The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • Alleged bribery: EFCC to present report at Yobe tribunal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Wednesday present before the Yobe State governorship election tribunal status report of its investigation into the allegation of bribery against the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abu Zarma.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Adamu Waziri had in their petition to the tribunal, accused the REC of receiving N15million from the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, few days to the election held on April 11.

    The petitioners alleged that the governor’s Aide-de-Camp, Zakari Deba assisted Gaidam to pay N8million into Zama’s account with Diamond Bank and N7million into his Zenith Bank account on April 8.

    Last Thursday, the petitioners’ lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), led two officials of Zenith and Diamond banks in evidence, during which they tendered bank documents, which they claimed, reflected the transaction.

    An official of Diamond Bank (Damaturu Branch), Bamaji Kukawa told the court that bank statement showed that N8million was paid into Zarma’s account on April 8 by Deba.

    The Head of Operation, Damaturu Branch of Zenith Bank, Umar Alkali, said Deba deposited N7million into Zarma’s account with the bank on April 8.

    The petitioners said they had petitioned the EFCC about the said payment and urged it to investigate the transaction.

  • $2.1m cash: Ex-NHIS boss surrenders to EFCC

    $2.1m cash: Ex-NHIS boss surrenders to EFCC

    A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, yesterday surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation on the seized $2.1million cash.

    The appearance of Thomas foreclosed plans by the EFCC to declare him wanted after a three-week search.

    Thomas  denied ownership of the said cash and claimed yesterday that he was never on the run as reported by the media.

    The EFCC has continued with its investigation of the matter, even as there were indications, last night that the EFCC might  invite a former Minister of Health for questioning on how NHIS paid N990million for a plot of land estimated at  N350million, while Thomas was in office.

    Thomas, it was gathered, arrived Abuja on Thursday night and  reported at  the EFCC  headquarters, Abuja  early yesterday.

    He was grilled for several hours  by the agency  and moments after wards, his  media aide, Mr. Sola Adeyemi,  issued a statement  describing   Thomas  as “a law-abiding person, a true professional and a man of his words.”

    He said: “Today (yesterday), we were at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja in reaction to media reports that Dr. Thomas was wanted by the anti-graft agency  in connection with a  $2.1million cash seizure, where my boss made an official statement on the allegation of money laundering.

    “This shows that he was never on the run, and he would never do anything against the law of the land. He has gone to answer the EFCC call. So we believe my boss’ visit  will put to rest all these allegations and help the anti-graft agency in their further investigation of the matter. Therefore, until the investigation  is concluded, we would not speak on this matter.”

    He appealed to the media to  “maintain a high level of professionalism in the discharge of your duties in order that the anti-graft agency can focus on  a thorough investigation on the various allegations. ”

    A reliable source in the commission told The Nation that the  former Executive Secretary of NHIS voluntarily came  to the EFCC office for  interrogation on the seized  cash.

    “We have interacted with him and we asked him to make statement accordingly on what he knew about the cash,” the source said.

    “ We also grilled him on the relationship between him and the Bureau de Change operator, Ibiteye John Bamidele, who was arrested with the money by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    “We are proceeding with the next stage to investigate issues highlighted from the submissions of the two people. There are other clues we are also considering too.

    “The ex-NHIS is on administrative bail and he has given assurance that he would report to the EFCC anytime he is needed.”

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on July 3, 2015 arrested one Ibiteye John Bamidele at MMA Terminal 2 (MMA2) Lagos with the said $2.1million.

    The Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Bamidele was arrested by anti-narcotic officials, who suspected that the amount was for money laundering.

    The NDLEA handed over the suspect to the EFCC on July 8, 2015, following admission of being on errand for money laundering and the implication of the ex-NHIS boss.

    Meanwhile, there were indications last night that a former Minister of Health might be quizzed by the EFCC on how the Tenders Board of the ministry approved N990million for NHIS to buy a plot of land whose value was put at N350million.

    When a former Executive Secretary of NHIS, Mr. Waziri Dogo-Muhammed, was in charge before Thomas came on board, he refused to buy the same plot for  N350million.

    The EFCC source said: “This is one of the pegs of the investigation we are looking at. We are going to invite the affected former minister for interaction. Thomas said the purchase of the plot of land went through a Ministerial Tenders Board.

    “Some officials of the Federal Ministry of Health might also be questioned too.”

  • $2.1m cash: I’m ready for EFCC, says ex-NHIS boss

    $2.1m cash: I’m ready for EFCC, says ex-NHIS boss

    The man the Economic and Fiancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking to question over the $2.1 million cash seized at the Lagos Airport yesterday denied that he was on the run.

    A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, said he was ready to be at the EFCC whenever he is invited.

    His media aide, Mr. Sola Adeyemi, in a statement in Lagos, said: “Dr. Femi Thomas is a law-abiding public individual that has traceable addresses in Lagos and Ekiti. He is a man that I work with and I know him for his words and actions. As I speak, we are yet to receive any formal invitation from any quarter on the allegation.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, my boss is not on the run, he is in Nigeria, he is available and ready to present himself to the EFCC as soon as he is invited.”

    But an EFCC source yesterday said investigators were awaiting Thomas, who reportedly could not be located in the last three weeks.

    It was gathered that the EFCC was considering calling on the International Police (INTERPOL) to arrest him, after watch-listing the former Executive Secretary of NHIS.

    Even as the EFCC seeks to quizz Thomas, there is a fresh revelation that the NHIS bought a plot of land for N990 million.

    The seized cash is suspected to be part of the inflated land deal, The Nation learnt.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is pressure on the former Executive Secretary of NHIS to surrender to EFCC. I think he has decided to go to the anti-graft commission voluntarily to ‘protect his name and family.”

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on July 3, 2015 arrested a bureau de change operator, Ibiteye John Bamidele, at MMA Terminal 2 (MMA2) Lagos with the $2.1 million.

    The Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Bamidele was arrested by anti-narcotic officials, who suspected that the cash was for money laundering.

    The NDLEA handed over the suspect to the EFCC on July 8, 2015, following his “confession” that he was on a money laundering errand for the ex-NHIS boss.

    Besides the $2.1 million, the EFCC is said to be probing how NHIS bought a plot of land for more space at its headquarters in Abuja for N990 million.

    A source said: “When a former Executive Secretary, Mr. Waziri Dogo-Muhammed, was in charge before Thomas came on board, he refused to buy the same plot at N350million.

    “In order to evade scrutiny by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), NHIS bought the land at N990 million. Any expenditure from N1 billion upward goes to FEC for consideration.

    “This is still a major accountability challenge facing NHIS. The anti-graft commission has received complaint on this too.”

    Dr. Thomas, speaking through his aide on July 26, said the land near the NIHS’ Abuja Head Office was acquired to solve the acute accommodation challenges facing the scheme, the need to have enough space for future expansion and the appreciating value of land in the highbrow Cadastral Zone.

    Besides, he described “as total falsehood that due diligence was not followed in the acquisition of the landed property”, pointing out that NHIS’ supervising Health Ministry approved it.

    His words: ‘’When the management wanted to buy the land, as it is the practice, we called the Federal Ministry of Works, and they sent their evaluation department to evaluate the property and the report by the ministry put the value of the property at N1.5 billion.

    ‘’Beyond that level of due process, the purchase was approved by the Ministerial Tenders’ Board because it was beyond the approving power of the NHIS Tenders Management Committee.

    ‘’The negotiation was so tight that we could not pay agency fee. The evaluation report by the Federal Ministry of Works showed that the landed property, which is about 4000 square metres, has a piled foundation for the development of a seven-storey building valued at N300 million.”

    Adeyemi said it was news to the former NHIS chief that the management before his turned down offers.

    The allegation, Adeyemi said, was a calculated attempt to discredit his boss and tarnish his image.

    “My boss was not aware of previous offers made to his two predecessors at N300 million and N450 million,’’ he noted, adding that “the need to purchase the land was necessitated by the acute shortage of space for staff. In the office, two or more staff were sharing a desk and we realised this may hamper operation and efficiency.

    ‘’We also know it made a sense of economic of scale  to buy this parcel of land, which has two plots beside our head office than having another headquarters extension in Gudu. We were also conscious of the rate at which the value of land in Abuja appreciates. So, we believe it is not a bad investment for the scheme’’.

    The statement described as “unfounded” that N49.5 million was paid as agency fee to a firm believed to be owned by Thomas’ associate, saying no agency fee was paid on the property.

  • Ex-bankers jailed 91 years over N114.6m fraud

    Ex-bankers jailed 91 years over N114.6m fraud

    The Kebbi State High Court has jailed three former bank staff for 91 years over N114.6million fraud.

    The convicts, who were jailed by Justice Ibrahim Mairiga, include Suleiman Ibrahim Musa, Bilyaminu Usman and Lawal Suleiman.

    They were convicted on 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, theft and criminal breach of trust brought against them by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and subsequently sentenced to 91 years in prison.

    The convicts, who were former staff of FinBank Plc (acquired by First City Monument Bank Plc in 2011), Birnin-Kebbi branch in Kebbi State, were first arraigned on July 21, 2010, and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said:  “Musa, who was then the head of operations, defrauded the bank of N101, 707,000, Usman and Suleiman, both tellers connived to defraud the bank of N6, 627,500 and N6, 267,500 respectively.

    “The crimes were committed between 2008 and 2010. They had at different times debited the bank’s customers by carrying out unauthorized withdrawals.

    “They were arrested by EFCC operatives following a petition by the bank’s management, after several customers lodged complaints alleging fraudulent deductions from their bank accounts. They had backed up their claims with various documentary evidence – stamped deposits and investment certificates.

    “After five years of trial, Justice Mairiga, having been convinced by the evidence brought before him by the prosecuting counsel, Aisha Habib, found the ex-bankers guilty of the charges.”

    The trial judge said: “By considering the amount involved and weight of evidence presented before the court by the prosecution, which was never challenged by the defence, it shows that their wrongful act caused a great injury to the bank.

    “I therefore, find the accused persons guilty as charged, and so convict and sentence them to 55 years, seven years and 29 years imprisonment respectively without an option of fine, with the jail term to serve concurrently.”

    The judge also ordered the convicts to return the stolen money to the bank.

     

  • EFCC identifies owner of $2.1m seized cash

    EFCC identifies owner of $2.1m seized cash

    Ex-federal agency chief may be declared wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) yesterday said it had traced about $2.1million (N413million) seized at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to a former Executive Secretary of a federal parastatal.

    The commission said it might be forced to declare the man wanted if he does not show up for questioning.

    The agency said all attempts to locate the man in Lagos and Abuja proved futile.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on July 3 arrested a bureau de change operator, Mr. Ibiteye John Bamidele, at MMA Terminal 2 (MMA2) Lagos with the cash.

    The Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Bamidele was arrested by anti-narcotic officials, who suspected that the cash was to be laundered.

    The NDLEA handed over the suspect to the EFCC on July 8, following his confession that he was on money laundering errand for the ex-official.

    It was, however, learnt that all attempts by the EFCC to interrogate the suspect had failed.

    A top source in the agency said: “The EFCC has finalised a plan to declare the former parastatal’s chief wanted, over a $2.1million money laundering case.

    “The anti-graft agency has been on his trail for weeks, since a certain Ibiteye John Bamidele named him as the owner of a $2,198,900 haul, recovered from him by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

    “Ibiteye was arrested on July 3, 2015 at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos by the NDLEA and handed over to the EFCC on July 8, for further investigation.

    “The suspect, upon interrogation, named as the owner of the money, but all efforts to locate him both in Lagos and his known address in Abuja proved futile.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “We have plans to declare the man  wanted. We urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the Commission or the nearest police station.”

  • Impeached Ondo deputy governor petitions EFCC against Mimiko

    Impeached Ondo deputy governor petitions EFCC against Mimiko

    •Olanusi: governor ‘is a personification of corruption’

    Impeached Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi said yesterday he has written a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe allegations of corruption against Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    He urged “indigenes and patriotic Nigerians to beam a searchlight” on the activities of the governor, alleging that he had derailed.

    The septuagenarian politician, who returned to his native Akoko with his associates, rejected the allegation of gross misconduct leveled against him, before he was impeached by the House of Assembly.

    Reiterating his innocence, Olanusi, who is now the leader of the state All Progressives Congress (APC), alleged that Mimiko was a personification of corruption.

    He told reporters in Lagos before departing home that Mimiko failed to paint him as a corrupt deputy after he rejected the governor’s plan to run Ondo State as a sole administrator.

    Olanusi said the “one-day impeachment drama” against him underscored the personality of the governor as a corrupt politician.

    The former deputy governor said if the anti-graft agency failed to investigate the allegations, the alleged looting would continue.

    Olanusi alleged that N80 billion debts and borrowing have pushed the state into stagnation.

    He urged the people, including civil servants, “to gird their loins”.

    The way forward, he added, was for the people to propose a closure to the “corruption of the government” and insist on the “recovery of the stolen and looted funds”.

    Olanusi added: “I urged civil servants and the people of Ondo State to help prevent further theft of our resources and step up this engagement by documenting credible reports of corruption going on in high places within the government.”

    The former deputy governor noted that his warnings and advice to the governor delayed the drift, stressing that the administration regressed into a gale of forgery and falsification of financial records and documents when he stopped listening to his wise counsels.

    Olanusi challenged the governor to dispute the claim of forgery and falsification of the State Oil-producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Appropriation Law 2014, which he said, led to the alleged squandering of N18 billion meant for frontline services and the implementation of people-oriented programmes in riverine communities.

    He said the governor should clear the air on the alleged forgery and falsification of 2014 Re-Ordered Budget to cover N6.7 billion, which, he alleged, was channeled into specialised conduit-pipes.

    Other allegations made by Olanusi included the alleged falsification of the House of Assembly resolution authorising the borrowing of N2.4 billion for the Wealth Creation Agency (WECA), the diversion of money meant for the Residency Card Project by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), the manipulation of the N27 billion bond and diversion of its proceeds without the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) approval and falsification of records of the House of Assembly on his impeachment.

    Olanusi added: “The more you look, the more you see tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of an elected government that seeks to undo checks and balances created to protect the supremacy of parliament and the independence of the judiciary.”

  • PDP NWC members on Ondo payroll, APC alleges

    PDP NWC members on Ondo payroll, APC alleges

    •Metuh: ‘allegation frivolous’

    ONDO State All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted the public, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police to an alleged reckless spending by the state government.

    The party alleged that despite the state’s meagre resources, Governor Olusegun Mimiko was still lavishing money monthly on some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Working Committee (NWC) members.

    But Metuh, in a reaction, described the allegation as “frivolous”.

    In a statement in Akure, the state capital, the APC’s spokesman, Abayomi Adesanya, said: “We reliably gathered that some PDP national officers are on the payroll of Ondo State government.

    “The money, which is running into several millions of naira monthly, was part of the agreement reached with Mimiko before controversially installing him as the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum.

    “In view of the prevailing conditions of non-payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments, non-payment of pensioners’ allowances and gratuities for more than two years, neglect and complete abandonment of state-owned industries coupled with infrastructural decadence, the governor is still reckless in spending our commonwealth on frivolities and leaving the people of Ondo State to wallow in abject poverty.

    “At this crucial period of economic downturn, we expect the governor to apply austerity measures: mend loopholes, cut down wasteful spending, priortise resources and stop dispensing our money as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    “We, therefore, call on the law enforcement agents to investigate Mimiko and these members.”

    The APC urged Mimiko to focus on the state’s development and fulfill his electoral promises, rather than spending the state’s funds to resuscitate the “dead PDP”.

    Reacting, Metuh said: “It is no longer a surprise to me that they are making these accusations against me. I am not from Ondo State and I am not a worker of the Ondo State Government.

    “I was in Ondo during our party’s last governorship election campaign and I also went there during the last presidential campaign. I have not been there afterwards.

    “I am happy that they are throwing accusations at me and not bombs or assassination attempts. Honestly, I am not surprise at these frivolous accusations and I am not deterred.”

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”National Working Committee, NWC, PDP” count=”8″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link” header_background=”#000000″ header_text_color=”#edc1aa”]

     

  • EFCC quizzes NAFDAC boss for seven hours over contract scam

    For about seven hours, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Paul Orhii.

    The DG was quizzed on issues bordering on alleged abuse of office and award of contracts.

    It was learnt that a former director of Finance of NAFDAC provided enough evidence to the EFCC on the abuse of the contract system in the agency.

    According to a highly-placed source in the commission, Orhii arrived for questioning at 9am before he was taken to an office to meet with a team of investigators.

    The source said: “The DG of NAFDAC was invited to respond to issues against him. These allegations have to do with alleged abuse of office, favouritism and mismanagement of resources.

    Our investigators also quizzed Orhii on award of contracts and supply of items by companies in which he has interest.

    “The seven-hour interrogation requires that Orhii should provide certain documents including contract papers, minutes of tender board and payment vouchers.

    “We are likely to release him on administrative bail to enable him to source all the evidence.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We may also invite some directors and management staff of NAFDAC for interaction.

    “Some of these top management staff, especially a former Director of Finance, have volunteered to testify on the rot in NAFDAC.

    “We will give equal opportunities to all including a few ones alleging that the Director-General was being framed up.

    “So far, investigation is still at the preliminary level. Orhii has been given administrative bail accordingly.”

    The Media Unit of the EFCC confirmed the grilling of the NAFDAC DG.

    A former Finance Director, Ademola Mogbojuri had openly accused Orhii of mismanaging the agency.

    Mogbojuri said: “The truth of the matter is that the DG is quite reckless with spending.

    “Before he joined the agency in 2009, the annual total revenue of NAFDAC was about N2.5bn and he met around N600m in the account. Now, the total internally generated revenue is about N9bn and the agency owes about N5bn in debt.”

    But the NAFDAC DG told reporters in Abuja that the allegations against him were false.

    He accused the former Director of Finance of sabotage.

    He said: “I will rather leave this agency than to allow such impunity to continue”.

    “For me, I would rather collect a loan from the banks to execute my projects. If I know that equipment in the laboratory has broken down, when I know that is where my money is coming from. So, when you refuse to collect a loan when the equipment is broken down, how do you generate revenue to run the agency?”

    “When compared with its United States (U.S.) counterpart, it is by prudent management that we are owing N5 billion. If you compare our budget with that of U.S. agency, we should be spending close to N400 billion a year. And as I said, the law allows us to generate and spend ‘user fees’.”

     

  • EFCC wants Buhari to reform judiciary

    EFCC wants Buhari to reform judiciary

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reform the judiciary in a way that will assist the commission in its fight against corruption.

    The Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde stated this at a two-day workshop on Budget Monitoring and Tracking, organized for NGOs, CBOs, Media and local government staff in Akure, Ondo State.

    Lamorde, who was represented by the EFCC Director, Public Affairs Department, Mr. Osita Nwajah, lamented that they have always been clash between the act guiding the activities of the commission and the constitution of the country.

    The EFCC chief urged the federal government to establish a “Special Court” that would only focus on corruption cases.

    He said, “It was the EFCC that proposed the Special Court and we have not relented on that. If you study the EFCC act very well, there is some movement in that direction which says that the court should not entertain interlocutory applications in the course of the trial – that is people cannot come to say let us stop the main trial and let us argue the non-substantive issue.

    “But then, it is also inconsistence with the relevant of the constitution which guarantee access to judicial process of every Nigerian. So you cannot abridge that right and so far it is inconsistent with the constitution. That provision cannot operate, that is why we have this interlocutory things coming up so often.

    “It is so bad that in the cases of two former governors we have on trial, some of the people you are hearing about would have gone to the Supreme Court on Interlocutory applications. They have dragged us to the Supreme Court and the usual process in Nigeria is that anytime such process comes up you will keep the substantive matter aside and address the concern as raised by the defence.”

     

  • I’m not running away from EFCC, says Kuku

    I’m not running away from EFCC, says Kuku

    Former chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Kingsley Kuku has said he is not running from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Kuku, who is said to be receiving medical treatment at the St. Andrew Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, explained that he was already in the United States (U.S.) for his medical procedure before the letter was sent to his former office in Abuja.

    He sent a photograph to show he has just undergone surgery.

    He said: “The letter from the EFCC is just a mere invitation and why would any reasonable leader shy away from making clarification on his stewardship when necessary?”

    Speaking on phone with The Nation, he promised to return to Nigeria. He hailed ?President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Gen. Paul Boroh (retd) as his successor, promising to give him all necessary support to make him succeed.

    His words: “The success of the Amnesty Programme is my pride. Failure of the project may take us back again to what we witnessed some years back. I am proud of the template and legacy I left behind. Today, Amnesty project has trained pilots as we have sent our students to the best aviation school in the world.  We have about 100 students in Lufthansa training school in Germany.

    “In addition, we have about 550 students in the United States, more than 300 in Europe and more than 1000 in Nigeria. I, therefore, urge the new coordinator to take human audit and balance it with what was allocated to the agency in order to draw a line between those frivolous and malicious petition being sent around.

    “I am a patriotic Nigerian; I have future and image to protect. Therefore, my integrity is more important to me than vanity of this world. The total liberation of my people of Niger Delta from poverty, unemployment, backwardness and illiteracy motivated me to design a program that will empower our youth.

    “I have no regret serving Nigeria under former President Goodluck Jonathan. As human being, we must have made some mistakes in course of discharging our duty. I have no foreign bank account, I have no house anywhere apart from Nigeria and I have since returned all government properties in my possession, including my diplomatic passport before leaving office.”