The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fraud

  • Court rules on American fraud suspect’s bail terms today

    The Lagos State Government has dedicated two special phone numbers through which residents can make inquiries and channel complaints about availability and sales of Lake Rice.

    The help lines – 08023818565 and 08033058697 – were announced at the weekend by Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau.

    Suarau said it would provide the government “first-hand feedback on happenings at the various sales centres with a view to quickly address grey areas if any.”

    “I must stress that there are people available to listen to complaints, answer enquiries and provide necessary help when needed, all you have to do is to call”, he said

    Suarau explained that a monitoring mechanism is in place to ensure fair sales of the product at all centres on a first-come, first-serve basis, in a rancour-free atmosphere.

    The Commissioner tasked workers at designated sales centres on customer satisfaction, warning that complaints from residents on poor services at any centre will be treated seriously.

    “The state government has made all necessary arrangement to ensure that the product is available during the festive period and beyond”, Suarau added.

    ustice Hakeem Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court will today rule on an application by an American, Marco Ramirez, seeking to vary his bail terms.

    Ramirez was brought before Justice Josephine Oyefeso last June by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge of obtaining $565,000 from three Nigerians seeking United States Green Card visa under false pretence.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    On July 10, Justice Oyefeso granted him $250,000 bail, with two sureties in the like sum among other terms.

    The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be resident in Lagos; a director of a reputable company and have landed property. Ramirez was remanded in Kirikiri Prison, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

    On Friday, Ramirez approached, Justice Ganiyu Safari through his counsel Ademola Adefolaju, seeking variation of the bail terms.

    Adefolaju told Justice Safari that Ramirez’s health condition had deteriorated in detention.

    He prayed the court for an order to allow the defendant to bring one surety that is in a directorate cadre in the Lagos State civil service as a substitute for a director in a reputable company.

    Adefolaju, who stated that the application was served on the EFCC on August 21, said Ramirez was dying in prison, adding that the failure “to expeditiously determine the motion is dangerous as his health is deteriorating in prison custody.”

    However, Justice Safari held that since the EFCC was not aware of the proceedings, it was better for the matter to be adjourned.

    He ordered that a hearing notice be issued to the commission informing it of Ramirez’s application and adjourned the hearing of the application till today before Justice Oshodi who resumes today as the next vacation judge.

    According to EFCC, Ramirez, the Managing Director of three companies – USA Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Capital Group – committed the offences between February and August 2013.

    The American was alleged to have fraudulently received $545,000 from one Godson Echejue to invest in one of Ramirez’s firms for the purpose of procuring an American Green Card (permanent residency card) for the Nigerian.

    The EFCC also alleged that Ramirez received $10,000 from one Abubakar Umar through a non-existent investment programme in the U.S. which would make Umar eligible to obtain an American passport

    He was further alleged to have illegally received $10,000 from one Olukayode Sodimu on the pretext that the funds were facilitation fees with the American Immigration Services for an American Green Card.

  • Man held for ‘N2m fraud’

    A 33-year-old man, Oluwasegun Samson, who allegedly obtained a loan of N2 million from a man, Badmus Abiodun, on the pretext of returning it after five months, was yesterday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    Samson, who lives at the Oshodi area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

    Prosecuting Inspector Simeon Imhonwa told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in July, 2015 at the Mafoluku area of Oshodi, Lagos.

    He said that the accused obtained the facility from the complainant, Abiodun, with a promise to pay back in five months.

    “When the complainant called the accused after the expiration of the five months to pay his money, the accused started giving excuses.

    “Abiodun said that after a while, the accused switched off his phone and started avoiding him.

    “The complainant reported the case to the police, who traced the accused to his apartment and arrested him for further questioning,” Imhonwa said.

    The accused, however, entered a `not-guilty’ plea.

    Chief Magistrate B.O Osunsanmi granted the accused N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case until October 2.

  • OAU worker in trouble for fraud

    An employee of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun State,   Mutiu Adedokun, who is being  tried for allegedly forging the Postgraduate School’s statement of account to cover up a N221, 000 fraud, was yesterday released on bail at N200,000.

    An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court, which gave the ruling, granted Adedokun one surety in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Risikat Olayemi, said the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

    In addition, she said the surety must be a civil servant of not less than Grade Level 05.

    Adedokun, 36, is facing a three-count charge of fraud, stealing and forgery.

    The prosecutor, Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court the accused committed the offences between April 28, 2015 and January 1, 2016, at Obafemi Awolowo University.

    He alleged the accused collected N221,000 from the complainant, Capt. Bukola Olanrewaju, with a promise to help him pay his fees.

    “The accused collected N221, 000 from Olanrewaju and converted the money to his own.”

    Osanyintuyi said the accused forged the university’s Postgraduate School’s statement of account.

    The offences, he noted, contravened sections 383, 390 (9), 419, 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun State.

    The accused pleaded not guilty and his lawyer, Mr. Oluwafunso Adedokun, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, promising he will not jump bail.

    The case was adjourned till September 27 for hearing.

  • Cybercrimes: EFCC detains over 100 undergraduates in nine months

    Cybercrimes: EFCC detains over 100 undergraduates in nine months

    Over 100 undergraduates of tertiary institutions across Southwest have been detained for various cyber crimes by the Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it was learnt Month.

    While addressing reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Monday, the commission’s Deputy Zonal Head, Ibadan, Kazeem Oseni, who spoke on behalf of the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, also disclosed that the suspects were arrested for mainly online love scam, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraud and online marketing scams.

    Oseni also disclosed that that the Ibadan office had recovered around N277.9 million from fraudsters in the past nine months, adding that 50 cases had been instituted against the suspects with 381 others being investigated.

    “The commission is attending to 431 cases among which 50 cases are already in court. In the past nine months, we have arrested 195 individuals in connection with bank fraud, internet fraud, land and general disputes. Among the cases in court are the ones involving the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, that of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

    “The prevailing case in Ibadan is internet frauds involving young people. The Ibadan office has so far recovered N277, 931,341m from various financial criminals while we have also recovered objects like cars used by fraudsters to perpetrate crimes.” He said.

    While shedding more light on the number of arrests made by the commission, the Head, Public Affairs of the zone, Mr Ayo Oyewole, told explained that undergraduates formed larger part of those in custody, adding that some hotels were also seized.

    “Many cars were recovered from undergraduates who were investigated or being investigated. They deal in fake online marketing, fraudulent online dating, ATM fraud and other forms of internet crimes. Over 100 of them have been arrested in the past nine months by the Ibadan office of the EFCC. We have also seized some hotels from fraudsters,” Oyewole said.

  • Man in custody for ‘N350,000 land fraud’

    In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State Chief Magistrates’ Court, has remanded a 31-year-old man, Lamidi Alaba, in prison custody for alleged fraud.

    Police prosecutor Caleb Leranmo told the court the accused committed the offence on June 23 at Ajebamidele in Ado-Ekiti.

    He alleged the accused obtained N350,000 from Falana John under the pretext of having a plot for sale.

    Leranmo said the accused committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol.1 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    The plea was not taken, as his counsel, Mr. Jantiku Mamsa, applied for his bail.

    The prosecutor opposed the bail application.

    He said the accused was a hardened criminal and would jump bail.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Adesoji Adegboye, remanded the accused in custody and adjourned till August 16 for ruling on the bail application.

  • Nigeria requests extradition of man accused of $712,000 fraud

    The Federal Government has demanded the extradition of a United States of America (USA) based Nigerian, Jim-Daniels Nnah.

    Nnah was accused of defrauding two companies of $712,000 (about N261.3 million).

    The  extradition was contained in a letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), addressed to the US Department of Justice.

    This request is coming four years after Nnah, through his company Biowish TM Africa Limited, allegedly fleeced Environ-Aid Technologies Nigeria Limited and Alsa Logistics Limited of the sum, under the pretence of giving them sole distributorship rights of some bio-chemicals.

    Made pursuant to the provisions of the extradition treaty between the governments of the USA and United Kingdom (UK) of December 22, 1931, which is applicable to Nigeria, the request was signed by the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    Malami said Nnah obtained the money for the purpose of supplying the complainants with products made by Biowish Technologies Inc., USA.

    He said the complainants alleged that the suspect refused to supply the products, thereby, has stolen or converted the money to his personal use.

    Malami stated that by Nnah’s alleged action, the suspect deprived the complainants of their money and the goods in-spite of several efforts to recover the property or money.

    He said: “The complainants claimed that sometime in September 2012, their companies entered in an existing joint venture agreement with Biowish Technologies Inc., 150N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois 60601, USA, to supply its products in Africa.

    “For Biowish Technologies products to be sold in Africa, Jim Daniels-Nnah incorporated Biowish TM Africa to market a variety of the products ranging from Biowosh-Aqua, Biowish Odor, Biowish Remediation, Biowish Crops (fertiliser), etc.

    “Relying on the information provided by the suspect, the complainant entered into separate agreements with Biowish TM Africa Limited to procure Biowosh Technologies’ products for which the sum of $712,000 was paid into Jim Daniels-Nnah’s company, Biowish TM Africa Limited and IC&T America Inc.’’s offshore accounts.

    “Unknown to the complainants, Jim Daniels-Nnah had signed two separate identical contracts, making each of the companies sole distributor of the same products in Nigeria, demonstrating fraud and insincerity in handling the whole transaction.”

    Malami stated that both companies separately terminated the agreements and demanded a refund of their money when he failed to deliver the products over a period of time.

    He said the suspect’s inability to supply the products or refund the money made them suspect fraud and individually filed complaints with the authorities in Nigeria.

    “After a detailed investigation, the Nigerian INTERPOL NCB found out, through cash transfer documents from the complainants’ bank and swift transfer records, that the said sum was paid into the accounts. The NCB is unable to interrogate the suspect as he is currently in the USA.

    “The act is against the laws of Nigeria and as such, I shall prosecute any act in violation of Nigerian laws relating to financial and other economic crimes.

    “To do this, the Federal Government of Nigeria would require the authorities and government of the USA to take steps within the scope allowed by the US laws, to execute this request in the interest of justice, the spirit of fighting international crimes and in the ground that when a similar request is made by the USA, Nigeria will render the same assistance.

    “This letter is requesting relevant US authorities to identify the suspect, arrest him wirh a view to extradite him to Nigeria for prosecution and for the recovery and eventual surrender of the money to the victims,” Malami said.

  • Estate agent arraigned for ‘N5.3m fraud’

    An estate agent, Lekan Olamide, was at the weekend arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding 31 accommodation seekers of N5.3 million.

    Olamide, 35, whose address was not given, is standing trial on a 31-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and fraud.

    The prosecutor, Friday Mameh, told the court that the accused committed the offences between January and July at 7, Mogbotoluwa Street, Egbeda, a Lagos suburb.

    He said the accused obtained N5.3 million from the accommodation seekers “on the pretext that you have an apartment to rent, a fact you knew to be false.”

    Mameh said the accused and others at large obtained amounts ranging from N45,000 to N700, 000.

    He said the offences contravened sections 312 (a) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mr. B. A. Sonuga, granted Olamide bail at N2million with two sureties in like sum.

    He said the sureties must be managers of banks on Lagos Island and must show letters of appointment and confirmation.

    The magistrate said the sureties must submit their passports, show evidence of tax payments to the government and have their addresses verified.

    Sonuga adjourned the case till September 12 for mention.

     

  • Banks record decline in fraud, forgeries

    Banks record decline in fraud, forgeries

    The banking industry recorded a decline in the rate of successful fraud incidences and extent of amount of losses in 2016, compared to 2015.

    The NDIC Managing Director/Chief Executive, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim, made this disclosure while delivering a lecture: “The Role of NDIC in Mitigating Corruption in the Nigerian Banks” at the general meeting of the Abuja Chapter of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI).

     According to Ibrahim who was represented by Deputy Director in Research, Policy and International Relations Department, Mr. Hashim I. Ahmad, the reported cases of frauds, forgeries and outright theft involving bank staff recorded a huge decline of 48.12 percent from N18.02 billion in 2015 toN8.68 billion in 2016, while the actual losses to the nation’s banking industry dropped by 24.29 percent from N3.17 billion in 2015 to N2.40 billion in 2016. Also, the level of attempted cases of frauds and forgeries declined by N0.329 billion or 11.94 percent from N2.756 billion in March 2017 to N2.427 billion in June 2017.

     The NDIC boss also stated that although reported cases of fraud and forgeries rose by 36.42 per cent from 12,279 cases in 2015 to 16,751 cases in 2016, the reduction in the rate of successful fraud incidences and actual losses was an indication of improved regulatory/supervisory oversight, increased vigilance by banks and the deployment of improved security architecture in the banking industry.

     He attributed the factors breeding corruption in Nigerian banks to poor corporate governance, infractions in foreign exchange operations, cumbersome legal process and lack of effective sanctions of offenders, amongst others.

     Ibrahim stated that the NDIC in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continuously supervise the banks to ensure their strict adherence to sound corporate governance practices.  He added that issues bordering on unethical financial practices and the resolution of conflicts between customers and their banks were being addressed by the Bankers Committee.

     He noted the rising trend in the level of banks’ non-performing loans (NPLs) and stated that NDIC had recommended the prohibition of Directors of licensed banks, including microfinance banks (MFBs) and primary mortgage banks (PMBs) from obtaining credit facilities from their respective banks.

     He disclosed that NDIC collaborated with other stakeholders such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) and the Financial Malpractices Investigation Unit (FMIU) to conduct investigations into banking malpractices. He also stated that NDIC provided capacity building programmes for the agencies in addition to seconding some NDIC Staff to the institutions to assist them in investigating financial crimes.

     He called for continued cooperation and collaboration between regulatory/supervisory authorities, the banks, the general public and the government in the fight against corruption in the banking industry.

  • Cross River raises alarm of fraud in NDDC over duplication of projects

    Cross River raises alarm of fraud in NDDC over duplication of projects

    The Cross River State Government has raised fears of fraud over some projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which are actually being implemented by the state government.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on NDDC, Mr Victor Ekpo, disclosed to The Nation in Calabar yesterday that the state government is actually carrying out some projects, which the Commission has called for invitation to tender for.

    Ekpo stressed the need for the Commission to synergize with the state government in order to check incidence of fraud that may arise from such situations, as well as bring more spread of development to the people.

    He said, “There is need for them to work with the state government because that gives way to serious fraud. As I speak to you there are some roads in Obudu that are ongoing for the Cross River State government, while that same job is in the NDDC budget already awarded to contractors. So what they do is that the contractor would go and arrange one small signboard and take pictures and go back and claim the money for a road constructed by the state government. So you can see that NDDC has already called for invitation to tender for these projects while the Cross River State government is constructing the road. Some examples are the construction of the Utikeb-Ohong-Bebeatsuan Road; the construction of the 2km Utugwan Ring Road; and the 1km Okorotung/Amukwong Road, all in Obudu local government area.

    “So I am calling on NDDC for proper joint meeting before the carry on an any project. There should be a joint appropriation meeting between the NDDC and the Cross River State government. The government might have a planned to put a water project somewhere and that same project may be embarked on by the NDDC. So we would be having cases of project duplication.

    “Working together would minimize cases of fraud, proper management of projects and bring more spread of projects to the citizenry. NDDC cannot for instance run a hospital or a school. So if they build a school for the state, it is the Ministry of Education that would post teachers there to go there. The NDDC is put in place to alleviate poverty to the people of the Niger Delta, so if you come in and people are not benefiting, then the purpose is defeated.

    “There is need for these meetings, so these contractors would not come in and claim credit for projects carried out by the Cross River State government and go to Port Harcourt and claim money.

    “There is need for us to synergize so we can bring real development to the people, because the government is working here. The government should make inputs before they NDDC makes any budget.”

    He also raised alarm over the level of abandoned NDDC projects in the state.

    “The level of abandoned project in the state is much. Some NDDC contractors would just come into the state and somehow they would have a certificate of completion of project, while such jobs have not even been done,” he said.

     

  • Alleged fraud: Absence of prosecution counsel stalls Badeh’s trial

    Alleged fraud: Absence of prosecution counsel stalls Badeh’s trial

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the case of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, until Oct. 23 for continuation of trial.

    Justice Okon Abang adjourned the matter following the absence of the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) in court on Wednesday.

    Mr A.O. Atolagbe, a member of the prosecuting team, had told the court that Jacobs could not be in court because he was indisposed.

    He asked for a date within the court’s vacation period.

    But all the defence counsel objected to the application, but rather asked that the matter be heard in the new legal year, after the court’s vacation.

    Justice Abang in a short ruling adjourned the matter until Oct. 23 for continuation of trial.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the court had on July 4, adjourned the matter until July 26.

    The case was adjourned for arguments for and against the admissibility of documents the prosecution sought to tender in evidence.

    Jacobs had attempted to tender documents that a prosecution witness made reference to in the course of his testimony, but the defence raised objections.

    Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel to Badeh, said that some of the documents sought to be tendered were photocopies and not certified.

    NAN also reports that Badeh is standing trial for allegedly abusing his office by diverting N3.97 billion for his personal use.

    The diverted money was meant for arms purchase to tackle insurgency by the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.