A former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, has appealed to Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, to spare him the possession of a landed property in the Maitama district as one of the conditions for bail. Bello made the plea on Thursday, December 19, 2024, through his counsel, J.B. Daudu SAN. He argued that obtaining Certificates of Occupancy and other title documents for properties in Maitama is challenging due to the peculiarities of the area. “My Lord, most people who may be willing to stand as sureties are reluctant to part…
Author: Kunle Edun
Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, convicted and sentenced a businesswoman, Oluremi Phillips to 17 years imprisonment for N57,690,000 ( Fifty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Naira) fraud. Philips was previously standing trial before Justice S.O. Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, following her arraignment on January 27, 2022. However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Solebo in November 2022, a development that resulted in the re-assigning of the case file to Justice Ijelu. She was on May 22,…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Department of State Service, DSS, have reiterated their commitment to strengthening the existing collaboration between them to ensure the success of the fight against corruption. This was the main thrust of the discussion between the Director, Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Harry Erin, and the Kwara State Director, of the Department of the State Services, DSS, Michael Oganwu, when the latter visited the EFCC office, Ilorin on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 on a familiarization visit. The DSS boss stated that he came to familiarize himself with heads of security and…
Justices A.A Bello, A.Isiaka and Murtala .J. Zubairu of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna have convicted and sentenced nine persons to various jail terms for fraud. The convicts are: Yaya Babatunde (a.k.a Kay Lenea), Sule Onyegefu Isaac, Alaba Peter (a.k.a Mane Julia), Obedient Charles (a.k.a Paul Cravey), Isaac Henry, Muhammad Adam Muhammed (a.k.a Hannah Alesia Boltz), Richie Olagunju Bolaji Waris (a.k.a Gina Mclaurin), John Nanyak Peter Haruna (a.k.a Anna Moon) and Frank Phillip Praise (Brown Jamal). They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charges that…
Justices Aminu Garba and Aisha A. Ibrahim of the Federal High Court 1 and 2 sitting in Bauchi , Bauchi State have convicted and sentenced 17 internet fraudsters to various jail terms, even as Justice Ahmed Isa of the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola equally jailed another internet fraudster. The convict’s are : Fumi Joshua , Nathan Timothy Aruku, Femi Johnson Adelowo, Chimieze Alajemba , Jeremiah Pam Samuel, Emmanuel Shadrach , Ibrahim Yusuf, Shikaan Martin’s , Mishack Daniel , Jerry Moses , Joseph Yagat Baye, Emmanuel pontiff. Others are: Godiya Simon , Noble Max , Perfect Nuhu…
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, December 12, 2024 arraigned the duo of Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, staff of one of the new generation banks, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State for allegedly selling newly-minted N500, 000. 00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira). They were arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on currency racketeering to the tune of N500, 000. 00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira). The lone count charge reads: “That you, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, sometime in October…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the Commission, in a landmark raid, arrested 792 suspects for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam. The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in a surprise operation at their hideout, an imposing seven-storey edifice known as Big Leaf Building, on No.7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos , following verifiable intelligence received by the Commission. Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, December 16, 2024, at the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Commission, Olukoyede stated that 148…
Stakeholders in the anti-corruption fight have joined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in calling for increased youths’ involvement in the fight against corruption. The calls were made recently at a high-level seminar, organized by the Inter-Agency Task Team, IATT, in collaboration with the European Union , EU, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, RoLAC, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime , UNODC, MacArthur Foundation, and Centre for Democracy and Development , CDD, to mark the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day. Speaking at the seminar themed “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,” EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, who…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, December 16, 2024, re-arraigned a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Francis Atuche, on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony and forgery before Justice O. O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. Atuche alongside Nnosiri Joachim, a.k.a Ifeanyi, and Uguru Onyike had first been arraigned before Justice Habeeb Abiru, who has now been upgraded as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. The case consequently started de novo before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, who has now been…
Justices A.N. Erhabor and W.I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City and Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba between December 10 and 12 convicted and sentenced seven internet fraudsters to various jail terms The convicts are Precious Okeleke, Austine Iwuner, Saint Felix, Ododo Mathias, Idahosa Kelvin, Bankole Adaranijo, Owie Osasenago Stephen. They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission. The charge against Okeleke reads: “That you Precious…
A former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, on December 13, 2024, apologized to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, for failing to appear in court for his trial. Bello, through his counsel, J.B. Daudu SAN, expressed regret for any perceived disrespect toward the court. “My lord, I am apologizing on behalf of the defendant for any perceived disrespect toward the court in the past,” he said. Addressing the court, the defence counsel clarified that the defendant’s earlier actions were not intended as contempt. “For the record, my lord, I wish to apologize for any…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a suspected online fraudster, Osang Usie Otukpa, for allegedly duping 139 Australians to the tune of $AUD8,000,000 (Eight Million Australian Dollars). He was picked up in a stake out at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos upon arrival from the United States of America on Friday, December 6, 2024. Otukpa, who goes by five aliases, namely: Ford Thompson, Oscar Donald Tyler, Michael Haye, Jose Vitto and Kristin Davidson scammed the victims by luring them on the social media to invest in his rogue cryptocurrency investment platform, Liquid Asset…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has called on Nigerians from all walks of life to place integrity, accountability and transparency as important values for reshaping and rebuilding the country’s future. He made the call in Abuja on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day organized by the Anti-Corruption Transparency Unit, ACTU, of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON. The EFCC’s boss, who was represented by the Head, Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II, Aisha Muhammed, while…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has stated that the Commission is fighting corruption and internet crimes to protect the future of students across the country, charging them to be more committed to the fight. The EFCC boss stated this recently in Abuja when students of Britmax International School visited the EFCC’s headquarters on a study tour. Olukoyede, represented by the Head, EFCC 97.3 Fm Radio Station, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Nwanyinma Okeanu, said the fight against corruption was meant to eradicate vices from the society. According to him, the mandate…
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, adjourned till January 20, 2025 the arraignment of a former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON, Ahmed Kuru, for an alleged N76bn and $31.5 million fraud. He is to be arraigned alongside Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, Managing Director of Arik Air, Kamilu Omokide, Receiver Manager of Arik Air, Union Bank Nigeria Plc and Super Bravo Limited over an alleged N75bn and $31.5m fraud. The court had on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kuru…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigations of a suspected oil thief, two trucks and a barge handed over to the Commission by the Nigerian Navy, NNS Delta on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Lt. Cdr E.O. Adeola, who represented the Commander NNS Delta at the handing over in Warri stated that Barge Oghenekome, two trucks laden with unspecified quantity of products suspected to be crude oil and one suspect (Samson Uki ) were intercepted by men of NNS Delta at NIWA jetty while discharging products from the barge into the trucks. According to him, preliminary…
Operatives of Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested twenty-three (23) suspected internet fraudsters. The internet fraudsters were arrested at Akobo area of Ibadan in Oyo State following credible intelligence linking them with suspected involvement in fraudulent internet activities. Items recovered from them include eight exotic cars, laptops, phones and a play station game, among others. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. Media & Publicity December 11, 2024 Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Justice H.L Abba-Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Jabi, Abuja on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 convicted and sentenced one Praise Humphrey Igbo (a.k.a) Jessica Allen to one year imprisonment for fraud. He was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC on a one-count charge, bordering on internet crime, criminal impersonation, obtaining money under false pretence and money laundering to the tune of $115,000 (One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars). His charge reads: “That you, Praise Humphrey Igbo sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud, did…
Justice Suleiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Monday, December 09, 2024 sentenced a student, Akanbi Akorede Afeez, to two years imprisonment for internet fraud. He was arraigned on a lone-count charge bordering on internet fraud. The charge reads: “That you, Akanbi Akorede Afeez (a.k.a Erdis) between February 2023 or thereabout Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly induced one Dinero Enviado, a white man to send you gift cards worth the sum of Five Hundred and Fifty One Dollars when you knowingly pretended and represented yourself to be one Erdis, a…
Justice Maryann Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT ) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, refused to grant bail to former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello on the ground that his bail application was filed prematurely and intended to preempt the court. Bello, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion. Delivering ruling on Bello’s bail application, the judge held that the application filed on November 22,…