The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • N338m bribe: EFCC grills Govt House accountant

    N338m bribe: EFCC grills Govt House accountant

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) yesterday confirmed that it has grilled and  detained the Accountant of Gombe State Government House, Mr. Mohammed Balbaya over the N338million campaign fund sent to the state.

    But both Senator Kumo Saidu Umar and ex- Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party  in Gombe State, Paloma Nuhu have refundedN4million( N2 million each) which they claimed to be their personal benefits from the fund.

    Also, the EFCC has also invited a former envoy  to the United States, Ambassador Hassan Adamu over campaign fund allocated to the state from a N23.29billion made available by ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The ex-Ambassador will interact with the EFCC on June 16.

    A top EFCC source said the Government House Accountant was interrogated yesterday over his role in the N338million campaign fund sent to the state.

    The source said: “He told investigators that he collected the sum in cash from an official of Fidelity Bank in the state based on the directive of Senator Kumo Saidu Umar.

    “He said that he contacted the Permanent Secretary and Principal Private Secretary to the governor of the state, Dr. Sani Jauro who directed him to share the money to the beneficiaries. He denied deriving personal benefit from the process.

    But the source said the Accountant  had “not shown who the beneficiaries were and the amount individual or group collected from him.”

    “Meanwhile, Senator Kumo and the state former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Paloma Nuhu have through bank drafts refunded N2million each which they claimed to be their personal benefits from the fund.

    “The said amount came from the sum of N110million which both signed and collected from Fidelity Bank for their state. However, Senator Kumo could not account for the balance of N106million as of the time of filing this report.

    In another development, the Adamawa Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Mr. Joel Madaki, has opened up to the EFCC on how the N450million campaign fund allocated to the state was shared.

    Madaki said the fund was distributed by the former Acting Governor of the state, Barrister Bala James Ngilari  in a signed statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Gombe.

    According to the EFCC, “the PDP chair also admitted in the same statement that he was, in conjunction with Ambassador Hassan Adamu, a signatory to the document authorizing the release of the money by the officials of Fidelity Bank in Yola.

    “He however said he immediately gave the money to the former acting governor of the state for disbursement to the beneficiaries as envisaged by the donor.

    ‘I did not know how Ngilari distributed the money,” Madaki added.

    But the PDP chair was  still a guest of the commission as at press time.

    The commission also said a former envoy to the US, Ambassador Hassan Adamu is “expected to report and explain his role in the campaign fund on the 16 June.”

     

  • EFCC detains two ex-ministers over N900m poll cash

    EFCC detains two ex-ministers over N900m poll cash

    Two former ministers are in detention over the sharing of N900million from the alleged N23.29billion allegedly pumped into the 2015 election by  former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are former Minister of Power Mohammed Wakil and former Minister of Science and Technology Abdu Bulama.

    Both were PDP campaign coordinators for Borno and Yobe states during the  election. The money was said to have been meant for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to change the results of the election in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Muhammadu Buhari beat incumbent Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

    Each coordinator was allocated N450million for his state, it was learnt.

    Wakil was alleged to have admitted that N40million was sent through Hon. Kumalia to former National Chairman of the party “sor security”.

    A source at the anti-graft agency, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have grilled the two former ministers and they made useful statements on how the N900million was disbursed in Borno and Yobe states.

    “The two ministers are currently in the custody of EFCC as investigation continues.”

    The source gave the details of the interrogation of the former ministers.

    The source said Bulama admitted that he collected N450m from a former Finance Minister, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, for use in funding the PDP presidential election in the state.

    Bulama was quoted as saying that a  five man committee was set up to coordinate the campaign activities in Yobe State and “we received N450m”.

    “The money was disbursed based on a template we received from Abuja and we shared it among the three senatorial zones in the state.”

    The source said Muhammed Kadai, who was Bulama’s deputy, provided details of the sharing formula.

    Also, the EFCC said the  Borno Coordinator , Wakil confirmed he received N450m.

    Wakil reportedly said: “I received a call from Nenadi Usman, former Minister of Finance, that N450m was sent and a template for how the disbursement of the funds will be conducted.”

    Wakil said he collected the money and shared it.

  • FG to Ohakim: Defend yourself in money laundry charges

    FG to Ohakim: Defend yourself in money laundry charges

    The Federal Government has asked the former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, to defend himself in his ongoing trial for money laundering at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ohakim on behalf of the federal government on a three-count charge of money laundering and false asset declaration.

    He was accused of purchasing a property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04,  Asokoro District, Abuja, with a cash payment of $2.29million (N270 million) in November 2008.

    Ohakim was also accused of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so.

    The prosecution lawyer, Festus Keyamo, on Monday urged the court to reject the no-case submission made by Ohakim’s lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN).

    Keyamo said the prosecution has shown sufficient evidence to establish its case against the defendant.

    Keyamo, who adopted his written submission in opposition to Ohakim’ no-case submission, said the defendant had in his statement to the EFCC admitted making payment for the property in dollars, but later said the payment was made in naira.

     

  • Ex-JTF commander, others‎ arraigned for N8b fraud

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned former Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe for alleged N8 billion fraud.

    ‎Atewe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, was charged along with former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    ‎The charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos is the sixth the EFCC would file against Akpobolokemi.

    The prosecution, which also named Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuga in the charge, said NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, approved billions of naira to several military personnel, who were purportedly engaged to patrol the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

    ‎The funds, EFCC said, were allegedly diverted to private accounts through fraudulent means.

    ‎The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to defraud NIMASA of N8.5billion using six companies – Jagan Limited, Jagan Trading Company Limited, Jagan Global Services Limited, Al-Nald Limited, Paper Warehouse Limited,  Eastpoint Integrated Services Limited and De-Newlink Integrated Services Limited.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Defence counsel including Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) urged the court to grant the defendants bail.

     

  • Why we moved Fani-Kayode to Lagos – EFCC

    Why we moved Fani-Kayode to Lagos – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday explained why it moved former spokesman of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, from Abuja to Lagos.

    EFCC arrested Fani-Kayode in Abuja, but later transferred him to Lagos, where it obtained a court warrant to remand him in custody for three weeks.

    The commission said the ex- Minister of Aviation’s movement to Lagos was informed by his involvement in fresh cases, which required thorough investigation by its Lagos office.

    A lawyer with the EFCC, Salisu Majidadi said this while responding to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja.

    Majidadi said, beyond the N800million payment made to Fani-Kayode by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), for which he was earlier arrested in Abuja, there were fresh cases involving him in Lagos.

    The lawyer, however, refused to disclose details of the cases in Lagos.

    “We invited him (Fani-Kayode) on May 9. After he gave his voluntary statement he was granted bail immediately.

    “But because he could not meet the bail condition, the respondent (EFCC), being a law abiding agency and bearing in mind the constitutional limit to keep the applicant in custody, we rushed to the Chief Judge of this honourable court to obtain the remand order keeping him in lawful custody.

    “Then we received a letter from the Special Task Force of the EFCC in Lagos that there was another petition against him‎.

    “The order of ‎this court was to expire on May 24. On May 23, we took him to Lagos‎. We quickly obtained another order from the Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on May 23 to keep him for three weeks.

    “‎The order obtained in Lagos was in respect of another petition. All these were to ensure that we are operating within the ambit of the law,” Majidadi said.

     

  • ‘EFCC wrong on Omatseye’s conviction claim’

    ‘EFCC wrong on Omatseye’s conviction claim’

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ibrahim Magu has been faulted for saying that former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Temisan Omatseye was convicted for “N1.5billion contract scam.”

    EFCC had listed Omatseye as one of 140 convictions made in the last six months.

    But, a group, the Maritime Advocacy Group (MAG), said Omatseye was not convicted for fraud as EFCC implied, as no money was traced to his account.

    In a statement by its president Ifeanyi Okolie and Secretary General Kayode animashun, MAG said: “It is pertinent to note that nowhere in the judgment is Temisan Omatseye found guilty of any fraud let alone misappropriation of funds. No where again was it mentioned that he was guilty of any criminal offence.

    “For record purposes, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos found him guilty of approving contracts above his threshold, a matter already subject to appeal.

    “Omatseye had always stated in his statements and in court proceedings that the said threshold was never officially transmitted to him as at the time the contracts were awarded.

    “It is also pertinent to note that at no time was there any N1.5billion fraud. This figure is a figment of the imagination of his persecutors. As a matter of fact, Omatseye, as at the time he was suspended, left more than N52billion in NIMASA’s account.

    “When computed, the amount in the 27 count charge comes to about N90million and not the N1.5billion the public is made to believe.

    “We call on Ibrahim Magu, the hardworking chairman of the EFCC, to always get his facts right before issuing statements. We believes in objective and factual reportage and will continue to preach a zero tolerance to corruption in the maritime industry.”

  • Lamido authorised payments for non-existing contracts – Witness

    Lamido authorised payments for non-existing contracts – Witness

    Mr. Michael Wetkas, a prosecution witness in the trial of former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday that the defendant authorised payments for non-existing contracts.

    Wetkas told the court that Lamido authorised that monies be paid into the bank account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company for contracts that never existed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lamido and his two sons – Aminu and Mustspha – are standing trial for money laundering charges.

    Wetkas told the court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, that investigations into the alleged fraud were carried out from 2007 to 2015.

    Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Chile Okoroma, Wetkas said his investigating team visited Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to investigate the purported contracts.

    He said a manager of the company, Mr. Sylvester Agoha, who earlier agreed to have supervised the execution of the contracts, later denied knowledge of them.

    “Agoha said the contract papers were only presented to him to sign,” the witness said.

  • EFCC to arraign ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others June 3

    EFCC to arraign ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others June 3

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on June 3 arraign former Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe for alleged N8billion fraud.

    Atewe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, was charged along with former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    The new charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos is the sixth the EFCC would file against Akpobolokemi.

    The arraignment was stalled after Akpolobokemi objected to the reading of the 11 counts because, according to him, he was not served with the charge and proof of evidence.

    Akpolobokemi said he was not aware of the scheduled arraignment, adding that he left the hospital to attend his trial in another criminal charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

    He said neither he nor his lawyer, who was absent, was notified about the arraignment.

    But, EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo said the charge and proof of evidence were served on the accused lawyer’s  firm, Dr. Joseph Nwobike & Co., which was received by one of the lawyers in the chambers.

    The prosecution, which also named Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuga in the charge, said NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, approved billions of naira to several military personnel, who were purportedly engaged to patrol the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

    The funds, EFCC said, were allegedly diverted to private accounts through fraudulent means.

    One of the counts reads in part: “That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu and Josphine Otuaga, sometime in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sum of N8,537,586,798.58, property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

  • EFCC to arraign ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others June 3

    EFCC to arraign ex-JTF commander, Akpobolokemi, others June 3

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on June 3 arraign a former Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, for alleged N8 billion fraud.

    Atewe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, was charged alongside the former Director- General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    The new charge before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos is the sixth the EFCC would file against Akpobolokemi.

    The arraignment was stalled after Akpolobokemi objected to the reading of the charge because, according to him, he was not served with the charge and proof of evidence.

    Akpolobokemi said he was not aware of the scheduled arraignment, adding that he left the hospital to attend his trial in another criminal charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

    He said neither him nor his lawyer, who was absent, was notified about the arraignment.

    But, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the charge and proof of evidence were served on the accused lawyer’s firm, Dr. Joseph Nwobike & Co., which was received by one of the lawyers in the chambers.

    The prosecution, which also named Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuga in the charge, said NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi, approved billions of naira to several military personnel, who were purportedly engaged to patrol the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

    The funds, EFCC said, were allegedly diverted to private accounts through fraudulent means.

  • N10b probe: EFCC faults Dudafa’s health alarm

    N10b probe: EFCC faults Dudafa’s health alarm

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) yesterday faulted a claim that the health of Dr Waripamowei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, was failing in detention.

    It said suspects arrested for alleged corruption prefer EFCC’s detention facility to remand in prison custody.

    He is being probed over $47million and €5.6million Euros (N10 billion) which were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).

    The cash was shared to delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Presidential Primary Election on November 27, 2014.

    Dudafa, who was initially at large, was intercepted  at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on April 18 by the operatives of the Department of State Security Service(DSS) and taken into custody.

    But a spokesman for Dudafa’s family, Engr.Thomas Akpoebi alleged that the health of the former presidential aide has deteriorated in the last two weeks in custody.

    The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, however denied

    He said: “The commission will not be distracted by nah false alarm regarding the health condition of any suspect as all suspects in the custody of the EFCChave access to the best available medical care.

    “All inmates also have access to their lawyers and family members at the designated visiting hours.

    “ The quality of care in the EFCC holding facility is the reason why accused persons regularly plead in court to be remanded in EFCC custody.”

    In a statement yesterday, Akpoebi said Dudafa ‘s health began to “deteriorate about two weeks ago.

    He also debunked a report that the EFCC had released Dudafa.

    The statement said: ‘’We members of the Dudafa family are frightened at the level of deliberate neglect and abandonment Dr Waripamowei Dudafa has been subjected in the EFCC custody since his incarceration about 50 days ago.

    ‘’This is the first time we are constrained to say something to the world since the arrest and detention of our brother and this is deliberate in order for the law to take its full circle despite the media trial that has been orchestrated.

    ‘’We are particularly disturbed that the EFCC told a national daily on Wednesday last week that Dudafa had been released.

    “This is far from the truth and an attempt to mislead the public in order to endanger our brother’s life in their custody. This is a despotic way of fighting corruption?.”-