Justice A. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, February 3, 2025, ordered the interim forfeiture of digital wallet assets valued at $222,729.86 to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The digital wallet assets were recovered from an alleved syndicate of 792 cryptocurrency investment and romance fraudsters who were arrested on December 10, 2024 by operatives of the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, during a surprise operation at 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Judge gave the order, following an ex parte application filed and moved by the EFCC through its lawyer,…
Author: Kunle Edun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 3, 2024 re-arraigned a former Minister of Power and Steel Development, Olu Agunloye on seven- count amended charges bordering on fraudulent award of contract and official corruption before Justice J.O Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja. The re-arraignment was sequel to the amendment of the earlier charges dated January 10, 2024 Count one read “That you, Olu Agunloye, whilst being the Minister of Power and Steel on or about the 22nd of May, 2003 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court awarded a contract titled “CONSTRUCTION OF 3,960MW MÅMBILLÅ HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION ON BUILD, OPERATE AND TRANSFER BASIS” to…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, have organized a two-day empowerment Workshop for fifty law enforcement officers drawn from various agencies. The Workshop, themed “Proactive Detection of Non/False Currency Declaration and Application of Appropriate Sanctions” was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, 28 – 29 January, 2025 at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja. The Executive Chairman, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede while addressing participants said the workshop was a very important step by the government to exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force,…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian and one Pakistani before separate Federal High Courts sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. They were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., before Justices Ayokunle Faji ; D.I. Dipeolu; Alexander Owoeye and C.J. Aneke, respectively. The suspects are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC. They were arraigned on separate…
The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, Mustapha Mohammed before Justice TG.Ringim of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, Gombe State on three -count charges bordering on intent to defraud and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of N144, 162, 500( One Hundred and Forty- Four Million One Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand and Five Hundred Naira) Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Mustapha Mohammed , male adult, while being the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called for collaboration between the EFCC and Student Union leaders of institutions of higher learning across the country in the fight against economic and financial crimes, as a potent means of driving public awareness and commitment to anti-corruption cause.He made this call in Benin City, Edo State Friday, on Friday, January 31, 2025 in an interactive session with Student Union Executives of the University of Benin who paid a courtesy visit to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission. Olukoyede, who spoke through the Acting Zonal…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance scheme, NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako Kuje. Usman was arraigned on a five count-charge bordering on embezzlement, conferring undue advantage, and fraud to the tune of N90, 439,178.00( Ninety Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira only) Count one reads: “That you, Prof Ismab Yusuf sometime between 2016 and July 2017, whilst being Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance…
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association, (NIRA) has resolved to strengthen its existing collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC towards enhancing the country’s cyber security. The resolution was reached on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 when the President of NIRA, Akinsanya Adesola led a staff delegation on a courtesy visit to EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters, Abuja. “We already have an existing collaboration which was signed in March 2023. The MoU was in the area of capacity building and our first project was in July 2023 with the EFCC Academy. We are looking at doing this annually, especially in cyber security and we believe this will go a long way in adding value to what you do,” he said. Olukoyede in his response, expressed delight with the proposal, noting that…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, January 31, 2025, arraigned 11 Chinese, one Filipino and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The defendants are: Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xian Hong Will, Zhang Xiao Lei, Long Zhao Ming, Guo Xiao Fei, Yang Sheng, Wang Zheng Feng, Chen Wenyuan, Liu San Hua, Luo Jia You and Rheign Dela Vega. They are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has stated that Nigeria’s under-development would be a thing of the past if everyone begins to see corruption as a common enemy and tackle it. He stated this on Friday, January 31, 2025 when officials of the Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, led by the Director of its Board of Trustees, BoT, Major General Chris Olukolade (retd) paid him a courtesy visit at the EFCC corporate headquarters, Abuja. According to Olukoyode, “One of the major problems in Nigeria which when tackled, will make under-development a thing of the past, is corruption and…
The trial of former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku began on Friday, January 31, 2025 before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja with witnesses narrating how the defendant as former Director, Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Defence opened multiple bank accounts through which he allegedly diverted the ministry’s funds. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Nwabuoku on a nine-count amended charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N868, 465,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Naira). At Friday’s proceedings, …
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on corps members and youths across the country to always treat corruption as an enemy to be destroyed because it is at the root of all developmental challenges confronting the nation. He gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday, January 30, 2025 while addressing corps members of Batch C Stream 11, at the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp, Kubwa, Abuja. According to him, “every challenge around us today can be traced to the consequences of corruption, with the rising troubles of unemployment,…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, notes with concern the reported unsavoury experiences of some Nigerians who participated in the just concluded public auction of forfeited vehicles conducted by accredited auctioneers on behalf of the Commission. Among the complaints received by the Commission were the inability of some citizens to access the websites of the auctioneers, being shut out from the platforms after submitting bids and outrageous bid prices, among others. Relevant Departments of the Commission monitored the exercise and can confirm that there were glitches. This observation was communicated to the auctioneers for remedial action. The Commission could,…
Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako, Kuje, on Thursday, January 30, 2025 rescheduled to February 3, 2025 the arraignment of Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had on Wednesday, January 29, 2024 arrested Yusuf and brought before the court on Thursday, January 30, 2025 for arraignment on allegations of fraud. The arraignment was, however, moved to Monday to allow for amendment of the charges. Though defence counsel, Isah Dokto Haruna, who held brief for the lead defence counsel, O.I.Habeeb, SAN made an application for bail, it was turned down by the court on account of the…
The trial of a former Kogi State governor, Yahya Adoza Bello, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu continued on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court with the First Prosecution Witness, (PW1), Fabian Nwaora informing the court, that Yahya Bello’s accomplice, Shehu Bello, opted for a refund from EFAB Property Limited, the sum of N 550 million (Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) he paid for a property when he learned that the said property has come under the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and linked to Yahaya Bello. The witness, Chairman of EFAB Property Limited, further disclosed that the property Shehu Bello bought was located at No.1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Led in evidence by prosecution…
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Services (FCT-IRS) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to assist it in tackling tax liability of suspects being investigated for any form of economic and financial crime and other acts of corruption. This appeal was made in Abuja on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 when the management team of FCT-IRS, led by its Acting Executive Chairman, Michael Ango came on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters Ango specifically stated that the FCT-IRS would need EFCC’s help in the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on January 28, 2025, re-arraigned one Murtala Adebayo, before Justice R.A. Oshodi of a Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged N19 million fraud. Adebayo was initially arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on January 24, 2024 on a three-count charge to which he pleaded “not guilty”. In the course of the trial, a petitioner alleged that the defendant used “phony” Corporate Affairs Commission documents as well as fake tax documents to secure bail from the court. Subsequently, Justice Dada withdrew from the case and returned the case file to the Chief Judge…
Justice Muhammad Maina of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Ahmed Saleh Mubi to one-year imprisonment for criminal misappropriation. Mubi was arraigned on Thursday, September 19, 2024, by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on a one-count bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of N19,691, 200.00 (Nineteen Million, Six Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Two Hundred Naira). The lone count reads: “That you Ahmed Saleh Mubi, between December, 2019 to March 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court offered to sell…
The Nigerian Exchange Group, NGX, has sought enhanced collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in enhancing compliance with digital trading of assets and ridding the country’s stock market of fraud. This request was made in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 when the Chief Executive Officer of NGX , Olufemi Shobanjo led a staff delegation on a courtesy visit to EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. Shobanjo noted that the evolution of fraud has moved from manual to digital across all sectors with criminal elements taking advantage of the digital opportunities to stay a step ahead. He emphasized the need for NGX to strengthen its collaboration with the EFCC towards effective protection of…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 handed over four landed title documents recovered from criminal syndicates to their owners. The title documents were falsified by a syndicate of land fraudsters in Abuja. They allegedly forged the documents and deprived the lawful owners of their property. EFCC’s investigators, working on actionable intelligence, rounded up the fraudsters and recovered the documents for the legitimate owners. At the handing over of the documents to the victims on Tuesday, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede noted that the recovery of the original title documents was a…