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Tag: EFCC

  • Arms deals: EFCC detains, grills ex-NAF chief

    Arms deals: EFCC detains, grills ex-NAF chief

    Following alleged voluntary surrender, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, in connection with the ongoing investigation of the $2.1billion arms procurement scam.

    Amosu was grilled for about 17 hours by EFCC operatives.

    There were indications that the accounts of the ex-NAF chief have been restricted and some houses allegedly traced to him put under surveillance.

    The Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Unit of the EFCC was verifying some of the properties allegedly identified with him.

  • Metuh funded Jonathan’s campaign with ONSA funds – Witnesses

    Metuh funded Jonathan’s campaign with ONSA funds – Witnesses

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, funded the re-election campaign of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan with the funds he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), prosecution witnesses said on Thursday.

    The Managing Director of a Lagos-based public relations firm – CMC Connect – Yomi Badejo-Okusanya and a Bureau de Change operator, Kabiru Ibrahim, testified at the resumed hearing in Metuh’s trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Badejo-Okusanya, who testified as the 5th prosecution witness, explained how he was recruited by the PDP spokesman to develop and execute campaigns for Jonathan.

    Metuh is being tried for allegedly using the N400million he received from ONSA in November 2014, to fund the party’s 2015 presidential campaign.

    Badejo-Okusanya told the court that his firm was engaged to provide media campaign and “image management” job for the PDP and Jonathan.

    The witness said he was paid N77.5mIllion through Destra Investments Limited in December 2014, adding that he started executing the contract towards the end of that month.

    The witness said he was paid before he attended a meeting with Jonathan, ex- vice president Namadi Sambo, former Senate President, David Mark and several other top officials of the last administration, in Abuja.

     

  • I will not wage war against FG – Tompolo 

    I will not wage war against FG – Tompolo 

    * Says he’ll appear in court when he’s ready

    Under fire former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), seems to have backtracked in his face-off with the law, as he has now indicated his preparedness to appear before the court to answer to multibillion naira corruption fraud accusation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said “I will appear in court at the appropriate time.”

    Tompolo, in a statement early Thursday morning, disclosed that his legal team is finalising moves towards his day in court.
    A statement by Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo’s media aide, denied his involvement in the January 15 bombing of oil facilities in Warri.

    He also denied reports credited to his erstwhile colleague and comrade in arms, Mr Africanus Ukpasia that he (Tompolo) is amassing tools to go to war with the Federal Government, stressing that he remained bounded by the terms of his 2009 amnesty deal.

    Ukpasia, who has since fallen out with the former MEND leader, also alleged that Tompolo masterminded the wanton destruction of gas and crude pipelines in Warri area of Delta state.

    Bebenimibo, however, maintained: “Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has consistently maintained that he has no hand in the recent bombing of oil pipelines in the creeks of Delta State.

    “Let it be known to Nigerians and the entire World that, Tompolo will never wage a war against the Federal Government, as he has sworn in 2009 when he accepted the Presidential amnesty declared by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    “He has kept faith with Nigeria. He has promised to work with the present administration unconditionally, and he stands by that declaration.

    “He was seriously troubled by the recent pipeline bombing incident, because he has provided security for these pipelines even when the government refused to pay him. And so, he could not have been the one to damage same pipelines.”

    Speaking on allegation that he is acquiring speed boats for war, he said “it is the biggest lie of the year, as the military is also aware of the boats and pick-up vans he purchased in 2011 for the surveillance of oil facilities as he was working hand in hand with the military then.

    “Tompolo is a man of peace and he is poised for the development of the coastal Niger Delta region. He prays that this matter be amicably resolved so that everyone will know that he always put his people above his person gains.”

    He recalled that before the bombing incident, he alerted the public that some aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Bayelsa and Delta States want to destroy National assets, especially oil pipelines in the Delta Niger as a result of the outcome of the 2015 governorship election of Bayelsa State, where the APC lost the election.

    He said the masterminds who carried out the acts are the ones pointing accusing fingers at him to further worsen his case with the APC-led Federal Government.

    “And true to his fears, these set of APC chieftains that joined the party immediately after the presidential election of 2015, were the first people to accuse him of bombing the pipelines to divert public attention.

    “These new APC members who the former chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described as parasites, also threatened to cause problem in the Niger Delta region if the pipeline surveillance contract in Delta State already awarded to Messers Ocean Marine Solution is not re-awarded to them.

    “This is a clear testimony of their involvement in the bombing of the pipelines. Since then, we all have seen their role in misleading the military and the general public.

    “Now, it could be recalled that this same Africanus Ukparasia threatened Tompolo not to show interest in the elections, as he was a strong supporter of the APC candidate. He killed and maimed fellow Ijaw people because of a governorship election, and now he is the one accusing Tompolo of bombing pipelines.”

  • Metuh lodged N400m received from ONSA in bank account – Witness

    Metuh lodged N400m received from ONSA in bank account – Witness

    An Account Officer with Diamond Bank Plc, Eno-Mfon Effiong, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, lodged the N400 million he allegedly received from the ex- National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in his company account with the bank.

    Effiong, who managed the account of Metuh’s Destra Investment Limited at Diamond Bank, said the account was opened in February 2013.

    She said Metuh and the company maintain five accounts with the bank.

    Effiong, who was lead in evidence by the lead prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, said the balance in Destra’s account as at November 24, 2014 was N6, 676,576.06 before the payment of N400 million by ONSA.

    The witness said the company’s account statement showed that the money was paid by ONSA.

    “Also on January 4, 2016, the EFCC sent another letter to Diamond Bank Plc requesting additional information on the instruments that were used in carrying out some transactions on Destra Investments Limited’s account. The bank also forwarded the documents to the EFCC.

    “The instruments were cheques for payments. I can’t recall all of them,” the witness said.

     

  • Dariye wanted in UK for money laundering, by EFCC

    Dariye wanted in UK for money laundering, by EFCC

    •EFCC Chair Magu to testify in ex-Plateau governor’s trial

    About nine years after he allegedly jumped bail in the United Kingdom (UK), ex-Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye is still wanted in UK in relation to money laundering charges for which he was arrested and detained in 2004 by the London Metropolitan Police.

    A detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Musa Sunday, told Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu yesterday that the case is still pending before the London Metropolitan Police.

    Sunday spoke while testifying in the trial of Dariye (a serving senator), representing Plateau Central.

    Dariye governed the state between 1999 and 2007. He is facing a 23-count charge.

    The witness, while cross-examined by Dariye’s lawyer, Garba Pwul (SAN), confirmed that the decision by the EFCC to investigate Dariye for alleged money laundering was informed by information provided by the London Metropolitan Police.

    “The defendant (Dariye) was granted bail by the UK police. And he jumped bail. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in London, Peter Clerk was in Nigeria in the course of our investigation,” Sunday said.

    The prosecution has indicated that EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu may testify. He is listed as one of the 33 witnesses by the prosecution. Magu led the five-man team of EFCC detectives that investigated the case.

    In his evidence-in-chief, Sunday gave details of how Dariye allegedly moved funds from the account of the state’s Accountant General in Lion Bank (now defunct) to an account in All States Trust Bank (now defunct), allegedly owned by a firm, Ebenezer Ritnan Venture Limited, linked to Dariye.

    He said when the Accountant General, Sham Damisa, a Deputy Director, Treasury, Nuhu Ali Madaki and Deputy Director, Inspectorate, Silas Bum-But could not justify the payment of N204 million to Dariye’s firm, they were charged to court. The case is also before Justice Banjoko.

    Sunday, who identified some bank drafts allegedly used in moving funds from the Accountant General’s account with Lion Bank, said the money was paid into an account in All States Trust Bank, belonging to Dariye’s firm, Ebenezer Ritnan Ventures.

    “These drafts were traced to All States Trust Bank and were raised in the name of All States Trust Bank, but paid into Ebenezer Ritnan’s account. In the course of investigation, we found that there was no contract between the state and Ebenezer Ritnan Venture

    “From investigation, we found that the defendant was the account holder. We discovered some property, which the defendant used part of the money to purchase.

    ‘’We applied for interim forfeiture order to confiscate the property.

    “The Metropolitan Police found that money moved from Ebenezer Ritnan to a bank in London. Some of the information we gathered were sent to Metropolitan Police. The lead investigator in London was Peter Clerk. The London authorities later treated the case in the UK.

    “From our investigation in Nigeria and documents tendered, showed that the defendant was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London, granted bail, jumped bail and escaped to Nigeria.

    “We also saw a Diamond Bank draft of N204  million drawn from the Plateau State Accountant General account, but paid into Ebenezer Ritnan’s account. The instruction for the payment was given by the Accountant General, Sham Damisa, Nuhu Ali Madaki, deputy director, Treasury and Silas Bum-But, deputy director, Inspectorate.

    “In the course of investigation, we invited these people to prove to the commission what job was executed by Ebenezer Retnan to have warranted the payment. But they could not show that any job was done for the state and for which the state paid the money.

    “For failing to provide reasons for this payment, they were charged to court. They are on trial before this court.

    “In the course of the investigation, the defendant was invited to make a statement, which he did at the Asokoro Office of the EFCC,” Sunday said.

    Justice Banjoko admitted Dariye’s three statements, made in 2007 in evidence as exhibits P13(a), (b) & (c).

    The trial resumes on February 2.

     

  • Alleged threat to witness’ life stalls Ohakim’s trial

    Alleged threat to witness’ life stalls Ohakim’s trial

    The trial of former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, was stalled on Tuesday following a disagreement between prosecution and defence lawyers over alleged threat by Ohakim’s son to a prosecution witness.

    Ohakim is arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly making a cash payment of $2, 290,000.00 for a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No. 60, Kwame Nkuruma Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

    The prosecution lawyer, Festus Keyamo, told the court that one of the prosecution’s witnesses, Abu Sule, was being trailed by one Emeka Ohakim, a son to the ex-governor.

    Keyamo told the court that the second prosecution witness, Sule, who is the Managing Director of Tweenex Consociate H.D. Limited, phoned him at about 9.00pm on January 25, saying the second son of the defendant,  Emeka , had gone to his ( Sule) office at Asokoro to inquire about his home address from some individuals.

    He added that Ohakim’s son had allegedly approached three people, whose names he gave simply as Okon (a driver), Akpabor (a driver) and Shola (an architect), for Sule’s home address.

    ‘‘We will apply, at this stage that a word of caution and concern go out. If it repeats itself, we shall bring appropriate application before the court over the development,’’ Keyamo said.

    Responding, Ohakim’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) expressed dismay at what he described as Keyamo’s outburst, arguing that the issue ought to have been discussed at another gathering rather than blowing it open.

    Uche said:‘ ‘I have no doubt that what the prosecution has said amounts to destabilizing the defence. Keyamo had been sitting directly behind us for more than one hour before the case was called, but he didn’t raise the matter. He also saw the defendant eyeball to eyeball when he came to our seats, yet he didn’t discuss the matter. Now, it is on the Internet and it will be in the press tomorrow.’’

    He urged the court to dismiss the story as unfounded, adding that the prosecution could file an application to formally bring the issue before the court.

     

  • Dariye ‘still wanted’ in UK for money laundering

    Dariye ‘still wanted’ in UK for money laundering

    Several years after he allegedly jumped bail in the United Kingdom, former Plateau State governor, Joshua Chibi Dariye, is still wanted in that country in relation to a money laundering case for which he was arrested and detained briefly by the London Metropolitan Police in 2004.

    A detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Musa Sunday, told Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory,  Gudu, on Tuesday that the case of money laundering for which the ex-governor was arrested, granted bail and was expected  to report back, is still pending before London Metropolitan Police.

    Sunday made this disclosure while testifying in the trial of Dariye, now a serving Senator, representing Plateau Central. He was governor of the state between 1999 and 2007.

    He was arraigned on a 23-count charge by the EFCC.

    The witness, while being cross-examined by Dariye’s lawyer, Garba Pwul (SAN), confirmed that the decision by the EFCC to investigate Dariye for alleged money laundering was informed by information provided by the London Metropolitan Police.

    He said the case was still pending in London.

    “The defendant (Dariye) was granted police bail by the UK police. And he jumped bail. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in London, Peter Clerk, was in Nigeria in the course of our investigation,” Sunday said.

    The prosecution has indicated in its proof of evidence that current Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, may testify in the case. He is listed as one of the 33 witnesses slated for the case by the prosecution.

     

  • $2.1b Armsgate: Army denies General’s ownership of property

    $2.1b Armsgate: Army denies General’s ownership of property

    The Nigerian Army said Tuesday that none of the property sealed off by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kaduna belong to its Chief Training and Operation, Major General Yushua Mahmood Abubakar or his spouse as earlier reported.

    In a statement from the Directorate of Army Public Relations and signed by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu on behalf of the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, the Army also said General Abubakar was never, at any time invited nor interrogated by the anti graft agency.

    While demanding a retraction and an apology over the publication, the statement said that General Abubakar was recently appointed as the Chief of Training and Operation after an excellent performance as Commander, Operation Lafia Dole, established to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

  • $2.1b armsgate: EFCC seizes Dasuki’s, General’s houses

    $2.1b armsgate: EFCC seizes Dasuki’s, General’s houses

    Agency takes over hotel, mansion, shopping mall

    Property believed to belong to former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki was at the weekend confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kaduna.

    Dasuki, NSA to former President Goodluck Jonathan, is at the centre of a massive investigation into the alleged misapplication of about $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms.

    A panel, which investigated the way the money was spent, indicted Dasuki and others. The EFCC moved in. Dasuki has been arraigned in court.

    It was learnt that the property of others linked with the scandal were also confiscated by the anti-graft agency in Kaduna.

    Among them is a former Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafia Dole in Maiduguri, Major General Yishau Mahmood Abubakar.

    It was learnt that occupants of some of the buildings were expelled by EFCC operatives who took over the property, which they marked with red ink.

    Dasuki’s confiscated property are said to be a hotel complex on Rabah Road, Malali GRA in the heart of Kaduna metropolis and a mansion under construction on Sani Sami Road, also in Malali GRA.

    Except for some workers moving out their tools, the site was empty yesterday.

    Maj.-Gen. Abubakar’s residential duplex located at No. 5C, Sultan Close was sealed off Sunday evening.

    When our correspondent visited the property yesterday, it was marked in red paint, “Keep off, under EFCC investigation” in red paint.

    It was also gathered that when the EFCC operatives arrived at the house, there was a birthday party going on. Everybody was asked to vacate the premises immediately and they obeyed.

    A shopping mall allegedly belonging to Gen. Abubakar’s wife was also confiscated by the anti-graft agency. The inscription “Keep off, under EFCC investigation”  was put on it.

    Sources said the property belongs to the General’s brother and not his wife –  as alleged.

    Another shopping mall on Sultan Road, which is believed to belong to Gen. Abubakar’s friend who is an Ambassador was also confiscated.

     

  • EFCC closes case on crude oil theft

    EFCC closes case on crude oil theft

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has closed its case in the trial of 14 foreigners accused of dealing in crude oil without licence.

    They were tried before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The judge fixed February 8 for judgment.

    Among the accused are Russians, Ukrainians, Japanese and English.

    They are Artur Pakhladzhian, Sergo Abbgarian, Vasily Shkundich, vitaliy Bilours, Hlarion Regipor, Laguta Oleksiy, Cadavis Gerarado, Kretov Andry, Badurian Benjamin, Chepikov Olksan, Naranjo Antero, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Caratiquit Beyan.

    They were arrested by the Navy, which, last March 27 intercepted their vessel, MT Anukpet Emerald, with crude estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons.

    The foreigners were also charged with illegally dealing in 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil and 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil.

    EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo said they violated Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    The agency said the offence also contravenes Section 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act of 2004 and punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the four counts and were admitted to N50 million bail each.

    Their trial began last June and ended with prosecution and defence counsel adopting their final written addresses.