The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, 20 January, 2025 arraigned a former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON, Ahmed Kuru and four others for allegedly defrauding Arik Airline N76 billion and $31.5 million, respectively. Other defendants are former Receiver Manager of Arik Airline Ltd, Kamilu Omokide, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, and Super Bravo Ltd and Union Bank plc. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a six-count charge bordering on theft, abuse of office and stealing by dishonestly…
Author: Kunle Edun
The Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, on Monday, January 20, 2025, failed to appear before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for his scheduled arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Otudeko was slated for arraignment 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. They were to be arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12.3billion. At today’s sitting, counsel to Otudeko, Bode Olanipekun, SAN, informed the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, expresses grief on the loss of one of its officers, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE11 Aminu Sahabi Salisu who was killed in cold blood while on a legitimate duty on January 17, 2025 by a suspected internet fraudster, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu. Additionally, the Commission views with great concern the irresponsible, callous, inhuman and outrageous narratives being circulated on social media on the whys and wherefores of the fatal accident. It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has stated that public sector corruption was the greatest problem of the country with procurement and contract fraud accounting for 90 percent of Nigeria’s corruption and fraud issues. He disclosed this on Friday, January 17, 2025 in a meeting with a delegation of the management team of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) led by its newly-appointed Director General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun at the corporate headquarters of the EFCC. “In the EFCC, we handle both private and public sector fraud. And when it comes to the public sector, which is…
The International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, through its Maritime Security Unit has sought collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as part of concerted efforts to combat transnational fraud and to check fraudulent malpractices in the maritime sector. This call was made in Lagos on Friday, January 17, 2025 when Mr. Ademola Olude, Criminal Intelligence Officer from the Maritime Security Unit of INTERPOL, led a delegation including four members from Ghana on a courtesy visit to the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Directorate of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Michael Wetkas. Olude, who commended the EFCC…
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday January 16, 2025 arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in a cybercrime training centre in Benin City, Edo stateThe suspects’ arrest at their hideout was triggered by credible intelligence that indicated the apartment being used as a yahoo academy or training school for internet-related fraud and other fraudulent activities. Items recovered from the suspects include six exotic cars, laptops and phones.The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity January 17, 2025 Credit: Economic and…
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja has fixed January 31, 2025 for the trial of the former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, Anamekwe Nnabuoku for alleged multiple financial fraud to the tune of N1.96billion. Nnabuoku was on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an amended nine-count charge, bordering on criminal conspiracy, money laundering after his co-defendant, Felix Nweke opted for a plea bargain. Prosecuting counsel, Martha Babatunde had during the proceedings, informed the court that the charges have been amended and requested that they be read…
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, on Monday January 13, 2025 convicted and sentenced Olufunsho Dayo Chevy , Uwem Udo Nya to various jail terms for oil theft alongside a vessel, MT New Angel and a company, Edi Eurolink Distribution. They were prosecuted by the Uyo Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge that verged on stealing and unlicensed dealing in petroleum products. The charges reads: “That you, MT New Angel, Edi Eurolink Distribution, Olufunsho Dayo Chevy, Uwem Udoh Nya, Olusaneku Patrick Victor (at large), Ezie Kenneth Othuke (at large), Imo…
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Odeyemi Hammed Oluwaseun to one year imprisonment for internet fraud. The convict, a self-styled spiritualist was prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a two-count charge that bordered on internet fraud, impersonation and obtaining by false pretences. Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Odeyemi Hammed Oluwaseun, sometime in December, 2023 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Bose to send $3200.00 (Three Thousand Two…
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a trending video insinuating that Mr. Jonathan Okunbor, a suspect being investigated for an alleged N6billion fraud, was an election witness. The Commission wishes to state without any equivocation that Okunbor is not a witness of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election tribunal as claimed by Mr. Asue Ighodalo. Rather, he is a prime suspect connected to a case of misappropriation of funds involving all the 18 local government areas of Edo State. Ongoing investigations showed that about N6billion was diverted to Kezmith…
The Kano Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Ibrahim Shazali has called on institutions of higher learning across the country, to introduce anti-corruption courses as a core requirement for all first-year students, in order to equip undergraduates with the necessary knowledge and understanding about the pervasive issue of corruption in the country and the significant roles they can play in combating it. Shazali made the call in Kano on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Professor Mukhtar Attiku Kurawa , who paid him a…
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 arrested seven suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City, Edo State. The suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet- related fraud. Items recovered from them include one Lexus car, laptops and phones. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Media & Publicity January 14, 2025 Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, January 13, 2025 commenced a four-day training of officers of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, LACC, at its Academy in Karu, Abuja. The training, which focuses on Financial Crimes and Investigative Report Writing, is designed to strengthen and deepen the capacities of officers of LACC for broad-based investigation and analysis of different types of financial crimes. In a welcome address to the trainees, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede emphasized the optimal importance of knowledge and training, stressing that “knowledge is better than physical strength; therefore, I believe that your…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, January 13, 2025 presented four more witnesses in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Mamman is being prosecuted by the EFCC 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). At the Monday`s proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the EFCC was prepared to further prove its…
Operatives of the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue over alleged diversion of N1,294,337,676.53 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Six Naira, Fifty Three Kobo) belonging to the Katsina State Government. The suspects are, Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri. They were arrested following a petition from the Katsina state government alleging that the suspects colluded and diverted the sum…
In its ongoing efforts to clean the nation of internet fraud and other acts of corruption, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested four Chinese and 101 Nigerians in a business apartment in the Gudu axis of Abuja. They were arrested on Thursday, January 9, 2025. The suspects, comprising 67 male( including four Chinese) and 38 female were allegedly involved in hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. Media & Publicity January 10, 2025 Credit: Economic…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of one Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, a.k.a “Young Billionaire,” for cheating by impersonation and money laundering. He was jailed on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Nkwocha was arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a two-count charge bordering on cheating by impersonation and money laundering. One of the counts read: “That you, Chima Hyginus Nkwocha (AKA Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown & Chettot), sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown,…
In its continuing efforts to sweep the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, clean of corrupt tendencies, 10 officers of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are being detained over investigation of some missing items involving them. The officers, who were arrested last week on the directives of the Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede are answering questions related to the theft of some operational items that they could not account for. Investigators are making good progress and those found culpable will be subjected to internal disciplinary processes Media & Publicity January 8, 2025…
In its quest to enforce integrity and rid its fold of fraudulent elements, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, dismissed twenty seven (27) officers from its workforce in 2024. The officers were dismissed for various offences bordering on fraudulent activities and misconduct. Their dismissal, FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STAFF Disciplinary Committee of the EFCC, was ratified by the Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede. Olukoyede reiterated the commitment of the Commission to zero tolerance for corruption, warning that no officer is immune to disciplinary measures. Every modicum of allegation against any staff of the Commission would always…
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Thursday, December 19, 2024, upheld the conviction and sentencing of a businessman, Kolawole Adedayo Erinle, to 12 years imprisonment for $1.4m fraud. Erinle and his company, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, were first arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on March 11, 2022. Though he pleaded “not guilty”, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Taiwo, thereby prompting the re-assignment of the case to Justice Oshodi. He was subsequently re-arraigned on October 28, 2022 before Justice Oshodi on a…