Justice K Dagat of the Federal High Court, Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday, March 3, 2025 convicted and sentenced Chimdi Godson Izuogu and Chidera Precious Izuogu to various jail terms. They were prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on two separate count charges bordering on internet-related offences, money laundering and impersonation to an aggregate sum of N8,207,479.00( Eight Million, Two Hundred and Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Nine Naira) The charges read: “That you, Chimdi Godson Izuogu between 2022 and 2023 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable…
Author: Kunle Edun
Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, March 3, 2025 adjourned hearing in the trial of Jude Okoye Chigozie, older brother and ex-manager of Paul and Peter Okoye till April 14, 2025. Okoye is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on seven- count charges bordering on money laundering raised against him by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. One of the counts reads: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Limited sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has charged Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs, across the country to carry out their businesses in line with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention ) Act, 2022. The charge was given on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in Enugu during a one-day sensitization programme, organized by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, for DNFBPs in the South-East. Speaking on the theme, “From Awareness to Action: Mobilizing DNFBPs for Compliance”, Head, Strategic Analysis and Cooperation, SCUML, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Korede Abdul-Aziz, described Know Your Customer,…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Directorate, on Thursday, February 27, 2025 arrested 11 suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested in broad daylight at White Hotel, Chanchangi Local Government Area in Niger state following credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet activities. Items recovered from them include two vehicles and 13 phones of different brands. The Commission’s operatives carried out the arrest professionally with no motive or tinge of abduction. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity March 2, 2025 Credit: Economic and Financial…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has charged Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professionals, DNFBPs to strictly comply with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, do due diligence on their customers and ensure that they report suspicious transactions, especially of Politically Exposed Persons, PEPs to the Commission. He gave the charge at a one-day workshop for sensitization of DNFBPs, with the theme: “Awareness to Action: Mobilizing DNFBPs for Compliance”, which was held in Lagos, on Thursday, February 27, 2025. The workshop, which was organized by the South-West region of the Special Control…
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on its relentless efforts in ensuring that economic and financial criminals are brought to justice and towards a more prosperous economic growth of the country. The Customs Area Controller of the Oyo/Osun Area Command, Comptroller J.O. Adelaja gave the commendation on Thursday, February 27, 2025 when he led a delegation of NCS top officers in the zone on a familiarization visit to the Acting Zonal Director, Ibadan Directorate of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACE 1 Hauwa Garba Ringim. Adelaja noted that the EFCC, over the years, has “demonstrated commitment to national…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has described corruption and financial crimes as the greatest problems, hobbling economic growth and development of the country. He stated this on Friday, February 28, 2025 when the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, led by its Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Adewale Oyerinde paid him an official visit at EFCC’s corporate headquarters. “You don’t need a soothsayer or a prophet to tell anyone in Nigeria that our major problems are financial crimes and corruption. One of the major obstacles to our economic development, an albatross and a cankerworm to our progress is the issue of corruption and financial crimes. And that…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, February 28, 2025, arraigned former Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu before Justice Lilian Abai of the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State on a sixteen-count charge bordering on conspiracy, official corruption, stealing and diversion of public funds. The offence contravenes Section 516 and 516(a) of the Criminal Code, Law of Abia State and punishable under the same Section of the same Act. One of the count charges reads: That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, ENGR.…
Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Thursday, February 27, 2025, convicted and sentenced an Indian, Chandra Singh to 10 years imprisonment for procurement fraud. The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had on Thursday, November 24, 2022, arraigned him before Justice Ijelu on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged retention of stolen property and bribery to the tune of N816,361,386.75( Eight Hundred and Sixteen Million, Three Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Six, Naira, Seventeen Five Naira) One of the counts reads: “That Chandra Prankash…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has called on Nigerians to refrain from offering any kind of support to suspects and convicts of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. He gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room, ACSR organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, HEDA. Speaking on the topic “Ethics, Integrity, Corruption Risk Assessments and Anti-Corruption at National and Sub-National Levels; Sustaining the fight against corruption in Nigeria”, the EFCC’s boss stressed that any form of support offered corrupt elements…
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, February 27, 2025 arrested 19 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Benin City, Edo State. Their arrest followed credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities. Items recovered from them include seven exotic cars, laptop computers and phones.They have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity February 27, 2025 Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has called on Nigerians from all walks of life to join hands together to tackle the menace of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. He stated this in Abuja on Wednesday February 26, 2025 at the EFCC Academy, Karu, while declaring open the Anti-Corruption Collective Action Workshop themed “Strengthening Ethics and Behavioural Change against Corruption”. Olukoyede, who spoke through the Acting Commandant, EFCC Academy, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Joseph Ogwiji emphasized the significance of collective action as a preventive modality in tackling…
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to activities of some fraudsters who on Thursday, 27 February, 2025, organised a live session on a Tik-Tok platform using the Commission’s logo to generate traffic and defraud unsuspecting members of the public. The fraudsters used six fake accounts all bearing the logo of the Commission and names of non-existent directorates. Among the names and logos used for the fraudulent live session are: “EFCC of Nigeria”, “EFCC Lagos”, “EFCC Delta”, “EFCC of Benin”,” EFCC of Jos,” and “EFCC Saga.” The Commission has no Tik-Tok account and the public is advised to discountenance…
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo before Justice E. N. Oluedo of the Enugu State High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu for fraud. He is facing prosecution on a one-count charge, bordering on stealing by conversion to the tune of N41million. The offence is contrary to Section 342 of CAP 30, Criminal Code Law of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353 (L) of the same Law. The charge reads: “That you, Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo on or about the 23rd day of November, 2015 in Enugu within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, arraigned Jude Okoye Chigozie, older brother and ex-manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct P-Square music group, before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.38billion, $1million and £34,537.59. One of the charges reads: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometimes in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a…
The Kano Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Ibrahim Shazali, has called on public servants in Jigawa State to embrace integrity, accountability and transparency in the discharge of their duties. He made the call in Dutse on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 while presenting a paper titled “Corrupt Practices and Punishments in Government Businesses” delivered at a three-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Jigawa State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission. In his presentation, Shazali emphasized the need for public servants to lead by example in the fight against corruption. He highlighted the…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has alerted Nigerians that organized foreign fraud syndicates are establishing cells in Nigerian cities and recruiting young Nigerians into serious organized cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency fraud. He made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 while receiving participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course, EIMC 18 of the National Institute for Security Studies, NISS, led by the Director of Studies, Hyginus Ngele to the Commission. Olukoyede expressed surprise on how bandits and insurgents are able to sustain their activities over the years, stressing that the…
Justice R.A. Oshodi of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on February 26, 2025 refused an application of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, asking the trial judge to recuse himself from the case on the allegation of bias. Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demand preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents. They have pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. At the last…
The Tenth Prosecuting Witness, PW10, Udochukwu Okparache, in the ongoing trial of former Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that he was not aware of a total sum of N860m ( Eight Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) lodged in his company`s account by the Anambra State government. Okparache, a general contractor and owner of Youdooh Ventures Limited, made the disclosure while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, stating that when he inquired from his account officer to confirm to him what…
The staff of Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, February 24, 2025 heaped encomiums on the Zonal Director, Mahmud Shuaib Bello, Commander of EFCC, as they bade him farewell in an elaborate sendoff party, organized in his honour, having retired meritoriously from the service of the Commission. Speaking at the event, organized at the office premises in Enugu, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, and the Directorate’s Head of Legal and Prosecution Department, DCE Onjefu Obe, described Bello as epitome of gentility, noting that saying goodbye to a leader who passionately served the nation without blemish was always difficult. “Here we are with one of the best persons you can meet in the…