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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC accuses ex-air chief of plot to delay trial

    EFCC accuses ex-air chief of plot to delay trial

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday accused defence counsel in the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.) and 10 others of plotting to delay the case.

    Amosu was charged along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

    Companies arraigned with them are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

    EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from the Nigeria Air Force around March 5, 2014 in Lagos.

    They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 17(a).

    Amosu had initially moved to enter a plea bargain with EFCC, but later abandoned it as parties could not reach an agreement.

    During hearing last week, a defence counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN), had cast doubts on the identity of a prosecution witness, Skye Bank Plc’s compliance officer Mr Mojeed Olatunji.

    Quakers demanded that Olatunji should produce his international passport, following which the court adjourned until yesterday.

    When the trial resumed yesterday, Olatunji produced his International Passport, which was tendered in evidence.

    Quakers pointed out that the name on the document was at variance with the name the witness gave the court.

    After further cross examination, the defence team sought an adjournment because they needed to question the witness based on a document which was in EFCC’s possession.

    The court adjourned until November 23, 24 and 25 for continuation of trial.

     

  • EFCC quizzes ex-presidential spokesman Abati

    EFCC quizzes ex-presidential spokesman Abati

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed a former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, over alleged N50 million remitted to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser( ONSA) under ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki.

    The cash was said to be part of the $2.1 billion arms funds being traced by the anti-graft commission.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence, Abati was invited by the EFCC to come and explain what informed the allocation of the N50 million since his office was on monthly imprest.

    The source said: “We are interrogating Abati over alleged curious payment of N50 million to him by ONSA under Dasuki. The cash was part of the $2.1billion arms funds.

    “He is expected to explain why he collected a separate allocation from the ex-NSA when he maintained his office with a monthly imprest.”

  • PTAD, EFCC partner against fraudsters

    The presence of some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials has helped in warding off fraudsters from verification centres of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Ms. Sharon Ikeazor, has said.

    She made this known during a visit to the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja.

    According to her, an integral aspect of pension management was the credibility of the payroll and data base available for benefit computation and analysis.

    She stated that this was why they embarked on the nationwide verification of the pensioners under their jurisdiction.

    She said: “The EFCC has been very supportive and of great assistance during our verification exercises and PTAD is appreciative of this. We are grateful to members of staff of EFCC who accompanied our team and worked with them at the verification centres.

    “Also, the Commission’s assistance and tremendous support is also highly valued in the recovery of pension assets that are currently in the possession of insurance companies and defunct Boards of Trustees (BOT) of concerned Parastatals. We thank you for the progress made so far and look forward to gaining more ground in this area.”

    Ms. Ikeazor further said PTAD has continued to build upon its institutional frameworks, processes and systems needed to run a sensitive operation such as pension administration.

    The verification is continuing towards establishing a credible, authentic and digitised database of pensioners under the DBS, eliminating duplicate payments and ghost pensioners, regularising anomalies such as over payments and under payments and updating the records of the Next Of Kin (NOK)

  • Ex-First Lady earned N700, 000 as Perm Sec—EFCC

    Ex-First Lady earned N700, 000 as Perm Sec—EFCC

    •CCB: Check her assets declaration form in Bayelsa

    With N700,000 salary monthly as a Permanent Secretary, the ex-First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan would have to explain how she allegedly acquired  nine houses, two hotels and one plaza during the tenure of her husband, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

    The anti-graft commission has retrieved her monthly salary records and other allowances accruable to a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.

    But the pay package, EFCC sources told THE NATION, does not seem to tally with the properties credited to the ex-First Lady.

    Although she allegedly claimed that the $15million in her accounts was a gift, the EFCC might demand records of those who showered her with the cash gift.

    It was unclear as at press time whether or not the EFCC will seize the affected properties in line with Assets Forfeiture Clause in its 2004 Establishment Act.

    Preliminary investigation had linked the following assets to the former First Lady: Port Harcourt ——  Former Customs Service officers mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; 3 Luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street;  and Grand View Hotel along airport road.

    Others in Yenagoa are two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway;  Glass House along Sani Abacha Expressway which is housing Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring  Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo  Road; and Aridolf  Resort, Wellness and Spa along Sani Abacha Expressway.

    Detectives were however said to be probing if the affected assets were declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau by Mrs. Jonathan as a former Permanent Secretary.

    The Bureau said her assets declaration form was in its office in Bayelsa State and not Abuja.

    Findings by our correspondent showed that detectives of the EFCC have intensified the ongoing probe of the former First Lady.

    A reliable source said: “Our operatives are still going ahead with the investigation of the former First Lady.

    “So far, our detectives have retrieved her pay slip which showed that after all deductions, she was on monthly salary of N700,000. It is left to her to justify how the salary was able to fetch her assets.

    “We demanded for her pay status in line with Section 7 of the EFCC Act. She was a former Permanent Secretary, who earned salary at the end of the month. She managed public trust and she has to account for it.

    “We will also look into her assets declaration forms when she assumed office and after she left. If these assets are pleaded, we will proceed to the next stage of our investigation.”

    Section 7 of the EFCC Act says: “The commission has power to (a) cause any investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organization has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes.

    “(b) Cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”

    Asked if the assets will be seized, the source added: “We are yet to get to this bend of investigation.

    “But we have read report where she claimed that the $15million in her account was a gift. Then the onus is on her to submit a list of the sources of the gift.”

    But the source claimed that detectives stumbled on a petition against her appointment as a Permanent Secretary.

    It was written by a civil servant who felt the civil service rules and regulations were violated.

    “The aggrieved civil servant alleged that promotion of the ex-First Lady from an Assistant Director to a Permanent Secretary was done without any promotion examination.

    “He also said the ex-First Lady did not spend up to a year as a director before she was promoted. He said the extant laws are clear that she ought to spend at least four years before moving to the next Grade Level.

    “But some in Bayelsa State claimed that appointment of Permanent Secretary is at the discretion of a governor. They said it is basically political.

    “You can see that there are many dimensions to her case. In fact, in her file, the Head of Service of Bayelsa State simply wrote: ‘Promote her all the same.’  We have certainly gone far on her.”

    On her assets declaration form and exit form, a source in CCB said: “All her forms are in our office in Bayelsa where she was a Permanent Secretary.”

  • EFCC searches female High Court judge’s residence

    EFCC searches female High Court judge’s residence

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have searched the Lagos residence of a female judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia.

    It was in furtherance of the agency’s ongoing investigation of Justice Ofili- Ajumogobia for alleged corruption.

    An EFCC source confirmed the operation last night, saying: “The search was conducted on the residence of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia

    “The search yielded documents that would assist the commission’s investigations, including bank accounts in her name and those bearing the names of her children and property title both in Nigeria and abroad.”

    She had been on the EFCC searchlight for some time now following which she was invited for questioning.

    She reported to the agency on Thursday, the sixth of the eight judges, under probe by the EFCC.

    Others already quizzed by the organization are: Justices Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, Musa Haruna Kurya, Agbadu James Fishim and Uwani Abba Aji.

    The National Judicial Commission (NJC) had in February sanctioned Ofili- Ajumogobia for misconduct on the Bench.

    The council barred her from elevation to the Court of Appeal or taking any judicial appointment.

  • EFCC recovers N57m from suspected fraudsters

    EFCC recovers N57m from suspected fraudsters

    The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered the sum of N57, 316,607.15 from suspected fraudsters between February and September, 2016.

    The Head of the zonal office, Mr Akaninyene Ezima,‎ who was flanked by the Deputy Head Kazeem Oseni, Head Public Relations Ayo Oyewole and the Commission’s Head of Administration, Oyekemi Kayode-Afe, diclosed this while presenting the score card of the commission to journalists in the last nine months of its operations in the zone.

    According to Ezima, “between F‎ebruary and September, we received over 200 petitions out of which 123 are under investigations.

    “Eighty suspects were arrested during the course of investigation. Out of these cases, eight are already before the courts at various stages of trial.

    “For us, these figures indicate a steady progression ‎in our activities and a commitment to the Commission’s mandate.

    “For the record, the Ibadan Zone is not limited to official corruption cases. We are at advanced stages in the investigation of some advance fee fraud cases and other forms of infractions.

    “Going forward, we encourage th‎at the performance so far would be better as we forge ahead and diligently pursue our cases in court to ensure that justice is served accordingly.

    “This optimism is informed by the new practice directive by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the expeditious handling of corrupton cases in court.

    “We strongly hope that before the end of the year, the Ibadan Zonal Office will have a number of convictions in her kitty.”

    Ezima said the biggest challenge of t‎he commission is paucity of information from th public, stressing that the commission cannot  succeed without information from the public.

    He appealed to the public to provide adequate information to the anti-graft body, promising to treat such information with the greatest confidentiality and respect it deserves.

  • Alleged corruption: Female judge reports to EFCC

    Alleged corruption: Female judge reports to EFCC

    A female judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia yesterday reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation on alleged corrupt practices on the bench.

    She became the sixth judge out of eight under investigation by the anti-graft commission.

    Two more judges were being expected to interact with the commission.

    Those already grilled by the EFCC are Justices Mohammed Nasir Yunusa; Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa; Musa Haruna Kurya; Agbadu James Fishim; and Uwani Abba Aji.

    A source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence said: “Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia reported to our office on Thursday at about 6pm. You know she has refused to honour our invitation and we were about to enforce the law when she came to our office.

    “Our detectives have been questioning her on a few issues which had been isolated.”

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) had in February sanctioned Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for misconduct on the bench.

    The Council also barred her from elevation to the Court of Appeal or taking any judicial appointment.

     A statement by the Acting Director of Information of NJC, Mr. Soji Oye said: “The NJC, under the Chairmanship of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, at its meeting on February 24 and 25, 2016 decided to warn Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and put her on the “watch-list” of the council for the next four years.

    “The judge will also not be considered for any elevation to the Court of Appeal or any ad hoc judicial appointment till her retirement from the Bench.

    “The decision was sequel to the petition written against her by Victoria Ayeni, alleging misconduct and injustice on the part of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia for failing to deliver judgment in Suit No FHC/AB/CS/31/2011, a pre-election matter between Victoria A. A. Ayeni and Olusola Sonuga and two Ors.

    “She was also alleged to have adjourned the pre-election matter severally until the termination of the life span of the Ogun State House of Assembly.

    The decision of the Council on Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is with immediate effect.”

    Two of the six judges were alleged to have received over N2.75million bribe from two senior lawyers Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Joseph Nwobike (SAN).

    The EFCC had on March 9, 2016 arraigned Tarfa and Nwobike before Lagos High Court on allegations of bribery and offering gratification to a public official.

    “Nwobike and Tarfa are facing criminal prosecution for allegedly offering gratification to Federal High Court judges to refrain them from exercising the duties of their office.

    “Subsequent investigation revealed that the two Judges allegedly received sums of money from the two senior lawyers severally.”

  • N4.7b arms cash scandal: EFCC detains Obanikoro

    N4.7b arms cash scandal: EFCC detains Obanikoro

    Ex-minister also grilled on alleged N4.7b fraud

    He’s being detained, says aide

    An aide to Senator Obanikoro, Mr. Jonathan Eze, in a statement last night said the former minister had been detained by the anti-graft agency.
    The statement said: “Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the immediate past minister of defence and foreign affairs arrived in Abuja this morning (yesterday) and headed straight for the office of the EFCC.
    “This is consequent upon an invitation sent to him by the anti-graft body, which was received on June 15, 2016, coincidentally at a time and period he was pursuing academic postgraduate degree in the United States.
    “As at now, interrogations have ended and it will continue tomorrow. However, the minister shall remain with the operatives for further questioning tomorrow. (today).
    “The officials were impressed with his decision to honour their invitation and so far, there has been mutual cooperation and understanding between the agency and my principal.
    “We wish to use this medium to commend the EFCC for the mature way they went about the interrogations. They were truly professional.
    “Senator Obanikoro has served this country at every level from local government chairman till his appointments as minister twice and he is proud of his contributions so far. He is not a fugitive as has been erroneously painted in the media and his returning to the country on his own volition is a further testimony to this.”

    Former Minister of State for Defence  Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday surrendered  to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), which is probing his role in the alleged disbursement of N4.745billion for the Ekiti State 2014 governorship election. The cash is believed to have come from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The anti-graft commission began the grilling of the ex-Minister at about 2pm.

    The EFCC, said a source, was making efforts to secure a court order to keep Obanikoro in detention for the duration of his interrogation.

    Also sighted at the EFCC yesterday was a former Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Tope Aluko, who was a witness to how about N1.299billion was flown to the state to influence the governorship poll in 2014.

    It was learnt that Aluko may be a star witness against Obanikoro, Governor Ayodele Fayose and Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (Alias Abbey).

    Obanikoro arrived in Abuja at about 10am, but the EFCC team did not start attending to him until about 2pm.

    Clad in a white kaftan, Obanikoro, who looked trim, was seen at the EFCC’s office at about 1.40pm in company of the Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and five others.

    He was smiling and shaking hands with people, including reporters.

    The presence of Aluko pointed to a likely encounter with Obanikoro in the interrogation room.

    A source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “While were are preparing to declare him wanted, the ex-minister surrendered to the EFCC for interrogation in respect of the probe of alleged N4.745billion fraud.

    “Obviously, Obanikoro is the long-awaited suspect and we believe his coming will assist us in the investigation of how the money was sourced from the $2.1billion meant for arms from the Office of the National Security (ONSA).

    “We have grilled him for more than three hours but this may take some days. It is about 90 per cent certain that we are not likely to release him.

    “We need to interact also with his sons and daughter, based on the evidence at our disposal.”

    Earlier, in a WhatsApp message, Obanikoro said:  “I am in Abuja, just wanted to be the one to tell you.”

    The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, a company believed to be owned by Obanikoro and his sons,   was used to launder the N4.745billion.

    The company, which was incorporated in November 2011, has as its directors an aide of the ex-minister, Ikenna Ezekwe (700,000 shares) of 51 Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta; Idowu Oshodi (299,000 shares) of 8 Prince Tayo Adesanya Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi; and Elizabeth Adebiyi  (1,000 shares) of 3 Adedoyin Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere.

    Ezekwe’s accounts have been de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.

    A document on the investigation states: “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 7, 2012  passed a resolution that the company should open an account and appointed Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe, Ms. Theresa Matuluko (Secretary) and Mr. Babajide Obanikoro as signatories to the account.

    “The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”

    According to the EFCC, when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745billion from ONSA as war chest for Ekiti Governorship poll, ex-Minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.”

    The breakdown of the disbursement is as follows:  N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through bureau de change firms; N160million spent on cars through Balmoral International Limited; N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to Akure for Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; balance of about N2billion allegedly withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.

    Some of the bureaux de change involved in the transactions and the amounts credited to them are:  A.A.G.B.S Oil and Gas  (N168,000,000.00); Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd (N167,500,000.00); Northline Ltd (N835,000.00);  Northline Ltd (N83,750,000.00); Five Star Ltd N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A Trading Ent (N268,301,500.00); Villagolf Bureau De Change (N1,425,000.00); Ahmad &Omar (N350,000.000); Northline Ltd  (N1,680,000.00); Northline Limited A (N2,325,300); Rehoboth Homes  (20,000,0000); Northline Ltd (N5,932,500.00); Northline Ltd (N842,500); Northline Ltd (N842,500.00).

    The EFCC probe showed how N1.299 billion was flown to Akure Airport on June 12, 2014, to Fayose through Agbele.

    A report on the investigation reads: “On June 12, 2014, N1.299 billion was flown from Lagos to Akure Airport by Musiliu Obanikoro through a chartered plane with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.

    “The N1.299 billion was in two consignments but flown in the same aircraft twice in the morning and in the evening. “From FAAN records, the first cash of N724, 500,000 arrived at Akure Airport at an estimated time of 9.38am and the second was at 17.57hours.

    “A bullion van was brought to the tarmac at the airport in Akure to evacuate the cash to Plot 13 Alagbaka Estate, Akure.

    “Obanikoro handed over the funds to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (alias Abbey).”

     

  • EFCC nabs don, corps member for ‘fraud’

    EFCC nabs don, corps member for ‘fraud’

    A Senior female lecturer with the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for alleged crimes bordering on issuance of dud cheques and obtaining by false pretence.

    The Zonal Head, Southsouth, EFCC, Ishaq Salihu, in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, alleged that the lecturer, Dr. Love Iwori Arugu, 53, was a serial offender, having been arrested and arraigned before, at a Rivers State High Court, for the same offence and was granted bail.

    Salihu, who regretted that Arugu’s past experience did not change her, alleged that the don was facing new charges on issuance of dud cheques, for which she would soon be arraigned.

    The anti-graft agency said it arrested Onukagbe Uche Prosper, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Tai Local Government for alleged involvement in Internet fraud (yahoo yahoo).

    Other persons said to be arrested with the corps member are the leader, Tochi Nwalozie, Onuoha Akachukwu Danhessy, Ohaji Ujuwa Raymond (Francis Ray Emar), Henry Onyebuchi Ogbonna, Eboh Emeka Emmanuel and Nworgu Chidi Previous.

    It was alleged that Nwalozie posed as the former EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, through an identity card purportedly signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan and Justice Bello Adoki, with which he sent mails to foreigners in Europe and America, extorting huge amount of foreign currencies from them.

    The commission nabbed ThankGod Okachi Echem, a school certificate holder, for allegedly impersonating a lawyer and defrauding his victim of N7 million.

    Salihu said to cover up his shady deals, the ‘lawyer’ employed a qualified lawyer, who worked with him.

    He said it was not clear whether the qualified lawyer knew that his principal was a secondary school certificate holder or not, but warned job seekers to beware of the employment agreements they signed.

    Salihu said the suspects would soon be arraigned.

     

  • Dariye’s trial: EFCC took all documents in 2005, says witness 

    Dariye’s trial: EFCC took all documents in 2005, says witness 

    A defence witness in the trial of former Plateau Governor Joshua Dariye has told an FCT High Court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) took all documents relating to the transaction in 2005.

    Dariye is standing trial for the alleged diversion of N1.16 billion ecological fund belonging to the Plateau State government.

    Paul Datugum, a Deputy Director (Account) in the state Ministry of Finance, revealed this yesterday during his cross examination by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

    The subpoena, marked as exhibit D19, besides coming to testify, requested for documents from the ministry on the case.

    Datugum told the court that he was watching from the Ministry of Education when EFCC operatives stormed the office and people scampered to safety, adding that his predecessor, Mr. Bala Kwlfup, who died in 2006, did not officially handover to him.

    “I was watching from the window on the first floor and I saw operatives of the EFCC carrying away bags from the ministry loaded with documents.

    “All the documents from 1999 to 2005 were packed from the office of the Accountant-General”.

    Also tendered was the witness statement which he gave the EFCC on February 2016, marked as exhibit D20.

    The statement reads: “…I am not in the position to trace any document in request of cheques listed. There was no handing over given to me and I am not in possession of any document.

    “There was no inventory taken in respect of the documents carted away by operatives of the EFCC in 2005, as my predecessor fled the premises,” Datugum said.

    Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned continuation of defence till October 20.