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Tag: EFCC

  • Lawyer advocates death sentence for corruption

    Lawyer advocates death sentence for corruption

    A Rivers-based lawyer, Mr Abdulkareem Dauda, has said that an amendment to the law governing corruption to impose death penalty on convicted corrupt government officials and others was justifiable and desirable.

    Dauda said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The legal practitioner said death sentence for those found guilty of corruption was justifiable, considering the multiplier effects of corruption, which destroyed every sector of the society.

    He added that “if an armed robber who kills one or two persons or robbed at gunpoint gets a death sentence, what of a corrupt government official whose action destroys many lives?.’’

    He said corruption was a more dangerous offence than armed robbery and should, therefore, attract stiffer punishment in order to deter others.

    “In my opinion, corruption should attract death penalty. People who are saying that corruption should attract death penalty are justified when you look at the many consequences of corruption on the society.

    “When armed robbers attack, they rob an individual or a few people of their valuables and may kill in the process and the offence attracts death sentence.

    “However, corruption kills several people, destroys the economy of a nation, health and social systems and affects several people’s lives, exposing them to various kinds of diseases and even death,’’ he said.

    Dauda concurred with a recent comment credited to former civilian governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, that 80 per cent of Nigeria’s problems would be solved if corruption was eliminated.

    He also said that “President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of integrity and the proper person that can rescue Nigeria from the syndrome of corruption.’’

    The lawyer further stated that the fight against corruption should also be extended to the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, if government must win the war.

    “I strongly believe that before the anti-corruption crusade can succeed; the president has a lot to do in terms of cleansing the enforcement agencies, especially the police, EFCC, ICPC and the judiciary.

    “We have seen corruption cases where suspects are charged to court but because the police may have been compromised and cannot conduct investigation properly, the judge cannot convict the accused.’’

    He, therefore, suggested the setting up of special courts comprising reputable, steadfast and incorruptible judges to handle corruption cases.

  • ‘Merge EFCC, ICPC’

    Alternate Chairman, Anti-corruption Commission of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), John Baiyesea, (SAN), has recommended the merger of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for effective prosecution of persons standing trial for corrupt offences.

    The Ilorin-based legal practitioner also suggested time a time limit for the prosecution of cases, adding that prolonged prosecution of corrupt cases creates room for people to escape justice.

    Mr. Baiyesea spoke this in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital at a public lecture organized by the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU) of the University of Ilorin.

    He urged Nigerians to stop idolising corrupt people, saying “Nigerians should rather treat such people with contempt and stop hailing them.”

    Said he: “Indicted persons for corruption should never be allowed to aspire again to public offices; the present constitutional provisions which prohibit only persons convicted and not persons indicted should be amended to the effect that if you are indicted, you must not be allowed to contest any public office or be appointed into public office until you clear that indictment.

    “Then again, there should be constitutional provision(s) to the effect that if you are convicted for any crime, particularly economic crime, you will be banned for life from contesting public office or being appointed to hold public office. By this practice Nigeria has been reduced to a laughing stock in the comity of civilised nations.

    “Looted funds when recovered should henceforth be used deliberately to fund some fundamental projects or infrastructure. I am making this suggestion because looted funds recovered from previous looters of our treasury cannot be traced to any meaningful project.

    “Our legal system and or laws should also henceforth make provisions to hold public officials and persons in both public and private who live above their means to be accountable for such excesses. In other words, anyone who lives above his means should be made to explain because that could be a prima facie fact of corruption.

    “There should be an effective and efficient monitoring and scrutiny of bank transactions of such people. That is the practice in South Korea, China, Hong Kong and even western countries generally. No serious society wishing to fight corruption can allow it citizens to live extraordinarily above his legitimate means of earning without explanation.”

    He added that “overwhelming Nigerians are conspirators with the looters of the country’s economy. It appears therefore that the problem will not go away very soon unless there is an attitudinal change.”

     

  • Bamaiyi: Court to rule on $330,000 fraud case December 21

    A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has fixed December 21 for judgment on a $330,000 fraud allegation against an ex- court registrar, Mrs. Oluronke Idowu Rosulu.

    The presiding judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, fixed the date after the adoption of the final written addresses by the parties.

    Rosulu is being prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for offences bothering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

    Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Bamidele Ogundele, told the court that the EFCC has not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.

    He said no evidence was presented to show that the defendant visited prison to collect the fund.

    Ogundele added that the prosecution also failed to prove through documentary evidence that the defendant met Fred Ajudua and others for the purpose of obtaining money by false pretence from Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd).

    The lawyer said the EFCC also failed to conduct an identification parade for Bamaiyi to identify the defendant.

    He urged the court to discharge the defendant and acquit her of the allegations.

    In his response, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Seidu Atteh, who called six witnesses and tendered 10 exhibits to prove the case, argued that an accused person can be convicted based on a confessional statement and circumstantial evidence.

    Atteh added that Bamaiyi’s testimony that the defendant collected the money was neither challenged nor contradicted.

     

  • EFCC says effective legal framework will check e-fraud

    EFCC says effective legal framework will check e-fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said instituting effective legal framework and prosecution of fraudsters will help curtail rising cases of e-fraud in the banking sector.

    Member, Bank Fraud Section at the EFCC, Ibrahim Shazali disclosed this at the weekend during a workshop organised by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for Business Editors and Correspondents in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    “Nigeria, as a developing country, is particularly exposed to e-fraud because we are simultaneously dealing with underdeveloped Information Technology (IT) and legal infrastructure,” he said.

    Speaking on: Investigating Electronic Transactions in Nigerian Banks: A Forensic Auditors Perspectives, Shazali stated that as at last year, it was reported that Point of Sale (PoS), Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and mobile banking were the major avenues by which e-fraud was perpetrated.

    Citing statistics from the Inter-Bank Settlement  System (NIBSS), he said fraud attempts increased from N485 million in 2013 to N6.2 billion last year, representing 1, 178 per cent increase.

    According to him, in terms of perpetrators of fraud, Nigerian banks, like their global counterparts, experience more external than internal fraud.

    “In spite of this alarming, rapidly growing figures, there are lack of a well-defined legal context for prosecuting cyber crimes and financial fraud related to electronic platforms,” EFCC representative lamented.

    On the curbing of the rate of e-fraud, he called for compulsory adoption of Know Your Customer (KYC) and the bank verification number (BVN) registration for every banking customer.

    Also, speaking on the topic, “E-banking and Financial Inclusion,” Head, Financial Inclusion Secretariat of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Temitope Akin-Fadeyi disclosed that the benefits of electronic payments in the country are expected to be about $900million by 2020, through reduced leakage of funds, better access to financial services and lower transaction costs.

    She further noted that financial inclusion enables undeserved people and communities to have access to financial services that would enhance their economic opportunities, boost productivity in various sectors and, contribute to economic development.

    She, however, hinted how e-banking could support financial inclusion, explaining that for the e-banking technologies to be successful, financial institutions must consider critical factors such as, “understanding customers’ needs, organisational flexibility, availability of resources, systems security, having multiple integrated channels, e-channel specific marketing, systems integration, support from top management, and good customer services.”

     

  • EFCC arrests two top bankers over fresh N2.8bn pension fraud

    EFCC arrests two top bankers over fresh N2.8bn pension fraud

    •Cash traced to five accounts in Fidelity Bank, UAE 

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two top bankers over another round of N2.8 billion pension fraud.

    Those arrested are said to be staff of a second generation bank in the Abuja Central Business District.

    The pension cash, which was lodged in five accounts in the bank was also traced to the United Arab Emirates.

    It was learnt that the EFCC was probing the alleged “collaboration” between the two suspects and a former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

    Maina could not be located since the EFCC filed charges against him for allegedly being unable to account for billions of naira alongside a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Steve Oronsaye, for a phony biometric exercise..

    Findings made by our correspondent revealed that the two bankers were arrested on October 22 following what a source described as “fresh evidence that they are managing proxy accounts for Maina.”

    A document on the preliminary investigation by the EFCC reads in part: “The accounts, which have over time witnessed massive inflow of slush funds, include two corporate and three individual accounts.

    “The first individual account opened in the name of Abdullahi Faizer had a turnover of N1.5 billion while the other operated in the name of Nafisatu Aliyu recorded a turnover of over N100 million

  • EFCC grills Moro over Immigration job tragedy

    EFCC grills Moro over Immigration job tragedy

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated immediate past Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro for eight hours over the March 15, 2014 Immigration job tragedy in which 19 applicants died.

    Interrogators wanted to know how the N700 million collected from the applicants was spent.

    Moro’s interogation was said to be the first in the series of interaction he will have with the commission.

    He is expected to return to the EFCC for further questioning tomorrow.

    The anti-graft agency had earlier grilled the immediate past Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. David Parradang and Secretary to the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Service Board, Mr. Sylvanus Tapgun.

    According to a top source, Moro arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around  10am and he left at 6pm.

    The source said Moro was granted administrative bail.

    He said: “We summoned the ex-minister on how the NIS came about N1, 000 levies imposed on about 700,000 applicants, the relevant statute or authority backing such a charge and how the money was expended.

    “Our investigators are trying to unravel many things. Out of about N700million collected from the applicants, N212million was budgeted for the March 2014 recruitment test for applicants.

    “But records made available to the EFCC indicated N45million was actually released. So, about N167million meant for logistics on the test day could not even be accounted for by anyone or group.

    “We are asking all the parties invited so far to name the account in which the N700million was deposited and the withdrawals. They have to justify how every kobo was spent.

    “In 2014, the Immigration Service illegally collected N1, 000 from each of the over 700,000 applicants looking for jobs.

    “Twenty applicants lost their lives during the stampedes which accompanied a sham test conducted nationwide for the applicants.

    “In spite of collecting the levies from the applicants, Moro shielded Parradang from any reprimand during his tenure.

    “While appearing before the then Senator Atiku Bagudu-led Senate Committee on Interior, “Tapgun admitted that the consultant released N45million out of the N212million requested by the board for the exercise.

    Tapgun said Drexel Technical Nigeria Limited – the consultant who anchored the application exercise on behalf of the Ministry—provided only the N45million as ‘discretionary contribution’ for the screening.

    “He admitted that the development created serious logistics problems on the day of the exercise.”

  • Ohakim lied about N270m Abuja property, says EFCC

    Ohakim lied about N270m Abuja property, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday accused former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim of lying about the true ownership of a mansion he allegedly procured illegally while in office.

    Ohakim, who was governor between 2007 and 2011, is being tried on a three-count charge of money laundering for his alleged purchase of a house in Asokoro in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with cash payment of the dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008.

    Prosecuting witness Dauda Ishaya,  a Senior Detective Superintendent with EFCC said Ohakim claimed to have rented the building.

    Ohakim was accused of claiming to be a tenant before statements of parties to the purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street,  Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04,  Asokoro District, Abuja, surfaced.

    “Intelligence report revealed that there was no bank transfer on purchase for that property – that was against the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.

    “We took the accused person to the said property and  when he was questioned, he said he was a tenant.

    “He said he rented the house from Tweenex Consciates through its Managing Director Abu Sule,” Ishaya said.

    He said Sule was invited by the EFCC, but he denied owning the property and told investigators “the real story”.

    “He (Sule) said the accused gave him $2.2m cash, an equivalent of N270m as of that time; he collected the money at the Government  House lodge in the night and bought the house from Alhaji Isa Maidabino.

    “He paid Maidabino the next day and a tenancy agreement of rentage from Tweenex was reached.  He renovated the house with another N20 million, which he collected in a Fidelity bank cheque.”

    Ishaya said Ohakim did not disclose the property when he was invited by EFCC in 2010 but later confessed to owning it in subsequent statements when he was confronted with fresh evidence.

    “We invited the accused person to our office again and showed him the revelation by Abu Sule, then he acknowldged the property,” Ishaya said.

    He said the transaction involving cash payment of such amounts contravened the provisions of the Money Laundering Act

    The five statements dated January 25, 2013; January 31, 2013;  June 18, 2015;  June 2, 2015 and 29 June, 2015 obtained from the former governor were tendered by the prosecution and were later admitted by the court as exhibits.

    Defence counsel Gordy Uche (SAN) sought for adjournment to allow for cross examination.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola accepted his request and adjourned till November 12.

     

  • EFCC grills Abba Moro over N700m job levies

    EFCC grills Abba Moro over N700m job levies

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday interrogated a former Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, for hours over alleged mismanagement of N700million levies collected from applicants for vacancies in the Nigerian Immigration Service.

    The questioning of the ex-minister was said to be the first in the series of interaction he will have with the commission.

    He is expected to return to the EFCC for another round of interrogation on Thursday.

    The anti-graft agency had earlier grilled the immediate past Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, Mr. David Parradang and the Secretary to the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Service Board, Mr. Sylvanus Tapgun.

    It was Moro’s turn on Tuesday and he had an eight-hour audience with EFCC operatives.

     

  • Prison officer arrested over N3.9m fraud

    Prison officer arrested over N3.9m fraud

    A Prison Assistant with the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS), Onoja Osita Kingsley has been arraigned before Justice A.V. Agishir of the Federal High Court, Enugu over a three count charge.
    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned the suspect on charges of stealing, possession of fraudulent document and forgery to the tune of  three million, nine hundred thousand Naira (N3,900,000).
    The accused, Kingsley, allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent transfer of the sum of One Hundred and thirty two million, nine hundred thousand Naira (N132, 900,000.00)  from six customers accounts with a new generation bank.
    However, out of the said sum, Three Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N3, 900,000.00) was transferred into the account of one Uchenna Eze, which Onoja had opened with forged documents at the Olu Obasanjo Road branch of Access Bank Plc, in Port Harcourt, River State.
    He subsequently withdrew the sum of One Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N140, 000, 00) from the account.
    Kingsley was arrested on the 12th of January 2015 in Enugu State where he had gone to withdraw the balance of the stolen money.
    He pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.
    Justice Agishir adjourned the matter to October 28, 2015 for hearing of bail application and remanded the accused in EFCC custody.
  • Alleged N3.8b fraud: EFCC quizzes ex-governor Dakingari

    Alleged N3.8b fraud: EFCC quizzes ex-governor Dakingari

    •Agency arraigns prison officer for N3.9m fraud

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed former Kebbi State Governor Saidu Dakingari over alleged mismanagement of N3.8 billion.

    As at 5.24p.m yesterday, the former governor, who was invited by the EFCC, was still at the agency’s Operations Department.

    The EFCC’s operatives had earlier grilled Dakingari’s wife, Hajiya Zainab (the daughter of late President Umaru Yar’Adua) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed, over alleged N2 billion contracts and money laundering in the state.

    A reliable source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said the invitation of the ex-governor followed a petition on non-execution of some contracts in Kebbi State when he was in charge.

    The source said: “We are probing allegations of mismanagement of N3.8 billion by the former governor and some of his aides; abuse of due process and non-execution of some contracts already paid for.

    “After preliminary profiling, the anti-graft commission decided to invite Dakingari to respond to these allegations.

    “We had earlier interacted with the wife of the former governor and the BOT chairman of PDP on what they knew about some of these contracts.

    The source said the commission might also question some former commissioners in the state.

    “We want to hear from Dakingari before summoning some ex-commissioners and heads of parastatals.

    “We have retrieved some relevant documents from Kebbi State to assist in our ongoing interrogation of Dakingari and others.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the agency’s invitation to Dakingari.

    But he did not give details on why the EFCC invited the ex-governor.

    Dakingari was the third former governor to be invited by the EFCC in two weeks.

    Both ex-governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) had appeared for interrogation before the commission.

    Also yesterday, the EFCC arraigned a prison officer, Onoja Osita Kingsley, before Justice A.V. Agishir of the Federal High Court, Enugu on three counts of stealing, possession of fraudulent document and forgery to the tune of N3,900,000.

    A statement by Uwujaren, said: “The accused, who is a Prison Assistant with the Nigeria Prison Service allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent transfer of N132, 900,000 from six customers’ accounts with a new generation bank.

    “About N3, 900,000.00 was transferred into the account of one Uchenna Eze, which Onoja had opened with forged documents at the Olu Obasanjo Road branch of Access Bank Plc, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He subsequently withdrew N140, 000.00 from the account.

    “He was arrested on January 12, 2015 in Enugu, Enugu State, where he had gone to withdraw the balance of the stolen money.

    “He pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

    Justice Agishir adjourned the matter to October 28, 2015 for hearing of bail application and remanded the accused in EFCC custody.”