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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC arraigns man for illegal bank operation

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned one Philemon Gora in a Federal High Court, Abuja for allegedly operating a bank without a valid license.

    Gora was arraigned along with his company, Cash Flow Global Fund Investment on a two-count charge of operating a bank without license and consenting to carrying out banking business without a valid license.
    “”That you Philemon Gora, knowingly consented to the carrying on of banking business without a valid license issued to the company.
    “You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 49(1) of the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act and punishable under Section 2 of the same act,’’ one of the charges read.

    Gora pleaded not guilty to the charges stressing, “I am not guilty because I have a valid license’’.
    Following an oral application for bail by his counsel, Mr Alex Marema, the judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu admitted him to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
    The sureties, the judge said must be officers, not below grade level 16 and must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
    The judge said the sureties should deposit their two recent passport photographs with the court.
    The prosecuting counsel, Mr G.K. Latona had objected to the oral application for bail on the ground that the defendant, having stated in the dock that he had a valid license, would continue to operate the bank if granted bail.
    Latona also told the court that over 60 million Nigerians were customers of the bank with over N2 billion in the bank.

    The judge however said that she was mindful to grant Gora bail because she understood his statement that he had a valid license to mean that he was not guilty of the charge and not otherwise.
    She said that she considered the oral application for bail of the accused in the interest of justice taking into cognisance the coming public holiday.
    She adjourned the matter until Oct. 2 and Oct. 10 for commencement of trial.

  • EFCC alleges plot to frame up investigator

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday it has uncovered alleged plot by a businessman, Abdulhamid Mahmud Zari, to frame up one of its key investigators, Mr. Abubakar Madaki.

    The commission said the businessman, who has been under probe, was peddling rumours that Madaki allegedly extorted N4 million from him to secure bail.

    The EFCC said Madaki was never part of its investigating team looking into allegations against the businessman.

    It claimed that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who is being investigated by the EFCC, was suspected to be behind the smear campaign against its key investigator.

    It clarified that contrary to insinuations, Madaki is not a Personal Assistant to the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

    The EFCC made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.

    “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has been drawn to a report entitled, “Businessman accuses Magu’s aide of N4m extortion”, which appeared in a newspaper of June 9, 2018 and syndicated in various online platforms.

    The report purports that Madaki, an operative of the commission whom they referred to as personal assistant to the acting chairman, obtained N4 million from a certain Abdulhamid Mahmud Zari, a suspect under investigation for alleged money laundering by the commission, to grant him bail.

    “The commission wishes to state that there is no truth to this allegation, which is contrived to malign and impugn the reputation of Madaki, an operative who has handled several high profile investigations without blemish.

    “What is currently playing out in select media outlets is the unraveling of a vengeful script by Zari and his cohorts to impugn the integrity of Madaki and bring him to public ridicule.

    “It will interest members of the public, who may have been misled by the mischievous story, to know that Zari has been crossed with Madaki over suspicion that he instigated the investigation leading to his arrest and detention by the commission.

    “Soon after he was released on bail, Zari launched a media offensive against Madaki, accusing him of buying half of the land in his home town, Keffi for N10 billion. He also claimed that the officer owns two palatial mansions in choice areas of Abuja worth N250million.

    “In line with the commission’s stance on professional responsibility by officers and men, the phantom allegations were duly investigated by the commission and found to be baseless.

    “That the ludicrous charge failed to hurt the career of Madaki has not deterred Zari. He engineered the arrest of the officer after he wrote a petition to the Police at Nasarawa Command, alleging that Madaki and his brother had conspired to kill him during the Ramadan of 2017. Madaki was detained for a day in Lafia.

    “ The case was eventually transferred to the Nigeria Force Headquarters for proper investigation. The police have already concluded investigation and the case file sent to the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

    “Once Zari discovered that Force Headquarters had stepped into the matter, he proceeded to Lafia and again got four members of Madaki’s family arrested, including a 76-year-old man Hashimu Sale, who later died in prison while on remand.

    “He also got his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to sue the commission and Madaki for continuously inviting him. Other relief he sought was an order of court stopping the commission from further investigating him. This was rejected by the court. He proceeded on appeal to the appellate court.”

    The anti-graft agency said Madaki was never at any point a member of investigating team on the allegations against Zari.

    It also explained that Madaki did not demand bribe from the affected businessman.

    The statement added: “Zari has now changed gear by bringing up fresh allegations against the officer. Now, he would have the world believe that he was extorted N4m to be granted bail in an agency that is not known for collecting money to admit suspects on bail.

    “ What makes the allegation more ridiculous is the fact that Madaki is not the officer handling Zari’s investigation. He is not even a member of the team. It, therefore, beats the imagination how an officer that is not involved in a case would be the one demanding money for the bail of a suspect.

    “If Zari is persuaded that he paid bribes to secure bail from the EFCC, he is obliged to take the additional step of stating the time, place and circumstances in which the money was collected from him and by who, together with witnesses to the transaction.”

    The EFCC implicated a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is currently being investigated by Madaki, as one of those behind the smear campaign against the commission.

    It said: “Zari, unfortunately is not acting alone. Intelligence available to the commission indicates that the invidious publications are sponsored and promoted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is currently being investigated by the same officer.

    “The objective is clear, to intimidate Madaki and the EFCC, and prepare the grounds for claims of malice or vindictiveness by the time charges are filed against the suspects in court.”

  • EFCC arraigns oil marketers for alleged diversion, theft of N1.042billion

    An Ikeja high court heard Monday how two oil marketers, David Nwachukwu, Frank Okeke allegedly diverted N1.042billion meant for rentals accrued to a leasing company and haulage services of three companies for personal use.

    Nwachukwu and Okeke are facing a 14 count charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing contrary to section 409 and punishable under 281(1) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State 2011 preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Raliat Adebiyi.

    They were arraigned before the court alongside their companies, Haulage Oil and Gas and Franviok Limited.

    The defendants were also charged for retention of proceeds of criminal conduct contrary to Section 17 (b) of the EFCC (establishment) Act, 2004.

    Read Also:Oil marketers canvass for total deregulation of petroleum downstream sub-sector

    Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, a witness of the commission, Orji Chukwuma told the court that a petition, written by Leasing Company of Nigeria Limited  (now LECON financial Service Limited) over alleged diversion of funds was assigned to his team to investigate.

    He said, “Upon receiving the petition, a lot of investigations were carried out. We investigated staff of Total Plc, LECON, Bank of Industry. We recovered some documents such as internal memo. Some of the people we interrogated made statements. I came across one Bassy Effiong, we interviewed him on the product he sold.

    “We also invited OANDO in the cause of investigation and there was exchange of correspondents. Forte Oil, Eternal Plc also gave us their statement and the agreement between the Eternal Plc with the third defendant”, he added.

    Oyedepo asked the court to admit the documents in evidence.

    The court granted his request and admitted a letter dated March 27, 2015 written by Eternal Plc to the Head of Operation, EFCC and another written by Forte Oil to EFCC among other documents as exhibit p1 to p36.

    Justice Adebiyi subsequently adjourned further hearing till October 2, 2018.

    Nwachukwu,  Okeke and their companies were alleged to have sometimes between November 2011 and September 2014, with dishonest intent converted to their own use a total sum of N1,042,810, 463.54, which formed part of rentals accrued to Leasing Company of Nigeria Limited (now LECON financial Service Limited).

    The money, the anti-graft agency said was for the use of their truck to provide haulage services for Eternal Oil Plc, Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc and also for the use of Mack Trucks in their fleets to provide haulage services for Total Nigeria Plc and Forte Oil Plc.

  • EFCC: How a widow’s petition earned Nyame 28-year jail term

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday revealed that a petition by a widow, Hauwa Kulu Usman, led to the investigation, trial and conviction of a former Governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame.

    Nyame was jailed on May 30 by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, Abuja without an option of fine.

    Justice Adebukola Banjoko convicted the ex-governor on 27 out of the 41 counts filed against him by the EFCC in July 2007.

    Nyame was governor from 1991 to 1993 and 1999 to 2007.

    But the anti-graft agency in its magazine, EFCC Alert, released a fact-sheet on how Nyame became a suspect while probing a petition by the widow.

    The fact-sheet said: “Call it the serendipity of stumbling across a goldmine and you will not be far from the truth. Nyame was in fact, never in the purview of the EFCC, and no one at any time wrote a petition against him.

    “There was no “witch-hunt”. Nyame’s financial crime was unraveled by the EFCC while investigating a petition written by a widow, Hauwa Kulu Usman, against Suleiman Abubakar, younger brother to her late husband, Usman Abubakar, Managing Director of Alusab International Limited.

    “She had taken her cry to the EFCC to help recover money from Suleiman being payment to the company.

    “The Taraba State government had issued a cheque of N135, 794,607 in favour of the company, as contract payment for rehabilitation of the Ibi-Wukari Water Project.

    “But Suleiman collected the cheque and lodged it in a different account domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc, in Jalingo.  Hauwa sought the help of the EFCC to recover the money, accusing Suleiman who took over the company of “squandering” it.

    “He was subsequently invited by the EFCC for questioning; then and there, the bubble burst. During interrogation, Suleiman admitted collecting the cheque, and though argued that he did not squander the money as alleged in the petition, confirmed that it was for the said project, which was ongoing before the death of his brother.

    “He revealed that through Abubakar Tutare, then Commissioner of Finance in the state, the company applied for additional works, which was granted by the state government.

    “According to him, the estimation for the additional works was N35 million, but Tutare instructed him to add N100 million to the estimation. Subsequently, a cheque of N135 million was issued to Suleiman, but along with it, was a complimentary card, with an account number written at the back. Tutare instructed him to pay the N100 million into the account. Suleiman had asked Tutare about VAT payment, to which Tutare told him to deduct 10 per cent as tax and to credit the account at the back of the card belonging to Nyame with  N80 million, and bring N10 million to  him.

    “Suleiman duly paid the cheque into Alusab’s account and acted on the N80million as instructed, as per the complimentary card. He also gave N10 million to Tutare at his residence through his house aide, Husseini Ali.

    “The confession of Suleiman sparked an extensive investigation, which saw the EFCC spreading its dragnet across the State Government House, the Ministry of Finance, and several companies. Tutare, himself was invited for questioning and he confirmed the  testimony of Suleiman, but stressed that he acted on the instruction of Nyame,  and that the N80 million was paid into  the account of Salmon Global Ventures Nigeria Ltd.”

    The EFCC afterwards unraveled a slew of fraudulent financial activities perpetrated in the ministry of finance, with Nyame being the chief actor, including ordering Dennis Nev, then Permanent Secretary, Government House, to raise N101 million for a one-day presidential visit in 2005.”

    The EFCC also explained that although Nyame made spirited moves to defend himself, his defence did not convince the judge.

  • Court grants bail to ex-governor Yero

    The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on Wednesday granted bail to former governor of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero and three others standing trial over alleged money laundering.

    Yero was arraigned alongside a former minister, Nuhu Wya, ex-PDP chairman in the state, Abubakar Gaya-Haruna and former secretary to the state government, Hamza Ishaq.

    They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on a four-count charge bordering on laundering over N700 million in 2015.

    The Newsmen reports that when the case came up on May 30, all the four defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The court had remanded them in prison custody and fixed today to consider their application for bail.

    At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, counsel to the defendants, Yunus Ustaz ( SAN ) asked the court to grant his clients bail, saying they would not interfere in any way to thwart the trial.

    “The defendants were early in 2016 invited by EFCC and at no time were they found wanting when they were granted administrative bail as they did not default.

    Read Also: Court sentences 35-year-old to two years jail term for rape

    “If granted bail, the defendants would not jump bail nor commit any offence and would not tamper with EFCC investigation.’’

    The prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, however opposed the application for bail, saying that the defendants may use their influence to tamper with investigation and prayed the court to remand the defendants.

    The Judge, Justice Mohammed Shua’ibu after listening to the arguments of both sides granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each with two reliable sureties each in like sum.

    He said that the sureties should have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The judge also ordered that the defendants should surrender their International passport to the Registrar of the court.

    The case has been adjourned till Sept. 26, for hearing.

    Meanwhile, one of the lawyers for Yero has said that the former governor would sue the EFCC for releasing his mugshot on the social media.

    NAN

     

  • No plan to freeze Rivers accounts – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed the allegation by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that it is planning to block the state government’s accounts.

    The Head of EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Nnaghe Obono Itam, made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday.

    Governor Wike had during chat with journalists during the 2018 Democracy Day celebration said intelligence report at his disposal revealed that the EFCC was making plans to block the state government’s accounts.

    But Itam dismissed the claim, saying “people alleged several things against government institutions.  What we are saying is that whether it is in the South South or Rivers State, we should imbibe the anti-corruption culture.

    “Yes there is subsisting judgement obtained during the time of Governor Peter Odili that bars either the EFCC or the Federal Government agencies from investigating the finances of Rivers State, except through a complaint from the state House of Assembly.

    “If they are satisfied that their accounts are being properly managed there is no problem. But I am not aware that any EFCC office, whether here or in Abuja is looking for Rivers State government accounts to block. Their accounts are not hidden, they are not spirits, they are known because they run in money deposit banks. It is not secret, nobody wants to block any account, any account that is blocked, the bank will tell me.”

     

  • Branch manager helped Dudafa hide stolen funds, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that a bank branch manager in Yenegoa, the Bayelsa State capital, helped former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to hide stolen funds.

    The commission, through its counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, stated this in its written address in opposition to Dudafa’s no case submission.

    EFCC arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on 23-counts of conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013.

    The prosecution closed its case on March 16, but the defendants opted to make a no-case submission.

    Praying for the dismissal of Dudafa’s no-case submission, Oyedepo urged the court to direct him to open his defence.

    The prosecuting counsel said it was not in doubt that the EFCC had established the essential ingredient of the offence of conspiracy against the defendants considering the testimonies of the seven prosecution witnesses and exhibits tendered.

    Oyedepo said: “My Lord, the evidence on record shows clearly that the first defendant (Dudafa) was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the Senior Special Assistant to the President –Domestic/Household and Social Events between the years 2012-2015.

    “The evidence on record shows that in the course of this service, huge sums of money which are not the first defendant’s salary and allowances were traced to accounts which he procured the second defendant (Nna) to open, maintain and operate in fictitious names.

    “The second defendant, who at the material time was the Branch manager in Yenogoa branch of Heritage Bank, acceded to the request of the first defendant and agreed with him to conceal these funds in the accounts opened in the name of Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd, Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd, Ebiwise Resources, Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Rotato Interlink Services Ltd and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigeria Ltd.”

    Oyedepo argued that the evidence on record established a prima facie case that the funds were received in foreign currencies from Dudafa by Murtala Bashir Abubakar through the state house staff.

    He said Abubakar thereafter converted the currencies to naira and credited the accounts nominated by Dudafa “in grand conspiracy with the second defendant.”

    “It is our humble submission that the defendants’ agreement or the meeting of the minds of the defendants to conceal the funds in the accounts where the second defendant must of necessity assume the identity of other persons is a clear manifestation of the defendants’ conspiracy to carry out an unlawful act to wit: concealing proceeds of unlawful act.

    “We, therefore, urge my lord to hold that the prosecution has made out a case of conspiracy against the defendants as alleged in counts 1,” Oyedepo said.

    EFCC said Dudafa allegedly used his position or office as the SSA to the former president to confer unfair advantage on himself “by enriching himself with huge sums of money which are warehoused and fraudulently concealed in the various accounts managed by the second defendant on behalf of the applicant.”

    Justice Idris will hear the no-case submission application on June 19.

  • Dasuki’s ex-aide, eight others re-arraigned for money laundering

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re-arraigned Col. Nicholas Ashinze, an ex-Special Assistant to former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and eight others on a 13-count charge of money laundering.

    The EFCC accused the defendants of money laundering offences including the alleged transfer of N1, 840,000,000.

    EFCC elected to re-arraign the defendants before another judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri, after the earlier trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, withdrew from the case.

    Also re-arraigned with Ashinze were – the Managing Director of Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Wolfgang Reinl; a lawyer,  Edidiong Idiong; and Lt.-Col. Sagir D. Mohammed (retd).

    The other defendants are companies.

    They include Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organisation, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited.

    In count one, the EFCC accused the defendants of conspiracy to commit money laundering offences contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same law.

    In counts two to seven, EFCC alleged that Ashinze, Reinl and Geonel Integrated Services Limited corruptly transferred N1.84billion to Idiong, Mohammed, Sologic Integrated Services Limited, Vibrant Resource Limited and Helpline Organisation.

    The prosecution claimed the transfer of the funds on April 22, 23, 24 and May 5, 2014 violated the provisions of section 15(2)(b) of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same law.

     

  • Court adjourns Alao-Akala’s fraud trial

    An Oyo State High Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday adjourned the ongoing trial of a former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala and two others for alleged N11.5billion fraud to June 29 and July 3.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to produce witnesses in court during Monday’s sitting.

    In the proceedings which took place at Court 15 and presided over by Justice Muniru Owolabi the court also dismissed the defendants’ application for stay of proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal at the Supreme Court.

    Other defendants in the matter are  former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the state, Senator Hosea Agboola and Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Consults, Mr. Olufemi Ademola Babalola.

    They were arraigned on 11-count charge of conspiracy, awarding contract without budgetary provision, obtaining money by false pretence, acquiring property with money derived from illegal acts and concealing the owner of such property, among others.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

  • Bank manager helped Dudafa to hide stolen funds – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged on Monday that a bank manager in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, helped the former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to hide stolen funds.

    The Commission, through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, stated this in a written address in opposition to Dudafa’s no case submission.

    EFCC arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on 23-count charge of conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013.

    The prosecution closed its case on March 16, but the defendants opted to make a no-case submission.

    Praying for the dismissal of Dudafa’s no-case submission, Oyedepo urged the court to direct him to open his defence.

    The prosecuting counsel said it was not in doubt that the EFCC had established the essential ingredient of the offence of conspiracy against the defendants considering the testimonies of the seven prosecution witnesses and exhibits tendered.

    Oyedepo said: “My Lord, the evidence on record shows clearly that the first defendant (Dudafa) was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the Senior Special Assistant to the President –Domestic/Household and Social Events between the years 2012-2015.

    “The evidence on record shows that in the course of this service, huge sums of money which are not the first defendant’s salary and allowances were traced to accounts which he procured the second defendant (Nna) to open, maintain and operate in fictitious names.

    “The second defendant, who at the material time was the Branch manager in Yenagoa branch of Heritage Bank, acceded to the request of the first defendant and agreed with him to conceal these funds in the accounts opened in the name of Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, Ebiwise Resources, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Rotato Interlink Services Limited and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigeria Limited.”

    Oyedepo argued that the evidence on record established a prima facie case that the funds were received in foreign currencies from Dudafa by Murtala Bashir Abubakar through the State House staff.

    He said Abubakar thereafter converted the currencies to naira and credited the accounts nominated by Dudafa “in grand conspiracy with the second defendant.”