The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC arraigns woman for issuing dud cheques

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a mother of three, Mrs. Joy Folake Yobah, for allegedly issuing dud cheques valued at N50 million to a business partner.

    Yobah, who is the Managing Director of Skyhigh Ventures Limited, was arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, on a five-count charge, to which she pleaded not guilty.

    She was said to have entered into a project financing agreement as “the contractor” with United Surgicals Limited as “financier.”

    The financier and the contractor had entered into an agreement for United Surgicals Limited to finance Skyhigh’s sub-contract awarded to it by the Central Bank of Nigeria through an award letter referenced PSD/PP/GEN/PEL/001 and dated May 21, 2012 to install security surveillance systems at its Bauchi branch.

    The contract was for a total consideration of N222, 836,551.07.

    By the earlier agreement entered into by the parties, United Surgicals granted the sum of N40 million to Skyhigh as loan and that attracted a monthly interest rate of 15 percent.

  • Badeh paid N650m cash for Abuja land – Witness

    Badeh paid N650m cash for Abuja land – Witness

    Mustapha Yerima, the fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of ex- Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh (rtd), on Tuesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the ex-CDS paid N650 million cash to acquire a land in Abuja.

    Badeh is standing trial for allegedly converting about N3.97 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to his personal use.

    The prosecution witness told the court that he stand by his statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the former Director of Finance and Account at NAF, Air Commodore Abdullahi Yushau (rtd), made the N650 million cash available for payment on the land located on plot 1386, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, where the shopping mall was constructed for Badeh.

    Yerima, a building contractor and Managing Director of a property firm, Right Builders Technologies Limited, told the court that the five statements he wrote to the EFCC and dated January 6, 12, 18, February 5 and 10, 2016 were honestly written.

     

  • EFCC raids Obanikoro’s Lagos homes

    EFCC raids Obanikoro’s Lagos homes

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday stormed the Lagos residences of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, carting away cars and other valuables.

    The two homes raided were the former minister’s private residence at Park View Estate and the house near Banana Island where his two sons, Jide and Gbolahan live with their families.

    The Nation learnt that the officials, who stormed the two houses in the afternoon, were there till about 6:00pm.

    According to Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze, the officials took vehicles, wristwatches and other personal effects of the former minister and his sons, who are all in the United States.

    Eze claimed that they harassed innocent kids and intimidated the occupants of the properties, adding that the commission has never invited Obanikoro for questioning.

    “Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday in their characteristic Gestapo like manner invaded Senator Obanikoro’s houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.

    “This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti- graft agency has never invited him nor his sons for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces.

    “We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.

    “Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.

    “We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.

    “To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others which obviously had no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.

    “We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of Inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of Law.

    Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his Lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution,”  Eze stated.

    Confirming the raid, Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren, said it was in line with ongoing investigations.

    “I can tell you that no one was harassed in the course of the search and that it is part of ongoing investigation on the man. Our operatives who went there conducted their affairs in best practices and took some vehicles away. I cannot immediately give inventory on the things that were carted away but that will be made known in due time. I do not think we need any permission from the man to do our job. Full details will be disclosed when we get there,” he said.

     

     

     

  • How Oronsaye, others diverted N14bn pension funds – Witness

    How Oronsaye, others diverted N14bn pension funds – Witness

    Trial opened on Tuesday in the case against the ex-Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Steve Oronsaye and others before the Federal High Court, Abuja, with a prosecution witness giving details of how the defendants allegedly diverted 14billion pensioners’ fund using phoney names and contracts.

    This is the second case involving Oronsaye, as he is also being tried before Justice Olasumbo Goodlcuk of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja, for allegedly exploiting his position as Chairman of the Presidential Committee of Financial Action Task Force (PCFATF), under President Goodluck Jonathan, to divert about N382.9m, using a secret account in Access Bank.

    Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and four firms are being tried before the Federal High Court on a 35-count charge of conducting procurement fraud.

    The firms are:  Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited (believed to be owned by Afe), Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.

    Testifying in the case before the Federal High Court, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rouqayya Ibrahim, gave details of how Oronsaye and others allegedly diverted states funds using about 66 illegal bank accounts.

    Ibrahim said Oronsaye and others effected the alleged diversion through payments to “ghost” pensioners and disbursements of funds for non-existing contracts.

    The witness said the defendants also engaged in payments of non-existing allowances to fake members of staff and to the National Union of Pensioners and Association of Federal Civil Service Retirees.

    Ibrahim was led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Adebisi Adeniyi.

    She added that aside a company – Innovative Solutions Uptrach Communications Limited – which executed “a semblance” of a contract awarded, other firms were paid for non-existing jobs.

     

  • EFCC to arraign Jonathan’s ex-aide for money laundering

    Former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, will be arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday.

    He and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) were charged with 23-count charge of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the accused conspired to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013.

    The alleged offence is contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).

    The accused persons allegedly concealed the sum through a company, Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited.

    They were also accused of knowingly concealing proceeds of crime through Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited in the sum of N 399, 470,000.00, among others.

    Dudafa, between last June 1 and June 4, “procured” Nna and Ebiwise Resources to conceal N150million, being proceeds of crime.

    Other companies allegedly used in committing the offence include Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Rotato Inter Link Services Limited and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigerian Limited.

  • EFCC freezes N126b in 120 accounts

    EFCC freezes N126b in 120 accounts

    •‘We’re covered by law’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen over N126billion in the accounts of some suspects in order not to jeopardise investigations, the agency said yesterday.

    More than 120 bank accounts are affected by the freeze order.

    About  N126,563,481,095.43 was temporarily seized by the EFCC pending the conclusion of corruption-related cases.

    Other cash and assets under Interim Forfeiture is $9,090,243,920.15, seized from suspects facing trial or under investigation.

    Apart from freezing of N32.8 billion from six suspects implicated in the Police Pension Office, some high profile suspects  with accounts among the over 120 frozen include ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Col.  Sambo Dasuki (retd),  ex-Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; ex- Chiefs of Air Staff Air Marshals Adesola Amosu and Mohammed Dikko Umar; Robert Azibaola( ex-President Jonathan’s cousin) and ex-Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, among others.

    The action of the EFCC has generated criticisms, with most suspects claiming that the freeze was prejudicial.

    But the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, said the anti-graft agency was not being vindictive.

    The statement said: “In recent times, a lot of interest has been generated by the action of the Commission in freezing the accounts of suspects that were investigated or are currently being investigated. Some commentators have tended to ascribe vindictive motives to this action

    “In order to prevent misinformation, it is imperative to explain the reason behind the Commission’s actions in this regard.

    “Freezing of accounts suspected of being used for commission of financial crimes is a mandatory investigative step backed by law. Indeed, Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.

    The section stipulates that “the Chairman of the Commission or any officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court ex-parte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account”.

    “Similar provision in the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2012 (as amended) also empowers the EFCC Chairman or his representatives to place a stop order on any account or transaction suspected to be involved in any crime.

    “The intendment of these provisions is to ensure that the Commission safeguards suspected proceeds of crime pending the completion of its investigation. It is without prejudice to the social standing of the holder of such accounts or whether they are individual, corporate or government accounts.

    “Freezing orders are incidental to investigation and doing otherwise will jeopardise the prospects of recovering stolen assets.”

  • ‘EFCC has frozen N126bn in 120 accounts’

    ‘EFCC has frozen N126bn in 120 accounts’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has frozen over N126 billion in the accounts of some suspects in order not to jeopardize investigation.

    Huge cash in more than 120 accounts had been affected by the freeze order.

    Some of those affected include about N126, 563,481,095.43 that was temporarily seized by the EFCC pending the conclusion of corruption related cases.

    Other cash and assets under interim forfeiture is $9,090,243,920.15 seized from suspects facing trial or under investigation.

    Apart from freezing of N32.8 billion from six suspects implicated in the Police Pension Office, some high-profile suspects  with accounts among over 120 frozen include ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, ex-National Security Adviser, Col.  Sambo Dasuki,  ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, ex- Chiefs of Air Staff, Air Marshals Adesola Amosu, Mohammed Dikko Umar, Robert Azibaola( ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin), and ex-Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, among others.

    The action of the EFCC has generated criticisms with most suspects claiming that the freeze was prejudicial.

    But the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement said the anti-graft agency was not being vindictive.

    The statement said: “In recent times, a lot of interest has been generated by the action of the Commission in freezing the accounts of suspects that were investigated or are currently being investigated. Some commentators have tended to ascribe vindictive motives to this action

    “In order to prevent misinformation, it is imperative to explain the reason behind the Commission’s actions in this regard.

    “Freezing of accounts suspected of being used for commission of financial crimes is a mandatory investigative step backed by law.

    Indeed, Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.

    The section stipulates that, “the Chairman of the Commission or any officer authorized by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court ex-parte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.”

    “Similar provision in the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2012 (as amended), also empowers the EFCC Chairman or his representatives to place a stop order on any account or transaction suspected to be involved in any crime.

  • Oronsaye: AGF didn’t approve opening of account – Witness

    Oronsaye: AGF didn’t approve opening of account – Witness

    An FCT High Court on Monday heard that the Accountant General of the Federal (AGF) did not approve the Access Bank Account opened by a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye.

    Mr. Hamma-Adama Bello, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made this known when he testified as the sixth witness in the trial on Monday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Oronsaye was alleged to have deposited money meant for the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force which he chaired into a fixed bond in Access bank known only to him.

    Bello, who investigated the matter, told the court that no other member was aware of this second account.

    The witness, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Offem Uket, said the rule was that ministries or agencies could not invest fund without the approval from the office of the AGF.

    He said the committee presented a request of N164 million and it was paid into the committee’s official account with the Zenith Bank by the Presidency.

    He said Oronsaye also presented the same request to Central Bank of Nigeria and was also paid.

  • Alleged N91m fraud: Suspect dies in custody, police launch probe

    Alleged N91m fraud: Suspect dies in custody, police launch probe

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  said yesterday that a suspect under investigation, Desmond Nunugwo,  died earlier in the day  a few hours after he was taken into custody.

    His demise was confirmed at the hospital to where he was rushed after he unexpectedly  took ill.

    Nunugwo was under probe for an alleged N91million fraud.

    The  Head of Media and Publicity of the  EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who confimed the death of the suspect said the police were investigating the cause of the death.

    He said: “The late Nunugwo allegedly fraudulently obtained N91million from an acquaintance after he tricked her into believing that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who were on the verge of buying NICON Insurance and convinced her of their disposition to help her stock fish business.

    “ Consequently, she wired N91m into Nunugwo’s nominated account (Mainagge General Merchants) in Diamond Bank.

    “After the transfer of the funds, Nunugwo became evasive, forcing the complainant to report the transaction to the EFCC.

    “Consequently, Nunugwo was arrested in Utako, Abuja at about 5.33pm on Thursday, June 9, 2016.

    “His statement was taken, where he admitted receiving the money from the complainant, with the additional information that he transferred N30m of the said money to Norway. But he could not explain the whereabouts of the balance of N61m.

    “The suspect was detained at about 7.30pm, in the absence of anybody to take him on bail.

    “Six hours later, he suddenly complained of discomfort and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

  • EFCC recovers N1b from ex-ministers, INEC chiefs

    EFCC recovers N1b from ex-ministers, INEC chiefs

    Over N1billion cash illegally deployed in the 2015 election has been refunded.

    The cash came from  some former ministers, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and coordinators of some election observer groups, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    More than N2billion has been frozen in many accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

    The cash is part of the N23.29billion allegedly pumped into the failed bid to get former President Goodluck Jonathan re-elected by bribing INEC officials. It allegedly came from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    There are also refund pledges running into billions of naira, a source said.

    The latest of such refunds came yesterday from two former ministers, three INEC officials and a coordinator of election observers who paid back N62,750,000 to the EFCC.

    Besides, no fewer than 36 INEC officials have been implicated in the campaign cash fraud.

    According to a source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media, the EFCC has recovered more than N1billion cash from those who shared in the bribe.

    The source said: “In all the six geopolitical zones, most of those quizzed have admitted benefiting in one way or the other from the cash.

    “Our investigation revealed that there appears to be a pattern of allocating about N450million to each of the 36 states and FCT.

    “Some of the beneficiaries have paid back; others made pledges and some are still meeting in groups to refund what was allocated to them.

    “So far, we have recovered over N1billion in cash and more than N2billion frozen in some accounts nationwide.

    “We have given them deadline and they seem to be willing to pay back.”

    The Nation stumbled on a document in which some of the refunds are listed. They include N359millon by some INEC staff in Oyo and Ogun states; a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Joel Ikenya Danlami (N2m);  ex-Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly Mark Bako Useni (N1m);  ex-Minister of Power Wakil Muhammad (N6,680,000); ex-Minister of Science and Technology Abdu Bulama (N5m); Muhammed Kadai(N1m); the Coordinator of observers in Maiduguri, Jummai Lawan Ibrahim(N19m); and a former INEC official, Bunu Mulina (N6m).

    Others are INEC officials, including Mohammad Umar ( N17m); Kabir Bello (N5m); and Musa Buba Amshi (N4m); Senator Kumo Saidu Umar and ex-PDP Chairman in Gombe State, Paloma Nuhu N4million( N2 million each) which they claimed to be their personal benefits from the fund.

    The latest of such refund (N62, 750,000) came yesterday from Maiduguri zonal office.

    The source said: “In continuation of the ongoing investigation of some INEC officials in Maiduguri and two former ministers, the Advance Fee Fraud/Extractive Industries Unit handling the investigation was able to recover N62,750,000.

     “Investigation is ongoing in the matter as other people are expected to come for questioning. The serving INEC officials are detained in the EFCC office.”

    There were indications yesterday that the number of serving INEC officials quizzed by the EFCC on the scandal has risen to 36.

    They comprise 16 top directors at the headquarters, a Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Gesil Khan and five others from Cross River; 11 in Gombe State, were grilled at the Gombe State Zonal office of the EFCC; and three detained  in Borno.

    Grilled are Khan for collecting  N185, 842,000 out of a N681million bribe deal; Fidelia Omoile( Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State)—N112,480,000 ; Uluochi Obi Brown( INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State)—N111,500,000; a former Deputy Director  of INEC in Cross River State, Edem Okon Effanga—N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo—N214,127,000.

    A retired INEC official, Sani Isa,  was grilled for alleged N406,206,000 bribe allegedly collected on behalf of the deceased Resident Electoral Commissioner  (REC) in Kano State, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi.

    Those grilled in Gombe are: Godwin Maiyaki Gambo Balanga, Bukar Alone Benisheik, Dukku, Jibril. B. Muhammed,Billiri, Dunguma Musa Dogona, Funakaye, Mohammed. A. Wanka, Kaltungo, Ishaku Yusuf, Kwami, Suleiman Isawa, Nafada, Babagana Malami, Shongom, and Nuhu Samuel, Y/Deba.

    The EFCC source said: “So far, we have questioned more than 36 INEC staff but we are still counting. We are expecting more names from our zonal offices in  Port Harcourt, Enugu, Gombe, Kano and Lagos.

    “At the end of our investigation, we will refer the list of those indicted to INEC management for appropriate disciplinary action.

    “This is without prejudice to the fact that the law will take its course. Some of the INEC officials may face trial.”