The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC gets team for Saraki’s wife, Yar’Adua’s daughter

    EFCC gets team for Saraki’s wife, Yar’Adua’s daughter

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday raised a team of crack investigators to grill Senate President Bukola Saraki’s wife, Oluwatoyin and the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s daughter, Hajiya Zainab Dakingari.

    Mrs. Saraki has written the EFCC seeking to appear today or tomorrow.

    Expressing her readiness to cooperate with the anti-graft commission, she had never received unlawful public funds.

    A source in the commission said: “We are ready for Mrs. Oluwatoyin Saraki and Hajiya Zainab Dakingari – if they honour our invitation.

    “We have a crack team of investigators that will handle their matters with fairness and objectivity.

    “Our invitation does not presume them guilty. There are petitions against them; we want to hear their side too. If there is no prima facie case against them, the EFCC will release these women. So, we are still at a fact-finding stage.”

    But ahead of today’s appearance, Mrs. Saraki has written the EFCC, seeking leave to be available for interrogation either today or tomorrow.

    The letter was signed by the Private Secretary to the Wellbeing Foundation of the wife of the Senate President.

    In the letter, Mrs. Saraki said she had never received unlawful public funds.

    The letter reads in part: “Her Excellency is currently outside Nigeria and expects to return to Abuja on Monday, 27th of July. She thus requests an appointment to attend your office on Tuesday, 28th July 2015 or Wednesday, 29th July 2015 at mutually agreed convenience.

    “We look forward to your response and acquiescence to the appointment date requested by Her Excellency.”

    Mrs. Saraki said she was ready to cooperate with EFCC though the allegations had not been made available to her.

    She also said she had never received unlawful funds in and out of office.

    The letter added: “While she has no idea whatsoever what matter this may pertain to, Her Excellency will be delighted to assist your respected office with any lawful enquiries you may have as a law-abiding, responsible, transparent and accountable private citizen who has never been sought recourse to, nor received any unlawful public funds in any private capacity or activity.”

  • EFCC arraigns 10, vessel for illegal oil bunkering

    EFCC arraigns 10, vessel for illegal oil bunkering

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned 10 persons and a vessel, for alleged oil bunkering.

    They were arrested with 200 metric tons of petroleum products.

    EFCC said they conspired to commit the crime by dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licence on April 4.

    The accused are the vessel’s captain James Abatan, Wasiu Owonikoko, Patrick Ameh, Johson Ademola, Felix Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe, Kunle Saheed and Rasheed Adio.

    The alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (1) (6) (17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The accused were said to have stored the products without lawful authority, an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Defence counsel Dada Awoshika urged the court to grant them bail, adding that the vessel was duly certified by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Naval authorities to operate on the Nigerian territorial waters.

    But EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo said the Navy handed the accused persons over to the commission for allegedly dealing in petroleum products without licence.

    He added that samples of the cargo on board the vessel were analysed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    He said it was confirmed that the product conformed to Automated Gas Oil (AGO), and that the accused were unable to produce a genuine licence from the DPR authorising them to deal in the product.

    Oyedepo said the vessel was owned by a company called D Dove Oil and Maritime Services Limited with its registered address at Plot 2, Lateef Jakande Road, Agindingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to him, following further enquiry, the company’s directors hurriedly relocated to an unknown destination.

    The commission said the other suspects in the case were still at large, adding that in view of the public interest and mood of the nation, it would be safe to put the accused persons in protective custody.

    Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned till July 28 for ruling on the bail application.

  • EFCC arraigns 10, vessel over illegal oil deal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)on Monday arraigned 10 persons and a vessel, MV Peace, over alleged oil bunkering.

    They were arrested with 200 metric tons of petroleum products.

    EFCC said they conspired to commit the crime by dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licence on April 4.

    The accused are – the vessel’s captain James Abatan, Wasiu Owonikoko, Patrick Ameh, Johson Ademola, Felix Otto, Chigozie Oguike, Olu Salisu, Jomo Gadagbe, Kunle Saheed and Rasheed Adio.

    The alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (1) (6) (17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The accused were said to have stored the products without lawful authority, an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Defence counsel, Dada Awoshika, urged the court to grant them bail, adding that the vessel was duly certified by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Naval authorities to operate on the Nigerian territorial waters.

    But EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said it was the Navy who handed the accused persons over to the commission for dealing in petroleum products without license.

    He added that samples of the cargo on board the vessel was analysed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    He said it was confirmed that the product conformed to Automated Gas Oil (AGO), and that the accused were unable to produce genuine license from the DPR authorising them to deal in the product.

    Oyedepo said the vessel was owned by a company called D Dove Oil and Maritime Services Limited with its registered address at Plot 2, Lateef Jakande Road, Agindingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to him, following further enquiry, the company’s directors hurriedly relocated to an unknown destination.

     

  • Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Following his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has assured he was ready to assist the commission in its bid to probe the accounts of the agency under his leadership.

    The former presidential aide was reacting to the EFCC’s invitation directing him to report to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja for questioning on July 28 over allegation of diversion of public funds.

    ýKuku, who is undergoing medical procedure in the United States, described the allegations levelled against him as unfounded.

    According to him: “The allegations of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and diversion of public funds being made against me did not arise as the records of my administration were clear and available for scrutiny.”

    Kuku, who spoke on phone, said: “I am currently in the US for an urgent surgery on my knee at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Centre and I will certainly return to honour the EFCC invitation once I recuperate in September.

    “The record of my stewardship under the Presidential Amnesty Programme is an open document and it is available for scrutiny since I have nothing to hide about what we did.”

  • Reps raise alarm over EFCC’s invitation of Saraki’s wife

    Reps raise alarm over EFCC’s invitation of Saraki’s wife

    A group within the House of Representatives has kicked against the invitation of wife of the Senate President Mrs. Toyin Saraki for appearance on July 28 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    In a statement in Abuja by Hon. Umar Buba Jibril (Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency) and Hon. Muhammad Kabiru Ajanah (Okehi/Adavi federal Constituency) on behalf of 25 other lawmakers in the Green chamber, the group described the sudden invitation of Mrs. Saraki by the anti-graft agency as highly suspicious.

    It said while it will continue to encourage the EFCC to carry out its legal mandate, it was optimistic that the anti-graft body “will not lend itself as a tool to propagate the political agenda of any person or group.”

    The Reps members added that it holds strongly that the days of using the EFCC to harass and intimidate political opponents are gone for good.

    According to them: “We must never return to that dark and dangerous side in our polity.”

    They expressed concern that the leadership of the National Assembly is being targeted for unnecessary harassment using state institutions.

    The statement titled: “Curious EFCC invitation of Barr. Toyin Saraki” reads: “We the concerned Members of the House of Representatives have followed the recent trend of political intrigues since the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.

    “We are acutely aware that certain power blocks are determined to use any means to mount pressure on the Senate President. It is in light of this that we view the recent sudden invitation of the wife of the Senate President, Barrister Toyin Saraki, by the EFCC with a high degree of suspicion.

    “We observe that Senator Bukola Saraki was in office as Governor of Kwara State for eight years from 2003 – 2011. He left that office over four years ago.

    “In this period of 12 years, not once has any mention been made of his wife as being involved in anything untoward. It is therefore very curious timing that this “invitation” by EFCC is suddenly raised.”

     

  • Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Following his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the immediate past special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku has assured that he was ready to assist the commission in its bid to probe the accounts of the agency under his leadership.
    The former presidential aide, was reacting to an invitation by the EFCC, directing him to report to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja for questioning on July 28, 2015, over allegation of diversion of public funds running into hundreds of millions of Naira.
    ‎Kuku, who is undergoing medical procedure in the United States, described the allegations levelled against as unfounded, adding that “the allegations of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and diversion of public funds being made against me did not arise as the records of my administration were clear and available for scrutiny.”
    According to Kuku who spoke with The Nation on the phone, “I am currently in the U.S for an urgent surgery on my knee at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Centre, United States and I will certainly return to honour the EFCC invitation once I recuperate in September.
    “The record of my stewardship under the Presidential Amnesty Programme is an open document and it is available for scrutiny since I have nothing to hide about what we did,” he explained.

  • PDP Senators to EFCC: Don’t intimidate opponents

    PDP Senators to EFCC: Don’t intimidate opponents

    Senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday warned against unleashing the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on members of the National Assembly.

    Reacting to the EFCC’s invitation to the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki to appear before it on Tuesday,the PDP senators said any attempt to unleash the commission on National Assembly members as a result of the leadership crisis in the legislature would not only be constitutionally and lawfully resisted but could have dire consequences on governance in the country.

    Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North) in a statement on behalf of the group said that

    much as they were not against the anti-corruption agencies performing their statutory duties, the EFCC invitation to Mrs Saraki was an indication that the threat by a group within the National Assembly that they would use all means to fight the leadership is now being carried out.

     Nigerians,he said, should “ask EFCC what they were waiting for all this while before realising that they need to invite Mrs Saraki when she actually left the Government House with her husband in 2011. And why should the invitation come a few days after a senator threatened that his group and their sponsors will bring the Senate President down?”.

    He added: “ We also think that the same witch-hunt that the family of the Senate President is suffering now is the same thing happening to his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who the Police have been disturbing. But let it be known that these two gentlemen and the other leaders of the Senate enjoy the support of 85 senators and at the right time we will jointly make our opinion known on the harassment of our leaders.”

    The Senators asked President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that some people do not use his name to misuse state machinery and fight political opponents in the guise of waging war against corruption.

  • EFCC invites Saraki’s wife, Yar’Adua’s daughter

    EFCC invites Saraki’s wife, Yar’Adua’s daughter

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited Mrs. Toyin Saraki, Senate President Bukola Saraki’s wife and Zainab Dakingari, late President Umar Yar’Adua’s daughter.

    Dakingari’s wife is expected at the agency on July 27.  Saraki’s spouse will take her turn on July 28.

    The two women were invited by the anti-graft agency for alleged money laundering.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Saraki’s wife is needed to explain issues relating to the management of the accounts of some companies where she has some stake.

    “There is a suspicion of money laundering. We want her to come and explain how these accounts are being run.”

    On the former First Lady, the source added: “I think Zainab, a former First Lady of Kebbi State, is expected to respond to some issues on state funds allegedly traced to some companies owned by her. We cannot say whether these companies executed some contracts for the state or not.

    “The ex-First Lady has only been invited to make clarifications.”

    When contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “I am aware we have invited some persons but I cannot give the details now.”

    Mrs Saraki last night confirmed her invitation by the anti-graft agency. Her private secretary, Akeem Olagoke, in a statement titled: “Without Prejudice”, wrote:

    “Her Excellency, Mrs Toyin Saraki, Founder of Wellbeing Foundation Africa and wife of the Senate President has been informed by her office that a letter of invitation was delivered to her office, by and from the EFCC.

    “As Mrs Saraki has no idea what this  invitation could pertain to, she has directed an immediate and formal response, to the EFCC, that she will be delighted to assist them with any lawful enquiries they may have, as a law abiding, transparent and accountable private citizen.

    “Mrs Saraki has thus confirmed an appointment date to honour this invitation, at the earliest mutually agreed convenience.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he would extend his anti-corruption war to members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Notorious EFCC informant, Alhaji Gay, murdered

    Notorious EFCC informant, Alhaji Gay, murdered

    Razak Adetunji Adeniyi, popularly known as ‘Alhaji Gay’ has been reportedly killed by unidentified individuals.

    Alhaji Gay, as he is fondly called, who is usually connected with hunting internet fraudsters (Yahoo boys) with an identity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was on Monday stabbed to death.

    In spite of his success in arresting the fraudsters on different accounts, the EFCC has denied any connection between the late Adeniyi and the commission.

    Following the announcement of his death, his name began to trend on twitter with different tweets ranging from questions about who he was to who could be responsible for his death, why everyone began to talk about him and why some people are rejoicing over his death.

    See below:

  • Jonathan approved N1.45b legal fee, BPE tells EFCC

    Jonathan approved N1.45b legal fee, BPE tells EFCC

    Detectives probing the alleged N1.45 billion legal and consultancy fees scandal at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) have got some key documents which will help them get to the root of the matter, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The BPE is insisting that the legal contract was valid because ex-President Goodluck Jonathan approved it, based on a memo from ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

    It also said Sections II (J) and 55 of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act Cap. P.38, LFN 2004 exempt the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) from complying with the processes of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

    In a June 27 letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the BPP requested the anti-graft agency to investigate the payment scandal.

    One of the lawyers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was paid N950 million for the liquidation of the Power Holding Company when the company had ceased to exist and N500 million was paid as consultancy fees to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    The fees were paid contrary to the advice of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the BPP.

    Based on the BPP alarm, the EFCC has since started probing the payment.

    But, in a fresh twist, the BPE insisted that the contract was legal and approved by ex-President Jonathan.

    Armed with a heap of documents sent to EFCC, the agency said its supervising organ (the National Council on Privatisation) does not need any approval of its disposal procurement from BPP.

    One of the documents, exclusively obtained by our correspondent, reads in part: “The Bureau of Public Procurement reviewed the procurement process and issued Certificates of ‘No Objection’ dated February 26, 2013 (attached as Annex U4) to the BPE to appoint Messrs J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the Consultant, Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN in the sum of N929, 613,188.94 inclusive of 5 per cent VAT. A letter of award /engagement was issued to J.K. Gadzama &Partners on 6th March, 2013.

    “The National Council on Privatisation at its  3rd meeting for 2013 held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 approved the engagement of Messrs. J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the Consultant, Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN in the sum of N929,613,188.94. Excerpts of NCP minutes attached.

    “Thereafter, copies of the draft contract agreements were forwarded to the Vice President and Chairman, NCP (for approval), who subsequently directed that the draft contract agreements be forwarded to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for review before execution.

    “By a memo  referenced SH/VP/BPE/C2/XVII, dated August 30, 2013, a copy of a memo from the AGF to the Vice President and Chairman of NCP dated August 27, 2013 was forwarded to the BPE by the Office of the Vice President and Chairman of NCP for necessary action.

    “In the said memo, the AGF raised objection to the appointment of J.K. Gadzama as Liquidator of PHCN Plc, stating that such is within the purview of PHCN Board of Directors only.

    “Following the intervention of the Chairman of the Board of NELMCO, the AGF in his letter to the DG of BPP dated 11th, September 2014 (which was copied to the DG BPE) withdrew his earlier query on the ‘No Objection’ earlier granted by BPP to procure J.K. Gadzama and Partners for legal advisory services for the winding up of PHCN Plc.

    “BPE, in reliance on the letter above referred requested BPP to revalidate its earlier “No Objection” granted. The BPP declined to withdraw its “No Objection” without adducing any reason for doing so.”

    The BPE said it reported the stalemate to the National Council of Privatisation (NCP) at its meeting on April 16, 2015.

    It added: “The NCP noted that since the AGF had withdrawn his query on the procurement and there was no other tenable reason to withhold it, approved that BPE should immediately proceed to execute the contract with Messrs. J.K. Gadzama & Partners as the consultant, legal advisory services for the winding up of PHCN in the sum of N929,613,188.94 based on the ‘No Objection’ earlier granted by BPP.”

    The BPE also gave the details of how ex-President Jonathan approved  the contract during the transition period.

    The agency said: “In a briefing memo to His Excellency, the former President on the decisions of NCP, the former Vice President and Chairman of NCP, among other things, highlighted its approval directing BPE to immediately execute contract with J.K. Gadzama for the winding up of PHCN Plc in the sum of N929,613,188.94 based on the ‘No Objection’ earlier granted by BPP since all contested  issues had been resolved.

    “The former President  noted the said decision without any objection(memo attached as Annex U9). It is based on the two approvals of the NCP and Mr. President that BPE executed the contract with J.K.Gadzama & Partners who have since commenced execution of the contract.”

    The BPE said it does not  need any approval from the BPP to execute any procurement dealing with disposal of public property once it is carrying out NCP directive.

    It said the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act Cap. P.38, LFN 2004 empowers NCP to appoint and determine advisers and their remuneration.

    Section II (J)  of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act Cap. P.38, LFN 2004 empowers the NCP to approve the appointment of Advisers and their remuneration. The BPP had earlier claimed that the AGF did not at any time withdraw his ‘No Objection’.

    The Director-General, Mr. Emeka M. Ezeh, said in a letter that no instruction was received from the AGF nullifying the earlier directive.

    The letter said: “The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), having examined the request wishes to draw the attention of the BPE to Paragraph 14 of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (HAGF)’s letter to the BPP referenced that; “item 1,3,5,6 and 8 of the scope of work for the Legal Advisor unnecessary for the liquidation of the PHCN.

    “Similarly, any of the remaining items 2,4,7 and 9, which is not contemplated by the procedure described in Sections 457 -468 (and there is hardly any contemplated) would equally be unnecessary to accomplish the liquidation”.

    “ It can be deduced from the above citation that the HAGF’s position on this procurement clearly indicates that Legal Advisory Service is not needed as all constituent items (1-9) under unnecessary as listed by the HAGF constitute all items under the Legal Advisory Service, as such; no item is left for BPP’s consideration for a further review.”