednesday and yesterday.

    Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), speaking at a function in Abuja last week, suggested that judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) should step down.

    But the NJC claimed that it lacked the powers to order judges, against who allegations were made without any evidence to back such allegations,  to step down.

    The council was, however, silent, in a statement it issued yesterday, on the reason for its sudden change of mind.

    Part of the statement signed by NJC’s Acting Director, Information, reads: “Council decided that Judicial officers shall not be standing trial for alleged corruption related offences and be performing judicial functions at the same time.

    “Council however decided that it will ensure that judicial officers, who are being investigated for alleged high profile criminal offences do not perform judicial functions until their cases are concluded,” it said.

    Those under investigation by the DSS are two Supreme Court Justices -Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Justice Inyang Okoro –  the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya, Justice Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High Court); the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike;  Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court;  Justice Muazu Pindiga (Gombe State High Court);  Justice Bashir Sukola and  Justice Ladan Manir, from the Kaduna State High Court.

    Out of the nine judges, the NJC has recommended sanctions for Justice Tsamiya; Justice. Umezulike and Justice Kabiru Auta.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) is investigating six other judges of the Federal High Court. These are: Justices Mohammed Nasir Yunusa; Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa; Musa Haruna Kurya; Agbadu James Fishim; Uwani Abba Aji; and Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

     The statement added that the NJC “at its 79th meeting held on the 2nd and 3rd day of November 2016, began implementation of specific aspects of the National Judicial Policy which came into force in April 2016 and was launched on Monday 24th  October, 2016.

    “During the Meeting, Council set up a Transparency and Anti-Corruption Policy Implementation Committee as follows:

    *Hon Justice E. O. Ayoola, CON (Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court) – chairman.

    *Hon Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State – member.

    *A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, President Nigeria Bar Association – member.

    “Section 6 of the National Judicial Policy aims at putting in place multifaceted strategies and guidelines that will ensure transparency and eliminate corruption in the Judiciary.

    “It seeks, among other measures, to provide a platform and opportunity to citizens who profess factual and credible knowledge of information on the nature and modalities of corruption in the judicial system to ventilate such.”

  • Alleged financial fraud: Groups protest EFCC probe on Patience Jonathan

    • EFCC: Nobody is above the law

    Hundreds of youths in Rivers State, yesterday, took to the streets of Port Harcourt to protest the ongoing probe on the former Nigerian First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    The protesters, who peacefully marched from the CFC junction on the Aba-Port Harcourt highway to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), described the ongoing probe as harassment against the former first lady.

    They carried placards bearing different inscriptions like, ‘Why are you Harassing our daughter?’; EFCC leave our daughter alone’ she is not a thief and ‘it is politically motivated’ among others.

    It will be recalled that the EFCC had said it discovered over $31 million and others in an account owned by Mrs. Jonathan.

    The protesters, who came under  three platforms, including the  Coalition of Civil Rights Organisation; Concerned Youths and the Ijaw Nation Worldwide, said the probe is targeted at damaging the reputation of the former first lady.

    In a protest letter submitted to the Zonal Head of EFCC, South- South zonal office in Port Harcourt, Ishaq Salihu, the leader of the protesters, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, stated that the activities of the EFFC were aimed at stealing Mrs. Jonathan’s hard earned money and reputation.

    The letter read in part: “The continued portrayal  of Mrs. Patience Jonathan as a woman of questionable character is totally condemnable by the people of Niger Delta, this we shall not fold our hands and watch.

    “We know this trial is politically motivated and it is to steal Patience Jonathan’s hard earned money in this era of great hunger and economic recession. The EFCC establishment act of 2004 is inferior in content and quality to the African chatter human right 2004 and the 1999 constitution of the Federal Government as amended.

    “We therefore call on you sir and your commission, the EFCC to render unreserved apology for the damage already committed and take remedial action in restoring to Mrs. Jonathan’s bartered image.

    “It is against this inspiring and meritorious background, that we most respectfully write to draw your attention to the numerous breaches of the 1999 constitution as amended and the African Charter on Human and the people’s right (gratification and enforcement) Act 2004, this atrocity committed by the EFCC in the course of the commissions illegal and unlawful investigation of Mrs. Patience Jonathan for alleged money laundry. This investigation has reportedly led to the freezing of her account. This has led to untold consequences of Mrs. Jonathan health and wellbeing.

    “We came in a peaceful manner without insulting or throwing words at anybody. We are here to kindly see the EFCC, letting them and the world knows that we are not happy about the victimization of sister.”

    He also claimed that that there is no formal criminal complaint against of Mrs. Jonathan in any court that has warranted the freezing of her account, even as he urged the commission to unfreeze the said account.

    The Zonal Head of EFCC, Ishaq Salihu, who addressed the protesters, said: “I am very happy with the manner you have coordinated yourselves peacefully in this protest, and that is why I am here to address you. I want to assure you that we are a creation of the law. We respect the way you approached the situation.”

    “Nobody should justify the criminal illegality that has been going on. Our motto is nobody is above the law. There is nothing like selective cases in the EFCC. We are professionals to the core and the invitation of someone is the last leg of our cases. Bank documents and things that are required must have been gotten.”

  • Court again rejects Fayose’s motion to stop EFCC probe

    Court again rejects Fayose’s motion to stop EFCC probe

    AN Ado-Ekiti High Court has, for the second time in a week, refused an ex parte motion filed by the Ayo Fayose administration.

    The motion sought an order to stop anti-corruption agencies from investigating the government accounts.

    The court, at its sitting yesterday, declined to grant a relief sought by the government to stop the arrest of the commissioner for Finance, Accountant General and managers of the banks, where government accounts are domicilled.

    Justice Cornelius Akintayo turned down the prayers of the applicants on the grounds that parties involved were not put on notice.

    The judge ruled that the ex parte motion should be converted to a motion on notice and be properly served on all parties.

    The defendants in the suit include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Department of State Service (DSS); Speaker of the House of Assembly, Commissioner for Finance; Accountant General; five commercial banks doing business with government; and their managers.

    The applicants were represented in court by a Senior Advocate, Mr. Ahmed Raji and Attorney General Owoseni Ajayi.

    Mr. A.A. Akoja represented the EFCC and Mrs. A.F. Adeoluwa appeared for ICPC.

    However, when the applicant’s counsel insisted that the motion on notice had been served on the parties as an alternative way of ensuring expeditious trial, counsel to the respondents sought adjournment to file their counter-affidavits appropriately.

    The ICPC’s lawyer contended that she has just been served the motion on notice, and needed time to peruse the application to be able to file a reply.

    Granting the application, Justice Akintayo adjourned the matter to August 29, saying the date falls within the seven days the constitution mandated defendants to file counter-affidavits.

    Following the revelation of an alleged receipt of N1.2 billion from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), by Fayose, to finance his 2014 governorship campaign, the EFCC froze his personal bank account and commenced moves to probe financial transactions of his administration.

    The EFCC accused Fayose of taking kickbacks from some contractors handling major projects.

    The anti-graft agency accused the governor of using the proceeds to purchase assets worth billions of naira in Lagos and Abuja.

     

  • Army sends 7 Generals, others for EFCC probe

    Army sends 7 Generals, others for EFCC probe

    The Army last night released 12 senior officers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for probe.

    The EFCC is investigating their role in the $2.1billion arms deals.

    Those found guilty of fraud by the EFCC will be tried by a Military Court Martial, The Army said.

    A statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, which did not release the names of the affected officers, said: “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public that 12 Army officers have been sent to the EFCC for investigation.

    “These comprise three serving Major-Generals and one retired, three Brigadier-Generals, four colonels, and one Lieutenant Colonel.

    “However it should be noted that at the end of the commission’s investigations, those found culpable will be tried by a Military Court Martial.”

  • Buhari’s cabinet: Nominees under EFCC probe face tough hurdles

    Buhari’s cabinet: Nominees under EFCC probe face tough hurdles

    Barring a last-minute change of mind on facts available to him, President Muhammadu Buhari may not appoint into his cabinet anybody under probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    It was also gathered yesterday that the President is under pressure from some eminent Nigerians, including a former President, to appoint ministers without further delay.

    The President had promised to constitute his cabinet by September, but the eminent Nigerians, it was learnt, have advised that any further delay would be counter-productive.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that anybody arrested, detained,  quizzed, or arraigned by the EFCC may not make Buhari’s cabinet in line with his commitment to probity.

    It was learnt that the heightening of arrest and arraignment of some Politically Exposed Persons by the EFCC and the delay in raising the Federal Executive Council  may be a setback for such politicians and technocrats eyeing ministerial slots.

    One of those who might be affected is the former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, who was said to be in contention for either the Chief of Staff to the President or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    Oronsaye, who was arrested on Wednesday by the EFCC and might be prosecuted next week, is competing for the SGF slot with ex-governors Rotimi Amaechi, and Ogbonnaya Onu.

    It was learnt that Oronsaye is a favoured candidate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    It was also  gathered that the petition against ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso before the EFCC was part of a plot by some politicians to abort plans to make him a minister.

    Some forces and groups were said to have made a case for Kwankwaso as the next Minister of the Federal Capital Tertitory.

    Others who may have difficulty in serving in Buhari’s government in any capacity are ex-governors Timpreye Sylva, Murtala Nyako, Prince Abubakar Audu, Danjuma Goje.

    Although these former governors played a vital role in delivering their states to APC,  they are all under trial in one form or the other with the cases dragging for about four to five years.

    A reliable source said: “I think that those who have cases or undergoing investigation with EFCC or ICPC might not make the ministerial list until the allegations against them are sorted out.

    “Although the law presumes these former governors innocent until proven guilty by the court, there may be a challenge in making them nominees because of public opinion.

    “The list is being carefully screened in such a way that there will be no issues with their clearance in the Senate.”

    Meanwhile, contrary to the alleged recommendation of the Ahmed Joda Transition Committee, the President may not be able to appoint 19 ministers.