The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fraud

  • $1.69m ‘fraud’: Ajudua to remain in prison

    Lagos lawyer and socialite, Chief Fred Ajudua, will remain in prison custody throughout his trial as a Lagos High Court, Ikeja yesterday dismissed his bail application.

    Justice Joseph Oyewole said he was not convinced that Ajudua would not abscond if granted bail again.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Ajudua before the court presided over by Justice Oyewole for allegedly defrauding two foreigners of $1.69 million.

    Ajudua and an associate, Mr. Charles Orie, were charged with allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Messrs Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.69 million between July 1999 and September 2000.

    Delivering ruling on the bail application filed by Ajudua’s counsel, Mr. Allen Agbaka, Justice Oyewole held that the promise previously undertaken on his behalf by his counsel was not honoured.

    He said Ajudua was granted permission to travel to India for medical treatment in 2005 and failed to appear before the court since then.

    Justice Oyewole noted that counsel to Ajudua, Mr. Agbaka, also made no reference to the exact date he left the country, adding that his international passport was not tendered before the court between July 1999 and September 2000.

    Justice Oyewole said the medical report tendered by the accused showed that he was within the court’s jurisdiction on a particular day his matter came up, but failed to attend the proceedings.

    He said it appeared that Ajudua was fit although medical report said he was suffering from a complicated ailment.

    In view of this, the judge said the court had discretion to grant bail, which must be exercised judicially and judiciously.

    “In totality, therefore, I am not persuaded that the accused will make himself available for trial if bail is granted.

    “Counsel are to prepare for the resumption of trial from July 8 and it shall proceed on a day-to-day basis until the matter is concluded,” Justice Oyewole said.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) began the prosecution of Ajudua and co-defendant in 2003.

    It was, however, halted in 2005 after Ajudua, who was on bail, absconded following which the trial judge revoked the bail that was granted him.

    He re-appeared before the court on June 11 and has since been remanded in the prison custody by Justice Oyewole.

  • $4,095 SEC ‘fraud’: Hembe, Azubogu fail to stop trial

    $4,095 SEC ‘fraud’: Hembe, Azubogu fail to stop trial

    A former Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Capital Market, Herman Hembe, and his erstwhile deputy, Chris Azubogu, yesterday lost the bid to stop their trial.

    Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Abuja High Court refused their prayers that the charges against them be dismissed for lacking in merit.

    The judge, in a ruling, held that the prosecution sufficiently made a prima facie case against them.

    They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for $4,095 alleged estacode scam.

    They are accused of allegedly converting the money given to them as estacode to personal use, instead of attending a conference in Dominica Republic.

    The accused also allegedly failed to attend the conference, an offence the EFCC said is contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990.

    Their lawyers, J. S. Okutepa (SAN) and Onyenchi Ikpeazu (SAN), who argued that the case was without merit, averred that an estacode is money meant for a public servant who travels overseas.

    They said once the money is approved and the officer embarks on the journey, the money becomes his.

    The lawyers wondered how a man can misappropriate what belongs to him. They prayed the court to dismiss the charge preferred against their client because it is lacking in merit.

    Prosecution lawyer Chile Okoroma urged the court to discountenance the argument of the defence lawyers.

    He averred that the fundamental issue for determination in the case is whether or not the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the defendants to warrant an explanation from them.

    He adjourned proceedings till October 21.

  • Seven FIRS workers to be arraigned for ‘fraud’

    The North Central Zone of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has ordered the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) Office of the state Attorney-General to arraign the seven workers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for alleged tax fraud.

    The suspects allegedly forged Federal Government’s tax receipts and claimed over N17 million from the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    The forged tax receipts were reportedly uncovered when FIRS sued SUBEB at the Tax Appeal Tribunal for tax evasion.

    The forged documents, which were tendered by SUBEB before the court to substantiate the claim that the board remitted some taxes, led the court to suspect that there was fraud.

    The tribunal ordered the Plateau State Police Command to investigate the forged documents.

    Presenting its report during the tribunal’s sitting yesterday in Jos, the police said they had investigated the matter and discovered that the documents were truly forged.

    Corporal Yahaya Adamu, who appeared before the tribunal for Police Commissioner Chris Olakpe, said: “The command has arrested seven suspects in connection to the fraud and are in custody, awaiting order of the court for prosecution.”

    Tribunal Chairman Abraham Ndana Yisa ordered the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to ensure that the suspects are arraigned without delay.

  • Alleged $1.69m fraud: Court dismisses Ajudua’s application

    Lagos lawyer and alleged fraudster, Fred Ajudua, has lost an attempt to regain freedom.

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja presided over by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole yesterday dismissed his application in which he was asking the court to quash the $1.6 million fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2003.

    Justice Oyewole dismissed Ajudua’s application for lack of merit.

    He held that the application challenged the fundamentals of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

    Justice Oyewole said granting Ajudua’s application would affect the credibility of the criminal justice system with regard to the protection of witnesses.

    Although the complainant has withdrawn from the case and filed an affidavit before the court for the discontinuity of proceedings, the judge held that he was not responsible for the prosecution of the case and therefore could not terminate it.

    Justice Oyewole said if the prosecution has reached a dead end in the case, it would say so, “otherwise the defence cannot terminate the case even at the withdrawal of the witness as claimed by the defence.”

    He described as strange, the application “coming at this stage of the trial.”

    Justice Oyewole said the testimonies of the six witnesses are already before the court and none of them will be touched until the statements of other witnesses are analysed.

    He said testimony in a criminal trial is not at the discretion of the witness.

    Ajudua was arraigned with Charles Orie in 2003 for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.6 million between July 1999 and September 2000.

    The suspect absconded after being granted bail by Justice Oyewole.

    The judge issued a warrant for his arrest but the police were unable to produce him in court since then, prompting adjournments.

    Ajudua in a Motion on Notice dated June 7, filed through his counsel, Mr. Alex Agba, argued that since the complainant had withdrawn the case and filed an affidavit before the court, it should quash the charge.

    In the application, supported by a 16-paragraph affidavit, Agba said each case should be treated on its peculiarity.

    He told the court that further hearing in the matter would be a waste of time as the witness that is supposed to testify has indicated his unwillingness to continue with the matter.

    On his bail application, the judge adjourned further hearing till tomorrow.

    Ajudua’s counsel, Agba, had asked the court to restore the bail of his client revoked on December 15, 2005, with the same condition and with an additional surety.

    He said alternatively, the suspect should be granted a fresh bail with the conditions the court deems fit while the trial lasts.

    Agba read to the court a letter from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba to substantiate his claim that his client was suffering from a complicated ailment and again urged the court to grant the application, adding that the dead cannot stand trial.

    But EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), opposed the bail, saying the defendant, having delayed the trial for seven years, should no longer enjoy such right.

    He indicated readiness for a speedy trial.

    Ajudua was, however, returned to the prison custody. Ruling on the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow.

     

  • US agency to partner police against fraud

    Officials of the United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security, have assured the Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, of its readiness to assist in the war against fraudsters in the country.

    The department is in charge of anti-bulk cash movement/money laundering in the US.

    The officials, who visited the police chief to discuss the issues of cyber crime and other related offences, said SFU’s role in the fight against internet crime and other fraud-related crimes, rekindled the establishment’s interest in Nigeria. The visitors admitted that the Unit had made their job easy.

    The officials – Special Agent/Attach Matt Baechtle; Special Agents Jack Waugaman, Charles Engle, Billy Riggins and Timothy Henderson – were led by an Investigator from the U.S. Consulate, Mr. Ayo Ajayi.

    Baechtle praised Ogunsakin and his men for their professional handling of cases of fraud and arms-running reported by the US Consulate. He pledged unflinching collaboration with the Unit.

    Ogunsakin expressed SFU’s readiness to partner with the ICE, saying: “Crime is growing and we need to cooperate globally to tackle fraud. I assure you of continuous working relationship in the future.”

    SFU’s spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume-Agu said the visitors promised to assist the Unit in a proposed training for officers and gate keepers of financial organisations.

    She said the Unit was enjoying robust relationship with US Consulate in the area of criminal investigation, such as identity abuse, human trafficking and abuse of diversity visa lottery processes.

  • Bank worker bags five years for fraud

    A banker , Osasere Osemwengie, has been jailed five years for fraud without an option of fine.

    Osasere was arraigned at an Oredo Magistrate’s Court on a 23-count charge but was sentenced on only one count as other counts were dismissed due to lack of evidence.

    He was said to have defrauded victims of millions of naira under the pretence of getting them to invest in the bank.

    Osasere was arrested after he failed to refund N16 million to his childhood friend, Eugene Ason-Ikhene, who he invited to invest in the bank at a rate of eight percent per annum.

    Police counsel Samuel Ogah told the court that it was in the course of police investigation that other fraudulent activities were uncovered.

    The Chief Magistrate, Peter Edo-Asemota, said the accused deserved to be kept away from other members of the society for a while so that the pains he caused his victims would subside.

     

     

     

  • Couple re-arraigned for alleged N97m fraud

    The Federal Government yesterday re-arraigned a couple, Mrs Uchenna Abazu and her husband, Tochukwu, for allegedly defrauding a bank and the government of N97 million.

    They were docked before Justice Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The two were previously arraigned before Justice Charles Achibong, who was retired by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which necessitated the case starting de novo (afresh).

    The prosecution said Mrs Abazu, while a worker of Fidelity Bank Plc, Ikoyi branch, conspired with her husband to perpetrate the fraud.

    The four-count charge was signed by Mrs. C.M. Efobi of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    The prosecution alleged that Mrs Abazu, between February 29, 2008 and February 12, 2009, in her capacity as Executive Assistant with E. Business Unit, Domestic Operations of Fidelity Bank Plc at 23, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, within the court’s jurisdiction, did conspire with her husband to commit a felony.

    They allegedly forged a statement of account numbered 027402010024417 belonging to Tochukwu.

    The prosecution said they made false entries to the account opened with Fidelity Bank Plc on June 6, 2007.

    All the entries allegedly amounted to about N97 million.

    The government said they did so knowing that they were false entries and were acted upon as genuine through several Fidelity Bank Plc cheques.

    They also allegedly forged some documents with which they perpetrated the fraud, which contravene Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 of the Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    Justice Yinusa granted bail on the terms given them by the former judge.

    He adjourned till June 12 for trial.

  • Tukur’s son, others challenge court’s jurisdiction to hear N1.8b subsidy fraud

    Tukur’s son, others challenge court’s jurisdiction to hear N1.8b subsidy fraud

    Two oil marketers, Mahmud Tukur and Alex Ochonogor, with their company, Eterna Oil Plc, yesterday challenged the jurisdiction of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to hear the N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Mahmud is the son of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The oil marketers filed their application before the court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo. The application, dated May 3, was filed by their counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

    The defendants were arraigned with Abdullahi Alao, son of prominent Ibadan businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter, Olanipekun told the court that the application had been served on the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

    The defence counsel said the application was seeking an order to quash or strike out the charge for want of jurisdiction.

    He said: “The criminal charge was not instituted in accordance with procedural due process. This charge is a matter relating to the revenue of the federation on which only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction.

    “The substratum of the charge is within the admiralty jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.”

    Olanipekun also said his clients filed the application late because they were still discussing the charge with the Federal Government.

    “As at now, we are still discussing. I say this from the Bar, even if my learned friend, Jacobs, claims not to be aware,” he added.

    Jacobs told the court that he was not aware of the discussion between the Federal Government and the defendants.

    He, however, urged the court to allow the parties to take the application orally.

    But the judge declined his request.

    Justice Onigbanjo adjourned the matter till May 28 for argument on the application.

    He also directed the parties to file and attach their written addresses to the processes before the next adjournment date.

     

  • College indicts 15 workers for admission fraud

    Fifteen members of staff of Niger State College of Education (COE), Minna have been indicted for disciplinary measures for their involvement in admission racketeering.

    Eight of them are to be dismissed while four are to have their appointments terminated and three are to be suspended.

    The affected workers were indicted by an investigating committee set up by Prof Farouk Haruna, the Provost of the college, following allegation of admission scam in the institution.

    Out of the 14 indicted workers, five are academic staff and nine non-academic staff. Also indicted were five members of the public and a student of the college.

    Haruna disclosed while submitting the reports of the committee to the Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Mohammed Bashir Nuhu.

    According to the Provost, the eight workers recommended for dismissal include: Mohammed Shabako, Danlami Abubakar, Garba Ibrahim Gballu, Iman Mohammed Sanusi, Usman Musa Jibrin, Suleiman Ahmed Umar, S. Yabagi and Umar Ndaman.

    Those recommended for outright sack are Mallam Zakariya Ibrahim, Abubakar Ndabini, Umar Salihu and Aliyu Ibrahim, while Mohammed Bello Waziri, Hassan Ibrahim Mohammed and Yusuf Ibrahim are to go on suspension.

    Prof Haruna however said that Musa Farouk Mohammed, a worker, was exonerated of any involvement in the fraud by the committee.

    He also said the five non-workers of the college found involved in the scam were banned from entering the college and have been handed over to the police for prosecution.

    Haruna further disclosed that 1000 students were found with fake admission letters out of the 7,894 students including PRE -NCE and 100-Level screened.

    Receiving the report, Dr Nuhu described it as quite revealing, assuring that the government with its zero tolerance policy for corruption and indecency will implement the report to the letter.

    “Those found guilty will be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others,” Dr Nuhu had said.

     

  • Alleged fraud: Residents molest council boss

    The ad-hoc committee set up by the Lagos State House of Assembly to investigate alleged financial impropriety against the Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Tajudeen Ajide had an unpleasant experience at the weekend.

    Some residents of the area almost disrupted the exercise, molesting and harassing the council Chairman.

    The residents, who were apparently angry, refused entreaties by members of the committee who urged them to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign in the area.

    Speaking with the newsmen after the inspection, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Whip of the House, Rotimi Abiru, said that the unruly attitude of the residents would be properly addressed.

    He assured that he and other members of the committee would ensure that justice prevail in the matter.

    According to him: “When we got there, we saw some of the projects he claimed to have done while some to us do not exist.

    “I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the committee’s report because it is an on-going thing and we are going to invite the legislative arm of the council to air their views about the issue to get to the root of the matter and once we are done with our report, it would be for public consumption.”