The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

Court orders probe of Patience Jonathan’s property’s demolition

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the relevant agencies to probe the alleged demolition of a property linked to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The said property was demolished in Abuja recently.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba gave the directive following complaint filed by lawyer to Mrs. Jonathan, Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

The lawyer argued that the property owned by a group, A. Aruera Reachout Foundation/Women For Change and Development Initiative and linked with the ex-First Lady, had been demolished by a government agency.

The property, an uncompleted structure, is located on Shehu Yar’Adua Way, along Mabushi-Kado Life Camp Expressway, Abuja.

Read Also: Court freezes lawyer’s account over N40m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had incidentally filed an ex-parte application before the court for temporary forfeiture of the same property.

However, Ozekhome, who is acting for the Registered Trustees of Aruera Foundation, rejected the move.

Parties were in court on Monday for the hearing of the applications when Ozekhome raised the issue of the alleged demolition.

Ozekhome stated that the property has been demolished by a government agency.

But he did not identify the agency.

.

January 22, 2018
Order to arrest ex- governor Nnamani subsists – Court

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday refused to discharge a bench warrant issued for the arrest of former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani.

Justice Chuka Obiozor refused an application filed by Nnamani’s lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), that that arrest warrant be vacated.

“The request for an order to discharge the bench warrant against the first defendant before me, for now, is hereby refused. This is without prejudice to the renewal of the application at the next adjourned date,” he held.

The judge on December 4 last year issued the bench warrant due to Nnamani’s failure to attend court for his arraignment.

He also ordered the arrest of Nnamani’s co-accused and former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, who was in court on Friday.

Tarfa withdrew the application challenging the court’s jurisdiction and seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting the defendant.

Tarfa argued that there was no valid charge against Nnamani before the court, adding that third to eighth defendants had been convicted following a plea bargain.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, pleaded for time to consult with his employers on how to proceed with the case.

He added that Nnamani’s and Anyaogu’s case was yet to be concluded.

“We are working on an amendment of the charge to reflect the proper situation. We will ask the court to indulge us by way of an adjournment to bring a clean copy of the charge sheet,” Uzozie said.

January 19, 2018
Absence of witness stalls hearing on Patience Jonathan’s seized $15.5m

Hearing in the case filed by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday because her witness was “sick.”

Mrs. Jonathan is seeking to unfreeze her accounts containing $15.5million frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

When the case came up before Justice Mohammed Idris, her lawyer, Granville Abibo (SAN) told the court that his witness was within the court premises but was very ill.

“Our witness is not in good health condition. We have tried to bring him inside the court, but he cannot even stand,” he said.

He asked for an adjournment.

EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, expressed his sympathies, but added that the witness should have at least stepped into the courtroom since he was already within the premises.

“I apply that my Lord directs the plaintiff’s counsel to bring his witness inside the court for my Lord to see him and assess him,” he said.

Counsel for the third and fourth defendants, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said he was not opposed to the application for an adjournment.

Fifth defendant’s lawyer, Ige Asemudara, said he was also not opposed to the application, but added that Oyedepo should be cautioned for doubting Abibo’s claim.

“How can he be doubting very senior member of the Bar?,” he said, citing a Supreme Court case in which it was held that only the living can face trial.

Oyedepo said he merely made a submission and that nobody should cast aspersions on him.

Ruling, Justice Idris held that since the plaintiff was applying for an adjournment for the first time, it was fair to grant it in the interest of justice.

In its defence to the suit, EFCC argued that Mrs. Jonathan does not run any business from which she could have earned such huge sums.

The Commission said its investigations showed that the money was allegedly stolen from the Federal Government and its agencies, and that it does not belong to the former First Lady.

“There is no way the plaintiff (Mrs. Jonathan) could have genuinely earned the monies. She is the wife of the former president, a civil servant and a retired Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.

“She does not run any profit and interest yielding business venture to generate such money.

“Investigation conducted by the first defendant (EFCC) revealed that the plaintiff is not the owner of the funds in the accounts of the third to fifth defendants (companies), which funds were discovered to be proceeds of fraudulent activities of Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel Dudafa,” EFCC said.

Mrs. Jonathan sued the EFCC, Skye Bank Plc and three companies – Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited and Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited.

She is praying for an order restraining the defendants from tampering with her funds in the companies’ accounts domiciled in Skye Bank.

January 19, 2018
Court dismisses bank’s bid to claim Lagos flat

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday dismissed the move by Union Bank Plc to claim Flat 7B, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

About N13 billion was discovered in the flat in April last year.

The court described the bank as a busybody and ordered the permanent forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed the money was stashed away in iron cabinets and “Ghana-must-go” bags in the apartment.

January 19, 2018
How Anyim got N575m for Special Service, by EFCC

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim is fighting to keep his integrity after being accused of collecting N575m for special service.

The cash, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), came from the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).

Detectives are still battling to unravel the “special service” executed by Anyim when he was not a Minister of Special Duties.

Anyim, in a statement at the EFCC, insisted that he had nothing to do with any account the Special Service Office maintains jointly with the National Security Adviser (NSA).

He said he only maintained with the NSA official relationship and not cash ties.

But the EFCC’s investigation indicated that about N575m was paid to the ex-SGF from the ONSA.

The Nation last night stumbled on a fact-sheet showing the details of how ONSA related with the ex-SGF.

The fact-sheet said: “On the 16th day of November 2017 at about the hour of 3pm, Anyim was brought to the office of the commission for serious criminal investigation involving millions and billions of naira which he collected under false pretence in his former capacity as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (also known as SGF) which he cannot account for.

“Findings showed that the ex-SGF signed for and collected N500, 000, 000. 00 on the 4th day of March 2015 from the office of the National Security Adviser.

“Detectives have also retrieved another payment voucher showing N20, 000, 000. 00 to the ex-SGF on the 14th day of May 2015, from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“Earlier on the 24th of May 2013, about N30million was also collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“On the 6th day of June 2013, there was payment of N20, 000, 000 from the same ONSA. The strange payment of N5million for special service was also recorded on the 18th day of October 2013.

“The allegation against Anyim is that he did collect these sums for special service without any justification . Anyim, who was the former SGF, was not the Minister of Special Duty and did not, and cannot till justify the reason for collecting the above money.

“That our investigation revealed that, the above money which the ex-SGF collected came from the Federation Account, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

“The alleged money is suspected proceed of crime, fraud, high level of corruption, in the country, diversion of public funds obtained by false pretence, theft of government money etc.

“In the course of our candid investigation, Anyim made a free and voluntary written statement to our office on the 16th day of November 2017.”

The EFCC however said it was still probing the activities of the ex-SGF, who has been granted bail.

The fact-sheet added: “Investigation into the matter is still ongoing and very vital exhibits that would be useful for his criminal trial in the court of law are yet to be recovered.”

Anyim denied any wrongdoing. He said he was not aware of the cash transactions.

In a statement to the EFCC, Anyim said: “The relationship between me and Sambo Dasuki. I met Sambo Dasuki as a person only when he was appointed the National Security Adviser while I was Secretary to Government of the Federation.

“ We only maintained official relationship. He attended Federal Executive Council and also the Council of State. He also coordinated the National Security Council while a department in the office of the SGF provided secretariat to the National Security Council.

“I can’t remember knowing any other person in his office as I did not have much to do with his office.

The relationship between Special Services Office and NSA’s office is principally that the Permanent Secretary Special Services Office provides Secretariat to the National Security Council meetings.

“I do not know about SAS impressive account or any account the Special Services office maintains jointly with the NSA.”

January 18, 2018
Rickey Tarfa seeks N500m damages from EFCC

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, is seeking N500million from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as damages for alleged malicious prosecution.

Tarfa made the application yesterday in a no-case submission he filed before the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, in response to the EFCC’s criminal charge against him.

The lawyer, through his counsel Mr Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told Justice Adedayo Akintunde that the 26-count charge of alleged bribery and attempt to pervert the course of justice was malicious.

He prayed the court to make an example of the anti-graft agency and “slam the hammer” on it with a N500m damages award.

Tarfa has been standing trial before the judge since March 2016.

Last October 23, the anti-graft agency closed its case against the defendant following which he indicated his intention to file a no-case submission.

At yesterday’s proceedings, Owonikoko poked holes in the commission’s claims that Tarfa “refused and failed” to declare his assets, contrary to the EFCC Act.

According to him, Tarfa was entirely within his constitutional right to remain silent.

On the allegation in count three that the defendant lied about his age during interrogation on February 5, 2016 at the commission’s Lagos office, Owonikoko distinguished between falsehood and a mistake.

According to him, Tarfa made a mistake, which the EFCC ought to have drawn his attention to, rather than springing a surprise on him by making the mistake a basis for a criminal charge.

Owonikoko also contested the charge that the defendant offered gratification to Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Bayelsa.

He submitted, among others, that the EFCC failed to link to Justice Nganjiwa, the deposits made by Tarfa to the accounts of a firm, Awa Ajia Nigeria Ltd.

According to him, Tarfa “has never handled a case before Justice Nganjiwa.”

Justifying the claim for N500m as damages, he said the defendant’s reputation and occupation had suffered:

But EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo opposed Tarfa’s no-case submission, “because it amounts to contesting the obvious.”

“I am passionately urging my lord to dismiss this application and call on the defendant to explain the allegations that we have proved against him.”

January 18, 2018
EFCC arraigns justice Yunusa for alleged N1.5m bribe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Yunusa Nasir, before an Ikeja High Court for alleged perversion of justice.

Justice Nasir was arraigned alongside a worker in Rickey Tarfa Chamber, Esther Agbor, before Justice Sherifat Solebo.

Justice Nasir is facing a five-count charge of receiving gratification and perversion of justice; Agbor is accused of offering gratification.

EFCC prosecutor Anslem Ozioko alleged that the judge while serving as a judicial officer attempted to pervert justice by constantly engaging in private and confidential text messages with Rickey Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

He said Agbo, in the course of her employment in Rickey Tarfa Chamber, gave gratification of N1.5 to the judge to induce him to give favourable decision to the chamber.

Another of the count reads: “That you, Yunusa Mohammed Nasir, on or about the 14th May, 2015, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court being a public official to wit: a Judge of the Federal High Court agreed to receive the sum of N1,500,000 (One million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) paid into your UBA Plc Account No. 1005055617 by Esther Agbo, staff of the firm of Rickey Tarfa & Co. in order to afterwards give decisions in favour of the chambers of Rickey Tarfa & Co. in cases handled by the said chambers before you as a Judge of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.”

The EFCC also charged Justice Nasir in count four agreeing to receive financial benefit from another SAN, Mr Joseph Nwobike in order to give favourable decisions in the cases of the said lawyer before him.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Justice Nasir received N750,000 from Nwobike.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their plea, Ozioko asked the court to remand the defendants in prison custody and fix a date for their trial.

Justice Nasir’s counsel, Mr. I. Mohammed, opposed the application.

Mohammed and Agbor’s counsel, Mr John Odubela (SAN), urged the court to disregard the prosecutor’s submission.

Odubela prayed the court to grant his client bail on the ground that she is a nursing mother.

He said the defendant had just put to bed through surgery, promising that she would not jump bail if granted.

Justice Solebo granted bail on self recognition to the judge and advised him not to travel out of the court’s jurisdiction.

The judge granted bail to the second defendant N1 million bail, with two sureties in the like sum.

The case continues on February 20.

January 18, 2018
Innoson Motors boss absence in court stalls fraud trial

The arraignment of the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was stalled on Wednesday due to the defendant’s absence in court.

Chukwuma was to be arraigned alongside his company Innoson Motors Limited and Charles Chukwuma on charges bothering on fraud and stealing before Justice Mojisola Dada.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr. U. Onwukwe, told court that he had filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

“We have an application objecting to the jurisdiction of this court. The application was filed on January 15,” he told the court.

Onwuke complained to the court that the EFCC has not served his client but that they got the information on social media.

“My client has not been served, when this matter was filed. But the EFCC went to social media and it was through social media that we became aware the matter was coming up. We have not been served at all.

“The EFCC arrested them and they know where they reside. They granted the second defendant (Innocent Chukwuma) bail on self recognisance and told him to come to EFCC office on February 20. But rather than wait till February, they went ahead to file these charges in December.

“Charles Chukwuma, who is the third defendant in the charge, was not even arrested by the EFCC,” Onwukwe added.

Counsel to the EFCC, Miss Zainab Ettu, in her response, claimed that the businessman and his co-defendants have been evading service.

“The most important thing is for us to proceed to trial. The defendants are on administrative bail and as diligent citizens of the country, when they were aware of the charges, we expect them to come to the EFCC office with their counsel and receive a copy of the charge,” she said.

Ettu asked the court for a short adjournment to enable trial to commence on the matter.

January 17, 2018
Why we froze Omokore’s firms’ accounts – Stanbic IBTC

Stanbic IBTC Plc told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday why businessman, Jide Omokore, could no longer access his companies’ accounts held in the bank.

The bank said it stopped transactions on the accounts because of “a worldwide freezing order” placed on the accounts where $1.6billion proceeds of crude oil sales were allegedly diverted.

A Senior Manager with the bank, Adedayo Adesanmi, stated these while testifying as fourth prosecution witness at the resumption of the trial involving Omokore and others.

Adesanmi is also the Relationship Manager for the accounts owned by Omokore’s companies.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Omokore, his two companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – and others on a nine-count charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6billion believed to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

Also named as defendants in the case are – former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abiye Membere and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, was also named in the case until late last year when the court struck out her name on the ground that she was listed as a defendant.

Led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Adesanmi said both companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – maintain a naira and a dollar accounts with his bank.

He explained how the funds were paid into separate dollars accounts of the two companies by Glencore, London.

Under re-examination, by Jacobs, the witness explained why the accounts were closed.

He said: “The bank got a worldwide freezing order. There were also negative press generated by the accounts and frequent invitation from security agencies because of the accounts.”

January 17, 2018
Tarfa demands N500m from EFCC over ‘malicious prosecution’

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, is seeking N500 million from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as damages for alleged malicious prosecution.

Tarfa made the application on Wednesday in a no-case submission filed before the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, in response to the EFCC’s criminal charges against him.

The lawyer, through his counsel, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told Justice Adedayo Akintunde that the 26-count charge of alleged bribery and attempt to pervert the course of justice was malicious.

He prayed the court to make an example of the EFCC and “award N500m damages against the Commission.”

Tarfa has been standing trial before the judge since March 2016.

On October 23 last year, the anti-graft agency closed its case against the defendant following which he indicated his intention to file a no-case submission.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Owonikoko picked holes in the Commission’s claims that Tarfa “refused and failed” to declare his assets, contrary to the EFCC Act.

According to him, Tarfa was entirely within his constitutional right to remain silent on the matter.

On the allegation in count three that the defendant lied about his age during interrogation on February 5, 2016 at the Commission’s Lagos office, Owonikoko distinguished between falsehood and a mistake.

According to him, Tarfa made a mistake, which the EFCC ought to have drawn his attention to, rather than springing a surprise on him by making the mistake a basis for a criminal charge.

Owonikoko also contested the charge that the defendant offered gratification to Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Bayelsa.

He submitted, among others, that the EFCC failed to link to Justice Nganjiwa, the deposits made by Tarfa to the accounts of a firm, Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited.

According to him, Tarfa “has never handled a case before Justice Nganjiwa.”

January 17, 2018