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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC may probe Nigerians named in Panama Papers

    EFCC may probe Nigerians named in Panama Papers

    There were strong indications yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may probe Nigerians associated with secret offshore companies.

    Apart from Senate President Bukola Saraki, others mentioned in the secret leak that has been generating worldwide ripples are: Former Senate President David Mark, Saraki’s wife, Toyin, former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Mr. Laolu Saraki, Mr. Obi Asika and Mr. Olufela Ibidapo.

    Yesterday, former Defence Minister Gen. Yakubu Danjuma’s name was linked with some firms.

    According to a top EFCC source, the EFCC has already obtained a copy of the Panama Papers, which its operatives are studying.

    The source said: “We are studying all the documents and definitely we will investigate the allegations against all the Nigerians implicated in the Panama Papers.

    “These allegations may lead to further clues on whether or not public funds were used in acquiring some of these secret assets.

    The Panamanian law firm, reputed as one of the most secretive companies in the world, had helped clients to register offshore entities, some of which are then used to launder money, evade tax and dodge sanctions.

    Gen. Danjuma, the wealthy philanthropist and one-time Defence minister, according to the Mossac Fonseca files, floated Eastcoast Investments, which he incorporated in Nassau, Bahamas, on March 25, 1997.

    At inception, Gen.  Danjuma and a certain Colin Marcel Dixon were directors of the company.

    According to Premium Times, Gen. Danjuma formed the company to enable him do business with Scancem International of Norway when the latter decided to expand its business frontiers to Nigeria.

    But the company became embroiled in a bribery scandal, with Scancem, according to court papers, later buying out Eastcoast Investment from the project on December 1, 2003.

    Gen. Danjuma reportedly resigned as director of the company.

    He is also reported to have used other offshore entities.

    The database, Opencorporates, indicate that the ex-minister. served as director and vice-president of Cross Group Holdings International, which was registered in Panama on October 15, 1976.

    Gen. Danjuma was also director of Zara Logistics, a company registered in Cyprus on September 2, 1993.

    He could not be reached for comment yesterday. Sources close to him said he is out of the country.

    Also, Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss attorney hired by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to track missing Abacha loot in Swiss banks is himself operating over 178 companies in offshore tax havens.

    Mr. Monfrini was hired in 2000 by the government to help establish the existence of and repatriate over $4 billion allegedly looted by the former military dictator.

    The documents showed that Mr. Monfrini, an influential legal practitioner in Switzerland, is director of 178 companies scattered around Panama and the British Virgin Islands.

    Although the documents did not directly implicate Mr. Monfrini as having committed any crime, still, the revelation points to the hypocrisy of a man widely revered for his remarkable ability to dismantle tax evaders and looters across jurisdictions.

  • EFCC quizzes Jonathan’s cousin over $40m ONSA cash

    EFCC quizzes Jonathan’s cousin over $40m ONSA cash

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Roberts, remains in detention over a $40million (N12.7b) contract obtained from the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) to ‘pacify’ militants in the Niger Delta.

    Roberts, who was arrested alongside colleague Dakoru Atukpa, is the Managing Director of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited and One-Plus Holdings.

    Gordy Uche (SAN), accused the EFCC of embarking on a vendetta mission against the ex-President.

    He said Roberts is being persecuted because of his blood link with Jonathan.

    The EFCC arrested Roberts and Dakoru on March 23 as part of the ongoing probe of 300 companies involved in phantom contracts at the ONSA.

    It was gathered that as at last night, the suspects, who could not meet their bail terms, were still with the EFCC.

    A source in the commission said: “The suspects were arrested in respect of payment of $40million by ONSA for a contract which was tagged as purchase of tactical equipment for Special Forces.

    “When they interacted with our investigators, they could not  explain what the contract was meant for. They said they used the money to pacify militants in the Niger Delta.

    “Even though we wanted to accept their claim, there is no documentary evidence to show how the $40m contract was awarded, how it was disbursed and the list of beneficiaries.

    “The case is not about being a blood relation of a former President or not. Is he the only relation of the ex-President?

    “We are looking into payments made by ONSA and $40miilion was advanced without any record of how the contract or how it was awarded or done.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the investigation of Jonathan’s cousin and Dakoru, said the agency had been fair in investigating the $40million.

    He said: “It is true that they are being held and investigation is still ongoing.

    “But two days after their arrest, they were offered administrative bail with two sureties who must be of the rank of director in the civil service. The sureties were expected to provide evidence of tax payment and N250million bank guarantee.

    “  But the suspects  failed to produce any surety, which made the commission to legally approach a court for an order to detain them.”

    The suspects’  lawyer, Gordy Uche (SAN), in a statement in Abuja, accused the EFCC of embarking on a vendetta mission against former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said the Federal Government is still owing his client $4million being balance of the contract sum for “successfully securing oil pipelines which saw Nigeria reap billions of US dollars from increased oil production”.

    He asked the commission to “either charge my clients to court or release them on bail.”

    Uche said: “My  client(Roberts) is being persecuted and punished because of his DNA, as a relative of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

    “My clients(Roberts and Dakoru)  are innocent until proven guilty, according to the laws of Nigeria. So, their continuous detention is a breach of their fundamental human rights as free citizens of Nigeria. The appropriate thing for the EFCC to do in this circumstance is to release them now or charge them to court.”

    Uche accused the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) of shirking its responsibility for the payment of the outstanding $4m due to his client as honorarium for an assignment which he said his client helped the Federal Government execute and for which the government reaped billions of dollars in return.

    “It is impunity and breach of their fundamental human rights. We have a civil dispute and then you turn around to lock up the party with whom you have a dispute. Then, you go ahead to give him impossible bail conditions.

    “Two federal serving directors each with properties in Maitama or Asokoro and the original of their Certificate of Occupancy; the four directors are also required to present bail bonds of N250m each from reputable banks. Robert and Atukpa are also required to deposit their international passports.

    “Which serving director in Nigeria today has property in Asokoro or Maitama district, and can boast of N250million? It’s like saying bring the bones of your grandmother alive before we grant you bail.

    “The annoying thing is that while we were working to fulfill the bail conditions, the EFCC went to court and obtained a remand order, which means that the commission never intended to grant them bail in the first place.

     ”If the NSA has a civil complaint against our client for ‘breach of contract’ and wants refund of money, the best thing to do is to file a civil complaint and allow an impartial judge to determine the case on merit.

    “The EFCC is insisting that Oneplus Holdings should show proof of work done, including receipts of payments made to third parties from the proceeds of the said contract, or in the alternative refund the $40m to government coffers. It is for this reason that Robert and Atukpa have been held captive and locked up incommunicado by the EFCC for over two weeks.

    “On assumption of office, President Muhammadu Buhari set up a presidential panel to investigate all contracts awarded by the Jonathan administration from 2011 to 2015.

    “ The committee investigated contracts of 300 firms and individuals and made far-reaching recommendations, which include refund of money, further investigation, etc.

    “Oneplus Holdings was recommended for further investigation, which meant the committee had reservations on the execution of the contract, even when it was clear the company appeared before the presidential committee and provided all the information it requested.

    “However, of great concern is why Oneplus Holdings was  singled out of the 300 companies and individuals for its immediate action.

    “ “If you look at that list (of the presidential committee), Oneplus is neither number one nor the last on it. So, why pick on Oneplus Holdings first?”

  • Ozekhome’s vilification of EFCC

    SIR: Chief Mike Ozekhome in an attempt to secure a public sympathy for his client, Chief Raymond Dokpesi had said that the EFCC was not empowered by law to be “a debt collecting agency”.

    While Ozekhome is within his right to explore all the wisecracks in the legal books to win his case, resorting to subtle blackmail or legal red herring may be injurious to his public perception.

    Professor Itse Sagay while differing threw light into the relevant constitutional section that empowered EFCC to recover funds, freeze assets and accounts.

    Quoting the EFCC Act Section 71(B) – “Where a person is arrested for an offence under this act, the commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter caused to be obtained an interim attachment order from the court”.

    He further opined that section 29 permits the assets of a person arrested under section 28 to be seized by the state.

    I think rather than taking the matter outside the confines of judicial parameters where it is listed for adjudication and put same in public domain, Chief Ozekhome’s attempt to discredit EFCC has opened him and his client to the orbit of public inquiries.

    Patriotism makes it incumbent on our senior lawyers to insulate dispassionate public institutions like EFCC from vitriolic vilifications devoid of legal imprimatur. Hardly would a lawyer of Chief Ozekhome’s standing take a swipe at FBI in America on a case still pending in court.

    • Bukola Ajisola,

    Victoria Island, Lagos.

  • ‘NNPC’s MD not arrested by EFCC’

    Contrary to reports, the Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Retail, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue was not arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    A youth group, Young Professional Alliance for Change which denied reports of her arrest said Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue was only invited by the EFCC to clarify certain operational issues which she promptly did and was allowed to return home on the same day.
    The group in a statement by its General Secretary, Mr. Chukwudi Ifediora, described reports of the NNPC’s top executive as a campaign of calumny by some detractors who were envious of the giant strides and achievements of Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue while she presided over the affairs of the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC).
    It said some mischief makers were uncomfortable with the strides recorded by Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue in the NNPC from her days as the General Manager, Board Matters and Management Committee Department (BMMC) in the Corporate Secretariat and Legal Division (CSLD) to the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company, (PPMC) which she headed before her latest promotion.
    ‘’ Without doubt, Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue is one of the shining light of the NNPC and she was very conscious of her duties and discharged them creditably. In fact, she was appointed the Managing Director of PPMC based on her pedigree in NNPC.
    ” The truth of the matter is that, she was invited and she naturally honored the invitation since she had nothing to hide. Moreover, she is one of the proponents of change in NNPC and her style of administration is still being spoken of in glowing terms in PPMC till tomorrow, ’’ the group stated.

  • EFCC to Metuh: prove your innocence

    EFCC to Metuh: prove your innocence

    •’PDP spokesman’s allegations against Justice Abang baseless’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, to disprove the allegation of fraud and money laundering against him rather than seeking to malign the judge with the aim of scuttling his trial.

    The EFCC argued that Metuh’s unsubstantiated allegation of bias against Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and his claim that they (Metuh and Justice Abang) were mates at the Law School do not constitute a sufficient ground to  ask the judge to quit the trial .

    EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and Destra Investment Limited on a seven-count charge of fraud and money laundering in relation to the N400 million he allegedly received unlawfully from ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and the $2 million he allegedly got as gift at the last PDP national convention where ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was adopted as the party’s sole candidate for the last election.

    They have been on trial in Justice Abang’s court since January 15 till the prosecution closed its case after calling eight witnesses, who were cross-examined by defence lawyers.

    When they were to begin their defence, Metuh and his company, represented by a team led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), made a no-case submission, which the judge, on March 9, dismissed on the grounds that the prosecution made a case against them, which required them to enter a defence.

    The EFCC, in its counter affidavit against their  motion for the judge to quit and another for indefinite adjournment until the determination of their application at the Court of Appeal for a stay of proceedings at the Federal High Court, argued that Metuh and his company were trying to scuttle the trial.

    Lead prosecution lawyer Sylvanus Tahir noted, in his written submission to the counter affidavit, that the allegations of bias and other claims by Metuh and Detra were intended to frustrate the trial as they had submitted to the court’s jurisdiction even when Metuh knew he was the judge’s schoolmate.

    “All manner of allegations, as stated by the defendants, were cooked up by them just to justify frustrating the stalling of proceedings. We submit that the antics and gimmicks deployed by the defendants are nothing but mere afterthought and pure blackmail aimed at intimidating the court to drop the case in the guise or pretext of bias by the judge.

    “The allegations of bias levelled by the defendants against the court relate merely to the exercise of judicial powers by the court, without any evidence of facts or circumstances that suggest that the court did, in fact, favour one side unfairly,” Tahiir said.

    On Metuh’s claim that he was the judge’s school mate, Tahir argued that by virtue of the oath of office subscribed to by a judicial officer, a judge handling a case was only required to administer justice without fear or favour, irrespective of parties involved.

    “In the circumstances of this case, even if the judex and the 1st defendant (Metuh) were classmates, one would have thought that relationship would have given more concern to the prosecution than the defence for obvious reasons. The prosecution would have been the one to entertain fear that the court may favour its classmate,” he said.

    In response to Metuh’s allegation that there had been a “frosty relationship” between him and the judge , Tahir argued that Metuh’s refusal to duel on what constituted the supposed “frosty relationship” amounted to mere allegation without substance.

    “The 1st defendant suddenly woke up when it is time to open his defence to remember an alleged ‘frosty relationship’ that had existed over the years. This is blackmail of unprecedented proportion, which cannot be a ground to disqualify his lordship (the judge),” he said.

    Tahir also faulted Metuh’s claim that the judge frustrated his appeal by allegedly refusing to release records of proceedings, noting that the only decision of the judge, which Metuh appealed against was that given on March 9 and for which the judge released to him, a type-written copy of the proceedings on March 17.

    “Other tendentious and mundane allegations of bias remain unsubstantiated and unproven. Even the normal practice of a litigant (either in civil or criminal cases) standing either in the dock or witness box until his counsel draws the attention of the judex, with an oral request for the litigant to sit down, which is acceded to by the court, has become an issue of bias.

    “Another germane issue on the allegation of bias is that the test of real likelihood of bias is that of a reasonable man, not that of a man, who has made up his mind to pull down the institution of justice in a desperate bid to undermine the judicial process and get off the hook by all means,” Tahir said.

    The prosecution lawyer urged the court to refuse Metuh’s application for indefinite adjournment pending the Court of Appeal’s determination of his (Metuh’s) motion for a stay of proceedings in relation to the trial.

    Tahir faulted the application, citing sections 396(3) & (5) and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and Section 19 (2) and 40 of EFCC Act. He argued that the defendants, knowing that their application for indefinite adjournment was unknown to law, failed to “state the particular rules of court under which the application for adjournment was brought.

    “The point needs to be stressed that this is a criminal proceeding. The applicants did not bring their application for adjournment under any relevant section of the ACJA, 2015 to enable the court grant the application.

    “The motion, brought pursuant to Section 6 (6) of the Constitution, is hopelessly incompetent and should be dismissed without much ado,” Tahir said.

    Justice Abang is expected to entertain parties’ arguments on all applications by Metuh and his company on April 8, following which it would be determined whether the defence would be accorded the last opportunity to open its case or the judge to quit, for proceedings to commence afresh before a new judge.

  • EFCC quizzes ex-MD of PPMC

    EFCC quizzes ex-MD of PPMC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has grilled the immediate past Managing Director of Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs. Esther Ogbue, over transaction issues during her tenure.

    But she has been granted administrative bail pending the conclusion of ongoing investigation.

    According to findings made by our correspondent, Ogbue’s invitation by the anti-graft agency followed some allegations leveled against her by some people.

    Other allegations include the purchase of a house valued at N1.3 billion Off Amazon in Maitama and some houses in Asokoro and Wuse districts.

    The petitioners alleged that she acquired the said houses in less than six months in office.

    A highly-placed source in the anti-graft agency said: “We are investigating some allegations against the former MD of PPMC. We have invited her for interaction and she has made preliminary statement.

    “We have commenced a comprehensive investigation into the allegations including acquisition of some houses as a public officer.

    “So far, the issues against her are still in the realm of allegations; our investigation will determine the truth or otherwise.

    “She was granted administrative bail. She is expected to return for further interrogation soon.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “There are also few issues on product marketing including some suspicious transactions which we need to probe.

    “We are also looking into some allegations on management of products during her tenure which had compounded the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country.”

    At press time, it was gathered that the anti-graft agency was probing the ownership of the houses allegedly listed against the ex-PPMC boss who had been redeployed to Retail Services.

    But a source said: “Ogbue ran into trouble as a result of politics within NNPC. The office overwhelmed her and at a point she allegedly started having issues with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu.

    “The recent restructuring in NNPC led to her removal and redeployment to Retail Services in Asokoro District, which is far off from the headquarters of the oil giant.

    “Shortly after her redeployment, the petitioners, including a few insiders in NNPC, capitalised on the situation to blow the whistle to EFCC on her activities.”

  • EFCC nabs ex-fire service chief over employment scam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested Dada Olatunji, former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Fire Service, for offences bordering on employment scam.

    His arrest was disclosed in a statement issued by Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja on Thursday.

    The statement said Olatunji’s arrest followed a petition by two applicants – Robert Mathew and Theresa Abah.

    They alleged that one Christopher Adaje, of the Nyanya office of the service, informed them in Dec. 2014 that they were recruiting and promised to facilitate their employment.

    He said he would do this before April 2015 if they could part with N350, 000 each.

    “Matthew and Abah who were desperate to get employment but could not afford the said sum, resorted to soliciting for help from their friends and relations.

    “Eventually, Matthew was able to source his from a friend while Abah took a loan of N225, 000 from her friend.

    “They raised N575, 000 and paid it into an account number supplied by Adaje in one of the old generation banks’’, the statement said.

    It added that Adaje could not deliver on his promise months later, a situation that prompted the applicants to visit his office where they discovered it was a fraud.

    The statement added that on arrest, Adaje confessed that he was fronting for Olatunji whom he claimed the money was given to.

    The statement said the suspects would be charged to court soon.

  • EFCC arrests Fire Service chief, accomplice for employment scam

    EFCC arrests Fire Service chief, accomplice for employment scam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a former Assistant Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Fire Service , Mr. Dada Olatunji for offences bordering on employment scam.

    Also picked up was one Christopher Adaje, who was said to be an accomplice of the ex-Fire Service chief.

    As of  press time, the two suspects, who have been detained by the anti-graft agency, were being grilled on how they established the scam syndicate.

    According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren,

    the arrest of the suspect  followed a petition by two applicants,Robert Mathew and Theresa Abah.

    The statement said: “The applicants alleged that  sometime in December 2014, one Christopher Adaje, an officer at the Nyanya Office of the agency informed them of a recruitment exercise purportedly going on and promised to facilitate their employment into the Service before April, 2015 if they could part with N350, 000.00 each.

    “Matthew and Abah who were desperate to get employment, but could not afford the said sum, resorted to soliciting for help from their friends and loved ones.

    “The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

    “Eventually, Matthew was able to source his from a friend while Abah took a loan of N225,000.00 (two hundred and twenty five thousand) from her friend, to meet Adaje’s demand to offer them job.

    “Altogether, a total of N575,000 (five hundred and seventy five thousand naira) was raised by Matthew and Abah which was paid into an account supplied by Adaje in one of the old generation banks.

    “Months after, Adaje could not deliver on his promise, a situation that prompted the applicants to visit his office where they discovered it was fraud.

    “On arrest, Adaje confessed that, he was fronting for Olatunji whom he claimed, the money was given to.

    END

  • Kashamu faults AGF’s directive to EFCC against his firm

    Kashamu faults AGF’s directive to EFCC against his firm

    Senator Buruji Kashamu has reacted to the directive by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) for the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) to investigate the contractual agreement between his company, Kasmal International Services limited and the Nigerian posta Service (NIPOST).

    Kashamu, in a reaction by his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede in Abuja Wednesday, argued that the directive amounted to a clear criminal contempt of the Federal High Court which had on the 24th of February 2016 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/100/2016 made an order restraining the AGF and the EFCC from “from interfering in a purely contractual relationship between Kasmal and NIPOST.”

    He noted that the Federal High Court in its judgments in Suits Nos. FHC/L/CS/1462/2013 (between Kasmal and the 22 Deposit Money Banks – DMBs) and FHC/L/CS/1710/2013 (between KASMAL and the Central Bank  of Nigeria – CBN) had interpreted the Stamp Duties Act LFN 2004 and the NIPOST Act LFN 2004 and found that the Stamp Duties Act made provision for the exemption of certain documents (including receipts for teller deposits and electronic transfers by Deposit Money Banks for sums of 1000 Naira and above) from payment of stamp duties if the documents have affixed to them 50 Naira postage stamps bought from the NIPOST.

    “The two actions were brought by KASMAL as public Interest actions to ensure that the banks remitted the 50 Naira to NIPOST after NIPOST had appointed KASMAL as its agent.

    “NIPOST as a statutory agency with exclusive authority to produce postage stamps in Nigeria has always operated through agents and pays them up to 20% as commission from collections made for sale of postal services including sale of postage stamps. KASMAL’s position is no different from this and it was agreed that if KASMAL could open up this stream of revenue from the DMBs for use of NIPOST postage stamps to denote stamp duties on receipts for teller and electronic transfers, KASMAL would be entitled to N7.50 from every N50 it collected.

    “Although we have no doubt that right minded observers will see the injustice in the move by the AGF’s office to deprive KASMAL of the fruits of its efforts, we believe that the directive by the AGF is mischievous and calculated to bring the judicial process into disrepute. We will bring this unlawful abuse of office to the attention of the court at its next sitting on this matter on the 17th of April 2016,” he said.

     

  • Alleged N34b fraud: EFCC arraigns Tompolo in absentia

    Alleged N34b fraud: EFCC arraigns Tompolo in absentia

    •Ex-militant to be arraigned April 18 on new N22.7b theft charge

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), at the Federal High Court in Lagos in Lagos in absentia over N34 billion fraud.

    He was charged along with a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited and Kemi Engozu.

    Others are Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

    EFCC, in the 40-count charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba, said the suspects allegedly diverted N34 billion for personal use.

    It alleged that the money accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist, owned by Tompolo.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    Count one reads: “That you, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) now at large, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, in 2012 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: Conversion of the sums of N601,516.13 and $1,766,428.62, property of NIMASA, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and 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.”

    The defendants, who were all present, except Tompolo, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    Tompolo will be arraigned on another 22-count charge also pending before Justice Buba, who adjourned it until April 18.

    It borders on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N22.7 billion.

    In the charge, Tompolo will face trial along with Akpobolokemi, whose four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – said to be at large, were said to have aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

    They were accused of converting various sums running into over N22.7 billion stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba had, on February 8, directed security agencies to arrest Tompolo and held that the warrant of arrest issued for his arrest still subsists.

    Tompolo’s lead counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), had sought to set aside the warrant of arrest, but the judge dismissed the application and re-issued a fresh warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.

    The judge subsequently granted EFCC’s application empowering it to seize all Tompolo’s traceable assets pending his arrest or appearance in court for arraignment.

    The properties will be auctioned after three months beginning from February 19 when the order was made should Tompolo refuse to turn up, the judge ordered.

    Tompolo appealed the order for his arrest and prayed the appellate court to order the transfer of his case from Justice Buba to another judge.

    His lawyers are urging the Court of Appeal to set aside the warrant of arrest on the basis that Justice Buba erred in law in refusing to nullify it.

    EFCC lawyer Festus Keyamo told reporters yesterday that Tompolo would stand trial whenever he is arrested. He said security agencies are on his trail.

    “It is the duty of the security forces and they are still making efforts to get him. He’s on the run and he cannot continue to be on the run for ever. We will get him,” Keyamo said.

    The other defendants’ lawyers urged Justice Buba to grant them bail in the most liberal terms. Keyamo said since some of the accused persons were already on bail in another charge before the court, they should be granted bail on conditions that would ensure their attendance in court.

    Justice Buba, therefore, granted the defendants N50 million bail with one reliable surety in like sum. Enisuoh was granted bail for N10 million with one surety.

    “The defendants, who are already on bail, are to perfect their bail conditions within 24 hours or be remanded in prison. Those appearing before me for the first time should perfect their bail conditions today or be remanded in prison,” Justice Buba ruled.

    He adjourned until May 23, 24, 25, and 26 for trial.