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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC operatives at INEC collation centre in Lagos

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have surfaced at the Lagos State Collation Centre for the Presidential Election, situated at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters office, Yaba.

    The 10 officials entered INEC premises before 10:00pm on Saturday night and sat under the canopy erected for the collation of Presidential results across the 20 local government areas of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the operatives, who were wearing their aprons with EFCC inscriptions sat quietly awaiting the commencement of the final collation exercise in the state.

    The operatives were seated and fully at alert at the collation centre. Their mission was not clear.

    Speaking to NAN, a staff of the commission, who preferred anonymity, said that in his many years of service in the commission, the operatives of EFCC had never participated in elections’ result collation.

    Another official of the commission, who would not want his name mentioned in print suggested that the operatives were on ground to tackle the menace of vote selling and buying.

    Meanwhile, collations of the Presidential and National Assembly elections are ongoing in many centres and no results from any local government areas of the state has reached the final state collation centre in INEC office.

    However, the venue was scanty as at 12:00 midnight with some journalists and many security agents going in and out of the premises.

    The final collation for the Presidential elections in the state may be delayed till Sunday morning.

    NAN reports that many Registration Area Collation Officers in the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency collation centre situated at St. Agnes Primary School, Birrel in Yaba, next fence to INEC office, were still busy with the exercise.

  • Buhari, EFCC worry over influx of foreign currency

    •Anti-graft body: fake dollar notes in circulation

    THERE are fake dollar notes in circulation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) warned yesterday.

    The anti-graft agency raised the alarm a day after President Muhammadu Buhari expressed concern over the influx of the foreign currencies, especially in the build-up to the elections.

    Buhari had at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja on Wednesday alleged that some politicians have flooded the country with foreign currency to influence the elections.

    The rescheduled polls begin tomorrow with the presidential/National Assembly elections. The Governorship/State Assembly and the Federal Capital City (FCT) elections are billed for March 9.

    EFCC spokesman Tony Orilade warned Nigerians to be wary of fake dollars, in a statement yesterday.

    Orilade said the agency issued the warning following the intelligence gathered in the build-up to the elections.

    According to him, the anti-graft agency has urged Bureaux de Change operators to be cautious.

    The statement reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised the alarm over the circulation of fake dollar notes ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “In a statement personally signed by the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, the agency stated that the warning follows intelligence gathered in the build-up to the elections.

    “The intelligence indicates that the Dollar notes have features of genuineness, but forensic analysis by the Commission reveals otherwise.

    “We, therefore, warn the BDC operators to be cautious in their transactions from now till the end of the elections.”

    Also in a statement, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the President accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

    He added that the President, however, praised the EFCC for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States (U.S.) dollars”.

    “The EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases,” the President was quoted as saying.

    Reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorism financing, the President urged Nigerians, especially politicians, to place the interest of the country above theirs.

  • Polls: Buhari raises alarm over influx of foreign currency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed astonishment at the huge amount of foreign currency flooding the country intended to influence the general elections beginning on Saturday.

    He spoke during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, issued on Thursday, accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

    President Buhari, however, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States dollars.”

    Read Also: ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    “The EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases.”

    Reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorist financing, the President again appealed to Nigerians, especially politicians to place the interest of the country above all others, as they troop out to cast their votes in the coming elections.

  • Court asks EFCC to release ex-Skye Bank Chair

    Reverses arrest order issued to commission

     

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release detained former Chairman of Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni.

    Justice Yusuf Halilu, in a ruling, set aside an earlier order of the court allowing the EFCC to detain Ayeni for 14 days for the purpose of investigation.

    Justice Halilu upheld the argument by lawyer to Ayeni, Ahmed Raji (SAN) to the effect that the EFCC suppressed facts which misled the court into granting the earlier the application, thereby, making the detention illegal.

    The judge ordered the EFCC to immediately released Ayeni, who is said to have been arrested since February 6 this year.

    Justice Halilu held that, with the submissions of lawyers to both sides, it was clear that the respondent suppressed fact when it came to ask for a remand order.

    The judge noted that the respondent did not attach the fresh petition it claimed was written against the applicant, but rather attached a petition sent from the office of the Vice President .

    Justice Halilu equally noted that the respondent did not inform the court that the Commission had granted the applicant an administrative bail and also that the applicant also standing trial before the Federal High Court and since been admitted to bail.

    The judge noted that the court was not aware of all the fact presented by the applicant and which the respondent could not deny.

    He added: “”Having considered all the facts before the court, it is clear that the respondent suppressed facts to mislead the court. If indeed there is a fresh petition against the applicant, and a pending matter is before the Federal High Court, the respondent need not a remand order, but to apply to amend the charge in which it is prosecuting the applicant.

    “By coming for a remand order, the respondent had come to tamper with the sacred right of the applicant, which he enjoys. I wonder why the respondent do not attach the fresh petition it claimed it received. What I have before me is a petition written by the Office of  the Vice President”.

    Read Also: Court orders EFCC, banks to pay Benue N100m

    “On this note, I hereby set aside the earlier remand order and order the immediate release of the applicant”.

    The ruling by Justice Halilu was on a fundamental rights enforcement application filed and argued for Ayeni, by Raji.

    The EFCC had, last week obtained an ex-parte order allowing it to detain Ayeni for 14 days.

    The Commission had told the court that it was investigating a petition submitted by the office of the Vice President, in respect of Ayeni’s alleged roles as Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank.

    Ayeni, by his application, challenged the order for his detention and prayed the court set it aside, claiming that it was fraudulently obtained by the EFCC.

    Raji had, while arguing the application,  informed the court that there is a pending charge against his client before the Federal High Court on the same subject matter.

    He added that the trial judge at the Federal High Court, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba has granted bail to Ayeni in the case before the Federal High Court. He said the bail has since been perfected

    Raji argued that Ayeni’s detention by the EFCC was a breach of his fundamental human right. He added that his client reported at the EFCC by himself on invitation.

    Raji said the EFCC purportedly admitted the applicant to administration bail on non -realizable terms, which amounts to “giving bail with one hand, and collecting it back with the other hand”.

    He argued that the subject matter in which the applicant was detained centers around Skye bank issue which is already before the Federal High Court.

    Responding, lawyer to the EFCC, A.I Audu opposed to the application on ground that the subject matter of which the applicant is being detained was fresh quite different from the that of the matter before the Federal High Court.

    Audu contended that aside the petition submitted by the office of the Vice President, the acting Chairman of the Commission also received a petition against the applicant from a non-governmental organization.

    He however added that the applicant was invited based on the petition that he received about N8 billion from CBN to buy over Union Homes.

    Audu further submitted that the applicant has been giving useful information to the Commission but fell ill along the way and he was consequently taken to the hospital.

    He stated that was the applicant’s illness prompted the commission to obtain an order to further remand him to complete the investigation.

  • Second judge withdraws from NBA President’s N1.4bn case

    Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday withdrew from the trial of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presiden Paul Usoro (SAN), charged with N1.4billion fraud.

    Usoro was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Hassan later withdrew from the case.

    Others charged with Usoro are Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah; Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko and Margaret Ukpe, said to be at large.

    Also named in the charge is Governor Emmanuel Udom, “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution.”

    Usoro was to be re-arraigned before Justice Obiozor, but the judge recused himself for personal reasons.

    “For personal reasons, I hereby disqualify myself from handling the case.

    “I hereby return this file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge,” Justice Obiozor ruled.

    Prior to Usoro’s arraignment before Justice Hassan last December 18, his lead counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the judge of a December 17 letter to the Chief Judge seeking the transfer of the case to another judge for an undisclosed reason.

    Read Also; NBA chief Usoro docked for alleged N1.4b fraud

    Olanipekun said Usoro would want the case transferred to either Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, or Abuja.

    He said if the case would remain in Lagos, it should be transferred to “any other honourable judge apart from my noble Lord.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the defendants committed the offence on May 14, 2016.

    The commission alleged that Usoro conspired with others to commit the offence within the jurisdiction of the court.

    He was alleged to have conspired to convert N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State Government, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

    The prosecution said that the unlawful activity included criminal breach of trust which contravened sections 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

  • N1.25bn damages: Court fixes Feb. 28 for suit filed by Okorocha

    The Federal High Court sitting in Jos, on Wednesday fixed Feb. 28, to deliver judgment in a N1.25 billion damages suit filed by Gov Rochas Okorocha of Imo against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the EFCC for ”invading and ransacking” his house in Jos.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Musa Kurya, fixed the date High Court, after all the counsel to the parties involved in the case adopted their final written addresses.

    Okorocha through his Counsel, Mr Markus Saleh (SAN), had prayed the court, in his final written address, to condemn and adjudge the invasion of his home in Jos on May 3, 2017 as illegal, null and void.

    Saleh argued that Okorocha’s family members and staff were held hostage during a “search” by the police and EFCC conducted without any court warrant.

    He prayed the court to declare the action of the police and EFCC as “illegal, null and void’’ and award his client the sum of N1.25 billion as general damages because there was no valid court warrant for such an exercise.

    “We also pray for the issuance of a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further doing anything as such in his homes across the country, ‘’ he prayed.

    Responding, the counsel to IGP and EFCC, Edwin Inegbenoise and Muktar Ali-Ahmed respectively, prayed the court to dismiss Okorocha’s the application on the grounds that it lacked merit.

    Read Also: Okorocha to Issa-Onilu: stay away from Imo

    Inegbenoise argued that the search was conducted by police officers attached to the anti-graft commission, there was no way the governor should include the Police in the case because those officers involved take orders only from the EFCC and not the police.

    He prayed the court to strike all the allegations labeled against the IGP and the Plateau Commissioner of Police who were joined in the suit.

    In his submission, EFCC counsel, Ali-Ahmed prayed the court to dismiss the case because it lacks merit since the EFCC has the constitutional powers to search any person’s house or office in the cause of any investigation more so that there was a search warrant obtained from a chief magistrate court.

    “My Lord, we finally urge this honourable court to dismiss this case for lack of merit, ’’ he pleaded.

  • Breaking: Court grants former SGF Lawal, two others N50m bail

    The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and three others, who were charged with N544 million fraud were on Wednesday granted a N50 million bail each.

    Justice Jude Okeke of an FCT High Court Maitama, who gave the ruling, said the prosecution could not provide any proof to make the court not to grant bail.

    “The evidential burden is more on the prosecution to prove that the defendants are not entitled to enjoy section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federation Republic of Nigeria as amended.

    “Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 the prosecution cited said bail shall be granted except in some circumstances which the prosecution could not establish,’’ he held.

    Okeke admitted them to bail in the sum of N50 million and a surety in like sum each.

    He insisted that the surety must be resident in Abuja and must provide residential address to the court.

    In addition to that, the judge ordered that the surety must own a landed property with the land documents submitted to the court.

    Okeke also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports and traveling documents to the Registrar of the court.

    The former SGF was arraigned alongside Hamidu Lawal, a director in his company, Sulaiman Abubakar, staff in the company and Apeh Monday.

    Also joined were two companies, Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged them to court on a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful award of contract to companies Lawal has interest at the sum of N544 million.

    Lawal was accused of benefiting illegally from the approval of N544,119,925.36 for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation.

    The EFCC alleged that Babachir Lawal being the SGF and Hamidu Lawal, director of Rholavision Engineering Limited and Abubakar, staff about March 7, 2016 at Abuja conspired to commit the offences.

    EFCC said the defendants fraudulently acquired a property, contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    Read Also: Alleged N544m fraud: Court remands ex-SGF Lawal, others

    It also alleged that Babachir Lawal knowingly held indirectly a private interest in the consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Limited for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N7 million and N6.4 million.

    EFCC claimed that it was done through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).

    It further alleged that on March 4, and Aug. 22, 2016 contract for removing evasive grass worth N272.5 million and N258.1 million respectively were awarded to Josmon technologies but executed by Rholavision.

    The offences are contrary to Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The case has been adjourned till March 18 for commencement of trail.

  • Court orders EFCC, banks to pay Benue N100m

    A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi on Tuesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) United Bank of Africa, UBA and Fidelity Bank to pay Benue state government N100 for freezing its accounts last year.

    Delivering judgement in the suit number FHC/MKD/CS/46/2018 filed by the Benue State Government challenging the legality of the EFCC freezing its accounts, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon ordered the anti-graft commission to pay the Benue State Government the sum of N50 million as damages, while UBA and Fidelity are to each pay the sum of N25 million.

    Justice Olajuwon stated the Benue State government accounts frozen do not fall within the classes or categories of accounts liable to be frozen by the EFCC.

    She declared the action of the EFCC as illegal, null and void, saying the order to the affected Banks to freeze Benue State accounts was not obtained from a Federal High Court.

    The Judge thereafter granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining EFCC from further freezing Benue State Government accounts domiciled in financial institutions.

    Read Also: Court remands ex-SGF in EFCC custody

    Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Michael Gusa described the judgement as sound, adding the Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration believes in the rule of law and due process and would not fail to challenge any act of illegality on the State.

    It will be recalled a few days after Governor Samuel Ortom defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the EFCC ordered the freezing of the accounts of Benue State Government in UBA and Fidelity Bank on the premise that the Governor’s security vote was being investigated.

    The State through the office of Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice approached the court seeking a declaration that EFCC acted against the law when it directed the banks to freeze its accounts.

  • Court remands ex-SGF, Lawal, brother, others in EFCC custody

    *Arraigned on 10-count charge of fraud

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja ordered, on Tuesday, that Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and three others be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending its ruling on his bail application on Wednesday.

    The court gave the order after Lawal, his brother, Hamidu David Lawal, Sulaiman Abubakar and Apeh John Monday and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Limited – were arraigned on a 10-count charge brought against him by the EFCC, and in which they accused of involvement in N272 million contract fraud.

    The alleged fraud was said to be in relation to contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) for the removal of grasses in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, which the ex-SGF allegedly diverted to the companies in which he has interest.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which the prosecuting lawyer, M.S. Abubakar asked for the “shortest date” for the commencement of trial.

    At that point, lawyer to Lawal, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) informed the court about his client’s pending bail application.

    He said: “in anticipation of arraignment, the defence filed application dated February 7, 2019 seeking the order of the court to grant bail on liberal terms

    “He never jumped bail since April 13, 2018, when he was released by the EFCC on administrative bail and has been reporting to the EFCC based on the conditions given to him.

    “He never breached his bail conditions, even when he was given his international passport to travel for medical check-up.

    “The defendant will not run away and has no way of jeopardising investigation since it has been concluded.

    “I, therefore, urge your lordship to grant him bail on self-recognizance or on liberal terms,” Olujinmi said.

    Lawyer to the second defendant, Sunday Ameh (SAN) also prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, pending the determination of the case.

    Napoleon Idenala and Ocholi Okutepa, who represented the third and fourth defendants, equally urged the court to exercise its discretion in their clients’ favour and grant them bail on liberal terms.

    In his response, Abubakar urged the judge, Justice Jude Okeke to refuse the bail applications and order that the matter proceeds without delay in the spirit of Section 19(2)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 and Section 397 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Okeke fixed ruling for today (February 13) and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.

  • Court remands ex-SGF in EFCC custody

    *Arraigned on 10-count charge of fraud

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has ordered that Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending its ruling on his bail application on Wednesday.

    Read Also:  Supreme Court to rule on other three appeals

    The court gave the order after Lawal was arraigned on a 10-count charge of fraud brought against him by the EFCC.

    The ex-SGF pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him this morning during his arraignment before Justice Jude Okeke.

    Details shortly…