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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC arraigns Justice Nganjiwa for $260,000, N8.65m unlawful enrichment

    EFCC arraigns Justice Nganjiwa for $260,000, N8.65m unlawful enrichment

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Bayelsa Division for alleged unlawful enrichment to the tune of $260,000 and N8.65 million (about N81,705,000).

    Nganjiwa was arraigned before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere on a 14-count charge of unlawful enrichment and making a false statement to EFCC officials.

    He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self recognizance.

    Justice Akintoye permitted the arraignment after dismissing Nganjiwa’s preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    Nganjiwa is one of the six judges who were reinstated on June 3, 2017 by the National Judicial Council, (NJC), following the failure of the government to file charges against them.

    The EFCC brought the charge against him on June 13, 2017, less than 48 hours after The Presidency vowed to prosecute judges that were reinstated by the NJC but with cases to answer.

    But Nganjiwa, who was absent in court on June 13, tried to stall his arraignment on the ground, among others, that the court did not have the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case.

    His lawyer, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), contended that by virtue of Section 158 of the 1999 Constitution, only the NJC had the power to deal with the allegations of misconduct brought against the serving judge by the EFCC.

    But prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, citing Sections 308 and 35 (1) (c) of the Constitution, said the defendant, despite being a serving judge, does not fall within the category of persons immune from prosecution.

    He said the NJC has only administrative disciplinary powers to sanction the defendant for any misconduct.

    In her ruling yesterday, Justice Akintoye, relying on Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution, agreed with the prosecution.

    She said: “It is trite that the court can entertain and determine the right of any citizen. It is therefore not correct that the High Court of Lagos State does not have jurisdiction to entertain this matter.

    “The defendant here is a judicial officer of the Federal Government sitting in the Federal High Court, Bayelsa Division. The EFCC is an agency of government. Is there any law that excludes judicial officers from being charged? I affirm that the NJC has power to discipline any judicial officer, but judicial officers are not covered from being preferred with criminal liability.”

    The judge noted that “the defendant does not have immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “The court has been properly constituted and has the power to try the case. The notice of preliminary objection, I hold, is therefore, misconceived and same is hereby dismissed.”

    Justice Nganjiwa was then docked and the charge was read to him.

    He pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts.

    According to the charge marked LD4769C/17, the defendant allegedly unlawfully received the N81,705,000 in naira and United States dollars.

    The agency said the $260,000

  • CBN, EFCC set to probe banks over kidnap kingpin’s deals

    Some commercial banks allegedly used by billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike  (aka Evans), for ‘business’ transactions may be questioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Nation has learnt.

    The names of the banks and their levels of involvement will be determined by the investigators.

    The lenders will be investigated for possible money laundering and failure to report suspicious transactions.

    The investigation, The Nation learnt, will ascertain whether the lenders followed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) reporting guidelines in filling reports, observed Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and followed Know Your Customer (KYC) directives of the CBN on account opening.

    The NFIU is expected to receive mandatory disclosures by financial institutions and any other individual (voluntarily) – related to single transaction, lodgment or transfer of funds in excess of N5, 000,000 or N1, 000,000 by an individual and N10, 000,000 or N5, 000,000 by a corporate entity as provided Section 10 (1) and (2), MLP Act.

    When contacted, CBN spokesman, Isaac Okorafor, said: “We have nothing to say”.

    But speaking on the development, Information Officer, Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Timothy Melaye, said the levels of penalty to be faced by the banks, if found culpable, will depend on the volume and nature of such transactions.

    He said investigators will have to establish if the lenders failed to follow regulatory guidelines, before they are declared liable.

    Melaye told The Nation that banks should do more to ensure that they understand their customers’ businesses better, saying Nigeria has taken the right step, including the establishment of a legal and regulatory framework that will assist GIABA to meet its anti-money laundering initiatives.

    The GIABA works closely with the CBN, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) to check money laundering.

    He said money laundering or terrorist financing remain global crimes.

    “When HSBC was found guilty of a ‘blatant failure’ to implement anti-money laundering controls and willfully flouted US sanctions, American prosecutors, the bank was forced to pay a record $1.9 billion to settle allegations it allowed terrorists to move money around the financial system. I know for Nigeria, the fine will not be that much if the banks are found guilty, but it will be substantial,” he said.

    Melaye advised banks to report suspicious transactions by customers to the NFIU as well as observe CDD to avoid penalties.

    He said GIABA, as part of its regulatory mandates, works closely with all the core regulators of financial, other-financial institutions and designated non- financial businesses and professions.

    Former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Okechukwu Unegbu, said the banks have a responsibility to report suspicious transactions to the NFIU  and copy the CBN in the report.

    “The banks have the obligation to report suspicious transactions to the NFIU and copy CBN. But sometimes the NFIU looks the other way and do nothing about such reports. These are the things the investigators will try to unravel and punish violators,” he said.

    Part of the NFIU reporting guideline requires that any transaction, particularly in the receipt of international transfer of funds and securities exceeding $10,000 or naira equivalent, must be reported to the NFIU as required by Section 2 (1) of the Money Laundering Prohibition (MLP) Act.

    The NFIU has the responsibility to receive reports on currency transactions; suspicious transactions; currency declaration and other information relating to money laundering and terrorist financing activities from financial institutions and designated non-financial institutions (DNFIs). The body is also expected to receive reports on cross-border movement of currency and monetary instruments.

    The Act stipulates that: The Suspicious Transaction Reports mentioned under Section 6 (2) of the MLPA 2011 shall be reported by financial institutions exclusively to the NFIU to aid intelligence gathering and in line with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 2012 Recommendations 20 and 29.

    Declaration of more than $10,000 or its equivalent made to the Nigerian Customs pursuant to the Foreign Exchange Act, 1995 and Section 2 (3) of the MLP Act, 2011 as amended.

     

  • Anti-graft war: EFCC rewards 25 youths

    Anti-graft war: EFCC rewards 25 youths

    The EFCC has rewarded 25 youths with Net book laptops with Bribe Buster application for joining the Commission in the anti-corruption campaign through their art works.

    Mr Osita Nwajah, the Director, Public Affairs of the commission, presented the gifts to the youths during the launch of the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI), an NGO, in Lagos.

    Nwajah, who represented the commission’s Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, said that the commission had been in a partnership with the Creative Youth Initiative against Corruption (CYIAC) sponsored by Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    According to him, the 25 recipients emerged from the three-month intensive creative programme organised by the commission to curb corruption through creative development.

    The director noted that the students, aged between nine and 14 years, showcased their talents in painting, drama, poetry and singing.

    “The Net Book, a mini laptop, is packaged with educational materials and Bribe Buster application; an animated video series for children and youth developed by TRACE International, USA, for the purpose of advancing commercial transparency worldwide.”

    Nwajah said that the commission was very delighted to be identified with the CYIAC, stressing that its involvement in the project was a deliberate effort at achieving a corrupt-free Nigeria.

    “Corruption is fighting back and it is easy to be discouraged; but the EFCC will do all it can within its powers to ensure that corruption is fought to the barest minimum.

    “One of the ways to achieve the preventive mandate of the commission is to support this initiative. The CYIAC is a corruption preventive initiative of the EFCC.

    “It kicked off in October 2016 and is committed to lead change in children and youth by eradicating corruption through character (attitude) and skill (aptitude) development for the positive advancement of Nigeria,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Foluke Michael, the Project Director of the CYIAC, said that the project was aimed at creating corruption awareness in children and youths, adding that the objective had been achieved through various forms of art.

    The Chairperson of CYCDI, Chief Oyenike Okundaye, in her remark, said that her organization would provide the necessary support and platform to ensure that CYCDI delivered its objectives of building a new Nigeria.

    She said that the platform would engage children, youths, women and the creative community for the advancement of the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CYCDI is an NGO that aims to empower children, youths and women through creative development, to support the creative industry.

    It also seeks to support other community development projects by promoting creativity, entrepreneurial skills, empowerment programmes and wealth creation in children, youths and women in Africa.

  • NITDA, EFCC forge alliance, tighten noose on IT procurement racketeers

    NITDA, EFCC forge alliance, tighten noose on IT procurement racketeers

    National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have forged an alliance in order to strengthen the anti-corruption war especially on the procurement of Information Technology, (IT) products and service among the Ministries, Department and Agencies of the Federal Government.

    Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the director general of NITDA, disclosed this on Tuesday when he led the management team of the Agency on a working visit to  EFCC Headquarter in Abuja.

    Pantami stated that the alliance has become imperative in the face of the wanton corruption being perpetrated by MDAs especially in the procurement of IT products and services as most of the projects pass through less scrutiny during budget defense at National Assembly because of the expertise required to ascertain the needs and specifications of these IT requirements.

    “Many MDAs consider IT projects  as conduit pipes to siphon public funds and I believe partnering with EFCC will bring sanity to the sector and by then the commission will be empowering NITDA in strengthening its regulatory function through which it will also be developing  and promoting the local content in the IT sector,” the NITDA boss said.

    While suggesting the modus operandi of the partnership, Dr Pantami informed that the two organisations could form a working group which would also serve as a desk to deal with sharp practices in the IT procurement, adding that, “EFCC may help in asking MDAs to produce procurement clearance issued by NITDA during their investigations.

    He said NITDA as IT regulatory body in the country, the Agency is responsible for subjecting IT product to value-for-money analysis, reduce projects duplication, justify the spending of public funds on IT projects and to advise MDAs on the alternative options of IT products and service with a view of reducing cost especially on sharing of software among themselves.

    The DG who believed that the alliance would strengthen the existing relationship between the Agency and the Commission said: “supporting NITDA would go a long way in blocking loopholes in IT procurements.”

    In a press release signed by Hadiza Umar, head, Corporate Affairs & External Relations at NITDA, she said the DG commended the EFCC’s Acting chairman for his doggedness, fearlessness and outstanding performance which he has recorded in acting capacity saying the feat could take some people 20 years to achieve as substantive chairman of the commission.

    While assuring him of his prayers and goodwill, Dr Pantami stated that Nigeria needs people like Mr Magu who are fearless and do not think of the consequences of their action to move forward as a nation

    In his remarks, Mr Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Commission, who expressed his delight over the visit said that  EFCC as Commission “would be complying with NITDA’s request so as to bring some level of sanity to the procurement of IT products and services among MDAs in Nigeria.

    He described the partnership as timely especially now that the Commission is on the process of “completely digitalizing the operation of EFCC” adding that he now has place in NITDA to run to when he gets confused on  IT projects under investigations.

    Describing corruption as a threat to the unity of Nigeria, the EFCC boss maintained that the Commission cannot fight corruption alone without the consensus of all Nigerians, he pleaded to Nigerians not to  be discouraged on the recent corruption case judgments delivered recently

    Mr Magu stated that the cause of agitations from different quarters in the country today is because of corruptions that has ravaged the nation. “Absolutely there is a political will to fight corruption and this is not in doubt. This is the time to save this country from the shackles of corruption,” he added

    The two organisations agreed to nominate three officials each to constitute the working group and the desk with the term of reference of verifying the IT products and services to be procured with public funds.

  • 2018 Budget: FG considers special intervention fund for NAPTIP – Minister

    2018 Budget: FG considers special intervention fund for NAPTIP – Minister

    Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister Budget and National Planning, says the Federal Government is considering providing special intervention funds for  victims of human trafficking in the 2018 budget.

    Udoma said this when he received the Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ms Julie Donli, on Thursday in Abuja.

    The minister said the visit was timely as the ministry had begun the preparation for the 2018 budget and the ministry would consider the request of the agency in providing special intervention funds for it.

    “We can now reflect some of your requirements in the 2018 budget, but I think you should work closely with your supervising ministry (Ministry of Justice).

    “You need to work with your ministry to get your needs included in the budget when submitting to the Budget Office,’’ he said.

    Udoma, however, assured the agency of the ministry’s support to address its challenges.

    The minister said the priority of the administration was to invest in Nigerians, adding that it is the reason the government inaugurated the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    “Investing in our people is not just Nigerians here, it is for Nigerians everywhere because we have a responsibility for the welfare of every Nigerian.’’

    He commended the agency for living up to its responsibility in addressing issues of trafficking in the country.

    Earlier, Donli spoke on the challenges hindering the agency to perform its mandate effectively.

    “Our challenges are enormous; our funding is inadequate for this kind of job we are expected to do.

    “The envelope system cannot work for us. We need to be classified as a proper security agency because our job is similar to that of EFCC.

    “ There is no absolute difference between the and NAPTIP in terms of operations and job description,’’ she said.

    According to her, NAPTIP has nine zonal commands in the 36 states of the federation and it requires a lot of funding.

    Donli expressed worry over the state of the agency’s operational vehicles, adding that they were donated to the agency by donor agencies over 10 years.

    “There was Presidential order in 2014 to sort it out and over N309 million was approved and it was supposed to spread over the 2015 and 2016 budget.

    “We have not really had our own vehicles, the ones we have are old and rickety and our officials are using their own vehicles to work.’’

    Besides, the director-general decried lack of funds in rehabilitating and repatriation of victims as well as prosecuting those involved in the act.

    “There is need to provide special intervention funds for us to facilitate the rescue and repatriation of traffickers victims from various parts of the world, especially Africa.

    “We have no fewer than 5,000 victims awaiting rescue from Mali alone; every day we get people coming from Libya, Spain, Italy; every day they come in their hundreds and we are at dilemma.

    “Coming to prosecution, we ought to have more cases of conviction.

    “Right now, we can only boost of 323 cases, over the years, we have rescued 10,685 victims, we cannot prosecute them,’’ she lamented.

    She solicited the support of all stakeholders in achieving the mandate of NAPTIP.

    “Also, we encourage people to report cases of human trafficking just to help us trace assets of traffickers as well.

    “The law gives us the power to trace and seize the assets of traffickers through the court for the benefit of the victims of trafficking,’’ Donli said.

  • Court refuses to quash fraud charges against Omokore, others

    Court refuses to quash fraud charges against Omokore, others

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday rejected an application seeking the dismissal of the $1.6bn fraud charges filed against the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, Jide Omokore and others.

    Omokorie, a friend of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and five others were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine-count amended charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6 billion belonging to the Federal Government.

    The other accused persons are – Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

    Details later…

  • EFCC grills ex-Army chief Minimah over arms deals

    EFCC grills ex-Army chief Minimah over arms deals

    Gen. defends $1.89b spent on equipment

    Lawyers decry Senate’s plot against Magu

    FOR hours yesterday, detectives grilled former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah over a multi-billion naira arms procurement during his tenure.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing the over $1,891,809,299.1 deal because, according to sources, it did not follow the public procurement law.

    Former Minister of Aviation Senator Stella Oduah is expected to appear before the commission today to answer to petitions against her.

    But there were indications last night that the Senate may pass a resolution banning suspects from appearing before EFCC until its Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, steps aside.

    Legal experts contacted by The Nation, however, dismissed the Senate’s move, saying resolutions do not have force of law.

    To embark on the move, they said, would be an exercise in futility.

    According to them, “resolutions are not laws; they are mere advice”.

    They added that an agency could not be stopped from doing its job because of the fear of some people.

    “What they (senators) are planning to do is unconstitutional. It has no backing in law. They should concentrate on law making and not embark on a witch-hunt,”the lawyers said.

    The Senate rejected Magu’s nomination twice based on security reports by the Department of State Service (DSS).

    It was learnt that the plot to stop high-profile suspects from reporting to EFCC was hatched before the Senate went on recess last Thursday.

    Minimah, it was learnt, was asked questions on the procedure for such contracts in the army.

    It was discovered that  a company, which was registered on November 17, 2014, got a $125,179,299.10million  contract  on the same day.

    Besides Minimah, 53 others, including another former Chief of Army Staff, 16 other retired and serving Army officers, 12 serving and retired public officers and 24 Chief Executive Officers of companies involved in the deal would also be quizzed.

    Minimah was Chief of Army Staff between January 16, 2014 and July 13, 2015.

    Clad in blue jeans and short sleeve shirt, Minimah looked calm and warm after the session at about 4.55pm.

    A top source in EFCC said: “The ex-Chief of Army Staff met with our team and responded to some of the issues isolated for him. It is too early to give the details of our interaction with him because we are working on the report of a panel which investigated arms deal in the Armed Forces. When we get to a convenient bend, we will release the details. We need to interact with companies and some people who were recommended for probe too.”

    Oduah, a source said, was invited over some petitions bordering on the purchase of two armoured BMW vehicles at N255million by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority during her tenure as aviation minister in 2013 and the N9billion contract for the remodelling of some airports.

    “She has a lot of allegations outstanding in the past few years. She had  filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit, asking the court to prohibit the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office, the EFCC, and the police from “inviting, arresting, investigating or prosecuting” her.

    “She lost the case on October 6, 2016. But we tarried a while because she was bereaved. Now, it is time to interact with her. Our team will meet with the ex-minister on Wednesday( today).”

    Last night, there were strong indications that the Senate might pass a resolution directing Nigerians to shun EFCC’s invitation until Magu vacates office.

    It was learnt that Senators are angry that the Executive was relying on Section 181 of the 1999 Constitution to keep Magu in office.

    It was also gathered that the Senate may have adopted their strategy following moves by EFCC to investigate some of its members.

    A source said: “Upon resumption from recess, the Senate may  pass a resolution directing Nigerians, especially high-profile suspects, not to honour EFCC’s invitation until Magu is removed.

    “The plot leaked from intelligence findings from a meeting of some Senators who were angry that the leadership had been too tolerant of the Executive on Magu’s case.

    “The plan by the EFCC to investigate the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar after the acquittal of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has further buoyed the plot of the upper chamber to stop Magu from being in office.

    “Some Senators are worried that the EFCC might move against them bordering on the ongoing probe of London-Paris Club refunds. Some aides of a few Senators have been interrogated by the EFCC.

    “If they go ahead with the boycott plan, it may scuttle the anti-corruption war in the country.”

    Another source said: “Of course, the lawmakers are not happy about Magu. In fact, some of them are angry that despite his rejection twice, the Federal Government is still keeping him. This is not acceptable and the lawmakers are going to take a drastic decision when they resume from recess.

    “ One of the options is to pass a resolution, asking invited persons on corruption allegations not to honour the invitation until Magu is removed”.

     

  • $115m ‘Diezani bribe’: Lawmaker freed as ex-minister surrenders to EFCC 

    $115m ‘Diezani bribe’: Lawmaker freed as ex-minister surrenders to EFCC 

    AN Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday freed a federal lawmaker, Aliyu Ahman Pategi, who was remanded last Friday for failing to produce an ex-minister, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, who he stood surety for.

    Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku struck out the charge against Pategi following Akinjide’s surrender yesterday afternoon to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Lagos office in Ikoyi.

    Pategi is the House of Representatives member representing Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency, Kwara State.

    Akinjide, a former Federal Capital Territory and Minister of State for Defence, was declared wanted by the EFCC for alleged conspiracy and laundering of N650 million.

    The agency said she collected the sum from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke in March 2015, as part of the $115million allegedly illegally disbursed by the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration to prosecute the 2015 general elections.

    According to a 16-paragraph affidavit filed by the commission, Diezani received the money as gratification from some oil marketers.

    EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that Akinjide was granted bail by the agency last August 10, after Pategi stood as her surety on a N650 million bail bond.

    Pategi, Oyedepo said, promised to produce Akinjide whenever she was needed.

    He said a 24-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy was brought against her before Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan.

    Akinjide, Oyedepo added, failed to turn up in court after more than three proceedings, despite the service of the charge on her, prompting the Federal High Court to threaten to dismiss the charge.

    He said Akinjide was not seen since then and Pategi, despite repeated demands, failed to produce her

    He brought an application that Pategi should show cause why the N650 million should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Pategi was then remanded in EFCC custody.

    When the case came up yesterday, Oyedepo said Akinjide had reported herself to the EFCC’s office.

    “I just confirmed from the EFCC zonal office that Akinjide has turned herself in to EFCC custody.

    “Since it was the inability of Pategi to produce Akinjide that triggered our application, we apply that this suit be struck out in view of the success of producing Akinjide.

    “In the interest of justice, I seek to withdraw this suit,” Oyedepo said.

    Defence counsel Olusegun Williams told the court that although the business of the day was for the defendant’s bail and preliminary objection to be heard, an arrangement out of court settlement talks were on going.

    He, thereafter, withdrew his applications and urged the court to suspend the suit until a settlement was reached.

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Botoku struck out the suit.

    She said: “Based on the application of the prosecutor, the suit is hereby struck out and the defendant released.”

  • ‘EFCC planning to re-arrest Jonathan’s godson’

    ‘EFCC planning to re-arrest Jonathan’s godson’

    A Coalition of Niger Delta Youth Leaders (CNDYL), yesterday, alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was planning to arrest George Turnah, the godson of President Goodluck Jonathan for the third time.

    Turnah, erstwhile Special Assistant on Youths Matters to the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is facing prosecution by EFCC on multiple charges of corruption.

    Turnah, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, was arrested twice by EFCC and granted administrative and court bails.

    His properties were confiscated and placed on permanent forfeiture following a court order.

    But the youth leaders, who insisted that Turnah’s trial was politically-motivated, accused the EFCC of vindictiveness.

    The coalition in a statement signed by its President, Mr. Okhare Godgift and Secretary, Kelvin Abiye, said enemies of Turnah’s rising political profile were behind his ordeal in EFCC.

    The youth leaders said Turnah’s persecutors who thought that his ordeal and persecution would defame, demarket and silence him were surprised at the widespread solidarity and empathy he had so far garnered from sympathisers.

    They claimed that the life of the 33-year-old would be in danger if re-arrested by EFCC, adding that his enemies were plotting to kill him.

    They said:  ”As a result, words have filtered to us from credible sources that another plot they are hatching, which is dead on arrival, is the intimidation, browbeating, suffocation and illegal arrest of Turnah’s intimate family members and legal associates so as to deny him their services.”