The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has tasked students across the country to work towards building strong moral values in order to be relevant in the society for the good of the country. He gave the charge recently in Abuja when students of KDM Islamic School, Suleja, Niger State, visited the EFCC’s corporate headquarters, on a study tour. Addressing the students, the EFCC’s boss, who was represented by the Head, Public Interface Unit of the Public Affairs Department, AsSISTANT Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1ITony Orilade, emphasized the importance of cultivating good moral character,…
Author: Kunle Edun
Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, March 6, 2025, ordered the final forfeiture of $1,426,175.14 ( One Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Five United States Dollars, Fourteen cents) linked to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele. The order followed a motion filed by the respondent seeking to set aside the court’s final forfeiture order of June 25, 2024. The court had given the final forfeiture order after a motion on notice filed and argued by Bilkisu Buhari, counsel for the EFCC, which…
Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has adjourned the alleged $340,000 fraud case involving Ezekiel ThankGod, former manager of gospel artiste, Mercy Chinwo till May 14, 2025 for hearing. The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had filed a three-count charge against him bordering on money laundering and dishonest conversion to the tune of $340,000. One of the counts reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUKWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED sometime in 2023, directly retained the sum of $260,494 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety-Four USD) in EEZEE…
The Fourteenth Prosecution Witness, PW14, Mohammed Ashelk Jidda in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 told a Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho that the former minister paid him a dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash for the purchase of a five bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja. Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in relation to the Mambilla Power Project on a 12-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo). Jidda, a businessman and initial owner of the five bedroom property, located…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the French government have expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the areas of asset tracking, cybercrime investigation, and security training. This disclosure was made in Abuja on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 when Lieutenant General Regis Colombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, paid a Courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr . Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. Colombet highlighted France’s extensive collaboration across various security domains, particularly in the establishment of specialized academic and training centres.…
Justice M.Y. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Maitama, has convicted and sentenced two suspected internet fraudsters, Godwin Christopher and Temitope Ature Mario to one year imprisonment each. They were jailed on Friday, February 28, 2025 after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on internet fraud. Christopher’s charge reads, ‘That you Godwin Christopher sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court attempted to commit the offence of cheating by personation when you created a fake Facebook account with the profile name Annita Scott and pretended to be an American from Atlanta, Georgia…
Worried by the rising tide of Chinese involvement in financial crimes in Nigeria, the Ambassador of People’s Republic China to Nigeria, His Excellency, Yu Dunhai has broached the possibility of collaboration between a Chinese working group with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in tackling cybercrime. Dunhai mooted the proposal in Abuja on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 when he led a delegation of Chinese Embassy officials on a visit to the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. “The Chinese government is ready to send out a working group to come here to Nigeria to work with your…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, arraigned Jude Chigozie Okoye, older brother and ex-manager of Paul and Peter Okoye, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on fresh four-count charges bordering on stealing to the tune of $1,019,762.87( One Million, Nineteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand United States Dollars, Eighty Seven Cents) and £34,537.59( Thirty Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Pound Sterling, Fifty Nine Pence) Jude, who was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, is facing a separate…
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned six officials of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB before Justice Akanbi of the State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, for fraud. They are facing prosecution on a four-count charge of breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N96million. The defendants are, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Director, Finance and Supply; Omole Omololu John, Controller, Finance and Accounts; Fatai Oyerinde, Coordinator, Salary Unit; Mujeeb Ibrahim, Executive Officer, Account and Salary Schedule; Salami Temitope Bashir and Dauda Aweda Quozim, who are staff of the Salary Unit in…
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 3, 2025 arraigned one Fatima Muhammad before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri. The defendant was arraigned on an eight -count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N 15,250,000.00( Fifteen Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) Count two of the charge read: “That you Fatima Muhammad (a.k.a Fatima Modu Chol Chol), on or about the 5th day of August, 2021, in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,…
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…
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…