The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fraud

  • Muyiwa Ige: resist fraud

    Muyiwa Ige: resist fraud

    Osun State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Muyiwa Ige has raised the alarm over attempts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the August 9 election through the bulk purchase of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The son of the late Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, who spoke in Ibadan at the weekend, said the plot also includes using the police and military to harass the people.

    He urged the people to resist the PDP and the plan to use force to capture and enslave the state on August 9.

    Ige remarked that the PDP has nothing to offer the people other than violence, corruption and mismanagement.

    “That’s why the only thing they are harping on is that they are coming with Federal might and brazenly, they believed they will harass our people . The best we can do is to embolden our people. Let them know that the police and the military are also our own. If they are coming to protect us, yes they should protect us. So, we should all come out bright and early.

    “Before we even come out on the day, we should all get our Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Right now, it’s operation show your PVC. We must encourage all our people to go out and obtain their PVCs . Once they obtain their PVCs, they must not sell them…”

  • Customs boss, others fingered in alleged N7m fraud

    Customs boss, others fingered in alleged N7m fraud

    These are not the best times for Mrs. Nkiru Okere, Managing Director of Nkylinks Business Concept Limited, a firm dealing in imports and exports.

    Having sought to purchase used motor spare parts worth about N4, 000, 000 from Dubai in January, the business dealing which involved her husband, brother-in-law and his younger brother seems to have turned awry.

    A petition tagged: ‘An Urgent Complaint of Abuse of Official Powers, Harrassment, Initimidation, Assault, Unlawful Detention and Seizure Against Mr. K. Mohammed, Deputy Comptroller Enforcement, Apapa Area Command,’written and signed by Theophilus Idehen for Abdulmalik Chambers and sent to the Commissioner of Police, Port Police Command, Marina, Lagos, made available to The Nation, alleged that: “Sometime in the month of January 2014, our client was defrauded of the sum of N4, 000, 000 (Four million Naira) and her container with No: PONU 0963916 criminally and deceitfully converted by one Tony, her supposed husband and his younger brother Ifeanyi.”

    According to the petition, the duo of Tony and Ifeanyi had in January swindled Mrs Okere by changing the name on the bill of lading of her container such that when it arrived Lagos, it bore Test and See Global Resources, a company name different from hers, Nkylinks Business Concept Limited.

    In the petition, Idehen also frowned at harassment and unlawful detention against his client by the Nigeria Customs Service, saying his client was detained in a cell with male inmates for over eight hours on orders of a Deputy Comptroller when she sought to clarify issues surrounding her container.

    “The big question here calling for answer sir; Whose interest is the Deputy Comptroller serving?” Idehen asked in the petition.

    An earlier petition dated on the 23rd of April and also addressed to the Commissioner of police, Port Police Command stated that Mrs. Okere had reportedly paid the sum of N3million, $2, 400, $3, 700 and N350, 000 separately to the duo of Tony, Ifeanyi respectively, for which she got nothing in return.

    Expatiating, the lawyer said: “our client informed us recently that she has been receiving strange telephone calls from unknown persons telling her to drop this case otherwise, she would not live to see the end of this matter.”

    As at press time, attempts by The Nation to reach the Nigeria Customs Service for comments were futile as the spokesman of the Service failed to pick his calls or respond to text messages sent to his GSM mobile.

  • Allged N1.8b subsidy fraud: Court declines to quash charges against marketers

    Allged N1.8b subsidy fraud: Court declines to quash charges against marketers

    Two marketers, Mahmud Tukur and Alex  Ochonogor, have failed to quash the  N1.8billion  fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Ikeja High Court dismissed the application because it is premature.

    He said some of the issues raised by their counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), particularly the evidence against the defendants, could be raised after the prosecution closes its case.

    “It is the law that the court cannot delve into substantive issues at the interlocutory stage. Section 260 (2) of the ACJL provides that an objection to the sufficiency of the proof of evidence shall not be raised until the closure of the prosecution’s case. The provision is a mandatory requirement which renders the application premature,” Justice Lawal-Akapo said.

    The oil marketers are being prosecuted alongside their company,  Eterna Plc  and  another marketer, Abdullahi Alao.

    According to the  EFCC, the oil marketers  allegedly obtained N1.8billion  from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

    Moving the application at the resumed trial, Oyetibo had argued that the proof of evidence did not support the offences alleged against them.

    Oyetibo said the criminal charge against his clients was an abuse of court process and they should be discharged.

    According to him, the  charge arose from a joint venture agreement between Eterna Plc,  Axenergy Limited, Sahara Energy Resources and Ontario Oil for the importation of fuel.

    He further argued that Section 10 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act did not empower the EFCC to charge the defendants to court for transactions carried out by Eterna Plc.

    But counsel to the EFCC , Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),  said Section 260 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State prohibited the court from entertaining such applications.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo has, however, adjourned the matter  till Sepember 15 for the commencement of trial.

  • Security guard docked for attempting to use SIM pack as ATM card

    Security guard docked for attempting to use SIM pack as ATM card

    A 24-year-old security guard, Abass Alli, who allegedly attempted to  use a SIM pack in place of an ATM card, on Wednesday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Alli, of Ijegun Market, Ojota, is being tried on a charge of attempting to use a SIM pack in place of an ATM card.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Daniel Ighodalo, told the court that the offence was committed on May 13, at about 9.40 a.m., at Union Bank Headquarters, No. 36, Marina, Lagos Island.

    He alleged that the accused tried using a SIM pack to withdraw money from the ATM of a bank.

    “A Security guard on duty heard an unfamiliar sound coming from the ATM machine, before he noticed that the light of the ATM went off.

    “When he approached Alli and asked what was wrong, in order not to be caught, Alli quickly threw the SIM pack into a nearby gutter,” Ighodalo said.

    He explained that the offence contravene Section 404(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Alli pleaded not guilty.

  • Fraud: Court fixes May 13 for ruling on Ajudua’s bail application

    Fraud: Court fixes May 13 for ruling on Ajudua’s bail application

    An Ikeja High Court on Friday fixed May 9 for ruling on a bail application by suspected fraudster, Fred Ajudua.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye fixed the date after hearing arguments from Mr Seidu Atteh, the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ajudua’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajudua is being prosecuted for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi of about $5.9 million (about N1 billion).

    He is facing a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

    Ojo, who urged the court to grant Ajudua bail on liberal terms, argued that there was overwhelming medical evidence before the court he was suffering from a life-threatening ailment.

    He said:“The defendant (Ajudua) is a kidney patient and his only surviving kidney is about to collapse.

    “The medical facility at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, where his health is seriously failing, cannot adequately meet his medical needs.”

    Ojo tendered a medical report dated Aug. 12, 2013, which was issued by Dr Adebisi Ogunjimi of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to support his submissions.

    He said the defendant was ready to face trial contrary to the claim by the EFCC that he absconded to India after he was granted bail on medical grounds in another criminal case.

    “The defendant voluntarily came back to Nigeria even when he knew that his bail had been revoked.

    “The voluntary submission of the defendant to the prosecuting authorities and the court constitutes an exceptional circumstance which should be taken into judicial notice by the court.”

    Responding, Atteh argued that there was likelihood that Ajudua would jump bail if the application was granted.

    Atteh said that Ajudua absconded in 2005, after he was granted bail by Justice Joseph Oyewole, also of an Ikeja High Court.

    Meanwhile, the court has dismissed another application by Ajudua seeking the inclusion of his extra-judicial statement in the proof of evidence.

    In a short ruling, Ipaye held that the Ajudua refused to make the same statement after three attempts by the EFCC before the case was charged to court.

    The judge said Ajudua was at liberty to take the stand and give his own oral evidence during the trial

  • Ex-council chief debunks fraud charge

    Ex-council chief debunks fraud charge

    There is tension in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. At its centre are the former chairman of the transition committee of the council, Emeka Aforka, his former councillors and some politicians in the area.

    Some members of Aforka’s transition committee have accused him of fraudulently diverting funds. Some 21 members who served with him during the Peter Obi administration submitted a five-page petition to Governor Willie Obiano.

    Aforka dismissed the charge, saying his performance as transition committe chairman speaks for itself.

    But in the petition, his accusers  called on Governor Obiano to probe the former council chief because of the address he presented while handing over to the newly elected chairman of the council, Okey Enekwe.

    The address, which Aforka submitted to Enekwe, listed some of the projects he initiated and completed throughout his two years and seven months in office.

    In their petition, the members of the committee alleged that most of the projects Aforka claimed to have completed were nonexistent, saying that all he did was deceive the public.

    Our correspondent gathered that the former council chief had some misunderstandings with his political godfather from Awgbu who convinced Obi to appoint him chairman.

    It was gathered that Aforka incurred the wrath of his master when he refused to pay some debts owed by his boss immediately he left office, an obligation he was said to have been carrying out while in office.

    The projects which the opposition listed as nonexistent included Ndiokolo Health Centre, construction of Eke-Oko and Afor-Ufuma markets.

    Others were palliative measures that curtailed the Amaokpala erosion menace which for many years threatened the lives of the people of the community.

    Also, in Afor-Udo Market in Nanka community, modern toilets were constructed for the convenience of the traders including the procurement and installation of a transformer at Eziokwe village in Ndikelionwu community.

    It was gathered that the only project the former council chief did not complete was the Oronata Bridge after its flag-off.

    Another allegation raised by the group was that they were paid N25,000 as monthly salary in the council by their former chairman instead of the approved N120, 000.

    Some of the leaders of different communities who spoke with our correspondent on the issue said the petition allegedly aimed at stopping Aforka’s towering political height.

    “The composition of the petition and the allegations raised against him showed a clear gang-up to tarnish his image. But let me tell you that everybody in this local government is happy and should be grateful to that young man,” Chief Okwudili Okafor said.

    As a result of these allegations, some of the traditional rulers in the local government area have risen in defence of their former council chief.

    For instance, the traditional ruler of Amaokpala, one of the communities that make up the council area, Igwe C. O. Okeke who said he is in possesion of a copy of the petition said: ”Nobody will ever perform a miracle; he did his best for the people of our local government, especially in my community where he did palliative work on the devastating erosion that has given us  headaches in this area.

    “One fact is that you cannot satisfy everybody no matter what you do. It is a common thing among our people to criticise but Emeka Aforka did perform well.”

    Also speaking Igwe M.C Okechukwu of Awgbu, praised Aforka, even as he listed some of the projects he did in some of the communities, especially in Awgbu. Some of the projects he listed included schools, markets and healthcare centre, among others.

    According to the monarch, those projects were there for people to see, adding that their prayer was to have another person that could perform like him.

    Others who spoke to our correspondent said the former council chief performed well, even as they described the allegations as frivolous and unfounded.

    The former members of the transition committee in the area, numbering 17 led by the ex-deputy chairman representing Ufuma Ward 2 Hon. Sam Mba, said those bent on rubbishing the legacies of the past administration were acting on their own.

    “We are aware that the petition was sponsored and it was written in bad fate, spiced with lies and distortion of facts to discredit not only the former council administration but to label the APGA-led government as a failure in Orumba North.”

    The said petition was allegedly written by one Ernest Igboanugo who was said to be a member of the cabinet of the former local government administration.

    However, one of the signatories, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondentin Awka that Aforka was a smiling hangman in office who denied them of their entitlements.

    Besides, he said the projects he claimed to have done were all painted sepulture to deceive the public. He regretted working under him.

    Speaking with our correspondent, Emeka Aforka described the allegations against him as mischievous, character assassination and calculated attempt by some individuals to undermine his integrity.

    His reaction was contained in a letter he wrote to Governor Obiano in which he said he was very aware of an attempt by an unnamed stakeholder in the local government to smear his image because of his popularity.

    Aforka said when he was in office; he had cordial relationship with members of his cabinet and questioned why a petition should emanate, three months after he left office.

    The letter was attached with payment vouchers signed by members of his committee to disprove their allegation that he paid them N25, 000 monthly salaries.

    The chairman of the APGA youth wing in the local government, Sunday Ileka, told our correspondent that the disagreement of the major stakeholder who are fighting Aforka stemmed from the sharing formula of APGA positions in the area.

    The refusal of Aforka to be part of the injustice, according to him, was the reason for his travails.

    He said the stakeholders invited nine people for a meeting in a hotel in Awka where he made it clear that the party leader in the area must come from his ward and that was where myself and Aforka disagreed, thus, the battle” Ileka said.

     

    QUOTE

    Nobody will ever do miracle; he did his best for the people of our local government, especially in my community where he did palliative work on the devastating erosion that has given us headache in this area…One fact is that you cannot satisfy everybody no matter what you do. It is a common thing among our people to criticise but for Emeka Aforka, he did perform well

  • Defendant challenges court’s jurisdiction in N15.1b fraud case

    Defendant challenges court’s jurisdiction in N15.1b fraud case

    Justice Mohammed Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will on May 5 deliver ruling on a preliminary objection by one of the defendants charged with alleged N15.1billion fraud at the defunct Gulf Bank Plc.

    The Federal Government, through the police, had arraigned a Briton, Gareth Mervyn Wilcox; the former director and majority shareholder of both Gulf Bank, Prince Johnson Adeyeba; Ibom Power Company; LYK Engineering Company Limited and a former Company Secretary and Legal Adviser at Gulf Bank, Uche Uwechia

    Uwechia’s lawyer, Mr Revel Ogunde (SAN), had informed the court of a motion challenging its jurisdiction.

    He argued that the police had no constitutional right to prosecute financial crimes, without the authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ogunde stressed that the offence against the accused is a general offence which was embedded on the residual list, and so, can only be entertained by a state High Court.

    He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the charge against his client.

    Wilcox was the Managing Director of both Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering.

  • Travel Agent sued over N2.5m fraud

    A travel agent, Alhaji Lukmon Tijani of Almonsour Travel Agency has been arraigned before a Surulere Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding three persons of N2, 448,000.

    Tijani defrauded his victims under the pretext that he was going to help them to procure visas to Saudi Arabia.

    Tijani, 46, is standing trial before Senior Magistrate Mrs. A. F Adeeyo.

    The defendant who was arraigned on a six-count criminal charge, is said to have defrauded his victims Ibrahim Shonaike of N1.16 million; Bulilahminu Idreez Omoniyi of N816,000 and Majekodunmi Modupeola of N616, 000.

    The prosecutor,  Sergeant Simon James of the Nigeria Police, Surulere Division alleged  Alhaji Lukmon Tijani  obtained the sum of  N1.16million from Ibrahim Shonaike  with the pretext  of procuring Saudi Arabia visa for him.

    The prosecutor said the offence was committed sometime in May 2013 at No 18 Olufowobi Street, Surulere, Lagos.

    He said the offence committed by the defendant committed is punishable under Section 312 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

    According to him, count two of the charge stated that Tijani stole the said amount from Shonaike and that he therefore committed an offence punishable under Section 285(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2001.

    The defendant was further alleged to have collected N816,000 under false pretext  from Idreez Omoniyi.

    The prosecution further alleged that the defendant  on August 16, 2013 at Surulere, Lagos obtained  N616,000 only from  Majekodunmi S. Modupeola with the pretext  of procuring Saudi Arabia visa her.

    The prosecutor said the defendant  committed an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

    Although the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, he had in his statement to the police admitted that he collected money from one of the complainants, Omoniyi.

    He however said that he did not intend to defraud.

    In the statement the defendant said he was unable to procure the visa from the Saudi Arabia Embassy.

    He claimed that  the Embassy had not returned the money to him but he had promised to refund the amount to the complainant.

    The matter has been adjourned till  June 9, 2014 for further hearing.

  • Businessman faces N2.2m fraud charge

    A 53-year-old businessman, Olugbenga Akobada, was on Monday charged before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding a company of N2.2 million.

    The accused, whose residential address is unknown, is facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Idowu Osunbire, told the court that the accused and his accomplices still at large committed the offences sometime in June 2009.

    According to him, the accused obtained printing materials valued at N2.2 million from Teskol Ventures Ltd with a promise to pay within nine months.

    “The accused failed to pay for the items within the stipulated time and all efforts by the complainant to contact him were unsuccessful.’’

    Osunbire noted that the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 provides three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining money under false pretences.

    Section 409 stipulates a penalty of two years for conspiracy.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case to May 12 for mention.

  • $1.69m fraud: Court dismisses Ajudua bail application

    $1.69m fraud: Court dismisses Ajudua bail application

    An Ikeja High Court, on Monday denied the bail application filed by one-time Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, accused of defrauding two Dutch businessmen of 1.69 million dollars (about N252.8 million).

    Justice Kudirat Jose in a ruling on the bail application filed by Ajudua’s counsel, Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN), dismissed it for lack of merit.

    Jose said the medical reports issued by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), showed that Ajudua was suffering from complicated ailments as a result of having a solitary kidney.

    The judge stated that Ajudua was admitted at LUTH on Aug. 3, 2013, and was treated for hypertension, traumatic haematuria and enlarged prostate gland.

    She said upon Ajudua’s discharge on Jan. 12, this year, the doctors recommended further treatment and possible corrective surgery to ameliorate his condition.

    “These reports show that the applicant (Ajudua) is not a very healthy man and that he needs medical attention.

    “However, the reports have not shown that he cannot be treated while still in prison,’’ Jose ruled.

    The judge said Ajudua had also failed to convince the court that he would not abscond or interfere with witnesses if the bail was granted.

    “Ajudua has not shown to the court why he was not able to come to his trial between 2008 and 2013.

    “He did not respond to the allegation that he had tampered with a witness in the trial.

    “Due to his absence, the matter has been stalled since 2006.

    “Given these circumstances, the applicant (Ajudua), ought not to be released on bail,’’ the judge said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajudua and one Charles Orie, are being prosecuted for allegedly defrauding the businessmen, Messrs Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen.

    They were re-arraigned before Jose on Feb. 5, 2014 following the transfer of the case from the former trial judge, Justice Joseph Oyewole.

    Jose, who had earlier permitted Orie to enjoy the bail granted him by Oyewole, ordered that Ajudua should remain in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, pending the determination of the trial.

    The trial had been adjourned to April 28 for commencement.