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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC arraigns suspected internet fraudster in Kwara

    Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) Wednesday arraigned one Ajayi Temitope Charles in a Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital for alleged internet fraud.

    EFCC arraigned the suspect on a five count charge.

    The accused person, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him, was allegedly caught with document in his possession with intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

    In the first count against the accused person, who is also known as Teresa Simon, it was said that, on February 28, 2019 in Ilorin, he had in his possession document in his gmail account containing false
    pretence in his gmail account, with intent to defraud, and thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 6, and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences.

    It was also said that the accused person in the second and third count had in his possession document titled, Hangout with Rodney Dean, and Hangout with Paul Thompson, respectively, adding that he printed out the document from his gmail account.

    Temitope Charles said in his statement that the male adult finder site on his system was meant to appear as woman to find friends and nothing more.

    The presiding judge, Justice M. Abdulgafar refused to grant the accused person bail, directing that he should be remanded in prison custody.

    He then adjourned the matter till March 21, 2019 for further hearing.

  • Court hears evidence on final forfeiture suit against Patience Jonathan April 12

    A Federal High Court Lagos, Wednesday, fixed April 12, to hear oral evidence in a suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking final forfeiture of about 8.4 million dollars, and N7.4 billion linked to former first Lady, Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had in a ruling delivered on Feb.28, on the motion for final forfeiture, held that there were conflicting affidavit evidences, which could be best resolved if respective parties were called upon to give oral evidence.

    The case was consequently, adjourned until March 13 (today) for oral evidences.

    On Wednesday, the case could not proceed as earlier scheduled , while April 12 has been fixed as return date

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had secured an interim order for forfeiture of the sums on April 20, 2018, before Olatoregun, following a motion exparte.

    It joined as respondents: Patience Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba.

    NAN reports that on Oct. 29, 2018, EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had moved his motion for final forfeiture of the sums, urging that same be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Meanwhile, defence counsel, Messrs Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and Mr Ige Asemudara had respectively moved their processes in opposition to the motion for final forfeiture.

    On Jan. 15, the court had admitted electronic evidences presented by respondent counsel, which depicted video exhibits showing various business outfits of the third and sixth respondents

    The court had then adjourned for judgment.

    In a ruling on Feb.28, the judge had first dismissed an application by counsel to the respondents, seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture orders made on April 20, 2018.

    The court had held that it was satisfied that the requirement for the grant of the interim orders was met by the EFCC, adding that it was clear that at the time the interim order was made, there was no pending suit elsewhere.

    Meanwhile, giving its ratio on the motion for final forfeiture, the court held that it finds the affidavit evidences conflicting, adding that same can only be resolved, if the parties concerned were called upon to give oral evidences.

    The court had held :

    “The applicant relied on two grounds (1) That the court has the statutory power under section 17, to grant the reliefs sought and (2) That the monies are suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity or unlawful activities, diverted from the Federal Government of Nigeria,”

    The court had asked if having regards to the provisions of sections 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, as well as the available facts before the court, the applicant has made out a case for final forfeiture of the sums.

    The judge noted the various processes filed by parties to the suit which includes, affidavits, counter affidavits, further affidavits, reply affidavits written addresses, as well as exhibits .

    The court had then held :

    “I have examined the issues raised on both sides and i came to the conclusion after exhaustively going through the affidavits filed by parties, and i found the affidavits conflicting on material facts.

    “I believe in the circumstance, that the court cannot rely on its own opinion alone; the conflict must only be determined or resolved by the evidences of parties themselves, particularly as it relates to the source of the funds.

    “I believe parties should be heard and cross examined on this issue.

    “Parties are accordingly called upon to give oral testimonies in support of the case presented, ” The court had held.

  • EFCC arrests 24 for internet fraud, one for vote buying

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) in Ilorin has arrested 24 suspects for internet fraud and one other for vote buying in Kwara.

    Mr Isyaku Sharu, Zonal head of EFCC, Ilorin, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his office, said that most of those arrested ”were vibrant, young and energetic youths, aged between 18 and 25.

    “Among those arrested are two corps members, some students of University of Ilorin and others from the Kwara Polytechnic, including their girlfriends

    “15 of them have been taken to court, while the remaining 10 girls are still under investigation, until we find something against them,” he said.

    Sharu said that before the Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembles Elections, the commission embarked on an enlightenment programme on both the local media, English and Yoruba media warning citizens against vote buying

    ” We informed them that vote buying was a criminal offence as structured in the Electoral procedure act

    “We published our numbers for people to call, and during the last Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections, we got calls and we were able to arrest one person for vote buying and we will soon charge him to court,” he said.

    Sharu said that the commission, in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), also arrested a fake Customs controller, who swindled members of the public, issuing them forms for employment and collecting huge sums of money.

    “Unsuspected citizens were given forms for employment into the NCS by the suspect, who collected up to N500,000.

    “He has since been charged to court,” he said.

    He said the EFCC will collaborate with stakeholders in the state, like the security agents, law enforcement, traditional institution, Corps members and students against economic and financial crimes in the state.

  • Man convicted of fraud by EFCC gets four months jail term

    Justice P. I. Ajoko, of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, has sentenced Ogundiran Tosin Iyanu to four-month imprisonment.

    Ogundiran was found guilty of a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office, and sentenced yesterday.

    The convict, who earlier pleaded not guilty on December 16, 2018, later changed his plea to guilty.

    His latest plea led to an amendment of the charge and re-arraignment on March 5, on a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Act.

    Read also: EFCC: Akingbola used Intercontinental Bank’s N10b to clear personal debt

    The charge sheet reads: “That you Ogundiran Tosin Iyanu and Ayomide Balogun (at large) on or about April 5, 2018 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this court with intent to defraud, obtained N282,500 only from Adeyemi Adejumo, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 Laws of Nigeria, 2004.”

    After considering the merit of the charge and the evidence as presented by the prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, the judge, convicted and sentenced the defendant to four-month imprisonment with effect from the date of his arraignment.

     

     

  • EFCC: Akingbola used Intercontinental Bank’s N10b to clear personal debt

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that former defunct Intercontinental Bank Managing Director Dr Erastus Akingbola allegedly repaid a personal debt using the bank’s N10billion.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator Abdulraheem Jimoh told the court how he uncovered the alleged fraudulent transaction.

    He was testifying as the second prosecution witness in Akingbola’s trial before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola.

    Jimoh, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) said: “The management of the bank gave me a letter dated May 8, 2009 from Tropics Securities Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Dr Erastus Akingbola, his wife and some other shareholders.

    “The letter was addressed to the Group Managing Director Dr Erastus Akingbola and was signed by a Mr Bayo Dada and one Jackson.

    “The letter was claiming payment amounting to N10billion for shares purported to have been bought by the bank.”

    The investigator said based on the letter, Intercontinental Bank issued three cheques amounting to N10billion in favour of Tropics Securities.

    “Upon further investigation, I discovered that the cheques were cleared in Access Bank for Tropics Securities Nigeria Limited and Tropics Properties Limited.

    “Dr Akingbola has substantial interests in these firms.

    “Further investigations revealed that the money was used to clear Dr Akingbola’s indebtedness to Access Bank.”

    Asked whether the N10billin was a loan from Intercontinental Bank to Akingbola, the witness said: “There was no loan granted to any of the companies or Dr Akingbola but they claimed it was for shares.”

    The 10-year-old case began afresh following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of an interlocutory appeal by Akingbola.

    In the 26 count charge, the prosecution alleged that while he was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank, Akingbola, between November 2007 and July 2008, approved a credit facility of N8billion each to Soo-Kok Holding Limited, Tofa General Enterprises, Cinca Nigeria Limited;l, Harmony Trust and Investment Limited and Stanzus Investment Limited.

    EFCC said the illegal transactions were carried out between May 2008 and May 2009 in contravention of “accepted practice or Intercontinental Bank Plc’s regulations.”

    It said Akingbola violated Section 15(1)(a)(i) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, Cap F2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and was liable to be punished under Section 16(1)(a) of the same Act.

    The prosecution alleged that under Akingbola’s watch, Intercontinental Bank had N87.6billion non-performing credit burden.

    It said Akingbola failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the requirement to maintain, at all times, the minimum capital adequacy ratio specified by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in compliance with Section 13(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3 Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Akingbola pleaded not guilty.

    Trial continues today.

     

  • EFCC arraigns man for alleged N3m theft

    The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Mr. Ibraheem Adesina Adeyemi on a one-count charge of stealing.

    The accused was brought before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.

    The charge preferred against the accused reads: “That you Ibraheem Adesina Adeyemi, male, in April 2016 or thereabout, in Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, did convert to your personal use the sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira only), property of Alhaji Kamoru Atilola, which he gave to you in trust for keep and thereby committed an offence.”

    Adeyemi pleaded not guilty.

    Read also: EFCC arraigns man for stealing

    EFCC counsel Sanusi Galadanchi prayed the court to fix a date to begin the trial.

    But the defence counsel, Bolarinwa Lawal, moved a bail application he had earlier filed on behalf of his client, asking that he be admitted to bail.

    Justice Akintola granted the defendant N2million bail and two sureties in the like sum.

    The sureties, he said, shall be resident within the court jurisdiction and shall present their tax clearance certificates for three years, which will be verified by the court.

    The case continues on April 15.

  • EFCC arraigns man for stealing

    The Ibadan Zonal office, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned one Ibraheem Adesina Adeyemi on a one-count charge of stealing.

    The accused was brought before Hon. Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road area of the Oyo State capital city.

    The charge preferred against the accused reads: “That you Ibraheem Adesina Adeyemi ‘m’ sometimes in the month of April, 2016 or thereabout, in Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, did convert to your personal use the sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only, property of Alhaji Kamoru Atilola, which he gave to you on trust for keep and thereby committed an offence.”

    The offence, according to the charge, is contrary to section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap. 38, Vol.2, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

    Adeyemi, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence when it was read to him.

    Having pleaded not guilty, the EFCC’s counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, prayed the court to fix a date to commence the trial of the accused.

    But the defense counsel, Bolarinwa Lawal, moved a bail application he had earlier filed on behalf of his client, asking that he be admitted to bail.

    Justice Akintola granted the defendant bail in the sum of two million naira and two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties, he added, shall be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and shall present their Tax Clearance Certificates for three years which will be verified by the court.

    The case was subsequently adjourned to April 15, 2019 for trial.

  • Terrorism: ABCON partners EFCC

    That Association of Bureau De Change of Nigeria, ABCON says the association’s recent collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will curb money laundering and terrorism.

    Disclosing this in an exclusive interview with The Nation, the President of ABCON, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe stated that this has become as members have now become pray to money launders.

    “The anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws are fast developing and taking shape and Bureau DE change is part of financial and the BDCs are the weakest link in the financial institution.

    “It is easier to come to them and to launder the proceeds. Having that scenario, it becomes very important to upgrade the knowledge of the BDCs and to sensitize them. We are not going to limit ourselves to only public sensitization, but shall hold workshops, and training by Nigerian Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU), an arm of the EFCC”, says Gwadabe.

    According to him, part of the sensitisation is by creating awareness for our members to be able to easily detect a suspicious transaction, explaining that it must be reported to the EFCC.

    He stressed; “There is a lot of security report that people are bringing in illicit funds to cause havoc and to disrupt the peace of the country. Sometimes, these launders or money bags find it very easy to use these BDCs, because of the nature of Bureau DE change and its size.

    “So they prefer to use the BDCs because of the nature of some of the operators who do not keep records.”

    Gwadabe noted that there is always a distinction between the licensed Bureau De Change and the Un-licensed Bureau De Change, adding the unlicensed does not want to keep any form of records, as they often believe it is not necessary.

    “This is to sensitise and train BDCs on the activities of money launders, terrorism financing. We have integrated our portal with the CBN, FIRS, and EFCC, so that financial transections’ can be monitored and reported when a transaction is suspected to be illicit.

    “We send our cash transection report of any amount that is above $5million for individuals and $10million for companies in the cash transaction. Once the report is sent to our portal, the CBN and the EFCC gets alert, which will help to carry out the necessary investigations and to stop any of the transactions found to be illegal or to be financing terrorism.”

  • Irate youths thwart EFCC interception of Ghana-must-go bags

    Irate youths yesterday attacked armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and prevented them from removing a ‘Ghana-must-go’ bag filled with wads of crisp naira notes at Makurdi, Benue State.

    At the polling unit 011 opposite North Bank Central Mosque where APC gubernatorial candidate was speaking with reporters after casting his vote, the youths defied an operative corking his gun and began hitting the EFCC operatives’ white bus which fled the area.

    “At North Bank Area, Makurdi, EFCC operatives intercepted bags of cash meant for vote-buying. In an attempt to arrest the culprit, some thugs attacked operatives and vandalised the bus used for patrol,” the EFCC later said on its twitter handle, @officialefcc.

    When The Nation visited Senator George Akume’s Wannunen village, about forty minutes’ drive from Makurdi and where many in Makurdi said that a PDP ward had been burnt, it was found to be completely untrue.

    At Akume’s home in the village at around 11.30, The Nation ran into a combined team of security operatives led by a police officer, Hussain Idasho, who said that they were looking for an INEC ad-hoc staff who had disappeared along with election materials. “We have orders from Makurdi to find a corps member who was supposed to have arrived at the polling unit with the election materials.

    “The presiding officer, a corps member, is the one that we are searching for and no place in this area is exempted,” he said.

    Later, at 12. 30pm, Akume arrived the village and went straight to his polling unit, hailed with shouts of ‘Jagaban’, ‘Messiah of Benue People’ by a throng of supporters and kinsmen.

    Speaking with reporters after voting, Akume said that the orderly election process that he witnessed yesterday was a sure sign that Ortom would lose, leave Government House and go to jail.

    Meanwhile the media officer of the Benue All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Emmanuel Jime, has described as false and fake news purported reports linking him with intercepted cash at a polling unit.

    In a press statement signed by Kulas Tersoo and made available to newsmen, the APC candidate denied any knowledge of purported interception cash at his polling unit.

    The statement reads thus: “We are not aware of any arrest or incident as described in these reports.”

    Jime arrived his Northbank 001 polling unit at a few minutes past 9am, got accredited and proceeded to cast his vote in the company of his wife.

    Done with the voting process, he granted a series of media interviews, and immediately left for his Northbank, Makurdi residence with no incident outside the usual cheers from supporters.

  • EFCC arrests Kwara Finance Commissioner, AG, four others over N1b for presidential poll

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Friday said it has uncovered about N1billion cash withdrawal by the Kwara State Government, a week before the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    It also confirmed the arrest of six suspects by its Ilorin Zonal Office over the withdrawal.

    Those arrested and currently being interrogated include, Commissioner for Finance Nurudeen Banu; Accountant -General Sulaiman Ishola; Commissioner for Water Resources Yusuf Abdulkadir; Head of Service Susan Modupe Oluwole; Special Adviser Commissioner for Energy, Eleja Taiwo Banu; Chief of Staff, Abdulwahab Yusuf; officials of the Secretary to the State Government, and those of the Government House.

    Investigations by EFCC operatives revealed that the said money was withdrawn from the state’s account domiciled with Sterling Bank.

    An official of the State Government, Hafees Yusuf, confirmed to the operatives that he got instructions from his “boss” to withdraw some monies sometimes in February 2019.

    He said: “My Controller of Finance told me that the sum of N350m was paid into the account of Kwara State Government, and I was instructed by my boss to raise cheques of various sums of monies, which I did and were duly signed by the Controller of Finance; I withdrew the monies as I was instructed by my supervisor.”

    A senior staff of Sterling Bank, who is currently being interrogated by operatives, revealed the Accountant General, Commissioner for Finance and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, are signatories to the account where N720m cash was withdrawn from the Kwara State Government Account domiciled in the branch of the bank located at Post Office in Ilorin between February 7 and 11, 2019.

    Three Relationship Managers of the bank – Rahaman Alimi, Akinleye Ademola and Olarewaju Sarafa, were said to have parked the said money in bullion van and personally delivered it to the Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor, Abdulwahab Yusuf.

    The bank officials further told operatives that they acted on the instruction of their “boss” which was identified as, Rasaq Abolarin.

    Meanwhile, the officials of the Kwara State Government officials have been granted administrative bail even as investigations continue.

    They are expected to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Ilorin next week.

    The suspicious withdrawals, were uncovered after operators acted on a petition by a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (KWARA-CGGA) asking for the probe of over N1 billion loan the State Government secured from a bank a few days before the general elections.

    Hassan Omoiya, Secretary General of the organisation, noted that intelligence had it that the state government obtained the loan on February 13, from a bank using the remittance of Kwara State VAT allocation due in February and March 2019 as collateral.

    He further urged the EFCC to “determine the appropriateness of utilisation of credit facility of N1 billion by Kwara State Government at the twilight of general election.”

    The Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade confirmed the arrest of the suspects and the administrative bail given to them.