The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC re-arraigns Fani-Kayode, Nenadi before new judge

    EFCC re-arraigns Fani-Kayode, Nenadi before new judge

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

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

    The defendants were first arraigned on June 28, last year before Justice Muslim Hassan.

    But on March 16, he recused himself from the case after Fani-Kayode accused him of likely bias.

    The judge transferred the case file to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another judge.

    In asking the court to disqualify himself, Fani-Kayode said Justice Hassan, who worked as Head of Legal at the EFCC before his appointment as a judge, signed the money laundering charge for which Fani-Kayode was previously tried and acquitted by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on July 1, 2015.

    Following Justice Hassan’s withdrawal, the case was re-assigned to Justice Rilwan Aikawa and the defendants took their pleas afresh yesterday.

    Justice Aikawa asked the defendants to remain on the bail terms earlier granted them by Justice Hassan.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned until June 7 for ruling and commencement of trial.

     

     

  • No money is stolen from Paris Club refunds – NGF

    No money is stolen from Paris Club refunds – NGF

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Monday said no money was stolen or embezzled from the Paris-London Club refunds to states or from any other source.

    The Head of Media and Public Affairs at NGF Secretariat, Mr. Abulrazque Barkindo, said this in a statement in Abuja.

    Barkindo denied allegation that the Chairman of the Forum, Abdulaziz Yari, was building a $3million hotel from money stolen from refunds to states.

    Barkindo said the false allegation gave cause for worry.

    He said, “The reports contain harmful, damaging and libelous insinuations which remain largely unsubstantiated, despite the fact that it attributed the leaks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials in Lagos.

    “Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar has said emphatically said he does not even own a plot of land in Lagos not to talk of a hotel.’’

    He said some EFCC officials in Lagos claimed that “they have found a hotel being constructed by Governor Yari with $3million he stole from London-Paris Club loan refund to Nigerian states.”

    He also quoted the report as saying that “apart from the $3million, Governor Yari also diverted N500 million from the Paris Club refund to pay off a loan.”

    Barkindo described all the claims as wrong, harmful, libelous and misleading disclosures.

    “Governor Yari is not building any hotel in Lagos nor were any money stolen or embezzled from the Paris-London Club refunds to states or from any other source,’’ the NGF spokesman added.

    NAN

  • EFCC seeks permanent forfeiture of Patience’s Jonathan’s $5.7m

    EFCC seeks permanent forfeiture of Patience’s Jonathan’s $5.7m

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the final forfeiture of $5.7million belonging to wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on April 26 made an interim order forfeiting the money to the Federal Government.

    EFCC said Mrs. Jonathan allegedly paid $6,791,599.64 (about N2.1billion) into her account between February 8, 2013 and January 30, 2015.

    It said the money, which she allegedly directed her aides to pay into her account while her husband was president, was suspected to be proceed of unlawful activities.

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

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

    It prayed the court to order the temporary forfeiture of the remaining sum to prevent her from further dissipating it.

    Justice Olatoregun directed the EFCC to publish the interim order in a newspaper to enable any interested party to appear before the court within 14 days to “show cause” as to why a final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the federal government.

    Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), on Monday urged the court not to order a final forfeiture of the money.

    Hs said his client was not given sufficient time to “show cause” why the money should not be forfeited to the federal government.

     

  • Alleged bribery: EFCC wants judge to withdraw from INEC staff trial

    Alleged bribery: EFCC wants judge to withdraw from INEC staff trial

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday asked Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos to withdraw from the trial of two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) employees accused of receiving bribe.

    Christian Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir were accused of receiving N30million bribe from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general election results.

    They were arraigned along with Yisa Adedoyin, who pleaded guilty to receiving cash payment of N70, 050,000.00 from the ex-minister.

    Alison-Madueke is also named in the charge, but is said to be “at large.”

    Adedoyin was convicted following a plea bargain with EFCC in which he agreed to pay a fine of N10million and to forfeit his illicitly-acquired assets.

    Nwosu pleaded guilty at first and entered a plea bargain with EFCC, but Justice Idris rejected the agreement on the basis that it was not severe enough.

    It was agreed that Nwosu would forfeit the assets he acquired with the money and pay N500,000 fine.

    After rejecting the plea bargain agreement, Justice Idris gave Nwosu the option of changing his plea to not guilty, or accepting a heavier sentence, including N10million fine as provided in the law.

    When the defendants were re-arraigned, Nwosu changed his plea to not guilty.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said on Monday that based on Section 270 (15) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the judge ought to return the case-file for re-assignment.

    The section reads: “Where the defendant has been informed of the heavier sentence, the defendant may withdraw from his plea agreement, in which event the trial shall proceed de novo before another presiding judge or magistrate, as the case may be.”

    Oyedepo said should the trial continue before Justice Idris, the judge could later be accused of bias and violating the law.

    “I urge my lord to remit the case to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another judge,” the prosecutor said.

    But, Nwosu’s lawyer, Victor Opara, said since the judge had rejected the plea bargain agreement, it amounts to there being no plea bargain.

    Besides, he said Nwosu had pleaded not guilty to a “new” charge, adding that transferring the case to a new judge would be a waste of time.

    Opera undertook not to raise the issue of bias at any point in the proceedings, including on appeal.

    Justice Idris adjourned till May 24 for ruling on the matter.

  • Court jails two siblings for Internet fraud

    Two siblings, a male and female, have been sentenced to two years imprison each for Internet fraud in Warri, Delta, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In a statement on Monday, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, identified the duo as Chukwudi Ugwueke a.k.a James Scott and Sophia Ugwueke.

    Uwujaren said they were sentenced by Justice E. A .Obile of the Federal High Court, Warri, but were given an option of N400,000 fine each.

    EFCC operatives arrested the convicts at their residence in Sapele, Delta, in January based on intelligence on their illegal activities bordering on defrauding foreigners through Internet scams.

    They were first arraigned on Feb. 1 on a 13-count charge, but pleaded not guilty, according to the EFCC spokesman.

    However, when the case came up for hearing on May 11, they pleaded guilty to an amended one-count charge of possession of fraudulent documents with intent to defraud one Lisa Marie Nors, an American.

    After reviewing the evidence tendered by the prosecution counsel, M. T. Iko, Justice Obile found the duo guilty and convicted them accordingly, Uwujaren said.

  • Governor builds hotel with $3m Paris Club refund cash

    Governor builds hotel with $3m Paris Club refund cash

    Cash lodged in Rep’s account through proxy

    EFCC places restriction on NGF’s N8b, $80m

    Detectives have traced $3million of the controversial London-Paris Club loan refund to a governor, The Nation learnt on Thursday.

    The cash is believed to be part of the N19billion illegally deducted from the refund by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), according to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sources.

    The cash has been found in the account of a member of the House of Representatives who got it through a  proxy, the lawmaker’s brother. Both were not available for comments. The  $3million is being spent on building a 100-room hotel in Lagos, which the governor may forfeit to the Federal Government.

    Also, the EFCC has placed a restriction on N8billion and $80million in the naira and dollar accounts of the NGF.

    The Presidency has released N1. 266.44trillion to the 36 states in the past one year. The cash includes N713.70billion special intervention funds to states.

    Following protests by states against over deduction for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refund pending reconciliation of records.

    Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.

    Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the payment would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship”.

    The governors sought for the refund to states and local governments at a meeting with President Buhari on May 24, last year.

    A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The EFCC is still investigating the N19billion allegedly diverted from the loan refund. The commission has so far interrogated 15 companies, more than 10 individuals and over eight bureaux de change used to divert the cash.

    “The latest bend of the investigation is the discovery of $3million linked with another governor who benefited from the illegal deduction. The governor had engaged a member of the House of Representatives(who was also a former commissioner) to launder his share.

    The lawmaker was said to have wired the $3million into his brother’s account before moving it into his own. Upon interrogation,  one of the suspects admitted that the cash was for the ongoing construction of a 100-room hotel for the governor.

    “About $500,000 of the $3million has been recovered by the EFCC. It is a scam in which many people benefited and a sizeable number of proxies used to launder the funds,” the source said.

    The $3million was transferred to the lawmaker for the governor from the $86million in the NGF’s domiciliary account.

    “We will do our best to recover the already diverted part of the $3million. We may also apply for the forfeiture of the hotel to the Federal Government,” the source said, pleading not to be named so as not to jeopardise the investigation.

    The $86million is said to be for the payment of consultants who worked for the refund for the 35 states. But none of the consultants has been paid. Some of them have already gone to court.

    The source added:  “The EFCC has placed a Post No Debit restriction on the NGF’s  account with N8billion and domiciliary account with $80million.

    “Out of the $86million, $3million was wired to the governor through a proxy and another $2million shared out.

    “The EFCC is ready to lift the restriction on the two accounts of the NGF on  a condition that the consultants and legal advisers who deserve to be paid will be given what they are entitled to in line with the agreement signed with the NGF.

    “We want the NGF to involve the EFCC in the disbursement to avoid another diversion of the cash. As it is now, consultants and legal advisers are complaining that they are being shortchanged by the governors.”

    The EFCC had earlier traced about N500million, which was meant for a consultant, to the account of a governor.

    The cash has been retrieved.

  • APC will not protect corrupt politicians – Oyegun

    APC will not protect corrupt politicians – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun said Thursday that the party will not offer anybody accused of corruption any form of protection from prosecution as being insinuated by Nigerians.

    Speaking when he received Senator Florence Ita Giwa at the National Secretariat, Chief Oyegun said even though he was not aware of any case of corruption against her, it is important to stressed that insinuation that those joining the party from the PDP are seeking protection from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were not true.

    He said: I know that those who don’t wish us often tend to misinterpret some of this happening as running away thinking that they would have protection from the EFCC.

    “Of course, I am not aware in your case that anybody is harassing you with the EFCC. In any case, it is obvious and played out today that we do not offer sanctuary to anybody running from the arms of the law. The evidence is all over the place”

    He said further that he has “been severally criticised for saying that the change we stand for is something that cannot be accomplished and completed in the life of our present four year tenure. It will not be completed even in eight years.

    “The task is enormous, challenging and worth fighting for. We stand on the threshold of history. God put this nation called Nigeria for a purpose and he does not make mistake. We have a manifest destiny.

    “We thank you for volunteering to join us to work. This is not a food is ready party that has become very clear. I thank Mama Bakassi for doing so much for your people. I want to assure the two of you that you won’t suffer any loss of status or recognition and you will occupy your proper place.”

    While welcoming her and her supporters to the party, he said “We welcome you to the headquarters of the APC headquarters. It is an honour that has been bestowed on only very few persons. One thing made your presence significant here. Traditionally, the South-south has been the heart of the unity and oneness of this nation, whether during the civil war or post-civil war.

    “Of course, our party does not have the presence it ought to have in the South-south. So when people of your calibre join us for the struggle, we from the South-south are particularly glad and happy.

    “We are in difficult and troubling times. President Buhari is trying strenuously to rebuild the shattered economy, to diversify our economic potential which up till now most unfortunately rested solely and unintelligently on crude oil. The result of the collapsed economy in addition to the collapse in the crude oil market has disrupted our economy, which has manifested in the individual deprivations of Nigerians all over the country.

    “In spite of the obvious difficulties that the nation is passing through, people like you voluntarily wanted to assist in this responsibility of helping in nation building.”

    In her remarks, Senator Florence Ita Giwa said she was forced out of the PDP of the impunity done to her by the party, saying “coming to the party is like a home coming, and I am identifying with the people I have known before. I feel very comfortable identifying with the caliber of people in the APC.

    “I will like to correct the erroneous notion that I decamped or they call it defection because there is no party to defect from. I personally stopped attending meetings in the last two years because of the impunity done on me.

    “It is on record that at 2015, I had went to the presidential candidate to say that I  was leaving the party, so I was potentially one of the politicians that were forcefully driven out of the party.

    “Again, with all sense of modesty, as a politician, you have to be good to your people for them to love you on whatever party you come from and till today, the love of my people are still electrifying today as when I started politics 25 years ago and I fill I should no longer waste my time. That is why I kept away because there are two groups running around and some of us are too serious to show our face in that kind of place.”

     

  • Court adjourns Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery case till June 21

    Court adjourns Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery case till June 21

    An FCT High Court, Lugbe, on Wednesday adjourned until June 21 and June 22, an alleged bribery case involving Hon. Faroq Lawan and Femi Otedola.

    Justice Angela Otaluku of the FCT High Court granted the request of counsel to the defendant, Mr Mike Ozekhome in view of the application brought before it.

    “In view of this application, this case is further adjourned until June 21st and 22nd, 2017 for further hearing,” she said.

    Ozekhome said the request for adjournment was to enable him prepared and drill the witness in the next appearance, adding that there was need to diligently cross examine the witness in view of the case.

    Meanwhile, Ozekhome had earlier made an application to recall Prosecuting Witness Two (PW2) on the basis of his non-availability in the court the day he appeared in court because it was handled by a junior lawyer.

    “I was attending a case involving me and the EFCC, so I couldn’t make myself available.”

    However, the request was turned down because the witness could not be recalled to testify again.

    In a swift reaction, Ozekhome promised to take the case up to the Supreme Court to determine if a witness who had earlier testified in a case could be recalled.

    He said this was to strengthen the judicial system and allow justice to run its course.

    Mr Adegboyega Awomolo, the Prosecuting Counsel led Hon. Jagaban Jagaban, a member of the House of Representatives and a former Chairman, House Committee on Drug, Narcotics and Financial Crime in evidence against the defendant.

    He said that his relationship with Lawan was the same that exists among House of Representatives members, adding that he never had any other relationship with him.

    He said that his job as the committee Chairman on Drugs, Narcotic and Financial Crime was to supervise the activities of EFCC and NDLEA, adding that he also made budgets for them.

    “We are empowered by the constitution to investigate matters relating to our committee when reported and referred to the Federal Government for further investigation.

    He said that he did not collect any money from the defendant as claimed in his statement to the Police.

    Further cross examination in the case has been adjourned until June 21 and June 22.

     

  • Court adjourns Lawan bribery case till June 21

    Court adjourns Lawan bribery case till June 21

    An FCT High Court, Lugbe, on Wednesday adjourned until June 21 and June 22, an alleged bribery case involving Hon. Faroq Lawan and Femi Otedola.

    Justice Angela Otaluku of the FCT High Court granted the request of counsel to the defendant, Mr. Mike Ozekhome in view of the application brought before it.

    “In view of this application, this case is further adjourned until June 21st and 22nd, 2017 for further hearing,” she said.

    Ozekhome said the request for adjournment was to enable him prepared and drill the witness in the next appearance, adding that there was need to diligently cross examine the witness in view of the case.

    Meanwhile, Ozekhome had earlier made an application to recall Prosecuting Witness Two (PW2) on the basis of his non availability in the court the day he appeared in court because it was handled by a junior lawyer.

    “I was attending a case involving me and the EFCC, so I couldn’t make myself available.”

    However, the request was turned down because the witness could not be recalled to testify again.

    In a swift reaction, Ozekhome promised to take the case up to the Supreme Court to determine if a witness who had earlier testified in a case could be recalled.

    He said this was to strengthen the judicial system and allow justice to run its course.

    Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo, the Prosecuting Counsel led Hon. Jagaban Jagaban, a member of the House of Representatives and a former Chairman, House Committee on Drug, Narcotics and Financial Crime in evidence against the defendant.

    He said that his relationship with Lawan was the same that exists among House of Representatives members, adding that he never had any other relationship with him.

    He said that his job as the committee Chairman on Drugs, Narcotic and Financial Crime was to supervise the activities of EFCC and NDLEA, adding that he also made budgets for them.

    “We are empowered by the constitution to investigate matters relating to our committee when reported and referred to the Federal Government for further investigation.

    He said that he did not collect any money from the defendant as claimed in his statement to the Police.

    Further cross examination in the case has been adjourned until June 21 and June 22.

     

  • Court dismisses ex-NNPC GMD’s bid to recover forfeited $9m

    Court dismisses ex-NNPC GMD’s bid to recover forfeited $9m

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Wednesday dismissed an application filed by a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, to recover $9.8m forfeited to the federal Government in February.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) discovered the $9.8 million during raids on the ex- NNPC chief’s house in January.

    Yakubu had filed the application in a bid to overturn the interim order of forfeiture of the fund granted the EFCC in February.