The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • FG moves for final forfeiture of Badeh’s 6 houses, $1m

    The Federal Government has taken steps to ensure final forfeiture of six houses, including a mall all located in Abuja and $1million allegedly recovered from the late ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

    Acting on behalf of the government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has applied at a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of final forfeiture of the assets.

    In an application filed by EFCC’s Chike Okoroma late last year, a copy of which The Nation sighted on Wednesday, the identified the assets to include five duplexes, a mall and cash of $1million (allegedly recovered from one of Badeh’s houses).

    They are described in court documents as *a duplex at 6 Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Off IBB Way, Maitama, Abuja.

    *a duplex at 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

    *a duplex at 14 Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja

    *a duplex at 8A Embu Street by Stigma Apartments, Wuse II, Abuja.

    *a duplex at Dou-Girei, Yola North Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

    *a mall at plot 1386 Oda Crescent, off Aminu Kanu Crescent (Cadastral Zone AO7) Wuse II, Abuja.

    On Wednesday, when Okoroma mentioned the application, Justice Okon Abang granted the applicant leave to publish the application and fixed February 25 for the hearing.

    Read Also: Badeh’s wife, children removed from watch-list

    Earlier, Justice Abang adjourned to February 26 for fro a decision on how best to proceed in the criminal trial involving Badeh.

    Badeh and a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited were being tried on charges of money laundering to the tune of N3.9billion, being he was reportedly killed on December 18 last year.

    The prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on October 23, 2018, closed its case after calling 21 witnesses, following which the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned to January 16, 2019 for the 1st defendant (Badeh) to open his defence.

    At the commencement of proceedings on Wednesday, Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) informed the court about his client’s demise.

    Olujinmi, who described the development as shocking, said Badeh’s sudden death has deprived him of the opportunity to let the world know that he did not commit the offence with which he was charged.

    He said noted that when a defendant to a criminal charge dies,, the litigation against him must end.

    Olujinmi said his deceased client would have been able to disprove the allegations against him.

    He sought an adjournment to after his deceased client’s burial. He told the court that parties would meet to agree on how best to proceed with the case.

    Samuel Zibiri (SAN), who appeared for the 2nd defendant (Iyalikam) agreed with Olujinmi.

    Lawyer for the prosecution, Oluwaleke Atolagbe , though expressed his condolence over the 1st defendant’s death, argued that it was essential for the defence to furnish it with a death certificate.

    Atolagbe, who did not object to the defence’s application for adjournment, confirmed that moves had been made towards setting up a meeting between both parties to decide in which direction the case will go.

    He argued that it was not ideal to adjourned until after Badeh’s burial when Olujinmi did not disclose when the burial was likely to take place.

    Ruling, Justice Abang agreed with Olujinmi that in such a matter of public knowledge, which the court itself, as a member of a community, is aware of, there is not need to require the production of a death certificate for the court to believe that the 1st defendant was actually dead.

    The judge said: “In the instant case, it is not necessary for the counsel to the first defendant to tender a death certificate, because the death of the first defendant is public knowledge and the court is aware. -t is not in dispute that the first defendant is dead.”

    Justice Abang, who prayed that the deceased’s soul rest in peace, noted that while his trial lasted, Badeh conducted himself diligently, was humble and respectful to the court.

    The judge said while Badeh was always punctual in court, he never attempted to frustrate proceedings in his trial by filing frivolous applications.

    He said: “He was humble and peaceful. He would always stand, waiting in the dock until the court would order him to sit. He attended proceedings at all times and always present in time.

    “He never asked for frivolous applications or wasted the court’s time, complying at all times with the court’s rules. May his soul rest in peace,” the judge said.

  • Buhari not aware of CJN’s arraignment – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is feeling sad over the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, on allegations of false and non-asset declarations.

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had scheduled Jan. 14 for the arraignment of the CJN.

    However, the process was stalled as the CJN failed to appear before the CCT; and a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja also ordered the CCT to halt proceedings.

    Osinbajo, who spoke at the 2019 Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no prior knowledge of the arraignment.

    The theme of the conference is “Free Press and Objective Reporting in the 2019 Election Year.’’

    According to Osinbajo, Buhari’s approach is that institutions should do their work.

    “ I can tell you for a fact that he did not even know about this until Saturday evening. He did not even know that there will be any kind of arraignment until Saturday evening.

    “He has said categorically, do not interfere with whatever institutions are doing; sometimes, it has consequences such as we have today; such that people say how can such an important person be subjected to a trial without the Federal Government?

    “But I can tell you without any equivocation whatsoever that he was not even in the know because it is a specific instruction that he gave.

    “So , even where somebody else calls a public officer such as Ibrahim Magu of EFCC and says something or the other, he will say `no, no, no, Mr president has said I can do my work.

    “My take is that I would rather not have a situation where senior members of my profession are being tried for an offence; certainly, I will rather not have that kind of situation.

    “ So, I do not feel particularly good about it; as a matter of fact, I feel very sad; that it is going on at all, that is my position.’’’

    Osinbajo tasked online publishers to go after details and check the facts before publishing; warning that online news was losing credibility.

    The vice president said that elections had heightened ethnic and religious tensions and tended to threaten and challenge Nigeria’s unity and security.

    “So, it is even more so, the case today that we just must be more responsive because anybody on their beds can launch a website, post images from anywhere in the world and tell whatever story he wishes.

    Read Also: IGP appoints Mba new Force Spokesman

    “So, the online publisher is essentially in a poorly regulated space and can publish practically anything, even outright falsehoods.

    “Perhaps because the worst that can happen is a libel action if your publication tarnishes a person’s reputation.

    “The problem with the current situation is that online news may lose credibility; and that is a very bad situation because the loss of credibility is bad for everybody, bad for business and weakens an important social tool of public communication.’’

    He suggested the encouragement and promotion of forums for online practitioners to engage and develop by interaction with others.

    “As for elections, I think it affords an opportunity for an online publication to become well established as a credible and speedy source of news and information.

    “News on election results will be so sought after that anyone who can provide them accurately and in a timely fashion will be the go-to-site, even in the future.

    “The point to bear in mind is that integrity pays. Being the first to break the news, especially when it is unverified, might bring in some traffic initially, but it does not take that long to lose reputation.

    “And once the credibility of the publication is damaged, people will not take the news seriously,’’ he said.

    Earlier in a remark, OPAN President, Mr Austin Ogannah, said that the association as founded in 2011.

    According to him, the idea is to have an association that self regulates practitioners in the online news media; so that members can hold one another accountable.

    Ogannah said that the essence of the conference was to understand objective reporting in an election as captured in the theme.

  • EFCC charges five for attempted fraud

    The Kaduna zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dragged five men to Kaduna State High Court for alleged criminal conspiracy and attempt to defraud a new generation bank of 466 million naira.

    The defendants; Bashir Abdullahi Mohammed, Oche Ogenyi, Adefila Taofiq Kayode, Rabiu Aliko Lawan and Mmadu Mathew Onyekachi were said to have hacked and manipulated the application of one of the new generation banks in the country, by increasing the balance of an account domiciled with the bank from N 781,000 (Seven hundred and eighty one thousand) to 466 million naira.

    Charge sheet of case numbered: KDH/KD/EFCC 42019 read that; “That you Bashir Abdullahi Mohammed (m), Oche Ogenyi (m), AdefilaTaofiq Kayode (m), Rabiu Aliko Lawan (m), Mmadu Mathew Onyekachi(m) and others now at large, sometime in 2018 in Kaduna within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit; attempt to commit theft of a sum of N466,000,000 (Four hundred and sixty six million naira) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(1) of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State 2017 and punishable under Section 59 (1) of the same Law.

    “COUNT 2: That you Bashir Abdullahi Mohammed (m), Oche Ogenyi (m), Adefila Taofiq Kayode (m), Rabiu Aliko Lawan (m), Mmadu Mathew Onyekachi
    (m) and others now at large, sometime in 2018 in Kaduna within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court attempted to commit theft of a sum of N466,000,000 (Four hundred and sixty-six million naira), belonging to a Nigerian bank.

    A source close to EFCC told The Nation that, the commission had arrested a total of eight suspects in connection to the crime.

    According to the source, with the prompt intervention of the Commission, the suspects who are allegedly seen to be in connection with the case while in the heat of their game were arrested in Kaduna, Abuja and Lagos respectively.

    Read Also: Kwara APC gov candidate condemns ban on political rallies

    Meanwhile, when the case came up before Justice Mohammed Tukur of Kaduna State High Court 5 on Wednesday, Counsels to the defendants urged the court to grant them bail, arguing that, the offences they were being accused of were ordinarily bailable.

    Meanwhile, the prosecuting counsel, Onyeka Ekweozor, urged the court discard the bail applications of the defence counsels. He argued that, though the offences were bailable, granting the defendants bail was capable of jeopardizing the case.

    He said, the defendants operate as a syndicate, some of whom were at large. And that, granting them bail will make it difficult to apprehend others.

    The EFCC lawyer also argued that, the defendants don’t have fixed addresses, as they were arrested at various locations like hotel and airport, among others. “This is even as the crimes they are charged for are still continuing.”

    But, counsel to the first defendant, Abubakar A. Ashat, who led other defendants’ counsels in oral bail application for their clients said, arguments of the prosecuting counsel were so watery, as the offences in question were ordinarily bailable.

    On the addresses of his clients and other defendants, Ashat said, “the valid address of my client and others are in their statements, and the prosecuting counsel has not told this court that, those addresses are not valid. So, the argument on their addresses does not hold water. And let say the addresses are even not valid, the sureties are going to stand for them and ensure they appear in court anytime the case comes up.” He argued.

    The Judge who earlier read the two count charges to the defendants, who pleaded not guilty adjourned the case till 21st of January, for hearing of the bail applications.

    Justice Mohammed Tukur, however, ruled that the five defendants be remanded in EFCC custody till the next adjourned date.

  • 2019, Buhari and sustaining good  governance 

    Its partisan times, so differing views have invaded the political space on the persona and leadership content in President Muhammadu Buhari.  He is both loved and hated. But it’s normal in life, especially for leaders who must step on toes or bruise many to find the illuminating trajectory of leadership.
     President Muhammadu Buhari is Nigeria’s latest subject of praises and vituperations. First, everyone must understand that Buhari is the incumbent President of Nigeria, who is seeking reelection in the February 16, 2019 presidential ballot.  But inevitably and consonance with democratic ethos, some political power mongers are seeking to unseat him. They have assembled in their numbers on different political platforms.
    To this category of opposing politicians and Nigeria’s potential leaders, President Buhari has performed so poorly in the last three years. They chant everywhere that he deserves to be ousted; but hardly justify their stand with incontrovertible facts. What is palpable in their eyes is the naked scramble for power. So,  “Buhari must go!”  is what electrifies every campaign fora of the opposition gangsters.
    The opposition ought to be genuinely piqued with Buhari for several reasons. The CBN ATMs, the unfettered access to the official exchange rates of  foreign currencies; the blockage of fake  oil subsidy claims, terminating the regime of inflated and abandoned contracts, and the arms procurement deals which stashed diverted dollars into several accounts have been blocked by Buhari.
    So, there are veiled and subterranean plots to ensure President Buhari does not stage a comeback in the next presidential polls. Some former Nigerian leaders, with the exception of a few like Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) are neck-deep into this evil design. They have some handful minions, most of whom are  in subordinate leadership positions who are prosecuting the agenda of President Buhari’s ouster very satanically.
     The opponents, especially in the main opposition PDP  have forgotten that in 16 years of acclaimed “perfect” leadership of Nigeria, they neither delivered on good governance nor leadership. They dislocated Nigeria in all sectors.
    But it  was under their watch Nigeria’s foreign reserves were depleted and shared on the table mutilated parts of a hunter’s game. It was under their watch local contractors and oil subsidy claimants were owned awful trillions of naira for questionable debts.
    It was under their cursed regimes, 27 out of 36 states in the federation, including the central government could not pay salaries and allowances to public servants. The defunct PDP government personified poverty and misery.
    It was under their leadership insecurity in Nigeria peaked. Boko Haram terrorists captured and conveniently occupied 20 LGAs in Borno state alone and another four LGAs in Adamawa and Yobe states. Nigerians witnessed Boko Haram detonating their bombs everywhere in Abuja and other major cities in the North. The government of the day condoned it as signs of the times.
    Nigerians tolerated for years, and inexcusably, how the so-called ideal leadership supervised Plateau, the home of peace and tourism turned the epicenter or turf of testing ethnic supremacy by clannish warlords. Farmers and herders clashes reigned in most rural communities of Northern Nigeria unrestricted and blossomed every day, starching its tentacles to virgin territories.
    Armed bandits and rustlers roamed freely with the gait of conquerors in Northwest Nigeria. Militancy in the Niger Delta region was job for both the young and the old.  And its intensification blighted Nigeria’s economic fortunes.
    Nigerians, except these odious leaders, barricaded by fenced walls and sentries knew everything was wrong with Nigeria. The masses realized only a puritan of angelic endowments like President Buhari was competent to re-fix Nigeria. He was fervently persuaded to redeem Nigeria from the manacles of leadership slavery.
    Thus, Buhari landed like the eagle in 2015 in the poll of these sickening national malaises. President Buhari mounted the stage with messages in three main critical sectors to kick-start the recovery or redemption campaigns for Nigeria. Security was topmost on his agenda; the economy and anti-corruption wars were aspects of Nigeria as a country he vowed to vigorously pursue in his first years in office.
    Looking back at yesterday and today, one observes a positive and significant difference in these critical sectors in the nation. President Buhari has been able to recover a nation pushed into recession back on its feet. It happened when national oil revenues’ declined considerably; but he combined wisdom and prudence to effectively apply the meagre national resources to achieve results.
    Aside initiating capital projects, he has been able to complete abandoned capital projects in infrastructure, power generation, health,  public transport, education, oil and gas, agriculture   and so forth to lay the base for industrial development.
    Buhari has been able to impressively  shore-up Nigeria’s foreign reserves which declined to as low as  $29.6 billion in May 2015  to $47.5 billion  by  May 2018.  This is alongside checkmating inflationary trends in the economy, which have also witnessed a progressive decline since January, 2017.
     Similarly, the Sovereign Wealth Fund portfolio has appreciated with the injection of $650 million so as to strengthen local investments in various sectors of the economy. It has  also yielded positive results.
     President Buhari’s anti- corruption crusade anchored by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have recovered looted commonwealth amounting to billions of naira, alongside forfeiture of assets acquired with illicit wealth worth trillions of naira.  EFCC has netted the highest record of recoveries of loots  since the establishment of the  anti-graft agency  nearly two decades ago.
    But Buhari’s brightest star shines  in the area of the hitherto suffocating national insecurity.  It is repetitious to assert that President Buhari  has splendidly curbed raging terrorism and insurrections which nearly crumbled Nigeria.
    Under the Buhari Presidency, the Nigerian military have been  able to properly dissect the numerous security challenges confronting the country. It has adopted both combat and psychological strategies to conveniently counter the menace of insecurity threats that held Nigeria to the jugular.

    Read Also:Durojaiye: Buhari deserves another tenure

    A transparent, accountable and disciplined leadership of the Nigerian Army led by the COAS,  Lt.Gen. TY Buratai has secured for Nigeria victory over Boko Haram insurgents, herdsmen /farmers crises, violent militancy, dubious secession movements  and  the repulsive  armed banditry  and cattle rustling criminalities in the country.
    Truly, many people are excited at the prospects of leadership; but not everybody is endowed with leadership wisdom to lead a country as complex as Nigeria, with its multifaceted challenges. Most leaders of Nigeria have failed because they mixed greed and personal enrichment at the expense of the people. President Buhari is outstanding in this regard, which makes him an incontestable Prince of the Savannah.
    Nigeria cannot afford to mortgage President Buhari’s leadership at this moment. There is every need to support him to succeed and continue in office beyond 2019 to concretize these gains. As far as Nigerians committed to the recovery of this country from the hands of the leadership vultures, Buhari remains the unbeatable choice and hope for a secured and prosperous nation.
    Only President Buhari who has the moral rectitude and commitment can sustain the gains that have been recorded in some of the nation’s critical sectors and most profoundly on security.
    Okanga wrote this piece from Agila, Benue State.

  • CJN Onnoghen: EFCC to go after rumour peddlers

    SHOULD the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have its way, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and Afenifere spokesman Yinka Odumakin will face trial for allegedly spreading the rumour that the agency raided Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen’s home.

    The duo were spreading “fake news” yesterday, the anti-graft agency said.

    It said also that it did not arrest the CJN, contrary to rumours.

    The agency said Fani-Kayode and Odumakin would be sued for spreading fake news. The anti-graft commission made the clarifications in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Tony Orilade.

    Fani-Kayode’s and Odumakin’s comments could not be obtained last night. Their phones rang unanswered.

    The EFCC statement said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    “This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country.

    “For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest, neither was invitation extended to him.
    ”Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilisation. We would not give in to their plots.”

    The EFCC threatened a legal action against Fani-Kayode and Odumakin for spreading fake news against it.

    It added: “One of the architects of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying, “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop.

    “Another arrowhead of the fake news, Yinka Odumakin shared a non-existent video which has gone viral.

    “We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness, in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and their cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission.

    Read also: Drama as Edgal, Egbetokun resume as Lagos CP

    “We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay.”

    The House of Representatives reumes today after some weeks adjournment. The spokesman of the Green Chamber Abdulrazaq Namdas said the proposed arraignment of the CJN before the Code of Conduct tribunal will be discussed at today’s plenary.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara had in a statement on Sunday called for caution on the charges filed against the CJN.
    Dogara said: “While the House awaits further briefing from relevant agencies, nevertheless, it is important that due process is followed because Nigeria is a country govered by laws and not dictates of men.

    “This is a matter that affects another arm of government and its head which should be treated with caution so as not to send the wrong signal that there is a political undertone or other ulterior motives to the issue.”

    Also yesterday, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State urged Justice Onnoghen to protect the sanctity of the judiciary by disqualifying himself from further participating in judicial matters.

    Eze Chukwuemeka Eze flayed the Southsouth Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and some leaders of the opposition party for encouraging the CJN to ignore the CCT summons.

    Eze described the advice as “conspiracy against Nigeria’s constitution”, adding that the governors’ decision after their emergency meeting on Sunday gave the CJN out “as a secret member of the PDP”.

    He said: “The action of the five PDP governors from the Southsouth zone is a call for chaos and undermining of the nation’s renascent democracy. What is the big deal with having an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is not under the protection of the constitutional immunity clause, to face the law to explain why he flouted the laws he is meant to obey?

    “What is playing out is that the Southsouth governors and some PDP bigwigs are trying to protect one of their own. The hullabaloo, hues and posturing are nothing but a disservice to the fight against corruption, which is the hallmark of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “What is expected of most of those crying is to examine the provisions of the law, as they relate to the charges against the CJN. Onnoghen accepted to have erred by not declaring his assests as and when due and also operating foreign domiciliary accounts, against the law of Nigeria.”

    Eze also stated that the PDP leaders made it obvious that without Onnoghen as CJN, candidates of the party would not be able to win the February 16 and March 2 general elections.

  • EFCC arraigns businesswoman for alleged N7m gari fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Blessing Aishatu Arowojobe at an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos for alleged fraud of N7million.

    Arowojobe was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N7,065,000.

    According to information before the court, the petitioner had alleged that sometime in January 2018, the suspect approached him for a business proposal and they concluded a plan to engage in gari business.

    It was alleged that in February 2018, N7, 275,500 was transferred to the defendant for the procurement of gari and cassava from Edo State, but she diverted the money to personal use.

    Read also: EFCC arraigns businesswoman for alleged N7m gari fraud

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecution counsel Franklin Ofoma asked the court for a trial date, saying the defendant should be remanded in prison custody.

    Counsel to the defendant G. A. Elebhose prayed the court for a short date to allow him file and serve her bail application.

    Justice Dada adjourned the matter till January 23 and February 11 for hearing of the bail application and trial to commence, and remanded the defendant in EFCC custody.

     

  • EFCC denies raiding CJN Onnoghen’s house

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday denied raiding the residence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria( CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    It also said it did not arrest the CJN contrary to rumours.

    It however threatened to sue a former minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and the spokesman of Afenifere Renewal Group, Yinka Odumakin for peddling the rumours.

    The anti-graft commission made the clarifications in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Tony Orilade.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    “This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country.

    “For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest neither was invitation extended to him.

    “Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilization. We would not give in to their plots.”

    The EFCC threatened legal action against Fani-Kayode and Odumakin for spreading fake news against it.

    It added: “One of the architects of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop”.

    “Another arrowhead of the fake news, Yinka Odumakin shared a non-existent video which has gone viral.

    “We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness, in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and his cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission.

    “We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay.”

  • Breaking: We did not raid Onnoghen’s residence – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has described as “untrue and evil”, reports in some quarters that its personnel had invaded the Abuja residence of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    Spokesman of the commission Tony Orilade tod the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday that the fake news “ is being spread by evil men and women to get evil results.”

    NAN reports that this may be connected to the halting of Onnoghen’s trial by the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday.

    Read Also: We’ll not tolerate vote-buying, says EFCC

    The court had asked the Federal Government to put on hold plans to arraign Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The Federal Government had, through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), filed six counts of non-declaration of assets charges against Onnoghen.

    However, ruling on two separate ex parte applications, Justice N.E Maha, ordered parties to maintain status quo until Jan. 17.

  • Man bags eight years for duping Chinese of $222,633

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos has sentenced a businessman, Chike Obiakor, to eight years imprisonment for defrauding a Chinese manufacturer, Davis Jin Guoshi, of $222,633.

    Justice Sendoten Ogunsanya convicted Obiakor and his firm CNC Industries Ltd of obtaining the sum under false pretence from Guoshi, the Managing Director of a luggage manufacturing firm, Shanghai Sumlo, in 2012.

    She sentenced Obiakor to one-year imprisonment for stealing, and seven years for obtaining money by false pretence.

    The sentences will run concurrently, meaning that Obiakor will spend seven years in jail.

    The judge noted that both offences contravened sections 273 and 285 0f the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    She said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “proved by cogent and credible evidence the guilt of the Defendants beyond reasonable doubt” two of the three-count charge.

    Justice Ogunsanya said: “The totality of the evidence by the parties show that the defence is an afterthought to cover up the fact that the defendants wanted to obtain goods by false pretence.

    “This is a very cowardly and wicked act on behalf of the first defendant who was invited to China, hosted and accommodated by the complainant, yet chose to repay him with evil despite his plea that his house was about to be sold and sister-in-law had to serve a prison sentence. The defendant ignored his plight and failed, refused or neglected to pay him his money.”

    She directed the prosecutor to recover the money from Obiakor.

    The judge said:”The EFCC is ordered to ensure that the sum of $222,633 is recovered from the property of the defendants and paid to the petitioner Mr. Jin Guoshi.”

    Justice Ogunsanya also held that the EFCC did not prove a count of issuance of dishonoured cheque against Obiakor.

    Prior to the sentencing, Obiakor pleaded for a soft landing.

    But Justice Ogunsanya disregarded his plea.

    The judge held: “I have listened to the attocutus of the defendant counsel to temper justice with mercy. He is a business man with no criminal record.

    “It is people like the defendant that have given Nigerian businessmen a bad name and a distasteful reputation internationally such that every genuine Nigerian is viewed as a potential crook.”

    The EFCC arraigned the defendant on June 7, 2018 on an amended charge dated May 25, 2018.

    It said following Obiakor’s failure to secure a visa to China, he met Guoshi in London and firmed up a luggage supply agreement, whereby Obiakor would sell Shanghai Sumlo luggages in Nigeria and send the proceeds to the Chinese company.

    Obiakor took delivery of two containers of luggages in lagos, sold them and paid the manufacturer.
    Guoshi took a loan to finance the manufacture of the 16 containers of luggages which Obiakor requested for next, but the Nigerian failed to send the proceeds of the sale, totalling $222,633.

    Guoshi was forced to sell his house in China to raise money to repay his loan, but it was not enough.
    He approached his Porter’s wife, who was also his sister-in-law, for a loan. She didn’t have, but obtained a bank loan and handed the money to him.

    Following his failure to repay her, his sister-in-law was arrested by Chinese police, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to three-and-half years imprisonment.

    Two years later in 2012, Guoshi arrived in Nigeria and visited Obiakor’s warehouse unannounced. He found that Obiakor had long sold 80 percent of the goods.

    In his defence, Obiakor claimed that some of the goods were defective and returned by customers.
    But the judge observed that he provided no evidence for his claim.

  • We’ll not tolerate vote-buying, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) says it will not tolerate vote buying by Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) during the forthcoming general elections.

    Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade, said this at an event tagged: “Say No To Vote Buying” in Abuja, on Monday.

    Orilade said it was becoming a trend that politicians buy votes from the electorate instead of going to campaign and sell their policies and programmes to them.

    “It is a crime and should not be tolerated and the only way we can do that is to create awareness that there is danger in vote buying.

    “When you sell your vote you have mortgaged your conscience for four years. You can’t complain because you have sold it.

    “Vote the person you believe in; vote the person you believe will protect and provide for the citizens,” he said.

    Mr Usen Asanga, Senior Programme Officer,Youth Alive Foundation, said campaign against all forms of corruption was everybody’s business.

    Asanga described the spate of vote buying as alarming, saying it was a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

    “If we sell our votes, we do not have that moral standing to demand for accountability from our leaders.

    “It is important that we vote with our conscience, to enable us have the moral standing to challenge our leaders when they go wrong,” he said.

    Read Also: EFCC raises alarm over scam mail

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free and fair elections.

    Earlier, the organiser, Olanrewaju Toriseju, popularly known as “Ambassador Wahala”, urged the youth to shun acts of thuggery before, during and after the elections.

    “We are here to preach the gospel against vote buying through music and stage plays,” he said.

    Toriseju, who is also a comedian and human rights activist, said the event was with the support of the anti-graft agency aimed at highlighting the ills of corruption in the country.