The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC vs Ikuforiji: Doubts as case resumes tomorrow

    AFTER several adjournments, the case by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Lagos House Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji is expected to resume tomorrow. But there is the fear in legal and political circles that the trial may, as usual, not go on. The situtation has provoked the thinking that the EFCC may not, after all, have an iron cast case against Ikuforiji.

    The trial of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, for alleged money laundering charges, is expected to resume tomorrow before Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, but will it?

    Observers are of the view that the prosecution may not have a water-tight case against the Speaker, hence its dilly-dallying and frequent requests for adjournments. The matter has been adjourned for more than six times.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the Speaker and his aide, Oyebode Alade Atoyebi, with allegedly accepting over N500million from the Assembly without passing through a financial institution, an allegation they denied.

    Most of the adjournments have been at the instance of the prosecution, leading the defence counsel to ask that the matter be struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

    On February 18, the prosecution, led by Godwin Obla, asked Justice Okeke to stand down the matter till 11am “to allow counsel for the prosecution appear in a highly contentious public interest fundamental human right proceeding…” before another judge.

    Opposing the application, Ikuforiji’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) recalled that on October 21, last year the court had indicated that it was prepared to hear the matter from day to day.

    “The prosecution failed to show up on 20th of November, 2012. We lost at least 15 days at the instance of the prosecution. “I submit that the defence has never asked for an adjournment in this matter,” Oyetibo said.

    However, the court adjourned at the instance of the prosecution.

    Again on March 25, the prosecution was not in court. Oyetibo complained, and recalled other adjournment requests by the prosecution.

    He said: “On 6th November, 2012, the prosecution again failed to appear in court, to continue this case. He (Obla) wrote for an adjournment. The case was adjourned to 20th and 21st November 2012, as requested by the prosecution.

    “On 20th November, the prosecution again failed to appear in court, stating that he mixed up the date and my Lord graciously accepted the date. Rather than coming here, he asked for another adjournment and my Lord adjourned till 17th and 18th December 2012.”

    Obla said on February 18, the prosecution wrote two letters, one of which was that the matter be transferred to another judge as Justice Okeke would soon retire.

    The judge, he said, called Obla from another court, and the lawyer said he was not with the Ikuforiji casefile and that the prosecution witness was not in court.

    The case was again adjourned till February 19 and 20 at the prosecution’s instance.

    On February 19, the prosecution asked for yet another adjournment to “to be in Makurdi on the 20th of February.”

    All other dates fixed for trial after February 20 were vacated and the case was adjourned again till March 19 and 20. On those days, the court did not sit and the case was adjourned till March 25.

    Obla had said in court on March 25: “The first Defendant is the sitting speaker of the House of Assembly, Lagos State. The case ought to be given accelerated hearing so that the people of Lagos State can know within a reasonable time his guilt or innocence.

    “The prosecution is taking steps to frustrate these proceedings because he knows my Lordship will be retiring this year.

    “What the charge is saying is that the money did not go through a financial institution and not money laundering or that he stole, and that the accused did not conduct the business of the House in line with Money Laundering Procedure Act.

    “Flowing from this, I urge your lordship to either dismiss this charge or close their defence.”

    The court did not dismiss the charge as prayed, but adjourned till April 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25 and 25.

    At the last hearing, Obla withdrew from the trial.

    In his letter dated April 5 to the court’s registrar, he said the manner in which the court fixed dates would deny him the ability to diligently prosecute the case.

    Obla, who was not present in court on March 25 when the dates were fixed, said the 13 days were scheduled without considering his commitment in other cases in other courts.

    “The new dates clearly conflict with those long-scheduled obligations,” he wrote.

    His withdrawal forced Justice Okeke, who will retire next month, to cancel the dates.

    The head of EFCC’s Legal Department, Mr. Alli Yusuf, said he was informed late about Obla’s withdrawal and would need three weeks to study the file.

    Oyetibo complained that the EFCC was handling the case with levity, urging the court to dismiss the charge for lack of diligent prosecution.

    “This is a case where the accused person is begging to be prosecuted and the prosecution is running away,” Oyetibo said.

    Observers wonder if there is not more to the prosecution’s frequent requests for adjournments than meets the eye. Is there a hidden agenda?

    Justice Okeke adjourned till tomorrow for trial, but will this be the last adjournment at the prosecution’s instance?

     

  • Alleged N750m Polymer contract scam: EFCC quizzes ex-Mint MD

    Alleged N750m Polymer contract scam: EFCC quizzes ex-Mint MD

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has quizzed a former managing director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Ehi Okomoyon over alleged N750million Polymer notes contract.

    Okomoyon, who was arrested on Sunday night, was released yesterday after undergoing interrogation.

    It was learnt that the arrest of Okomoyon followed reports on the alleged scam sent to the EFCC by the Australian police.

    Okomoyon recently resigned his appointment on the heels of the disappearance of millions of N1000 currency notes from the company.

    He was quizzed by investigators at the EFCC Abuja office on relation to the Australian polymer banknotes bribery scam.

    Nigerian officials allegedly received bribes for Securency, a note-printing firm partly owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which handled the polymer banknotes contract.

    A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, was quizzed by the EFCC in January in connection with the probe.

    A source said yesterday that the bribe sum could be more than N750million, going by the depth of the investigation conducted by the Australian police.

    “It is left to us to conduct the Nigerian dimension of the scam,” he added.

    “What I can tell you is that since January, the EFCC has made some breakthrough in its probe,” the source said.

    The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr.Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed Okomoyon’s arrest, did not give details.

    But a Mint source said: “I think the invitation of the former MD of Mint by the EFCC is a fact-finding one because the contract was purely a CBN affair.

    “It is a good development that the EFCC is finally trying to get to the root of the contract.

    “If you are talking of any bribery, it must have been perpetrated during the initial award of contract for the supply of polymer substrates to Securency in 2006 for the N20 banknote.

    “The same template used for the N20 banknote was also applied to N5, N10, and N50 – without any fresh bid. It is curious that the CBN officials chose to adopt the same template in November 2008 without a fresh bid. The contracts for the printing of 1.915billion of N5, N10, and N50 notes were only awarded in April this year.

    “So, the approach adopted by the CBN was suggestive of a conspiracy or an understanding. The bribery scandal predated the award of the contracts in April, this year.

    “I don’t think the decision to print N5, N10, and N50 notes in polymer was the key thing. The bribery must have been done in 2006. The terms of the deal were only extended to the contracts for N5, N10, and N50 notes.

    “To show you that a cabal was at work, not every party was involved in the evaluation process.

    “It was a sealed deal because the CBN dictates who prints abroad, what substrates to print on as well as the quantity. The CBN even decides the companies that will clear and do the freight.”

    The late President Umaru Yar‘Adua, in the company of the then CBN governor, launched the N5, N10 and N50 polymer notes on September 30, 2009 at the Presidential Villa.

    The circulation of the new bank notes coincided with Nigeria’s 49th Independence Anniversary celebration.

    There have been allegations of shady deals between some CBN officials and Securency International Pty of Australian.

    Although the contract for the printing of N5, N10, N50 notes were awarded in April 2009, the bribery scandal involving Securency occurred in 2006.

    The probe conducted by AFP gave clues which the EFCC is examming.

    According to a document, the CBN tender results for banknotes in 2006 showed how Securency, bid for N20 polymer note at Euro 73.475 per 1000 notes, including freight charge.

    But it was learnt that the cost was later reduced to Euro 59.88 by the CBN when the N20 polymer contract was awarded in 2006.

    Others involved in the bid are: Global Securency (Australia); Gieesecke and Devrient (G &D) of Germany ; De La Rue (the UK ); FC Oberther ( France ) and Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).

  • Alleged money laundering: EFCC, Nnamani disagree on doctor’s report

    Alleged money laundering: EFCC, Nnamani disagree on doctor’s report

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday disagreed with a former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani on a medical report by his doctor that he needed medical treatment abroad.

    Nnamani, also a former senator, is on trial before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding his state of about N4.5 billion when he was governor between 1999 and 2007.

    He was charged with his former ex-aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six companies – Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

    Nnamani was re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yinusa on a 105-count charge of money laundering and economic crimes.

    Through his lawyer, Chief Ricky Tarfa (SAN), the former governor filed an application urging the court to allow him to travel abroad for treatment.

    In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Ayo Ambali, it was stated that sometime in 2008, Nnamani was diagnosed of having hypercholesterolemia.

    He was also said to have a high-level Serum Prostrate Surface Antigem (SPA) for which he had gone to the United States (US) severally for medical treatment.

    The deponent added that after a series of tests, Nnamani’s personal physician advised that he should return to the US for compulsory regular medical treatment.

    Hypercholesterolemia is defined as condition characterised by very high levels of cholesterol – a waxy, fat-like substance that is produced in the body and obtained from foods that come from animals, particularly egg yolk, meat, poultry, fish and dairy products – in the blood.

    But the EFCC opposed the application. It urged the court not to grant it.

     

  • Alleged N46b fraud: EFCC arraigns perm sec, others

    Alleged N46b fraud: EFCC arraigns perm sec, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned a suspended Permanent Secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, and six others, for allegedly stealing N46 billion from police pension funds.

    The seven suspects appeared before Justice Hussain Baba of an Abuja High Court on an amended 18 counts charge of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy involving N46 billion.

    One of the suspects, who was absent during the previous arraignment, Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, had her plea taken yesterday.

    Supporters of one of the suspects manhandled some photographers who attempted to take her photograph after the proceedings.

    According to the EFCC, “Attang, who was absent in court when the others were first arraigned, was in charge of the police pension fund when N7.8 billion was stolen through 10,863 cheques.”

    “She was also discovered to have personally signed 1,042 cheques to the tune of N1, 141,309,080.25.

    “Investigation revealed that Mrs. Attang used several companies to defraud the Police Pension Office,” the commission said.

    Some of the companies, which she allegedly used, are: Royal Diadem Business Logistic Limited, Amazing Grace Property Development Company, Enyiuzo Ventures Limited, Status Symbols Rentals Limited, Status Travels and Tours Limited, Quillponte and Anifon Nigeria Limited.

    Other accused persons, besides Kigo and Attang, are Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira and Christian Madubuike.

    The 18-count (amended) charge is punishable under sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The suspects had earlier been arraigned alongside convicted pension thief John Yusuf before Justice Mohammed Talba.

    However, as a result of that uproar that greeted the sentence meted out to Yusuf, the EFCC withdrew the trial of the remaining suspects from Justice Talba.

    Justice Talba sentenced Yusuf to two years imprisonment, but gave him the option of a N750,000 fine.

    The sentence infuriated many and drew uncomplimentary remarks both from within and outside the country against the judiciary.

    The development caused the trial of the alleged pension thieves to be re-assigned to Justice Hussain Baba.

    Count one of the amended charge alleged that the suspects conspired between January 2008 and June 2011, to do an illegal act, to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of N20.155 billion, an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.

    The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    The court fixed their trial for June 3 and 4, 2013.

    Justice Talba said the bail granted the accused persons by the former judge should continue to run since they had complied with the conditions.

    “In the same vein, the sixth accused (Attang) is granted bail on the same terms and conditions with other accused persons,” the judge said.

    The indication given by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), not to oppose bail application, bearing in mind the fact that the case was transferred cleared the way for the accused person temporary freedom.

    Justice Baba adjourned to June 3 and 4 for trial.

    Outside the courtroom, a big drama was on. Relations of one of the suspects — Mrs Onyegbula—beat up some journalists trying to take her photograph after the proceedings.

    Those manhandled include Femi Ipaye (TheNews), Jide Oyekunle (Daily Independent) and Rotimi Ósasona of National Mirror.

    Osasona’s camera was damaged.

  • EFCC opposes Akingbola’s application for overseas treatment

    EFCC opposes Akingbola’s application for overseas treatment

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday opposed the application by a former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akingbola is being prosecuted by the EFCC before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court over the alleged theft of the bank’s N47.1 billion.

    Intercontinental Bank is now Access Bank Plc.

    Akingbola is standing trial together with the General Manager of Tropics Securities Ltd., Bayo Dada.

    Akingbola had on March 19, sought the court’s permission to keep a medical appointment at the Harley Street Hospital, London, on April 15.

    He attached a medical report to his application for the permission.

    However, in its counter-affidavit dated April 5, the EFCC urged the court not to grant Akingbola’s permission.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Edward Okpe, said that the court should not rely on the medical report, arguing that the person who issued it failed to state his qualification.

    Okpe said: “The author of the report also admitted that the last time he examined the first defendant (Akingbola) was in 2009.

    “Whatever treatment the first defendant is going to the U.K. for, can be secured here in Nigeria.

    “We have listed ten medical institutions in Lagos and Abuja which can conveniently take care of whatever treatment he is seeking,’’ the counsel said.

    Okpe also opposed applications by Akingbola and Dada praying the court to review their bail conditions.

    The counsel said that the court could only review bail terms granted by the police and the magistrates courts.

    However, Akingbola’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), urged the court to rely on its earlier rulings, granting permission for similar overseas travels to some persons standing trial before it.

    Olanipekun said that the same court had permitted the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Ltd., Wale Babalakin, and an oil marketer, Mahmud Tukur, to travel abroad for various purposes.

    He said that Akingbola had the right to seek medical attention anywhere, adding that it was not the duty of the prosecution to assign a doctor to him.

    NAN reports that Akingbola and Dada had asked the court to vary the bail terms granted them by Justice Habeeb Abiru, who handled the case before he was elevated to the Court of Appeal.

    In two separate applications dated March 23, the defendants asked the court to remove as a condition for their bail, the mandatory report to the EFCC’s Office, every Monday.

    The court will on Thursday rule on the applications

  • EFCC traces N1.1b pension cash to woman accountant

    EFCC traces N1.1b pension cash to woman accountant

    Police Pension Office official, six others to face trial today

    There seems to be no end to the Police Pension fund scandal.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday that about N1, 141, 309, 080.25 has been traced to a chief accountant in the Police Pension Office, Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang.

    The fraud was allegedly perpetrated through seven companies. About 20 assets have been traced to her.

    The suspect will be arraigned today before Justice Hussain Baba of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

    She is facing trial alongside six others, including a suspended Permanent Secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, and Christian Madubuke.

    The other six suspects were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Talba on January 28, but there are indications that all pension fraud cases may have been withdrawn from Justice Talba.

    Justice Talba is being investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the controversial judgement he gave in respect of a pension fraud convict, John Yakubu Yusuf.

    The convict, who admitted involvement in a N32.5billion pension fraud, was sentenced by Justice Talba to two years imprisonment with an option of N250,000 fine for each of the three counts.

    But the EFCC last night said the trial of the woman and six others would begin afresh today.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has concluded arrangement to arraign another major suspect in the billion naira Police Pension scam. Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang will on Wednesday April 10, 2013 be docked before Justice Hussain Baba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja on charges bordering on stealing and criminal breach of trust.

    “She allegedly abused her position to enrich herself while she served as chief accountant in the Police Pension Office between 2003 and 2008.

    “She is to be arraigned alongside Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, and Christian Madubuke. The other six suspects will be taking fresh pleas, having previously been arraigned before Justice Abubakar Talba on January 28, 2013.

    “Attang, who was absent in court when the others were first arraigned, was in charge of the police pension fund when N7.8billion was stolen through 10,863 cheques.

    “She was also discovered to have personally signed 1,042 cheques to the tune of N1, 141,309,080.25.

    “Investigation revealed that Mrs. Attang used several companies to defraud the Police Pension Office.

    “Some of the companies, which she allegedly used, are Royal Diadem Business Logistic Limited, Amazing Grace Property Development Company, Enyiuzo Ventures Limited, Status Symbols Rentals Limited, Status Travels and Tours Limited, Quillponte and Anifon Nigeria Limited.

    “Operatives of the Commission have traced more than 20 assets to her, which are currently under investigation.”

    Mrs Attang could not be reached for comments last night.

     

  • EFCC arraigns four for attempting to defraud Suswam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned four suspects before Justice E.N. Kpojime of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, for allegedly conspiring to obtain $3million (US) from Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam.

    The suspects are Mark Gbaa (alias Nasiru Nasamu), Ezekiel Ajik Azi, Bulus Ashom Agwom and Nuhu Bawa Atangs.

    The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects were put on trial on a six-count charge of impersonation, forgery and criminal conspiracy to obtain $3m (US) from Governor Suswam.

    The statement said: “The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, were alleged to have conspired to falsely present themselves as officers of EFCC, who are investigating the accounts of Benue State local government and had sought for $3million to ‘kill’ the case.

    “In a bid to actualise the scheme, one of them, Bulus Ashom Agom, who was dismissed from the Nigeria Police in June 2012, was alleged to have forged a Nigeria Police warrant of arrest card No 35231, which he presented to the governor.

    “Thereafter, Governor Suswam alerted the Department of State Security (DSS), which arrested and handed them to the EFCC.

    “It was at the EFCC office that Bulus and Nuhu Bawa Attangs made statements that led to the arrest of others.

    “Count one of the charges reads: ‘That you Mark Gbaa, alias Nasiru Nasamu, Ezekiel Ajik Azi, Bulus Ashom Awom and Nuhu Bawa Atangs between January and February 2013, at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Benue State with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of three million United States Dollars ($3,000,000) from one Hon. Gabriel Suswam, the Executive Governor of Benue State, when you falsely presented yourselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who were investigating the Benue State Local Government Account and other pending cases, which representation you knew were false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and other related offences Act no 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same act’.

  • EFCC arraigns Atuche, two others for alleged forgery

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned the former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Francis Atuche, for alleged forgery before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja

    Arraigned with him were two officials of the bank, Joachim Nnosiri and Uguru Onyike, who are attached to the Central Shared Services Centre of Keystone Bank Ltd.

    They were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo on a nine-count charge of forgery, conspiracy and the use of forged board resolutions belonging to Futureview Securities Limited, Tradjeck Limited and Extra Oil Limited into Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB).

    The commission claimed that the board resolutions were allegedly signed by the Managing Director of the companies, Mrs Elizabeth Ebi and addressed to Keystone Bank.

    It said the purpose of the board resolutions was to request a N10.9 billion credit facility from the bank.

    The EFCC said the alleged offence, which was committed on March 4, contravened sections 361 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    When the case was called, EFCC’s counsel Ben Ubi told the court that the commission filed a nine-count charge of forgery.

    He urged the court to allow the charges to be read to the defendants so they can make their pleas.

    Atuche and the two others pleaded not guilty.

    Ubi asked for a trial date and a court order remanding the defendants in custody.

    But Atuche’s counsel Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) told the court of a pending bail application on behalf of his client dated March 25.

    He said it has been served on the agency.

    Ubi objected to the request, saying he has “not seen the bail summons.

    “But I acknowledge that the person, who received the application, is a litigation clerk in the office.”

    This made Oyetibo to request that his client be allowed to go home as it appeared that the prosecution is not ready to argue the bail application.

    He submitted that the matter before Justice Onigbanjo is an off-shoot of the case before another judge, Justice Lateefa Okunnu, adding that his client came to court from his house.

    But Ubi countered the defence and stated that he was not aware that the charge is an offshoot of the matter before another judge.

    “I can confirm to the court that the defendant did not come from home as earlier stated by the SAN.

    “All the defendants were brought to court by the EFCC.”

    Justice Onigbanjo fixed the bail hearing for today and issued a caveat that the former bank chief should go home after the proceedings.

    He noted that Atuche had never been absent from court for his other cases.

    Justice Onigbanjo also fixed today for the bail hearing for the second and third defendant, following the submission of the prosecution that he would need time to respond to the bail applications submitted by their counsel, Clement Onwenwnor and Bamidele Adewunmi.

    The judge also allowed the two defendants to go home, pending hearing of their bail application on the strength of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the EFCC.

    Justice Onigbanjo granted Oyetibo’s prayer for accelerated hearing and fixed October 10 for trial.

    The forgery charge against Atuche is the fourth in the series of charges brought against him by the EFCC since his removal as Bank PHB’s Chief Executive Officer.

    The new arraignment came after the prosecution concluded its case in the charge before Justice Lateefa Okunnu and the defence had indicated its intention to file a ‘no-case submission’ against the charge.

     

  • EFCC files new forgery charge against ex-Bank PHB MD

    EFCC files new forgery charge against ex-Bank PHB MD

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh charge of forgery against former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Mr Francis Atuche.

    The commission filed the nine-charge, dated March 13, 2013, at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

    To be charged with Atuche are two officials of Central Shared Services Centre of Keystone Bank Limited, Joachim Nnosiri and Uguru Onyike.

    EFCC counsel, Mr Ben Ubi, claimed that the defendants, on March 4, 2013, in Lagos, attempted to smuggle forged board resolutions of some companies into Keystone Bank, the successor to Bank PHB.

    The commission said the resolutions were allegedly signed by Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi, the managing director of three companies that were allegedly involved in the N27.5billion fraud charge preferred against the former bank chief, in another court presided by Justice Lateefa Okunnu.

    The resolutions were addressed to Keystone Bank.

    The EFCC averred that the forged resolutions were said to have emanated from Futureview Securities Limited, Tradjeck Limited and Extra Oil Limited.

    It noted that the purpose of the resolutions was to request a N10.9 billion credit facility from the bank.

    Mrs. Ebi had testified in Atuche’s N25.7 billion fraud trial before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, also of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, that the former bank chief had granted a N10.9 billion loan facility to the companies without their knowledge or request.

    The commission said the defendants’ alleged offence contravenes Sections 361 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    No date has been fixed for the arraignment of the defendants.

  • EFCC slams new charge on Atuche

    EFCC slams new charge on Atuche

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought a fresh charge of forgery against the former managing director of the Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche.

    The new charge dated March 13, 2013 was filed by the commission before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

    Atuche will be facing trial in the new charge alongside two officials of Central Shared Services Centre of Keystone Bank Limited, Joachim Nnosiri and Uguru Onyike.

    They were charged before the court on a nine-count charge of forgery.

    In the information which was signed by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Ben Ubi, the commission alleged that the defendants, on March 4, 2013, in Lagos, attempted to smuggle forged board resolutions of some companies into Keystone Bank, the successor of Bank PHB.

    According to the commission, the board resolutions were allegedly signed by Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi, the Managing Director of three companies allegedly involved in the N27.5billion fraud charge preferred against him in another court presided by Justice Lateefa Okunnu.

    The board resolutions were addressed to Keystone Bank.

    According to the EFCC, the forged board resolutions were said to have emanated from Futureview Securities Limited, Tradjeck Limited and Extra Oil Limited.

    The EFCC said the purpose of the board resolutions was to request a N10.9 billion credit facility from the bank.

    No date has been fixed for arraignment of the defendants.