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Tag: EFCC

  • No-case submission: Metuh knows fate April 23

    No-case submission: Metuh knows fate April 23

    An FCT High Court, Maitama, on Wednesday fixed April 23 for ruling on the no-case submission filed by Olisa Metuh, a former PDP spokesman, accused of alleged destruction of evidence.

    Metuh was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ), on a two-count charge bordering on alleged destruction of evidence.
    The case which was before Justice Ishaq Bello, was adjourned until April 23, with consent of counsel as the court did not sit.

    The case was earlier adjourned until March 7, for ruling on Metuh’s no- case submission.

    Metuh’s counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), had on Oct. 10, 2017, told the court that they would enter a no-case submission at the close of the prosecution’s case.

    Arguing the no-case submission, Ikpeazu had told the court that the prosecution had not established any case to warrant the defendant to be called to enter his defence.

    He said that the application was in pursuant to the provisions of Sections 302 and 357 of ACJA.

    He added that the defendant had a constitutional liberty and could not be prosecuted where he either refused to make a statement or withdraw any part of his writing in the course of making a statement.

    He said that the defendant had a right to cancel any part of his statement voluntarily.

    Read Also: Metuh has case to answer – Supreme Court

    He reminded the court that the charge by EFCC was that Metuh destroyed his statement and obstruct the EFCC officials by willfully tearing his statement.

    Ikpeazu added that a piece of paper not signed did not qualify as a statement by the defendant, and urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendant.

    The prosecuting counsel Mr Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court to establish whether or not a prima facie case had been made against the defendant

    He added that cancellation was different from tearing which was obstruction, and urged the court to call upon the defendant to enter his defence.

  • N3.2bn fraud: 2 witnesses testify in Kalu’s trial

    N3.2bn fraud: 2 witnesses testify in Kalu’s trial

    A prosecution witness on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos in the ongoing trial of former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, for a N3.2 billion fraud, that a search report had linked Slok Nigeria Ltd to Kalu as the owner.

    Mr Oladipo Ayoola, an EFCC witness, told the court that he was a compliance officer in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Oct. 31, 2016 preferred a 34-count charge against Kalu, his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogu and Kalu’s company —  Slok Nigeria Ltd.

    All the accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The witness told the court that the EFCC requested some documents from the bank which the bank produced.

    EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), tendered the account statements of Neya Nigeria Ltd, Zerok Construction Nigeria Ltd and Slok Nigeria Ltd in evidence.

    Jacobs asked the witness if he knew the persons that conducted the transactions and the witness responded in the negative.

    Jacobs: Look at Exhibit P 33, the search report done on the third defendant (Slok) on July 25, 2001. Who is the major shareholder?

    Witness: Orji Uzor Kalu is.

    Counsel to the first defendant (Kalu), Mr Gordy Uche (SAN),cross-examined the witness, who told the court that he had been working with GTB since 2004.

    He said he did not make the entries in the statements of accounts or open the account as the account officer.

    When asked if he knew that the companies were sister companies, he replied: I got to know about that during my conciliation of the accounts.

    The commission had earlier called its second witness, Mr Olusegun Adesomoju, and while being led in examination-in-chief, told the court that he was a compliance officer in First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

    The prosecution tendered the statement and certificate of identification of the third defendant’s (SLOK) account in FCMB.

    The court had adjourned until today to enable the defendants go through the tendered exhibits and commence their cross-examination.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court at 1.02 p.m., the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution witness was still on his way to the court.

    Jacobs asked the court for a 15-minute “stand down” to enable the witness get to the court.

    The court rose and resumed sitting about 1:45 p.m. with the witness arriving and mounting the witness box.

    Counsel for the first defendant, Mr Gordy Uche (SAN) commenced cross-examination of the witness and asked if he had ever worked for First Inland bank to which responded “No sir”.

    The witness told the court that other than the narrations of the third defendant’s statement of account, he knew nothing about the account.

    Adesomoju further said that he was not the account officer of the account and that he merely read out what he saw in the documents.

    When asked if he made any statement to the EFCC in relation to the matter, the witness responded in the negative.

    Uche asked: ”Go through the statement, from the first page to the last, can you see the name Orji Uzor Kalu, on any of the entries? ”

    Witness: No sir

    Counsel for the second defendant, Mr Joseph Ochu, in his cross-examination asked the witness: Tell the court if you saw the name of the second defendant, Mr Ude Udeogu in any of the entries?

    Witness: It is not there.

    Mr Kingsley Nwofo (SAN), counsel to the third defendant also began his cross-examination and asked: “From the exhibit, is there any credit entry from you state government?”

    Witness :No there isn’t.

    Nwofo: Did you see the printer that printed this exhibit while it was printing?

    Witness: It was printed from my computer in the office this year.

    Nwofo: What date is written on the document?

    Witness: Feb 10, 2006.

    Nwofo: Do you realize this document has been front loaded to this court since 2007?

    Witness: They were stored electronically but printed this year, even if you print it out tomorrow, it would still have the same date.

    Nwofo: Do you see from the entries in the statement that the account was an active and trading account?

    Witness : Yes sir, within that period.

    During re-examination by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi, the witness told the court: I was not the one that entered the records or processed the transactions.

    Justice Idris adjourned the case until March 7 for continuation of trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial which started at about 1.45 p.m. ended at 4.15 p.m.

    Orji Uzor Kalu was alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland bank, now FCMB, the sum of N200 million.

    The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

    Slok Nigeria Ltd and a man, Emeka Abone, who is still at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account the sum of N200 million on behalf of the first accused (Kalu).

    They allegedly used Many Bank, (now Fidelity Bank Plc), Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Fin Land Bank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

    The accused were alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts which funds were said to belong to the Abia Government.

    Cumulatively, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N3.2 billion from the state government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

    The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibitions) Act, 2005.

    The offences also violated the Money Laundering Act of 1995 (as amended) Act No.9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code, Law of the Federation, 1990.(NAN)

  • Senate, Reps agree to move NFIU to CBN

    Senate, Reps agree to move NFIU to CBN

    The Senate and House of Representative conference committee have agreed to domicile the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it was learnt Tuesday.

    This is coming as the Senate has scheduled today (Wednesday) consider and adopt the report of the Conference Committee on NFIU Bill.

    The NFIU is currently domiciled in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.)

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi submitted the conference committee’s report to the Senate yesterday.

    The Bill seeks to grant financial and operational autonomy to the NFIU, which is currently domiciled in the EFCC.

    Findings showed that the conference committee adopted the recommendation of the Senate, which removed the NFIU from the anti-graft agency and domiciled it in the CBN.

    The House position which was jettisoned by the conference was that the NFIU should continue to be domiciled in EFCC.

    The Egmont group, a global network of 154 Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), had suspended Nigeria at its last general meeting in July 2017.

    The FIU threatened to expel the country if the Unit was not given autonomy by its next meeting holding on March 11, 2018.

    If expelled, the country will suffer a blacklist in the global finance sector and Nigerian Banks will be unable to issue Mastercard and Visa credit/debit cards while card transactions with Nigerian originated cards will be blocked. This means Nigerians will be unable to carry out foreign transactions.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said that the Bill will be considered today.

    Ekweremadu commended Utazi and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Kayode Oladele, for putting aside their differences and presenting a harmonised report.

    He said that the Bill will be passed and signed into law before the group’s meeting this weekend.

    Only last week, Utazi accused his counterpart in the House of attempting to derail the process of having a legal framework that would guarantee independence of the NFIU.

    Oladele fired back and insisted that Utazi was behind the delay in the passing of the Bill.

    A meeting between Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, mandated the two lawmakers to meet and conclude work on the conference report.

    The joint committee met on Monday, where the two versions of the report were harmonised.

    Read Also: Senate, Reps bicker over NFIU bill

  • Obstruction of justice: Court dismisses Tarfa’s no-case submission

    Obstruction of justice: Court dismisses Tarfa’s no-case submission

    The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday dismissed a no-case submission filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, during his trial for obstruction and perverting the course of justice.

    Tarfa had informed the court that he had no case to answer  when he was about to open his defence during proceedings.

    Justice Aishat Opesanwo, said in a ruling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established a prima facie case against Tarfa and he should proceed with his defence.

    The judge also did not award the lawyer N150 million in exemplary damages for “malicious prosecution” which he had demanded from the anti-graft agency.

    She said: “I have taken consideration of Section 38(2) of the EFCC Act and Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011, the oral and documentary evidence given by the prosecution.

    “I am satisfied that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the defendant.

    “I invite the defendant to proceed with his defence of the three-count charge contained in the information herein.”

    Tarfa is arraigned for obstruction of justice and perverting the course of justice by the EFCC.

    The Commission alleged that Tarfa willfully obstructed two of its officers — Moses Awolusi and Sanusi Mohammed — from arresting his clients within the premises of Lagos High Court in Igbosere.

    Tarfa’s clients – Gnanhoue Sourou and Nazaire Odeste – were alleged by the EFFC to have committed some financial crimes.

    The EFCC also alleged that Tarfa engaged in alleged illegal and secret communication with Justice Mohammed Yunusa, a Federal High Court judge, who presided over the case.

    NAN

     

  • EFCC re-arraigns Alao-Akala, two others for alleged N11.5b fraud

    EFCC re-arraigns Alao-Akala, two others for alleged N11.5b fraud

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and two others in the State High Court sitting in Ibadan over alleged N11.5 billion fraud.

    Other defendants are: a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Senator Hosea Agboola and an Ibadan-based businessman, Femi Babalola.

    The defendants are facing an 11-count charge of conspiracy, awarding contract without budgetary provision, obtaining by false pretence, acquiring property with money derived from illegal act and concealing the ownership of such property, among others.

    EFCC’s counsel Dr. B. Ubi told the court that when Alao-Akala was the governor, he awarded a road contract worth N8.5 billion between 2007 and 2009 to Pentagon Engineering Services.

    Ubi alleged, among others,  that the firm owned by Babalola handled the contract on behalf of the 33 local governments without budgetary provision.

    The counsel added that Alao-Akala ordered the supply of drilling machines on behalf of the 33 local governments for N3.5 billion.

    The prosecutor told the court that Alao-Akala also illegally acquired some property on Old Bodija Road, off Rotimi Williams Road, when he was the governor. He said the offences contravened Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and Section 1 (18) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act.

    The defendants  pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Hakeem Afolabi, SAN, who is a counsel to Alao-Akala and Babalola, prayed the court to exercise its discretion in granting bail to the defendants.

    Afolabi said the charge before the court was not a fresh one but a re-arraignment. He said the matter was first filed on October 11, 2011, before Justice Moshood Abas and bail was granted after the defendants met the conditions.

    The defendants had also appeared before Justice Akintunde Boade and Justice Bayo Taiwo, who was recently transferred out of Ibadan Division.

    Afolabi urged the court to allow the defendants to enjoy the earlier bail condition granted to the defendants.

    Mr. Richard Ogunwole, SAN, who is counsel to Ayoola, aligned with the submission of Alao-Akala’s counsel.

    The EFCC counsel said he would not oppose the bail applications.

    Justice Muniru Owolabi granted the defendants’ prayers and adjourned the case till April 16 for trial.

     

  • EFCC secures order to arrest House Minority Leader Ogor over constituency projects

    EFCC secures order to arrest House Minority Leader Ogor over constituency projects

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a warrant from a court to arrest the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, over alleged 20 constituency projects, which were tagged as “suspiciously unexecuted”.

    The anti-graft agency may effect the arrest of the Minority Leader any moment from now, following alleged failure to appear for interrogation.

    The projects, said to be worth over N500 million, were allegedly awarded to companies linked to Ogor.

    But the EFCC was yet to lift the freezing order on the N116 million in the accounts of five out of six companies owned by Ogor being allegedly used to secure contracts from some agencies as constituency projects.

    The issues against Ogor include over N318 million to two of the companies  by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); 20 suspected but unexecuted projects in the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons; and implication in a petition against House leadership by the suspended Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation,  Abdulmumin Jibrin, on alleged padding of 2016 budget and insertion of bogus constituency projects.

    According to findings, EFCC has obtained a warrant of arrest against Ogor after his alleged refusal to honour invitations for interrogation.

    A source said: “We will execute the court order any moment from now because we have given him enough time to respond to our invitations.

    “Instead of appearing before our team, Ogor has been given excuses. He has also written the EFCC that he will only be available in December this year. With this development, we may effect his arrest anytime from now. Our operatives will soon be on his trail.

    “We have conducted preliminary investigation but we need Ogor to respond to our findings. Our detectives discovered most of the constituency projects facilitated by Ogor were awarded to six companies in which he has been the sole signatory to their accounts.

    “The companies are Laurelton Global Services Limited; Zanny Concern Limited; Racen Integrated Global Nigeria Limited; Simplified Concept Limited; Fergio Ventures Nigeria Limited and Peanard Nigeria Limited.

    “Out of the six companies, EFCC confirmed that Ogor is still a serving director in Simplified Concept Limited and Laurelton.

    “We have not lifted the freezing order on the N116 million in some accounts traced to him. We obtained the order in May 2017 and he has not been forthcoming.

    “The cash has been in the accounts of these companies: Laurelton Global Services Limited (N101, 149, 293.96); Racen Integrated Global Nigeria Limited (N5,088,293.50); Peanard (N2,370,901.44); Zanny Concern Limited (N8,374,173.28) and Simplified Concept Limited (N7, 000).”

    Asked to respond to alleged ill-health of Ogor, the source said: “No medical report is at our disposal from him. In fact, intelligence report confirmed that he is well.”

    The projects in refugees’ commission include supply of three buses; another three Toyota 18-seater buses; 68 tricycles, 220 generators; 220 motorcycles and others.

    The projects  in UBEC and the companies are: Zanny (19/11/2014) – one block of three classrooms at Eru Primary School, Igbide at  N9,180,835.45;  Laurelton (19/11/2014) one block of three classrooms at Ivori Primary School, Isoko at N9,887,778;  Racen (19/11/2014) construction of three classrooms at Egburie Primary School, Ozoro; and construction of six classrooms on January 21, 2016  at Olordo Primary School, Ozoro at N9,300,000.

    The others are Laurelton (23/11/ 2015): supply of customised library equipment to selected schools in Isoko North LGA at N16,050,000; supply of instructional materials in Isoko North /South Federal Constituency (N14, 650,000);  supply of customised equipment to selected schools in Isoko Federal Constituency (N15,950,000); award of N9,200,928,90 to Simplified Concept in January 2016 for the rehabilitation of six  classrooms at Egware Primary School, Orozo and  Racen:  Construction of 6 classrooms, toilets and furniture at Itebighe Primary School(21/1/ 2016) at N12, 988.099.23.

     

     

  • N36m swallowing Snake: EFCC grills prime suspects from JAMB, nabs three others

    N36m swallowing Snake: EFCC grills prime suspects from JAMB, nabs three others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the quizzing of a Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) official, Philomina Chieshe, who claimed that N36 million realised from the sale of scratch cards was swallowed by a snake.

    She was grilled alongside her coordinator in JAMB’s Makurdi office, Mr. Samuel Sale Umoru.

    But the woman suspect was said to have recanted, saying Umoru actually collected the N36million from her.

    Also, the commission has grilled the JAMB clerk in Nasarawa State, Tanko Labaran, who could not account for N23 million scratch cards and Yakubu Jakada, who is yet to explain the whereabouts of N20 million e-facilities cards sold in the Kano office.

    Another officer from the Gombe office was grilled for failure to account for N20 million cards.

    The details are contained in a fact-sheet compiled against the backdrop of agitations on what EFCC has done to the suspects.

    Chieshe has been a guest of the EFCC since last year when an investigation was launched into the massive fraud in JAMB which preceded the incumbent Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

    The fact-sheet indicated that Chieshe was first quizzed on February 16, 2017 and she made additional statements on April 7 and 13 2017, May 30, 2017 and June 28, 2017.

    But, following a video clip showing where she said the N36 million was swallowed by a snake, Chieshe was being subjected to follow up investigation by EFCC detectives.

    The document said: “Philomina Chieshe, the lady in the eye of the Naira eating snake storm in JAMB, has been singing before the EFCC. And, contrary to her claim before the leadership of the examination body that the N36 million proceed from sale of scratch cards were eaten up by a snake, Chieshe told operatives of the anti- graft agency that the money was collected piecemeal from her by her coordinator, Mr. Samuel Sale Umoru.

    “In one of the statements she volunteered to the EFCC, Chieshe, who is a clerk in the Makurdi office of JAMB, revealed that the Coordinator usually asked her to withdraw proceeds of the sale of the Scratch Cards from her account in two new generation banks.

    “This money I withdrew, the coordinator used it for the office and some time for himself.

    “She claimed that she had been warning Umoru that it was improper to use the money for miscellaneous expenses in the office or for private purposes but he would not listen.

    “She also claimed that Umoru was in the habit of drawing IOU from the proceeds of the sale of the cards without reimbursing her.

    “Some of the withdrawals which she claimed were at the behest of the coordinator included the N340,000 withdrawn on May 5 and 26, 2014 with ATM card. She also disclosed that she used her ATM card to withdraw N120,000 for the coordinator between June 17 and 18, 2014.”

    The document quoted her as saying: “He instructed me to withdraw N640,000, using my card between June 30, 2014 and July 7, 201.”

    An EFCC source confirmed that “the investigating team had verified the withdrawals after a careful analysis of the statements of account of the suspect. Mr. Umoru had also been arrested and questioned about claims by Chieshe.

    ”Umoru did not deny the allegations. He was however released on administrative bail but had been reporting monthly to the anti- graft agency.

    “The interesting aspect of the disclosure is that Chieshe’s statement was obtained long before the snake and Naira swallowing testimony became public knowledge.  In all her statements before the EFCC, there was no mention of any episode of any snake and the disappearance of monies in her care.”

    The fact-sheet listed other officials being probed as a JAMB clerk in Nasarawa State office, Tanko Labaran, who could not account for N23 million scratch cards and Yakubu Jakada who is yet to explain the whereabouts of N20 million e-facilities cards sold in Kano office.

    The document added: “According to Labaran, he had an accident on his way from the head office with cards and the vehicle caught fire and was completely gutted. He had a police report to back the claim.

    “Investigation so far indicates that the cards, which were supposedly destroyed in the accident, were used judging by evidence secured from the JAMB information database.

    ”The serial numbers of the cards and the telephone numbers of the users were captured by JAMB information system.”

    “Another officer from the Gombe office has been quizzed for failure to account for N20m worth of cards. He claimed not to have received any cards, that his signature on the letter transferring the cards to him was forged. But the riddle which operatives of the EFCC are trying to crack is how it emerged that the affected cards were used in Gombe and adjourning towns.

    “The officer in charge of the Kano office of the board, Yakubu Jakada, is also under investigation for being unable to account for e-facilities cards valued at N20 million sold through an agent in one of the banks. He had claimed that the cards were not sold, and showed sealed cartons of the supposed cards to auditors from the agency’s head office.

    “But on close examination, it was discovered that the cartons had been tampered with and stuffed with cardboard papers cut to the size of e-facilities card.

    “All the suspects have made useful statements and released on bail pending the conclusion of investigation by the EFCC.”

     

  • Senate, Reps bicker over NFIU bill

    Senate, Reps bicker over NFIU bill

    The Senate and House of Representatives are at war over the passage of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Units (NFIU) Bill.

    The rift between the two chambers blew open Thursday when Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, told the Senate in plenary that that his counterpart in the House was frustrating the efforts of the Senate to pass the controversial Bill.

    Utazi complained bitterly that all attempts by his committee to sit at conference with their counterparts in the House had not been successful due to their recalcitrant attitude over the Bill.

    The Enugu North lawmaker feared that the country might be expelled from the Egmont Group if the bill was not passed expeditiously.

    In July, 2017, the Egmont Group, a global network of 152 Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), suspended NFIU at its 24th plenary of the Heads in Macao.

    “The group also explained that the NFIU was suspended because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where NFIU is currently domiciled, was leaking sensitive information to the media.

    The Egmont Group equally accused the EFCC of blackmailing individuals with the confidential intelligence made available to it.

    Utazi said, “In July last year, Nigeria was suspended by Egmont Group with a threat to expel the country in March this year. This is coming up on the 11th of March, which is next week. If we do not put our house in order, we will be expelled.

    “The expulsion will have severe consequences. Our financial banks will not be able to do anything. Our banks and foreign transactions will no longer amount to anything. We will be degraded. Even the corruption index we are complaining about will be a child’s play to what we are going to face in few days to come.

    “This Senate passed this bill within a record period of eight working days because of the importance and urgency. That was the first bill to have gotten such a speedy passage in this Senate. I came with a motion earlier to explain issues of what were on the ground.

    “The House of Representatives also took its time to pass this bill. A Conference Committee had been constituted. I have been calling my counterpart in the House of Representatives. The first meeting was stalled. They said the leadership was meeting over the issue.

    “We called for another meeting. Each time I call for this meeting, my counterpart in the House of Representatives will always tell me that he is attending one meeting or another. Even this morning (yesterday), I sent him a message and he said he was attending a budget defence meeting. I told him that this meeting is more important? He knows what is at stake.

    “I am bringing this issue to public knowledge that this Senate is doing its job. This Senate is doing its duty. If anything should happen or Nigeria is suspended, it will not be as a result of the failure of the Senate to act on this issue.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, explained that the issue of the NFIU had been discussed at the leadership level where the conference committee was constituted.

    Saraki promised to take up the matter with the Speaker, House of Representatives to broker a way through and ensure that the Bill.

    Saraki said, “This matter has been discussed at the leadership level and a Conference Committee was set up. I am surprised that this meeting has not taken place. I will meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and I will remind him of the decision we took so that he can direct the chairman in the House of Representatives on this.

    “Both of you will work on it as fast as you can so that we can transmit this bill to the President before the next Egmont meeting in order to save this country. We will take action.”

    A source however said that the problem between the two chambers emanated from their different positions.

    He noted that while the Senate wanted the NFIU removed from the control of the EFCC, the House wants the body to be domiciled in EFCC.

    Read Also: Senate threatens to pass 2018 budget without MDAs’ inputs

  • Fani-Kayode made multiple cash withdrawals of N10m – Witness

    Fani-Kayode made multiple cash withdrawals of N10m – Witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday heard that a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, allegedly made multiple cash withdrawals of N10million ahead of the 2015 general election.

    A banker, Mr. Teslim Ajuwon, while testifying in Fani-Kayode’s trial, said the former minister allegedly exceeded the withdrawal limit of N5million for individuals.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Femi Fani-Kayode and former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, for alleged N4.6billion fraud.

    They pleaded not guilty to a 17-count charge of money laundering.

    The former ministers were charged along with former Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Yusuf Danjuma and a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.

    Ajuwon, a Compliance Officer at Zenith Bank Plc, said only a corporate body could lawfully withdraw N10million and above.

    He said any withdrawal exceeding the threshold attracted a surcharge.

    Ajuwon, the second prosecution witness led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Nnaemeka Omenwa, said Fani-Kayode withdrew N10million cash at least 24 times between March 19 and 27, 2015.

    Ajuwon said Joint Trust Dimensions credited N840million to Fani-Kayode’s account on three occasions.

    Under cross-examination by Usman’s lawyer, Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), Ajuwon said he could not ascertain whether Fani-Kayode personally came to the bank to make the withdrawals.

    Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), asked Ajuwon if the ex-minister was surcharged after making the withdrawals, and the witness said the accused was surcharged N2,206,290 after making 14 withdrawals above the limit.

    The witness said he was not aware if his bank advised its customers on how not to violate the law, adding that any individual who withdrew above the N5million paid a surcharge and was allowed to take the money out.

    “It is not the bank’s prerogative to say whether it (the transaction) is valid, because it was not the bank that made the law,” he said, adding that the payment of surcharge was not sufficient to say that a transaction was legal.

  • Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s $4.760m penthouses

    Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s $4.760m penthouses

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of two penthouses valued at $4.760m allegedly belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    They are – Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) also in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Ruling on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), JJustice Mojisola Olatoregun ordered that the buildings be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The Commission’s lawyer, Mr. ABC Ozioko, told the court that he had a motion on notice for a final forfeiture order in respect of the properties.

    He added that the interim forfeiture order made on December 5 last year was advertised in The Nation Newspaper as ordered by the court.

    He also prayed for an order prohibiting the disposal of any mortgage or sale of the properties, and for an order authorising the EFCC to appoint a competent person or firm to manage the properties.

    The respondents’ counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Bassey, did not object to the prayers.

    Justice Olatoregun granted the orders as prayed.

    She said: “I have observed the facts and exhibits attached and I am also mindful that the second, third and fourth respondents have no objections to the application.

    “I, therefore, have no hesitation in ordering a final forfeiture of the properties to the federal government.”

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Donald Amangbo, Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Property Limited are the respondents in the matter.

    The Commission said the companies in whose names the companies were acquired belong to the former minister.

    An EFCC investigator, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in an affidavit, said sometime in 2016, a search warrant was executed at Amangbo’s premises.

    He said Amangbo was “an acquaintance of Mrs. Alison Madueke.”

    The investigator said one of the documents recovered from Amamgbo led the operatives to the Deputy Managing Director of YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited, Mr. Fadi Basbous.

    The deponent said Basbous made a statement where he stated that the two properties were sold at $3.570million and $1.194million and are owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited and Schillenburg LLC.