The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • Court strikes out fraud charges against Innoson Motors’ boss

    An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday struck out a fraud charge preferred against the chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukuwuma (aka Innoson) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Olusola Williams struck out the case after EFCC failed to produce Innoson in court to face trial.

    The EFCC had sued Innoson and his company before the court in January 2018, on charges bordering on fraud,  conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

    However, Innoson did not appear in court to take his plea throughout the pendency of the suit in spite of repeated orders, including a warrant for his arrest.

    Ruling on the matter on Wednesday, Justice Williams said that it is the responsibility of the EFCC to produce Innoson but they never did.

    “This court is not an investigator or a prosecutor. This court cannot waste precious judicial time prosecuting a matter that is going nowhere.

    “This is a criminal matter that can be instituted anytime the prosecution is ready.  The court hereby strikes out the matter,” the Judge held.

    Earlier during proceedings,  EFCC counsel,  Ms Zainab Ettu informed the court that Innoson has being hiding from the anti graft agency.

    “My Lord,  the defendant has being giving briefs to counsels but has never deemed it fit to appear in court.

    Read Also: ‘You disobeyed your court order’

    “While we continue to pursue the arrest of the defendant,  it behooves on the defendant’s counsels as ministers in the temple of Justice to produce their client.

    “If they can collect briefs from him,  then they should know where he is,” Ettu said, adding that the anti graft agency is optimistic about arresting Innoson.

    “We already have a warrant for his arrest,  as the court has declared him wanted.  The counsels to the defendant have brought numerous applications,  trying to stall the matter” Ettu added.

    Responding,  Innoson’s counsel, Professor J.N Mbaduga told the court that the EFCC filed a similar suit marked FHC/L/565c before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

    “While the suit was still pending,  the EFCC went ahead and filed another suit with the same subject matter against the defendants.

    “Some of the facts arising from the case have even proceeded before the Supreme Court. We raised a preliminary objection citing abuse of court processes. We also raised objections on the grounds that the defendant has not been served with the charges.

    “My Lord until the EFCC can produce the defendant in court,  the court cannot exercise any jurisdiction over the defendant,”  he said.

    Justice Mojisola Dada also of Ikeja High Court had, on June 22, excused herself from  the matter  on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Also efforts by the anti-graft agency to arraign Innoson before Justice Dada, on five consecutive occasions, failed despite being declared wanted on May 23 and also issuance of a bench warrant by the court.

    Rather than appear in court to take his plea, Innoson forwarded a petition to the NJC against Justice Dada dated February 12, alleging bias.

    However,  the NJC, through a letter signed by its Secretary, Mr Ahmed Saleh and dated March 9, absolved Justice Dada of any wrongdoing and advised that the matter be returned to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another judge consequent upon which the matter was reassigned to Justice Williams.

    EFCC had alleged that Innoson fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them via their clearing agents the goods which were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorized by the bank to clear the goods.

    The offences, according to the EFCC, are in contravention of Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code of Lagos State 2003.

  • EFCC insists on transfer of its cases from Justice Nyako to another judge

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has insisted that all cases involving it and its acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu,be transferred from Justice Binta Nyako, to any other judge.

    The EFCC made the request in a letter dated July 31 and addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati.

    The anti-graft agency said the request was premised on the grounds that it was prosecuting the spouse and step-son of the judge.

    “The application is necessary to avoid bias and conflict of interest because the commission is prosecuting the spouse and step son of his Lordship, namely; Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) and Sen. Abdulazeez Nyako respectively”.

    However, not satisfied with the delay in attending to its request, the agency wrote another letter dated Oct. 5 and addressed to the registrar of Justice Nyako’s court, reminding him of the earlier letter.

    The letter reads in part; “Respectfully, we write to draw his lordship’s attention to our letter dated July 31, addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, conveying our client’s request to the Chief Judge.

    “The request that all matters concerning the subject matter above be transferred from this honorable court for reasons contained on our clients attached letter.

    “Respectfully,we tremble in requesting that our client’s position be respected in the interest of justice in this matter, kindly draw his lordship’s attention to our clients ‘ predicament.”

    The cases in question are; Barr Bello Bakari V AGF, Abubakar Sani V The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa V President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Lady Chidinma Udebani.

    Others are, the Incorporated Trustees of Justice Mission International V AGF, Barr Alia Jamilu V President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and 4 others, Emmanuel Esero V Ibrahim Magu, Registered Trustees of African Patriotic Youth Assembly V Ibrahim Magu and 6 others.

    Also, the agency wants the cases ; Wale Balogun V the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 4 others, Chijioke Kanu V AGF and Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi V the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 others, transferred.

    In addition, the agency wants all other cases consolidated together with the earlier listed cases.

    The agency added that it had no intention to malign or disparage the character of Justice Nyako.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Justice Nyako has adjourned all matters involving the agency sine dine.

    NAN recalls that Justice Nyako had on Oct. 3 stated that she had no problem not handling any EFCC matter.

    She, however, maintained that the request would not augur well for the administration of justice, noting that “the law is the law” adding that it did not matter who was involved.(NAN)

  • Fayose sues EFCC for N20b over security watch list

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has made good his threat to drag the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court for placing him on watch list.

    The anti-graft agency wrote an advisory to key security agencies demanding that Fayose be arrested if he attempts to flee the country through land, sea and air borders to escape justice.

    Fayose had on September 3 threatened to sue the EFCC if it fails to withdraw the advisory within 72 hours saying the action “not only breached his constitutional immunity, it also exposed him to public opium and ridicule.”

    He also demanded the publication of a written apology to all Security Agencies in Nigeria, three national newspapers and the social media.

    It was gathered on Tuesday that Fayose, through his counsel, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, filed the suit last Friday consequent upon the failure of the EFCC to meet the governor’s demands.

    It should be recalled that EFCC had tweeted on July 16, 2018 through its official twitter handle @officialEFCC concerning Fayose that “The parri is over, the cloak of immunity is torn apart and the staff broken, Ekiti Integrated Poultry/Biological Concepts Limited N1.3bn fraud case file dusted off the shelves. See you soon.”

    In the suit marked FJC/ABJ/CS/1087/2018, Fayose is seeking among other things; an order of the Court mandating the EFCC to pay the sum of N20 billion as general damages to the for what he called “flagrant, deliberate, pre-meditated and reckless libel and unprovoked attack on his character and reputation and the breach of his constitutional right/immunity as an incumbent Governor.”

    Read Also: 84 ‘thugs’ held for attempt to disrupt primaries

    He demanded that the EFCC should tender a written apology, which should be circulated to all Security Agencies in Nigeria and same should be published in at least three widely read National Newspapers and through the social media.

    The governor is also seeking a declaration that the statements contained in the EFCC letter dated September 12, 2018, and addressed to all Security Agencies in Nigeria portrayed him as a criminal, a fugitive and a run-away from the law, and that the statements are not true, are malicious, are not fair statements.

    He wants the court to further declare; “that the EFCC letter placing him on watch-list anddirecting his arrest on sight even while a sitting Governor is unconstitutional as same offends the clear provision of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which clothes the him with immunity against arrest and prosecution as an incumbent Governor.”

    “That the tweet by the Defendant (EFCC) through its official twitter handle, which was widely circulated through social media and published on Punch Newspaper (online) of 16th July, 2018, with the particulars wordings pleaded in the Statement of Claim filed along with this Writ
    is not true, is malicious, is not a fair statement and presents the Plaintiff as a fraudster thereby ridiculing him and reducing him in the eyes of reasonable and right-thinking members of the society.”

  • EFCC re-arraigns Senator for alleged money laundering

    *Lawmaker gets leave to travel
    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Friday re-arraigned Senator Peter Nwaoboshi for alleged money laundering.

    The commission re-arraigned him along with Golden Touch Construction Projects Limited and Suiming Electricals for alleged N322million fraud.

    The charge is before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The defendants were first arraigned on April 25 before Justice Mohammed Idris, who was later elevated to the Court of Appeal.

    The case was re-assigned to Justice Aneke to begin afresh.

    Two witnesses, Prince Kpokpogiri and Murtala Abubakar, had testified before Justice Idris.

    The prosecution alleged that Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects purchased a 12-storey property known as Guinea House on Marine Road in Apapa, Lagos for N805million between May and June 2014.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that N322million out of the N805million was part of proceeds of “an unlawful act, to wit: fraud.”

    The EFCC alleged that the N322million was transferred to the property’s vendor on the order of Suiming Electricals, which was accused of aiding Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects to commit money laundering on or about May 14, 2014.

    According to EFCC, Nwaoboshi, a former Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, got a contract through Bilderberg Enterprises Ltd to supply new construction equipment to the state Direct Labour Agency at N1,580,000,000.

    Read Also: EFCC arraigns Saraki’s aide, others for alleged N3.5b fraud

    The company allegedly imported and supplied used construction equipment rather than brand new ones despite receiving full payment.

    EFCC said Nwaoboshi, with the proceeds, bought the 12-floor building from Delta State Government at N805million in the name of Golden Touch Construction Projects.

    The commission said the Senator had “no visible legitimate business venture to generate the amount spent to purchase the said property.”

    The alleged offence contravenes sections 15(2)(d) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 15(3).

    After pleading not guilty to the charge, Justice Aneke allowed Nwaoboshi to continue on bail based on the terms earlier imposed on him by Justice Idris.

    Defence counsel Emmanuel Kachukwu (SAN) urged Justice Aneke order the release of Nwaoboshi’s passport to enable him travel to Indonesia on October 8.

    He said the lawmaker would return on October 19.

    Granting the request, the judge said the passport should be returned to the court’s registrar by October 23.

    Justice Aneke adjourned until October 25 for trial.

  • EFCC arraigns Saraki’s aide, others for alleged N3.5b fraud

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Senate President Bukola Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff Gbenga Makanjuola at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N3.5 billion fraud.

    He and three others were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi on 11-counts of money laundering.

    They were accused of conspiring to disguise the unlawful origin of N3.5 billion paid into the account of Melrose General Services Limited.

    The company was also arraigned.

    EFCC said Melrose General Services and Robert Mbonu, said to be at large, between December 14, 2016 and last January “took control” of the money transferred from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) account to Melrose’s Access Bank account numbered 0005892453.

    The commission said they reasonably ought to have known that the money represented proceeds of their unlawful and fraudulent activity.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3).

    Melrose was accused of involvement in the alleged N19 billion Paris Club scam.

    EFCC is accusing the defendants of allegedly converting N3.5 billion of N19 billion London-Paris Club refund to states.

    The company had denied involvement in any fraud, saying it was legitimately engaged by the NGF to render services leading to a refund of foreign loan over-deductions made by the states.

    EFCC had claimed in a previous forfeiture proceeding that Melrose General Services, whose alter ego is Robert Mbonu, was never engaged by the NGF for any consultancy services in relation to the Paris and London Club loan refund.

    The commission claimed that the company allegedly recopied and misinterpreted work done by another consortium to the NGF for payment.

    EFCC said Melrose was paid N3.5 billion by the NGF on December 14, 2016, and that it moved out about N2.2 billion of the N3.5 billion, the balance of which the commission had prayed the court to order its forfeiture.

    In count 5 of the charge, Makanjuola was accused of making a cash payment of N50 million to Mbonu on December 20, 2016, without going through a financial institution.

    The alleged offence is punishable under Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering Act and Section 16 (2) (b).

    EFCC’s lawyer Ekene Iheanacho prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison. He sought for a trial date.

    Makanjuola’s lawyer Paul Erokoro (SAN) said his client had a pending bail application.

    He said Makanjuola was a former House of Representatives member and was prepared to face his trial.

    But, Iheanacho urged the court to dismiss the bail applications, arguing that the defendants would run away if granted bail.

    Justice Kuewumi adjourned until October 9 for ruling on the bail applications.

     

     

     

     

  • Ex-customs boss: EFCC wants Justice Nyako to hands-off case

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati to transfer the case file of former Customs Comptroller-General, Abdullahi Dikko to another judge.

    The case is currently before Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    When the matter was called, Justice Nyako said she had received a letter in which the EFCC Chairman had written to the Chief Judge asking for the transfer of the case.

    “The reason is that the EFCC is prosecuting my husband and so they don’t want me to handle any matter concerning the commission,” Nyako said.

    The judge, however, maintained that the request would not augur well for the administration of justice, insisting that to her “the law is the law” no matter who is involved.

    She advised the EFCC counsel to ensure that all parties in the matter were served with the letter, adding that after they had all commented, she could give an objective response.

    Nyako however said she had no problem returning the case file, and adjourned the matter till Nov. 1, for further mention.

    The counsel who represented the EFCC, Mr Richard Daudu told the court that he was not aware of the letter since he was only handed the case file on Wednesday.

    Counsel to Dikko, Mr Okechukwu Edeze, however, said the position of the EFCC was not in line with the law.

    According to him, if everyone is allowed to chose which judge to prosecute their matter, there will be no justice.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Dikko is in court to stop the EFCC from prosecuting him on allegations that he engaged in unwholesome practices while he was the customs boss.

  • IPAC seeks support for INEC to tackle vote-buying

    The Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC ) in Bauchi State has urged security agencies. Anti-graft bodies and media to support INEC in tackling the problem of vote-buying ahead of the 2019 elections.

    Alhaji Musa Mato the IPAC Secretary in the state, made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Bauchi on Tuesday.

    He described the challenge of vote buying as worrisome, and said the Economic Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, security agencies and media should team up to expose politicians engaged in the act.

    He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also requires the support of all well-meaning Nigerians to end the practice that has compromised the sanctity of the electoral process.

    “Apart from the cash inducement, some politicians influence voters with gift items such as television set, phones, foodstuffs, recharge cards among others,” he said.

    According to him, vote buying undermines the electoral process, poses serious threat to democracy and credibility of elections.

    “Vote buying is earning a bad reputation for our democracy, for our elections and the future of the county.

    “So it has become necessary for stakeholders such as EFCC, ICPC, security agencies and media to support INEC in fighting the challenge.

    Read Also: Osun poll: INEC warns against publication of false results

    ” Other stakeholders including political parties, civil society organizations and the citizens should also get involved to overcome the problem,” Mato said.

    He said “It becomes necessary for us to come together to address this illegality.

    “Some of the ugly trend takes place at polling units and outside polling units on Election Day, and some even before elections through electronic cash transfer.”

    The IPAC secretary said those involved must be arrested, investigated and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others, and “to avoid money-bags determining our democracy.

    “We want the votes of the people to determine who wins in our elections.”

    Mato stressed that the campaign to stop vote-buying must be collective and sustained to sanitise the electoral process.

    The IPAC secretary backed INEC for placing ban on the use of handsets in polling booths as part of measures to limit vote-buying.

  • CACOL urges EFCC to probe oil and gas sector

    The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to fast-track investigations on acts of corruption in the oil and gas sector.

    It welcomed the commission’s partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

    CACOL hopes the collaboration would ensure that issues bordering on any infractions in the oil and gas sector are quickly resolved.

    Its Executive Chairman Mr. Debo Adeniran said more needs to be done to uncover alleged acts of corruption in a sector that is the economy’s mainstay.

    “The bulk of Nigeria’s revenue has always come from this same oil and gas that accounts for about 85 per cent of national revenue, with so much infraction, manipulations and all kinds of financial corruption bedeviling the sector.

    ‘The creation of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in April 1977 to encourage ‘ease of doing business’ and refining of the products has constituted more problems than preferring solution, with that organisation having been turned to a cash cow by unscrupulous politicians.

    “The organisation has been running its affairs as if it is far and well above the law of the land,” the group said.

    In a statement by the centre’s Media and Publications Coordinator Adegboyega Otunuga, the group added: “As the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, noted when he paid the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, a courtesy visit, the need to fast-track investigations on issues relating to oil and gas sector can never be over-emphasised as the board’s Chairman vows to refer serious fraudulent discoveries from its audit department to the commission for further action.

    “And just like the Chairman also noted, the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit, set up to tackle corruption and unethical behaviour within the oil and gas sector through NCDMB, needs to be adequately equipped with information and expertise in discharging its obligations expeditiously and judiciously to the nation through the technical know-how of the EFCC.”

    CACOL said the fight against corruption could not be left to anti-graft agencies alone.

    “The fight against corruption needs to be collectively owned by all Nigerians, especially those with the power and privilege to dispense responsibilities and the ordinary employees positioned to access critical information on finance.

    “This informs why the Whistleblower arrangement is pivotal in the fight against corruption and why Mr. Wabote’s initiative to create the Whistleblowing portal on their website is quite commendable,” CACOL added.

  • EFCC, INEC partnership targeted at opposition – Wike

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has described the partnership between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and INEC to monitor campaign finances ahead of 2019 elections is a witch-hunt targeted at the opposition.

    Speaking during a special appearance on Channels Television Sunrise Daily broadcast from the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday, Governor Wike described the partnership as a political deception.

    He said: “EFCC working with INEC to investigate campaign finances is merely a smokescreen.  It is targeted at the opposition party.

    “When have you heard that EFCC would come up to say, as regards the ruling party, funds came from the government.  I will not be carried away by the so-called EFCC investigation “.

    Governor Wike noted that the EFCC is working towards creating an atmosphere of advantage for the ruling party in the long run.

    He said: “The fund they want to investigate is only when it has to do with the opposition states. Take for example; EFCC said PDP spent money in the last 2015 elections.

    “Has EFCC investigated those states that were APC, like Rivers State at that time that funded part of their election.  Who is deceiving who? EFCC is only working to witch-hunt the opposition. ”

    Read Also: Leave us out of PDP’s problems, APC tells Wike

    The governor regretted that since 2015, the APC Federal Government has been unable to complete the Port Harcourt International Airport. He said despite criticising Jonathan, the APC Federal Government has refused to upgrade the airport.

    “When you look at the whole thing, you see the hatred. How this government does not like the people of Rivers State “, the governor said.

    Commenting on the 2019 elections, Governor Wike said that the desperate rigging moves on August 18, 2018 at the Port Harcourt State Constituency Three Elections indicate that the APC is not ready for elections.

    “Through the Port Harcourt State Constituency Three Election, they revealed to us what they planned for 2019. They don’t want election.  They want to use security to rig”, he said.

    Governor Wike denied claims that he drafted a Presidential Aspirant from another political party to fly the party’s flag. He stated that no single governor can achieve that.

    “We have 36 States and Abuja. We have about 14 governors.  How can a governor of one state lure a particular aspirant to run for the Presidential Election.

    “I am not a member of the convention planning committee. I am only providing the venue.  I am not going to be a member of any sub-committees, so where does the influence.  In any case, if you like you do the election in Lagos, people will still have influence”, Governor Wike said.

    He reiterated his position that certain Presidential Aspirants are funded by the APC and planted in the PDP ahead of the primary.

    He said: “As I speak with you, just yesterday, certain Presidential Aspirants and some people in the ruling party met to take some steps to make sure that our convention fails”.

    Speaking on the environmental challenge posed by flooding, Governor Wike said that the State Government has established an emergency response team to tackle issue.

    He added that the State Government is working with other stakeholders to end the prevalence of soot in the state.

  • Fayose on Watch-list, a Declaration of War Against Constitution – CNM

    …give anti graft agency 24 hours to withdraw memo or face mass action

     

    The outrage trailing the placement of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose on security watch-list by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Custom Service (NSC) continued on Monday with a sticker from a Socio-Political Pressure Group, Change Nigeria Movement (CNM) who described the action of the two central government agencies as an open declaration of war against the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended and acts of pettiness, bias and open display of partisanship taken too far by institutions funded through tax payers money to serve the people judiciously.

    In a statement issued on Monday in Lagos by the group’s National Director of Information and Strategy; Mr. Abubakar Usman, CNM gave the Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu and the Comptroller General of Custom, Mr. Hamid Alli 24 hours to withdraw the memo that placed Fayose on security watch-list, and apologise to Nigerians for subjecting the two institutions to ridicule and public opprobrium or face mass action.

     “Our position is that Governor Ayo Fayose is still a sitting Governor who enjoy immunity from arrest and prosecution as prescribed in section 308 (i) of 1999 constitution as amended, so, we wonder if the EFCC, Customs, Immigration Services, Police and other security agencies would say the offence(s) of the governor is or are to warrant his arrest at airport, seaport or land boarder as pettily stated in their memo that was apparently leaked to the press to embarrass the governor unknowing to them that they are embarrassing the sovereignty of Nigeria before the international community and also creating bad precedent for generation yet unborn.

    “Also, just like other well-meaning Nigerians, we are embarrassed that the Ibrahim Magu led EFCC could not differentiate between the constitutional functions of the Nigerian Customs and that of the Nigerian Immigration Services, so, we are forced to ask from Mr. Ibrahim Magu if it is the function of the Customs to checkmate the movement of goods in and outside the shores of Nigeria or the movement of people in or outside the nation of Nigeria.

    “We say very expressly that this is not about Fayose, the governor should face the full wrath of the law if he has stolen the commonwealth of his people; this is about safeguarding our law; an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere. We call on the Nigerian Governors Forum to speak against this tyranny; it is Fayose today, it may be another person tomorrow. Thus, we consider the actions of EFCC and NSC as a declaration of war against the constitution and sovereignty of Nigeria.”

    Lampooning the EFCC for being biased and displaying open partisanship against the service rules, the group who reinstates its neutrality and affirmed its concern for promoting national interest, averred that the manner at which the anti-graft agency rejoiced over the victory of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) on July 14th governorship election in Ekiti State is unbecoming of a public institution saddled with the responsibility of impartially and objectively investigating allegation of criminal fraud perpetrated against the commonwealth of country.

    Read Also: Fayose asks DMO, banks to publish Ekiti debt profile

     

    “The EFCC rejoiced even than card-carrying members of the APC aftermath the narrow victory of the party on July 14th governorship elections in Ekiti State on its official twitter handle, so, what is currently happening is expected from Ibrahim Magu and his foot soldiers who had in the past three years, showed that they are only interested in oppressing opposition against President Buhari than fighting corruption but we never knew the agency could be petty to an extent of leaking an official memo embedded with about eight official stamps to the public or placing a sitting Governor on watch list.

    “We wish to ask what the EFCC, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service were looking at when the recently resigned Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun who confessed to have forged her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate escaped through the Muritala Mohammed International Airports in Lagos to prevent arrest and prosecution that could land her a 14-year jail term. Was Adesoun allowed to leave Nigeria because she’s a member of the ruling APC and was Fayose placed on security watch-list because he’s a member of the opposition PDP?

     

    “We are apolitical; ours is to promote good governance; expose fraud in public service and hold representatives and government institutions accountable to the people, hence we are worried like other concerned Nigerians, of what would become the image and credibility of the EFCC after the exit of its current chairman, Ibrahim Magu, a public servant who, from our findings, now attend the think-tank meeting of APC to fine-tune strategies and plans on how  political gladiators against the re-election bid of President Muhammad Buhari would be railroaded into the infamy of media trial before being taken out of circulation.

    “Nevertheless, we would not allow this pettiness and abuse of power to go unchecked for posterity sake, thus, we are giving the EFCC and Nigeria Customs Service 24 hours to dissociate themselves from the memo in circulation and apologize to Nigerians. We warn that failure to do as advised would be greeted by a mother of all mass action at the premises of EFCC office in Lagos and Abuja in a jiffy” CNM said.