Tag: EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dragged a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Husaini Mohammed Auwal, before a Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged N998,421,564 fraud.

Auwal was arraigned alongside his company, Humak Global Business Links before Justice J.O Abdulmalik on Monday on a six-count charge bordering on allegations of illegal financial transactions.

According to a statement shared by the EFCC on its official X handle, the defendant was arrested following a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) of criminal conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining money by false pretence.

The commission said that Auwal’s company, between 2016 and 2017, carried out BDC businesses without a valid licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, an offence that contravened Sections 57 and 59 (5) of the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.

It also alleged that the defendants, on or about August 10, 2020, received a total inflow of N47,250,000 from Khadab Ventures and Trust Limited into Humak Global Business Link’s First City Monument Bank, FCMB, account number 4497159015 in excess of N10 million and failed to report same to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), an offence under 11 (1) and (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The EFCC said the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, adding that the prosecutor, Deborah Ademu Eteh, asked the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional facility.

The defence counsel, it said, called the attention of the court to an existing bail application and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.

“Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till February 23, for a hearing of bail application and March 21, 2024, for trial. She also ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC`s custody until the adjourned date,” the statement read.

Read Also: Diversion of N10b: EFCC detains ex-Kwara governor

Auwal was arrested by the EFCC following intelligence received by the Commission on April 28, 2022, from the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, which showed that the defendant was allegedly receiving huge wire transfers from diverse entities through his company`s account and would promptly transfer such funds to various accounts, violating the daily transfer threshold.

Again, the defendant was also allegedly operating a BDC without an appropriate licence.

Ahead of his trial, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled a former Kwara Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed over an alleged diversion of over N10billion.

The anti-graft commission will soon arraign Ahmed before the Federal High Court in Ilorin.

There were indications that Ahmed was detained by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

However, it was learnt that the EFCC conceded to Ahmed’s request to report voluntarily to Ilorin office instead of effecting his arrest.

According to a source in the anti-graft agency, the former Governor was grilled by a crack team of operatives.

The source said: “The ex-Governor was questioned on the diversion and mismanagement of N10billion funds of the Kwara State Government during his tenure as governor of Kwara State between 2011 and 2019.

“It is about alleged diversion, misappropriation of funds and money laundering. We have been on this investigation since 2019.

“We reached out to the ex-governor and we asked him to report to Ilorin Office because of jurisdiction. That was where he allegedly committed the offenses against him. The ex-Governor voluntarily reported to the EFCC’s office in Ilorin. There was no basis for arresting him.

Read Also: Barau: FG committed to transformation of Nigeria’s education sector

Responding to a question, the source said: “We are trying to tidy up the investigation ahead of the arraignment of the ex-governor before the Federal High Court in Ilorin.

“We want to avert recourse to frivolous applications on jurisdiction which may drag for some years. We will put the ex-governor on trial in Kwara State.”

The source said: “We have detained the former governor to enable him to respond to some issues.”

It was the third time Ahmed will be interrogated by the EFCC following his earlier invitation on December 8, 2020 by the Ilorin Zonal office of EFCC.

As of press time, there was no formal statement on the interrogation of the former Governor.

Abdulfatah Ahmed, the former governor of Kwara State, has said that the invitation he received from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was both standard and customary.

He said this in a statement by his chief press secretary, Wahab Oba.

Ahmed said that he was in Ilorin to accept the invitation, just as he always has and would continue to do.

He said: “I’ve always expressed my willingness to answer any query or question about my stewardship as a governor of the state.

Read Also: BREAKING: EFCC questions former Kwara gov

“So, my visit on invitation to the agency’s office today is in tandem with my readiness and preparedness to account for my stewardship.”

According to him, there’s nothing unusual about the invitation by the anti-graft agency.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has cautioned transporters under the aegis of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) against being used as accomplices by illegal miners across the country.

The anti-graft chief gave the warning  in Ilorin, Kwara state at a meeting with the executive members of the two transport unions.

The Ilorin zonal command of the anti-graft agency had earlier in the month of February paraded 41 suspected miners and impounded 12 trucks, conveying various solid minerals at different locations comprising Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi and Okolowo in Kwara, and Igbeti and Ogbomosho in Oyo state. 

Speaking through the Ilorin zonal commander, Mchael Nzekwe, Olukoyede, noted that the meeting became necessary in order to sensitise members of the unions against fouling the law as some truck owners and drivers have been found to be providing transport services to illegal miners.

He said: “The purpose of this meeting is to educate and enlighten you that it is an offence to mine minerals without license, just as it is an offence to possess or convey minerals without permit. You are therefore enjoined to warn your members not to allow themselves or release their trucks to be used for carrying out  illegal activities.”

The EFCC boss reminded leaders of the transport unions that illegal mining was an economic sabotage punishable with life imprisonment under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983, enjoining members of the transport unions to always demand for the mining license of any miner seeking their services to avoid being complicit in illegitimate mining.

He advised members of the two unions to deny entry into their parks, any truck loaded with solid minerals without the right authorization papers and to report such trucks to the EFCC, warning that the Commission would do all within its powers to bring perpetrators of illegal mining to justice.

In their response, Alhaji Abdulrasaki Ariwoola, Chairman, Kwara State NURTW and Alhaji Abdulrahman Onikijipa, Chairman, Kwara State RTEAN, who were represented by their respective secretaries appreciated the EFCC for the sensitisation and pledged their members’ support to the Commission’s  efforts in checking the criminal activities of illegal miners in the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says it has arrested 26 suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja.

Its Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said they were arrested at Kurudu, Jahi, Kubwa and Gwarimpa areas of Abuja.

Read Also: EFCC arraigns Ibadan businesswoman for N58m alleged fraud

He said that the arrest was sequel to credible information on their suspected involvement in internet-related offences.

“Items recovered  from them include a Toyota Tacoma, a CLS Mercedes 450 and three Lexus cars, in addition to 40 phones and seven laptops.

“They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded,” he said.

(NAN)