The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • Ex- Reps member Duru arraigned for fraud

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Nze Chidi Duru, was arraigned on Tuesday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for allegedly diverting N16.1m pension funds.

    Duru was arraigned on a four-count charge of falsification of documents and money laundering.

    He was said to have committed the offence when he was the Vice Chairman of First Guarantee Pension Limited.

    He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him, following which lead prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, applied for a date for the commencement of trial.

    He also sought the remand of the defendant in prison pending the next date.

    Before Tahir could conclude his submission, Justice Peter Affen drew his attention to a notice of preliminary objection filed by the defendant, challenging the validity of the charge.

    Although Tahir claimed not to have been served with the objection, defence lawyer, Abdul Mohammed, insisted that the prosecution was duly served by the court’s bailiff on February 2, 2017.

    He said there was evidence to that effect in the court’s file.

    Justice Affen later confirmed, from evidence in the court’s file that the prosecution was served with the defendant’s objection on February 2.

    He noted that the service was acknowledged by an official of the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), identified as Adigwe Patricia.

  • Ex-NIMASA DG claims statement to EFCC was not voluntary

    Ex-NIMASA DG claims statement to EFCC was not voluntary

    A FORMER Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, yesterday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of inducing him to make a statement.
    Jauro was arraigned last April 12 along with Dr. Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 counts of converting N304.1 million from NIMASA.
    They pleaded not guilty.
    During trial before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday, Jauro’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, objected to the tendering of the defendant’s statement made following his arrest.
    The judge consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine if the statement was obtained voluntarily.
    The first prosecution witness, Mr. Orji Chukwuma, led in evidence by EFCC lawyer Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said Jauro made a request for the transfer of N176 million to seven beneficiaries, including NIMASA executive directors, board members or directors.
    He said Bawa allegedly received N20 million through his bank account.
    Chukwuma said Jauro returned his own share of the money.
    He said on July 10, 2014, N20million from the Committee on Intelligence Gathering was paid into the account of Thlumbau Enterprises, a company linked to Jauro and Bawa.
    Chukwuma said that the said sum was not used for the proposed intelligence gathering but was merged with other proceeds of crime and transferred to one Helen Mbonu.
    The witness said there was also a request for the transfer of N15 million to Thumbau Enterprises.
    When prosecution counsel sought to tender Jauro’s statement, Ojo objected on the basis that the statement was not voluntarily obtained by the EFCC.
    He alleged the statement was obtained through inducement, therefore, it could not be tendered and admitted in court.
    He urged the court to order a trial-within-trial.
    Justice Olatoregun-Ishola granted the prayer and adjourned till February 21, March 3, 13 and 14.

  • My statement to EFCC not voluntary – Ex- NIMASA chief

    A former Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, on Monday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of inducing him to make a statement.

    Jauro was arraigned on April 12 last year along with Dr. Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 –count charge of converting N304.1 million from NIMASA.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    During trial before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, Jauro’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, objected to the tendering of the defendant’s statement made after his arrest by the EFCC.

    The judge consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine if the statement was obtained voluntarily.

    The first prosecution witness, Mr. Orji Chukwuma, led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said Jauro made a request for the transfer of N176 million to seven beneficiaries, including NIMASA executive directors, board members or directors.

    He said Bawa allegedly received N20 million through his bank account.

    Chukwuma said Jauro returned his own share of the money.

    He said on July 10, 2014, N20million from the Committee on Intelligence Gathering was paid into the account of Thlumbau Enterprises, a company linked to Jauro and Bawa.

    Chukwuma said the said sum was not used for the proposed intelligence gathering but was merged with other proceeds of crime and transferred to one Helen Mbonu.

    The witness said there was also a request for the transfer of N15 million to Thumbau Enteprises.

    When prosecution counsel sought to tender Jauro’s statement, Ojo objected on the basis that the statement was not voluntarily obtained by the EFCC.

    He alleged the statement was obtained through inducement, therefore, it could not be tendered and admitted in court.

    He urged the court to order a trial-within-trial.

    Justice Olatoregun-Ishola granted the prayer and adjourned the matter till February 21, March 3, 13 and 14.

  • EFCC seizes ex-Bauchi Gov Yuguda’s house

    EFCC seizes ex-Bauchi Gov Yuguda’s house

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized a choice property belonging to the immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda.
    The confiscation of the property which is located at No 184 Attahiru Bafarawa Close old GRA,Bauchi, is  on the strength of an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the commission said yesterday.
    It said the seizure will be in force pending the conclusion of investigation against him bordering on abuse of office, money laundering and diversion of public funds.
    ”The court had directed the Bauchi State Lands Registry to furnish the EFCC with the copies of all documents including building plan approval in respect of the property,” the EFCC said.
    It was said to be on the trail of Yuguda  who, prior to his election as governor had served, first as Minister of State for Transport and later as Minister Aviation in the Obasanjo Administration.
    “We have been looking for him but intelligence gathering confirmed that he had been out of the country,” an EFCC source said.
    “He was once sighted in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates but it is difficult to ascertain his location now.
    “For the second year running we have been asking him to report for questioning but we cannot get him.”
    His probe by the EFCC was triggered by a petition by the present administration in the state against him alleging that he spent N6.181billion as security votes within a period of four months in 2015 during his tenure.
    The state cited a curious withdrawal of N2,191, 248,744.71 within 10 days under the guise of security votes.
    In a petition signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Bello Shehu Ilelah, it urged the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu to probe the suspicious expenses.
    The petition, GO/SS/FIN/ S18/T.1 said the votes were supposed to be used for projects but diverted to security reasons.
    The petition reads: “I am directed to lodge a petition on behalf of Bauchi State Government. The gist of the petition is that between January to May 2015, the sum of N6, 181, 224, 230 .00 was purportedly spent on security reasons and  consideration as follows: January(N351,806,000); February(N899,900,000); March (N2,040, 876,500); April(N738,200,000) and May (N2, 150,441,730).
    “On 8/5/2015 and 18/5/2015 respectively, two memoranda were originated by the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Bauchi State in the person of Hajiya Talatu M. Barwa to  His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda for the release of N1,591,248,744.71 and N600,000,000 respectively totalling N2,191, 248,744.71.
    “The amount was supposed to be used for the execution of projects in the areas of health, education, rural development and security. The projects were said to cut across all the 20 Local Government Councils having direct bearing to the lives of people in various communities in the state.
    “The sums are the 20 Local Government Councils’ contributions to joint projects between the state and local governments.
    “The sums were spent as security vote requirements in May 2015 without executing any health, education and rural development-related projects which was the main reason why the application for cash backing was made.
    “The sum of N1,591, 248,744.71 was to be released from the Local Government Joint Account No. 5030025116 at Fidelity Bank Plc to the Accountant-General through the Excess Crude Oil Account No. 1243224012 operated at the First City Monument Bank(FCMB) Plc.
    “While the sum of N600million from the Local Government Joint Account No. 5030025116 at Fidelity Bank to the Bauchi State Government through Excess Crude Oil Account No. 1243224012 operated at the First City Monument Bank(FCMB) Plc.
    “Suffice to say that the sums of money in the memorandum for cash backing dated 8/5/2015 respectively were released. We urge you to cause investigation to be conducted into this matter. The following documents are attached and marked as Annexures 1,2, 3 and 4 respectively.
    The annexures are Memorandum(8/5/2015); Memorandum(18/5/2015); Document titled payment of Security Vote requirement for the year 2015; and Document titled “Certificate of Expenditure.”

  • Prosecutor’s absence stalls Adegboruwa’s trial

    The absence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor on Monday stalled the trial of activist-lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.

    The lawyer was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in a seized property.

    The commission, in a January 26 letter to the court’s Registrar, sought an adjournment because its prosecution counsel, I. A. Mohammed, was before another judge of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for the trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    “In the circumstance, we crave the Honourable Court’s indulgence to vacate January 30, 2017 and have the matter adjourned to the already pre-fixed dates of 31st day of January, 2017. We regret any inconveniences this application may cause the Honourable Court and the defendant’s counsel,” EFCC wrote.

    It was learnt that contrary to reports that the judge was absent, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo was in court and ready to take the case before travelling for another assignment outside Lagos.

    Adegboruwa was arraigned under Section 32 (1) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 which provides that “any person who, without due authorisation by the Commission, deals with, sells or otherwise disposes of any property or assets which is the subject of an attachment, interim order or final order, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of five years without the option of a fine.”

    The commission said Adegboruwa and Jonathan Udeagbala, said to be at large, committed the alleged offence on August 13, 2013 in Lagos.

    The defendant allegedly conspired to lease the property at House 105, NICON Town Estate, Lekki.

    Adegboruwa pleaded not guilty to the charge in which EFCC said the property was a “subject of interim orders of attachment made by Justice Christopher Balogun of the Lagos State High Court” on June 18, 2012.

    The case has been fixed for February 24.

  • Man arraigned for defrauding South African firm of N285m

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a businessman, Chris Ifeorah, for defrauding a South African firm of goods valued at $935,971 (about N285, 237,162.25).

    The defendant, alongside his company Wigmore Trading Limited, was arraigned by the commission on January 18, before Justice A. M. Nicol-Clay of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

    Ifeorah, who was arrested last December 22, was granted N2million bail with two sureties in like sum among other conditions on Wednesday.

    He is standing trial on a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining goods by under false pretence from Kellogg’s Company of South Africa (Pty) Limited (Kellogg’s SA).

    During his arraignment, EFCC counsel, Muritala Said Usman, alleged that the defendant obtained fast-moving goods on credit from Kellogg’s SA in 2015, promising to pay for them within three months, but became elusive after receiving the items.

    Ifeorah denied the charges.

    Mr. B. Osakwe, who argued the defendant’s bail application, said he and the defendant’s mother were willing to guarantee his presence for trial.

    “The applicant has no criminal record and he will be available to stand trial. We are from the same village. I offer to produce my call to bar certificate or the Certificate of Occupancy of my own house in Okota. His mother, Amaka Ifeorah, is an Assistant Director, Compliance Unit of the Nigerian Shippers Council. She is in Grade 15 and has offered to stand as one of his guarantors. This is a purely civil matter but the defendant has been in Ikoyi Prison since December 22,” the counsel said.

    Relying on a 14-paragraph affidavit, the prosecution opposed the granting of bail to the defendant on liberal terms.

    After delivering her ruling, Justice Nicol-Clay adjourned the case till April 26.

  • Court remands ex-FCT minister’s son in Kuje prison

    Court remands ex-FCT minister’s son in Kuje prison

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered that Shamsudeen Bala, son of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who gave the order on Wednesday, said the accused should remain in prison till Friday when the court will rule on his bail application.

    The judge gave the ruling shortly after listening to arguments on the ex-minister son’s bail application.

    The bail application was argued after Bala was arraigned on a 15-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

  • EFCC invites ex-OAU VC, bursar

    EFCC invites ex-OAU VC, bursar

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited former Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Bamitale Omole and the bursar, Mrs. Aderonke Akeredolu, for questioning.
    It was gathered that EFCC asked Omole to explain how he “spent” N208 million for the renovation of the VC’s official residence during his tenure.
    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Third Eye Transparency International, petitioned the EFCC, alleging embezzlement, fraudulent conversion and abuse of office.
    In the petition, the group urged the agency to investigate “the illegal disbursement and embezzlement of funds”.
    The NGO said the official residence had been built and completed for decent habitation long before Omole’s tenure and had been occupied by several vice-chancellors.
    In a letter dated January 19 addressed to the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, the EFCC requested for the release of Prof Omole and Mrs. Akeredolu.
    It asked the bursar to come along with Certified True Copies (CTC) of “all capital project contracts, including financial document relevant to the renovation of official residence of the VC executed in the institution”.
    “Other documents expected are financial document of funds remitted to OAU under the NEEDS ASSESSMENT of Nigeria Public Universities Special Presidential Intervention between 2013 and 2014 and all financial documents of employer Contributory Pension Scheme of the Institution between 2012 and 2016.”

  • HURIWA proposes seven years imprisonment for political blackmailers

    HURIWA proposes seven years imprisonment for political blackmailers

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to enact laws capable of sentencing political blackmailers to seven years imprisonment if found guilty.

    HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko made the call during a briefing, at his office in Abuja on the increasing trend of political blackmailing in the country.

    He alleged that same group who attempted to tarnish the image of the former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially visited his office to use his platform for their hatchet job.

    He condemned corrupt practices among every section of the society including security operatives and dishonesty among insincere civil society groups.

    Onwubiko urged the federal government and top rank government officials to desist from the process of media trial to discourage corrupt practices and economic crimes.

    His Words: “The Right group wondered why unscrupulous person sometimes with powerful political sponsorship will seek to continuously attempt to recruit registered group that have credibility to do some sinister campaign when legally such organisations can be sued by those politically exposed persons whose well-earned good reputation as statesmen or women are being tarnished on the altar of sensational media stories.

    “The ongoing mass demonization and character assassination of some members of the political class whose political tenures in various offices have reminded untainted has created the erroneous impression that all political office holders in Nigeria are corrupt. This is a fallacy with far reaching negative implication for the standing in the international community of civilised nations of the Nigeria Nation-state.”

    However, HURIWA said it became imperative for it to go public with the information so members of the public would be made aware of such corrupt groups whose, ‘major preoccupation is to stoke the embers of hatred against targeted high profile Nigerians just because such persons may not agree to be blackmailed into paying huge payouts to such professional and career blackmailers.”

  • ‘SGF a liability to Buhari’s govt’

    ‘SGF a liability to Buhari’s govt’

    A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Yusuf Ali on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to discard the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal as he has become a political liability to the present government.

    Ali said the continued retention of the SGF despite allegations of corruption against him by the Senate will negatively affect the transparency of the ongoing anti-corruption crusade of the government.
    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Ali said.

    “I strongly believe in the anti-corruption crusade and transparency in governance as being promoted by Mr President. But as a politician, there comes a time when you have to make a choice based on the preponderance of public opinion.

    “Our democracy rests on a tripod and if at any time an arm of the government raises any issue with any of the two arms, it behoves on the executive to see reasons and the political risk of any decision he is making. The other day it was corruption in the Judiciary and Nigerians were behind the president and today, it’s allegation of corruption within his government, he must equally take side with the people.

    “The Senate, being an elected body representing the whole of Nigerians has raised some fundamental issues that border on the credibility of Babachir. It, therefore, becomes politically expedient for Mr President to handle these issues very carefully least his actions might be misinterpreted.

    “Everybody knows Babachir is an ally of Mr President; but when the Senate alleges that the SGF conducted himself very dishonourably, he automatically became a political liability to the government that came to power on the crest of anti-corruption thus he has to be dispensed with so that the appropriate authorities can either clear or indict him.

    “I will advice Mr President to have a rethink on this issue by directing the SGF to proceed on leave in order to enable the anti-corruption agencies to proper investigate him vis a vis the Senate indictment.

    “If he is found liable, he can as well face the music. But on the other hand, if he is cleared, he resumes his work. In this way, Mr President can spare himself of all the hue and cry that he is covering up some people in his administration who are alleged to be corrupt.”

    He expressed the belief that if the embattled SGF fails the integrity test, there are competent and credible people even in the North East who can competently replace him while he serves out his time in any of the prisons assigned to him.

    He, however, faulted the security report which the senate relied on to reject the Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, adding that the report was lacking in credibility is equally part of the Buhari government, and it will be safer for the President to align with the DSS instead of disregarding its security report.

    “A lot of people say Magu is a very competent officer but when a security report indicts him, he becomes a liability to the administration particularly being the head of the nation’s foremost anti-corruption agency.

    “I am not privy to the response Magu gave to the query issued by the President but the appropriate thing Mr President should have done is to replace Magu with equally another competent officer in order not to compromise the integrity of the anti-corruption war,” he said.