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…
Author: Kunle Edun
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,…
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday, December 6, 2024 held a send-forth ceremony for Retired Deputy Commander of the EFCC and former head, Legal and Prosecution Department of the Benin Zonal Directorate, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Ibrahim Audu. The event which was held at the Conference Room of the Benin Directorate saw officers of the Commission eulogize the Retired DCE for his contribution to the growth and development of the Commission. The Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Effa Okim commended Audu for the high numbers of…
Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC, have arrested twenty-two suspected (22) internet fraudsters. They were arrested on Friday, December 6, 2024 at Umuagu and Olokoro in Abia state in a sting operation. Items recovered from them include six exotic cars, eight laptops and 36 mobile phones. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Media & Publicity December 9, 2024 Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Thursday, November 28, 2024 convicted and sentenced Aisha Alkali Wakil and two others to five years imprisonment each. Wakil who is the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Complete Care and Aid Foundation (NGO) alongside Programme Manager Tahiru Saidu Daura and Country Director , Prince Lawal Shoyode were re-arraigned on Monday, September 1, 2020 on four- count amended charges bordering on cheating, conspiracy and giving false information to the tune of N6m. Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyade whilst…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Directorate have arrested 24 suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested on Friday, December 6, 2024 at Lokoja, Kogi State following credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in internet-related offences. Items recovered from them include 30 phones, 6 laptops and 3 cars. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Media & Publicity December 6, 2024 Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on youths across the country to unite and take the lead in the fight against corruption. He made the call in Abuja on Wednesday, December 5, 2024 while addressing stakeholders at a Town Hall Meeting in preparatory commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. The 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day will be held on December 9, 2024 and is themed, “Uniting the Youths Against Corruption”. In a Keynote Address, Olukoyede decried the adverse impact of corruption on the…
The trial of the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu over alleged stealing and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N5.78billion got underway on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High siting in Ilorin. The erstwhile governor and his finance commissioner among other things were accused to have conspired to steal money meant for payment of salaries of teachers working with the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, UBEC, as well as money meant to provide security and other infrastructural facilities for the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is following with keen interest, the flurry of reactions to its record-breaking recovery of 753 duplexes and other apartments on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. The commentaries of reform-minded Nigerians to the Commission’s painstaking efforts in securing the final forfeiture of the Estate to the Federal Government of Nigeria, are appreciated. However, the denigration of such efforts by Omowole Sowore and his think-same and act-same, is unacceptable and grossly un-charitable. The allegation of a cover up of the identity of the promoters of the Estate stands logic on the head…
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, December 2, 2024 gave a ruling on a final forfeiture of an estate in Abuja measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments. This is the single largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, since its inception in 2023. The Estate rests on on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja The forfeiture of the property to the federal government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do…
In its continuous bid to tackle some emerging crimes and build stronger capacities for future challenges, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has trained One Hundred of its officers on Forensic Document Examination, Digital Forensics, Fingerprint and Crime Scene Management in Enugu. The One-day training, which was held in Oaklands Hotel, Government Reservation Area, G.R.A, Enugu, drew participants from different cadres. The training, themed; “Forensics Revamped: Empowering Investigations” is an initiative of the Commission’s Forensics and Crime Laboratory Services Department, FCLSD, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Commission’s investigative processes. The training was focused on improving…
Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed a fundamental rights suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju (a.k.a Bobrisky) alleging breach of his rights by the Commission and seeking N200million damages. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 28, 2024, Justice Owoeye held that Bobrisky’s claims of encroachment of his rights lacked merit with no credible evidence to justify the reliefs he sought from the court. One of the reliefs sought was an “ an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents” from harassing, declaring him wanted,…
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slated the arraignment of the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello for December 13, 2024. Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, November 29, 2024 directed the court’s Registrar to issue a hearing notice to Bello’s legal team regarding his arraignment. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , is prosecuting Bello on 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion. Addressing the court about the former governor’s presence in court, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, stating that the defendant’s presence satisfied…