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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC to arraign Metuh on amended charge

    EFCC to arraign Metuh on amended charge

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, will be re-arraigned on Friday before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on an amended charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Metuh was in January this year arraigned on a two-count charge for destroying a portion of the statement he wrote before the EFCC while he was being questioned for his alleged involvement in the diversion of arms procurement funds during the last administration.

    The EFCC on Thursday served the PDP spokesman with an amended version of the charge before the FCT High Court.

    The charge contains an additional count of “obstruction of officers of EFCC in the performance of their statutory duties.”

    According to the EFCC, Metuh, by this act, has contravened the provision of Second 38(2) of EFCC Establishment Act.

     

  • Presidency, NSA approved fund transfers at NIMASA – Witness

    Presidency, NSA approved fund transfers at NIMASA – Witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday heard that the presidency, through the ex- National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, approved the transfer of money to some accounts at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The agency’s Assistant Director, Financial Services Department, Mrs. Olamide Odusanya, said NIMASA opened some accounts without the approval of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    She said a former NIMASA Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, approved the transfer of over N1billion into one of the accounts.

    According to her, the accounts were opened for the use of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) committee, chaired by NIMASA’s former Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Capt. Ezekiel Agaba.

    Odusanya testified before Justice Ibrahim Buba in the trial of Akpobolokemi, Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan, and Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them with converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year, to which they pleaded not guilty.

    Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness said while the Accountant-General’s permission was obtained before NIMASA’s revenue and operational accounts were opened, no such permission was sought or obtained for ISPS’ four accounts.

    According to the witness, on June 3, 2013, N60.8million was credited to the committee’s account with Access Bank, and on January 3, 2014, N1, 125,400,000 was transferred to the account based on Akpobolokemi’s approval.

     

  • Alleged fraud: Senate orders arrest of ex-EFCC boss

    Alleged fraud: Senate orders arrest of ex-EFCC boss

    The stage may be set for the arrest of immediate past Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde over alleged financial crime and corruption.

    The Senate Thursday asked its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to comply with relevant Sections of the Constitution that empowered it to issue a warrant of arrest on Lamorde for refusing to appear before it when invited.

    The 11-man committee investigated allegations of financial crimes and corruption brought against Lamorde by Dr. George Uboh, a human rights activist.

    Chairman of the investigative Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, presented the report of his committee to Senate in plenary Thursday.

    Anyanwu told the Senate that after a series inviting Lamorde to appear before the committee to tell his own side of the story on allegations of financial crime and corruption leveled against him by Dr. Uboh, the former EFCC boss failed to honour the invitation.

    The committee chairman specifically referred to three letters of invitation written to invite Lamorde to appear before the committee dated 19th August 2015, 3rd November 2015 and 11 November, 2015 which he said did not convince Lamorde to appear before the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

    He noted that on receiving the letter of invitation dated 19th August, 2015 from the Committee, Lamorde wrote the Committee through his Special Assistant to claim (1) “That due to time constraint and the nature of their operations, the EFCC Chairman was unable to appear before the Committee, and suggested 31st September, 2015 as a more convenient date he would appear before the Committee;

    (2) That if what the Committee wanted was comprehensive information of all recoveries forfeited and/or restituted funds and property in defence of the said allegations, then the Committee must wait until September, 2015 when it (EFCC) would submit its annual report to the National Assembly.

    (3) That the petitioner, Dr. George Uboh was an accused person in a case instituted against him by EFCC (FRNV George Uboh, CR/21/09) before Hon. Justice A.J. Aledetoyinbo of High Court 3 of the Federal Capital Territory Judicial Division on charges bordering criminal breach of trust;

    (4) That the petitioner was once convicted by a US Court for engaging in credit card fraud.”

    Anyanwu told the Senate that after his committee digested the contents of Mr. Lamorde’s response, it again invited Mr. Lamorde to appear before it, advising him not to confuse the invitation of an investigative committee to appear before it to say his own side of the story as a public servant over a serious allegation against his person, with EFCC’s routine annual report responsibility to the National Assembly, or the Senate President’s previous invitation to a briefing.

    The Committee chairman said that Lamorde further responded through his Special Assistant “That he was at St. Petersbury, Russia, attending the 8th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) and that he had been there since 29th October, 2015.”

    Anyanwu said that Lamorde again requested for a new date and time to enable him to honour the invitation.

    He noted that when the committee received Mr. Lamorde’s second letter of excuse, it decided to write a third letter of invitation dated 11 November, 2015; this time, threatening that it would no longer accept flimsy excuses for his non appearance.

    He said that after going through the facts available, the Committee observed “that having waited in vain for the appearance of Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde since 24th November, 2015 and not seeing or hearing from him, it was forced to conclude that Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde wants to evade investigation by the Committee.”

    Anyanwu noted that “Consequently, the Committee reasoned that the only way to get the former EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, to appear before it was to invoke the powers of the Senate in Section 89(1c&d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and compel his appearance.”

    He said that the Committee was “convinced that unless this line of action was taken, the National Assembly might be drawn into consequential disrepute in the future.”

    The Committee therefore recommended in its submission (1)“That to save the National Assembly, as the highest law-making body of the nation, from irreparable damage to its reputation and capacity to summon, the former EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, be compelled to appear before the Committee to answer for activities of his tenure.

    (2)That to effect recommendation ‘1’ above, a warrant of arrest be issued by the Senate for his arrest.”

    Anyanwu said the Senate may wish to consider and adopt the recommendations of the Committee as proposed.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu intervened by raising a Point of Order.

    Ekweremadu referred the Senate to Sections 88(1) and 89 (1c&d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended.

    He said; “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, each house of the National Assembly shall have power by resolution, published in a journal or the official gazette of the federal government to direct or cause to be directed, an investigation into (a) any matter with respect to which it has powers to make laws. (b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority ministry of government, department, charged with the responsibility of executing or administering laws enacted by National Assembly and disbursing or administering money appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.

    “So on the basis of this section that this enquiry is being conducted.

    Now the subject under investigation has refused to come; what do we do?

    “That is what is now covered by section 89 which says;”

    “For the purposes of any investigation under Section 88 of this Constitution and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this constitution shall have powers to:

    (1)    Procure all evidence written or oral, direct or ask as it may deem necessary and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence (2)may be relevant to the investigation

    (2) Require all evidence to be given on oath

    (3) Summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce evidence in his possession.

    (4) Issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who after having been summoned, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the Committee in question and order him to pay all cost due to have been occasioned in compelling his attendance by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons and also impose such fines that may be prescribed for any such failure  shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

    (5) The warrant issued under this section may be served or executed by any member of the Nigerian Police Force or by any person authorized by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives as the case may be.”

    Ekweremadu said that “what is required here is for the committee to issue a warrant of arrest and then the President of the Senate will direct the Police to effect the arrest.”

    He added, “It is not the business of the Senate in plenary to do so otherwise we will be offending this part of the constitution.

    “So the issue of warrant of arrest is not something that we will take a resolution on, the resolution has already been taken by the committee.

    “If there is any consequential order that needs to be made, the committee can deal with that and direct it through the Office of the President of the Senate who will direct the Police to effect the warrant.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki sustained Ekweremadu’s Point of Order

    Saraki said; “The issue has been well spelt out by the Deputy Senate President, he has clearly referred to the constitution.

    “Based on the Constitution this matter does not need to come to us at plenary.

    “It should be left at the level of the committee and in accordance with section 89 of the Constitution. So I will sustain the point of order of the DSP.”

    Anyanwu had, reeled out Uboh’s allegations against Lamorde to include:

    That EFCC operates accounts in banks to warehouse recovered funds which do not reflect in EFCC’s audited account;

    That EFCC doctors and manipulates bank accounts to conceal diversion of funds

    That EFCC releases recovered funds to unidentified persons and EFCC officials

    That EFCC moves fund from its recovery accounts to EFCC operations account from where it diverts same.

    That over 95 percent of EFCC recoveries in foreign currencies, other than those from multi-national companies, has been diverted.

    That EFCC trades with recovered funds through bank deposits and placements.

    That EFCC colludes with real estate companies in order to grossly under value seized assets before they are sold to their cronies.

    That EFCC has not accounted for offshore recoveries

    That over half of the assets seized from suspects were not reflected in EFCC exhibit records.

    Anyanwu said that Uboh prayed the Senate to stop from receiving further allocations from the Federal Government until it accounts for the huge remittable funds recovered which the Commission is still holding back, contrary to the EFCC Act, 2006 and financial regulations

    Ten out of 11 members of the committee endorsed the report presented by Anyanwu except Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South.)

     

  • Bribery: EFCC petitions NJC on judge’s alleged misconduct

    Bribery: EFCC petitions NJC on judge’s alleged misconduct

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lodged a complaint against alleged misconduct of a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Justice M. N. Yunusa, with the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    It was also learnt yesterday that the NJC got two more petitions against the judge.

    The two petitions were said to be in respect of some matters –  Honeywell v ECOBANK and Sterling Bank v Joma Frozen Foods Product Limited.

    The NJC began a two-day session in Abuja yesterday but it was unclear if the petitions against Justice Yunusa will be heard.

    The EFCC’s complaint had been submitted to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed for onward transmission to NJC.

    An EFCC source said: “Definitely, we have reported the judge’s alleged misconduct to NJC through the Office of the CJN.

    “All relevant documents/ evidence were attached to the letter sent to NJC. We are awaiting the action of the council.

    “Our officers are also prepared to appear before the appropriate committee of the NJC.”

    Another source at the NJC said: “There are some petitions against Justice Yunus but I cannot give you the list of the complainants.

    “I am also aware that on Monday, the CJN was trying to establish contact with the EFCC ahead of the NJC session on Wednesday.

    “The NJC is always painstaking in conducting its assignment because the image of a Judicial Officer is involved. But it will be fair to all parties.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The NJC started a two-day session on Wednesday to consider candidates for the two vacant positions at the Supreme Court from North-Central and North-West and other matters.

    “I cannot be specific on other agenda of the council. We will brief the nation accordingly at the appropriate time.”

    A petition against a judge passes through four stages in NJC as follows:

    • receipt of a petition by CJN;
    • sending the petition to the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee(PCAC) to determine the merit or otherwise of the issues;
    • genuine complaint goes to NJC Plenary; and
    • NJC raises  Fact-Finding Committee to hear from the petitioner(s), the defendants and their lawyers.

    The NJC and the President are empowered to determine a judge’s fate in line with the process outlined by the  Part I, Paragraph I, Section 21(b) of the Third Schedule to the  1999 Constitution (as amended) and  Section 292(1)( a)(i)

    Part I, Paragraph I, Section 21(b) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, the said Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph I, Section 21(b) of the Constitution provides that “the NJC shall have power to recommend to the President the removal from office of (the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Justices of the Supreme Court, the President and Justices of the Court of Appeal, and the Chief Judge and Judges of the Federal High Court) and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers”

      Section 292(1)( a)(i) says: “A judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement, except in the following circumstances (a) in the case of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,  the President  of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the  High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and President, Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by the President( of Nigeria), acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate, praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct.”

    In an affidavit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, an operative of EFCC, Mr. Moses Awolusi said the agency’ investigation of Tarfa’s Access Bank account number 0000964760 “shows that before the institution of the above proceeding, particularly on 7th January 2014, the applicant bribed His Lordship, Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa with the sum of N225,000; a copy of the applicant’s firm’s account details showing the transfer of the sum of N225,000 from the applicant’s firm to Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa is hereby shown to me and marked Exhibit ‘O’.”

    The operative added: “I know from facts revealed during investigation that the said bribe of N225,000 was accepted and acknowledged by Justice Yunusa in a text message to the applicant wherein he said ‘Thank you my senior advocate’.

    “I also know that investigation has revealed that the applicant’s law firm was in the habit of asking the Chief Registrar of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to assign his cases before His Lordship Honourable M. N. Yunusa in furtherance of the understanding between the applicant and the particular judge.”

    The EFCC operative alleged that even a junior lawyer in Tarfa’s law firm “also engaged in the corrupt practices of their boss” by manipulating the court’s registry to fix and assign cases by them to particular judges.

    According to Awolusi, there is evidence that Tarfa instructed bank officials through his mobile phone to transfer funds to other public officers.

    The operative said details of such instructions “are being kept to prevent the applicant from tampering with evidence concerning allegation of corrupt practices against the applicant.”

    The EFCC alleged that sometime in 2005, Tarfa collected $500,000 from one of his clients “under the pretext that he was going to bribe some officials of EFCC”.

    The commission recalled that on April 29, 2015, Tarfa’s law firm represented Michael Igbinedion, who was standing trial for laundering N25billion.

    EFCC said Tarfa, on April 30, attended a book launch in honour of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, in company of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, who was the chief launcher, and who donated N8million.

    EFCC said Tarfa did not advise Igbinedion not to donate the money since Igbinedion’s son, who was later convicted, was standing trial before the court.

    The commission said Tarfa and his brother silks donated N7million on the occasion despite having cases before the Chief Judge.

    According to the agency, Tarfa obtained $500,000 from one Prince Akinruntan in 2006, who later stated that it was by “false pretence”.

    EFCC quoted Akinruntan as saying: “He (Tarfa) told me that the money is not for him alone, that he is going to settle the court, EFCC and many other people.”

  • Jonathan’s ADC sues EFCC

    Jonathan’s ADC sues EFCC

    AN Aide de Camp (ADC) to the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his alleged detention.

    Adegbe, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, through his counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), is claiming N100 million damages for his detention, which, he said, violated his fundamental rights.

    Onoja urged the court to declare that his client’s arrest and continued detention by EFCC since February 11, was unconstitutional and violated his right to personal liberty guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

    He urged the court to make an order directing EFCC to immediately release the applicant from “unlawful detention”.

    Onoja argued that the arrest and detention of Adegbe violated his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The applicant’s counsel contended that the EFCC’s action violated Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    The case has been fixed for February 26 for hearing.

  • Jonathan’s ex-ADC sues EFCC ‎over unlawful detention

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s ex-Aide de Camp (ADC) Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming unlawful detention.

    Adegbe, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, is demanding N100m compensation.

    The applicant, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), on February 17, said he has been in EFCC custody since February 11 and has not been charged with any offence.

    He argued that the EFCC has violated his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Section 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution by his detention.

    ‎Adegbe contended that EFCC’s action violated Articles 5,6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    He said the army authorities summoned him from the United Kingdom where he had been attending a course since he finished serving as Jonathan’s ADC on May 29, 2015 to honour EFCC invitation.

     

     

  • PDP decries detention of Secondus

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the arrest and detention of its Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A statement issued on Wednesday by PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, described the development as oppressive and unfair treatment against the party’s key leaders by the Federal Government.

    The statement said, “The party alerts the nation that the arrest and detention of its Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is part of the grand script by the APC-led Federal Government to decimate the opposition.

    “We are also aware that plans have been perfected by the Federal Government to arrest and detain the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other leaders of the party on imaginary charges.

    “Indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the Federal Government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the PDP than fighting corruption.

    “Finally, we state that this war on the PDP and its leaders has indeed gone too far. It has now become a mockery of democratic practice.”

  • EFCC detains Secondus for collecting cars from Diezani’s associate

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday detained the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, for allegedly receiving 23 choice vehicles from a business associate of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    He was also grilled for about eight hours on the curious gifts.

    Secondus’s detention has created panic in PDP because some leaders of the party allegedly benefitted from the vehicles’ allocation.

  • ‘Tarfa didn’t pay money to judge’s account’

    The bank account allegedly owned by Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, through which a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, allegedly paid him N225,000, belongs to a lawyer, Mohammed Awwal Yunusa.

    This is contained in an affidavit filed by Yunusa in support of Tarfa’s fundamental rights suit.

    Yunusa said the account belongs to him and not to Justice Yunusa as EFCC alleged.

    The lawyer said Tarfa gave him N225, 000 on January 7, 2014 to help finance his Masters Degree programme in Law.

    EFCC had alleged that Tarfa paid Justice Yunusa the money on January 7, 2014, but Yunusa said he was the one who was paid the money on that date and not the judge.

    He exhibited the Access Bank cheque issued to him by Tarfa, as well as his statement of account issued by the bank’s branch in NNPC Towers Branch, Abuja, with account name: Mohammed A. Yunusa.

    Yunusa, who said he worked in Tarfa’s firm before proceeding on his master’s programme, said he was not related in any way to Justice Yunusa.

    According to him, the firm’s accountant informed him that the cheque issued to him was the only one issued by Rickey Tarfa & Co on that date.

    “I hail from Kogi State and I am not in any way related to the Honourable Justice Mohammed N. Yunusa, neither do I know him personally,” he said.

    Tarfa, in an affidavit filed by his head of chambers, John Odubela, had denied bribing the judge with the money or “any other sum at all,” but admitted that the N225,000 was a donation from him and some of his friends towards the burial of Justice Yunusa’s father-in-law who died on December 28, 2013.

     

  • How Maurice Ibekwe defrauded German of $30m – Forensic expert

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, heard on Wednesday that all the documents used by a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, the late  Maurice Ibekwe  and his accomplice, Augunous Okoro to defraud ‎a German, Klaus Munch and his company, Firm System Organisation of the sum of $30 million in 1992‎ were forged.

    A forensic expert, Rapheal Onwuzurigbo, who analyzed some documents already admitted as exhibits by the court in 2003 told the court presided over by‎ Justice Oluwatoyin Atinuke Ipaye that he found discrepancies in the documents analyzed in May 2003, alleging forgery of the various documents by Okoro.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Ibekwe and Okoro in court for allegedly duping the German in 1992.

    Shortly after the trial commenced in 2003, Ibekwe died in prison, leaving Okoro to continue with the trial.

    Midway into the trial, Okoro also claimed he could no longer continue with the trial due to ill health.

    The trial thereafter suffered several adjournments on account of the defendant’s ill-health.

    ‎But at the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the forensic expert, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Adeniji Adebiyi, told the court how he arrived at his findings.

    Onwuzurigbo‎ told the court that he used a video spectra comparator to determine the writing and signatures on the documents that were analyzed and found out they were not the same.