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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC nabs five internet fraud suspects in Uyo

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested five suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the suspects were Uchendu Denis, Osinachi David, Chikezie Bright, Francis Martins and Okafor Emmanuel.

    He said that the suspects were arrested by EFCC personnel of Uyo Zonal office, at Nsini Odeyop Street, Shelter Afrik Estate, Uyo, following intelligence report.

    “At the time of arrest, it was discovered that the suspects, who were lodging in a three-bedroom flat, used one of the rooms for cyber-crime activities.

    Read also: Policeman attacked by scavenger in Kwara dies

    “Items recovered from them include 123 sim cards, which had a Turkish sim card; six Laptops and 13 expensive mobile phones.

    “Other recovered items were books and diaries containing phone numbers and over 300 email addresses, amongst others.

    “They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” Orilade said. (NAN)

  • FIRS eyes N750b from millionaire tax defaulters

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says it hopes to pull in about N750  billion from about 55,000 defaulting taxpayers.

    Its  Executive Chairman,  Mr. Tunde Fowler, in a statement, said from the Bank Accounts substitution exercise, “we used banking information to bring non-compliant taxpayers with N1 billion and above turnover to comply. It has so far resulted in the recovery of N23.35 billion. The exercise has been extended to cover those with turnover of N100 million and above.”

    Fowler spoke when he met with the House of Representatives joint committees on Finance, Appropriations, Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Legislative Budget and Research and National Planning and Economic Development on the 2019/2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    He said: “To date, about 500 of them have come forward and they have paid and we have collected in the region of about N24 billion. We believe we should be able to go through the 55,000 before the middle of this year which will be, 30th June.

    “In terms of estimates, which we should be able to generate from this exercise alone, that will be about N750 billion.”

    The FIRS chief told the committee that  through enforcement activities in respect of defaulting taxpayers from various tax offices, tax audit and investigation assessments, FIRS has generated the sums of N28. 51 billion and 77. 83 million dollars has been recovered.

    “FIRS and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Joint Tax Force (JTF) was introduced in 2018 to enhance the fight against tax related economic fraud. As at December 2018, a total of N6. 94 billion and 278,430 dollars had been recovered by the JTF. This and other such initiatives are continuous and will be continuous going forward.’’

    He said FIRS also initiated income tax on property owners in Abuja and Lagos as part of efforts to deepen tax revenue collection and expand the nation’s tax net as well as increase the revenue base.

    “This project which initially targeted property owners in Abuja and Lagos has so far yielded N4.3 billion, and is being extended to other locations. In this regard, Oyo and Kaduna states have commenced.

    “It is important to note that this is not a property tax but rather the use of the provisions of the law to bring into the tax net companies that own properties but failed to file necessary tax returns and pay appropriate taxes due,’’ Fowler, explained.

    On tax audit, Fowler said: “This covers both the National Tax Audit (NTA) and the Pioneer Audit (PA). The NTA exercise contributed the sum of N212. 79 billion to tax collection in 2018. Following improvements to the audit process and resultant increased efficiency, the exercise is expected to produce increased audit yield in 2019.”

     

    Fowler  noted that FIRS recorded an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) collection between 2015 and 2018 and the FIRS is broadening its VAT collection scope with the adoption of States Accountants Generals (SAG) collection platform, VAT Auto-Collect, integration of the GIFMIS platform with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and through e-Service payment options.

    He reiterated that VAT is not for the poor arguing that: “out of about N5.3 trillion, a large percentage is shared between states and local governments. In VAT, there has been a growth of over 44  per cent between 2015 and 2018. And that is at the current rate of five per cent.

    “Now when you look at Africa as a continent, Nigeria still has the lowest VAT rate. When we look at the items that are not VATable, basic food is not VATable, medicals, education. But if you decide and you have the ability to go to a restaurant to eat and drink the same thing you can buy in the open market, then you pay VAT.  So VAT basically is a consumption tax and those who choose not to go to the open market to buy their food and cook at home are subject to VAT. So VAT is not a hardship on the low income earners because normally they don’t even go to hotels when their wives can cook at home and they can have something very nice.

    “The same Nigerians who are complaining about an increase are the same ones who go to Ghana and go and pay triple the amount in VAT or go to London and pay higher amount. So we are just saying, like the minister said that we should get used to the idea. 85 per cent of VAT goes to the state governments who  are supposed to be closer to the people. So they can use that money as approved by their State Houses of Assembly. So they can use that money on education, infrastructure, etc.

    “Yes, we had an increase of about 32 percent from N4.02 trillion in 2017 to N5.3 trillion in 2018. At the Federal level, clearly we can see all the projects that are being completed, based on the available funds at the Federal level. I’m just saying that if we keep on the same way, the expectations cannot be different.

    “For those who have the ability and the desire to take the choice, of going to  areas where  they have to pay VAT, then they should be allowed to pay VAT.”

  • Why we didn’t confirm Magu, by Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday explained the controversial refusal of the Senate to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Saraki said that Magu’s appointment may have been confirmed but for the failure of the Presidency to explore the established channel of lobby.

    Besides, he said that “political solution” should have been applied after the Senate rejected nomination  twice.

    The Senate President spoke at the orientation programme organised for Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect ahead of the inauguration of Ninth National Assembly in Abuja.

    Saraki attempted to parry questions on why the National Assembly did not go to court for a definite pronouncement on the failed confirmation of Magu’s appointment as EFCC’s substantive chairman.

    He was forced to respond when the question was asked repeatedly.

    Saraki said that it is left to the Executive arm of government to find a replacement of any ministerial nominee rejected by the Senate.

    Talking specifically on Magu’s nomination, he said that there was no doubt that the Senate has the power to confirm or reject his nomination.

    On why the Senate did not go to court for a pronouncement on whether the Senate has the power to confirm the EFCC chairman, he said that there were over 12 court cases pending on the issue.

    Saraki, who said that some of the cases had been pending in court for over two years, added that he cannot explain why the cases have not been decided.

    He, however, noted that “in cases like the EFCC chairman, there is always the need for political solution and dialogue to solve such issue. But to say whether the Senate has the power to confirm, the Senate has power to confirm. The power of confirmation is there even in America which we copy.

    “When the Executive makes appointment, there is issue of lobby. This is why we want a particular nominee. It is done even in America.”

    On the election of presiding officers of the Ninth National Assembly, Saraki advised senators-elect and members-elect that they should be in the chamber on the day of inauguration.

    He insisted that the inauguration and election of presiding officers only take place on the floor of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, who opened the orientation, gave an overview of the National Assembly, including structure, functions and inter-parliamentary relations.

    In the course of his presentation, Sani-Omolori said that one of the functions of the Senate is the confirmation of nominees from the executive arm of government.

    The power of confirmation of nominees prompted questions on the confirmation of Magu and why he is still serving as Acting Chairman of EFCC when he was denied confirmation.

    Sani-Omolori said that he was not in a position to answer political questions and referred the question on Magu to Saraki.

    Saraki noted that the options are that the President can lobby the legislature or present someone else at the event of rejection of a nominee.

    Saraki said: “The point I am making is that we should not make too much news on the process of electing a presiding officers. What is important is for the members of the Senate to decide who is the best to lead them so that they can have stability.”

    On non-confirmation of Magu, Saraki said: “The truth really is that the issue of confirmation whether ministerial or other appointments, is done by the entire Senate. Generally, we have an unwritten practice that we would get the input of senators from the state where the appointee hails from before we start the screening process in the Senate. By the powers of the Senate, if such a nominee is rejected, then it is upon the executive to find a new replacement. The issue really is that the Senate has the powers to reject a ministerial nominee.

    “In the case of the appointment of the chairman of the EFCC, the powers of the Senate are very clear in the constitution. For any nominee, we are guided by the constitution.  It is an appointment made by Mr. President, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, which means the Senate has the powers to either say yes or say no.

    “In a situation where the Senate rejects, it is up to the executive at that time to send in a replacement or in some cases, when we have appointment rejected and the executive will re-present before the Senate but if the senators again, took a decision to reject the nominee, the appointment stands rejected.

    REad also: Independence of legislature non-negotiable, says Saraki

    “On getting judicial interpretations of their roles, there are 17 cases in court that have been on now for two years and for one reason or the other, those cases have not moved. I cannot explain what happened. They are cases that have to deal with asking the courts to give judicial interpretations to who has the powers to do one thing or the other. I am sure by the time the judiciary gives the interpretations, there is no doubt about it that it will be clear that it is the Senate that has the powers

    “In things like this in a democracy, there must be a political solution, there must be dialogue. I think that is the most important thing. The Senate has the power of confirmation. It is how to manage those issues that are the challenges. There will be many like that in the Ninth Assembly. The question is how the executive and the legislators will work together and find a solution. It is how the relationship between the two arms of government.

    “There is also a wrong perception that the leadership of the Senate has those powers. The powers of the presiding officers are in the members. It is the members that decide the leadership of the National Assembly. Most of the decisions especially confirmation, are usually taken by the members. In other countries, the executive there are seen to be lobbying the legislators. When they have a candidate, they will go and lobby to get in their preferred choice appointed.”

    Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan said:

    “We are reaching out to all our colleagues, regardless of their political persuasions. After all, we are supposed to work together. It is not just going to be a Senate for only the APC members. It is a Senate that will consist of the APC, PDP and YPP. Therefore, we need everybody to support the genuine and laudable course of making Nigeria better. “I will ensure that our administration is able to deliver laudable projects for Nigerians and the best way to achieve this is for all of us to work together.”

  • Three lawyers accused of assaulting EFCC detective

    Three lawyers were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative in the line of duty.

    The lawyers were said to have obstructed the operatives from arresting a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Yinka Farounbi, on March 4.

    They are Lateef Abdulsalam, 55, Evans Okwuede, 45, and Abiodun Kolawole, 48.

    The defendants, who are all members of the Ikeja NBA,  are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, resisting a public officer and assault before Chief Magistrate O. A. Layinka.

    Read also: EFCC Academy to begin award of degree certificates soon

    They were alleged to have assaulted Mrs. Patience Kalu during the monthly meeting of Ikeja NBA.

    Prosecuting Inspector Akeem Raji alleged that the defendants assaulted Mrs. Kalu while trying to arrest Farounbi, over allegations of financial misappropriation.

    Raji claimed that the defendants injured Kalu on her hand and neck.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Layinka granted them N100,000 bail with one surety each in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be lawyers and provide their NBA seal as proof.

    The case continues on May 15.

     

  • EFCC Academy to begin award of degree certificates soon

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its academy in Karu, Abuja will soon be certified as the first anti-corruption degree-awarding institution in Nigeria.

    The commission’s spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    Orilade quoted the Secretary to the Commission, Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, as saying that the acting chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, had inaugurated a committee to fast-track the process for the certification.

    Olukoyede said that the academy would soon begin to run Certificate, Diploma and Degree courses in Anti-corruption Investigation Studies.

    He added that the training on cyber-crime investigation was designed to help increase the capacity of the investigators.

    Read also: EFCC arraigns three lawyers for alleged assault of its operative

    Mr. David Tukura, Commandant of the academy said that it had the capacity to conduct all necessary anti-corruption trainings aimed at meeting the human capacity needs of the commission.

    “Training facility is not just about the space or land mass occupied, but the quality of available trainers available,” he said.

    Tukura assured that the commission remained committed to ensuring that the Nigerian economic system was insulated against the criminal tendencies of cybercriminals.

    “That is why we catch and get the criminals punished,” he said. (NAN)

  • Lobby, political solution‘d have confirmed Magu, says Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday threw light on the controversial refusal of the Senate to confirm the appointment of Mr. Ibrahm Magu as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Saraki said the appointment of Magu as EFCC Chairman may have been confirmed but for the failure of the Presidency to explore the established channel of lobby.

    He also said that “political solution” should have been applied after the Senate rejected the nomination of Magu twice if only the Presidency toed the path.

    The Senate President spoke at the orientation programme for Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect of the 9th National Assembly held in Abuja.

    Saraki attempted to parry questions on why the National Assembly did not go to court for a definite pronouncement on the failed confirmation of Magu’s appointment as substantive EFCC Chairman.

    He was forced to respond when the question refused to go away.

    Saraki said that it is left to the Executive arm of government to find a replacement of a ministerial nominee if rejected by the Senate.

    Talking specifically on Magu nomination, he said that there was no doubt that the Senate has the power to confirm or reject his nomination.

    On why the Senate did not go to court for pronouncement on whether the Senate has the power to confirm the EFCC chairman, he said that there were over 12 cases pending in court on the issue.

    Saraki, who said that some of the cases had been pending in court for over two years, added he cannot explain why the cases have not been decided.

    He noted however that “in cases like the EFCC chairman, there is always the need for political solution and dialogue to solve the issue.

    “But to say whether the Senate has the power to confirm, the Senate has power to confirm. The power of confirmation is there even in America which we copy.

    “When the Executive makes appointment, there is issue of lobby. This is why we want a particular nominee. It is done even in America.”

    On the election of presiding officers of the 9th National Assembly, Saraki advised senators-elect and members-elect that they should ensure that there were in the chamber on the day of inauguration.

    READ ALSO: National Assembly after Saraki and Tambuwal

    He insisted that inauguration and election of presiding officers only take place on the floor of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, who flagged off the orientation, spoke on the overview of the National Assembly including structure, functions and inter-parliamentary relations.

    In the course of his presentation, Sani-Omolori mentioned that one of the functions of the Senate is the confirmation of nominees from the Executive arm of government.

    The power of confirmation of nominees prompted questions on the confirmation of Magu and why he is still serving as Acting Chairman of EFCC when he was denied confirmation.

    Sani-Omolori said that he was not in a position to answer political questions and referred the question on Magu to Saraki.

    Saraki noted that the options are the President can lobby the legislature or present someone else at the event of rejection of a nominee.

    Saraki said: “The point I am making is that we should not make too much news on the process of electing a presiding officers. What is important is for the members of the Senate to decide who is the best to lead them so that they can have stability.”

    On non- confirmation of Magu, Saraki said: “The truth really is that the issue of confirmation whether ministerial or other appointments, is done by the entire Senate.

    “Generally, we have an unwritten practice that we would get the input of senators from the state where the appointee hails from before we start the screening process in the Senate.

    “By the powers of the Senate if such a nominee is rejected, then it is upon the executive to find a new replacement.

    “The issue really is that the Senate has the powers to reject a ministerial nominee.

    “In a situation where the Senate rejects, it is up to the executive at that time to send in a replacement or in some cases, when we have appointment rejected and the executive will re-present before the Senate but if the senators again, took a decision to reject the nominee, the appointment stands rejected.”

  • EFCC arraigns three lawyers for alleged assault of its operative

    Three lawyers who allegedly assaulted an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) operative while trying to effect the arrest of a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Yinka Farounbi, on March 4 were on Monday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged assault.

    The defendants who are members of the NBA, Ikeja Branch are Lateef Abdulsalam, 55, Evans Okwuede, 45 and a female, Abiodun Kolawole, 48.

    They are facing a three count charge of conspiracy, resisting a public officer and assault before Chief Magistrate O. A Layinka.

    The lawyers were alleged to have assaulted a detective of the EFCC, Mrs Patience Kalu, on March 4 during the monthly meeting of the Ikeja Branch of the NBA at the Centre, Ikeja.

    Prosecuting Inspector Akeem Raji informed the court that the incident happened at 11 a.m., on March 4, during the monthly meeting of the Ikeja Branch of the NBA.

    Raji alleged that the defendants assaulted Mrs Kalu while trying to arrest Farounbi, over allegations of financial misappropriation.

    Akeem alleged that the defendants assaulted Kalu and inflicted injuries on her hand and neck.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Layinka granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each with one surety in like sum each.

    She ordered that the sureties must be lawyers and provide their NBA seal as proof.

    She adjourned the case until May 15 for mention.

  • EFCC: No teams set up to quiz outgoing governors

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  yesterday said it has not raised  teams to probe or interrogate some of the outgoing governors.

    It said it does not go after anybody, including ex-governors on speculative ground.

    The EFCC, which made the clarifications in a statement by its Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade, said its job starts after investigators have done a thorough job on any individual or firm involved in corruption-related cases.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to a lead story of a newspaper of March 31, 2019, titled: “EFCC raises teams to quiz Amosun, Okorocha, Yari as immunity ends.”

    “The newspaper had claimed that ahead of May 29, 2019, handover date to newly elected states helmsmen, the Commission has set up teams to probe some governors accused of perpetuating acts of corruption.

    “It is instructive to note that the reporter did not give the composition and terms of reference of the purported teams set up by the EFCC.

    “The report is a figment of the imagination of the reporter as everything about the setting of the teams ended with the first paragraph without details of such teams being set up.

    “Again, the story is not true, as the EFCC does not go after anybody, including ex-governors on speculative ground.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission only act after the investigators have done a thorough job on any individual or firm involved in corruption related cases.

    “The Commission wants to advise our stakeholders, including our friends in the media to be circumspect and verify their stories before going to press.

    “Members of the public are therefore advise to disregard the story as no team has been set up against any former governor.”

  • Why PMB should repeal and re-enact EFCC Act

    SIR, The EFCC Act should be amended in a way that strips it of its prosecutorial power, consequentially making the EFCC, which derives its statutory power from the EFCC Act, an investigative body only. In practice, the EFCC should primarily be involved in gathering evidence on serious financial crimes, bribery, and political corruption; once it has completed its investigation, then it should send its evidence to the Ministry of Justice, which should statutorily function as a prosecutorial body on matters investigated by the EFCC, and career prosecutors, with the help of external lawyers (usually senior lawyers), can make a determination as to whether the case should be prosecuted.

    Right now, under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act (2004), the enabling act that established the EFCC, the EFCC has both the investigative and prosecutorial powers. It is wrong.

    I will concurrently propose a repeal and re-enactment of the EFCC Act, bifurcating its original statutory obligations. The overall objective is to bring the EFCC into compliance with the global best practices.

    In a constitutional democracy, the concentration of too much power in a bureaucratic body can lead to abuse of power and bureaucratic inefficiency.

    This proposal invariably creates extra layers of protection, sort of checks and balances, between the EFCC and the Ministry of Justice, helping both institutions to effectively work collaboratively.

    The EFCC, like the FBI, its counterpart in the United States of America, does not prosecute cases. Its statutory mandate is clear: Investigate cases. Once the FBI is done with its investigation, it sends its evidence to the Department of Justice, and career prosecutors will bring appropriate charges against those who have been investigated for serious crimes. That is how it done in most countries.

    Because Nigeria is still a nascent democracy, and considering the fact that the EFCC had lost more cases than it had won, reform-minded people should be championing a proposal that is likely to strengthen our institutions. And extricating the prosecutorial power of the EFCC is a good step in the right direction.

    Alternatively, a special prosecution department, operating outside of the EFCC, to prosecute matters arising from the EFCC’s investigations can be established; after all, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which was once domiciled under the EFCC, is now an independent agency, after the Egmont Group suspended Nigeria from the prestigious organization.

    Furthermore, because the EFCC prosecutes Politically-Exposed Persons (PEPs) and non-PEPs cases, and because observers have consistently raised serious questions concerning its lackadaisical and lacklustre prosecution of PEP cases, it is more imperative that an independent prosecutorial body, comprising of disinterested prosecutors/reputable private lawyers, takes the lead in handling PEP cases.

    These revered professionals will be acting as special prosecutors, and their decisions won’t be influenced by political appointees, for a special clause will also be included in its enabling statute that criminalizes undue/corrupt influence.

    Legitimate questions have also been raised as to whether the EFCC can keep parts of the recovered loot. I can summarily say that the EFCC should be allowed to keep parts of the recovered loot. Right now, the EFCC is under-funded, even though it carries out one of the most important investigations in Nigeria. That is not good.

    If our legislative drafters need some guidance on how to draft an effective equitable sharing formula, they should peruse the United States’ equitable sharing program (21 U.S.C. § 881, 18 U.S.C. § 981, and 19 U.S.C. § 1616a), the gold standard in this area.

    A typical sharing formula will look like this: 70 percent to the federation account, 20 percent to the prosecuting agency, and 10 percent to the investigating agency. Of course, this is just a hypothetical breakdown, and I reasonably expect our legislative drafters to iron out technical details that involve difficult issues of law in a proposed legislation.

    Mr. President, using your bully pulpit, you have to convince old and newly elected lawmakers that, if they don’t pass stringent anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, millions of people will continue to suffer. And remind them that, when money meant for constructing local hospitals is siphoned by bad actors, millions of people are denied access to healthcare, and the consequences are dire.

    Finally, Mr. President, time is of the essence. Nigerians cannot wait any longer, and they are counting on you to demonstrate some badly needed leadership that is required to steer Nigeria to its promised land.

     

    • Akintunde F. Adeyemo, (JD), <activeaffiliation@gmail.com>

  • No plans to quiz outgoing governors, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday said it has not raised teams to probe or interrogate some of the outgoing governors.

    It said it does not go after anybody, including ex-governors on speculative ground.

    The EFCC, which made the clarifications in a statement by its Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade, said it used to only act after the investigators have done a thorough job on any individual or firm involved in corruption-related cases.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(  EFCC) has been drawn to a lead story of a newspaper of March 31, 2019, titled: “EFCC raises teams to quiz Amosun, Okocha, Yari as immunity ends.

    “The newspaper had claimed that ahead of May 29, 2019, handover date to newly elected states helmsmen, the Commission has set up teams to probe some governors accused of perpetuating acts of corruption.

    “It is instructive to note that the reporter did not give the composition and terms of reference of the purported teams set up by the EFCC.

    Read also: EFCC intercepts N54m at airport, probes six suspects

    “The report is a figment of the imagination of the reporter as everything about the setting of the teams ended with the first paragraph without details of such teams being set up.

    “Again, the story is not true, as the EFCC does not go after anybody, including ex-governors on speculative ground.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission only act after the investigators have done a thorough job on any individual or firm involved in corruption-related cases.

    “The Commission wants to advise our stakeholders, including our friends in the media to be circumspect and verify their stories before going to press.

    “Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard the story as no team has been set up against any former governor.”