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Tag: EFCC

Kalu: Star witness on the run, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that its star witness in the trial of former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu is evading appearance.

Kalu, Udeh Jones Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited were arraigned October 31, 2016 by the EFCC before Justice Mohammed Idris on a 34-count charge of N3.2billion fraud.

They pleaded not guilty.

At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacob said he could not proceed with trial because his star witness, Mr Mike Udoh, had repeatedly made himself unavailable to give his testimony.

He accused some unknown persons of being behind Udoh’s absence.

He said: “Our main witness that we intended to call, we have approached him for more than six months. We have noticed that each time the matter is coming up, he will just travel to Umuahia or Calabar or Cameroun.

“He was supposed to come today but switched off his phone. EFCC went to his house in Umuahia yesterday and this morning but met his wife who said he travelled to Calabar. Despite all our efforts, we have not been able to bring him.”

He prayed for a short adjournment of about a week to enable the agency round up its case.

Kalu’s counsel, Mr Awa Kalu (SAN), accused the EFCC of a ploy to foist an adjournment on the court.

Justice Idris upheld Jacob’s application for adjournment. He noted that this was the final adjournment it would allow.The case continues on January 22 and 23.

January 17, 2018
EFCC key investigator petitions IG over threat to life

A key investigator of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Mr. Abubakar Aliyu Madaki has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris over threat to his life by a businessman, Alh. Abdulhamid Mahmud Zari.

He said since Zari was arrested by the EFCC on March 2017, he has been under intimidation and threat to life.

Madaki, who raised the alarm in a petition through his counsel, M.A. Mahmud (SAN) said he is in danger because the businessman alleged that he was the brain behind his invitation and investigation by EFCC.

But Zari through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome(SAN) said he was detained by the EFCC beyond the constitutionally guaranteed period.

He said he had already sued the EFCC and Madaki with an application before the Court of Appeal.

He said Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had accused the EFCC of taking laws into its hands by sealing off his property without an order of a court.

The January 15, 2018 petition of Madaki however reads in part: “Zari was arrested by the EFCC sometime in March 2017 for some alleged offences. However shortly after his release on bail by the EFCC, he accused our client(Madaki) as the whistleblower that reported him to the EFCC.

“He openly vowed to some people that know Madaki that he would fight him by exposing him as a corrupt EFCC official.

“ Zari fabricated various online publications against our client, alleging that our client owns various piece of land in Gunduma village of Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State worth about N10billion only and two houses in Abuja worth N650million only.

“Following the publication of Alhaji Zari’s allegations against our client, the Chairman of EFCC constituted a team that investigated the allegations.

“At the end of the investigation, the report cleared our client and two other operatives accused by Zari. However, Zari was not satisfied with the investigations which cleared our client.

“Notwithstanding the outcome of the investigation, Zari went about accusing our client in the entire Gunduma Village and beyond.

“At the behest of Zari, our client was arrested on the eve of Sallah at his house in Keffi by the Police from Nasarawa State Police Command and taken to Lafiya where he was later released the next day in the evening. Nonetheless, Zari was still not happy that our client was eventually released on bail by the Police.

“He openly boasted to our client after his release on bail that he would eliminate him if he ( Zari) does not succeed in sending him to jail.

“He even boasted to our client that he is very rich and has many jobless young men that he can use to ferment trouble in Gunduma and deal with our client.

“Our client’s life is now seriously threatened by Alhaji Zari on the mere suspicion that our client is the brain behind his invitation and investigation by the EFCC.

In view of this threat, we are appealing to your good self to look into this complaint with a view to directing an investigation of our allegations against Zari and averting the threat to our client’s life and possible breakdown of law and order in Gundulma Village.

“In this regard, we will appreciate if the Inspector General will direct a special crack investigation team from Force Headquarters, Abuja for this matter.

“At the moment, our client lives in constant fear of threat to his life as Zari boasted to him after his release on bail that he would eliminate him if he (Zari) does not succeed in sending him to jail.

“He also boasted to our client that he has many jobless young men that he can use to ferment trouble in Gunduma and chase out any indigene that he considers-as a threat.

“Sir, this is a clear case of “corruption fighting back” as our President and commander-in-chief once remarked. Our client is now being threatened by a person who is under investigation on the mere suspicion that our client is the brain behind his invitation and interrogation by the EFCC.

“Therefore, we are appealing to your good self to look into this complaint and direct an investigation of our allegations against Zari with a view to prosecuting him and averting his apparent threats or possible elimination of our client’s life and the breakdown of law and order in Gunduma Village.

“Sir, we will also appreciate that the investigation of this petition and any allegation by Zari be consolidated and carried out by the office of the Inspector General of Police”.

But Zari through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome(SAN) said he was detained by the EFCC beyond the constitutionally guaranteed period.

He said he only went to court for the enforcement of his Fundamental Human Rights.

In an application before the Court of Appeal, Zari said a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako “found and held that the EFCC cannot seal a person’s property without order of court and that evidence shows they have done so, thus taking the laws into their hands. And this they are not permitted to do as they ought to operate only within the confines of the law.

“Zari had already been detained beyond the constitutionally guaranteed period before the alleged bail was granted to him by the Respondents(EFCC and Madaki) and the trial court did not take the constitutional breach into consideration in her judgment.

“The EFCC and Madaki acted in contravention of the law by sealing Zari’s business and residential premises.

“Section 35 (6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(1999) make provisions for compensation and public apology from the appropriate authority or person found to have acted illegally and unlawfully as has been done by EFCC and Madaki in this case.”

January 17, 2018
EFCC quizzes ex-governor Jang

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday quizzed a former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, over his tenure.

Jang had allegedly spent N747.65billion in eight years but a Transition Committee led by Prof. Sonni Tyoden said he left a debt profile of N222.3billion at the end of his tenure on May 29, 2015.

Jang, however, insisted in his handover notes that he left a debt of N103.9billion.

Although the ex-governor was given administrative bail on Tuesday night, his interrogation will continue on Wednesday.

January 16, 2018
Court orders forfeiture of N6bn, 12 houses owned by Jonathan’s cousin, aides to FG

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the temporary forfeiture of N6,584,785,000; $222,000 and Aso Savings Limited shares valued at N2,028,800,000 allegedly derived fraudulently from proceeds of the sale Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the Federal Government.

Justice Dimgba also ordered an interim forfeiture of 12 houses and plots of land located in Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja allegedly bought with part of the loot.

The judge gave the orders while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC alleged that the confiscated property formed part of assets allegedly acquired by some former aides and a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

They were accused of diverting N27, 188,232,208.20 proceeds of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Severance Insurance Premium.

The seized assets were discovered during “investigations into PHCN Severance Insurance Premium.”

The judge granted the motion in chambers on Tuesday after it was moved by EFCC’s lawyer, Ben Ikani.

In his ruling, Justice Dimgba also directed the EFCC to publish the orders in any national daily within 14 days, following which any persons or organisations interested in the assets would be entitled to challenge the court orders.

He adjourned further hearing in the case till February 6.

In the ex -parte motion, EFCC named top government officials involved in the said scam to include the ex- Chief of Staff to Jonathan, Brig.-Gen. Arogbofa (retd), former Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, and ex- Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali.

Others were – Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola; a former Director-General of Bureau for Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki; and a former Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil.

January 16, 2018
EFCC to arraign ex-governor’s son for money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Wednesday arraign Mohammed Nuraini Adamu, son of former governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, for alleged money laundering.

According to a statement issued by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Samin Amaddin, the suspect will be “arraigned alongside one Felix Onyeabo Ojiako before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano on a five-count charge of money laundering.

The statement said: “The arraignment was sequel to a petition by one Atta Esin, Executive Director of Biolocks Technologies Limited, alleging that Adamu and Ojiako conspired to use his company name (Biolocks Technologies Limited) to execute contract without his knowledge.

“Esin also alleged that the contract resulted in the accumulation of withholding tax to tune of N1, 311,519.99.

“According to him, the contract worth was N26, 230,399.60 but investigation into the alleged fraud revealed that the actual contract sum was N92, 036,490.

“The suspects allegedly perpetrated the fraud by forging the board resolution of the company in order to open a new account in the company’s name where the proceeds of the contract were subsequently deposited.”

January 16, 2018
EFCC investigator petitions IGP over threat to life

A key investigator of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abubakar Aliyu Madaki, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over threat to his life by a businessman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Mahmud Zari.

He said since Zari was arrested by the EFCC in March 2017, he has been under intimidation and threat to life.

Madaki, who raised the alarm in a petition through his counsel, M.A. Mahmud (SAN), said he is in danger because the businessman alleged that he was the brain behind his invitation and investigation by the EFCC.

But Zari through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said he was detained by the EFCC beyond the constitutionally guaranteed period.

The businessman said he had already sued the EFCC and Madaki with an application before the Court of Appeal.

He said Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had accused the EFCC of taking laws into its hands by sealing off his property without an order of a court.

The January 15, 2018 petition filed by Madaki reads in part: “Zari was arrested by the EFCC sometime in March 2017 for some alleged offences. However, shortly after his release on bail by the EFCC, he accused our client (Madaki) as the whistleblower that reported him to the EFCC.

“He openly vowed to some people that know Madaki that he would fight him by exposing him as a corrupt EFCC official.

“Zari fabricated various online publications against our client, alleging that our client owns various piece of land in Gunduma village of Keffi local government area of Nasarawa State worth about N10billion only and two houses in Abuja worth N650million only.

“Following the publication of Alhaji Zari’s allegations against our client, the Chairman of EFCC constituted a team that investigated the allegations.

“At the end of the investigation, the report cleared our client and two other operatives accused by Zari. However, Zari was not satisfied with the investigations which cleared our client.

“Notwithstanding the outcome of the investigation, Zari went about accusing our client in the entire Gunduma village and beyond.

“At the behest of Zari, our client was arrested on the eve of Sallah at his house in Keffi by the police from Nasarawa State Police Command and taken to Lafiya where he was later released the next day in the evening. Nonetheless, Zari was still not happy that our client was eventually released on bail by the police.

“He openly boasted to our client after his release on bail that he would eliminate him if he (Zari) does not succeed in sending him to jail.

“He even boasted to our client that he is very rich and has many jobless young men that he can use to ferment trouble in Gunduma and deal with our client.

“Our client’s life is now seriously threatened by Alhaji Zari on the mere suspicion that our client is the brain behind his invitation and investigation by the EFCC.

“In view of this threat, we are appealing to your good self to look into this complaint with a view to directing an investigation of our allegations against Zari and averting the threat to our client’s life and possible breakdown of law and order in Gundulma village.”

January 16, 2018
N450m fraud: I have no case to answer – Belgore

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Dele Belgore, has filed a no-case submission on a N650 million money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Belgore’s co-defendant, a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, also filed a similar application before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

In effect, the duo have no intention of calling any witnesses to defend them because the prosecution did not present a strong case against them.

Both men urged Justice Aikawa to discharge and acquit them on the charges.

The former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is also named in the charge.

EFCC said she is “at large.”

The defendants were accused of collecting a cash sum of N450million from Mrs. Alison-Madueke in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

After calling two witnesses and tendering a number of exhibits, the EFCC closed its case against the defendants on November 28 last year, leaving the floor for them to open their defence.

Oyedepo said the anti-graft agency believed it had already established prima facie case against Belgore and his co-defendant.

At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, defence counsel, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), told the court that they had filed no-case submissions on behalf of their clients.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa adjourned till February 15, 2018 to hear the defendants.

The duo was first arraigned on a five- count charge on February 8, 2017 before the Federal High Court in Lagos. The EFCC subsequently amended the charges on two occasions.

In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo.

The Commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner of Police, Garba Saliu.

EFCC also alleged that the defendants “directly took possession of N450million.”

They were accused of handling the sum without going through any financial institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

January 16, 2018
EFCC arraigns ex- FCT minister for money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly laundering N650million.

Akinjide was charged alongside Senator Ayo Adeseun, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was said to be at large.

The defendants are standing trial on a 24-count charge of money laundering before Justice Muslim Hassan.

They were accused of conspiring to obtain the N650million from Mrs. Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

According to the EFCC, they reasonably ought to have known “that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.”

Akinjide, who was earlier arraigned for money laundering was granted bail on the same offence on June 22 last year by the Ibadan, Oyo division of the court, but the case was transferred to Lagos at her instance.

At Tuesday’s proceeding, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the agency had an amended 24-count charge and urged the court to admit same as their charge in the suit.

January 16, 2018
EFCC arraigns bureau de change operator over alleged N7.3m scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday arraigned a bureau de change operator, Baba Abba, in a Wuse High Court, Abuja, over alleged N7.3 million fraud.

The defendant was docked for allegedly defrauding one Nasir Uba of N7.3 million.

The defendant who is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust, before Justice Mamman Kolo, however, denied committing the offences.

The prosecuting counsel, Sunday Dino, alleged that the complainant sometimes in August 2017, instructed the defendant to transfer N7.3 million in dollar equivalent to his brother in the United Kingdom.

The defendant claimed that the money was transferred through one of the new generation banks on Aug. 20, 2017.

Dino also alleged further that the defendant forged a document and presented it to the complainant as proof of the transfer.

He, however, said that the defendant dishonestly converted the said money to his personal use.

The prosecuting counsel said that the offences contravened the provisions of Section 312 of the Penal Code and asked the court for a trial date.

The judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case until March 13 for commencement of trial.

January 16, 2018
EFCC seeks to seize $8.4m, N7.35b ‘from Jonathan’s wife’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the temporary forfeiture of $8,435,788.84 and N7.35bn suspected to be owned by Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The EFCC yesterday told Justice Mojisola Olatoregun that the funds, which it believes came from Bayelsa State, were found in 15 bank accounts linked with the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The anti-graft agency’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said the order would prevent Mrs Jonathan from dissipating them.

According to the EFCC, the funds were moved from Bayelsa State’s coffers at a time when the former First Lady served as a permanent secretary.

The agency alleged that Mrs. Jonathan gained access to the funds by fraudulently assuming the identity of one Esther Oba as the signatory to the said account.

The EFCC’s claims were contained in an ex parte application presented by Oyedepo before Justice Olatoregun.

The proceedings were, however, interrupted by a train of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.

The SANs told the judge that the funds, which the EFCC seeks to seize, were already subject of litigation.

But Oyedepo maintained that the SANs had no right of hearing in the court, since his application was ex parte.

Wondering how they got wind of the move by the anti-graft agency, he urged the judge to disregard their appearance.

The judge upheld Oyedepo’s submission, following which the SANs left the courtroom.

In view of the development, the judge adjourned till January 23, 2018 and directed the EFCC to file an affidavit to convince the court that there were no pending lawsuits relating to the funds sought to be forfeited.

In the said ex parte application, the EFCC listed Patience Jonathan and five firms and Esther Oba as respondents.

The firms that were listed as second to sixth defendants were Globus Integrated Services Ltd., Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd., Pagmat Oil And Gas Ltd. and Magel Resort Ltd.

The ex parte application was backed by a 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an investigator with the EFCC, Huleji Tukura.

Tukura claimed that investigation by the anti-graft agency revealed that the funds found in the bank accounts linked to Patience emanated from the coffers of Bayelsa State and that the funds were moved at a time when the former First Lady served as a permanent secretary in one of the ministries in Bayelsa State.

According to Tukura, Patience first opened a First Bank account and then “procured” the then Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to fund the account with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”

Tukura averred, “That the said Dudafa Warripamo-Owei procured one Festus Isidohomen Iyoha and Arivi Eneji Peter, who were domestic staff attached to the State House, Abuja, to deposit the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in the account of the 1st respondent (Patience).

“That in depositing the funds into the account of the 1st respondent, the said domestic staff, in a bid to conceal their identity, deposited the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful act, into the 1st respondent’s account, using fictitious names.

“That the total sum of $4,036,750.00 (Four million, thirty-six thousand, seven hundred and fifty United States’ dollars) reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were deposited into account No. 2022648664 domiciled in First Bank Plc in the name of the 1st respondent.

“That on the 28th day of September, 2016, the 1st respondent, in dissipating the property sought to be forfeited, transferred the sum of $3,640,794.72 to the 1st respondent’s account No. 2031277178 domiciled in First Bank Plc.

“That on the 5th day of October, 2016, the 1st respondent withdrew the sum of $1,000,000.00 cash from the said account leaving the balance of the sum of $3,645,013.73 which sum we are urging this honourable court to forfeit in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“That as at the time the various sums were deposited in into exhibit EFCC01, the 1st respondent was a serving permanent secretary in the employment of the Bayelsa State Government.

“That the funds sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria are not the 1st respondent’s lawful earnings but are rather reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

The investigator further explained that the firms mentioned in the application were not into “any legitimate income-yielding business venture” but were rather incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities for the former First Lady.

He claimed that every now and then domestic servants at the Presidential Villa were sent to deposit money into the company’s accounts for Patience.

“The depositors into this account are domestic staff of State House, Abuja, who were procured by the said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei to deposit the funds sought to be forfeited in a bid to conceal the true origin of the funds,” Tukura said.

Making specific reference to Globus Integrated Services Ltd., Tukura said, “None of the Directors of the 3rd Respondent are signatories to the said account.

January 16, 2018