Author: Kunle Edun

The trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh, continued on Tuesday, June 28 before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja with the prosecution witness, Mustapha Yerima, further stating how he was pressured by the defendants to claim the property allegedly acquired with the proceeds of crime. Badeh is standing trial alongside Iyalikam Nigeria Limited for allegedly abusing his office as Chief of Defense Staff by using the dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, One Hundred Million Naira) removed from the accounts of the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, June 28 arraigned Nenadi Esther Usman, a former Minister of Finance and Director of Finance PDP Presidential Campaign Organization in the last general election; Femi Fani-Kayode also a former Minister and Director Media/Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization; Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited before Justice M. S. Hassan of the Federal High Court Lagos, on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law. The accused were alleged to have stolen and illegally disbursed about N4.9 billion Naira belonging…

A former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Geoffrey Teme, on Monday, June 27 told a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gudu, Abuja, that it was wrong for Joshua Dariye, a former governor of the state, to divert the state’s ecological fund for personal gains. Under cross-examination by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Teme, the second defence witness, admitted that “it was wrong for anybody to pay government money into his personal account”. Dariye, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC, before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, is alleged to have diverted about N1.162 billion ecological fund meant for…

The duo of Nneka Okechukwu and Nkiru Celine Okor were on Monday, June 27 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere on 15-count charge bordering on stealing and forgery. Okechukwu and  Okoro are alleged to have converted the sum of N119, 788, 610.36k (One hundred and nineteen million seven hundred and eighty eight thousand six hundred and ten thirty six kobo),  proceeds of sale of shares of Blue Chip Companies  belonging to the estate of late Cyril N. Ukachukwu, to their own use. When the charges were read to the defendants, they…

One Helen Ogunniwa alongside her company, Den-Moyek Nigeria Enterprise, was arraigned on Monday, June 27 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice 0. A. Taiwo of the Lagos State High Court Igbosere on a two-count charge bordering on Obtaining Money by False Pretence and  Issuance of Dishonored Cheque to the tune of N7,369,600m (Seven Million Three Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand, Six Hundred Naira). The complainant, Alhaja Jumoke Yusuf, allegedly supplied a truck load of Vegetable Oil  worth of N7, 376,650 to the defendant for which she paid N800, 000.00 leaving a balance N6, 576, 650.00. The accused…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, arraigned Air Vice Marshal Rufus. A. Ojuawu, a former Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) before Justice M. B. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja on a two-count charge bordering on bribery to the tune of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira). Ojuawo, while being the Director of Operations, Nigerian Air Force, NAF, had, in March, 2015, allegedly collected the sum of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira Only) and a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle as gratification from one Hima Abubakar of Societe D’Equipment…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday secured the conviction of Gabriel Charles in a case of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. Gabriel was arrested for posing as an EFCC operative and obtaining money by false pretence from Dr. Precious Gbeneol, a former Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Abuja under the guise of helping her to close a supposed case brought against her. It’s an offence punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990. Justice U. P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo,…

The trial of a former governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and two others, continued yesterday, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), presenting its ninth witness, as it closed its case against the accused persons. Akwe Doma, alongside Timothy Anthony Anjide, a former Secretary to the State Government, and Dauda Egwa, a former Accountant-General, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and financial crimes. The accused persons between January 2007 and December 2009 allegedly conspired and fraudulently laundered state funds to the tune of  N8bn, an offence contrary to Section…

The trial of a former governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and two others continued yesterday before Justice Agatha A. Okeke, with a prosecution witness, Ego Maikeffi Abashe, the Clerk of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, revealing how the former governor had allegedly diverted the sum of N350m from the state funds. Doma alongside Timothy Anthony Anjide, a former Secretary to the State Government, and Dauda Egwa, a former Accountant-General, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and financial crimes. The accused persons between January, 2007 and…

Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has expressed the readiness of the Commission to assist the Cameroonian government in the area of asset tracking and recovery. Speaking on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 when he received a five-man delegation from Cameroon in his office, Magu said: ‘‘The Commission will be willing to exchange ideas and experiences with your country in necessary areas as you may desire.  I wish to also thank you for your interest in the activities of the Commission.’’ Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Aseh Joseph Malegho, stated that the success story…

The trio of Dayo Jimoh, Victor Ochola and Obaje Musa Mohammed were yesterday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of N220,000,000 (Two Hundred and Twenty Million Naira). The accused persons allegedly approached the complainant, Mohammed Jibrin, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Suntrust Savings and Loans Limited, with a promise that they could help him secure some government houses purportedly being sold by the Ad-hoc Committee on sale…

Justice M. B. Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos State on Monday, June 20 granted bails to former Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah). The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to 23-counts of concealment and retention of proceeds of crime to the tune of over N1,667,162,800.00 (One billion, six hundred and sixty seven million, one hundred and sixty two thousand, eight hundred Naira). The money was allegedly laundered through the accounts of Ebiwise Resources Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited,…

One Favour Omeigba Bello was on Monday, June 20 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Chuka Augustine Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Lagos on 3-count charge bordering on attempt to export counterfeit, possession of counterfeit and forgery. The accused person,  was arrested by officials of the  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on January 16, 2016 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline’s flight to Dubai and was later transferred to the EFCC for further investigation. Favour was alleged to have in her possession as…

Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has re-affirmed the Commission’s preparedness to strengthen relationship with Microsoft Nigeria Limited with a view to effectively tackle corruption in Nigeria. He gave this assurance on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 while receiving the country’s representative and managing director of Microsoft Nigeria Limited, Kabelo Makwane who was at the Commission’s Head Office, Abuja on a visit. Magu who stressed the importance of the use of modern technology in fighting all shades of graft said, “we will continue to work with you for mutual interest.” Speaking, Makwane lauded the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday docked a former Air Officer Training Command and a member of the Committee for Procurement, Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mohammed Mamu before Justice Salisu Garba of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 3-count charge of bribery. Mamu, while being the Air Officer Training Command and member of Committee for Procurement under the Ministry of Defence, allegedly collected a cash gift in the sum of N5.9million (five million, nine hundred thousand naira) for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque, $300,000 (three hundred thousand US dollars) and two vehicles…

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to a report entitled “DSS Nabs Member of Presidential Committee on Arms Procurement over Alleged Fraud” which appeared at page 10 of ThisDay newspaper of June 21, 2016, regarding the arrest of Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd.), for alleged fraud. The report, quoting anonymous sources, alleged that Muhammed who is a member of the arms procurement committee is “fronting for some members of the committee”, including “high ranking officials in the EFCC and ONSA”. Though the report falls short of naming the so-called officials that Mohammed is…

The commencement of a trial-within-trial continued yesterday by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court, Abuja on the case of a 2 billion naira fraud brought against a former Head of Service (HoS) to the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Oronsaye is being charged along with Osarenkhoe Afe, managing director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited; Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited. They are alleged to have committed the fraudulent transactions between 2010 and 2011, using the companies for offences ranging from procurement fraud, to money laundering…

A motion filed by Azibaola Robert, a cousin to the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has been struck out yesterday by Justice Candid Johnson of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, Lagos State on grounds of lack of diligent prosecution. Azibaola had lost a similar motion before Justice O. O. Goodluck of the Federal High court sitting in Abuja. After the dismissal of his motion by the Abuja Court, Azibola filed two separate motions before Justice C. M. A Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos and Justice Candid Johnson of the Lagos High Court asking both courts to restrain…

The planned arraignment of a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a N4.9 billion fraud was stalled due to the absence of Justice Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos State. Fani-Kayode, is being charged along with a former minister of finance, Nenadi Usman; Danjuma Yusuf, and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited by the EFCC on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law. The defendants who were present in court were later taken back to EFCC custody…

Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been lauded for his relentless effort to stamp out corruption and economic crimes from the Nigerian society. He received the commendation yesterday when 400-level undergraduate students of Public Administration and Political Science, Adamawa State University, Yola, visited the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja. Leader of the delegation, Miyatafadi Pwafeno, who described Magu as a model and a pride to the nation in the anti-graft war, urged Nigerians to support the Commission to tame the monster of corruption and move the country forward. ‘‘The visit is very important in our…