A former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has said the $6million (N1.908billion) fines paid by Tidex Nigeria Limited (Tidewater) to the Federal Government was put in a dedicated account in the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is probing the whereabouts of the fines imposed on Tidex over alleged importation of vessels with toxins into the country.
But Adoke said he did not derive any benefit whatsoever from the transaction.
He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under its former chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri initiated the agreement with Tidex Nigeria Limited(Tidewater).
Adoke, who made the clarifications in a statement which he personally signed, said the EFCC nominated a lawyer, Godwin Obla (SAN) to represent its interest in the negotiations.
Following a petition from Legalmax Solicitors, the EFCC began the probe of the whereabouts of the cash,
The petitioner, Max Ogar, who is a Public Interest Litigation Attorney in Abuja, asked the EFCC to investigate Adoke and Obla.
In his statement, Adoke said he has nothing to hide because it was after the negotiation had been concluded between the EFCC and Tidex that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The statement said: “Consequently, a dispassionate investigation into the Tidex Nigeria Limited Non Prosecution Agreement would reveal that the settlement was at the behest of the EFCC; the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye and EFCC nominated Attorney, Mr. Godwin Obla, SAN, duly represented the EFCC.
“It would also reveal that the penal fines imposed on Tidex Nigeria Limited were duly paid into a Federal Government designated account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and that I did not in any way derive any benefit whatsoever from the transaction.”
The ex-AGF gave insights into how the EFCC and Tidex went into an agreement.
He said: “I am constrained to draw attention to a publication to the effect that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN had directed the EFFCC to investigate the 2011 Non Prosecution Agreement executed between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Tidex Nigeria Limited.
“I would ordinarily have refrained from commenting on the issue knowing fully well that the circumstances surrounding the execution of all the Non-Prosecution Agreements signed in 2011, are known to relevant Agencies of Government including the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the EFCC.
“But, since the aforementioned publication hit the newsstands, I have been inundated with calls from genuinely concerned Nigerian’s seeking to know what is responsible for these deliberate attempts to smear my name and bring me to public odium?
“My answer is simply that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation did not initiate these settlements. It was the EFCC, under the Chairmanship Chief (Mrs) Farida Waziri, OON that initiated these settlements and nominated Mr. Godwin Obla, SAN as the Lawyer to represent their interest in the negotiations that were conducted under auspices of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
“It was when the negotiations were concluded to the satisfaction of all the Parties, that I signed on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye (then, Secretary to the EFCC) signed on behalf of the EFCC. The copies of the agreements are in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and I believe with the EFCC as well.
“This was the procedure that was adopted in respect of all the settlements that were initiated by the EFCC in 2011 including those of Shell, Saipem, KBR, JGC, etc that infracted the laws of the country.
“ I reiterate my previous assurances to all concerned Nigerians that while in Office, I conducted myself with the utmost decorum and ensured the observance of due process, transparency and accountability in all matters that were brought to my attention.
“This petition is clearly underpinned by the refusal of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, to be used during my tenure by the Nigerian Shareholders to settle personal disputes with their foreign partners.
“While, I am concerned as any reasonable person would, about these negative media releases, I remain calm knowing that the prevailing atmosphere has unwittingly created a fertile ground for witch-hunt and personal vendetta.
“ I am however confident that in due time, the dark cloud that bestrode the horizon will disappear and Nigerians will become aware of the truth and be able to make value judgment on all these issues. Nigerians will then differentiate those who genuinely served their fatherland from those who sought public office for personal gain.”
Tag: EFCC
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$6m Tidex settlement fine in CBN account, says Adoke
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Badeh bought N320m Abuja house for 28-year old son – witness
A Federal High Court in Abuja heard Wednesday how former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh allegedly deployed public funds to acquire N320million house in Abuja for his 28-year old last son, Kam.
A retired Air Commodore, Aliyu Yishau, who said he served as former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) while Badeh was the Chief of Air Staff (between September 2012 and December 2013), made this disclosure at the resumption of proceedings in the trial of Badeh and a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.
Badeh and the firm were arraigned on March 7 this year on a 10-count charge of breach of trust and corruption for allegedly diverting about N3.97bn from NAF’s account.
Yishau, the first prosecution witness, who was cross-examined by Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), said the N320m house was the second of such property acquired in Wuse 2, Abuja by the former Chief of Defence Staff for his children.
He said the first located at No: 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja was bought for Badeh’s first son, Alex Badeh (Jnr) at N260m, with N60m spent to renovate it, while N90m was expended in furnishing the property.
Yishau said the second house, which was bought at N320m for Badeh’s last son is located adjacent to the one bought for Badeh’s first son.
When asked how he came about the information, the witness said he paid for the houses from the N558.2m taken monthly by Badeh from NAF’s funds.
He said once he converted the N558.2m to United States dollars and takes it to Badeh in his house, the ex-Chief of Defence Staff will direct him to make payment from it.
The witness said whenever Badeh directed him to make payments, he always takes the cash from Badeh’s house to his (witness’) house, from where he hands the cash to one Engineer Husseini Salau.
“I collected the money from the 1st defendant’s (Badeh’s) resident. I take it to my house and ask them to come and collect it. I took the money to his house and he asked me to remove the equivalent of N260m to pay for the house. I deducted the N260m equivalent from the normal monthly N558.2m I take to him.
“He (the 1st defendant always authorises the deduction for payment whenever I take the monthly money to him. I did not give the house renovation job to Engr Salau. I paid N60m for the renovation of the house based on the instruction of my boss, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh,” the witness said.
He said he could not recall how many times he paid the money for the renovation. But admitted that the money was not paid at once.
The witness said he was not aware that Alex Badeh jr was just a tenant in the property at No: 19 Kumasi Crescent and that he did not see the tenancy agreement between Engr. Salau and Alex Badeh jr.
He admitted earlier telling the court, in his evidence-in-chief, that Engr. Salau and Alex Badeh jr located the house at No 19 Kumasie Crescent, Wuse 2.
He said it will not be correct to say Engr. Salau marketed the house to him.
He confirmed that he paid N90m for furniture for the house.
On how he made payment for the furniture at No:19 Kumasi Crescent, the witness said “When I received instruction from my boss, I directed my office at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters to liaise with Alex Badeh jr and effect the payment of the N90m.”
On whether it was right for him to have made the payments, Yishau said he was acting on instructions from his boss.
“In my statement to the EFCC, I said the 1st defendant has two properties in Wuse 2 that cost N260m and N320m. The house that cost N320m is the house adjacent to No 19 Kumasi Crescent, which was purchased from Honourable Bature.
“That was the one purchased for the last son of the 1st defendant, by name Kam. I cannot remember the address, but can identify it,” the witness said.
On whether he is a certified accountant, the witness said he worked as an Accountant for the Air Force for 25 years, but that he is not a certified Accountant.
Further hearing in the case has been adjourned to May 9 at 11 am.
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‘Why corruption still remains an issue for Buhari govt’
Leadership of 19 registered political parties Wednesday gave reason why corruption is still a primary issue for the Muhammad Buhari’s administration.
According to the political parties, previous attempt have not been as successful as they should be.
The noted that the anti-graft war is crucial to the survival of the country.
The political parties include Labour Party, LP, Action Alliance, AA, National Conscience Party, NCP, Democratic People’s Party, DPP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPN, and MPPP amongst others.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja Wednesday, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who read the text of the media briefing on behalf of the parties, said.
“We want to put on record that we are solidly behind President Muhammad Buhari’s fight against corruption; a fight that we believe is crucial to the survival of our country.
“In fact, the reason corruption is still a primary issue for the Buhari administration is that previous attempts have not been as successful as they should be.”
They however noted that the way and manner the anti-graft agencies are carrying out the fight might scuttle the president’s noble intention.
He said; “We however wish to note that this is not the first time that a president of this country would be declaring a war against corruption. We aver that one of the major obstacles in the fight against political corruption in Nigeria over the years is the way and manner it has been fought so as to give the impression that the fight is selective and targeted only at perceived enemies of government.”
The political parties warned that “once an anti-corruption is perceived as politically motivated, then the entire war against corruption easily gets reduced to a means of settling political scores rather than genuine commitment to fighting corruption. We are afraid that if care is not taken, the President Buhari’s avowed commitment to fighting corruption may end up in the ways of his predecessors.”
Citing the recent clearance of the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) of allegation of misconduct, the political parties noted that the commission’s posture was a wrong signal arguing that it is only the law court that can do so.
The parties therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances which led to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFFC, issuing the letter of clearance to Justice Danladi Umar over his alleged involvement in N10 million bribery scandal.
On the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Abdulsalam said the political parties were not against his trail, stressing that “President Buhari needs to act now, not to stop Saraki’s trial but to ensure that the process of fighting corruption does not end up being even more corrupt than the corruption it seeks to eliminate.”
The political parties however kicked against Justice Umar’s presiding over the trial.
According to them, “We recall that the Chairman of the Tribunal has himself been under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of bribery and corruption.
“We observe however that the preponderance of evidence that has been deployed so far against Dr. Saraki, including the Principal Prosecution Witness in the matter, were supplied by the EFCC.
“What that means is that the Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, is not only beholden to, but also under the control of the prosecution. Invariably, since Mr. Danladi Umar has the prosecutors ‘axe dangling on his neck, his ability to do justice to the defendant would be naturally impaired.
“To make the matter worse, we noted how the EFCC, in an unprecedented act of desperation, hurriedly issued a memo re-activating a report to the AGF and SGF dated 5th March, 2015, which it now attempts to present as a clearance letter to Umar.
“If this act alone does not confirm the grand collusion between the EFCC and the Chairman of the Tribunal to tilt the scale of justice against Dr. Saraki, then nothing would. However, if this case is about strengthening probity and accountability in public office, we fully support it; even as we insist that justice must not only be done, but be seen by all to have been done to all.”
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EFCC seizes £2m wristwatches from Diezani, Omokore’s wife
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized jewelries including wristwatches worth over £2 million from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke and wife of Mr. Jide Omokore, the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited.
A top official in EFCC said the commission seized a wristwatch worth £1.4m from Omokore’s wife, while a £600,000 wristwatch was recovered from the former minister.
Diezani is facing several corruption allegations, including her involvement in the missing oil proceeds from deals executed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The ex- minister was interrogated for bribery and money laundering by the British police in London last year.
She was granted bail by the Westminster Magistrate’s Court after seizing her passport and £27, 000.
For Omokore’s wife, the wristwatch was seized when EFCC operatives raided her Lagos residence.
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Judge’s withdrawal stalls Moro, others’ trial
Proceedings in the case involving a former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, ended abruptly at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, as the trial judge, Justice Anwuri Chikere, suddenly announced her withdrawal from the case.
Justice Chikere, who said she will return the case file to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge, was silent on what informed her decision.
Moro alongside a former Permanent Secretary in the Interior Ministry, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, a former director in the ministry, Felix .O Alayebami and a firm, Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited were arraigned before the court on February 29 on an 11-count charge.
They were arraigned over their alleged involvement in the botched 2014 recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) while Moro was minister of interior.
They were accused of defrauding 675, 675 graduate applicants of about N675,675,000 having been made to pay N1,000 each as processing fees for 5,000 job openings.
The four defendants also were accused of breaching the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 in the award of the contract for the recruitment test to Drexel Technology Nigeria Limited.
Although they pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Chikere ordered the remand of Moro and Alaiyegbami in Kuje prison, Abuja and allowed Mrs. Daniel -Nwobia, said to be a nursing mother, to remain on the bail earlier granted her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the determination of their bail applications.
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EFCC uncovers $12.9b more fraud in arms deals probe
Agency freezes $500m found in one account
£600,000 wristwatch ‘seized from Diezani’
FACTS & figures
$12.9b •The fresh arms cash fraud uncovered by EFCC investigators
N2.6b •Cost of an MRI machine ‘seized from former Chief of Air Staff Adesola Amosu’
£600,000 •The worth of a wristwatch ‘seized from Mrs Alison-Madueke’
N2.3b •Part of the cash reportedly recovered from Amosu’s wife
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered $12.9billion more arms deals fraud during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, it was learnt yesterday.
The development has brought arms funds, which were diverted to other uses, to $15billion as the initial probe covered only $2.1billion.
As part of the ongoing investigation of the arms deals, the EFCC yesterday froze an account with $500million. The owner of the account was not immediately known.
The anti-graft commission has seized houses from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Besides, a wrist watch worth £600,000 and jewelry in gold and diamond have been confiscated from Mrs Alison-Madueke, a source said.
These details are contained in an update on the ongoing investigation of the arms deals by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
There are indications that many military officers may be questioned.
A source, who spoke in confidence on the investigation, said: “From our findings so far, the amount involved in the arms deals was over $15billion. The $2.1billion which you have written so much about is just one transaction into an account in the First Bank of Nigeria in New York.
“They moved the money into the FBN account from where they were disbursing and re-routing the cash. Our priority is to recover these funds but we will still prosecute the individuals and companies involved.
“Most of these companies were incorporated by serving military officers and these officers were the sole signatories into the accounts of these companies.
“All these suspects are not showing remorse, they think that they can go away with the fraud but we won’t allow them.
“Yet when we interrogate them, you see them wearing pampers and cannot stand or walk in public for a long time. Then, you are tempted to ask why they have to steal all these funds meant for public projects.
“The Trauma Centre at the National Hospital with a helipad was built with N1.8billion; you can imagine how many of such centres and schools these looted funds can provide.”
The source also explained that the EFCC yesterday intercepted about $500million in an account and blocked it.
The source added: “Just some few hours ago, our investigators today (Tuesday) blocked an account with about $500million. We are already looking at all clues on how the cash was wired.
“What we have recovered in just one year is more than the total recovery by the EFCC since inception. There was huge looting which will affect the coming generation if the funds are not recovered.”
The source gave insights into the probe of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and businessman Jide Omokore.
”We have seized many houses belonging to Diezani and Omokore on Banana Island and other places. Also, a wristwatch of about £1.4million was seized from Omokore’s wife.
“From the former minister, we have retrieved a choice wrist watch worth £600,000 and jewelry in gold and diamond. We will soon show Nigerians all these items for them to appreciate what we have done and to learn some lessons.”
He explained that at the time the wrist watches were seized, the price tags were there.
EFCC seizes N2.6b MRI machine from ex-Chief of Air Staff Amosu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized a N2.6billion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine from the Diagnostic Centre owned by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.
The anti-graft agency discovered that the MRI machine was bought with some of the funds meant for arms purchase.
The investigators claimed that while Amosu’s Diagnostic Centre has MRI equipment, none of the Air Force clinics nationwide could boast of such a state-of-the-art equipment.
Also, there were indications last night that a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh may automatically forfeit the controversial $1million(N318m) found in his house to the Federal Government.
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned ownership of the money.
According to EFCC investigation, some of the arms funds allegedly diverted by Amosu, were used to buy the MRI machine for the Diagnostic Centre.
MRI is a non-invasive medical test that physicians use to diagnose and treat medical conditions.
It was learnt that the centre might be confiscated by the government.
A top source in the EFCC said: “After thorough investigations, we have seized a MRI equipment of about N2.6billion from Amosu’s Diagnostic Centre. We were able to trace the purchase of the machine to some of the diverted funds meant for procurement of arms.
“We may also place the centre under temporary asset forfeiture pending the conclusion of the trial of the suspect.
“All these assets are apart from the N2.3billion, houses, $140,000 and N381m recovered from Amosu’s wife.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The ex-Chief of Air Staff is still under investigation along with some military officers. We have not cleared him.”
Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Badeh may automatically forfeit the controversial $1million(N318m) found in his house to the Federal Government.
The EFCC source said: “We retrieved the cash from Badeh’s residence in Maitama District of Abuja and the operation was witnessed by his neighbours.
“Now that he has denied having such, the cash will be automatically forfeited to the Federal Government.”
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned claims that the money was recovered from his home.
Zibri said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication of March 7th 2016 to the effect that the sum of $1,000,000(One Million US Dollars) cash was recovered in the house of Air Chief Marshal A.S Badeh (Rtd). The said publication is not only malicious but wicked.
“It is totally false and smacks of media campaign of calumny against the person of Air Marshal Alex. Badeh (Rtd) The ten (10) count charge against our client along with the proof of evidence in the Federal High Court are public documents and can be accessed by the general public.
“There is no such allegation and we challenge the faceless EFCC official to substantiate his claim. The Trial has commenced and as a law abiding citizen our client will defend himself in accordance with the law.”
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EFCC re-arraigns Indian for N32b bank fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned an Indian businessman, Patrick Fernandez, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly perpetrating a banking fraud involving N32 billion.
Fernandez, with three of his companies, is facing a 56-count of fraud. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.
He was re-arraigned because the judge handling the case, Justice John Tsoho, was transferred to Abuja.
A new judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, who was transferred from Asaba to Lagos, took over the case, to start afresh before her.
She will be the third to handle the case, which began eight years ago.
Fernandez was first arraigned before Justice A. R. Mohammed in 2008. But following his transfer, the case was re-assigned to Justice Tsoho.
One witness testified before Justice Mohammed; three testified before Justice Tsoho.
Justice Olatoregun-Ishola vowed to ensure the case is not further delayed.
“Counsel should not come and tell me that he has not had breakfast, therefore the matter should not go on,” she warned.
She said parties should be ready to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which provides for day-to-day trial.
Fernandez, previously represented by the late minister James Ocholi (SAN), hired a new SAN, Solo Aguma.
An EFCC investigator, Bashir Abdullahi, said the commission learned of the fraud when a bank contacted the agency’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
Testifying before Justice Tsoho, the witness said in July 2008, he was assigned to investigate the case of suspicious financial activities involving Fernandez and his companies.
The affected banks, he said, were Zenith, Afribank, Intercontinental, Union and Wema.
According to him, his investigations discovered high volume transactions from one account to another, all he said were fraudulent.
Abdullahi said: “Our findings was that he was involved in cheque-kitting and round tripping. It is also known as Lazy Susan, a business model.”
According to him, Lazy Susan involves members of a business group transferring money from one sister company to another without selling any commodity, using money obtained from banks as loans.
He said as at September 2007, the accused had less than N2 million in his account.
“The volume of transaction was also minimal, starting with N20 million. Within the same month, it rose to N600 million. The volume of this transaction also skyrocketed to billions of naira within three months,” he said.
The transactions, he said, involved the use of “suspended cheques,” which did not go through the clearing house.
“If he brings a cheque, credit will be given to him without going through clearance. Because he has a cheque discounting facility, if he brings N1billion cheque, they will give him N800 million,” Abdullahi said.
Justice Olatoregun-Ishola adjourned till June 20, 21 and 22 for commencement of trial.
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Ex-Dickson aide arrested for offering EFCC official bribe
Former Senior Special Assistant on Media to Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was gathered that Abnedgo Don- Evarada, was arrested in Port- Harcourt, Rivers State for offering a bribe of N10 million to the EFCC’s Zonal Head in Port- Harcourt, Mr Ishaq Salihu.
EFCCA statement signed by the EFCC’s Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said that the suspect, Don- Evarada, was reportedly nabbed on Monday.
Don-Evarada reportedly ran into trouble when he allegedly approached Salihu, over a case involving the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa’s state governor on Millennium Development Goals, Apere Embelakpo and his wife, Fiene Beauty.
The EFCC is investigating Embelakpo for alleged diversion of N800million meant for MDG and his wife for alleged money laundering, forgery and suspicious transactions to the tune of N200million.
Don- Evarada was said to have offered the bribe ostensibly to compromise the EFCC investigation but his overture was said to have been turned down.
It was learnt that the suspect was kept in the custody of the EFCC and would be charged to Court after investigation.
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Tarfa must explain contact with judge – Court
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere on Tuesday assumed jurisdiction in the two- count charge filed against the embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Aishat Opesanwo dismissed Tarfa’s preliminary objection to the charges – obstructing officers of law from carrying out their duties and attempting to pervert the cause of justice by communicating with a Federal High Court judge handling a suit he filed against the commission.
She ruled that the information filed by the EFCC against Tarfa suggested that the lawyer “had some explaining to do,” on why he allegedly contacted the judge.
Tarfa had, in an application filed through his counsel, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), argued that the case was an abuse of court process and urged the court to quash the charge and decline jurisdiction.
Owonikoko argued among others that the authority of EFCC to prosecute is limited to economic and financial crimes, which the alleged offences of obstructing officers of law and attempting to perverse the cause of justice were not.
The lawyer told the court that the EFCC had no powers to prosecute general criminal offences outside its jurisdiction.
He added that the allegations against Tarfa are currently before the Court of Appeal, insisting that the matter constitutes an abuse of court process.
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Indian arraigned over bank fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned an Indian businessman, Patrick Fernandez, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly perpetrating a banking fraud involving N32 billion.
Fernandez, along with three of his companies, is facing 56 count-charge of fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He was re-arraigned because the judge previously handling the case, Justice John Tsoho, was transferred to Abuja.
A new judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, who was transferred from Asaba to Lagos, has taken over the case, which will start de novo (afresh) before her.
She will be the third judge to handle the case which began eight years ago.
Fernandez was first arraigned before Justice A. R. Mohammed in 2008, but following the judge’s transfer, the case was re-assigned to Justice Tsoho.
One witness testified before Justice Mohammed and three testified before Justice Tsoho.
Justice Olatoregun-Ishola vowed to ensure the case is not further delayed when it begins anew.
“Counsel should not come and tell me that he has not had breakfast, therefore the matter should not go on,” she warned.
She said parties should be ready to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which provides for day-to-day trial.
Fernandez, previously represented by the late minister of Labour, James Ocholi (SAN), has hired a new counsel, Solo Aguma (SAN).
An EFCC investigator, Bashir Abdullahi, said the commission learnt of the fraud when a bank contacted the agency’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
Testifying before Justice Tsoho, the witness said in July 2008, he was assigned to investigate the case of suspicious financial activities involving Fernandez and his companies.
The affected banks, he said, were Zenith Bank, Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank and Wema Bank respectively.