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Tag: EFCC

  • Anti-graft war: Okei-Odumakin seeks support for EFCC

    The Movement Against Corruption (MAC), a coalition of civil society groups, on Thursday called on Nigerians to give the necessary support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its fight against corruption.

    The Steering Committee Chairman of the movement, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Lagos.

    Okei-Odumakin said the anti-corruption war would be more effective if citizens gave the EFCC the needed cooperation in its assignment.

    She urged Nigerians to always volunteer information to expose perpetrators of corruption, as it would enable the commission to act on such people.

    “Nigerians should support the EFCC by volunteering information and exposing perpetrators, especially in our public institutions.

    “Also, citizens can support the anti-graft war by educating themselves against corrupt practices through the various faith-based organisations.

    “Family and peer groups can also impact positively on the moral regeneration of the society, thereby drastically reducing the menace of corruption,’’ she said.

    Okei-Odumakin said the anti-corruption war should be citizen-driven to yield the desired results.

    She urged the EFCC and other security agencies to see the need to constantly engage stakeholders and enlist the support of all Nigerians to strengthen the war.

    “The advocacy against corruption should be citizen-driven, by so doing; perpetrators will begin to see it as a war not only between them and the EFCC.

    “They will see that it is also between them and Nigerians who are often the real owners of the commonwealth that is being stolen,’’ she said.

    Okei-Odumakin said MAC was birthed out of the need for civil societies to come together to fight corruption collectively.

    He said the movement would continue to partner the EFCC on advocacy and citizens’ education on the dangers of corruption to development.

    The movement chairman said she did not share the sentiments in some quarters that the anti-corruption war as being fought by the EFCC was selective or politically-motivated.

    While noting that people had the right to their own views, she said majority of those being fingered for corruption actually had questions to answer.

    Okei-Odumakin said the EFCC had acquitted itself remarkably in its assignment so far, but much needed to be done to win the anti-corruption war.

    “While we may respect the right of such persons to their opinions, it is important to say that the fight has been holistic, even though we, as a country, haven’t been able to get to our desired end in eradicating corruption.

    “It is also not enough to say that majority of these cases of corruption, especially those being prosecuted by the EFCC, are politically-motivated.

    “It is public knowledge that several of these people genuinely have one corruption-related issue or the other associated with the EFCC,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.

  • EFCC recovers N106.5b, others in eight months

    •Magu: anti-graft war not selective

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered N106.5billion between January and last month, Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu said yesterday.

    He said the anti-graft agency also recovered $1,635,925.81 (about N591,419,898.83), £629,193.65 (about N294,717,451.63) and €25,575 (about N10,743,798.05) within the period.

    Magu, who met reporters at the commission’s Ikoyi, Lagos office, denied that the anti-graft war was targeted at opposition party members.

    He said despite “distractions and irritations by the corrupt,” the commission had secured 158 convictions this year, including two former governors, who were jailed 14 years each.

    “At this rate, I am confident that we will surpass the record of 189 convictions achieved in 2017,” Magu said.

    EFCC has been accused of going after only Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) members, while ignoring corruption allegations against members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But, Magu insisted that EFCC is apolitical and only goes after those who break the law.

    He said those accusing the commission of political persecution were shedding crocodile tears.

    Magu said: “It will be naïve for anyone to expect the fight against corruption to be smooth; you should expect resistance, which is expressed in various guises.

    “With the general election fast approaching, the resistance has assumed even frightening dimensions, with political motives imputed to most of our activities.”

    He said it had become fashionable for anyone being investigated for corruption to scream political persecution, with corrupt state officials pleading immunity not ascribed to them by the constitution.

    According to him, some governors have extended the frontiers of their constitutional immunity by claiming that anti-corruption agencies cannot investigate them.

    “Sadly, some of our friends in the media help amplify these narratives and thereby divert attention from the real issues. The times we are in call for vigilance, especially by the media as the watchdog of the society.”

     

     

  • EFCC: no evidence that N1.6b was transferred to Jonathan’s church

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday that  there was no evidence that ex-President Gooluck Jonathan’s former aide, Dr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, transferred part of the N1.6billion he was accused of concealing to a church.

    It said contrary to Dudafa’s claim, the money was actually transferred to his company.

    Dudafa claimed on Monday in his evidence-in-chief that the money was raised for a church, courtesy of former President Jonathan.

    He said: “From my interactions with former President Goodluck Jonathan, I know that the funds were proceeds of a launching by the Anglican Communion of Otuoke community for the building of St. Stephens Youth Development Centre, Otuoke.

    “The launching, which was done in Lagos on March 16, 2013, was organised by the former president as a member of the Anglican Communion and the grand patron.”

    But during cross examination yesterday, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo dared Dudafa to show evidence that any part of the N1.6billion lodged in the Heritage Bank account of Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited was transferred to the church.

    But, Dudafa said only Jonathan could explain.

    Oyedepo showed Dudafa the statement of account and asked him to indicate if there was any money transferred to the church.

    Dudafa said: “From Exhibit B (the account statement), no fund was transferred to the Anglican Communion of Otuoke Community. I can’t see it.

    “It couldn’t have been because only the former President could have given directive on what to do.”

    Asked to name the Bishop of the Anglican Communion of Otuoke Community, Dudafa said: “I don’t know; I only related with the former President.”

    Oyedepo pointed out the statement of account that N30million was transferred on November 25, 2013 to The Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant, in which Dudafa had the highest share and which he also chaired.

    The EFCC lawyer also showed Dudafa the statement of account of The Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant with the Guarantee Trust Bank.

    “It is correct that as of today, the funds that are in the account of The Jakes, paid by a Bureau De Change operator, Murtala Bashir, is in excess of N500millio,” Oyedepo said.

  • Aides threaten to drag Saraki, Sani-Omolori to EFCC, ICPC over ‘N4b debt’

    Aides to federal lawmakers are threatening to take Senate President Bukola Saraki and Clerk to National Assembly (CNA) Mohammed Sani-Omolori to anti-corruption agencies.

    This followed alleged non-payment of their allowances and other entitlements for the past three years.

    The workers, under the aegis of National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), are protesting the confusion trailing the alleged non-payment of the entitlements totalling more than N4billion, which include Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), 28 per cent salary increment, among others.

    The aides also threatened to shut the National Assembly.

    They protested yesterday at the lobby of the White House before a meeting of the executive members and the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly.

    The protesters sang war songs. They carried placards. One of them read: “We are aides, not slaves”

    The Chairman of the aides’ forum, Sam Melaye, said: “The protest is about our allowances and entitlements. It has become clear to us that they are now passing the buck. The Senate president, who is the chairman of the National Assembly, said the CNA is responsible for our plight, and the CNA is now in turn accusing the Senate president of being responsible for the situation we have been subjected to.

    “But at this point, it doesn’t really matter who is responsible, all we are saying is pay us our entitlements.

    “Our DTA has not been paid for 10 quarters and that’s over N2billion. We are supposed to be trained twice in a year. This has not happened in the last three years and that is supposed to gulp over N2billion and training allowances, which is based on calculation of N1billion per year, is N3billion now.

    “By laid down procedures and yearly budgetary provisions of N250million on a quarterly basis, each of the legislatives aides is expected to go for training on the template of capacity building, the totality of which is N1billion per year, but for the past three years, no category of the aides has been sent on any training, let alone paid the required allowances.

    “All we are saying is that the National Assembly should do the needful

    Read also: Saraki visits Gov. Emmanuel

    “We are going to meet the Acting CNA, since the CNA is not around, but I want to believe that the outcome of the meeting will be favorable to us. But if it is not favourable, we will take on the next step of writing anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in order for them to pay us our entitlements.

    “If our demands are not met, we will shut down the National Assembly.

    “Although there had been protests over this same issue in the past, this is the first time I’m leading protest as the chairman of Legislative Aides Forum and I can assure you, there will be no retreat, no surrender.”

    After its meeting with the Acting CNA, who is also the Clerk to the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, the group gave an ultimatum of September 14 after which if its demands were not met, it would begin next plan of action.

    National Assembly spokesman Rawlings Agada, who spoke with The Nation on the phone, said the issue will be resolved as soon as the CNA returns from his official assignment outside the country.

    Agada, who said he was not around the complex when the protest took place, however believed that the problem could be as a result of administrative or fund release challenge.

  • Five people lay claim to N49m abandoned in sacks, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said five people are laying claim to the N49million its operatives intercepted in sacks at the airport in Kaduna.

    It said the Federal High Court in Kaduna would soon give judgment on the puzzle over the cash.

    The anti-graft agency said the cash had been deposited in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), pending a pronouncement by the court.

    It made the clarifications in its monthly magazine, “EFCC Alert.”

    The EFCC said: “Five individuals have so far come forth to lay claim to the N49 million intercepted at the Kaduna International Airport on March 13, 2017.

    “They are: Oyebanji Plaits Steve, Taiye Omoniyi Oluwaleke, Risikat  Tiamiyu Titilayo, Fausat Oni and Joshua Kisabo.

    “It will be recalled that following a tip off, EFCC operatives intercepted the money during a routine baggage screening, which was contained in five 150kg  coloured BUHU sacks – crispy naira notes of N200  denomination in 20 bundles, totalling N40 million and  N50 denomination in 180 bundles totalling N9 million.

    “In solving the N49 million puzzle, the EFCC brought the  case before Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna. After presenting its sole witness, the EFCC through its counsel, Joshua Saidi, closed its case on May 17.

    “A certified true copy of the teller used to deposit the money to the Central Bank of Nigeria, was also admitted as exhibit. Judgement in respect of the case is expected soon.”

    According to investigation, the cash was discovered by EFCC Zonal Office in Kaduna in five large black 150kg colour BUHU sacks during routine baggage screening at the airport.

    A top source in the commission said: “Upon careful scrutiny of the sacks, it was discovered that they contained fresh crispy Naira notes of N200 denomination in 200 bundles, totalling N40million and N50 denomination in 180 bundles totalling N9million.

    “The bundles were sealed purportedly emanating from the Nigerian Security and Minting Company (MSPMC) as seen in the label on the packs.

    “The five sacks were sighted unattended to and without tags containing fresh bulk items suspected to be money from the aroma perceived from the sacks.

    “The owner of the money later showed up, but could not state the exact money in the sacks or present any document authenticating the genesis of the money.”

  • Group threatens to sue EFCC over alleged coverup of case

    An anti-graft group, the Patriots of Anti-Corruption League (PAL), has threatened to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) if it fails to commence prosecution against the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, in a case of alleged corruption.

    The group, in a petition addressed to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, also threatened to sue the commission and its chairman if the minister and six others were not charged to court within 14 days of sending in the petition.

    According to the petition, signed by Kingsley Arthur, Director of Investigation and Dedekuma Orumbo, Media and Publicity, a copy of which was made available to the Nation, the commission had in 2016 investigated a case of suspicious banking transactions, involving companies that participated in petroleum subsidy fraud.

    It cited four perons; Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Dumebi Kachikwu, Bukola Olatumbo Ayinde and Ahmed Aminu; and three companies; Accelerated Building Technologies Limited, Netlink Technologies Limited and Dutchess Energy Limited as the subjects of the investigation.

    The petition alleged that the EFCC, having concluded its investigation on the matter since 2016, had foot-dragged on taking the next line of action, which ought to have been the prosecution of the persons and companies involved.

    According to the petition, failure of the commission to take steps to action on the concluded investigation would cast a shadow on the identity of the Muhammadu Bihari administration’s anti-corruption crusade, which had endeared the country and its leader to other developed world leaders.

    “In your investigation report it is clearly stated that investigations have established the private account as a “conduit and money laundering”. It is evident and incontrovertible that there lies therein enough evidence to prosecute these persons in a competent court of Law for money laundering.

    “Mr Chairman we are writing to lend our voice of disgust to the delay in bringing these culprits to account. In the fight against corruption in this present administration there should be no sacred cow. (These are the words of Mr President) and it is important all people of goodwill should encourage, support and abide by this and stand with Mr President.

    “Mr Chairman your refusal or lukewarm attitude not to arraign these persons will surely put a dent and bring disrepute to the President Mohammadu Buhari’s much touted Anti-corruption fight before Nigerians and the international community”, the petition observed.

    It, however, requested that “the persons and companies herein mentioned be arraigned in a competent court of law without further delay”.

    It also warned “in view of the foregoing we are issuing a 14 days ultimatum to the commission to show cause why these persons and companies should not be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction, without which we shall have no option than to drag your good self and the commission to court to show reasonable cause why a mandamus should not be served on the commission and your good self”.

  • Probe: Court fixes Oct 8 for judgment in Benue’s suit against EFCC

    •Commission insists on power to investigate state, officials

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for October 8 this year in a suit by Benue State Government, seeking to stop the ongoing investigation of some of its key officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba chose the date on Wednesday after parties adopted their written briefs and made their final submissions.

    Plaintiff’s lawyer, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), in his final argument, urged the court to hold that the EFCC has no powers under any law to investigate the account of a state government.

    Etiaba was of the view that only the state’s House of Assembly and its Auditor- General (listed as 4th and 5th defendants), have the power to investigate or inquire into the accounts and /or appropriations, disbursements and administration of the funds of Benue State Government by virtue of the provisions of sections 1(1) and (3), 125(2), (4) and (6), 128 and 129 of the Constitution.

    ?He argued that the EFCC went beyond investigating top government functionaries of Benue State to probing sensitive financial documents of the state. Etiaba urged the court to uphold his client’s case and grant all the reliefs sought.

    Joe Abaagu, who represented the Benue State House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Clerk and the Auditor-General, Benue State (listed as 2nd to 5th defendants), argued in similar manner as Etiaba and prayed the court to grant the plaintiff’s reliefs.

    In a counter-argument, EFCC’s lawyer, Slyvanus Tahir urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the reliefs contained in the plaintiff’s originating summons were misconceived.

    Tahir argued that by the provisions of sections virtue of sections 6, 7 and 38(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act 2004, the agency has the power to investigate the accounts of both a state and its officials.

    He informed the court that the EFCC acted based on petitions written against the state by some indigenes of the state including Abubakar Tsav, in which they accused some key officials of the state of engaging in massive corruption.

    Tahir contended that the powers donated to the state’s House of Assembly and the Auditor General under section 125, 128 and 129 of the Constitution were merely oversight functions, but not prosecutorial powers.

    He urged the court to hold that the EFCC solely possesses the statutory powers to investigate and prosecute financial crimes in the country.

  • EFCC to investigate $3.8b Egina FPSO project, says Magu

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu has said the commission will look into the award of $3.8 billion to build Egina Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).

    The contract to build $3.8 billion Egina FPSO project was awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 2013 to SHI.

    He made the promise when two civil society organisations, Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, (NYPF) and Connected Development (CODE) submitted a petition at the EFCC office in Abuja yesterday.

    The petition was signed by NYPF’s Chairman, Mr. Moses Siasia and the Chief Executive Officer, CODE, Hamzat Lawal.

    The petition was received by EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on behalf of Mr. Magu.

    Magu assured the petitioners that the EFCC would consider the allegations raised in the petition and subject them to test.

    He said: “I assure you that we will take this petition through the normal process through which we receive petitions in the commission.

    “For us, this is merely an allegation, but we will subject it to test and if it is worthy of investigation, the commission will investigate it and you will get to know our findings.”

    In the petition, Siasia and Lawal called for a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding SHI and Samsung Korea and their involvement in the Egina FPSO project.

    According to them, the investigation should include the estimation of the resulting losses to Nigeria’s economy.

  • Group drags TETfund Boss, Baffa to EFCC

    A Civil Society Organization, Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has dragged the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, over allegations of abuse of office and cases of contract deemed improperly awarded by the TETfund Chief Executive.

    The group led by its Executive Director, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, in a petition submitted today at the Lagos Office of the EFCC, said “It is with a deep sense of responsibility, that the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), find it compelling to lodge a formal complaint, for investigative activities, of the Abuse of Office and arbitrary award of Contract, against laid down principles and law, by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, since assumption of Office, till date.”

    The group accused Dr. Baffa of violating several provisions of the laws, guiding the operation of TETFund, among which stipulated, that TETFund shall ensure that funds generated from education tax are utilized to improve the quality of education in Nigeria WITHOUT DIRECT CONTRACT AWARDING.

    CPA also accused the TETfund Boss, of issuing instruction to public owned universities to reserve 20% of all contracts on the intervention fund provided to them by TETFund for “stakeholders”.

    “We strongly believe that these “Stakeholders” are none other than Dr. Abdullahi Baffa himself, his cronies and immediate family, many of who he has used as fronts, in executing the numerous illegal contract being awarded to several Higher institutions in clear violation of laid down procedures.” the petition further stated.

    “We are worried, that rather than focusing on the primary objective of the establishment of the fund, Dr. Baffa has converted the agency to a market of political patronage and contract bazzar, to the extent that many intervention projects are no longer advertised as stipulated by law. Indeed, what Dr. Abdullahi Baffa has been engaging in, contrary to the spirit and letter of the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It is disheartening that Dr. Baffa is working in opposite direction to the cardinal policy thrust of Mr. President by promoting abuse of Office and corruption, in such a sensitive organization.”

    The group called for the thorough and credible investigation of the allegation by the anti-graft body without minding whose ox was gored.
    The petition, which was received in the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, was also forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, Honorable Minister of Education, Honorable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, His House of Representatives counterpart, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Bankers Committee of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Services FIRS.

  • EFCC to investigate $3.8bn Egina FPSO project – Magu

    The acting chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has said the commission will look into the award of $3.8 billion to build Egina Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).

    The contract to build $3.8 billion Egina FPSO project was awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 2013 to SHI.

    He made the promise when two civil society organisations, Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, (NYPF), and Connected Development (CODE) submitted a petition at the EFCC office, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The petition was signed by NYPF’s Chairman, Mr. Moses Siasia and the Chief Executive Officer, CODE), Hamzat Lawal.

    The petition was received by EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on behalf of Mr. Magu.

    Mr. Magu assured the petitioners that the EFCC, as a commission, would consider the allegations raised in the petition and subject them to test.

    He said: “I want to assure you that we will take this petition through the normal process through which we receive petitions in the commission.

    “For us, this is merely an allegation but we will subject it to test and if it is worthy of investigation, the commission will duly investigate it and you will get to know our findings.”

    In the petition, Mr. Siasia and Lawal, called for a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding SHI and Samsung Korea and their involvement in the Egina FPSO project.

    According to them, the investigation should include the estimation of the resulting losses to Nigeria’s economy.