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Tag: EFCC

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC declares Saraki’s associate wanted

    Alleged fraud: EFCC declares Saraki’s associate wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday declared a former Director of the defunct Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Plc, Kennedy Izuagbe, wanted.

    Izuagbe is also the Managing Director of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, which was implicated in the alleged discrepancies in the Asset Declaration Forms of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    The declaration suggested that the EFCC might have been probing the defunct SGBN.

    A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Izuagbe is wanted for money laundering of about N3.6 billion.

    The statement said:”Kennedy Izuagbe, a former Director of Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Plc and Managing Director of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “Izuagbe, 45, who is being investigated in a case of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over N3.6 billion, has gone into hiding and all efforts to reach him have proved abortive.

    “He is linked to the several shady deals and gross financial misconducts that took place in the bank, in which several millions of naira were granted as loan without due diligence.

    “The suspect, who is believed to have fled the country, is a native of Iviukhua village, near Agenebode, Etsako East local government area of Edo State.

    “The EFCC enjoins members of the public with information on the whereabouts of Izuagbe to contact any of its offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Gombe and Kano, or the nearest police station.”

     

  • EFCC declares ex-presidential aspirant wanted

    EFCC declares ex-presidential aspirant wanted

    The Director-General of the National Task Force to Combat Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons, (NATFORCE), Emmanuel Osita Okereke,   has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for jumping bail.

    Okereke was a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Nigeria Liberation Party (NLP).

    According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the ex-presidential aspirant was being prosecuted on a six-count of impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.

    [ad id=”403656″]He said the suspect was arraigned on November 21, 2013, before Justice J. Y. Tukur, of the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja, for allegedly forging a document of the Federal Government, titled: “Restricted, Federal Government of Nigeria, National Task Force”.

    Uwujaren said: “He was alleged to have falsely held public offices as DG and director, FCT Command of National Task Force, through which with Ishmeal Chinyere Nwogu, he fraudulently obtained money from sale of employment forms.

    “Okereke, who was arrested with several incriminating items, including bullet proof vests, however, jumped bail and is wanted by the EFCC.

    “He allegedly operates a syndicate, which maintains offices across the country, defrauding the public by selling recruitment forms for N5, 000 in the guise that they would be offered job by the Federal Government.”

  • Bulletproof cars: EFCC, IGP fail to appear in Oduah’s suit

    Bulletproof cars: EFCC, IGP fail to appear in Oduah’s suit

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Inspector-General of Police on Wednesday failed to send legal representatives for the hearing of a suit filed by a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa of ‎the Federal High Court in Lagos had, on August 26, restrained them from questioning or arresting the ex-ministee over the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles until her suit is determined.‎

    The vehicles, bought under her watch as aviation minister, were said to have cost N255million, an amount that sparked public outrage.

    The judge also stopped the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the IGP from inviting the former minister for interrogation.

    The EFCC, it was learnt, did not file any application to discharge the restraining order within the time allowed.

    Justice Yunusa had adjourned hearing to October 2, but the matter was however listed for hearing on Wednesday, apparently due to its urgency.

    [ad id=”403656″]The court’s registrar said hearing notices were issued to parties, but as proceedings commenced, no lawyer announced appearance for Oduah, EFCC and IGP.

    Only ICPC was represented by Ms. Funmilola Oluborode, who said the commission did not receive a hearing notice.

    According to her, she was directed to represent ICPC by a superior who got to know that the case was coming up for hearing after seeing it in the cause list.

    The ICPC lawyer said since other parties were not represented, there was nothing she could do alone.

    She sought for adjournment.

    Oluborode said ICPC was yet to file any response to Oduah’s suit, and asked for more time to enable the commission file its defence.

    Justice Yunusa pointed out that the suit was a fundamental rights enforcement action which deserved urgent hearing.

     

  • EFCC declares ex-presidential aspirant wanted

    EFCC declares ex-presidential aspirant wanted

    The Director-General of the National Task Force to Combat Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition, and Light Weapons (NATFORCE), Emmanuel Osita Okereke, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for jumping bail.

    Okereke was a former presidential aspirant under the platform of the Nigerian Liberation Party (NLP).

    According to the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the ex-presidential aspirant is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a six-count charge of impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.

    He said the suspect was arraigned on November 21, 2013 before Justice J. Y. Tukur of the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja, for allegedly forging a document of the Federal Government titled: “Restricted, Federal Government of Nigeria, National Task Force.”

    [ad id=”403656″]Uwujaren said: “He alleged falsely held public offices as DG and director, FCT Command of National Task Force, through which along with Ishmeal Chinyere Nwogu, he fraudulently obtained money from sale of employment forms.

    “Okereke, who was arrested with several incriminating items, including bullet proof vests, has however, jumped bail and is currently wanted by the EFCC.

    “He allegedly operates a syndicate, which maintains offices across the country, defrauding unsuspecting members of the public, by selling recruitment forms for N5, 000 in the guise that they would be offered job by the federal government.

    “The EFCC enjoins members of the public with information on the whereabouts of Okereke to contact any of its offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Gombe and Kano, or the nearest police station.”

    One of the charges against Okerekke reads: “That you Osita Okereke and Ishmael Chinyere Nwogu sometime in March, 2010 in Abuja within the judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory knowingly had in your possession a forged document titled: ‘RESTRICTED, FEDERAL REPBLIC OF NIGERIA, NATIONAL TASK FORCE’ with intent to defraud, fraudulently used same as genuine to induce the public to believe that your organization is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria and consequently remitted the aggregate sum of N1,145,000 to you through First Bank account number 3066173170 and thereby committed an offence and punishable under section 368 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja).

    “Justice Tukur had granted the request of his counsel, Kanayo Okofar, requesting that he be granted bail.”

     

  • Court awards N5m damages against EFCC for abuse of power

    Court awards N5m damages against EFCC for abuse of power

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday awarded N5million damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for sealing up two companies and freezing their bank accounts without a court order.

    The firms, Hair Prestige Manufacturing Nigeria Limited and Prestige Hair Fashion Nigeria Limited (trading under Rana Seasoning Ventures) as well as their director, Gnanhoue Nazaire and  Senou Modeste, a company worker, sought N180 million as damages for the violation of their rights.

    The applicants said EFCC sealed up the companies and froze their four bank accounts last December 23 after it received a petition that Nazaire was involved in an alleged fraud.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa said EFCC acted without first obtaining a court order.

    According to him, there must be a valid warrant by a court before the commission could arrest anyone accused of an offence.

    [ad id=”403656″]“The first respondent (EFCC) acted rashly and without following due process,” the judge said.

    Besides, the judge added, there was no evidence that the commission obtained a warrant or conducted a preliminary investigation into the allegations before sealing up the companies and freezing their accounts.

    Justice Yunusa said the fact that the commission admitted that Nazaire and Modeste were “interrogated and released” from its custody implied that they were arrested.

    “The exercise of the powers of arrest must be done with restraint, which is the essence of a court order. The need to exercise restraint arises so as not to violate anyone’s rights,” the judge said.

    The judge, therefore, directed EFCC to unseal the companies and unfreeze the accounts, and release hard discs seized from the company, as well as Nazaire’s Prazo Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and Toyota Matrix cars and phones taken away by the operatives.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Immigration jobs tragedy: EFCC grills ex-NIS boss

    Immigration jobs tragedy: EFCC grills ex-NIS boss

    Parradang quizzed about N650m fees

    Ex-Minister Moro may face panel

    For about eight hours yesterday, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives quizzed a former Comptroller-General  of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Mr. David Parradang.

    He was grilled over alleged N650million fees collected from job seekers last year.

    The EFCC invited Parradang to explain how much was collected and the whereabouts of the funds.

    About 6.5million applied for 5,000 spaces. The conduct of the test in March,  2014 led to the death of 15 applicants. Scores were injured in stampede in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Minna

    Each applicant paid N1,000.

    Although the immediate past Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, blamed the former Comptroller-General for the incidents, those loyal to Parradang had earlier traced the tragedy to Moro and those they called his business partners.

    The EFCC has stepped into the scandal to ascertain the whereabouts of the N650million.

    The probe is coming barely three weeks after Parradang’s removal by President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly recruiting over 1,000 officers in May, allegedly without due process.

    A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The ex-Comptroller-General came to the EFCC headquarters at about 10am and as at 6pm, he was yet to leave.

    “Upon arrival, he was ushered into an office to meet with a team of investigators, who insisted on a written statement.

    “Parradang was invited by the EFCC to explain the circumstances behind the fees charged, the law backing it, the account where the money was paid into, what the cash was used for and the balance.

    “This is just the first step in the ongoing probe of the jobs scandal. We are going to invite officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Prison and Immigration Board and the company engaged for the recruitment.

    “ A verification of the company is already done at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    “We may also interact with Abba Moro if it becomes expedient to do so. But at present, we are grilling Parradang.”

    The source added: “We did not receive any petition from any person or group. This commission went into the case on merit.We have been on it for a while.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Parradang appeared before a team following the ongoing investigation into last year’s immigration recruitment scandal .

    [ad id=”403656″]About two weeks ago,  Moro said Parradang should be held responsible for the job tragedy.

    He said Parradang abandoned the important recruitment for birthday parties in Jos.

    A tragedy that shook the nation

    At least 18 job seekers were on March 16, 2014 confirmed dead nationwide during a rowdy recruitment test conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    In Abuja, the 60,000 capacity National Stadium was filled up with job applicants desperate to write the recruitment test.

    The examination was believed to have been contracted to a private firm by the NIS, citing the need for transparency and accountability.

    But it turned to tragedy as the NIS could not manage the millions of applicants desperately seeking employment.

    In Abuja, seven applicants (two men and five women) were confirmed dead in a stampede where many others were injured.

    The body count rose in other states where the same tragedy unfolded. In Niger state, a stampede occurred, leading to the death of three of the job seekers as security agencies fired tear gas at applicants.

    About 11,000 candidates had converged on Women Day Secondary School in Minna, when the tragedy occurred.

    At the Port Harcourt Liberation stadium, a pregnant woman was among the five people who died. The pregnant woman was among the 35,000 applicants that thronged the stadium, she was said to have died while attempting to scale a fence. She fell down on her stomach and died on the way to the hospital

    In Osun, Lagos, Gombe, Oyo and Plateau states, thousands of applicants fainted due to exhaustion caused by the large number of people.

    NIS officials said they “were overwhelmed” by the sheer number of applicants who turned up for the recruitment exercise.

    The number of the dead provoked national outrage with many calling for the sack and prosecution of the then Minister for Internal Affairs, Comrade Abba Moro. But the Minister, who accepted responsibility for the tragedy was also quick to blame the victims for being impatient and refusing to follow orders given to them.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan commiserated with the families of the victims and promised them automatic employment in the NIS for a member of each of the family. He said a fresh recruitment would be conducted.

  • Senate, Efcc and rule of law

    Senate, Efcc and rule of law

    The invitation extended to Mallam Ibrahim Lamorde the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chair by the Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions and the drama that played out on the first day of the sitting of the Senate Committee on the matter, understandably have generated controversy.

    The invitation followed a petition against Mallam Ibrahim Lamorde  the EFCC Chairman received by Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, alleging that the EFCC chair allegedly diverted over N1 trillion of funds recovered from officials convicted of corrupt enrichment between 2003 and 2007. The petition was submitted by Judge Uboh to Senator Peter Uwaoboshi who in turn drew the attention of the Senate President to same.

    The Senate being on recess the President of the Senate reportedly directed the Senate Committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions to investigate the matter. The committee invited the EFCC chairman for questioning on the subject matter of the petition.The EFCC chair wrote the committee asking for more time to appear and furnish documents on the matter and also sent representatives to the committee emphasising the same point. The committee reportedly went ahead requesting the petitioner to adopt his petition and make further clarifications even in the absence of the EFCC chair who had asked for a postponement of the proceedings. The representatives of the EFCC chair led by the commission’s Director of legal services, Mr. Chile Okoroma reportedly raised a point of order wondering why the committee proceeded to entertain the petitioner without the presence of the other party in line with the fair hearing principle. The objection was overruled and the EFCC representatives requested by the committee to be excused from the proceedings.

    The above is a brief summary of the matter and the basis for the present intervention in this analysis.

    However, before proceeding further let me disclose my interest. I admit that I am one of the private prosecutors retained by the EFCC since inception even if I am not in any way connected with the subject matter of the petition since the cases forming the subject matter of the recoveries being investigated were not cases assigned to me neither was I involved in any of the recoveries under consideration. I also admit that I have had cause to handle matters for the National Assembly in the past some of which are also pending. Nonetheless, I am making the intervention under my other platform as a public affairs commentator discussing issues of national interest as a citizen of the country.

    Fundamentally, let me also admit some preliminary points. First, I agree that the EFCC being an institution created by law is certainly not above the law and therefore its activities should be open to public scrutiny particularly having been set up as an anti-graft agency to fight the economic and financial crimes and by extension corruption in Nigeria.  Secondly, I also admit that the EFCC law demands that the commission sent a comprehensive annual report to the national assembly not later than September 30 every year and this being a statutory provision, it is obligatory on the EFCC to comply. Thirdly, I also admit that the EFCC chair representing the EFCC, an agency of the federal government is under the oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly including the senate. It is also not in dispute that it is not in consonance with the rule of law for proceedings to take place in the absence of any of the parties interested. These are elementary matters that do not call for any controversy.

    I am, however, not unmindful of the fact that we are under a democracy with implications including respect for constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, transparency and accountability, zero-tolerance for corruption and respect for the rights and freedom of citizens amongst other obligations. These are elements of the democratic culture and the fundamentals of the democratic tradition. Again, on this score, there is no controversy. The other point that does not require any debate is that actors under a democracy must be prepared to be democrats. If there is no argument on this, I will then prefer to proceed on whether the actions of the senate and the EFCC in this matter conform to the rule of law and due process – since we operate a democracy founded on the rule of law.

    There is no disputing the fact that the senate has oversight responsibilities on agencies of governance among its core mandate, outside law making and representation. However, the responsibility for referring petitions to oversight committees belongs to the senate as a body. The procedure stipulated in the committee webpage of the senate is unambiguous on this point. Due process in this case will require a petition to be forwarded to a senator who will in turn draw the attention of the senate as a body to same at a plenary. The senate body at a plenary will now determine the issue of referral following which the petition may then be referred to the appropriate committee for investigation by the senate at plenary. The implication of this is that the decision whether or not to investigate is that of the Senate at a plenary and not one vested in the senate president as one senator who is first among equals. This fundamental rule of procedure appears to have been breached in this case since the senate been on recess could not have sat at plenary to resolve the issue of referral.

    This may be a clear breach of rule of law in the handling of this particular petition. The senate may want to revisit its own rules in addressing the merits or otherwise of this petition that is of urgent national importance.

    The other issue that can be raised is the effect or likely outcome of investigation by the Senate Committee on ethics in respect of the subject matter. The committee has a responsibility of considering “the subject matter of all petitions referred to it by the Senate and shall report from time to time to the senate, its opinion of the action to be taken thereon together with such other observations on petition and the signatures attached thereof, as the committee may think fit”-  Segun Gbadegesin, a columnist in The Nation had argued thus “what can this committee accomplish with respect to the subject matter of a petition that alleges criminal action against the EFCC chair? It will only render an opinion on what action to take. So why didn’t Senate just refer the petition to the Police or ICPC both of which are also anti-corruption agencies with power to investigate and prosecute?”

    The implication of the foregoing is that the outcome of the committee’s investigation is to make recommendations which may include requesting that persons found culpable be advised to be prosecuted. This implies that the senate must act as a body in adopting the resolutions of the committee before the referral for prosecution can be effective.

    Given this scenario in the senate as a body on the same page on the procedure adopted on referral of this particular petition?

    On the part of the EFCC being an anti-graft agency, accountability and transparency in the conduct of its operations is fundamental and very key if it is to be taken seriously by the populace. The EFCC has a duty under the law to account in respect of the subject matter of the petition and this it must do conscientiously by releasing detailed information to the National Assembly and Nigerian public on how funds recovered from public officials have been managed so far. I dare say that on this particular issue EFCC is on trial and the issue of motive is of no consequence as this border on transparency and accountability and for an anti-graft agency the onus is on it to raise the bar on probity.

    Therefore, on the part of the EFCC, what is the state of the account? The public is waiting.

    Again, on the part of the EFCC, do we have regular and comprehensive annual reportof the activities of the EFCC to the National Assembly as prescribed by law?

    This is also a matter of rule of law for which the EFCC is also obliged to comply.

    Finally, I am not concerned about motives and motivations for this face-off between the Senate and the EFCC. Whether the Senate is acting in good faith or in bad faith is a matter of speculation and conjecture which is not the basis of criminal responsibility and, therefore ,not the business of this analysis. But compliance with the rule of law by the Senate is a responsibility because the Senate itself is a creation of the rule of law.

    The duty to also file returns on its activities to the National Assembly by the EFCC is also a rule of law and EFCC being a creation of the rule of law is also obliged to comply with the supremacy of the rule of law.

    Finally, the answer to the present controversy between the Senate and EFCC is Rule of law! Rule of law!! Rule of law!!!

     

     

  • Alleged N1.7b fraud: EFCC arrests Lagos businessman

    Alleged N1.7b fraud: EFCC arrests Lagos businessman

    Firm loses fortune in phoney deal

    Outdoor giant Afromedia is battling to handle its most difficult brief ever — how to retrieve a fortune invested in a phoney deal.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is helping.

    The anti-graft agency has arrested a Lagos businessman, Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, for allegedly defrauding the foremost outdoor advertising company of cash estimated to be N1.7 billion in various currencies.

    Gobir was picked up at his Ikoyi home and put in detention.

    A source in the commission said: “The mega heist allegedly fetched Gobir $3,500,000,   N514,457,151.87,   $2,102,740,  and 51,000 pounds sterling at various times.

    “Gobir, a 55–year-old father of two, was picked up by EFCC operatives  early Saturday at his Ikoyi residence and is still being interrogated at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency.

    “The suspect allegedly defrauded the advertising company through a phoney investment deal.

    “The suspect was allegedly introduced to Afromedia sometime in 2008 by their private placement consultants, Synergy Capital Advisory Limited, as a high networth investor who was willing to inject N1,000,000,000 into the company, through the acquisition of shares.

    “Based on his touted pedigree as potential investor, Gobir cozy up to the management and in no time became chairman of the Business Development Committee of the board of directors of the company, a position which he later used to defraud the company.

    “Having earned the trust of the company owners, Gobir started demanding large amounts of money, which he termed as business expenses to international consultants, Royal Exchange Burue in the United Kingdom in order to facilitate and secure investments from his bank in the UK, Natwest Bank London.

    [ad id=”403656″]“The company gave Gobir  $1,000,000 in cash and paid for his travel expenses on a first class return ticket to UK where he would meet with the purported investors, which investigation later showed never existed nor were the meetings ever held.”

    The commission said the fraud was uncovered when the group managing director of Afromedia followed Gobir to London on a business trip.

    The source added: “On one good day after the suspect had collected several amounts of money and made several trips to the UK to meet with the purported investors, the group managing director of Afromedia accompanied him to the UK for another round of meeting ostensibly to close the deal.

    “But as soon as they landed in the UK, Gobir made a telephone call in which his travel companion overheard him scream aloud, saying his assets were seized by UK anti-money laundering authorities.

    “He even showed the GMD an email sent to him for the alleged seizure.

    “The suspect confessed to  the MD of Afromedia that his money( $250,000,000) was seized by the British authorities five years earlier for alleged money laundering and that he was currently financially handicapped and he needed a bailout of $3,817,000 to get the European Union Money Laundering Waiver Certificate.

    “The suspect later presented a “waiver certificate”, to the company and promised to pay them the monies he had collected.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren who confirmed the arrest, said investigation into the scam continued.

  • Alleged N28.9b shares’ scam: EFCC arrests BGL chief Okumagba

    Alleged N28.9b shares’ scam: EFCC arrests BGL chief Okumagba

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday confirmed the arrest of the Group Managing Director of a financial services company, BGL Plc, Mr. Albert Okumagba, for alleged N28.9billion shares’ scam.

    He was said to have allegedly lured 50 investors in Nigeria into subscribing to his company’s shares.

    The suspect was alleged to have diverted the proceeds of private placements of 4.3billion ordinary shares of 50k each at N7k per share eight years ago.

    The funds had been traced to British Virgin Island.

    But the EFCC stepped into the case following a petition by the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) in May, 2015.

    A source at the commission said Okumagba, who is respected in the industry, was being investigated for stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

    The source said: “The 51-year-old, who hails from Delta State, was picked up on Wednesday by operatives of the EFCC. His arrest followed investigation into a petition to the anti-graft agency by SEC in May, 2015.

    “The suspect is alleged to have diverted N28.9billion being proceeds of private placements of 4.3 billion ordinary shares of 50k each at N7k per share in 2007.

    “The company, whose subsidiaries include BGL Capital, BGL Private Equity, BGL Security and BGL Asset Management, allegedly lured 50 investors in Nigeria into subscribing to the company’s shares, promising them options of liquidity and exit within two years.”

    The source added that the diverted proceeds of the placements were traced to Okumagba’s subsidiary company, BV1 Club 1 on British Virgin Island.

    The EFCC source added: “The liquidity and exit options offered the investors, which were contained in its memorandum of private placements, imply that the investors would get value for their investments through one of its subsidiaries, BGL Securities Limited.

    But BGL moved the N28.9billion to an offshore account belonging to one of its subsidiaries, BV1 Club 1, British Virgin Island.

    “The suspect was also said to have refused the investors the opportunity to liquidate their assets as promised.

    “Investigation also showed that though the suspect allegedly promised the investors that BGL would be listed on the SEC via an Initial Private Offer, within 24 months after the private placements was concluded in 2008, it, however, turned out to be a ruse.”

    EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the arrest.

    He said investigation was in progress.