Tag: EFCC

This was the background that informed his choice in an acting capacity by Mr. President who was then shopping for an incorruptible character at the helm of affairs at the EFCC expected to drive the administration’s anti-corruption agenda. Magu neither lobbied or applied for the job but was singled out for national service on account of his knowledge, experience, exposure, integrity and character in fighting anti-corruption over the years.

But the critical question remains, has Magu justified his rating in the last six months of his acting role at the helm of EFCC? Every honest Nigerian will attest to the fact that in the last six months, the character of the anti-corruption battle has changed dramatically gaining increasing confidence of the rank and file even as the perception of the EFCC changed positively with the realisation that it is no longer business as usual as EFCC continues to record convictions and successes in various spheres with Magu at the helm of affairs.

The list included the following: a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Raymond Temisan Omatseye (five years for N.5n contract scam); a Lagos Court Registrar, Mrs. Rosulu Idowu Oluronke (10 years for $8.4 million); a former Chairman, Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, Gabriel Daudu (154 years for N1.4 billion fraud); ex Adamawa Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, John Elias Babani (10 years for N51.5 million); George Uboh (three years for selling vehicles belonging to the defunct Police Equipment Fund). The EFCC also secured a court order to extradite a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM), Ehi Okonyomon to the United Kingdom (UK) to face charges of corruption and money laundering on the N750 million polymer bribery scandal. It also got another order to extradite a Nigerian fugitive, Franca Asemota to the UK for prosecution for trafficking minors.

There are also ongoing trials in various courts with some of the suspects involved volunteering to return state funds because they know that this regime is different and that Magu at the helm of EFCC cannot and will not be compromised. Magu is competent with character and capacity. His anger against corruption is passionate with the element of courage in waging the war.

Indeed, I bear personal testimony to Magu’s integrity and passion in fighting the war against corruption and I will share two personal experiences to buttress my submission in the above regard. In one of my informal meetings, I tried to sound him out on his attitude to a few of the ongoing high profile cases some of which he inherited from the previous administration. He informed me that the guilt or innocence of the suspects is for the court to determine and the offences alleged if proved (emphasis if proved) constitute offences against the Nigerian State and the Nigerian people and that if he does anything to pervert the course of justice without allowing justice to take its course in any of these matters it will amount to the gross betrayal of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state.

On another occasion involving an informal meeting with witnesses including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Magu informed us that any attempt to shield any operative of the commission who is accused of any offence bordering on financial malpractices will mean transferring the burden of guilt of the affected operative from the operative to himself for which he has to answer to God not only here but hereafter. I came out of the two encounters fully convinced that this is one anti-corruption fighter who is conscious of his place in history, posterity and hereafter after he might have gone from this planet.  Magu does not cease to amaze me on account of his passion and his readiness to sacrifice everything including his life in defence of his convictions. Indeed, Magu is a no nonsense police officer whose services is required by our country at this point in time even if he cannot do the job alone without the collaboration of all Nigerians.

My recommendation

I will strongly recommend to the distinguished body of the Senate to ask Magu on account of his accomplishments to simply take a bow and proceed to his desk and the field to continue the good work he has started. I believe that the Senate which is recognised as constituted by men and women of exemplary qualities and who have the interest of Nigeria at heart will do the needful by confirming Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu as the substantive chairman of EFCC in the overall national interest.

I believe strongly that the candidacy of Magu and his suitability for the substantive office of the EFCC chairman is one that should not be open to any debate being a subject matter justifiably requiring consensus.

I urge the distinguished members of the Senate to so hold.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday sealed a Dubai real estate firm, The First Group, over a phony $200 billion deals.

Several documents,  including a list of high profile patrons, were recovered from the premises.

The anti-graft agency is screening the list.

A prominent Nigerian may have lost about $402,000 (N136.6 million).

This is the second in some of the deals, it was learnt time since May the EFCC has raided the  firm, which is allegedly involved in assisting politicians to launder money in the United Arab Emirates(UAE).

EFCC operatives shut down the company’s office on the seventh floor at the Bank of Industry building in the Central Business District, Abuja.

A  source said: “This is the second time our team will go to the company for investigation following intelligence report. We had initially arrested two staff of the Dubai-based firm.

“The company is implicated in a phony real estate scam in which innocent Nigerians were duped $200 billion.

 “Investigation into the scam showed that the company, originally known as TFG Real Estate Limited, operates in Nigeria in the guise of being The First Group, a Dubai-based real estate firm, which is not registered in Nigeria.

“The modus operandi of the company is to lure Nigerians interested in owning property in Dubai into parting with their money. They are mandated to make the payments in instalments.

“However, the payment process is deliberately structured in such a way that the debt is difficult to offset, and as soon as one defaults, the money will be “seized” by the company.”

Another source said: “We are probing clues on how some political office holders used some officials of the company  to launder looted funds.

“The scope of investigation is wider. In fact, some of the foreign staff of the company have relocated from the country to evade arrest. But we will get them wherever they are.”

Those under searchlight in Dubai for stashing funds or acquiring property in Dubai are seven ex-governors, six former ministers, a former presidential aide implicated in the $2.1 billion arms deal, ex-military chiefs under probe, agents/ front of some of these public officers and about five chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A Federal Government team, comprising the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami; EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu and crack detectives from the anti-graft agency, have met with their UAE counterparts to collate intelligence on the PEPs.

A senior management staff of TFG, simply called Machenry, said: “The EFCC did not tell you the truth. We did not defraud anybody or group. We do legitimate property business in Dubai.

“What happened is that some of these subscribers will go into an obligation to pay for properties within a three to four-year frame but midway they will say they want to terminate the contract in order to launder money. But on our part, we have been sticking to the rules that funds paid are not refundable even if you cannot meet up with terms of payment.

“Some of them apply to buy property in order to launder money but we have refused to be used. We always insist that they either get their properties or forget cash refund. They are always uncomfortable with our strictness to terms of purchase.

“These people who are closer to the powers that be are the ones trying to use EFCC against us. They failed to meet up with the laid down terms for buying properties in the UAE and they want to make U-turn on the non- refundable clause.

“This is purely a civil matter. Why can’t they go to court instead of running to the EFCC. The agreement on property purchase with our group is explicit.”

On whether the company had been fronting for political office holders, the source added: “I don’t know what you mean by that. I  am aware that we conduct due diligence before engaging any individual or group in property business. We believe in business fidelity.”

Asked if the firm sold two mansions to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and his wives, Machenry said: “We did not sell the properties to them. They are not on our list.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday asked the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, to refuse an official of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), who is facing a N2.8 billion fraud charge, permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The applicant, Adegorite Olumuyiwa, was arraigned by the EFCC on April 12, with NAMA’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdusalam, and five other NAMA officials for an alleged N2.8 billion  fraud in NAMA.

The six arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, Bola Akinribido and Sesebor Abiodun.

The others are five companies, namely: Randville Investment Limited; Multeng Travels and Tours Limited; Delosa Limited; Airsea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedule System Limited.

They are on trial for a 21-count charge of conspiracy, advanced fee fraud and money laundering.

But they denied the charge, and the court granted them N20 million bail each with one surety in like sum.

They were ordered to deposit their passports in the custody of the court until the conclusion of the trial.

At the commencement of yesterday’s proceedings, the fifth defendant, Adegorite, appeared in court with her lawyer, Mr. A. B. Onifade, with an application seeking the release of her passport to enable her travel to Dubai for medical treatment.

Onifade told Justice Kuewumi that his client was suffering from acute sinusitis and hypertensive heart disease.

But EFCC’s counsel Ibrahim Mohammed opposed the application, describing it as a ploy to frustrate the trial.

Onifade argued that his client, being the wife of the 2nd defendant in the case, would not jump bail.

He argued that the anti-graft agency was aware of his client’s ill-health and recalled that it earlier granted her administrative bail on that basis.

The lawyer added that even in the unlikely event that his client jumped bail, Section 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, empowered the court to proceed with trial, the outcome of which would be binding on the absentee accused person.

After the end of the arguments, Justice Kuewumi fixed Friday for ruling.