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Tag: EFCC

  • AGF, NSA, EFCC trade accusation over custody of recovered Abacha loot

    Offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are trading blames in court over which one of them is in custody of what was recovered from the money looted from the nation’s treasury by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

    While the EFCC said the recovered funds could be accounted for by the offices of the AGF and the NSA, they have both denied knowledge of what has been recovered and where it is being kept.

    The claim among the three Federal Government’s offices is captured in the court processes they filed in reaction to a suit filed by a group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), seeking information about the state of the recovered loot.

    LEDAP, in 2011, instituted the suit under the Freedom of Information Act after the EFCC (earlier named as the sole defendant) refused its request for the information.

    It later joined  the AGF and the NSA when the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit, said it was only offices of the AGF and NSA that could account for the recovered looted funds.

    An EFCC official, Austin Emmumejakpor, said in the counter-affidavit of March 5, 2012, that he was “informed that remittances relating to the estate of the late Gen. Abacha were coordinated by the offices of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney-General of the Federation and not the respondent (EFCC) as erroneously thought by the applicant.”

    The offices of the AGF and NSA, in separate counter-affidavits filed by their lawyer, Godwin Onwusi, denied knowledge of details of the recovered loots. They urged the court to excuse them from the suit.

    In a counter-affidavit dated March 25, 2014, both offices denied custody of the requested information on behalf of both the AGF and the NSA, stating: “That the 1st and 2nd parties sought to be joined (AGF and NSA) did not coordinate the remittances relating to the estate of late Gen. Abacha.”

    In another counter-affidavit of January 28, 2015, it was stated that the 2nd party sought to be joined (NSA) did not coordinate the remittances relating to the estate of the late Gen. Abacha.

    “The 2nd party sought to be joined is neither in custody nor in possession of information relating to the remittances referred to in paragraph 5 above. The 2nd party sought to be joined is neither a necessary party nor an indispensable party in this suit.”

    Lawyer to the plaintiff, Chino Obiagwu, has, in a reply on point of law, argued that both the offices of AGF and the NSA are parties necessary for the just determination of the case.

    He argued that by virtue of the provisions of Section 21 of the FoI Act, 2011, “the onus is on such body to prove that the information is not within its control”.

    Justice Mohammed has adjourned hearing on the applications to October 8.

  • EFCC urges court not to quash suit against ex-OAU director, others

    EFCC urges court not to quash suit against ex-OAU director, others

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) yesterday urged Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan not to quash the case against former Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) of the Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Benjamin Adefemi for alleged N115 million fraud.

    EFCC arraigned Ogunbodede, Zaccheaus Tejumola, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omitowoju Yisua on a 17-count charge, following petitions against them by  the staff unions of the institute and the industrial action that paralysed the research institute for over 11 months.

    The charge reads: “The accused on or about June 6 2011 conspired amongst themselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N115,750,000, which  was derived from theft and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)  Act 2011 No. 11 and punishable under Section 15 of the same Act.”

     At the resumed sitting yesterday, counsel to the first defendant (Ogunbodede), Tunde Oluponna, brought an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter and urging the court to strike it out.

    According to Oluponna, since the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) had instituted a case against the accused before an Oyo State High Court of the same offences, it amounted to abuse of court processes for EFCC to institute another charge against the accused persons  before the court.

    But the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed the application, saying the chargess for which the accused are standing trial before the High Court is different from the ones brought against them by the ICPC.

    Describing the application as un-meritorious, Oyedepo urged the court to dismiss it, as according to him, Exhibit EA01 before the court shows clearly that the applicants were not charged with money laundering in the case pending before the state high court.

    After listening to the arguments of the counsel, Justice Emmanuel adjourned the case till September 28 for ruling on the application.

  • Our role in oil deals, by Sahara Energy

    Our role in oil deals, by Sahara Energy

    The management of Sahara Energy has stated the company’s involvement in the lifting of crude for refined products, which the economic czar, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The oil deals are card out under the product exchange (swap) and offshore processing agreement (OPA).

    Swaps are are transactions in which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) supply the other party with crude oil in return for the other party supplying the NNPC with refined products for sale locally on a value-for-value basis. Under the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA), the NNPC provides crude oil to another party who would refine the crude oil on behalf of the NNPC and return the refined products to the NNPC based on the yield slate of the party’s refinery while the NNPC provides the crude oil and pays the refining and other incidental costs.

    The management said: “Sahara, amongst other operators, was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of a complete petroleum industry investigation. We made submissions to the EFCC, which showed that the Society Ivoirienne de Rafinage, Abidjan (SIR)/Sahara OPA contract has been fully reconciled and indicate a zero debt position to NNPC/PPMC in crude, cash or products.  The receipts from expenses on jetty fees and port dues are being awaited and would be compiled for submission.

    “ It must also be reiterated that SIR/Sahara have always had a Letter of Credit (LC) in place to the full value of the crude lifted and is still valid till date. The LC acts as a performance bond that can be called in by the NNPC at any point of the transaction in the event that the full contractual value of any outstanding products is not delivered. This is lopsided as we do not have any security against NNPC if there is a default on their part.

    “ It is important to stress the fact that Sahara, whenever the need arose, has always gone the extra mile to ensure product availability, often times pre-delivering in the absence of a corresponding crude allocation.

  • Alleged N627m scam: Businessman accuses EFCC of illegal detention

    Alleged N627m scam: Businessman accuses EFCC of illegal detention

    •Buhari, IGP petitioned  •Agency denies claim

    THE Federal Government has been urged to investigate alleged torture and illegal detention of the Managing Director of Kafisto Oil and Gas Ltd, Mr. Uwem Antia and his business partner, Alhaji Suleiman Yerima by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.

    He was allegedly detained over a N627 million foreign exchange deal, which purportedly belonged to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    Yerima, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, said he had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase on the alleged inhuman treatment and torture meted out to them while in EFCC detention for 80 days without trial.

    The businessman alleged that his partner, Antia, was tortured, beaten and his legs broken by EFCC operatives in Lagos in an attempt to force him to confess to an offence he did not commit.

    But EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren denied the allegations.

    Yerima alleged that despite a court order that his lawyer be contacted any time the EFCC needed his attention, the operatives went into his ex-wife house in Lagos, took her away with a Mercedes Car belonging to him.

    He added that till now, the whereabouts of his former wife is unknown.

    The businessman accused the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, the Director of Operation of EFCC in Lagos, Iliyasu Kwarbai and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Joseph Mbu, of violating their fundamental rights over a business transaction that was legitimately carried out without any of the parties involved complaining.

    The businessman said he was approached by Antia, who brought customers to him, to raise dollars for him, saying N627 million had been paid into his (Antia’s) account and that he should source the dollar equivalent.

    Yerima said he raised $1 million that day and gave same to Mr. Gladys Aginwa and Dennis Ale, who acknowledged receipt in their handwriting.

    He said the balance of $2.250 million was raised the following day and paid to Dennis and Aginwa, which they equally acknowledged in their handwriting.

    Yerima explained that he was surprised when the EFCC operatives invaded his house and that of his friend and arrested them on allegation that he defrauded some people in a forex deal.

    He said it was in the course of investigations that the EFCC operatives alleged that the money belonged to the former first lady.

    The businessman added that the EFCC demanded the original copies of the documents regarding the transaction, but they refused for fears that they could be destroyed.

    He said they insisted they would make them available only in court, adding that it was at this point that the EFCC operatives began to torture them.

    Yerima alleged that his life and that of his partner were in danger and urged the President to expedite action on his petition.

    He described the leadership of the EFCC as corrupt, alleging that its top operatives demanded $500,000 dollars from them.

    However, the spokesperson of the EFCC dismissed the allegations against top officials of the agency.

    Uwujaren referred to an EFCC statement dated March 9, this year, saying Yerima and Antia are fraudsters and would be arraigned accordingly pending conclusion of investigation.

    He said the EFCC does not torture or maltreat accused persons.

    He added that the duo were yet to pay the balance of $2.250 million dollars to the other businessmen.

    Uwujaren alleged that it amounted to cheap blackmail on the part of the accused persons to petition the president that top officials of the anti-graft agency were demanding bribe from them.

     

  • Bamaiyi: Ex-court registrar fails polygraph examination

    A ‎polygraph expert, Mohammed Umar, on Tuesday told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that a former court registrar, Oluronke Rosolu, failed polygraph examination.

    ‎Rosolu, is facing trial for allegedly conspiring with others to defraud a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, to the tune of $330,000.‎

    She is arraigned for allegedly aiding a one-time Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, to defraud Bamaiyi of the said sum.

    Umar, who is a quality control operative attached to the Polygraph Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja, was testifying before Justice Lateef Lawal- Akapo at the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday.

    ‎The defendant, who is a former registrar to Justice Joseph Oyewole, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences and obtaining money by false pretences.

    The EFCC said the fraud took place while Bamaiyi and Ajudua were remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Prison for separate criminal charges between November 2004 and June 2005.

    The anti-graft agency said Ajudua obtained the money from Bamaiyi by claiming that it represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his case.

    He allegedly claimed that the money would help to facilitate Bamaiyi’s release from prison.

  • Fraud: Six CBN staff, four others remanded in prison

    The six staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and four others were on Tuesday ordered to be remanded in prison till June 9 when their application for bail will be heard.

    They were remanded by Justice Ayo Emmanuel of a Federal High Court, Ibadan, where they are standing trial in seven cases brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Government.

    The accused are facing 31-count charge ranging from conspiracy, abuse of office, stealing to false declaration of actual amount and concealing of property.

    The CBN staff who worked at various branches of the apex bank are – Patience Okoro (Abuja), Afolabi Olufemi (Lagos), Ilori Adekunle (Akure), Kolawole Babalola (Ibadan) Olaniran Adeola (Ibadan) and Fatai Yusuf (Ibadan).

    The four other accused persons, who work with some commercial banks and are accused of conspiring with the CBN staff are – Tope Akintade, Togun Kayode Philip, Salami Ibrahim and Odia Emmanuel.

    Seven cases are filed on the fraud totaling N8 billion. They were accused of stealing and re-circulating defaced and mutilated currencies meant for destruction, substituting them with newspapers.

    They all pleased “not guilty” to the five-count charge in the first case.

    At the opening of the first batch of three cases on Tuesday, counsels to the accused labored in vain to make the judge accept oral application for their bail.

    The lead prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), addressed the court, informing the judge that his team had filed a charge dated May 19 and urged court to accept it and permit it to be read to the accused.

    While making the oral application for his client (Kolawole Babalola)’s bail, Barr. O. Bolanle, who led the pack of defence counsels, urged the court to grant the bail because the offences allegedly committed were not punishable by death if found guilty.

    He tried to persuade the judge to accept the oral application and use his discretion in favour of his client.

    But the judge intercepted him, wondering if he thought oral application for bail could be granted on such weighty offences.

    Bolanle, however, persisted with tenacity, emphasizing that the nature of application that can be granted for bail is not explicitly stated in the law. He insisted that it was in the discretion of the judge to grant it irrespective of whether the application was oral or written.

     

  • EFCC grills ex-Adamawa Governor Nyako for six hours

    EFCC grills ex-Adamawa Governor Nyako for six hours

    For about six hours, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilled a former Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako over alleged mismanagement of about N17billion while in office.

    The quizzing of the ex-governor came barely 48 hours after his return from a self-imposed exile.

    The amount in question was said to be in relation with N2billion withdrawn in 181 transactions from Adamawa Joint State/ Local Government Account.

    The N2billion was withdrawn by a permanent Secretary, based on the alleged directive of the ex-governor, between 2007 and 2014.

    Also, the ex-governor is expected to explain how N15billion state cash was allegedly laundered into the accounts of five companies owned by one of his children, Abdul-Aziz Nyako.

    The firms are Blue Opal Nigeria limited, Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon Bureau De Change.

    According to a source in the commission, Nyako arrived at the commission at about 9.50am having been earlier declared wanted by the anti-graft agency.

    Although a reception was scheduled for the ex-governor in Yola on Monday, he chose to honour EFCC’s invitation to avoid any embarrassment at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja and International Airport in his home state.

    The source said: “Nyako willingly came to the EFCC for interaction with our team. Our operatives were going after him but he beat us to the game.

    “For about six hours, we have been interacting with him based on some petitions we got in 2014.

    “The allegations border on massive looting of the treasury especially Joint State/ Local Government Account, criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, money laundering.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The issues against the ex-governor are curious withdrawals of from Joint State/ Local Government Account as follows: N2billion (August 2011 and 2012); N600m (October 2009 and February 2011); N500m (March 2008 and March 2011) among others.

    “There was also suspicious transfer of N15billion belonging to the state into the accounts of five companies of one of his children, Abdul-Aziz Nyako. We had earlier arrested the son for interaction.”

    As at press time, it was gathered that the ex-governor denied all the allegations against him in the petitions.

    Though Nyako was yet to be released at 4.02pm when our correspondent put a call to the EFCC, there were indications that he might be granted an administrative bail.

    The Head of Medai and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Former Governor Nyako came to our commission and we are already interacting with him.”

     

  • Court strikes out fraud charges against Sylva‎

    Court strikes out fraud charges against Sylva‎

    Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday struck out the N2.45billion fraud charges brought against a former governor of ‎Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge, in a ruling, also ordered the release of Sylva’s international passport deposited with the court since 2012 in fulfillment of the conditions attached to the bail granted him when he was first arraigned.

    Justice Chukwu’s decision was informed by an application for withdrawal made by O.J Nnadi (SAN), who appeared for the prosecution on the instruction of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Saidu Diri.

    The former prosecuting lawyer, Festus Keyamo, withdrew from the case on May 25 this year, following which the case file was handed back to the DPPF.

    On Monday, it was thought the case will proceed to trial as earlier scheduled by the court, but Nnadi, who presented a fiat, which he said was issued to him by the DPPF, to take over the prosecution of the case, applied to withdraw it.

    Nnadi, while tendering the fiat, told the court that he was instructed by the EFCC to withdraw the suit. He urged the court to strike it out.

    “‎We are ready for trial, but following the instruction this morning, EFCC directed that this charge be withdrawn.‎ I received instruction from Ojogbane that this charge against the defendant be withdrawn. We urge this court to strike out the charge,” Nnadi said.

    EFCC’s Assistant Director, Legal and Prosecution, Johnson Ojogbane, who appeared with Nnadi denied that the EFCC was part of the decision to withdraw the case against Sylva.

    He was surprised about Nnadi’s claim that the EFCC instructed him to withdraw the case.

     

  • Campaign funds: Bishop urges EFCC to investigate CAN, TAN

    Campaign funds: Bishop urges EFCC to investigate CAN, TAN

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been urged to investigate Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and individuals accused of receiving money for campaigns in the last general elections.

    Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Kaduna, the Most Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, spoke at the 20th synod of the church.

    The theme of the Synod was  “A New Look At Holiness”, which was taken from the book of Leviticus 19: 1-4 and 11-14.

    He said: “Nigerians are aware that many became criminally rich during the last administration. Organisations that have been accused of receiving money for campaigns like the TAN, CAN in particular, and individual office holders should be investigated by the EFCC, and as much of the misappropriated national wealth as possible should be returned for the development of our country.”

    Rev. Fearon admonished Buhari to stay clear of any faulty foundation laid by his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

    “He should closely look at the foundation laid before building on it to avoid a cataclysm that may be worse than what he is inheriting. That means, there should be some probes, but not within his first six months in office,” the cleric said.

    He added: “Mr. President is advised to sanitise the Armed Forces, get them well equipped, and flush out the remaining Boko Haram insurgents within his first six months in office.

    “Within the first six months, we encourage Mr. President to have achieved something to give some hope to Nigerians.  We suggest he makes fuel available by removing subsidy so as to use the billions being paid to marketers who, in spite of that, hold Nigerians to ransom.

    “We suggest to the President to get the companies responsible for the power sector to either make power generation and distribution effective, or set up appropriate, trustworthy and action-oriented machinery within constitutional provisions to re-evaluate their contracts.

    “We want to state the obvious so as to give the President some ideas for his consideration and action. It is obvious, the stakes are high; Nigerians who voted for you have a very high expectancy level. You cannot afford to fail by disappointing them.

  • EFCC: we recovered N65.3b in two years

    EFCC: we recovered N65.3b in two years

    •Commission may declare Ali-Modu Sheriff wanted
    •‘Fayose, Audu, Goje, Doma, Nyame, Turaki still on trial’

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it recovered about N65.3 billion between 2012 and 2014.

    The commission added that it may declare former Borno State Governor Ali-Modu Sheriff wanted for failing to honour its invitation.

    It, however, said Governor Ayodele Fayose and five ex-governors are still on trial.

    The affected ex-governors are Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa) and Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba).

    The commission made the clarifications at a briefing in Abuja by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, following criticisms by the Human Rights Writers Association as well as two of its dismissed staff, Ms Juliet Ibekaku and Michael Nzekwe.

    Ibekaku had said: “In the past seven or eight years since EFCC started, we’ve been hearing about governors who have been in the courts for the past eight years, no conviction, nothing! No assets recovered.  And we are still (sic) back to square one.

    “So, something has to change. And in my mind, what needs to change is the leadership.  The second thing that needs to change is the staffing. Who are we hiring to work in this place?”

    But, Uwujaren said the commission has not failed in its responsibility.

    He said between 2012 and 2014, the EFCC recovered about N65.3 billion and over $245.9 million.

    He said: “Between 2012 and 2014, the commission recovered N65,320,669,350. Also, the sum of $245, 952,030.13, £693, 399.00 and €62,600 were also recovered during the period.”

    On investigation and trial of some former governors, Uwujaren said Fayose and some ex-governors are still undergoing trial.

    He said the EFCC might be forced to declare Sheriff wanted for failing to honour its invitation.

    “We invited him (Sheriff) for questioning. As I speak to you, he did not honour that invitation.

    “Once the commission invites a suspect in a matter and he fails to honour the invitation, options are opened to us. We might declare him wanted. Yes, we might do that.”

    Sheriff is wanted for alleged mismanagement of N300 billion his administration received from the Federation Account between 2003 and 2011.”

    He added: “The cases involving former Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu, former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje, former Nasarawa State Governor Akwe Doma, former Taraba State Governor Rev. Jolly Nyame are progressing in courts, as several witnesses have been called by the prosecution.

    “Of course, the case against Ayodele Fayose has only been temporarily halted by the fact of his re-election as Ekiti State governor.

    “We could go on and on. These records apply to cases involving ex-governors only.

    “They do not tell the whole story regarding the prosecution and convictions record of the commission.”

    Uwujaren said the EFCC has not abandoned cases involving some former governors, including Orji Uzor Kalu, Saminu Turaki, Lucky Igbinedion and Chimaroke Nnamani.

    He said some properties were seized from some ex-governors, including Kalu (10 properties seized, 13 accounts frozen), DSP Alamieyeseigha (12 properties); Lucky Igbinedion (two properties); Nnamani (accounts of six firms linked to him frozen); and Saminu Turaki (six accounts of firms frozen).

    He faulted the allegations of non-performance against the anti-graft agency by Ibekaku.

    He added: “However, for Nigerians to see through her lies, it is important to recall some of the milestones achieved by the commission in the investigation, prosecution and recovery of assets of politically exposed persons, including ex-governors.

    “Until he was pardoned by the government, it is on record that former Bayelsa State Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha was the first former state governor to be successfully prosecuted by the EFCC.

    “Over N3 billion, which includes the proceeds realised from the sale of his properties has been returned to Bayelsa State. These properties include Chelsea Hotel, Abuja. Other real estate investment of Alamieyeseigha which accounts were frozen by the commission include:1.Plot 26 Dalhatu Close, Abacha Estate, Ikoyi;  2. 20 Obaji Street, Diobu Port Harcourt; 3. 1. Community Road, off Allen Avenue, Lagos;  4. 247, Water Gardens, London W2 2DG; 5. 14, Mapesbury Road, London NW2 4JB; 6. Flat 202, Jubilee Heights, Shootuphl L, London, NW2 3UQ; 7.   68-70, Regents Park Road, London; 8. 4A, Ilu Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos; 9. 18 Mississippi Street, Maitama, Abuja; 10. V & A Water Front, Cape Town, South Africa; 11.  2, Marcibit Street, Ishaku Rabiu Estate, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja; and 12.               24, Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.

    “Another former governor, who was prosecuted and convicted by the Commission, is former Edo State governor Lucky Igbinedion. Apart from the conviction, the commission equally recovered some properties from him. The properties include: 1.   A property located at 57, Ihama Road, GRA, Benin and 2.   Another property located at 24, Izekor Road, Benin

    “Following the furore generated by the option of fine handed the governor by the trial judge, the commission filed fresh charges against Lucky Igbinedion.

    “The action was challenged in court with the trial court ruling that the commission cannot try the ex-governor on the same matter for which he had already been convicted.

    “The EFCC appealed against the ruling with the Court of Appeal affirming the commission’s position that Igbinedion really has a case to answer.

    “Following that, two of his accomplices, his younger brother, Michael Igbinedion and his Personal Assistant, Charles Eboigbodin, who were charged alongside the former governor, were successfully prosecuted and convicted, just last month (April 29, 2015, precisely).”

    He added: “The case involving Chimaroke Nnamani, former Enugu State governor, has been in court since he was first arraigned in 2007 alongside Sunday Anyaogu, his then aide and six firms linked to them:  Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

    “EFCC in 2014 sought for a separate trial of the companies and on May 19, 2015, the companies pleaded guilty to an amended 10-count charge. We await the court pronouncement on the fate of the assets.

    “Former Governor Orji Kalu’s case is currently at the Supreme Court, where he is challenging the competence of the charge after the court of appeal affirmed the trial court’s ruling that he has a case to answer.

    “The commission has, however, seized the following properties belonging to the former Abia State governor. They include: 1. Property at 9A, Queen Amina Road, Ungwan, Rimi GRA, Maiduguri;  2.  Bungalow at 21, Gwari Avenue, Behind Gerau Hospital, Off Kachia Road, Maiduguri;  3.  Parcel of land at Kirikiri Industrial Estate, Lagos;  4. Block of flats at Plot 103A Olumeni Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt;  5.   Identical duplex at Plot 65, No. 7& 8. Orogburn Crescent, Diobu GRA 11, Port Harcourt;  6.  3 Nos bedroom bungalow plus adjourning buildings at Mairi Village, Maiduguri, Borno State; 7. 3 bedroom bungalow at GRA Maiduguri, Borno State; 8.  Warehouse at Mairi village, Maiduguri;  9.  Former Progress Bank Building, No. 45, Baga Road, Maiduguri; and 10. Former Orji Alex Bakery, Bulunkutu, Seleke, Maiduguri.”

    Uwujaren added that several accounts in various banks linked to the former governor’s companies were also frozen by the commission.

    “The accounts include those belonging to: 1.Tourism Development Area, Gambia; 2.  Slok Investment Limited; 3. Slok USA INC;  4. Slok Nigeria Limited; 5. The Sun Publishing;  6. Astel Offshore; 7. Neva Nigeria Limited; 8. Reality Organization; 9.   Kachi Agwu Enterprises; 10.  Menco Resources Limited; 11. Nnachison & Co;  12. Slok Air Nigeria Limited; and 13. Firmbase Inter Limited,” the EFCC’s spokesman said.

    He explained that the accounts of companies linked to Turaki were also frozen by the commission.

    “The companies are: 1. INC Natural Resources Limited, 7 Civic Centre Road, Kano; 2. Wildcat Nigeria Limited, 31 Kuta Road, Minna, Niger State; 3.  Arlek Construction Nigeria Limited, 7 Civic Centre Road, Kano;  4. Gethel Nigeria Limited, 7 Civic Centre Road, Kano; 5.  Wallong Camco Nigeria Limited, Tukur Commercial Layout, Dutse; and 6. Gansu Construction Engineering Limited,” he said.

    “For Joshua Dariye, who was recently ordered to proceed to trial after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal against the Appeal Court affirmation of the competence of the commission’s charges against him, the following properties were recovered from him: 1.   Property at Plot 1802 Ao4, No. 19 Frederick Chiuba Close, Asokoro, Abuja;  2. Plot of land in the name of Jambo Holdings Nigeria Limited, Rayfield, Jos; 3.  House No. 11, Rest Road, Jos ; 4. Plot of land at Gada Village, off Adiko Bukuru Road By Pharm Headquarters, Jos; 5. Plot of land at Liberty Boulevard, Jos;  6.Plot of Land at Ibrahim Taiwo Avenue, Jos;  7. Two additional plots along Dogon Dutse Road, Jos;  8.Plot of land at Gold & Base Neighbourhood, Jos; and 9. Plot of land known as Yelwa Club, Bukuru, Jos.

    “In the case involving former Delta State governor James Ibori, whose conviction in a London court was largely based on the evidence supplied by the EFCC, the commission secured the final forfeiture of the $15 million bribe, which he allegedly offered to a former chairman of the commission, to the Federal Government.

    “Let it be emphasised once again, that in apportioning sanctions to Ms. Ibekaku, along with her co-traveler, Michael Nzekwe and nine others who were dismissed from the commission, EFCC was guided by its Staff Regulations and extant Public Service Rules.

    “Ms. Ibekaku is challenging her dismissal at the National Industrial Court and we call on her to allow the court rule on her application and not to engage in acts tantamount to self-help, which only highlights among other acts unbecoming of a public officer, the reason she was dismissed from EFCC in the first place: gross indiscipline,” he said.