As trial of an Ex-Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi and six others continued yesterday, 3rd May, 2016 before Justice R.I.B Adebiyi of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, an account officer Oliver Ewerem of Access Bank Plc narrated how funds were transferred to Gama Marine Nigeria Limited and one Vincent Udoye from a NIMASA account. While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Idris Abdullahi Mohammed, Ewerem gave a breakdown of some of the transactions that occurred between 2nd – 11th February, 2015. “On 2nd February, 2015, there was a credit of…
Author: Kunle Edun
One Mrs Obiageli Funmilayo Nwagu was on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six count charge of Obtaining Money by False Pretence and Issuance of Dud Cheques before Justice C. O Ajah of the State High Court, Enugu. The accused person pleaded not guilty on all counts. In view of the accused person’s plea, the defense counsel, O.A.U Onyema prayed the court to grant the accused bail. But the prosecuting counsel, M.A Shehu opposed the bail application and immediately drew the attention of the court to two separate applications for bail by the…
Ighofose Oyoma was yesterday, May 3, 2016 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State on a 7 count charge bordering on Conspiracy, Forgery and Obtaining Money by False Pretence to the tune of Nine Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($9,200). Ighofose was arrested sometime in May, 2015 in Calabar, Cross River state following intelligence report on his involvement in internet scams. During investigation different scam mails which he used in defrauding his victims , mostly foreign women by presenting himself as Mike Anderson, an American…
The investigation was triggered by a petition written by a group named, “movement for better future”, which alleged massive fraud in the Kaduna State Pension Bureau. The petitioners alleged that the then management of the Bureau conspired with the consultant to steal pension fund through enrollment of ghost pensioners. They identified some of the ghost pensioners to include “Mohammed Ibrahim (Keystone bank), Mohammed S. (FCMB) and Abdullahi Shehu (Access bank). Wetkas affirmed that documents received from the banks, and critical examination of the pension payroll revealed that, indeed, Mohammed Ibrahim and Mohammed S. were listed as pensioners and monies paid…
On Thursday April 28, Justice S. C. Amadi of the Rivers State High Court convicted and sentenced one Ernest Monday to six months imprisonment for stealing and fraudulent conversion of the sum of one million, eight hundred thousand naira (N1.8 million.) The convict was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 10, 2015 on a two count charge of stealing and fraudulent conversion contrary to section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code CAP C37 Vol 11 Laws of the Rivers State of Nigeria 1999. One of the counts read: “You Ernest Monday ‘m’ between the months…
One Sabo Sani Labaran was on Thursday, April 28, 2016 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High Court sitting in Gombe on one amended count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N242,000.00 (Two Hundred and Forty- two Thousand Naira). The convict, who is a member of a syndicate, had, in October, 2015, allegedly obtained the sum of N242,000.00 from one Alhaji Hussaini Mai-Magani, having promised to award him a contract for the supply of some hospital equipment. However, the convict, whose Facebook profile…
The trio of Segun Osho, Roland Alozie and Abass Kolawole were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, 28 April, 2016 before Justice M.O Opara of the Rivers State High Court, Port-Harcourt on a 3-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion to the tune of Nine Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Six Naira, (N9,554,286.00). Osho and Alozie, both staff of Access Bank Plc , Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, conspired to convert an EcoBank Manager’s cheque for Nine Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Six…
The trio of Patience Owerema, Nwakoba N. Francisca and Okafor Kingsley were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, April 28, 2016 before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office, forgery, impersonation and diversion of funds to the tune of N3,766,160.00 (Three Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Naira). The accused persons allegedly conspired among themselves to divert the sum of N3, 766, 160.00, which was the terminal benefit of the late Udemba Clement, a former employee of…
Nnaji Steven and Nnamani Sunday were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday April 27, 2016 on a four count charge bordering on forgery, uttering and conspiracy to obtain the sum of N330,000.00 (three hundred and thirty thousand naira ) by false pretence, under the guise that they own a piece of land at Nike in Enugu State which they claimed was up for sale and swindled a certain Ofurum Uchida of the said sum. The offence is contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The…
The cross-examination of a prosecution witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau, a former Director of Finance and Accounts, Nigerian Air Force, in the ongoing trial of ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, continued on Wednesday April 27, 2016, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja. At the sitting, Yushau stated how he had accompanied Alex Badeh Junior, one Hussein Umar and one Engr. Kabir Salau to inspect three (3) properties, including one at No. 19, Kumasi Crescent, Wuse, Abuja, which was eventually purchased and renovated by the ex-Chief of Defence Staff for his son.…
President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Anthony Chukwuemeka Nzom, FCNA, has sought collaboration between the association and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the area of forensic study, as part of efforts to rid the country of corruption. Nzom, who led a delegation of national and state executives of the association to the office of the acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja, on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, said: ‘‘Very soon, we shall be opening our resource centre. Some people have donated money for us to complete the centre. When it is completed,…
The trial of former Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, and three others could not continue on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, as the trial judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, disclosed that the case file had been sent back to the Chief Judge for re-assignment. Justice Chikere made the disclosure after both the prosecution and defence counsels had announced their appearances in court. She said: “Mr Prosecutor, due to personal reasons, I have sent this case back to the Chief Judge for reassignment. When it is reassigned to another judge, hearing notices will be…
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos last week through Justice Ibrahim Buba convicted twenty persons for illegal dealing and storage of petroleum products. The convicts are Captain Daniel Lebile, Ala Ibanibo, Wole Ajayi, Adesunloye Fani-Kayode, Michael Mgbanwa, Segun Ekundemi, Johnson Mashebinu, Ndidi Benjamin, Bright Nwaezuoke, Blessing Omoviye and Kayode Ireti. Others are Chuks Isiwepkweni, Friday Nchikpa, Peter Bayo, Ubom Amos, Zuopamo Embiowei, Olabamerun Owolemi, Adams Husseini, Ebisingha Timmy and Godwin Oputeh, MV Long Island and their companies Afa Global Impex Services Limited and GFL Marine Service Limited. One of the charges read, “that you, MV Long Island , AFA Global Impex Services…
The Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna, on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, through Justice M.T.M. Aliyu convicted and sentenced one Bitrus A. Mallam, a former cashier with the Kaduna State Local Government Pension Board, to 12 months imprisonment on a one-count charge bordering on theft to the tune of N8,658,359 (Eight Million Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira) brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge reads: ‘‘That you Birtrus A. Mallam, being the former cashier in the Kaduna State Local Government Pension Board, sometime in 2000 in Kaduna, in…
A former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and eight others were arraigned on March 22 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 40-count charge bordering on money laundering and stealing before Justice I. N. Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos. The other defendants are: Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electricals Ltd, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mobunu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. Counsel to the prosecution, Festus Keyamo, presented a 40 count charge to the court which excluded Mr. Government Ekpemokulo…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraignment of the trio of Kingsley Kuku, former Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan; Lawrence Pepple, Technical Assistant on Reintegration to the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs; and Henry Nonso Ugbolue, Special Assistant, Media & Communication to the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs has been fixed for April 20, 2016 as the trial judge was said to be away to attend the on-going Judges’ Conference. The accused persons were to be docked on two separate charges bordering criminal conspiracy, false declaration of assets and fraudulent acquisition of…
One Sale Mohammed Elleman, Chairman, Chiroma Lalo Enterprise Limited at No. 71 Sulu Bolaji Street, Lagos was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 22 before Justice Abdullahi Yusuf of the Katsina State High Court on one count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust. Elleman was arrested by EFCC Operatives following a complaint by one Salisu Tambaya who alleged that sometimes in 2014, he entered an agreement with the accused to transact a foreign exchange business. The agreement was to the effect that, Tambaya would provide the capital which would be invested by Elleman, and…
Sani Abubakar and Bishong Obi Akatcha (now at large) were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice M.G Umar of the Federal High Court, Gombe on a 3-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and stealing to the tune of N14,850,000.00 (fourteen million, eight hundred and fifty thousand naira). The petitioner Usman Umar Haske had alleged that sometime in February 2009, a fifteen million naira ( N15,000,000) facility was granted to his company, Haske Duniya Communication Limited by Diamond Bank Plc. Haske said he is the sole signatory to his company’s account in Diamond Bank, while Abubakar was a…
The duo of Musa A. Muhammed, an employee of Kano State Primary Education Board, and Turadu Hamza Ahmed, an employee of Dantata Organisation Limited, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 15 before Justice Yusuf Ubale of the Kano State High Court on a six-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N29million. The complainant, Umar Sale, alleged that, he met the first accused person, Muhammed, sometime in August, 2014 when he wanted to purchase a plot of land purportedly owned by Aminu Alhassan Dantata, Chairman, Dantata Organisation…
Femi Ogunlowo and his five companies were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, March 15 before Justice R.I.B Adebiyi of the Lagos High Court on 10 count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery. The accused was arrested by the EFCC following a petition dated 5th of August,2015 which was sent to the Commission through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja on behalf of the Office of the Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Switzerland. The petition alleged that some unknown persons from Nigeria broke into the server of their company…