Former Osun State Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore has been arrested by the EFCC is Abuja.
Senator Omisore was arrested Sunday at his Abuja residence.
Details later
Tag: EFCC
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EFCC traces N2.5b to ex-female minister’s housemaid’s account
•Secures court order to detain Fayose’s associate
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has laid its hands on a bank account with over N2.5billion opened in the name of a former female minister’s housemaid.
Investigators of the anti-graft agency believe the account was opened by the former influential minister in the name of the housemaid as part of the effort to cover her track.
However, preliminary investigation has shown that the former minister is the sole signatory to the account, The Nation gathered authoritatively yesterday.
A highly placed EFCC source said yesterday that she would be brought to justice.
“Our findings indicated that the ex-female minister opened an account in the name of her housemaid and with her photograph. But the signature in the account is that of the ex-minister,” the source said.
“At the time we made the discovery, over N2.5billion was in the account. But the volume of transactions in the account has been huge.
“We are suspecting that the ex-minister did not put the housemaid in the picture of what she wanted to do with her passport photograph.
“We have established that the ex-minister has been drawing funds from the said account. We have retrieved records of all transactions by the ex-Minister. We will soon bring her to justice no matter how long it takes to follow due process.”
The EFCC, it was also gathered, has secured a court order to detain Abiodun Agbele (Alias Abbey), an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.
Agbele was arrested during the week in respect of ongoing investigation into how about N4.745billion of the $2. 1billion arms cash was diverted to a former Minister of Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro and Governor Fayose.
The cash was allegedly sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under ex-NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki prior to the conduct of the June 21,2014 Ekiti Governorship poll.
About N1.219billion was allegedly disbursed to Fayose through Abiodun Agbele and De Privateer Limited which is owned by the associate.
The ONSA allegedly wired the N4.745billion via Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, a phony company allegedly run by the Obanikoros.
Said a source, “We have obtained a remand warrant from the court to detain Agbele; who was central to the collection and sharing of the N1.219billion into the accounts of Fayose and other beneficiaries.
“His arrest has enabled us to get to the root of how the funds came about and the disbursement formula.
“When presented with records of transactions and accruing tellers, the suspect admitted carrying out the transactions. He is helping our investigation and we will soon reveal the details to the public.”
Before Agele’s arrest, investigation had uncovered that:
“The N1, 219, 490,000 was not deposited in any account but it was kept in a vault in the bank. It took the bank officials about 10 days to count. The bankers refused to make entry until it was counted,
“Shortly after confirming the figure, Abiodun Agbele was used to coordinate the disbursement of the funds. On June 26, 2014, the wanted associate (Abiodun Agbele) paid N137million into Ayodele Fayose’s account 10003126654 with Zenith Bank through Teller-0556814. Fayose’s BVN on the teller is 22338867502. On August 22, 2014, he paid N50million into the same account. By the records from the bank, Abiodun Agbele paid another N118, 760,000 into Fayose’s account on 27/8/14.
“Based on the transfers, Fayose moved N300million to a Fixed Deposit Account No 9013074033 with Zenith Bank at 15, Olusola Abiona Street, Olorunda Estate, Alapere Ketu. He has the same BVN-22338867502.
“After that, Abiodun deposited another N100million from the N1, 219, 490,000 into Spotless Hotel Account run by Fayose and his wife, Helen Olayemi Fayose with Account No. 1010170969, Fayose’s BVN is 223338867502 and his wife’s BVN in the account is 22298990256.
“The governor and his wife are the two directors and signatories of Spotless Hotel account.”
In the course of the investigation, the EFCC team dug up how De Privateer Limited (a company owned by Abiodun Agbele) with Account No. 1013835889 received the sum of N219, 490,000 on June 18, 2014.
“On June 19, 2014, the same account received N300million and another N200million on June 23, 2014. The BVN of the account is 22235692890.”
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Court grants ex-governor Fintiri bail
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to former Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, who is standing trial for money laundering charges.
Fintiri was arraigned with his company – Mayim Construction and Properties Limited – for diverting about N2.9billion belonging to the state.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed said he granted Fintiri bail because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which granted the ex-governor an administrative bail on June 15 has not complained of any default on the part of the defendant.
“The court has not seen any reason not to admit the first defendant (Fintiri) to bail pending determination of the case and so, the defendant is hereby admitted to bail in the sum of N500million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must have landed properties within Abuja.
“The title documents of the properties are to be submitted with the court registrar along with the international passport of the defendant. The first defendant must not travel out of the country pending the determination of case.
“The two sureties are to submit two recent passport photographs. The defendant is to remain in prison custody pending satisfaction of bail conditions,” Justice Mohammed ruled.
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Anti – corruption war: Judiciary and EFCC bear the brunt
SIR: The raging war to address the moral fabric of this country has continued to gather momentum. The efforts of the present administration are being monitored in most parts of the world where Nigeria has been known in negative terms for decades. Achieving the notorious status of second to the last most corrupt country in the world, Nigeria is struggling to wriggle out of this obnoxious corruption index.
The man leading the fight is not new. Neither in physical features, orientation, mien and determination is Buhari a new man to Nigerians. The only “new” thing is that he now listens to others, he does not consider himself infallible, he now believes in team work. But the focus is the same – to save this nation from fraudsters, masquerading as politicians and patriots.
In our laws, the two most concerned organs at fighting corruption are the EFCC and the courts. In other climes, the jobs of these two bodies are clear–cut. But not in Nigeria where subterranean forces are usually at work to thwart the efforts of genuine operators of law and justice.
First the EFCC. This body is a child of circumstance, conceived in frustration, born in moral agony, and nurtured indespair.With over-weight and overload, EFCC is not presenting the best of the brains at the Bar. As can be viewed from outside, a lot of improvisation goes on there. How many Jacobs are working for the anti-graft agency? They can be counted by the fingers. Here lies the danger. When neophytes and less experienced lawyers face Smart Alecs of the bar what do we expect? Intimidation, manipulation, threats etc. It is here that the EFCC starts loosing its cases. The present situation demands thoroughness, total commitment, confidence and good knowledge of all factors surrounding each case. The solution here is either the government set up a separate judicial organ to fast–track processes without infringing on the liberties of the looters or hire more lawyers to beef up the prosecution process.
The second likely victim of the present malaise is the judiciary itself. Obviously not peopled by saints, our judicial officers are overworked, underpaid (some have said) and exposed to all kinds of temptations. Some are cowed down by boisterous, imperious bully who, realizing the relative young ages of some judges attempt to shout and bully their way through. For judicial officers, there are many solutions. First they must be properly enumerated. The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission which has responsibility for fixing the salaries and allowances of political office holders and judicial officers and which has been dormant (so it seems) for more than a decade now should rise up to the occasion and address the material benefits due judicial officers. After all a Senator is earning more than thrice the emoluments of a High Court Judge now!
Another way of addressing the issue of corruption in the judicial system is to apply stringent punitive measures to erring officers who sell ‘black judgment’ which allows the guilty to escape justice. Sometime in 2015, Ghana dismissed 23 High Court hudges for various offences of corruption, ineptitude and the like. The judicial system in that country has risen to expectation and there is a drastic reduction in fraud among public officers.
We must face it. We have to get it right this time. Very few leaders love this country. A society where the national lawmakers are the highest paid in the world; where the same people are clamouring for immunity and pensions for life, there is not much time to waste. The unemployed youth, mostly educated now number about 20 million. It is doubtful if these restive youth can wait for ever, seeing the obscene opulence and extravagance displayed by these heartless leaders. The judiciary and other organs of state, notably the EFCC must brace up to save this nation – the first way to do it is clean the system, help recover the loot, making ‘sharing’ and looting unattractive. It is an onerous task which has to be done.
- DejiFasuan M O N, JP
Snr Citizen, Ekiti State
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Court remands ex-governor Fintiri in prison
A Federal High Court in Abuja Thursday ordered the former Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, to be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order shortly after Fintiri and his company, Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, were arraigned on a five-count charge of money laundering.
The ex-governor and his company are accused of laundering over N1 billion.
Although Fintiri pleaded not guilty to the charges, he will remain in prison until Friday when the court will rule of his bail application.
Defence lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), while arguing Fintiri’s motion for bail, contended that the offences allegedly committed by his client were bailable.
He noted that Fintiri was granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), when he was invited for interrogation.
He assured that his client will not jump bail.
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EFCC detains ex-Governor Fintiri ahead of trial today
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday detained ex-Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri, ahead of his arraignment in court today for alleged bribery and corruption arising from contracts worth about N2.9 billion.
The ex-governor will face trial before Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to a top source in EFCC, Fintiri was taken into custody yesterday ahead of his movement to court today.
The source said the ex-governor had been served a copy of the charges against him.
“All is set for the trial of Fintiri on Thursday and we have detained him in preparation for his transfer to the court.
“He is facing trial for alleged bribery and corruption from some contracts when he was acting governor of the state.
“The corruption-related charges might have to do with abuse of office too.”
Although the source did not give details, it was learnt EFCC operatives were able to establish that as a public officer (Speaker of the House of Assembly), Fintiri on November 13, 2014, allegedly registered a firm, Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, with his residence, LQ 12, Malamare GRA Quarters, Jimeta, Yola-North, Adamawa State, as the address.
The firm’s incorporation number was quoted last night as RC 695885 with the following directors: Hamidu A Umaru, Ismaila Ahmadu, Umaru Ahmadu and Faiza A. Umaru.
It was gathered that the EFCC succeeded in establishing that three of his children are among the directors.
But the ex-governor ran into trouble over award of two road contracts, including a N1 billion work for Yola township road and another N1.9 billion for road project in Mararaba Garta, which was ravaged by Boko Haram.
The top source said: “The two projects were awarded to Roycon Limited. Although there was evidence of execution of the Yola road project, the contracting firm could not move to Mararaba Garta because of Boko Haram insurgency.
“But from records, Roycon Limited was given a mobilisation fee of N200 million. But the N200 million was traced to Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, which is allegedly owned by Fintiri.
“About $3.8 million from the contract sum was alleged to have been paid to Fintiri, who used it to purchase a property in Taraba State.”
The EFCC also discovered that Fintiri took a loan from the Bank of Agriculture to purchase a tea farm from S. M. Nguroje Nigeria Limited at Maisamari (Mambila) in Sardauna Local Government of Taraba State.
But when he allegedly got the $3.8 million, he diverted it to offset the loan.
When Fintiri became acting governor, Adamawa State’s debts amounted to N8.7 bliion but within four months, the profile rose to N13.85 billion.
Following the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, in July 2014, Fintiri became acting governor. He was Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
Nyako allegedly left a balance of N1,957,045, 82 in the state government project account with a bank.
But Fintiri directed that N1.9 billion from the account be released to the Ministry of Works on August 27, 2014.
It was the same funds that landed Fintiri in trouble because the road project was not executed.
A source close to Fintiri said: “It is too early to prejudge him. You will hear his own side in the court. There is nothing in the constitution that prevents Fintiri from going into farming as a public officer.’’
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300,000 jostling for 750 EFCC jobs
No fewer than 300,000 applications were received for the 750 positions advertised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an official has said.
Director of Public Affairs Osita Nwaja, stated this in Enugu when he visited the Enugu zonal office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Nwaja said the recruitment was segmented, adding that the first phase ended on June 26.
“We had more than 300,000 applicants that applied for the 750 positions which are in three cadres, junior, middle and senior cadres.
“The criteria were well spelt out and those that met them wrote the examination,” he said.
Nwaja said by the recruitment, the EFCC had moved to fortify its ranks in view of the onerous task of fighting corruption.
“The fight against corruption is fundamental to everything we do in this country. It is a fight we cannot afford to lose.
“We must keep on recruiting foot soldiers to meet our objective as it is geared towards the direction of making Nigeria greater,” he said.
Nwaja reiterated the commission’s determination to bring corrupt office holders to book, saying: “Vomit what you stole. We gave you this thing to keep and you ate it and then you are claiming right.”
“You are throwing impunity at our faces and that is not right. And that is what EFCC is saying. It is not right.
“We must bring them to justice. The accused persons themselves have stolen billions.
“And then they will go and hire all the lawyers they can and this is where we have the problems with some of these lawyers.
“Recently we took some of them to court and then they appeared in support of themselves.
“Over 100 Senior Advocates of Nigeria to defend one man. We are talking about 103 chambers in defence of one man.
“That is immoral to say the very least.”
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Oronsaye: Accused’s house was not invaded, says EFCC
THE Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday heard that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not invade the house of Mr Osarenkhoe Afe.
Afe and four companies , Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment& Construction Company Limited are standing trial with former Head of Service, Stephen Oronsaye.
The second prosecution witness, Mustapha Gadanya, spoke while testifying in the trial within trial of the former Head of Service.
The judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had ordered the trial within trial to ascertain whether Afe’s statement to the EFCC was obtained under duress.
Oronsaye is standing trial on an alleged amended 35-count-charge bordering on breach of trust and money laundering.
Gadanya, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Atolagbe Oluwaleke, said: “I assure you that his house was not invaded and his phone and Ipad were not ceased by the EFCC. Before the second defendant was invited to EFCC, we did an investigation into the Head of Service on National Fraud and in the course of our investigation, two companies were linked to him.
He said: “We discovered that the receipt of payment of the two companies, Fredrick Hamilton Global Service Limited and Innovative Solutions Limited was from the Head of Service.
“I was asked to invite him and I went to his house along with Nurudeen Buhari and one armed mobile police officer.’’
Gadanya insisted during cross-examination by Afe’s counsel, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, that allegation that Afe’s house was invaded was not true.
He added that when they came back to the office, he took Afe to Mr Wakili Mohammed, Head of Economic Governance, who discussed with him and issued a search warrant for the house.
Kolawale adjourned the case till July 7 for continuation of the substantive matter.
“I assigned Nurudeen Suleiman and Nurudeen Buhari to go back to his house to execute the search warrant as directed by Wakili, which they did. When they came back with the recovered items they got, I assigned Rouqayya Ibrahim to take Afe’s statement.
“She took the statement which I reviewed and I briefed Wakili who then said I should detain him. I served him the bail condition which requires two reliable sureties, who must be directors with landed properties in Abuja, which he acknowledged and received his copy.
“Afe, however, could not meet up with the bail condition by Feb. 24, 2011, so he was detained but later released on leniency to John Kpara and Cynthia the following day.’’
The third prosecution witness, Nurudeen Suleiman, said he went to Afe’s house to conduct a search warrant with his colleague, Buhari along with an armed mobile police.
“We were assigned by Gadanya, to conduct the search warrant and when we did, we recovered some items.
“The items include; a laptop, Ipad, some documents of the Head of Service, Zenith Bank cheque book, letter headed papers belonging to his company Fredrick Hamilton and other items.
“We recorded all the items on the search warrant of which we signed and he also signed, thereafter, we returned to the office and handed the items to Gadanya,’’ he said.
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EFCC arraigns Fani-Kayode, Usman for money laundering
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly laundering N4.9 billion.
Fani-Kayode, who served as the Director of Media and Publicity in the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Also charged with Fani-Kayode were Danjuma Yusuf and a company – Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the accused persons on a 17-count charge of unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of N4.9 billion.
NAN reports that Fani-Kaoyde and others pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After their arraignment, the prosecutor counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that he was prepared to proceed with the trial at any date of adjournment.
Meanwhile, counsel to the first and second accused, Mr. Ayo Adedipe (SAN) and Mr. Fred Orbih, told the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the defendants.
But counsel to the third accused, Mr. S.I. Ameh, said he had yet to file a bail application.
Responding, Oyedepo, informed the court that he had only been served with the application of the first and second accused, adding that he required time to reply.
Justice Sule Hassan, in a short ruling, adjourned the case to July 1 for hearing of the bail applications.
The judge, however, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison pending determination of their bail application.
The accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.
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This weird and laughable distraction
By Dr Khalifa Dikwa
Distraction is the ultimate aim of Nigeria’s attackers of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and military commanders who have achieved the first phase in dismantling Boko Haram to restore peace within one year while preparing to confront the other emerging phases in other parts of Nigeria. We are no longer stupid to play the game of the bad losers.
The ranting is linked to the corrupt and pitiless establishment otherwise known as cabal or political Boko Haram who had earlier bailed out the arrowhead of BH, Imam Muhammad Yusuf in the past until he was caught and extra judicially killed to bury their secret agreement.
These detractors are equally connected to those who have cornered funds meant for arms procurement for our troops, thereby unable to defend us from the insurgency they sponsored till they were replaced by President Buhari. We all knew that service chiefs like Ihejirikas and other field commanders were selected to prolong the war for a complete genocide.
The rant is connected to the enemies of Nigeria who hid public funds now on trial or afraid of getting caught by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or other security outfits since there is no obvious guarantee that they can conceal the proceeds of their crimes for long. So far, their millions of naira in stolen public funds have been trailed to suspicious bank withdrawals, on their farms, water tanks, toilets, and wells after they stole from the states and federal treasuries or diverted funds meant for the fixing of basic infrastructure needed for the development of Nigeria. When they realized that hiring senior advocates to delay or truncate their trials as usual was not working they became desperate.
They are connected to those that collected blood money in foreign funds to dismantle Nigeria for its global influence in peace missions in Africa and the world. They are connected to those who don’t want PMB government to at least implement 70% of the budget so that all 36 states can bring something to the table. This would allow them free themselves from relying on a single source of income, from the sale of crude oil through economic diversification particularly in the spheres of agriculture and mineral resources. The guts of insurgency in the oil producing states would be broken if this were to happen.
Militants in that part are asking for complete control of resources as if they are theirs and that no other regions contributed to its exploration.
The noise makers are connected to the hitherto untouchable sacred cows who are now on trial for subverting our security, stealing public funds and other atrocities. They are connected to those who were not happy with the wonders of INEC’s Card Reader that defeated their rigging machines, stemming them from using moles who were spread all over including the leading parties, APC and PDP. They are good at mischievously quarrelling in public or the media in the morning when they actually dine and wine at night at their meeting points in Nigeria and abroad.
These media hands are of the same root as those who took issues with Aisha Buhari’s wrist watch and now Buratai’s wives. They omitted the fact they were self-reliant prior to the election of Buhari to be president of Nigeria who swiftly elevated and appointed Gen Buratai and other great military heads to annihilate Boko Haram to the satisfaction of the terribly frightened Nigerians. These paid media contractors are not likely to stop their mischief, deceits out of endless shamelessness in going after the remaining service chiefs and their family members, EFCC, DSS, ICPC, the president and his cabinet, just as they doctored a fight between the Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and EFCC’s Ibrahim Magu and ministers who refuse to play double agents.
They run from one court to another to blackmail decent judges who refuse to play game with them in order to delay their trials.
As far as defense and security agents are concerned, PMB can only listen to frank advice from friends within and outside, to choose only from among officers with little or no dent due to their previous ex-officio positions according to the zombie ‘obey before complain rule’ phrase of the force even if such directives were against the rules of engagement as subverted by some of the previous corrupt top military brass since absolute loyalty to superior officers and playing along was the only way to survive the treacherous weeding out of the few remaining skilled professionals and their replacement by mediocre officers to permanently kill the defense and security systems of our potentially great Nigeria.
President Buhari was bound to appoint only trustworthy field commanders who whose background checks showed their sense of professionalism and patriotism even if they came from one family to defeat Boko Haram regardless of political correctness because Nigeria was about to disintegrate. They recall Gen Buratai from the International Joint Task Force based in Ndjaména, the Chadian capital, to come home and head the Army and search among the younger Air Force officers’ rank for Marshal Sadik Abubakar to effectively coordinate with the army to deal with Boko Haram from the air, and for the famous intelligence officer Gen BG Monguno as the National Security Adviser (NSA). President Buhari’s background and sharp thinking paid off by appointing service chiefs from the most directly affected areas by Boko Haram insurgency coupled with their knowledge of the terrain. The same background research on incorruptibility and professionalism was conducted to get the new Police Inspector General (IGP) by jumping the DIGs rank and pick an AIG, Ibrahim IDRIS from Central Nigerian State of Niger following the retirement of Solomon ARASE after the maximum 35 years of service while retiring his DIG seniors for obvious reasons.
Nigerians must not be fooled to toe the line of uncertainty from the already visible certainty of peace and prosperity that proved to be a gargantuan task for many decades by the arrogant establishment cronies who hate to see Nigeria develop or to prevent others who may dump them in favour of Nigeria and perform without fear or favour. These rogues sit on the tail of the tiny 1% who thinks that they could continue to buy everybody and own Nigeria despite their bad record in order to perpetuate in power at all times with the desire to influence things. Even their ego and arrogance frustrate Nigerians.
Therefore, Nigeria will never be controlled by the greedy establishment concocting stories to ridicule our hard earned CHANGE under President Buhari. But the Buhari we know is ready for them with his patience, impeccable character and intelligence. Nigerians should continue to pray for Nigeria as well as laugh at the antics and ranting of the tiny establishment who pay the media and intelligence with stolen commonwealth. It is over In sha Allah.
Dikwa, a public affairs commentator contributed this from Yola.