Tag: EFCC

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Power and Steel Olu Agunloye wanted over alleged corruption and forgery.

The Commission made the announcement in a public notice signed by its Spokesperson Dele Oyewale, and posted on the agency’s official  Facebook and Instagram channels on Wednesday.

“The public is hereby notified that Dr Olu Agunloye, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of corruption and forgery.

“Dr Olu Agunloye is wanted by the EFCC. If you know his whereabouts please don’t hesitate to inform the EFCC or the nearest police station,” it stated.

According to the commission, Agunloye, aged 75, is from Akoko North  Local Government Area of Ondo State.

It also gave his last known address as No 20 Solel Boneh Way Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The EFCC urged anyone with useful information on his whereabouts to contact its offices in Benin, Kaduna, Ibadan, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Abuja, or through its telephone lines and email.

The commission had earlier invited Agunloye for questioning over his role in the six billion dollars Mambila hydropower contract.

Read Also: EFCC: We’ll go after those keeping looted funds abroad  

Recall that former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had accused Agunloye of mismanaging the power project during his tenure from 1999 to 2003 and failed to brief him on the state of the project.

Agunloye, however, denied the allegations stressing that the nature of the initial contract for the project was awarded as a Build, Operate and Transfer contract in May 2003 under his watch.

In a related development, the commission also declared one Iluyomade Akinwale wanted for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence.

Iluyomade, 39, whose last address is No.3, Chevron Drive, Lekki Lagos, hails from Ondo East Local Government Area.

It urged anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to report to the nearest EFCC office or police station. (NAN)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decried the rise of land fraud and cybercrimes in the southeast geopolitical zone of the country.

The EFCC Enugu zonal commander in charge of the southeast, Aliyu Nuhu Naibi, who disclosed this on Saturday, December 9, lamented that the ugly trends of land fraud were increasingly discouraging investments, leading to a lack of employment creation among others.

Naibi was fielding questions from journalists during the anti-corruption road walk in Enugu in commemoration of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, as declared by the United Nations.

He said though the commission had put machinery in place to discourage the scourge, it is still the people and government of the region that should permanently end it.

He said: “Our major challenge in Southeast and Enugu in particular, is people using land to defraud other people. This is the kind of report we get almost daily. Another is the issue of cybercrime mostly by youths.”

The EFCC chief called on the anti-corruption stakeholders to rise and save the region from the ugly trends of land fraud and cybercrime in the best interest of the region and its youths.

He said: “We want to use this opportunity to implore our community, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to intervene and checkmate this ugly trend.

“The state government is not left behind also. They and every aspect of society must stand up against this by talking and taking action. I say this because land fraud is economic sabotage and it discourages investors from coming into any state where it is practised.”

On the road walk in Enugu, Naibi explained that it was meant to create awareness about the negative effects of corruption.

While delivering the speech of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Naibi called on anti-corruption stakeholders to unite and continue to support the commission to break the chain of corruption in the country.

He added: “It is fitting that the theme of the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day is UNCAC @ 20: Uniting the World against Corruption.

Read Also: No attempt by EFCC, DSS to forcefully abduct Emefiele – NCS clarifies

“For us at the EFCC, we remain committed to working with the corruption prevention template recommended by UNCAC.  In driving this prevention focus, the Commission under my watch will prioritise these focal areas: collaboration and synergy with local and foreign law enforcement agencies, professionalism, and strict adherence to the rule of law as the absolute minimum in all activities of the Commission.

“Only through professionalism and adherence to the rule of law will the Commission be able to contribute to economic growth by restoring investors’ confidence in our economy. Our focus makes it imperative for us to create conducive environments for job creation, the opening of investment space across the country, and the improvement of our international image.

“Increased professionalism means that there will be zero tolerance for all forms of arbitrariness. I want every EFCC operative to be more diligent and resourceful in our assigned tasks.  My leadership will punish infractions traceable to unethical practices.   We will ensure that the right things are done at all times.”

The Sokoto zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that it has exceeded its target of 60%.

It said that the target was set in order to adopt a prevention-focused approach rather than a prosecution-focused one, adding that increased focus on prevention is aimed at upholding professionalism and ensuring strict adherence to the rule of law and helping restore investor confidence and promoting economic growth.

Speaking at the weekend in Sokoto in commemoration of the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day, ACE I Aliyu Yunusa, the zonal commander of the commission, stated that the commission is primarily focusing on responsive perspectives in order to advance its cause against corruption and other financial crimes.

He said: “We are committed to working with corruption preventive template recommended by UNCAC through active professional collaboration and synergy with relevant stakeholders and ensure strict adherence to rule of law in all activities of the commission.

“This has braced our abilities in the command to achieve remarkable success hence exceeding our target. Currently, we have achieved not less than 80% prosecution.”

While noting that corruption was a threat to the growth and development of individuals and nations, Yunusa said: “No one is immune to the contagion of corruption which is why nations are united in finding solutions to the common ailment.

“This, we have to as a commission, be more diligent and resourceful in our assigned tasks and will not fail to punish infractions traceable to unethical practices.

“We must also seek new ways to identify with the clarion for unity by UNCAC to enable us to destroy all threats to development in our nation.”

Read Also: No attempt by EFCC, DSS to forcefully abduct Emefiele – NCS clarifies

The Sokoto zonal command, in collaboration with ICPC and CCB officials, organized a reawakening sensitization campaign trek against corruption.

The theme of this year’s event is “UNCAC @ 20”.

The trek covered a distance of over 2 km, starting from Sama Road, going through Gusau Road, Lodge Road, Garba Duba Road, and finally terminating at the Commission’s Zonal Headquarters. The event was attended by CSOs, NYSC clubs advocating for zero tolerance to corruption, integrity organs, youths, and student anti-corruption clubs from various institutions across the state.

He added: “We are united against corruption, Let unite against the demon of you see or hear something, say something, and EFCC, ICPC, CCB will do something”, these were some of the inscriptions on the banners displayed during the sensitization trek that attracted the attention of residents in the caliphate.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Tuesday, December 5, that it was unable to access its capital budget of N2.5 billion for the 2023 fiscal year.

The commission also said that out of its proposal for a N25 billion capital budget for the 2024 fiscal year, the Budget Office of the Federation has only given them an envelope of N1.2 billion for the year which he said would be grossly inadequate for their needs.

The chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede who spoke while defending the commission’s 2024 budget estimate, said the only capital projects executed in 2023 were the rollover capital projects for 2022.

He said about 79 per cent of the Commission’s appropriation has been released, pointing out that the job release of its capital budget for 2023 affected the execution of some of its projects for the year.

While appealing to the members to increase the Commission’s capital budget for 2024, the EFCC boss said they plan to buy houses to accommodate its 14 zonal offices spread across the country.

Read Also: APC alleges plot to frame up Sylva at EFCC

He disclosed that the agency was currently operating from rented apartments in the various zonal offices, saying “When you do the kind of work that we do, you should not be operating from a rented office”.

He said the Commission’s total budget proposal for 2024 was 76.586 billion but was given an envelope of N43.109 billion by the Budget Office.

He said the Commission had proposed N37.074 billion for personnel which was approved by the budget Office, while the budget Office however reduced its overhead cost for the year from N14. 513 billion to N4. 794 billion

He said further: “Under our capital cost, we have an envelope of N1.241 billion, which will not do anything for us. Against that, we are proposing N25 billion as our capital cost.

“Now, the total budget proposal we have for the year 2024, is N76.586 billion as against the envelope of N43.109 billion. Mr Chairman sir, and other members of the committee, the 2024 proposed estimate of N76.586 billion represents a 53.48 per cent increase over and above the 2023 Appropriation of N49.901 billion.

“This increase is solely attributed to the increase in personnel cost from N36.834 billion to N37.074 billion in 2024. Of course, our operations keep expanding and we also envisaged that we are going to bring in more staff in the year under review.

“Then, we have overhead cost from N10.535 billion to N14.513 billion in 2024, and capital cost from N2.531 billion to N25 billion in 2024. This came about because of the expansive projects we are going to embark on.

“Quite a number of our zonal offices are rented apartments, and of course when you are doing this kind of work, it’s not expedient for you to operate in rented apartments. And so, we intend to have our buildings across our 14 zonal offices that we operate outside Abuja.

“The request for additional overhead is because of the high cost of air travel tickets, motor vehicles costs, diesel cost, building maintenance, operational vehicles, office equipment, and acquisition of our properties and maintenance of our operations in other 14 zonal commands apart from Abuja.

“In view of the above, distinguished chairman of the committee and other members, many other considerations, I crave this distinguished Committee’s indulgence for a special consideration of our 2024 capital and overhead envelope for upward review.”

The chairman of the committee, Hon. Ginger Obinna collective commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency is fundamental to the prosperity of our great nation. As we delve into the budgetary considerations, it is imperative that we recognize the pivotal role played by the Financial Crimes Commission.

He said financial crimes pose a significant threat to the stability and progress of any economy, adding that in recent years, the Nigerian nation has witnessed a surge in sophisticated financial crimes that demand immediate attention and robust defence mechanisms.

He said: “From money laundering to cybercrimes, the challenges are multifaceted and ever-evolving. It is our duty to stay ahead of these threats, adapt our Strategies, and equip ourselves adequately to counteract the forces that seek to undermine our economic well-being and that of our nation.

“The budget estimate before us today is not just a collection of numbers; it is a reflection of our commitment to creating an environment where our citizens can trust the financial institutions that drive our economy. It is a pledge to provide the necessary resources to empower the Financial Crimes Commission to carry out their vital missions effectively.”

He said the committee will consider strengthening its ability to investigate and prosecute financial crimes which requires continuous investment in training and development by enhancing the skills of its personnel.

He also spoke of the need to encourage individuals to come forward with information about financial crimes by establishing and maintaining robust whistleblower protection mechanisms

He said that members have a collective responsibility to ensure that our financial system remains resilient and trustworthy, saying “The budgetary decisions we make today will shape the effectiveness of our defence against financial crimes and criminalities tomorrow.

“Let us stand united in our commitment to safeguarding the economic prosperity of our nation, and let our actions speak louder than words in the pursuit of justice and financial integrity. Corruption can never be business as usual.”

• Leave Diri out of your travails, PDP tells ex-minister

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State chapter,  yesterday said  it had uncovered a plot by Governor Douye Diri to frame up corruption allegations against  the  All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the last governorship election , Chief Timipre Sylva, at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The APC claimed that Diri and his cohorts intended to make Sylva look guilty of crimes he had not committed on purpose to distract and dissuade him from effectively pursuing his petition at the  governorship election tribunal against Diri’s declaration as governor-elect.

 APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said: “We are aware of Senator Diri’s activities at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) aimed at sponsoring invented petitions against Sylva, and the pressure he is mounting on officials of the commission to initiate arrest and prosecution against him on trumped up charges, particularly, bordering on his tour of duty as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

 “We have it on good authority that Diri has instigated officials of EFCC on a fishing expedition to try to cobble some flimsy and imaginary charges together against Sylva in order to arrest him. This is all in a bid to distract the APC candidate, and hinder effective pursuit of his petition at the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

 “Senator Diri knows full well that he did not win the November 11 governorship poll; he knows without a doubt that he is holding a stolen mandate that would soon revert to the rightful owner. That is why despite his alleged victory, there is hardly any celebration. Diri and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are simply jittery, knowing there is nothing to celebrate.

 “Chief Timipre Sylva and APC trust the capacity of the judiciary to do justice in the Bayelsa State governorship election litigation. We have filed our petition, and we are pursuing it diligently, hoping that there would be justice at the end of the day.

 “But Diri and PDP, knowing their weak standing before the law, are doing all they can to hinder Sylva’s ability to pursue his petition. They simply distrust the judiciary and are trying sundry self-help tactics – the same strategy they employed before the governorship election.

 “APC would like to use this medium to warn Diri and PDP to desist from their conspiratorial activities against Sylva at the EFCC. We also wish to advise the EFCC to resist any temptation to get entangled in the political chicanery of the sinking governor and his party.”

But, the PDP, in a statement by its  Publicity Secretary, Mr Ebiye Ogoli, urged Sylva to leave Governor Diri out of his  travails.

Read Also: APC postpones inauguration of Standing Committees

 Ogoli said: “It is clear from the APC’s spurious allegations that the party was suffering from the November 11 post-election traumatic disorder and that its key leaders and officials deserve to be medically examined.”

The PDP spokesman said that Sylva and the APC, having lost badly in the election, were engaging in another round of misleading and vexatious propaganda designed to hoodwink gullible Bayelsans.

He noted: “Chief Timpre Sylva, as a bad loser, has refused to acknowledge and accept the outcome of the November 11 governorship election for what it is — a free, fair and transparent poll.

“The election was widely adjudged by various local and international observers as one of the cleanest in recent times, in which incumbent Governor Diri was re-elected via a landslide.

 “We are at a loss as to the reasons for this latest senile vituperation thrown at our dear Governor. May we remind Chief Sylva and his deceptive cohorts in his party that the EFCC is a federal anti-corruption organ that is not within the remit or under the control of Governor Diri.

 “We maintain that the PDP or Senator Diri was never involved in the running of the office of the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and if there are issues arising therefrom, it is not the business of the State Governor or our party. So, we advise Sylva to face his travail (if any) and leave Governor Diri out of it.”

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has exposed the Facebook account of an impersonator, parading himself as EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

The commission disclosed this on its X (formerly known as Twitter) page.

The commission wrote: “An impersonator parading himself as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede is on Facebook.

“The fake Olukoyede has also been advertising a phone telephone line, 08028189925 as the “private line” of the EFCC’s boss.

Read Also: EFCC arraigns couple for alleged money laundering, forgery

“The public is enjoined to be wary of the antics of the impersonator, while efforts are being made to bring him to book.”