The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • ‘10% public servants responsible for treasury looting’

    ‘10% public servants responsible for treasury looting’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday kicked against the proposed legislation seeking amnesty to looters of the nation’s treasury.

    The commission said less than 10 percent of Nigerian population caused the looting of the treasury.

    The EFCC Secretary, Emmanuel Adegboyega, said most looters of the nation’s treasury are found in the public sector.

    Adegboyega spoke at the opening of a two-day capacity building seminar on “Economic and Financial Crimes, Anti-Corruption, Fiscal Responsibility and Good Governance,” for states and local government officials.

    He added that private sector players were only dragged into treasury looting through their interactions with public servants.

    In his opening remarks, the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Kayode Oladele, said corruption can be curbed through comprehensive and impactful public enlightenment.

    He said: “The mission statement of the EFCC is to curb the menace of corruption that constitutes a hindrance to good governance, economic development and foreign direct investment. It is also geared towards developing the right mindset and attitude amongst Nigerians and contribute to the global war against economic and financial crimes and terrorism financing.

    “This is because the lack of understanding of the provision of the law against the commission of economic and financial crimes and corrupt practice is a major factor for high-level corruption in the country.”

  • Judge withdraws from Patience Jonathan’s appeal ‘for personal reasons’

    Judge withdraws from Patience Jonathan’s appeal ‘for personal reasons’

    …Appeal Court adjourns till September 18

     

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division Wednesday failed to hear an appeal by the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, seeking to stop the forfeiture of her $5.7million and N2, 421,953,522.78 to the Federal Government.

    One of the three-man panel, the appellate court said, was recusing himself from hearing the appeal “for personal reasons.

    It did not state which of the justices were withdrawing and what the reasons were.

    Justice John Ikyeh, who presided over the appeal alongside Justices Abimbola Obaseki and Abrahim Georgewill, noted that three judges were required to form a quorum.

    It adjourned till September 18 for hearing.

    Mrs Patience’s appeal arose from an order obtained by the EFCC last April 26, from the Federal High Court in Lagos, temporarily forfeiting the cash to the government.

    The commission told Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who made the order, that the funds were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    It said the N5.7m was part of the $6,791,599.64 (about N2.1billion) which Mrs Jonathan allegedly directed her aides to pay into her account between February 8, 2013 and January 30, 2015, while her husband was President.

    Mrs. Jonathan, the commission said, had earlier spent $949, 282.98 (about N296, 141,911) from the money.

    It said she also withdrew another $100,000 from the account in April, leaving a balance of $5,731,173.55.

    Justice Olatoregun also ordered the temporary forfeiture of the N2, 421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Ltd account numbered 2022000760 in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Ltd.

    The commission said the money also belongs to Mrs Jonathan.

     

  • EFCC arraigns judge for alleged N4.6m bribe

    EFCC arraigns judge for alleged N4.6m bribe

    •Fishim granted bail on self-recognisance

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned judge of the National Industrial Court (NIC), Justice Agbadu Fishim, for allegedly collecting N4.65 million from seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

    The judge, who was arraigned before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of an Ikeja High Court, was however granted bail on self-recognisance.

    Justice Fishim was arraigned on a 19-count charge of unlawful enrichment.

    EFCC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo alleged that Justice Fishim received an aggregate of N4.65 million from seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria, one other Lagos-based lawyer and a law firm between 2013 and 2015.

    Oyedepo claimed the money was paid into the judge’s First Bank account, numbered 3008199491.

    He said the judge could not give a reasonable explanation of how the money came into his First Bank account.

    Justice Fishim, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    His counsel, Prof. Amuda Kehinde, pleaded that his client be granted bail in self-recognisance.

    Kehinde argued that his client is a sitting judge and would not jump bail.

    He said he was served with the court papers yesterday about 5p.m and he responded immediately.

    “He is a sitting judge and he has a lot to lose, if he decides to jump bail,” Kehinde said.

    Oyedepo did not oppose the bail application.

    He, however, asked the court to attach conditions to the bail such that the defendant would be mandated to attend trial.

    Justice Adebiyi granted bail to Justice Fishim and directed him to deposit his international passport with the court registrar.

    “It is the discretion of the court to grant bail to the defendant. It should be noted that the main function of bail is so that the defendant attends trial.

    “The defendant is a sitting Judge of the National Industrial Court, who is facing a 19-count charge of unlawful enrichment, which is a bailable offence.

    “I hereby grant the defendant bail on self-recognisance and he is also expected to deposit his international passport with the court Chief Registrar,” Justice Adebiyi ruled.

    In the charge sheet, the EFCC alleged that the judge received N1.4 million from Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) between December 5, 2013 and February 26, 2015.

    He was alleged to have received N1.1 million in multiples tranches from  Paul Usoro (SAN) between August 5, 2014 and March 26, 2015.

    Other SANs, from whom the judge allegedly received money, were Chief Gani Adetola-Kazeem, who allegedly gave him N100,000 on February 10, 2015; and Mr. Uche Obi, who gave him N250,000 between October 17 and 20, 2013.

    Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) allegedly gave the judge N500,000 on June 20, 2013; and Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), who gave him a total of N500,000 in two tranches  on June 3, 2013 and February 26, 2015.

    The EFCC claimed that Justice Fishim received N250,000 from Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), in two tranches on December 12, 2014 and September 10, 2015.

    A Lagos-based lawyer, Enobong Etteh, was said to have transferred N300,000 to the judge on October 27, 2014.

    A law firm, Alliance Law Firm, according to the EFCC, also paid N250,000 into the judge’s account on August 21, 2015.

    Justice Fishim’s trial has been adjourned till October 11, 2017.

  • Prof. Elujoba: OAU students force judge to reverse remand order

    Prof. Elujoba: OAU students force judge to reverse remand order

    Students and workers of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Tuesday forced a judge at the Osun State High Court, Ede, Justice Oladimeji David, to reverse his earlier order remanding the ex -Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, in Ilesha prison.

    The reversal came after the students and workers protested the judge’s ruling and locked the courtroom.

    They also prevented the judge and other officials from leaving the court premises.

    This continued until the judge ordered that the former vice chancellor should be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) custody as demanded by the protesting group.

    Justice David also rescheduled the case from July 19 to July 14.

    Members of the institution’s Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) were more vocal in their protest as one of its members broke an egg on the court’s exit to prevent the judge and others from leaving the courtroom when they heard that the ex-vice chancellor should be kept at Ilesha prison.

    Some OAU students and workers also broke the court’s gate to forcefully remove Prof. Elujoba from the scene, but he refused to leave the place, saying “he will not go against the court order.”

    Prof. Elujoba and the university’s bursar, Mrs. Josephine Akeredolu, are standing trial for alleged misappropriation of N1.4 billion.

     

  • ASUU protest ex-OAU VC’s detention

    ASUU protest ex-OAU VC’s detention

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, chapter, on Monday protested the detention of the former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.)

    The ASUU demanded immediate release of Elujoba and the bursar, Mrs. Josephine Akeredolu, who have been in EFCC custody since last Friday when they were arraigned before an Osun State High Court, Ede.

    The ASUU members, who carried placards with various inscriptions including “Free Elujoba now and prosecute real thieves,” were singing solidarity songs and protesting round the OAU campus.

    Elujoba and Akeredolu were docked for alleged involvement in corrupt practices and financial improprieties.

    Addressing journalists, the chairman of the ASUU OAU Caretaker Committee, Dr. ‘Niyi Sunmonu, said they believed that Elujoba did not commit any financial crime, adding that he was only being unjustly victimized, humiliated and incarcerated.

    He said: “Prof. Anthony Elujoba brought unprecedented peace and stability to OAU during his less than one year tenure. As the acting VC, he has Godly, fair, just, honest and transparent qualities which silenced the enemies of progress in OAU. He addressed the welfare of workers and students with vigour, resulting in an unprecedented number of staff promotions and restoration of peaceful students’ union.

    “Following agitation of workers for payment of their legitimate allowances and the discovery of a floating huge sum of university’s fund illegally kept away from the Treasury Single Account. Prof. Elujoba approved the payment of N300,000 and N150,000 to each senior and junior member of staff, respectively.

    “This payment and his other financial actions were subsequently given covering approval by the Governing Council as empowered. Similarly payment (N450,000 and N150,000 respectively) was made to workers during the tenure of Prof. Elujoba. The man did not embezzle or mismanage any university fund.

    “In an attempt to sanitize the system and address vital and critical issues affecting the university. Prof. Elujoba set up 37-specific fact-finding Task Forces. Most of these task forces had submitted their reports and White Papers through the university Senate to the Governing Council.”

  • EFCC to arraign judge over ‘corrupt enrichment’

    EFCC to arraign judge over ‘corrupt enrichment’

    A judge of the National Industrial Court (NIC), Justice Agbadu James Fishim, may be arraigned in court on Tuesday or Wednesday.

    The judge was earlier scheduled to appear at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday.

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is arraigning the judge on a 19- count charge of corrupt enrichment.

    Justice Fishim’s arraignment before Justice Raliat Adebiyi was stalled on Monday because of his absence in court.

    EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the judge is not yet in its custody.

    “My Lord the defendant is not yet in our custody. We expect him in our custody, but I can’t tell why we didn’t see him,” he said.

    Oyedepo, however, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable the agency present the defendant for arraignment.

    Justice Adeniyi granted his request and adjourned the matter till July 12.

    Meanwhile, Oyedepo has filed amended information before the court, stating that the defendant will be brought to court on Tuesday.

    He asked the judge to vacate the previous date.

  • Corruption trial: Court grants Dikko permission to travel abroad

    Corruption trial: Court grants Dikko permission to travel abroad

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday granted the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Umar Dikko, permission to travel abroad for medical checkup.

    Dikko, who was head of the Nigeria Air Force from September 9, 2010 to October 4, 2012, is facing a seven-count charge of money laundering before the court.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleged that he used looted funds to purchase six choice properties in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna.

    At the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant, through his counsel, Ibrahim Bawa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, begged the court to allow the defendant to travel abroad for medical checkup.

    Bawa also urged the court to order the release of the defendant’s international passport which was deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court as part of his bail conditions.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Fatima Addo, said she would not object to the application since it was based on health ground.

    In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, said he was disposed to granting the motion since it was not opposed by the prosecution.

    Before adjourning the trial till Oct. 19, Dimgba directed Dikko to surrender his international passport with the Deputy Registrar of the court on his return to the country.

  • Court remands ex-OAU VC, Bursar in EFCC custody

    Court remands ex-OAU VC, Bursar in EFCC custody

    A High Court sitting in Ede, Osun State, on Friday remanded the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

    Elujoba and the university bursar, Mrs. Josephine Akeredolu, were arraigned for allegedly involving in corrupt practices and financial irregularities.

    The presiding judge, Justice David Oladimeji, ordered that the suspects be remanded in EFCC custody.

    The Commission arrested Elujoba and Akeredolu over alleged corruption and abuse of office on Wednesday.

    The accused persons were arraigned on a seven-count charge of intent to steal money belonging to the institution.

    They were also accused of conspiring to defraud the university, among others.

    The defence lead counsel, Ibrahim Lawal, who had earlier filed a bail application, pleaded with the court not to grant the prosecution prayer to remand the defendants in Ilesha prison but in EFCC custody, pending the hearing of the application.

    Justice Oladimeji granted the prayer of the defence counsel and ordered that Prof. Elujoba and Mrs. Akeredolu be remanded in EFCC custody pending hearing of their bail application next Tuesday.

  • No going back on Magu’s rejection – Senate

    No going back on Magu’s rejection – Senate

    The Senate insisted on Friday that it would not go back on the decision to reject Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullah, declared that rejection of Magu by the upper legislative chamber “still stands.”

    The Senate spokesperson was reacting to Thursday declaration by the Presidency that Magu will remain the EFCC boss irrespective of Senate’s demand for his sack.

    The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, who made the declaration, said “Magu would remain EFCC chairman as long as he is the acting President and as long as Muhammadu Buhari remains President.”

    He spoke through Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at the inauguration of the EFCC zonal office in Kaduna.

    Osinbajo said President Buhari resolved to work with Magu to prosecute his administration’s anti-graft war.

    Abdullah, in his Friday’s reaction, said, “Senate has already made its resolution, and our resolutions are official statements. And most times, based on how we communicate. We don’t go to press immediately because somebody has made a statement. We usually discuss issues. You know before we made that resolution the issue was debated. It is not because the executive has said something, we will react to it. We discuss issues first.

    “He was brought to us for confirmation, and on the basis of damning reports from the DSS, we rejected him twice. It is left for Nigerians to see and we have done our part.”

    “We are expressing the opinion of the Senate, its stand and its position. We have given it a resolution. For now that is what subsists, and until we get a response, otherwise officially, we are not going back.”

     

     

  • Diezani: Belgore loses bid to quash fraud charge

    Diezani: Belgore loses bid to quash fraud charge

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore, on Friday lost his bid to quash the fraud charge filed against him and two former ministers.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Belgore and former minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

    They were charged along with former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large.

    The prosecution said Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to different individuals in 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Belgore and Suleiman allegedly received N450million in cash.

    Belgore’s lawyer, Ebun Shofunde (SAN), argued that the charge was not accompanied by a proof of evidence as required by the Administration of Criminal Justice Acts (ACJA) 2015.

    He urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of competence and discharge his client.

    Dismissing Belgore’s application, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held: “I am in total agreement with the prosecution that this is a court of summary trial where criminal charge is not filed by a way of information but by summary statement of witnesses.

    “As it is in this instance, the prosecution has substantially complied with Section 396 of the ACJA.”

    The judge agreed with the prosecution that failure to file affidavits of investigation cannot affect the substance of the charge.

    He, therefore, dismissed the application to quash the charge and ordered the prosecution to go on with the trial.

    Justice Aikawa granted Belgore and Sulaimon’s application for permission to travel abroad for medical treatment in the United Kingdom and India between July 15 and August 8.

    They are expected to return their international passports to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar on or before August 31.

    Sulaiman, a professor of Political Science and International Relations, and Belgore, a former governorship aspirant in Kwara State, were accused of conspiring between themselves to commit the offence on March 27, 2015.

    EFCC accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of the N450million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

    The commission said they committed the alleged offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under same.

    They were also accused of making cash payment of N450million to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through a financial institution.