Justice M.S.Abubakar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has ordered the forfeiture to the federal government, the sum of N232,396,714.00 (Two Hundred and Thirty-two Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fourteen Naira), a hotel as well as the sum of $4,977 (Four Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy-seven US Dollars) recovered from seven fraudsters. The forfeiture followed the conviction and sentencing of the fraudsters, prosecuted on separate one-count charges, bordering on criminal impersonation, money laundering, cybercrime and obtaining by false pretence by the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The convicts are: Tamaraudeinyefa Shedrack Brakekebebe, Godday Conference Brakekebebe, Terhemba Josiah Asagh, Nyiter Avalumun Elijah, Ahmed Alabi…
Author: Kunle Edun
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, February 13, 2025 adjourned till March 17, 2025 for ruling on the application filed by Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the multiple fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision, EFCC. Otudeko was to be arraigned alongside a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya; a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited on a 13-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12.3 billion, which the defendants seek to evade with…
Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako, Kuje, Abuja, on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, adjourned till February 27 for ruling on the bail application of former Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, Professor Usman Yusuf. Yusuf was arraigned on a five-count 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). Arguing against the application for bail by the defendant, prosecution counsel, Francis Usani in a counter affidavit, informed the court that the offences alleged against…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, arraigned one Precious Chimaobi Uzondu on a two -count charge bordering on alleged refusal to accept Naira as a legal tender before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi , Lagos. One of the count reads: “That you, Precious Chimaobi Uzondu, on the 10th of December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, refused to accept Naira (Nigeria’s legal tender) by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, arraigned one Precious Chimaobi Uzondu on a two -count charge bordering on alleged refusal to accept Naira as a legal tender before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi , Lagos. One of the count reads: “That you, Precious Chimaobi Uzondu, on the 10th of December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, refused to accept Naira (Nigeria’s legal tender) by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentencing of one Chika Stanley Okoh for internet fraud, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was arraigned in December 2024 on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime. The charge reads: “That you Chika Stanley Okoh sometimes in 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently held out yourself on facebook account @Zachary Levi as Zachary Levi, a male American actor, with intention to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under…
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned 16 (sixteen) suspected internet fraudsters before Justice Folashade O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State. The defendants are: Ibemere Gerald Ifechukwu, Ngwu Chidozie Henry, Onwugbolu Charles, Okeke Emmanuel Ebubechukwu, Ikechukwu Augustine Ibeanu, Samuel Obi Chidera, Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Chinsed and Onoja Sampson Kingsley. Others are: Chukwudi Francis Chinenye, Nwodo Nelson Obinna, Muolukwu Ikenna Anthony, Ebuka Peter Ejiofor, Okonkwo Nonso Chijioke, Ngwu Chidozie Sylvester, Duru Christopher and Seth Hyacinth Chidera. While Emmanuel, Ebubechukwu, Henry, Chidera, Christopher, Francis and Charles were arraigned on separate two-count charges, the rest of the…
Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited, a co-defendant in the trial of Ahmed Kuru, former Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON) was on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 convicted and sentenced for fraud by Justice R.A. Oshodi of Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. Kuru, the first defendant is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited on amended six-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, stealing, dishonesty and criminal conversion to the tune of N20 billion. At today’s proceeding, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN informed the court that the reason for the amendment of the charge had to do with Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited, represented by Umaru Hamidu Modibbo. Count one reads:…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has tasked operators of events centres, clubs and lounges to protect the Naira from abuse. Olukoyede made this call during a sensitization and enlightenment session with operators of such outlets at the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission on Thursday, February 6, 2025.The Chairman who spoke through the Acting Zonal Director, ACE I Effa Imoh Okim charged the operators to protect the Naira from abuse. He said that naira was our national treasure which all Nigerians should protect from every form of abuse. He noted that spraying…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has restated that the Commission under his leadership will not allow public officers who corruptly enrich themselves go unpunished. He restated this recently at the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on Anti-corruption, Fiscal Responsibility, Transparency and Good Governance for state and local government officials, organized by the House Committee on Financial Crimes in collaboration with the EFCC at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja. According to the EFCC chair who spoke through the Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Deputy Commandant of the EFCC, DCE Chinwe Ndubeze, “The EFCC under my leadership will have no sympathy for public officers who breach…
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Faruk Umar to six months imprisonment.The convict, alongside others, was arrested on August 26, 2024, following credible intelligence on the activities of illegal Bureau De Change operators at the Eko Hotel area of Victoria Island, Lagos. He was subsequently arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on fraudulent foreign exchange transactions.The charge reads: “That you, Faruk Umar, sometime in August, 2024 at Eko Hotel Area, Victoria Island…
The Department of State Services, DSS has called for stronger collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, regarding intelligence sharing, especially in the area of terrorism financing in Enugu State. This call was made recently in Enugu when Mr. Humphrey Ohikhuare, Enugu State Director, DSS paid a courtesy visit to the Zonal Director, Enugu Zonal Directorate of EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Mohammed Shuaib Bello. Speaking during the visit, Ohikhuare recognized the critical roles the EFCC plays in sustaining the economy of the nation by doggedly combating corruption, economic and financial crimes, adding that the efforts of…
A First Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the trial of one Xiao Hong Will, a Chinese, over an alleged cyber terrorism and internet fraud , on Friday, February 7, 2025, told Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos how he was instructed by his employers to present himself as a female to gain clients’ trust. The witness, Rowland Turaki, a cyber security student, said he was one of the employees of the Chinese standing trial for alleged cyber terrorism and internet fraud. Hong Will is a member of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and…
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has conferred a Posthumous Award of Bravery on a slain officer of the Commission, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE II. Aminu Harisu Sahabi. He disclosed this in Sokoto on Friday, February 7, 2025 when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late officer at the Gawon Nama area of Sokoto metropolis, Sokoto State. Sahabi was killed in cold blood in Awka, Anambra State on January 17, 2025 while on an official assignment to apprehend suspected internet fraudsters. Accompanied by the Director, Finance…
A Federal High Court, sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, presided over by Justice Rosemary Oghogho-rie has convicted and sentenced Dr. Geraldine Orok Ita to prison for fraud. Ita was prosecuted by the Uyo Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on a twelve-count charge, bordering on forgery and diversion of fund to the tune of N127, 686, 594, 87k (One Hundred and Twenty-seven Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-six Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-four Naira, Eighty-seven Kobo). One of the charges reads: “That you, Dr Geraldine Orok Ita ‘F’ on or about the 6th day of November, 2014, in Calabar, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make a forged document to wit: FORM CAC 10 (ANNUAL…
The Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria has expressed willingness and determination to team up with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on monitoring of budget to ensure its optimal performance. The group, comprising scores of civil society organizations made this disclosure in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, 2025, when Ambassador Splendor Agbonkpolor led leaders of different CSOs on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. The CSO leaders disclosed that they came together to operate as a committee, basically to focus on budget monitoring and implementation in…
The National Christian Youth Professionals, NCYP, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to strictly monitor the management of funds accruing to local government areas across the country owing to the financial autonomy granted them by the government. This call was made in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, 2025 when the Chairman of NCYP, Isaac Abrak led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. Abrak explained that development at the grassroots level was low and that only prudent management of resources…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, arraigned nine Chinese and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., before Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The defendants are Su Dong Fu, Zheng Xian Tao, Wang Shi Long, Pan Cai Qi, Ting Liao, Fan Jia, Feng Li Cani, Lu Yong Yao and Yang Chen Cheng They are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged crypto currency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 10, 2024 in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation”…
Jigawa State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, PCACC, has sought collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC. The request was made in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, 2025 when a delegation of PCACC, led by its Chairman, Salisu Abdu paid a courtesy visit to theExecutive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. Abdu disclosed that his Commission has the mandate to receive public complaints as well as investigate and resolve issues that affect members of the public, “The purpose of the courtesy visit is to identify areas where the PCACC Jigawa State can collaborate with…
Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has been described as a beacon of courage and direction in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. The accolade was given in Abuja on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 by the Editor-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Security Watch Africa, Mr. Patrick Agbambu who led a delegation to the corporate headquarters of the EFCC to present an award to the Commission as the best anti-corruption agency in Nigeria. Agbambu expressed profound delight with the successes of the EFCC, especially in the past one year…