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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC: Buhari resubmits Magu’s name for confirmation

    EFCC: Buhari resubmits Magu’s name for confirmation

    President Muhammadu Buhari has resubmitted the name of the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, for confirmation as substantive chairman of the anti-graft body.
    A competent source at the National Assembly confided in our reporter that the letter of President Buhari for the Senate to reconsider its position on Magu, has been received.
    The source said that President Buhari also wrote another letter pleading with the Senate to reconsider its stand that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal should resign his position and face prosecution for alleged abuse of office.
    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the source said, “will likely read the two separate letters on Magu and Lawal, today at the resumption of plenary.

     

  • EFCC tormented me to implicate Jonathan – Dudafa

    A former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, on Monday said he was “tormented” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a bid to get him to implicate the former president.

    Dudafa said he developed a spinal cord ailment while in EFCC detention, adding that he was denied adequate medical treatment.

    The former presidential aide said all the statements he wrote were dictated to him, and that he was induced to sign in exchange for his freedom.

    Dudafa was testifying in a trial-with-trial which began at the Federal High Court in Lagos after he claimed statements he made at EFCC were not voluntary.

    EFCC arraigned him and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) before Justice Mohammed Idris on 23-count charge of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

    They were accused of conspiring to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    Dudafa said he was arrested last April 17 on a Sunday and kept in detention till Monday evening without anybody explaining why he was arrested.

    The ex-presidential aide said he was kept in detention until April 27 before he was taken to EFCC’s office on Awolowo Road for interrogation, where he made four statements, including an asset declaration form which he described as a “sham.”

    Dudafa said he was denied access to his mobile phone from April 27, and his family was stopped from bringing food to him.

     

  • SEC, EFCC form alliance to protect investors

    Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nigeria’s main anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have signed an alliance to tackle infractions at the capital market and protect investors.
    While the EFCC has severally participated in capital market investigations in the past, SEC and EFCC have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that formally established the alliance between the two Commissions. The MoU, which was signed at the EFCC office in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, will serve as the framework for future capacity building and mutual investigations by the Commissions.
    SEC’s Director-General, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, signed on behalf of SEC while acting chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, signed on behalf of the EFCC.
    The MoU is expected to promote the efficient investigation and conclusion of all cases reported by either of the institutions to each other and to promote the integrity, efficiency and soundness of the Nigerian capital market and the economy in general.
    It also seeks to promote collaboration in the areas of training and secondment of middle cadre officers of the SEC to the EFCC and those of the EFCC to the SEC; or in the alternative, the establishment of a liaison desk in both institutions as well as promote collaboration in other areas beneficial to both institutions.
    According to the MoU, both Commissions shall provide each other with the utmost mutual assistance in any matter within their competences, including in particular the following areas: secondment of middle cadre officers, training to enhance the investigative skills and capacity of personnel of the institutions and consequently increase the general output and performance of the institutions and facilitate better understanding of each others’ functions through capacity building programmes and human capital development in the areas of investigation of fraud in the capital market.
    Both institutions will also collaborate in the areas of exchange of information to assist the performance of the institutions’ respective functions, reporting, investigation and prosecution of fraudulent and manipulative practices in the Nigerian capital market and any other activity as agreed between the institutions from time to time.
    However, the MoU serves as a basis of cooperation between the institutions and does not create any legal obligation, nor does it modify or supercede any laws, regulations or regulatory requirements in force or applying to the institutions. Furthermore, the MoU does not create any rights enforceable by third institutions nor does it affect any arrangement under other MoUs.
    Gwarzo said SEC, which is saddled with investors’ protection, cannot discharge its responsibility effectively without collaborating with the anti-graft agency.
    “We are by provision of our law mandated to protect investors on developing the market, but the way our law is structured we have limitations over criminal cases and that is why in the last 10 years there has been a very great collaboration between both agencies. We hope that when this MoU becomes fully operational, it will assist in reducing market infractions to the barest minimum,” Gwarzo said during a pre-signing visit to the EFCC.
    He noted that the collaboration with the EFCC has been of tremendous benefit to the SEC, especially in areas of investigation and enforcement, adding that effective policing of the market is one of the ways of reviving investor confidence.
    “One of our agenda is to bring back the retail investors to the market and there is no way they will agree to return if they are not sure of the safety of their investments,” Gwarzo said.
    Magu expressed delight that the collaboration between both agencies has yielded enormous benefit for the growth of the capital market, adding that his agency will continue to provide assistance where required.

  • Court awards N9m damages against EFCC, firm over lawyer’s detention

    Court awards N9m damages against EFCC, firm over lawyer’s detention

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has declared unlawful the detention of a lawyer, Sylvanus Okpetu, for seven days by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without a court order.

    Justice A.S. Adepoju, in a judgment on a fundamental rights enforcement suit by Okpetu, faulted the seizure of the applicant’s belongings; awarded N6 million damages against EFCC and N3 million against Julius Berger Services Nigeria Limited and ordered them to offer a public apology to Okpetu.

    The applicant had, through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), sued EFCC and Julius Berger, alleging violation of his fundamental rights by the respondents, following his detention between June 11 and 17, 2015 by EFCC upon a petition purportedly written by Julius Berger.

    The petition alleged fraud against Okpetu.

    Okpetu, in a supporting affidavit, stated that he had rendered some professional services to Julius Berger through his company – Sylvarewa Global Resources Limited – following which there was a disagreement on payment.

    He added: “On the 11th day of June 2015, I was at a hotel in Warri, Delta State, with one Barrister Tony, when an operative of the 1st respondent (EFCC), who introduced himself as Mr. Dein Whyte, in company of some fully armed operatives, emerged from nowhere and informed me that I was under arrest.

    “The operatives proceeded to conduct a search on both my office and house without any search warrant to that effect shown to me, and carted away the originals of all my credentials, my company certificate of accreditation, among other certificates and items.

    “I was forcibly dragged like a common criminal, more in the form of kidnap, and driven to the Nigeria Police Station, ‘A’ Division, Warri by the same fully armed operatives of the 1st respondent. I was detained there without any record taken of my arrest.

    “The following day, June 12, 2015, I was taken to EFCC office, Abuja, where I was further detained till late evening of June 17, 2015 before I was eventually released on administrative bail, after a period of seven days,” Okpetu said.

    In the judgment delivered last Friday, Justice Adepoju upheld the case of the applicant as argued by Ozekhome and faulted the conduct of the EFCC, including its detention of Okpetu without a valid court order.

    The judge told the EFCC that its power to investigate persons, against whom allegations of crime were made, could not amount to a licence to act unconstitutionally by breaching citizens’ rights.

    For the unlawful arrest and detention of the applicant, Justice Adepoju awarded N6 million damages against EFCC with a 10 per-cent interest rate until the entire sum is paid. The judge also awarded N3 million damages against Julius Berger that instigated Okpetu’s arrest and detention.

    Justice Adepoju ordered EFCC to release Okpetu’s seized property and to stop harassing and inviting him to its offices on account of the petition by Julius Berger.

    The court ordered the commission to publish a public apology to Okpetu.

  • I’m not a thief, says Diezani, faults EFCC

    I’m not a thief, says Diezani, faults EFCC

    •Anti graft agency ‘taking advantage of my silence to try me by media’
    •Denies withdrawal of $153m from NNPC accounts
    •Yenagoa estate is family compound built in 2011

     

    Embattled former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, is not taking allegations of massive corruption leveled against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lightly.
    She rose in her own stout defence yesterday, denying the allegations.
    She accused the EFCC of taking advantage of her silence all this while to put her on media trial and declared in a lengthy statement from her London home.
    She said given the “level of deliberate inaccuracies”, she had now been forced to break her silence and respond to some issues.
    She specifically denied ever withdrawing $153million from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) while in office and said the Yenagoa estate, which the EFCC ascribed to her is her family’s compound built in 2011.
    The EFCC, according to her, is only out to convict her in the court if public opinion based on “false reports.”
    She said: “I have up till now chosen to maintain my silence and not to respond to inaccurate press reporting.
    “However, given the level of deliberate inaccuracies, I am now forced to respond because it is clear that the EFCC is taking advantage of my silence to try me by media and to convict me in the eyes of the public on false reports.
    “I am deeply disturbed and bewildered by recent media reports (Premium Times Thursday 12 January, 2017 and other dailies about the same time) claiming that by virtue of an order of the Federal High Court, I have forfeited to the Federal Government, the sum of $153.3m which I purportedly stole from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
    “First and foremost, whilst the reasons for my being out of the country are public knowledge, the principle of fair hearing demands that I should have been notified of formal charges if truly there was a prima facie evidence or indictment against my person linking me with the said issue, so as to ensure that I had adequate legal representation. This was never done.
    “I wish to state that I cannot forfeit what was never mine. I do not know the basis on which the EFCC have chosen to say that I am the owner of these funds as no evidence was provided to me before the order was obtained and they have not in fact served me with the order or, any evidence since they obtained it.”
    She went on: “As at the time of my writing this rebuttal (Thursday 19th January, 2017) the EFCC have still not furnished me or my Lawyers, with a copy of the order.
    “I am also informed by my lawyers that the legislation under which the EFCC obtained this order is for situations where the funds are believed to be the proceeds of crime and the owner is not known.
    “I do not therefore understand how the EFCC can in the same breath say that the monies in question are mine.
    “If they had evidence that the monies were mine then they would not /should not have used the procedure which applies only to funds of unknown ownership.
    “If indeed they used this particular legal procedure because they did not know who owned the monies, then how can they now be falsely attributing the ownership to me.
    “Let me re-state categorically as I have always maintained for the record, I have not and will never steal money from or defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria.
    “I am willing to respond to any charges brought against me that follow duly laid down procedures.
    “However, in their typical manner and style, the EFCC have gone to the media to attempt to prosecute their case as trial by TV and other media, rather than go through the onerous but tried and tested means of the Judicial Court process.
    “In the face of the obvious falsification of facts and misinformation, it is only right and proper that the EFCC should publish the details of the $153.3M lodgements, the bank account numbers and the account beneficiaries, showing proof of my link to them.
    “Having also alleged that the said $153.3M was ‘wired’ from NNPC, the EFCC should also publish details of the NNPC accounts from where the said $153.3 million was taken from with proof that I authorized such a transaction/transactions acting either in my private capacity or, as The Honourable Minister of Petroleum.
    “Let me state for the record that as Minister of Petroleum, the operation and management of NNPC finances were outside my purview as outlined in both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act.
    “The only involvement I had in NNPC Finances was in terms of statutory matters where the Petroleum Act prescribed that as Minister, there were certain duties or actions which I had to perform or take in relation to NNPC.
    On alleged $700million found in her house and some mansions traced to her, Diezani accused EFCC of witch-hunt.
    She added: “On the 13th of June 2016, the EFCC once again took their well-trodden path to the media. This time claiming that they had ‘discovered’ a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, worth $18million (approx. N9billion) which they purported to belong to me.
    “The EFCC went to the extent of bringing in Aljazeera, an International TV Station, to air a damaging documentary against me in this regard, showing a particular residential building in Asokoro, Abuja, which they told Aljazeera belonged to me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIQdZfz_JdA.
    “The EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, personally took the Aljazeera reporter to the building, alleging that it belonged to me.
    “It has since become apparent that the house belongs to a company owned by Mr Kola Aluko.
    “If this is not a witch-hunt or a personal vendetta against me, how is it that one of our Country’s premier investigative agencies were unable to avail themselves of facts that are freely available in the public domain?
    “Since the EFCC claims that the alleged $18million Asokoro property belongs to me, then they should kindly produce the ‘Authentic’ Certificate of Occupancy and Land Registry information and any other relevant information, as proof of my ownership of the property.
    “On the 9th November 2016, the EFCC visited our family home in Yenagoa (Bayelsa State) as pre-agreed and they were escorted around the premises.
    “I was therefore completely shocked to once again see my name sensationally splashed across the Front Pages of Newspapers and widely circulated on the internet, with blaring Headlines such as “EFCC UNCOVERS DIEZANI’S MULTI-BILLION NAIRA ESTATE” – Nation Newspaper, January 8, 2017 (Annex- 4A). There was absolutely nothing ‘Hidden’ or ‘Concealed’ about the home.
    “I had declared it openly as required by Law, in my Asset declaration forms (Annex-4B). Yet the EFCC have announced that they ‘Just Discovered’ my ‘Hidden Estate’! And labelled it a ‘Multi-Billion Naira Estate’! Even though they had been given the Bill of Quantities, showing actual amount spent.
    “It is accepted tradition across the length and breadth of Nigeria, for people to own Country/Village homes. Given the size of the land and the location of the compound, the buildings thereon cannot by any stretch of the imagination be a “Multi-Billion Naira” palatial estate, as the news mongers would want to portray.
    “The EFCC were taken on a tour of the compound which consisted of a Main house, and two outhouses – An Obi (meeting bungalow) and a staff quarters(BQ) building – above which we built 3 guest rooms and a parlour.
    “The only other two structures are the gate and generator houses. Construction began in late 2011 and was handled in phases.
    “During the visit the EFCC was given the bill of quantities, which up until the time construction stopped in early 2015, due to my illness, was at approximately N394million which was declared in the code of conduct documentation, attached (the costs were partially funded by a loan – see code of conduct – Annex4B, the work is still uncompleted and the contractor is still being owed).
    “Building costs escalated as a result of delays in construction and external factors such as the extreme flooding of late 2012 that covered most of our areas in the Niger Delta.
    “It is the accepted norm when building in the Niger Delta, that due to the topography of the land and the heavily waterlogged and marshy terrain, construction is infinitely more expensive than in other parts of the country, as by its nature it requires the building of extensive piling/raft foundations before any structural work can commence.
    “The flooding of 2012 compounded the problem and further increased the cost of construction.
    “Stories were circulated by unscrupulous agents of calumny that the EFCC found a mind boggling $700million in cash in my home in Abuja.
    “Would the videos of this $700 million cash discovery not have made good viewing? Or should those who recovered this money not tell the public where exactly the money has been kept?
    “Perhaps the Central Bank should corroborate that it is in custody of these monies allegedly found in my house
    “But then, it is now patently apparent that Nigerians are no longer easily led to believe fables and sensational untruths.”
    The ex-Minister said despite the criticism of her tenure, she left $5.6billion LNG dividends for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
    She said: “I would like to state for the record that I performed my duty as Minister of Petroleum Resources with the utmost sincerity and sense of responsibility, ensuring that all Nigerians irrespective of creed, gender or tribe enjoyed their rightful benefits from the Oil and Gas Sector.
    “It is pertinent to note that at the end of my tenure, I left behind in the LNG dividend fund, for the incoming Administration, the sum of $5.6billion (five billion six hundred million US Dollars)(Annex-6A).
    “I did this to ensure continuity in the crucial gas sector development which underpins the entire Power and Energy Sector and which was and still is, absolutely imperative for the Country’s current and future economic development.”
    Regarding Malabu oil block (OPL 245) , the ex-Minister said her was a “purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
    She said she did not benefit in any way from the transactions or negotiations on the oil block.
    She said: “With regards to the various news reports published in both the online and print media, insidiously inferring that I was indicted by Italian prosecutors for, as they put it, ‘ sharing in the Loot’ of the $1.3bn OPL 245 oil block deal that involved Malabu and the Joint Venture Multinational partners, ENI(AGIP) and Royal Dutch Shell.
    “Let me once again state for the record that this is another figment of the author’s imagination, which given the persistent bid to ensure my destruction and stick all of the sins of the Corruption plagued Oil and Gas Sector of over the last 30years upon my head, probably emanated from the EFCC itself!
    “Let me clarify the position are the history of OPL 245, otherwise known as Malabu. You will find a full chronology in the attached report that I made to the House of Representatives in late 2011 (Annex 2A/Annex-2B).
    “In 2010, shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the issue of OPL 245 was brought to my attention.
    “I looked into the case and immediately became aware of the inherent and long standing sensitivities around this issue.
    “It became clear from the onset that this case was not within the direct purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources but in the main was centered around issues of Law.
    “By this time there was already an ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) investigation and claims against the FGN running into billions of dollars.
    “Therefore, we took directives from the Chief Legal Officer of the nation; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. In all of these matters due process was followed to the letter at all times.
    “I wish to categorically state that I have never held any discussions on this matter with any individuals or entities outside of official channels.
    “As Minister of Petroleum Resources, I did not participate in any activity relating to financial payments on the Malabu matter, other than those statutorily mandated to the Minister of Petroleum Resources by the Petroleum Act.
    “My role in this matter was a purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
    In an emotional tone, Diezani expressed confidence that she will be vindicated at the end of the ongoing investigations at home and in the UK.
    She added: “It is saddening that after eight years of serving my country, my experience as a public servant has been fraught with continuous malicious castigation and character assassination, all in the name of ‘personal vendettas’ or political horse trading.
    “It has become apparent to many that these untruths told were at best well-crafted fables.
    “The most dramatic and damning accusation was the infamous missing $49.8 Billion Dollars, that went from to $12billion and then up to $20 billion and which was alleged missing from NNPC.
    “Today, we all know that the PWC report that was published cleared me of any wrong doing and no one up till now has been able to controvert the PWC report nor has anyone found the “missing” 20 billion, or who took it.
    “In addition, the Makarfi-led committee in the Senate of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, in a series of publicly-held hearings, also vindicated me on the matter of the purportedly missing funds.

    She said: “I would like to state for the record that I performed my duty as Minister of Petroleum Resources with the utmost sincerity and sense of responsibility, ensuring that all Nigerians irrespective of creed, gender or tribe enjoyed their rightful benefits from the Oil and Gas Sector.
    “It is pertinent to note that at the end of my tenure, I left behind in the LNG dividend fund, for the incoming Administration, the sum of $5.6billion (five billion six hundred million US Dollars)(Annex-6A).
    “I did this to ensure continuity in the crucial gas sector development which underpins the entire Power and Energy Sector and which was and still is, absolutely imperative for the Country’s current and future economic development.”
    Regarding Malabu oil block (OPL 245) , the ex-Minister said her was a “purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
    She said she did not benefit in any way from the transactions or negotiations on the oil block.
    She said: “With regards to the various news reports published in both the online and print media, insidiously inferring that I was indicted by Italian prosecutors for, as they put it, ‘ sharing in the Loot’ of the $1.3bn OPL 245 oil block deal that involved Malabu and the Joint Venture Multinational partners, ENI(AGIP) and Royal Dutch Shell.
    “Let me once again state for the record that this is another figment of the author’s imagination, which given the persistent bid to ensure my destruction and stick all of the sins of the Corruption plagued Oil and Gas Sector of over the last 30years upon my head, probably emanated from the EFCC itself!
    “Let me clarify the position are the history of OPL 245, otherwise known as Malabu. You will find a full chronology in the attached report that I made to the House of Representatives in late 2011 (Annex 2A/Annex-2B).
    “In 2010, shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the issue of OPL 245 was brought to my attention.
    “I looked into the case and immediately became aware of the inherent and long standing sensitivities around this issue.
    “It became clear from the onset that this case was not within the direct purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources but in the main was centered around issues of Law.
    “By this time there was already an ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) investigation and claims against the FGN running into billions of dollars.
    “Therefore, we took directives from the Chief Legal Officer of the nation; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. In all of these matters due process was followed to the letter at all times.
    “I wish to categorically state that I have never held any discussions on this matter with any individuals or entities outside of official channels.
    “As Minister of Petroleum Resources, I did not participate in any activity relating to financial payments on the Malabu matter, other than those statutorily mandated to the Minister of Petroleum Resources by the Petroleum Act.
    “My role in this matter was a purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
    In an emotional tone, Diezani expressed confidence that she will be vindicated at the end of the ongoing investigations at home and in the UK.
    She added: “It is saddening that after eight years of serving my country, my experience as a public servant has been fraught with continuous malicious castigation and character assassination, all in the name of ‘personal vendettas’ or political horse trading.
    “It has become apparent to many that these untruths told were at best well-crafted fables.
    “The most dramatic and damning accusation was the infamous missing $49.8 Billion Dollars, that went from to $12billion and then up to $20 billion and which was alleged missing from NNPC.
    “Today, we all know that the PWC report that was published cleared me of any wrong doing and no one up till now has been able to controvert the PWC report nor has anyone found the “missing” 20 billion, or who took it.
    “In addition, the Makarfi-led committee in the Senate of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, in a series of publicly-held hearings, also vindicated me on the matter of the purportedly missing funds.
    “Yet, we are all silent as if these events never occurred! The allegations that I have addressed above are no different, the character assassination continues, this time with a new set of hirelings.
    “One of the basic tenets of the human trait is that we all have shortcomings and we all make our fair share of mistakes, whether we are in positions of leadership, or not.
    “However, one error that cannot be ascribed to me is stealing from Nigeria and defrauding my country!
    “It is therefore sad and distressing that in spite of all that I tried to do in the best interest of our nation, I continue to be faced with constant demonisation, unproven accusations and deeply personal insults.
    “In response I have chosen not to insult, accuse or demonise anyone, any person or persons. In spite of all the allegations that have been made against me, not one has been factually proven.
    “I remain very proud of the fact that all the policies, tenets and plans that I initiated in the Oil & Gas sector are still underpinning the entire structure.
    “This is because they were put in place with the good of the entire nation and its people in mind. They were not factional, or tribal, neither were they based on religious bias.
    “I can therefore, no longer sit back and allow the fabricated accusations against my person designed by unscrupulous persons with a vengeful agenda go unchallenged.
    “As a Christian, it is my sincerely held belief that in the coming months, history will be the judge of exactly who lied and who told the truth. By the Grace of God, I shall be here to see the day when truth prevails.
    “The fight against corruption in Nigeria will be far better served if the EFCC focuses on incontrovertible facts, as opposed to media sensationalism and completely distorted stories, in their bid to demonize and destroy a few specially chosen Nigerians.”

  • Governor accuses EFCC, APC of sponsoring protest

    Special Assistant to the governor of Ekiti State on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the headquarters of corruption in Nigeria.

    He said “if there is anyone that should be urgently prosecuted, it is Ibrahim Magu who was indicted by the DSS and still operating illegally as the EFCC Acting Chairman despite his rejection by the Senate.”

    Olayinka, who was reacting to a protest in Abuja against Governor Ayodele Fayose, said it was shameful that instead of labouring on how to better the lives of suffering Nigerians, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the EFCC were busy sponsoring a N1,500-per-protester protest against Governor Fayose.

    Describing the so-called protest as petty, useless and and an afterthought, the governor’s spokesperson said: “It is obvious that Fayose’s emergence as Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum has unsettled the APC cabal because they fear that he is capable of using the platform against President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term ambition.

    “Ridiculously, in their desperation and fear of the unknown, EFCC shamelessly turned itself to the mouthpiece of the protesters by issuing press statement on their behalf.

    “Less than 50 paid protesters came to the EFCC and the next thing to be seen was a press statement signed by EFCC Head of Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren. Isn’t this ridiculous?

    “Is EFCC spokesperson also the mouthpiece of the so-called protesters?

    “May be EFCC operatives, including Magu, should have joined the protest so that Nigerians will know that it was EFCC that protested and the media will be able to use appropriate headline like ‘EFCC stages protest against Fayose.’ Shame!

    “If they are having headache because of Governor Fayose’s rising profile, especially his emergence as Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, their headache will soon turn to migraine that will be difficult to cure.”

    Insisting that the EFCC must first remove the timber in its eyes before attempting to remove the toothpicks in other people’s, Olayinka said: “Magu who was indicted of corruption by the DSS and other functionaries of the Buhari’s APC government must be prosecuted first.”

    He reminded Governor Fayose’s detractors that he is a sitting and well rooted governor that cannot be prosecuted, saying: “Those whose only daily business is to run after Peter Ayodele Fayose should just keep their gun powder dry and wait till 2018.”

  • Age falsification: Court reserves judgments on Tarfa’s appeals

    Age falsification: Court reserves judgments on Tarfa’s appeals

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos, on Thursday reserved judgements on two appeals filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rickey Tarfa, challenging his trial for alleged age falsification and obstruction of law enforcement officers carrying out their duties.

    The appeals arose from separate charges filed against Tarfa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Adedayo Akintoye and Justice Opesanwo both of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

    Both judges had declined Tarfa’s application to quash the charges against him, ruling among others that the EFCC’s charges were competent and that the courts had jurisdiction to try the case.

    The appellate court presided over by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba reserved judgments on both appeals after hearing arguments from the appellant’s counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and that of the respondent, Rotimi Oyedepo.

    Justice Garba later adjourned for judgment, adding that dates would be communicated to parties.

    The EFCC had filed a 27-count charge against Tarfa before Justice Akintoye but, in a preliminary objection, he urged the court to quash the charges.

    He claimed the charges were defective and that the commission had no statutory power to try him on the alleged offences.

    Tarfa argued that the proof of evidence supplied by the EFCC failed to support the charges, describing them as incompetent and abuse of court processes.

  • EFCC arrests councilor, six others for diverting IDPs rice

    A supervisory councillor with Mafa local government area of Borno State, Umar Ibrahim, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) in Maiduguri over alleged diversion of 300 bags of rice meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the area.

    Ibrahim, who supervises the local government’s agricultural department, was arrested alongside others named Bulama Ali Zangebe and Modu Bulama in a sting operation carried out by officials of the EFCC zonal office in Maiduguri.

    According to the EFCC, the food was donated to victims of insurgency in the area by Danish Refugee Council (DRC).

    Mafa local government is among the areas destroyed by Boko Haram in Borno State.

    According to the EFCC,  the suspects after interrogation disclosed they acted on directives from the Caretaker Chairman of Mafa local government area, Shettima Lawan Maina.

    The suspects claimed the local government chairman directed them to sell the rice.

    The rice was reportedly sold to the duo of Alhaji Lawan Ibrahim of Bolori Stores and Umar Salisu at the rate of N8, 500 per bag.

     

     

     

  • Court picks January 26 for hearing on oil magnates’ applications

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Wednesday fixed January 26 for hearing of pending applications filed by the convicted oil magnates, Mr. Walter Wagbatsoma and Mrs. Ada Ugo-Ndagi.

    Wagbatsoma and Ugo-Ndagi are Chairman and Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited respectively.

    They were convicted alongside their company for defrauding the Federal Government of N754 million during the fuel subsidy regime.

    Counsel to the convicts, Mr. A.D Onyeke, told the judge that Ugo-Ndagi is not fit to appear in court on Wednesday for sentencing.

    Onyeke based his submission on the medical reports that emanated from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and Havana Specialist Hospital, Surulere, Lagos.

    He said the medical reports were already before the court, stressing that from the documents, “it is evident that the convicted Ugo-Ndagi is not fit at this time to appear before the court to get her sentence.”

    Onyeke then proceeded to inform Justice Okunnu of pending applications filed by the convicted persons before the court which he said “required to be argued on one way or the other.”

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Oladipupo Yeye, who confirmed service of the said applications, however prayed the court to give the commission some time to study and respond to the applications in question.

    After taking the submissions of parties, Justice Okunnu agreed with the prosecution that he needed time to study and respond to the applications.

    She therefore fixed January 26 for hearing of the applications.

     

     

  • Court to hear Fani-Kayode’s applications for case transfer

    Court to hear Fani-Kayode’s applications for case transfer

    Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday agreed to hear pending applications filed by former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and the ex- Minister of State for Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the duo on a 17-count charge of laundering about N4.6billion.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Defence counsel, including Norrisson Quakers (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko, had refused to cross-examine the first prosecution witness because of the pending applications.

    The defendants are challenging the court’s jurisdiction and are praying the judge to transfer the case to Abuja division.

    Ruling on whether or not to hear the pending applications, Justice Hassan said he would hear them since they were not challenging the “competence” of the charge.

    He held: “I have reproduced the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, for purposes of clarity. Section 221 of the Act provides that an objection can be taken on the basis of an incompetent charge; Section 273 provides that an accused who pleads not guilty to a charge has submitted to the court’s jurisdiction.

    “It is also the law that after the plea of an accused has been taken, an objection can be raised at any time in relation to the charge before judgment. The law also provides that trial shall be from day to day with adjournment not exceeding five times.

    “From a close reading of these statutory provisions, it is clear that the pending applications are not on the competence of the charge but outside the scope of the ACJA, as the second defendant (Fani-Kayode) is apprehensive that he will not get fair trial.

    “In view of the foregoing provisions and on the basis of fair hearing and the interest of justice, I will take the three pending applications. But I must state that cross examination of PW1 does not amount to a waiver of jurisdiction,” he held.

    Fani-Kayode, in his application, said he was “worried and terrified” that he would not get a fair hearing from Justice Hassan. He is praying the judge to decline jurisdiction and transfer the case to the court’s Abuja division.

    The former minister said Justice Hassan, who worked as a prosecutor at the Federal Ministry of Justice and later seconded to the EFFC before his appointment as a judge, signed the charge against him when he was previously tried and acquitted by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumobia for money laundering.