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Tag: EFCC

  • Group uncovers attempt by indicted directors to scuttle EFCC investigation on NEMA

    An anti corruption group, the New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NiCReL) has raised the alarm over plots by some indicted directors of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to scuttle the ongoing investigation by the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Addressing journalists in Abuja, Executive Director of NICReL, Patriot Gabriel Apeh said there is already a distortion of the facts and context such that the entire investigation exercise could be truncated.

    He said, “We have, in the course of monitoring development around this saga, discovered that the investigation is already on the way to being jeopardized unless urgent steps are taken to get the perspective right.”

    He therefore said the ongoing probe must therefore end in indicted persons being charged to court and convictions secured to act as deterrence for others who think it is okay to steal from the needy.

    According to him, the Chairman of the NEMA Board, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo must not cave in to the blackmail by the ex-NEMA DG and the directors that have been indicted for fraudulently skimming off money belonging to Nigeria.

    Apeh said attempting to rope in the incumbent Director General, Mustapha Maihaja, is aimed at roping in Professor Osinbajo, as Chairman of the Board, in the belief that he would call off the probe.

    He said,  “This plot, being executed by staff loyal to the indicted directors, was written as a petition to the various statutory bodies which investigated the activities of the Maihaja led executive of NEMA as Director General. These were all thoroughly investigated by the Board of NEMA and those indicted have been recommended to the EFCC as can be seen by the ongoing trial that many of these agents want to scuttle overnight.

    “The over 700 vouchers, contract documents attached to their various petitions in an attempt to hit back at the Director General, Mustapha Maihaja for failing to cover their track  is a clear indication that those behind it have unfettered access. Our finding is that the documents were questionably sourced over weekends and public holidays when the perpetrators used master keys to gain access to documents that were under the custody of other staff. The desperation to cast aspersion on the anti-corruption war is really high on their part.

    “At a later date, Vice President Osinbajo, as the Chairman of the NEMA Board, should order a separate information into launching  a separate probe into how these indicted persons unlawfully breached the internal security of the agency to steal documents.”

    He said the group is also aware that the Ex-DG, Mohammed Sani-Sidi, who is at the middle of the entire saga has activated his contacts in the National Assembly to pervert a probe by the House of Representatives that should shed light on what truly happened at NEMA.

    He said this is inspite of the fact that the House probe became derailed when the indicted directors and ex-NEMA DG started contacting the House of Representatives Members on the panel.

    He said, “We are further at a loss as to why the House of Representatives did not allow the EFCC, as a statutory agency, to complete its investigations before usurping its powers.  No Nigerian is in doubt as to the extent to which our members of parliament can behave and blackmail anyone that fails to play ball as usual. It is worrisome and remains a disgrace to our Democracy.

    “We demand that the House of Representatives allow the EFCC to investigate the matter without undue interference since that is the agency that can prosecute those indicted. It will be against national interest to reduce this grievous theft of national funds into an issue for political investigation that will not go anywhere.”

  • Alleged N2.5bn fraud: EFCC invites 13 more top officers of NEMA

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited 13 more top officers of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for questioning over alleged N2.5billion scandal in the agency.

    The development has made the list of those implicated in the fraud to 20 because the anti-graft commission  had earlier quizzed a former Director-General and six serving directors of the agency.

    The Board of the NEMA, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had suspended the six directors based on an interim report from the EFCC.

    It was, however, learnt that some of those fingered in the looting of the NEMA accounted for the ongoing ‘war’ against the current DG of the NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja.

    The same forces were said to have complained to an Ad Hoc Committee of the House which led to the invitation of the Vice President, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and some government officials.

    But the EFCC was continuing with a comprehensive investigation of the scandal in the NEMA.

    A fact-sheet obtained by our correspondent yesterday showed that the 13 officers invited are Deputy Director( Finance);  Assistant Director( Finance); PEO; ACT 1; SEO ACT1; CA; ACT; ACA; SA; another ACT and three others whose ranks were unspecified.

    Although the list of the officers was obtained by our correspondent, it was not yet made public by the EFCC because it was waiting for the officers to comply with the invitation from the agency.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are expecting the 13 officers to appear on or before Monday. But if they do not come, we may effect their arrest accordingly.

    “They were summoned by this agency as part of the ongoing probe of large scale financial impropriety in the NEMA.

    “We had earlier interrogated some directors who made references to the roles played by these 13 officers.”

    As at press time, findings confirmed that some of the suspended directors might be arraigned in court soon by the EFCC.

    Another source added: “We have released our findings on these officers to the Presidency and there are prima facie evidence against them to be put on trial. So, very soon, they may be arraigned in court.

    “The EFCC specifically recommended their suspension in order to have more access to some documents and unravel fresh evidence of fraud.

    According to the EFCC, the  investigation bordered on “alleged case of conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation and diversion of public funds reported to the Office of the Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria against the former Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Sidi Sani, and others and forwarded to the commission for discreet investigation.”

    Some of the alleged sharp practices uncovered by the EFCC are:

    •   Whereabouts of N166m out of N285m realized from the commercialization of NEMA’s air ambulance;
    •   Alleged short-change of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with N354, 900, 105. 24
    •   N238million NEMA cash placed in Fixed Deposit  by a director
    •   Interest on Fixed Deposit diverted single-handedly by a director
    •   Some directors have about 5 to 20 accounts
    •   NEMA funds moved into personal accounts of directors
    •   Frivolous emoluments claims that were wrongly processed by Directors and some officials of the agency.
    •   About N66m out of N280m meant for displaced traditional rulers in the North-East still unaccounted for
    •   Curious deposit of suspicious funds into domiciliary accounts of top directors

     

    The report said in part: “From the investigation carried out so far, officials could not account for funds transferred from the NEMA account to their personal accounts.

    “Moreover, the funds were being withdrawn in cash and in some cases transferred to family members. Also, it was discovered that some of these funds were placed in fixed deposit; while both the principal and interest were withdrawn in cash by the depositor.

    “Furthermore, the issue of companies incorporated by the officials of the NEMA who are public servants is against the Public Service Rules. This is more so as the companies are active and still receiving funds in some cases from the NEMA.

    “There were frivolous emolument claims that were wrongly processed by directors and some officials of the agency.”

    As at press time, there were indications that some of those fingered in the looting of NEMA accounted for the ongoing ‘war’ against the current DG of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja.

    The same forces were said to have complained to an Ad Hoc Committee of the House which led to the invitation of the Vice President, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and some government officials.

    A presidency  source said: “The findings on the affected officers  will be made available to the House. The Board of NEMA has the statutory right to hire and fire. But in this case, they were suspended pending the conclusion of ongoing investigation by EFCC.

    “As you can see, more officers have cases to answer and they have been invited. There is no  going back in cleaning up the Augean Stable in NEMA.

    “When this government came into power, it inherited so much rot in NEMA and it was in the process of cleaning up the system that the massive fraud was uncovered.

    “But since corruption will always fight back, some of them had taken their battle to the House Ad Hoc Committee. The House will be given the facts and figures so that we can all be on the same page.”

  • EFCC loses bid to seize Patience Jonathan’s $8.4m, N9.1bn

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out an ex-parte application filed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking temporary forfeiture of $8,435,788.84 and N7.35billion allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun held the application was an abuse of court process.

    According to her, the EFCC did not show enough evidence that the issue was not the subject of litigation before another court.

    Justice Olatoregun said a similar case on one of the properties in issue was pending before justice Binta Nyako of the court’s Abuja division.

    The judge told the EFCC to desist from filing different suits on the same subject-matter as in the instant case.

    She said forum shopping in litigation must be discouraged and asked the EFCC to do the needful.

    Mrs Jonathan and others, through their counsel Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had urged the court to dismiss EFCC’s application for being an abuse of court process.

    In a supporting affidavit, a lawyer Ozekhome’s chambers Mr Chimaobi Onuigbo said EFCC knew that its application had been challenged in Abuja, yet it filed the one in Lagos.

    Mrs Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services, Finchley Top Homes Ltd, AM PM Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Nig. Ltd, Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba are the respondents.

    Onuigbo said their accounts had been frozen for over a year although they had not been charged with any offence by the EFCC or convicted by any court.

    “I know that the applicant will never disclose these gross abuses of the judicial process of this court to this honourable court as this same matter is pending before four different courts of concurrent jurisdiction,” the deponent said.

    EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo had claimed that all the monies EFCC sought to be forfeited were not subject of litigation in any court.

    “The application we filed in Lagos is for forfeiture and it is not pending before any court other in Nigeria,” he said.

    EFCC said the funds, which it believes were diverted from Bayelsa State, were found in 15 bank accounts linked to the Mrs. Jonathan.

    According to the commission, the funds were allegedly moved from Bayelsa State’s coffers when Mrs. Jonathan served as permanent secretary.

    The Commission alleged that she gained access to the funds by fraudulently assuming the identity of one Esther Oba as the signatory to the accounts.

    Justice Olatoregun dismissed EFCC’s arguments that the case was not abusive and struck out the application.

  • EFCC asks Supreme Court to reverse Justice Nganjiwa’s acquittal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Supreme Court to reverse the acquittal of Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court on corruption charges.

    EFCC made the request in its brief of argument on Friday.

    Justice Nganjiwa was arraigned before the Lagos High Court on charges of corruption and abuse of office.

    He challenged his trial, arguing that as a judicial officer, it was wrong for him to be taken before a regular court without the National Judicial Council (NJC) first determining the case against him.

    Although he lost at the trial court, the Court of Appeal, Lagos, in its judgment on December 13, 2017, upheld his argument, a decision the EFCC appealed to the Supreme Court.

    Wahab Shittu, who filed the brief for the EFCC, urged the apex court to “forcefully apply the law” even when the interest of a member of the judiciary was involved.

    Shittu argued that the judgment of the Court of Appeal was not based on law.

    He said: “Respectfully, the apex court owes a sacred duty and responsibility to forcefully apply the law even when as in this case, the interest of a member of the judiciary is involved.

    “We are optimistic that the Supreme Court appreciates that the law operates on a scale of even balance without discrimination, without favour, not minding whose ox is gored because the Supreme Court is a court of law, a court of justice and a court of highest precedent in our judicial hierarchy.”

    He therefore urged the apex court to apply the law without discrimination or favour even when a judge is involved.

     

  • Court stops Adoke’s prosecution over Malabu deal

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has held that the involvement of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, in the OPL 245 transactions, commonly referred to as the Malabu Oil deals was in furtherance of the execution of “lawful directives” of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a five- count charge of money laundering against the ex-minister before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The Commission claimed Adoke was directly involved in the Malabu deal in which Nigeria lost $1.8billion.

    But, in a judgment on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako held that the ex-minister acted on the lawful directives of Jonathan in the exercise of his executive powers as provided in the Constitution.

    Justice Nyako said based on her finding that Adoke acted on the ex-President’s directives, he could not be held personally liable for all he did in respect of the matter.

    The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/94/446/2017 filed by Adoke, with the AGF as sole defendant.

    The judge resolved all the issues raised in favour of the plaintiff and dismissed the preliminary objection raised against the suit by the defendant.

     

  • Court dismisses EFCC’s bid to seize Patience Jonathan’s N7.35bn

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday dismissed an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to seize monies in 15 bank accounts linked to former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

    The EFCC had moved to seize $8,435,788.84 and N7.35billion linked to the ex-first lady.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun dismissed the ex parte application filed by the anti-graft agency for the seizure of the funds, saying the funds were already subject of litigation before two other judges.

    Details later…

  • EFCC arrests Obasuyi for N11.4b ‘fraud’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested Managing Director Platinum Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited   Michael Osasogie Obasuyi, for alleged offences bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime and money laundering  of N 11, 498,944,038.29.

    The Commission said it had so far recovered the sums of N2, 903,727,563.92, $37, 992.87 and €18,538.09 found in Obasuyi’s bank accounts.

    Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect had confessed to the alleged fraud.

    The statement said: “Obasuyi, who is also the Managing Director of Smartmicro Systems Limited, had written a petition in March 2018 to the commission against a company, a mobile and electronic payment provider.

    “However, in what may be described as a dramatic twist, the company had also written a counter-petition against Smartmicro and Obasuyi, thereby leading the commission to begin investigations into the activities of Obasuyi.

    “Smartmicro was alleged to have approached the company in 2012 for the deployment of bulk purchase solution called “Corporatepay” to facilitate payment of salaries of Delta State employees in microfinance banks.

    “It was also alleged that the company configured an additional outbound fund transfer solution called “Fundgate” in 2017, which required Smartmicro to maintain a pre-funded settlement account with a first generation bank for settlement of account it had initiated.

    “However, the company further alleged that the bank, sometime in March 2018, revealed that the settlement account was in debit of N11, 498,944,038.29.”

    The EFCC said N2, 903,727,563.92, $37, 992.87 and €18,538.09 found in Obasuyi’s accounts in various banks in the country had been seized.

    The statement added: “Obasuyi, in his statement to the commission, confessed to have committed the crime, stating that he created fraudulent and imaginary monies through the aid of Fundgate financial application from the company.

    “The Commission, in the course of investigation, has recovered a paper version of the programme called MicroSwitchServer1, which he allegedly used to create and post the imaginary monies.

    “He will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

     

     

  • EFCC docks ex-Taraba, others for N 267m election bribe

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe zonal office, on Thursday arraigned a former Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Mark Bako Useni, and two others before Justice Filibus Bitrus Andetur of the Taraba State High Court, Jalingo over alleged N267.49m poll bribe.

    The other accused persons are – Hassan A. Abubakar and John Danjuma Ali, who were Head of Administration and retired staff respectively of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Taraba State.

    The suspects are facing a four-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to procure benefit for public officers and corrupt receipt of monetary benefits.

    A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said: “Mark allegedly received the sum of N45million for himself and Arc. Darius Ishaku the then PDP gubernatorial candidate in the state, while John and Hassan received N267.46million from the $115milion from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.  Diezani Alison-Madueke, as bribe to influence officers working with INEC in Taraba State.

    “The count one of the charge reads: ” Mark Bako Useni, being the former speaker and member of Taraba State House of Assembly, Hassan A. Abubakar, the Head of Administration at Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC), and John Danjuma Ali , a retired Public Servant at Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC), sometimes between March and May, 2015 in Jalingo, within the Jurisdiction of  Jalingo Judicial Division of the High Court of Taraba State in such different capacities did engage yourselves in criminal conspiracy to corrupt Public Officers to wit; Independent National Electoral Commission  ( INEC) staff contrary to Section 9 (1) (a) and Punishable under Section 9 (1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000″.

    “All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge

    “In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, asked for a date to commence trial.

    “While adjourning the case to 26, 27 and 28 June, 2018 Justice Filibus granted bail to all the accused persons. The decision of the judge was hinged on the fact that the EFCC had granted them administrative bail during investigation.”

  • EFCC arrests Platinum Cooperative chief Obasuyi for N11.4b fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal office, has arrested the Managing Director of Platinum Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited,  Michael Osasogie Obasuyi, for alleged cybercrime and money laundering.

    Obasuyi was accused of laundering N 11, 498,944,038.29.

    The Commission said it has so far recovered N2, 903,727,563.92, $37, 992.87 and €18,538.09 found in Obasuyi’s accounts in various banks in the country.

    A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect had confessed to the alleged fraud.

    The statement said: “Obasuyi, who is also the Managing Director of Smartmicro Systems Limited, had written a petition in March 2018 to the Commission against a company, a mobile and electronic payment provider.

    “However, in what may be described as a dramatic twist, the company had also written a counter-petition against Smartmicro and Obasuyi, thereby leading the Commission to begin investigations into the activities of Obasuyi.

    “Smartmicro was alleged to have approached the company in 2012 for the deployment of bulk purchase solution called ‘Corporatepay’ to facilitate payment of salaries of Delta State employees in microfinance banks.

    “It was also alleged that the company configured an additional outbound fund transfer solution called ‘Fundgate’ in 2017, which required Smartmicro to maintain a pre-funded settlement account with a first generation bank for settlement of account it had initiated.

    “However, the company further alleged that the bank, sometimes in March 2018, revealed that the settlement account was in debit of N11, 498,944,038.29.”

    The EFCC said N2, 903,727,563.92, $37, 992.87 and €18,538.09 found in Obasuyi’s accounts in various banks in the country had been seized.

    The statement added: “Obasuyi, in his statement to the Commission, confessed to have committed the crime, stating that he created fraudulent and imaginary monies through the aid of Fundgate financial application from the company.

    “The Commission, in the course of investigation, has recovered a paper version of the programme called MicroSwitchServer1, which he allegedly used to create and post the imaginary monies.

    “He also admitted to have diverted to his personal use the sum of N7, 519, 381, 202 out of the total sum of N11, 498,944,038.29.

    “The Commission has so far recovered the sums of N2, 903,727,563.92, $37, 992.87 and €18,538.09 found in Obasuyi’s accounts in various banks in the country.

    “Also, a total of 20 properties located in various parts of Edo, Rivers and Lagos States and Abuja, worth several millions of Naira, have been traced to Obasuyi, which were acquired with proceeds of crime.

    “Obasuyi, who also admitted to have purchased 134 buses from the proceeds of crime, runs the popular Platinum Cruise Transport Company.

    “He will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

  • Navy hands over impounded vessel to EFCC in Bayelsa

    The Nigerian Navy, ”Forward Operation Base” (FOB) in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Wednesday, handed over impounded Barge Podium of vessel to the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ).

    The FOB Commanding Officer, Navy Capt. Adamu Yahaya, who handed over the vessel to EFCC in Formoso, Egwuama of Brass area of the state, said the vessel was laden with unspecified quantities of products, suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO).

    Yahaya also said the vessel was seized in May 2017 at a creek in Alaki area of Rivers, adding that the suspects on board fled when they sighted the Navy gunboat.

    He said the handing over of the vessel to the commission was in compliance with the naval headquarters’ directives.

    “The Nigerian Navy has been given the mandate to apprehend any ship suspected to be carrying out illegalities in the Nigerian maritime domain, however, by law, we are not allowed to carry out prosecution of offenders.

    Read Also: Court restrains EFCC, others from arresting lottery operators

    “We are directed to handover seized vessels to the EFCC for further investigations and possible prosecution,” he said.

    Mr Abdullahi Musa, a Senior Detective Superintendent and leader of the EFCC team from Port Harcourt Zonal office received the vessel and promised that EFCC would carry out thorough investigation into the matter.

    “We will carry out thorough investigation with a view to determining the level of involvement, content of the vessel and prosecution of those involved.”

    The News men reports that officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) took samples of the content of the vessels for further laboratory analysis.

    NAN