The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • Court rejects Fayose’s request on seized assets

    Court rejects Fayose’s request on seized assets

     

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday refused the request by Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for the release of some of his houses temporarily seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Dimgba had on July 20 granted EFCC an order of interim forfeiture of the properties for a period of 45 days, which lapsed on September 4.

    Fayose later applied to the court, after the expiration of the court’s earlier order, for the release of the properties, which comprised four units of four-bedroom at Charlets 3, 4, 6 and 9, Plot 100 Tiamiyu Salvage Street, Victoria Island,  Lagos, 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and Plot 1504 Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja.

    In opposing Fayose’s application, EFCC described it as academic because it (commission) had secured another forfeiture order from another judge of the court, having discovered that Fayose allegedly acquired the said assets by using other individuals and firms.

    Justice Dimgba had on Monday heard Fayose’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and EFCC’s lawyer, Kayode Latona, argued the application and counter affidavit.

    The judge said the EFCC could not continue to hold on to the houses on the strength of his order, which lapsed on September 4.

    He, however, refused to direct the EFCC to unseal the properties, citing a fresh order by Justice Okon Abang (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja) on November 3.

     

  • Update: FUNAAB pro chancellor has case to answer – EFCC

    Update: FUNAAB pro chancellor has case to answer – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told a state High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, that the Pro – Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has a case to answer before the court.

    The EFCC, who put forward this position while opposing Ogunlewe’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit, said the FUNAAB pro chancellor and other accused persons have a case to answer.

    Ogunlewe, the institution’s Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and the university Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi, were last Month  brought by the EFCC before Justice O.O. Majekodunmi on 18 –count charge of conspiracy, stealing and  fraudulent conversion of money belonging to FUNAAB.

    The charges putting included putting amount of money totaling N800m in a fixed deposit account with a commercial bank without following due process and paying the interest accrued from such fixed account into the personal account of private individuals.

    The trio had since pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    At the hearing of the case on Monday, Ogunlewe filed an application, asking the court to quash the case against him.

    He argued that the court lacks the competence to entertain the case.

    Ogunlewe’s counsel, Wale Adesokan, who filed the application, told the court that the application was filed to terminate the trial, and prayed the court to end the trial.

    But lead counsel to EFCC, Mr. Ben Ubi, opposed the application, saying Ogunlewe and others have case to answer.

    “We are opposing the application. They have case to answer and the accused persons should face the trial rather than dancing round. We have acted strictly based on law and we have not offended the law,” Ubi said.

     

     

  • Court picks January 27 for FUNAAB Pro Chancellor, VC’s trial

    Court picks January 27 for FUNAAB Pro Chancellor, VC’s trial

    An Ogun State High Court on Monday picked January 27, 2017 for the trial of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), Pro-Chancellor, Adeseye Ogunlewe, the institution Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole and the Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi.

    The trio are arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over N409 million fraud.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Olatokunbo Majekodumi picked January 27, February 9 and February 10, 2017 respectively to determine if the court had the jurisdiction to entertain the case or not.

    Counsel Ogunlewe, Mr. Wale Adesokan, had brought an application seeking to strike out the pro-chancellor’s name from the case, saying the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.

    But the counsel to the EFCC, Benedict Ubi, opposed the application, insisting that the court has the jurisdiction to try the accused persons.

  • Ekiti workers to EFCC: monitor bailout funds

    Ekiti workers to EFCC: monitor bailout funds

    Civil servants in Ekiti State have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Organised Labour to monitor the bailout package to be released soon.

    An interest group, Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), claimed that only N5 billion of the N9.6 billion received from the Federal Government last year was used to pay one month salary to workers while pensioners’ benefits were not paid.

    In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by EWF Coordinator Mike Bamidele, the workers advised the Federal Government not to pay the new bailout funds into the state’s account.

    The workers suggested that the funds should rather be paid into a dedicated account that will have the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General as signatories.

    Besides the EFCC, other bodies that should be represented in the disbursement are the national secretariats of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    “The team should demand from the state the salary vouchers and order payments directly into the accounts of individual workers and the same should be done for pensioners.

    “The fund should be protected in such a manner that no governor would have any form of control over it.”

  • Senate rejects Magu’s nomination as EFCC chairman

    Senate rejects Magu’s nomination as EFCC chairman

    The Senate on Thursday rejected the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The Senate after a lengthy closed session drafted the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, to address journalists and announce the rejection of the Magu’s nomination.

    Abdullahi said Senate’s decision not to confirm Magu was due to unfavourable security reports against his nomination.

    He did not give details of the security reports that stopped Magu’s confirmation as EFCC chief.

    Abdullahi said, “This is an official statement from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “It is a statement on the confirmation of Chairman and members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that based on security reports available to the Senate, the Senate cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu Mustapha as the Executive Chairman of EFCC.

    “Accordingly, the Senate hereby rejects the said nomination and has returned the said nomination to Mr. President for further action.”

    Asked that there appeared to be confusion especially when the screening of Magu and others was listed in the Order Paper, Abdullahi said: “There is no confusion here. We have said it is based on security reports. Please, all of us public officers go for security screening, everybody. And we are saying based on security reports, we cannot proceed and confirm and we are rejecting it and returning it back to Mr. President for further actions. That is just the statement. It is as simple as that. That is exactly what the Senate has said and I don’t have any other explanation more than this.”

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, also announced that the Senate rejected the nomination of Magu and referred the nomination of four other members of the commission to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption for screening.

     

  • N26m Dasuki fund: Trial stalled over Fani-Kayode’s ill health

    N26m Dasuki fund: Trial stalled over Fani-Kayode’s ill health

    Proceedings were stalled on Wednesday before a Federal High Court, Abuja in the money laundering case involving former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani- Kayode.
    The ex-Minister was earlier arraigned before the court on a five-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following which the court adjourned to December 14 for commencement of trial.
    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016, which has Fani-Kayode as the sole defendant, he is accused of diverting N26m, which he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) while Sambo Dsuki was in office.
    He is also accused of handling the N26m without using a financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act.
    When the case was called on Wednesday, Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Wale Balogun said his client was not in court because he was ill.
    Balogun apologised to the court for his client’s absence. He said the ex-Minister had wished to be in court, but that his doctor advised him against coming.
    Wale was silent on the nature of Fani-Kayode’s ailment. He only tendered  a letter from an undisclosed hospital,  where he said  the ex-minister was receiving treatment.
    Balogun sought an adjournment.
    Prosecution lawyer, Johnson Ojogbane, who was asked by the judge, Justice John Tsoho, whether or not he was opposed to adjournment, said he concedes to a shift to another.
    He confirmed being shown a copy of the letter from Fani-Kayode’s lawyer.
    Justice Tsoho later adjourned till February 6.

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide made voluntary statement – EFCC

    … Commission denies inducing Dudafa

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday denied inducing a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to make a statement.

    Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered a trial-within-trial to determine if Dudafa made a voluntary statement to the EFCC.

    The judge made the order on November 21 after Dudafa, through his lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole, claimed that the commission “induced” him to make the statement.

    He alleged that his statement to the commission was not made voluntarily.

    Testifying in the trial-within-trial on Wednesday, an EFCC investigator, Orji Chukwuma and an operative Akeem Lasisi, said Dudafa made his statement voluntarily.

    The duo said they cautioned the suspect before making his statement, adding that he was not forced to write anything against his will.

    EFCC arraigned Dudafa on 23-count charge of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

     

  • Ladoja, aide re-arraigned for money laundering

    Ladoja, aide re-arraigned for money laundering

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday re-arraigned a former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over N4.7 billion money laundering.

    Ladoja was arraigned alongside his former aide, Waheed Akanbi, on eight- count charge of money laundering, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    After their pleas were taken, the prosecutor, Mr. Oluwafemi Olabisi, asked the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Bolaji Onilenla and Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, informed the court of their clients’ bail applications.

    Onilenla, representing Ladoja, urged the court to allow his client to continue on the bail conditions earlier granted him in 2008 by Justice A.R. Mohammed.

    He submitted that the first accused had kept good faith with the terms and conditions of the bail and that there was no single incidence of default.

    He assured the court that his client will “behave himself’’ and make himself available for trial.

    Onilenla said in case the court is not inclined to allowing Ladoja to continue with the previous bail conditions, it should grant him bail on liberal terms.

    Counsel to the other accused person, Olumide-Fusika, also aligned himself with the submissions of Onilenla.

    The prosecutor objected to the bail application and urged the court to refuse the same on the grounds that the accused had frustrated trial for years through their appeals challenging the competence of the charges.

     

  • Anti-graft agency quizzes OAU VC over N1.4b

    Anti-graft agency quizzes OAU VC over N1.4b

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office, yesterday quizzed the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Anthony Elujoba and the Bursar, Mrs Aderonke Akeredolu, for alleged diversion of N1.4billion.
    The agency acted on a petition that the duo connived to use the money for payment of certain allowances to members of staff without approval of the Federal Ministry of Education and the Governing Council.
    The payment was said to include earned allowance. The VC was alleged to have paid himself N7 million for furniture allowance.
    Elujoba arrived at the EFCC’s Iyaganku, Ibadan office in company of some workers at 4.17 p.m.
    There was drama as members of various unions, including the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), National Association of Senior Staff Union (NASSU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Student Union representatives, stormed the EFCC office with placards in solidarity with the VC.
    Some of the placards read “EFCC should follow “Buhari’s campaign against corruption”; “Great Ife workers are not in support of corruption”; “Probe Omole, not Elujoba”; “It is not a sin to pay salaries of workers”; “Prof Elujoba is a man of peace and integrity”; “OAU workers and students stand by him”.
    The school’s Public Relations Officer, Biodun Olanrewaju, said the contentious money was paid to workers to settle their outstanding earned allowance.
    “The money was discovered to be logged in an account not tied to any project.
    “It was not in the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The workers who knew the money was available and were not paid by the former VC, Prof. Bamitale Omole, were about to attack the Bursar at a meeting.
    “She was prevailed upon to pay the money. The VC never embezzled the money.
    “This is the first time in the history of any university where a VC will be supported by staff unions and students.” Olanrewaju said.
    ASUU Caretaker Chairman Niyi Sunmonu said Elujoba had turned around the institution positively.
    SSANU Chairman Ademola Oketunde said the VC runs a transparent administration.
    Oketunde said Elujoba had set up task forces to investigate the activities of the institution, of which some had submitted their reports.
    “I hope these are not a ploy by some to frame the man.
    “We are not here to prevent investigation and we believe he will come out clean. No one will allow his head to be cut off,” he said.
    NASU Chairman Wole Odewumi,said the association had written several petitions to the EFCC last year against Omole, “but the EFCC did nothing about our petitions”.
    “This new VC paid us part of the entitlements and some people wrote a petition querying why he paid us, when they refused to pay us themselves.
    “We are not going to leave this man of peace because he has brought a lot of development to our school .”

  • EFCC withdraws charges against ex-FCT minister

    EFCC withdraws charges against ex-FCT minister

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the five-count charge it filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, against former FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed.
    The former minister filed a motion for bail through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
    When the matter came up for arraignment yesterday before Justice Talba at the High Court 9, Gudu, EFCC lawyer Larry Peters Aso applied to withdraw the charges, on the ground that the prosecution wanted to put its house in order.
    The application was not opposed by Senator Mohammed’s lawyers.
    After listening to the lawyers, Hon. Justice Talba struck out the case.