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Tag: EFCC

  • Fayose’s accounts remain frozen as EFCC opposes request for N5 billion damages

    Fayose’s accounts remain frozen as EFCC opposes request for N5 billion damages

    Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose’s accounts in Zenith Bank remain frozen till November, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urged a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti to reject his request for N5 billion damages over the action of the anti-graft agency.

    The EFCC through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, at the resumed hearing of the suit on Friday urged the court to strike out Fayose’s further affidavit in response to its (EFCC’s) affidavit filed without leave of the court.

    The agency contended that “it is visible to the blind an audible to the deaf that the applicant (Fayose) is extremely out of time and there is no extension of time to file a further affidavit.

    Fayose had through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome,(SAN) urged the court to award him N5 billion damages against the EFCC for freezing his two personal bank domiciled at Zenith Bank.

    Ozekhome, argued that the interim order obtained by the EFCC on June 24 and granted by Justice M.B. Idris upon which the action was based was “fundamentally irredeemably wrong.”

    Fayose  had sued the EFCC and Zenith  Bank on the freezing of his personal bank accounts numbers: 1003126654 and 9013074033 on May 24, 2016, seeking an order to de-freeze the accounts.

    The EFCC alleged that the accounts were used to launder funds from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) for the purpose of financing Fayose’s campaign in the 2014 governorship poll in Ekiti.

    Ozekhome described the EFCC action of freezing or blocking Fayose’s accounts as illegal, irregular, wrongful, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

    Fayose’s counsel told the court that he had filed an originating summons dated 23rd June and filed the following day having 16-paragraph affidavit attached with Exhibit A, which is a letter from Zenith Bank freezing Fayose’s account.

    Ozekhome also told the court he also filed a further and better affidavit on September 21 which he adopted.

    Citing many authorities, Ozekhome argued that Fayose enjoys immunity conferred on him by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution and that Zenith Bank was not the party prescribed to be sued by Section 34(1) of EFCC Act.

    Responding, Oyedepo opposed Ozekhome’s submissions on grounds that Order 22 Rule 5 of the Federal High Court was violated by the defence counsel.

    Oyedepo said coming up with such an application amounted to an ambush as the prosecution was not availed the opportunity of reacting to new issues being raised.

    The EFCC lawyer insisted before the court that the decision of the anti- graft agency to freeze Fayose’s accounts followed due process.

    He pleaded with the court to give him enough time to study the counter argument of Fayose’s lead counsel which was presented to the court for more than three hours.

     

     

  • Fayose’s accounts remain frozen till November 7

    Fayose’s accounts remain frozen till November 7

    The two private accounts of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti in Zenith Bank will remain frozen until November 7.

    This followed the adjournment till Nov. 7 of the suit in which the governor sued the EFCC for freezing his accounts.

    At Friday’s hearing, Fayose’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozehkome, and that of the EFCC agreed on the adjournment date.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accounts had been frozen since June by the EFCC.

    At the resumed hearing, Ozehkome, who led 10 other lawyers, argued that the EFCC lacked the constitutional powers to so apply punitive measures on a governor that still enjoyed immunity until the end of his tenure in 2018.

    He argued that the freezing of the governor’s accounts based on mere hearsay and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud lacked the backing of the law.

    The counsel said only a declarative evidence of court of competent jurisdiction could act in the way of EFCC.

    He said blocking the governor’s accounts without being found guilty by a court amounted to convicting the governor before putting him on trial.

    The counsel said the exparte order which the EFCC claimed to be relying upon in blocking Fayose’s two accounts had been grossly abused, adding that such an order was not expected to last longer than few weeks.

    “My Lord, my client’s accounts were frozen in June and we are now in September, making a total of four months altogether.

    “As far as we know, the principle of exparte order which is meant to last for a while has been grossly abused here.

    “This is because as you can see, my client has been unjustly subjected to both psychological and mental torture, as if to say judgment must come before trial,’’ he said.

    He demanded that a sum of N5 billion be paid by the EFCC to the governor as aggravated damages.

    The counsel also asked the court to vacate an earlier order of a similar court which empowered the anti-graft body to block the governor’s accounts.

    But EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, insisted that the decision of the anti- graft agency to freeze Fayose’s accounts followed due process.

    He pleaded with the court to give him enough time to study the counter argument of Fayose’s lead counsel which was presented to the court for more than three hours.

    Justice Taiwo consequently adjourned ruling in the case till November 7.

  • Prosecutor’s absence stalls Adegboruwa’s trial

    The trial of activist-lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, was stalled on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos due to the absence of prosecution counsel, Mohammed Idris.

    Idris wrote the court to request for an adjournment because he was engaged elsewhere.

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo adjourned the trial till November 17 and 18.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Adegboruwa for allegedly dealing in a seized property.

    He was charged under Section 32 (1) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 which states that any person who deals in a property or asset that is the subject of an attachment, interim order or final order without due authorisation by the commission is liable to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

    The commission said Adegboruwa and Jonathan Udeagbala, said to be at large, allegedly conspired on August 13, 2013 to lease a property at House 105, NICON Town Estate, Lekki, which EFCC said was a “subject of interim orders of attachment made by Justice Christopher Balogun of the Lagos State High Court” on June 18, 2012.

    But, On September 22, Justice Ayisat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court vacated the interim order of forfeiture.

    Udeagbala was arraigned before the Lagos High Court for allegedly issuing dud cheques in favour of his business partner, Mr. Leonard Okafor.

    In the course of the said trial, the parties met and decided to resolve the matter amicably after Udeagbala promised to raise funds by leasing his property in NICON Town, following which the court dismissed the criminal case on December 17 last year.

    Udeagbala filed an application dated January 22 praying the Lagos High Court to discharge the interim order of forfeiture since the criminal charge upon which it was anchored had been dismissed.

    The EFCC filed a counter-affidavit to the application, arguing that it had filed an appeal against the order of December 17, 2015, which dismissed the main criminal charge.

    Ruling, Justice Opesanwo held that since the court had dismissed the main criminal charge, the interim order of forfeiture could not stand and that she could not sit on appeal against the order which dismissed the case.

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC re-arraigns Kalu, two others

    Alleged fraud: EFCC re-arraigns Kalu, two others

    About eight years after the case was stalled, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday recommenced the trial of former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu and two others.

    Kalu, his ex-aide, Jones Udeogo, and the ex-governor’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, were re-arraigned on a 34-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Before the arraignment, Kalu and others had argued against the proceedings and urged the court to await the pending appeal by Slok before the Supreme Court.

    Trial judge, Justice Anwuri Chikere, rejected the defendants’ objection to their arraignment and ordered that the charge be read out to them.

    In the amended charge, Kalu and others were accused of diverting about N3.2billion from the Abia State Government’s treasury during his (Kalu) tenure as Abia State governor.

    They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out to them, following which the court granted them bail on the terms attached to the one granted them in April 2008 by Justice Adamu Bello (now retired).

    The court adjourned to December 6 for the commencement of trial.

  • Lawyers advise EFCC on probe

    Lawyers advise EFCC on probe

    Some lawyers yesterday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be cautious with its probe of  former First Lady Mrs Patience Jonathan.

    The lawyers, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, Elvis Offor, Miss Vina Amaka, Benard Nwauduna and Divine Sunday Ofuma, in a statement, said the anti-graft agency will indirectly be probing ex- President Goodluck Jonathan through his wife.

    Osuagwu, who described the probe of the former First Lady as a media trial, alleged that the probe is aimed at tarnishing Jonathan’s image.

    He said: “The former president is a crowd puller. One must exercise caution when you begin to probe his wife. The Southsouth people could see this as probing former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The country is a bit weak now in terms of ethnic bonding. The ethnic bond is weak; so, caution should be exercised by the anti-corruption agency.

    “Nigeria’s ethnic bond is still shaking. We should exercise caution so as to avoid the foot soldiers on the streets who see the former president as their idol.

    “There is no need saying you are probing the wife of immediate past president. You are probing the husband as they are one.”

    The lawyers, who said they were not against the probe of Mrs. Jonathan, said: “The EFCC and the wife of the former president can resolve this issue quietly without involving the media. Nobody says the EFCC should not do its work. In fact, they should be allowed to do their work but caution should be exercised.

    “Our position is that the Office of the President must be respected by citizens as that position is the highest position in the land. We advice that the president has to caution and call Magu and EFCC to order. “

  • EFCC probes RTEAN‘s ‘fake vehicle deal’

    Lagos State Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged fake vehicles deal entered into by its former leaders.

    Speaking to reporters, the group’s Secretary Olalekan Amusan, said the EFCC had begun investigation into the N763,000 allegedly collected from eight RTEAN chapels in Lagos by the leadership.

    But former Assistant Financial Secretary of the Union Ade Adebanjo said the issue would soon be resolved.

    A recipient, Bashiru Shekoni, who  got a vehicle, said they  had been invited by the EFCC.

    Amusan said in 2007,  a workshop was organised by the association to empower members, where major motor dealers were invited. At the event, the association reached agreement with a reputable motor firm to supply vehicles to members, but the deal did not materialise.

    He said: “Our leaders were to cancel the deal with our partners on the vehicle’s supply.

    “They claimed that another motor dealer has been commissioned to supply us the vehicles.

    “There was no insurance cover for the vehicles because the particulars were fake.Most of the money paid by members to the bank could not be refunded. As a result, the name of the union was at stake, but to save it from public embarrassment, the Lagos State leadership of RTEAN under Alhaji Mohammed Musa waded into the matter.’’

    Amusan added: “It was in view of this that  a petition was addressed to the EFCC. We entered into an agreement with some banks on how to pay back the loan. With the efforts made so far by the EFCC, we are assuring our members that justice would soon come their way.’’

  • EFCC links Patience Jonathan with 9 houses, 2 hotels, one plaza

    EFCC links Patience Jonathan with 9 houses, 2 hotels, one plaza

    •Writes Bayelsa Head of Service on Patience’s pay status as Perm Sec
    •Anti-graft agency recovers N1b in South-South, secures 24 convictions

    THE PROPERTIES

    PORT HARCOURT
    •Former Customs Service officers mess
    •Two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street
    •Landed property at Ambowei Street
    •Three luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street
    •Grand View Hotel on Airport Road

    YENAGOA
    •Two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway
    •Glass House on Adaka Boro Expressway
    •Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP Filling Station, Melford Okilo Road
    •Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa on Isaac Boro Abacha Expressway

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigators probing ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan’s link with five choice buildings, including a N5billion hotel in Abuja, have unearthed seven additional properties believed to be owned by her.

    The detectives were in Port Harcourt (Rivers State) and Yenagoa (Bayelsa State) all week trying to establish whether four properties in the two cities truly belong to Mrs. Jonathan.

    The Nation can now confirm that the assignment led the investigators to suspect that seven more properties including the former Customs Service officers mess in Port Harcourt and a plot of land under construction were acquired by her.

    Others in the Rivers State capital are: two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three Luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel on Airport road.

    Those in Yenagoa are: two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway which serves as office of the 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.

    The anti-graft agency, which says it has so far recovered N1b and  secured 24 convictions in the South South, may invoke  Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 on the affected properties after due verification, sources said yesterday.

    Already, the EFCC has written to the Head of the Civil Service in Bayelsa State demanding the pay status and allowances of Mrs. Jonathan during her tenure as a Permanent Secretary.

    It also sought explanation on whether or not she was paid in dollars, besides travelling estacodes, while in office.

    The investigators are already back in Abuja to continue their assignment.

    A highly placed source said: “The ex-First Lady is allegedly linked with the acquisition of the former Customs Service Officers mess in Port-Harcourt.

    “We also identified three luxury apartments of four-bedroom each believed to be owned by Mrs. Jonathan. The apartments are tastefully furnished with the state of the art accessories.

    “After verification of these assets and completion of our investigation, we may seek the order of the court to place the affected assets under Interim Forfeiture.

    “Permission will be sought to ask the ex-First Lady to explain some of the sources of her wealth in line with Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act.

    “As a First Lady, there was no appropriation for her office and she was not on salary.”

    The Nation also gathered that the EFCC last Friday submitted a letter to the   Head of the Bayelsa State Civil Service demanding the pay status and allowances of Mrs. Jonathan as a Permanent Secretary.

    A top source said: “The letter was submitted and duly acknowledged. We already have the acknowledgement copy with us for record purpose.

    “We asked for Mrs. Jonathan’s salary and remuneration status as a Permanent Secretary while in office. We demanded to know if she was paid in dollars or in any other currency.

    “We wrote the letter in line with Section 7 of the EFCC Act because we suspected that she has been living above her means.”

    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.”

    This is the second leg of the ongoing probe of Mrs. Jonathan after about $19.8million had been frozen in five accounts allegedly traced to her.

    Although she initially confirmed the ownership of the accounts, there was a twist on Friday when her counsel, Mr. Charles Ogboli, said she knew about three accounts including one belonging to Mrs. Jonathan and two others owned by her late mum, Madam Charity Fyneface Oba.

    A report of the EFCC investigative team had implicated the former First Lady.

    The report of the investigative team said in part: “Based on the investigation so far carried out, it has revealed that the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts used by Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan  has a cumulative balance of $14,029.881.79 which has been swept Post No Debit Card category.

    “Again, her personal account, different from the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts, bears the balance of $5,841,426.17.

    “Considering the above stated findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the aforementioned suspects.”

    The EFCC claimed that all the funds traced to Patience Jonathan’s accounts were proceeds of gratification.

    The report said: “The intelligence revealed that Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel fraudulently received various sums of money, being proceeds of gratification and retained same on behalf of the then first Family and for himself.”

    Meanwhile, the Zonal Head of the EFCC in the South-South, Mr. Ishaq Saliu has said that the zone has so far secured 24 convictions and recovered N1billion.

    Saliu made the disclosures in Port Harcourt when some Niger Delta youths protested to his office on Friday against the ongoing investigation of the former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    He dismissed allegations that the EFCC was selective in its investigation and prosecution.

    He said the EFCC will always be on the side of the law in its operations.

    He said: “There is nothing selective in the cases of EFCC. We are professionals to the core. Once an allegation is made, before somebody is even invited – the invitation is the last leg of our cases.

    “Bank documents and things we need to inquire would have been gotten. Port Harcourt Zonal office alone, this year has 24 convictions and recovered over N1billion.”

  • EFCC operative arrested for collecting N15m bribe from lawmaker

    EFCC operative arrested for collecting N15m bribe from lawmaker

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has arrested one of its operatives, Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue, for allegedly collecting a N15million bribe from a lawmaker to kill a case.

    The commission said the suspect might face trial after administrative action has been taken against him.

    The EFCC made the disclosures in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, against the backdrop of the ongoing cleansing of the anti-graft commission of bad eggs.

    The statement said: “In furtherance of its avowed commitment to upholding the integrity of its officers, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, September 15, 2016 arrested one of its operatives, Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy and extortion.

    “Agbazue, a Deputy Detective Superintendent, DDS, was arrested following a complaint by a lawmaker currently under investigation by the commission, alleging that the operative collected N15million from him with a promise to give him soft landing by compromising the investigation.

    “According to the complainant, Agbazue allegedly approached him, claiming he had been mandated by the officer handling the case to discuss and reach an agreement on how to ‘kill the case’.

    “Following the approach, a sum of N15million was given to Agbazue whose game plan collapsed after the investigating officer, who was ignorant of his scheme, refused to do his bidding.

    “With the investigation gathering increased momentum after parting with the hefty sum, the complainant became uncomfortable and demanded a refund.

    “The complainant stated that when he requested for the refund of his money, Agbazue only returned N5million claiming that the balance of N10million had been given to someone ‘to kill the case from the top’.

    “The complainant also alleged that the operative collected N1million at a different time as assistance for settlement of his wife’s medical bill.

    “Agbazue’s action is in contravention of the commission’s mandate and ideals as the EFCC will not solicit or accept gratification from a suspect to compromise a case under investigation.

    “The suspect will be subjected to administrative action as precursor to possible prosecution at the end of the investigation.”

  • Kano market leadership accused of embezzling  N700m

    Board of Trustees, Kano Traders Union, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), accusing the sacked leadership of Kano Textile Market Association of allegedly embezzling over N700 Million Union money.

     

    Already, the Board of Trustees has dissolved Alhaji Liti Kulkul leadership for many offences, ranging from refusal to vacate office after the expiration of his tenure since 2015, as well as allegations of selling plots of land belonging to the association, including other valuables.

     

    Similarly, the Traders Board of Trustees led by Alhaji Bature AbdulAziz have  since obtained a Court Order, restraining the Liti Kulkul dissolved leadership from tempering with the assets, finances and properties of Kantin Kwari textile market, pending the determination of motion on notice.

     

    The Court order obtained by the trustees restrained the sacked Executive members from further disposing of the properties of the market association, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

     

    Bature AbdulAziz, who is also the President of the Harmonized National Traders Association told Reporters in Kano that already they have appointed a new Caretaker Committee headed by Alhaji Gambo Danpass to oversee the affairs of the market for the next three months before elections.

     

    According to him, they exhausted all entreaties, including meeting with the Police AIG zone One to convince Liti Kulkul to conduct elections, as his tenure has since elapsed but to no avail.

     

    The Chairman of Traders Board of Trustees also disalosed that apart from the caretaker committee  created, two other committees have been constituted to investigate how three buses, plots of land and other properties, belonging to the market are missing.

    He said that the matter is criminal in nature, hence the decision to petition the EFCC to investigate  how N700m got missing from the treasury of the market.

     

    The new Caretaker Chairman, Gambo Danpass  accepted the responsibility to conduct fresh election, pending the election of the new executive members, emphasizing that he wants to see a much more responsible leadership that is free of corruption, as well as boost the revenue generation of the state.

     

    However, he said right now they have no idea  of what the money been collected from over 1000 shops across the markets apart from those operating on temporary stalls.are been used for.

     

    Meanwhile, several calls put across to the sacked Chairman, Liti Kulkul for his reaction was unsuccessful, as his phone was not reachable.

     

  • Ijaw youths accuse EFCC of humiliating Jonathan’s family

    Ijaw youths accuse EFCC of humiliating Jonathan’s family

    Ijaw youths, yesterday, accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of deliberately executing a planned witch-hunt against ex- President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.

    They said it was “unacceptable, immoral and illegal” to place the former first family on media trial without following due process.

    Angry youths, under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide,  said it was unfortunate EFCC failed to see that its indiscreet media trial of ex-militant leader Government Ekpuompolo led to the crisis in the Niger Delta.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, IYC President Mr. Udens Eradiri  said Jonathan’s wife like most ex-first ladies, made her money from gifts, insisting that there is no law against such gestures.

    He said: “First ladies in Nigeria do not do any work. A woman naturally attracts a lot of gifts from men, let alone a First Lady, who has the power to recommend you for something.

    “They receive a lot of thank you and gratifications because most cases they recommend people who come back to thank them. Even when they do not recommend, people go and say good morning with a million dollar. It did not start with Patience Jonathan.

    “We know how influential the former First Lady of this country and other first ladies were. We know how powerful, rich and wealthy they are and the property they acquired as a result of gratification.

    “If you say Patience should show how she made her money, you must start with all first ladies, otherwise, it is a witch-hunt. Patience Jonathan got her wealth from thank you, and there is nowhere in the law that says we should not receive thank you.

    “So, EFCC should stop this nonsense. If you have issues, go and follow due process and don’t begin to use the media to tarnish the image of the former first family”.

    He said youths would not tolerate further attacks and insults on Jonathan’s family, adding that the former President deserved respect.

    According to him, despite the humiliation Jonathan suffered from wife of the late ex-President Musa Yar’Adua, he never harassed the late President’s family.

    “Jonathan should be respected in Nigeria. You heard what happened during the time of the late President Yar’Adua. Jonathan did not witch-hunt that family, irrespective of the humiliation he suffered despite the position of the law.

    “This is a witch-hunt and the EFCC must stop this attitude because soon, people will begin to resist them. Nigerians will get to the point where they will no longer accept it.

    “We support the fight against corruption. We know corruption has eaten deep into our fabric but this selective fight, especially geared towards the region, must not be allowed”, Eradiri said.

    He said despite the corruption traced to the late ex-Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family, the government still approved a university for his wife.

    “It is in this country that they talked about Abacha’s loot, yet a university had been approved for Abacha’s wife. In this same country where they said Abacha was corrupt. So, why are you treating one former first family differently and then everybody wants to humiliate Jonathan’s family in the best of their ability.

    “The former First Lady, Patience, has no question to answer. The EFCC is destroying Buhari’s anti-graft policy because when your anti-graft is beginning to show it is one-sided, it will lose credibility”, he said.

    The IYC boss asked the EFCC to to return about N23 billion, $100 million and other assets it seized from ex-Governor of the state,  the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

    He wondered what the EFCC is doing with the money when Bayelsa and other states face financial difficulties.

    “Bayelsa State funds are in their hands, they have not returned it. Why are they keeping the funds? Are they meant to keep funds that they recovered? Why is the money not being paid into TSA if they believe they are proceeds of corruption? They should return our money. Those are issues they should focus on,” he said.

    He added: “I thought that the EFCC by now will begin to face squarely its job of ensuring that criminals are brought to book and not the media charade that is usually its modus operandi.