The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • How Arisekola’s son, others perfected subsidy scam – Witness

    How Arisekola’s son, others perfected subsidy scam – Witness

    Three oil marketers, Abdullahi Alao, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi were on Wednesday alleged to have forged the documents with which they perpetrated N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

    A prosecution witness, Mr. Mohammed Adedapo, made the allegation while testifying at the resumed trial of the marketers before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

    The marketers and their firms, Axenergy Limited and Majope Investment Limited were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged subsidy frauds.

    Adedapo, who is an inspector of petroleum products of Q and Q Control Marine Services Nigeria Limited told the court that Alao, who is the son of Ibadan business mogul, Abdulazeez Arisekola- Alao and other defendants allegedly obtained subsidy for 15,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products as against the 4,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products that was imported.

    The witness said the discharge was done at Lister Jetty in Apapa between January22 and 23, 2011.

    Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr. Francis Usani, the witness said Q and Q was contracted by Oando Oil and Gas Plc to inspect the quantity of products brought in by a vessel, MT Brief on behalf of Majope Investment Limited.

    Adedapo maintained that the vessel that brought the petroleum products allegedly discharged about 4,000 metric tonnes of the products into the facility while it took away the remaining quantity of the product.

    He claimed that following the discrepancy discovered in the transaction, he wrote a protest letter to the captain of the ship to complain and state the fact of the transaction.

     

     

  • FEC scraps BPE, NAPEP, NEIC, 217 other agencies

    FEC scraps BPE, NAPEP, NEIC, 217 other agencies

    …Approves merger of EFCC, ICPC

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has agreed to scrap the Bureau of Public Enterprises and 219 other parastatals and agencies.

    Also, in spite of the controversy, the government has accepted the recommendation to merge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    But the government has accepted the recommendation to conduct a “proper investigation into the allegations made by the National Boundaries Commission against the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) over the funding of two non-existent boundary demarcations.

    The OSGOF will also be probed for alleged illegal extension of Nigeria’s maritime boundary from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles at the cost of US$12 million without consulting.

    These are the highlights of the outcome of a review of the White Paper on the report of the Presidential Committee on the Rationalization and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions, which was headed by ex-Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had spent the last three weeks to review the report and concluded the exercise on June 26.

    The Federal Government FG had in 2011 inaugurated the Oronsaye panel to restructure and rationalize Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies of the government as part of measures to reduce the rising budget profile.

    After the submission of the report, a White Paper Committee was set up to look at the recommendations of the Presidential Committee.

    The FEC, however, finally debated and ratified the recommendations of the White paper Committee.

    According to a document obtained by our correspondent, some of the agencies to be scrapped are the BPE; National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP); Fiscal Responsibility Commission(FRC); Public Complaints Commission(PCC); Nigerian Export Promotion Council; Public Complaints Commission (PCC); National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC); Federal Highways Department; Utilities Charges Commission; and National Economic Intelligence Committee among others.

     

  • Fraud: Court dismisses Ajudua’s bid to quash charges

    Lagos lawyer and alleged fraudster, Fred Ajudua, on Tuesday lost in his bid to regain to secure his release from the prison where he has been held over fraud related offences.

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja presided over by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole dismissed the application in which he was asking the court to quash the $1.6m fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2003.

    Justice Oyewole in a ruling dismissed Ajudua’s application for lack of merit.

    He said that granting Ajudua’s application would affect the credibility of the criminal justice system with regards to the protection of witnesses.

    Though the complainant has withdrawn from the case and filed an affidavit before the court for the discontinuance of proceedings, the judge held that he was not responsible for the prosecution of the case and therefore cannot terminate it.

    Oyewole said if the prosecution has reached dead end in the case, it will say so “otherwise the defence cannot terminate the case even at the withdrawal of the witness as claimed by the defence.”

    The judge described as strange, the application for dismissal of the charges by the defence especially at this stage of the trial.

    He said the testimonies of six witnesses are already before the court and none of it will be touched until the statements of other witnesses are analysed.

    He said testimony in a criminal trial is not at the discretion of the witness.

    Ajudua was arraigned alongside Charles Orie in 2003 for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.6m between July 1999 and September 2000.

    The suspect absconded from trial after he was granted bail by Justice Oyewole.

     

  • Court disqualifies prosecutor from Fani-Kayode’s trial

    Court disqualifies prosecutor from Fani-Kayode’s trial

    Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday disqualified Mr. Vitalis Ahaotu, the prosecutor in the trial of a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, who is charged for money laundering.

    The judge disqualified the prosecutor because he lacked the fiat (authority) of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute the case.

    Ahaotu is a counsel in the firm of Festus Keyamo and Co., and was prosecuting the case on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The judge held that there was doubt as to whether the AGF had issued a fiat to the chambers of Keyamo to prosecute the case on its behalf.

    “There is no doubt that the AGF has the power to issue a fiat to any lawyer to prosecute a case on his behalf, but the prosecutor has shown no evidence of delegation in this respect.

    “The prosecutor claims it possesses the fiat of the AGF, when in fact it has not been exhibited before this honourable court.

    “I hold that Ahaotu cannot continue to represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this case,” the judge said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the court’s ruling followed the contention raised over whether the prosecution had the authority of the AGF to prosecute the former minister.

    Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), representing the defendant, had on June 6, challenged the appearance of the prosecutor in the case.

    Adedipe had argued that it was not clear whether Ahaotu was prosecuting on behalf of the Federal Government or the EFCC.

    Immediately after the ruling, another counsel from the firm of Keyamo, Mr. Alexander Opako, had urged the court to fix a trial date, to enable his principal – Keyamo – appear personally.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), however, objected to this application.

    Akoni noted that since the court had ruled that the prosecution had no fiat, the charge becomes incompetent.

     

  • Alleged N25bn scam: EFCC to close case against Igbinedion September 23

    Alleged N25bn scam: EFCC to close case against Igbinedion September 23

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it will on September 23 close its case in the ongoing trial of Michael Igbinedion, the younger brother of former Edo State Governor Lucky N. Igbinedion.

    Igbinedion, Patrick Eboigbodin and four companies – Gava Corporation Limited, Romrig Nigeria Limited, PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited – are facing trial at a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, over N25 billion scam.

    A statement yesterday by the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said three witnesses had testified for the commission.

    The statement said: “At the resumed hearing on Friday, June 21, 2013, EFCC called three witnesses. The first witness, Mr. Ajoyo Sowale, an Accounts Officer with Guaranty Trust Bank, identified various account statements and account opening documents of the accused and confirmed the lodgements made into the various accounts. He also told the court that he printed the various account statements and got them certified.

    “The EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), further led the second witness, Mr. Eriyo Amadiayagbon David, who was a Personal Assistant to Micheal Igbinedion, in evidence. David told the court how the second accused, Michael Igbinedion, instructed him on several occasions to make lodgements into his GTB accounts and those of Romrig Nigeria Limited and Gava Corporation.

    “According to David, he usually received cash from the Accountant at the Government House and paid into the account of the second accused ‘and after paying the government entourage, the remaining cash is usually given to the ADC (Aide-De-Camp) to the Governor’.

    “The witness further identified his name on the printed account statement of Michael Igbinedion, which is part of the exhibits before the court.

    “During cross-examination, counsel to the first accused, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), asked the witness if he ever stole government money with the first accused, Mr. Patrick Eboigbodin, and the witness told the court that he never did.”

    Justice Liman adjourned the matter till September 23 and 24.

  • Absence of EFCC witness stalls trial

    The absence of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness yesterday stalled the trial in a N178.9 million fraud case against former Ecobank Customer Service Manager, Mrs Tosin Lawal, and her husband, Michael.

    Justice Christopher Balogun, at the last hearing, adjourned for hearing of a substantive criminal charge after listening to the defence and prosecuting counsel. But counsel to the EFCC, Ayokunle Fayaniu, who said he had no witness in court, averred that he thought the case was adjourned for mention.

    He prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him produce prosecution witnesses.

     

  • EFCC re-arraigns Ikuforiji, aide

    Court grants defendants N2b bail

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji on amended charges bordering on money laundering.

    The speaker is facing 24-count charges. His personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, was also re-arraigned on 49 counts.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba granted them N1 billion bail each with two sureties.

    He said they would be remanded in prison unless they meet the bail conditions.

    The court refused to adopt the bail conditions granted them by the former trial judge, retired Justice Okechukwu Okeke.

    Justice Buba surprised the courtroom when he first pronounced a bail of N5 billion each for the defendants.

    He said he was not bound by the former judge’s bail conditions since the case was beginning afresh before him.

    Ikuforiji’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), requested that the bail conditions be varied and the judge reduced it to N1 billion each.

    Justice Buba said the sureties must file an affidavit of means and the defendants must undertake to always be present in court.

    In the amended charges, Ikuforiji and Atoyebi were accused of accepting cash payments from the House of Assembly on or about April 27, 2010, without going through a financial institution.

    EFCC said the “various cash payments” amounted to about N338.8 million.

    Justice Okeke, before he retired, adjourned proceedings in the trial indefinitely, after accusing the prosecution of delaying the trial.

    Justice Buba adjourned the case till September 25.

  • Absence of prosecution stalls Alao-Akala’s trial

    Absence of prosecution stalls Alao-Akala’s trial

    The ongoing trial of the former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and two others, suffered set back when the prosecution failed to appear in court.

    The presiding judge, Justice Bayo Taiwo later adjourned hearing till July 11 due to the absence of the prosecution.

    Mr. Godwin Obala, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, had written the court that he would be absent.

    Justice Taiwo, however, said that he received the letter a few moments before the court sitting on Thursday.

    He said “This matter is coming up for the first time before me and as at today, there is no prosecution in court.

    “Oblah wrote to say he would be absent and suggested that an adjournment be fixed for either July 4 or 11.”

    Mr. Nathaniel Oke, counsel representing the former governor and Mr. Femi Babalola, however, said that he was not opposing the application for an adjournment.

    “Nevertheless, I wish to say that the dates suggested were not jointly arrived at.

    “Moreover, I want it to be on record that my client, Akala, may be absent, because he had, before now, scheduled to be abroad on medical grounds,” Oke said.

    Mr. Richard Ogunwole, representing Senator Hosea Agboola, did not also object the application for an adjournment.

    “I, however, wish to state that I may not be available on any of the suggested dates as I would be travelling out for medical checkup.

    “I would, therefore, appeal for a date in September during which, the new legal year would have commenced,” Ogunwole said.

    Justice Taiwo, on the other hand, ruled that the court could not wait till the next legal year.

    “Since there are still three clear weeks before the end of this legal year, I rule that the matter comes up before July 15,” the judge said.

     

  • EFCC withdraws criminal charges against Wema Bank

    EFCC withdraws criminal charges against Wema Bank

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday notified an Igbosere High Court, Lagos, of its intention to discontinue a criminal suit filed against WEMA Bank Plc.

    In a suit filed last year, the commission had joined the bank as third defendant, in a four count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing, alongside Faniran Olubanji and Ariel Investment Management Limited, first and second defendants respectively.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Miss O. Odiri, at the resumed hearing, told the Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson presided court that the prosecution was no longer willing to proceed with the charge against the bank.

    She said the charge sheet has been amended with the bank’s name removed.

    The removal of the bank’s name was sequel to a preliminary objection dated May 6, filed by counsel to WEMA bank, O. Arulogun (SAN).

    Arulogun had in his preliminary objection, urged the court to strike out the name of the bank from the suit, objecting the procedure adopted by EFCC in withdrawing the charge.

    He argued that it was wrong for EFCC to come under section 115 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State (ACJ), which empowered the prosecution or the Attorney General to amend its charge or discontinue it entirely.

    Arulogun said under section 115, an amendment cannot be used to discontinue a charge, adding that such withdrawal must come under Section 73 (1) of the ACJ.

    “For such withdrawal to be valid, the EFCC needed to seek the consent of the court.

    “If an amendment is made in such a way as to withdraw a suit against a defendant, such amendment cannot come by merely filing amended charge. It must come by formal application. There must be an application and the court must give its consent,” Arulogun argued.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ex- Afribank MD denies involvement in ‘irregular transaction’

    Ex- Afribank MD denies involvement in ‘irregular transaction’

    A former managing director of the Afribank Plc (now Mainstreet Bank), Sebastine Adigwe, on Thursday told a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, that he did not engage in any irregular banking transactions.

    Adigwe told the court presided over by Justice Olabisi Akinlade that no money was transferred to his personal account contrary to the charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The former Afribank MD made the submission through his counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), at the resumed hearing of the charges filed against him by the commission.

    The EFCC had arraigned Adigwe for allegedly stealing N87.5 billion belonging to the bank.

    He is standing trial alongside five other former directors of the bank — Osa Osunde, Isa Zailani, Chinedu Onyia, Henry Arogunde and Peter Ololo.

    A former Head of Special Project of Afribank, Mr. Ndubuisi Osakwe, who was the first prosecution witness, had earlier told the court that loans were granted to some companies in September 2008 by the bank.

    According to Osakwe, who was under cross examination by the defence counsel said a credit facility of between N15 billion and N13 billion, were granted to the companies for the purchase of Afribank shares from the capital market.

    He listed the beneficiaries of the facility to include Rehoboth Assets Management Limited, Falcon Securities Limited, Resolution Trust Investment Limited and Petosan Oil and Gas Limited.

    Osakwe disclosed that the companies later issued cheques in various sums in favour of one of the bank’s subsidiaries, Afribank Securities Limited.

    He said the money paid into Afribank Securities Limited account was later transferred into the account of Assets Management Nominees (ASEMAN) Limited, another company owned by the bank.

     

     

    .