The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • Estate agent arraigned for ‘swindling’ prospective tenants N30.7m

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned an estate agent, Peters Nwogu, before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for allegedly defrauding some accommodation seekers to the tune of N30.7 million.

    Nwogu was arraigned before the court presided by Justice Kudirat Jose.

    The defendant was arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences and issuance of dud cheque.

    He was charged alongside two of his companies, Diplomatic Service Consulting Limited (DSCL) and the Christian Business Defence Fellowship.

    EFCC counsel, Mr. Francis Usani, alleged that Nwogu, between February 2007 and January 2010, collected various sums of money from different individuals and companies under the pretext of helping them secure accommodation in different locations across Lagos.

    The EFCC said Nwogu promised to lease the victims the buildings located at No. 4, Kingsley Emu Street, Lekki Phase I, Lagos and No. 35, Joel Ogunaike Street, Ikeja, respectively.

    Some of the people allegedly swindled by the defendant are – Messrs Emmanuel Dimgba, Kayode Komolafe and Tochukwu Orakwe.

    Others are- Alumaco Plc, JMG Nigeria Limited and Nuramal and Sons Nigeria Limited.

    He also accused Nwogu of issuing an Oceanic Bank Cheque dated December 7, 2009 in the sum of N48 million payable to one Dr. F.A. Ajayi from the account of DSCL.

    The prosecutor said the cheque was dishonored when it was presented because there were insufficient funds in the defendant’s account.

     

     

  • Subsidy: Absence of accused stalls oil marketers’ trial

    The absence of an accused, Emmanuel Morah, on Tuesday stalled the trial of three oil marketers charged with alleged N789.6 million fuel subsidy fraud.

    Morah, who was charged alongside Adamu Maula and George Ogbonna, is standing trial before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

    They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside their firms – Downstream Energy Sources Limited and Rocky Energy Limited.

    The EFCC alleged that the marketers did not import the 10,862 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for which they received subsidy payment from the Federal Government.

    Morah’s counsel, Mr. Eubena Ahmedu, in an application dated October25, informed the court that his client was involved in an accident and had travelled abroad for surgery.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ahmedu also tendered a medical report and photographs of Morah at a hospital in the United States, where he was recuperating.

    He said Morah would not return to Nigeria until end of November and, therefore, asked the court to vacate the dates earlier fixed for the case.

    The EFCC counsel, Mr. Tayo Olukotun, did not oppose the application.

    Okunnu, granted Ahmedu’s application and adjourned the matter to February 14, 2014 for continuation of trial.

     

  • ‘Over 50 firms to be prosecuted for presenting false documents’

    ‘Over 50 firms to be prosecuted for presenting false documents’

    The Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Ezeh, yesterday said the names of over 50 companies have been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation and possible prosecution for a presenting false documents to get contracts.

    Eze addressed reporters in Abuja after signing an agreement with the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    He said: “On Friday (November 8), I signed off another letter to the EFCC and ICPC, listing over 50 companies that tried to get government jobs through the use of forged documents, because the use of fake document is a crime.

    “Some people make false claims about their capacity. They are the people who shout the greatest and who don’t even know what a cubic metre of concrete is. They will quote either ridiculously low. Then, when they don’t get the job, they begin to shout on top of their roofs.”

     

  • N255million car scandal: Oduah’s 12 sins by Reps panel

    N255million car scandal: Oduah’s 12 sins by Reps panel

    A fresh insight into the report of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the probe of the controversial two armoured cars shows that 12 infractions are standing against the name of embattled Aviation Minister Stella Oduah.

    The vehicles were bought at a total cost of N255 million by the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) allegedly for the minister in violation of due process.

    Both the minister and the agency have denied any breach of the rules and said the vehicles were for operational use only.

    However, the committee in its 20-page report, which was laid before the plenary of the House of Representatives on Thursday, said it traced massive violations of the rules by the minister in the transaction for 54 cars, including the BMW armoured cars, by the NCAA.

    The committee said it discovered that on April 25, 2013, the minister approved NCAA’s request to procure 55 operational vehicles valued at N564, 665,000.00.

    The agency then went ahead to secure a loan of N643, 088,250 for 54 vehicles.

    But it could not explain what it wanted to do or did with the balance of N78, 423,250.

    The panel also said it could not trace one of the disputed BMW cars based on the chassis numbers on the receipt issued by Coscharis Motors Limited.

    The House has not fixed a date for the consideration of the report.

    The report reads in part: “The 2013 Appropriation Act provides for the purchase of 25 vehicles at the of N240,000,000 namely (i) Toyota Pickup Hilux(5); (ii) Toyota Corolla(10); (iii) Toyota Land Cruiser(5); (iv) Toyota Hiace(3); and (v) Security Inspection Vehicles for Safety/Security(2).

    “That there was no appropriation for the purchase of two (2) bulletproof (armoured cars) in 2013 Appropriation Act.

    “NCAA proposal for the purchase of the two BMW armoured cars worth N140million was earlier rejected by the Committee. What was provided for in the budget were two security vehicles for inspection of perimeter fence.

    “That Hon. Minister of Aviation claimed that the purchase of two (2) bulletproof BMW armoured cars were provided for in the 2013 Budget of the NCAA. This submission by the Hon. Minister is incorrect.

    “The 2013 Appropriation provides for two operational/security vehicles for the inspection of perimeter fences and not two (2) BMW bulletproof cars as purported by the Minister and NCAA.

    “On April 15, 2013, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) applied to the Hon. Minister of Aviation via a memo NCAA/DG/04/1/13 for approval to acquire a total of 51 operational vehicles at a total cost of N564, 665,000.00.

    “NCAA’s application was approved by the Hon. Minister via a memo FMA/NCAA/ T44555/5.6/T2/136 dated April 25, 2013. This approval contradicts the following:

    •       The 25 operational vehicles approved in NCAA 2013 Budget

    •       The approval value is above the limit of Ministerial Tenders Board. Whereas the approved revised thresholds for service wide application pursuant to Section 16(2) Public Procurement Act 2009(as amended) a minister’s limit is N100million, in approving N564, 665,000 as evidence Ref. No. /FMA/T44555/S.6/T2/136. She was in breach of the law.

    •       No evidence of Due Process was shown by NCAA/Ministry of Aviation

    “The Hon. Minister of Aviation also claimed that the lease financing arrangement would ensure that NCAA pays N100million by the end of 2013 fiscal year while the balance of N16million will be paid in the following years.

    “This amount according to the Minister fell below what is required for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval.”

    The panel said that while documents from NCAA indicated that on April 25, 2013 the minister approved the agency’s  request to procure 55 operational vehicles valued at N564, 665,000.00, “there  is no evidence to show that the Hon. Minister presented NCAA’s request to FEC for its approval.

    “Furthermore, the attempt to procure now and pay later is against the Extant Laws of the Federation.”

    On the armoured car which it claimed it could not trace during investigation, the panel said: “The stored receipt of NCAA in respect of the two (2) BMW vehicles bears chassis No. DW68044 and DW68032.

    “Upon physical inspection of the vehicles in the custody of NCAA by the Aviation Committee, two BMW vehicles were cited and inspected DW68011 and DW68044.

    “The BMW vehicle with chassis number DW68032 was not seen. Messrs Coscharis explanation on this issue is not supported by

    available documents.”

    The panel made seven recommendations to the House of Representatives as follows:

    •       Given the fact that the two BMW armoured vehicles procured in the process were not provided for in the 2013 Appropriation Law nor was due process followed in their procurement, the Ministry of Aviation and NCAA should terminate with immediate effect all transactions and loan agreement it entered into with First Bank Nigeria Plc and all contracts awarded thereto;

    •       That all monies so far spent on the entire transaction should be recovered and returned back to the Federation Account;

    •       The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria should review the continued engagement of the  Hon. Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella  Oduah, having contravened the Appropriation Act and Approved Revised Thresholds by exceeding her approval limit of N100m with the purchase of 54 vehicles value at N643m

    •       That EFCC and other relevant  anti-corruption agencies should: (a) Further investigate the discrepancies in the chassis Number DW68032 of the vehicles on the one reported to be delivered and the one inspected by the committee; and (b) Further investigate and if found wanting, prosecute all persons/ institutions involved in the transaction

    •       The former Acting DG, Mr. Nkemakola Joyce, and Director of Finance, Mr. S. Ozigi, should be sanctioned in accordance with the Civil Service Rules for deliberately breaching the 2013 Appropriation Act/ Extant Laws of the Federation

    •       That Coscharis Motors Nigeria Limited should be investigated on the issue of waiver, source and exact cost of the two BMW vehicles supplied to NCAA;

    •       Coscharis should be made to pay the value of the waiver into treasury account.

  • Dankwambo investigates Goje over N29b 

    Dankwambo investigates Goje over N29b 

    THE immediate past governor of Gombe State, Senator  Danjuma Goje, is to face inquisition for allegedly misappropriating N29.8b while in office, it emerged yesterday.

    Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, however, said the probe is dependent on the report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC).

    Receiving the report of the committee that authenticated pension and gratuity liabilities for the state and local government retirees, the governor said a thorough investigation would be carried out on the alleged misappropriated funds.

    He said the situation has left the state in a bad financial position, explaining Gombe finds it difficult to execute meaningful projects.

    The governor stated: “We cannot trace the records of government.These monies have gone into various accounts and have gone into third party accounts and diverted from the account of Government.”

    He cited a reimbursement of N5.7billion from the Federal Government to the state but said the money cannot not be traced.

    “As Accountant-General of the Federation then, I have records myself that I have reimbursed Gombe State Government in  excess of N10billion but N5.7billion has been diverted from the accounts of Government.

    “We will probe them. EFCC started probing some of them and we are still awaiting the report  because the probe has to continue,” Dankwambo stated.

    He went on: “Immediately EFCC reports to  the Government of Gombe State, the reconciliation of the monies that were lodged in respect of refunds that were received from the Federal Government into Gombe State account to the tune of N5.7 billion will continue. While this is going on, we will continue to reconcile because everyday is a brand new story.

    “I just heard today of the liability of about N23billion  that was left for me. Another N4.5 billion was added. So, the liability of N29.8b is outstanding in respect of the Government of Gombe State that was left for the good and innocent people of Gombe State.

    “We can’t continue like this because of the ineptitude of certain past leaders who ruled us. We don’t want a situation where we may end up not being able to service Government or end up under another state after striving for the creation of our own state.”

    He promised to retrieve what rightfully belongs to the people.

    The chairman of the Committee, Mr. Mikah Kamat, said the committee recommended the immediate adoption of a contributory scheme and the establishment of a Gombe State Pension Commission.

     

  • FC Abuja players send SOS to EFCC

    Players of former Globacom Premier League side, FC Abuja have sent a Save Our Soul plea to their sponsors, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pay their entitlements.

    A player of the now Nigerian Nation-Wide team, who refused to have his name in print, told SportingLife: “We’re at the point of death.

    “Can you imagine a club that produced Super Eagles midfielder, Nosa Igiebor and ex-Eaglets star, Macualy Crisantus being relegated for the nation-wide?

    “Why won’t we relegate? It was hell last season as me and my mates were forced to play some matches on empty stomachs by our management on the grounds that they had used our cash for feeding to pay for transporting the team to an away game.

    “Aside that, we are being owed more than four months’ salary and match bonuses.

    “We have familes who see us as their bread winners and sick ones to take care of. Since we can’t lead a protest to the EFCC, that’s why I have summoned the courage to speak to the press, that you should use your good medium to appeal to the country’s anti-graft agency to pay us.”

  • Council chief seeks higher revenue allocation

    Council chief seeks higher revenue allocation

    The Chairman of the Patani Local Government Area in Delta State, Mr Chris Ekiyor has called for increased revenue allocation to local government area to enable them to meet their obligations to the people at the grassroots.

    Ekiyor, who made the call in a chat with newsmen in Benin, said that funds allocated to the councils every month were not adequate for the councils to meet their financial obligations.

    He cited payment of teachers’ salaries as one area that was taking large chunk of the resources of the local governments.

    The council chief noted that local government councils had to contend with the salaries of a large workforce because they were the leading employers of labour at the grassroots.

    Ekiyor further said that due to the huge wage bills being paid by the councils, they were left with little resources to undertake developmental projects.

    He said it was not true that the councils were under-performing due to corruption among the leadership of the councils.

    According to him, council administration is the most scrutinised among the three tiers of government.

    “The councils are monitored by the governors’ offices, House of Assembly, the States’ Accountant Generals’ offices, Local Governments auditors, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other institutions,” he said.

    He called for the removal of the payment of teachers’ salaries from the list of responsibilities of the councils.

    “In fact, the payment of teachers’ salaries should be completely removed from the purview of councils. Why pay salaries of persons you have no control over?

    “The councils have no power to employ, discipline or sanction teachers, yet we pay their salaries.

    “The Federal Government should take up the responsibility of payment of teachers’ salaries under a special project or pass it to the states.

    “If it is the responsibility of councils, then they should decide on how many schools they can operate and manage within the limit of the resources they have,’’ he said.

  • Probe of NIMASA contract scam ‘inconclusive’

    A Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday heard that investigation of alleged contract scam at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was inconclusive.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor Ibrahim Ahmed said there were no documents showing whether the contracts, which were alleged to have been split, were indeed supplied.

    He was testifying in the trial of former NIMASA Director-General Raymond Omatseye.

    EFCC re-arraigned him before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on an amended 27-count charge bordering on contract scam.

    Omatseye pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    His re-arraignment was due to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako.

    The accused person was charged with alleged illegal transfer of the agency’s fund and contract splitting estimated at over N1.5 billion.

    During cross-examination by defence counsel Olusina Sofola (SAN), Ahmed said he asked for the “performance” documents, but was not given.

    “I made request for the documents orally from the people who made statements. I also requested for the documents from the contractors,” he said.

    The witness said he was, therefore, unable to determine the “performance” of the contracts allegedly awarded by Omatseye.

    “According to statements made by the accused person and the contractors, the items were supplied.

    “The contractors said the contract was performed. I requested for documents showing performance of the contracts but was not given.

    “Because the documents were not available, I wasn’t able to confirm the contract performance,” he said.

    Asked by Sofola if he stated his inability to confirm the contract performance in his statement before the court, the witness said he did not write down everything.

    “It’s not everything I did in the course of my investigation that is contained in my statement,” Ahmed said.

    The EFCC witness, however, said the materials supplied to NIMASA were “almost the same thing” and ought to be awarded to a single contractor.

    He added that the contracts were allegedly split to come within the approved threshold for management approval.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned till December 3 for continuation of hearing.

     

  • Alleged fraud: Ifeanyi Ubah has case to answer, says EFCC

    Alleged fraud: Ifeanyi Ubah has case to answer, says EFCC

    •Capital Oil boss urges court to stop his arrest

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss an application by the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Anambra State Ifeanyi Ubah seeking to stop his arrest by the commission and the police over a fraud allegation.

    Ubah and his company, Capital Oil and Gas Limited, are praying the court to restrain the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde and the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar from arresting him over what he called a “purely civil transaction”.

    He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from taking further actions (including invitation, arrest, detention or arraignment) with respect to the transaction between him, his company and another company, DTV Limited.

    Ubah said neither DTV nor any of its shareholders/directors made any accusation or complaint against him and his company, contrary to EFCC’s claim.

    According to him, the alleged witch-hunt and threat of arrest/detention by the EFCC and the police were meant to humiliate him by portraying him as a criminal.

    The oil mogul/politician claimed that the case which EFCC purports to be investigating involved accusations and counter-accusations by shareholders and directors of DTV Limited against one another in a supremacy tussle within the company.

    Ubah also claimed in his application that the transaction involved a lease of land and purchase of shares of a DTV subsidiary, for which the respondents should have no reasonable suspicion of commission of any offence by the applicants.

    He said the bid to arrest him constitutes an infraction of his fundamental rights enshrined in Sections 35 (1) (C) and 35 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    But the EFCC, in its 35-paragraph counter-affidavit, said Ubah has a case to answer.

    The EFCC chairman said he received petitions on November 28 and December 17 last year from two law firms on behalf of Dys Trocca Vaksesia & Company (DTV) Limited against Ubah and his company.

    He said the petition raised allegations of fraud, obtaining registration by false pretence, forgery, uttering of forged documents, conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, tax evasion and underpayment of consent fees against the applicants.

    The EFCC chairman said the petitioner alleged that the applicants connived with the former Managing Director and Secretary of DTV and executed a deed of lease of the petitioner’s parcel of land at Apapa- Oshodi Expressway to Ubah “for a ridiculous amount of N60, 000 for a tenure of 30 years.”

    The commission said the petition also contained allegation of underpayment of consent fees and levies to the Lagos State government, for which the EFCC was given a fiat by the Attorney-General to investigate and prosecute where necessary.

    EFCC said the applicants were not entitled to the declarations sought, that it would be in the interest of justice to refuse Ubah’s reliefs, and that the applicants would not be prejudiced if the court refuses to grant the prayers.

    Yesterday, Ubah applied for additional time to provide the court with a police report.

  • Stakeholders urge probe by EFCC, others

    Stakeholders urge probe by EFCC, others

    Stakeholders in the Aviation industry have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the sector.

    They said this would save it from glaring corruption.

    The stakeholders spoke against the backdrop of the controversy on the N255 million armoured cars allegedly bought for Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    A former National Secretary of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, said the Aviation sector needed the intervention of the anti-graft agencies now than ever.

    He said: “It is a sad situation, because we have never had this level of corruption in this industry. The corruption in the Aviation Ministry is huge. It is not only the NCAA that bought such vehicles.

    “That is why we are asking the anti-graft agencies to investigate the aviation corporations. It is not only the minister that is involved.

    “If somebody asked you to do something illegal, why not resign, instead of doing it?”

    Tukur, however, said he had faith in the capacity of President Goodluck Jonathan to address the matter.

    But he warned that should he shield the minister from prosecution, if she was found culpable of corruption, it would affect the image of his administration.

    The National Cabin Crew Association (NACCA) has expressed shock over the armoured cars’ controversy.

    It noted that even if the minister needed to address the issue of security, the cost of the vehicles was indefensible.

    NACCA’s National President Charles Onuoha said the group was on the verge of honouring the minister for her role in remodelling the airports when news of the armoured cars broke out.

    He said: “We were planning to honour the minister on October 25. While we were waiting for approval, the controversy over the armoured cars filtered in.

    “We are pained that it happened; we felt embarrassed by what happened.”

    Another stakeholder, who spoke in confidence, wondered why some Igbo youths had been supporting the minister.

    He noted that it was unfortunate that tribalism had been allowed to creep into the matter.

    According to him, a verdict is yet to be passed on the minister but her kinsmen are threatening fire and brimstone.

    He said: “Why are we tribalising everything in this country? If what the minister did is found to be true, it is criminal and the law should be allowed to take its course?”