The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC chasing shadows – Al-Mustapha

    Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the ex-Chief Security Officer to late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, said on Wednesday the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not fighting corruption but chasing shadows.

    He also denied knowledge of the controversial “Abacha loot.”

    Al-Mustapha spoke during an interactive session with the Christian community, under the auspices of United Christian Leaders, Eagle Eye Forum and 40 Christian Pressure Groups in Kaduna.

    He was also asked at the event to vie for the presidency in 2019.

    Speaking on corruption, Al-Mustapha said “EFCC came overnight with few equipment and personnel and started making the loudest noise. That is why I have likened it to small monkey given a thread to arrest an elephant. The monkey is always busy looking for the elephant. It was give binoculars to look for an elephant that is so close to it, but it is busy arresting ants and abandoned the elephant that is busy destroying the animal kingdom. That is what is going on today.

    “If you have to fight corruption in Nigeria, you have to tackle from multi-faceted angles, rather this small structure called the EFCC, which is not enough to fight corruption. It requires a bigger body that has the intelligence that can reach out to the international community to get our stolen funds stashed abroad and equally prosecute rather than relying on the regular police to do that.”

     

     

  • Magu: EFCC has secured over 150 convictions this year

    Acting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ibrahim Magu yesterday dismissed speculations that the agency was being used to witch-hunt perceived enemies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Magu, who said EFCC had sustained the anti-corruption war irrespective of personal or political affiliations, added that the agency had secured not fewer than 150 convictions of corrupt individuals from January to June.

    “That’s the best anybody can do,” he said.

    Magu spoke at a stakeholders’ interactive session held at the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Office, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

    He was received by the Southwest Zonal Director, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, top officials of the agency, artisans, trade groups, religious leaders, among others.

    The session, aimed at strengthening partnership and collaborative efforts with stakeholders in the fight against corruption, had in attendance the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by its Chairman in Oyo State, Mr. Waheed Olojede; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by its state Chairman, Pastor Benjamin Akanmu; founder of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke; state Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Dolapo Dosunmu and members of the Corrupt Practices Eradication Organisation of Nigeria (COPEON).

    Magu said: “The EFCC will not, and does not engage in a witch-hunt. Our activities are in line with international best practices. In all we do, we are guided first by the fear of God and patriotism to our fatherland and the rule of law. I will continue to discharge my duties by the fear of Almighty God, the overriding interest of our fatherland, Nigeria and the rule of law.

    “It is pertinent for all of us to see ourselves as stakeholders in this fight. We must strive to achieve the Nigeria of our dream, one which our children and generations unborn will be proud of.

    “For us at the EFCC, we are driven by courage, integrity and professionalism and our commitment to the common task of improving the lot of our people at the grassroots, as we promote working partnership with all of you. Corruption is the number one problem that has militated against the development of Nigeria, especially the poor at the grassroots. The havoc corruption has wreaked on the economy is, no doubt, endless.

    “This is why fighting it to a standstill is not only a must, but also the only lifesaver for our country, to save the next generation. I want to restate for the records that there is no better time to prop up the anti-corruption campaign than now. There are ways of fighting corruption, which is to sensitise, create awareness and all that. But I am telling you, the looting must stop. We should not glorify the corrupt. We should not appreciate the corrupt. The ill must stop in the interest of our future generation. We have to find a way to protect their future.”

  • Bribery: Three INEC chiefs granted N100m bail each

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday granted bail to three Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials attached to Osun State following their arraignment for alleged money laundering and bribery.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor granted them bail for N100m each with one surety in like sum.

    The sureties, said the judge, must have landed property in Lagos and present three-year tax clearance.

    The judge, who is sitting temporarily during the ongoing annual long vacation, remitted the case file to the Chief Judge for assignment to a substantive judge for trial when the court resumes next month.

    The defendants, who had been in Ikoyi Prison since their arraignment on August 1, will remain there until they meet their bail terms.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Gbadegun Abiodun, Oladipo Oladapo and Afolabi Albert on five- count charge of conspiracy to receive millions of naira in cash without going through a financial institution.

    EFCC said the trio, on March 30, 2015, conspired to accept cash payment of N177.3million without going through a financial institution.

    The Commission said the offence of accepting cash payment exceeding N5million violates Section 18 and is punishable under Section 16 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended by the Act No 2, 2012.

    Abiodun, Oladapo and others at large were said to have used N22million in April 2015 which they allegedly obtained through forgery thereby violating Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Act.

    In Count Four, EFCC said Oladapo and others at large took possession of N3million in cash from Abiodun when he “reasonably ought to have known that the fund was a proceed of your unlawful activity to wit: bribery.”

     

     

  • EFCC probes 35 capital market fraud cases

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating about 35 fraud cases at the capital market.

    Sources confirmed at the weekend that the EFCC and the market regulators, especially Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), have stepped up collaboration on prevention of corrupt practices and market abuses with the NSE referring more cases to the anti-graft agency for investigation and prosecution.

    A source indicated that the NSE recently suspended a retail stockbroking firm as part of a joint collaboration with the EFCC which had launched investigation into the activities of the firm for allegedly engaging in fraud.

    Although the details of the cases could not be disclosed due to legal confidentiality and ongoing investigations, a review of the preliminary findings indicated that most cases relate to fraudulent sale of clients’ shares and diversion of clients’ funds, impersonation and false representation of products and services.

    Already, EFCC has about five cases in court, in collaboration with capital market authorities. The agency prosecuted a case that led to a seven-year jail sentence and forfeiture of assets of a former managing director of a stockbroking firm.

    The EFCC and capital market regulators operate a two-pronged strategy involving restitution and prosecution to secure restoration for investor and deter corrupt practices through criminal prosecution and recovery of illegal proceeds.

    The NSE, through its Disciplinary Committee and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), through its Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC), run active investigative mechanism that seeks to uncover malpractices, sanctions indicted operators and restitutes affected investors. However, both NSE and SEC lack prosecutorial powers.

    Capital market authorities had bridged the gap between their investigative powers and prosecutorial powers through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EFCC, which allows the organisations to collaborate on information sharing, investigation, prosecution and enforcement.

    The Nation confirmed that there has been more than 100 per cent increase in capital market cases under investigation by the EFCC after last year’s meeting between the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu and Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema and other top executives and stakeholders at the stock market.

    SEC and EFCC had in January last year, signed an MoU that formally established the alliance between the two Commissions. The MoU seeks to promote efficient investigation and conclusion of all cases reported by either of the institutions to each other and to promote the integrity, efficiency and soundness of the capital market and the economy in general.

    It also seeks to promote collaboration in the areas of training and secondment of middle cadre officers of the SEC to the EFCC and those of the EFCC to the SEC; or in the alternative, the establishment of a liaison desk in both Institutions as well as promote collaboration in other areas beneficial to both Institutions.

    According to the MoU, the institutions shall provide each other with the utmost mutual assistance in any matter falling within their competences, including in particular the following areas: secondment of middle cadre officers, training to enhance the investigative skills and capacity of personnel of the institutions and consequently increase the general output and performance of the institutions and facilitate better understanding of each other’s functions through capacity building programmes and human capital development in the areas of investigation of fraud in the capital market.

    The institutions will also collaborate in the areas of exchange of information to assist the performance of the institutions’ respective functions, reporting, investigation and prosecution of fraudulent and manipulative practices in the Nigerian capital market and any other activity as agreed between the institutions from time to time.

  • EFCC traces Akwa Ibom’s N1.4b to 11 accounts

    •Summons Finance Commissioner, three others •Govt blocks anti-graft agency from grilling officials •Eight top lawyers implicated, SSG signs undertaking to produce suspects

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced about N1.4billion allegedly belonging to the Akwa Ibom State Government to 11 suspected slush accounts.

    The cash was remitted into the accounts in two tranches of N1.1billion and N300million,The Nation gathered yesterday.

    Some of the accounts belong to eight top lawyers in the country.

    Sources said yesterday that they might be interrogated soon.

    One of the suspected lawyers has made a statement to the EFCC on how he came about the huge transfers into his account from the Akwa Ibom State Government accounts.

    The suspect, according to sources, told detectives that the deposits were legal fees for 16 cases.

    He could not produce documentary evidence of any agreement between his team and the state government.

    Detectives were said to be curious that the alleged legal fees were paid into the 11 accounts in cash as against the standard practice of paying with cheque.

    It was also gathered that one of the accounts which was opened on March 16, 2016 had a huge deposit record on March 14, 2016.

    The anti-graft agency has already invited four officials of the state government for questioning on the issue.

    They are: Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Linus, the Permanent Secretary and Director of Finance and Accounts in  the Ministry of Justice , and an Assistant Chief Accountant in the Accountant-General Office in the state, Mfon Jacobson Udomah.

    They have all refused to honour the invitation without any valid reason.

    The  fact-sheet of the case sighted by The Nation showed that N1.4billion was remitted into the various accounts as follows: N135m; N120m; N100m; N60m; N60m; N65m; N570m; N75m; N75m; N75m; N30m; and N45m.

    Investigators said: “There was no document tied to specific payment. The deposit also did not specify what the cash was meant for.

    “There was no evidence of any agreement between the state government and the beneficiaries of the N1.4billion. The lead coordinator of the lawyers who benefitted from the cash could not say how much was charged and how much was agreed upon.

    “The lead lawyer only said the cash was for 16 cases in various courts across the country but only a case was reflected as having gone from the lower court to the Supreme Court.

    “The lead lawyer has made statement without any shred of evidence or document to justify the legal contract.”

    The EFCC is insisting that the four officials must report for questioning.

    A source familiar with the matter said: “Letters of invitation were written to the Permanent Secretary and Director of Finance and Accounts of the Ministry of Justice of Akwa Ibom State on June 8, 2018 and the Commissioner for Finance and an Assistant Chief Accountant in the Accountant-General Office in the state on July 13, 2018.

    “They were to be questioned in Abuja. They all failed to report despite sending reminders to them on July 3 and July 13. We later sent a team to interact with them at the EFCC’s Uyo Zonal office but they refused to meet with our operatives.

    “The EFCC’s team from Abuja travelled to Uyo on July 19 and on July 20, our operatives requested to invite the affected state officials. None of them came around.

    “The Secretary to the State Government and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice  wrote an  undertaking in Uyo Zonal Office and Abuja respectively assuring the EFCC  that the invited persons  would report as requested but they  failed to turn up.

    “The Attorney-General came to Abuja on July 24, 2018 that he would bring those invited on July 30 but he never did. We are still insisting they must come.”

     

  • Row over N23b: Benue tackles EFCC, says Ortom will be exonerated

    The Benue State Government yesterday faulted the Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over its claim that more than N23billion in some state accounts were withdrawn and diverted.

    It asked the anti-graft agency to stop publishing figures without stating how impropriety has been established.

    It expressed regrets that EFCC is acting like a Strike squad of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It said any genuine, fair, just and equitable investigation will surely exonerate Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The government made its position known in a statement by Terver Akase, who is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The state government challenged the EFCC to release more details if it had its facts right.

    It said: “It released figures allegedly withdrawn from the Benue State Government accounts without disclosing the dates of the withdrawals and the period during which they were made.

    “The Commission has also not been able to state accounts into which such monies withdrawn were paid to prove that the funds had been diverted.

    “EFCC is contented with publishing the figures without stating how impropriety has been established.

    “Are government monies supposed to be kept in the accounts indefinitely without expenditure?

    “Their objective is apparently to give Governor Samuel Ortom and his administration a bad name.”

    The statement accused the EFCC of turning into a strike squad of the APC for torment.

    It said: “On this score, it is clear that the EFCC has now become both a strike squad of the APC for torment, and their law court for the trial and conviction of political opponents.

    “Only an agency which has the mandate of ruining the reputation of persons perceived to be political opponents of the ruling party would descend to the low level the EFCC is currently heading to, by circulating figures in the conduct of a media trial of Governor Ortom.

    “The agency has ridiculously assumed the role of a law court by passing judgments over political opponents as it is doing at the moment against the Governor.

    “Perhaps, only in this country can such impunity be encouraged by the government at the centre.

    “EFCC should be ashamed to have lied to Nigerians that it began investigation of the present administration in Benue State two years ago.”

    The State Government alleged witch-hunting of Ortom was because he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

  • Benue faults EFCC’s N23bn claim

    … Ortom will be exonerated – Aide

    The Benue State Government on Saturday faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over its claim that over N23billion in state accounts was withdrawn and diverted.

    It asked the anti-graft agency to stop publishing figures without stating how impropriety has been established.

    The state government accused EFCC of now acting like a strike squad of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and boasted that any genuine, fair, just and equitable investigation would surely exonerate Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The government disclosed these in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase.

    He said: “After succumbing to nationwide condemnation of its illegal freezing of Benue State Government accounts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has resorted to yet another shameful act in its desperation to cripple governance in the state.

    “The anti-graft agency’s latest move is the bandying of figures in national dailies claiming that such figures are those of transactions in the accounts owned by the Benue State Government.

    “In The Nation Newspaper of Saturday, August 11, 2018, EFCC claimed among other things that a staff of the Benue State Government whose name it gave as ‘Agbo Amada’ has been sacked ‘to avoid making him available for interrogation.’

    “The Commission could not disclose where the said government staff worked before he was sacked obviously because such a person does not exist.”

    The state government challenged the EFCC to release more details if it has its facts right.

     

     

  • EFCC grills two Benue officials

    The EFCC yesterday grilled two Benue State Government officials in connection with huge withdrawal of N23, 429, 938, 951.52 from the state accounts.

    Those questioned are a Director of Finance and Accounts in the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Gbaigyo Emmanuel, and a cashier, Andoor Festus.

    The EFCC also discovered that another suspect, Agbo Amada, has been dismissed by the state government to “avoid making him available for interrogation.”But The Nation could not confirm this.

    The list of the accounts where the withdrawals were made was released yesterday by the EFCC.

    The accounts and the funds are as follows:

    • Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs—N792, 039,884.00 (Sterling Bank —0017836093)
    • Joint  State and Local Account—N1, 367, 043, 651.52(Fidelity Bank—5030058730)
    • Benue State Government House— N1, 916, 635, 206.00( UBA-1017348051)
    • Benue State Bureau of Internal Service and Special Service—N11,827, 455, 250 (UBA—1007540119)
    • Benue State Bureau of Internal Service and Special Service—N5, 886, 237, 150( First Bank—2023788057)
    • Benue State Bureau of Internal Service and Special Service—N1, 640, 527, 540 (Zenith Bank—1010653167)

    The state government during the week accused the EFCC of freezing its accounts. The action was roundly criticised by opposition parties, many groups and the Governors’ Forum.

    On Thursday, the accounts were defrozen.

    Alluding to the freezing of the account, another source in EFCC yesterday said: “The EFCC is not out to shut down the government in Benue State. We have been conducting investigation in the last two years. There is no political witch-hunt in any manner.

    “All we did is to caution withdrawal from these accounts with ‘Place No Debit’ which does not last more than 72 hours.

    “Despite the fact that the EFCC uncovered massive withdrawals from these accounts in tranches of N10million, top government officials have continued to divert funds paid into these accounts from the Federation Account.

    “As an anti-graft agency, the EFCC has the obligation to check diversion of public funds and money laundering.

    “We are continuing with investigation of these accounts. On Friday,  a team of detectives grilled the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Gbaigyo Emmanuel and a cashier, Andoor Festus.

    “We are looking for another official, Agbo Amada, who has been dismissed by the state government to avoid making him available for interrogation.”

    Also yesterday, EFCC seized the passport of a former Director-General of the Department of State Security Service, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, who is being investigated over funds related to the $2.1 billion arms scandal by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The anti-graft agency has restricted Ekpenyong’s movement to the country pending the completion of ongoing investigation.

    For more than eight hours, detectives grilled Ekpenyong.

    A top source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “Based on the depth of the ongoing  investigation of the former DG of DSS, we have seized his passport in order to restrict his movement to the country in order to make our work easier.

    “Since he is enjoying administrative bail, he has to be reporting to the EFCC for a while until we are done with the ongoing interrogation.

    “On Friday, he continued with the writing of his statement which he could not conclude on Thursday.”

    Asked what transpired between the detectives and Ekpenyong, the source quoted the former DG of DSS as saying: “I have nothing to hide.”

  • $2.1b arms deal: EFCC arrests ex-DSS boss

    After a five-hour search, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Ita Ekpenyong.

    He was quizzed by the anti-graft agency’s operatives and granted bail. He is expected back for further interrogation today.

    There were indications that the arrest of the ex-DG was in connection with alleged N40billion linked to the agency in the twilight of the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The EFCC is working on clues that the cash was part of the $2.1billion arms funds managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The anti-graft agency was also acting on intelligence that a substantial part of the cash was diverted to personal use.

    It was gathered that the EFCC had uncovered that about N17billion to N21billion in the coffers of DSS also could not be accounted for during the transition period between Ekpenyong and the sacked DG of DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura.

    But detectives were yesterday able to recover the handover note which Ekpenyong gave to Daura containing some “startling revelations.”

    It was learnt that the EFCC team of detectives yesterday arrived at Ekpenyong’s residence at 46, Justice Maman Nasir in Asokoro District of Abuja, at about 10am in three buses with about 20 policemen.

    There was no resistance unlike in November 2017 when an arrest bid was foiled on the order of sacked DG Daura.

    The detectives searched Ekpenyong’s home from 10am till about 3.20pm.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “When we got to Ekpenyong’s residence, we told the DSS operatives on guard our mission and they politely sought clearance from the agency’s headquarters.

    “As soon as we got the clearance, our operatives met with Ekpenyong who cooperated with the EFCC’s team in searching his residence.

    “Thereafter, we arrested Ekpenyong and took him to our headquarters at about 3.50pm for interrogation. He is still making statement to our team.”

    The source added: “We were able to recover some documents including the Ekpenyomg’s handover note to Daura.

    “The note is highly useful because of some revelations that will help our investigation.”

    The source confirmed that the EFCC got the required order from a court to search and arrest Ekpenyong.

    The warrant said in part: “You are hereby commanded by this state with proper assistance to enter the above-named residence and premises and there diligently search for the things aforesaid and if the same or any part thereof are found to bring the things so found and also the said person before this court to be dealt according to law.

    “This warrant shall be executed between the hours of five o’ clock and eight o’clock at night and may also be executed at any hour during day or night.”

    It was not immediately clear if Ekpenyong was detained or released later yesterday.

    The EFCC surce said “At the moment, we have not met or interacted with Daura. We are also yet to invite him. I think some other agencies are currently handling Daura’s matter.

  • EFCC arrests ex-DSS DG Ekpenyong

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Thursday arrested a former Director-General of the Department of State Security Service, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, over alleged N17billion fraud in the agency.

    The arrest was said to be part of ongoing probe of the sacked DG of the agency, Lawal Daura.

    The two ex-DSS chiefs could not account for the cash in the last three years.

    Details later…