Operation TRIANGLE: Three more Nigerian nationals arrested by the Nigerian EFCC (Economic and Financial Crime Commission), in close cooperation with Polizia di Stato (Italian National Police) June 9, 2015, 4.00 am: 750 police officers from the Italian, Spanish, Polish, English, Belgian, Georgian, Turkish and Cameroonian police, with the support of Europol and Interpol, and with the coordination of Eurojust, knocked on the doors of 62 individuals suspected of being members of a criminal organization, mainly from Nigeria and Cameroon, responsible for a huge number of frauds committed against small and medium-sized enterprises across the world. The group, devoted to laundering…
Author: Kunle Edun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 12, 2015 arraigned one Emmanuel Eromosele (alias Bryan Perry) before Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin on a 3-Count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of One Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars (1500 USD). Eromosele allegedly defrauded one James Sindelar in the United Kingdom through Western Union Money Transfer of the said sum while answering the name Bryan Perry and parading himself as a barrister, waiting to be conferred with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. The accused person, allegedly sent fraudulent messages to…
A prosecution witness has told Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) received over five petitions against former Imo State governor, Ohakim Ikedia, who was arraigned on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering. Ohakim is alleged to have made a cash payment of $2, 290,000.00 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand Dollars), for a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja. While answering a question by the defence counsel,…
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos onNovember 13, admitted MT Anuket Emerald, a vessel allegedly used for illegal dealing in petroleum product as exhibit. Justice Buba alongside the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, the defence counsel, Babajide Koku, SAN and the captain of the vessel, Pakhladzhian Artur, were at the Nigeria Navy Beecroft to inspect the vessel where it was admitted as exhibit. During the inspection, Abdulahi Alaya, a Senior Detective Superintendent of the EFCC testified that MT Anuket Emerald with the International Maritime Organisation, IMO number 9393644 was the vessel and that it had petroleum products onboard. The…
Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 admitted as evidence, a compact disc (CD) tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the effect that the statements of Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte, an accountant with the Nigeria Prison Service and five others being prosecuted by the agency were voluntarily rendered. Esu-Nte (Alias Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte); Olukolade Olabamiji, a Businessman; Mohammed Abdulkadir, a banker and their 3 companies- Royal Mall Nigeria Limited, Transferase Ventures, I.D Integrated Petroleum are standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, abuse of…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 arraigned a former Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Dr Olufemi Abiodun Omotosho and four other suspects: Adebayo Sunday Dada; Yusuf Saka Olarenwaju; Ogunleye Samson Adeyemi and Azeez Dayo Kola before Justice M.I Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on an eight count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. The accused persons were docked for allegedly colluding to convert and launder the sum of N84,884,005 (Eighty Four Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Five Naira Only) illegally…
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of a former Head of Service, HoS, Stephen Oronsaye, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a N2 billion fraud to November 25, 2015. This followed the amendment of the 24 count charge earlier preferred against the accused persons by the EFCC. The amended charge contains 35 counts bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence. It was gathered that further investigation into the fraud had necessitated a need to amend the 24-count charge initially brought against Oronsaye, on July…
The trial of Ibrahim Ahmed Mazangari, Muhammed Sani Sulaiman, Hajia Fatima Mazangari and Saleh Yerima Tsojon, who allegedly ran a syndicate that defrauded the Federal Government to the tune of N1.2 billion in a pension scam, continued on Monday, November 2, 2015 with the prosecution witness giving insight into how they carried out the fraud. Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, O. A. Atolagbe, the witness, Roukayya Ibrahim, an investigator with the EFCC and member of the Pension Fraud team, told the court that the fraud was uncovered in 2010 while the Head of Service pension board was being probed.…
A witness in the ongoing trial of a former governor of Gombe State and serving senator, Danjuma Goje, Shehu Mohammed Atiku has told a Federal High Court, Gombe that the ex-governor forged the Resolution of the House and collected N5bn (five billion naira) facility from Access Bank. “My Lord, the said resolution did not emanate from the Gombe State House of Assembly and I was not a signatory to it”, said Atiku, a former Clerk of the Gombe State House of Assembly and one of the three witnesses called by prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shitu. Atiku, while testifying told the court…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of one Nura Musa for dealing in counterfeit currency. The 30-year-old convict was arraigned before Justice M.G. Umar of Federal High Court, sitting in Bauchi, Bauchi State on July 3, 2014 on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and currency counterfeiting. He was arrested by officers of the Department of State Services, DSS, at Jahun Quarters in Bauchi State, while trying to purchase sachets of Bournvita from a provision store with a fake N1, 000 note. The convict was, thereafter, handed to the EFCC for further investigation. Investigation by…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, secured the conviction of one Anyalebechi Wilson Nwachukwu before Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Umuahia, Abia State. Anyalebechi had been arraigned on May 5, 2014 on a 10-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining money by false pretences to the tune of N1.7million (One Million Seven Hundred Thousand Naira). The convict had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him. However, prosecution counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu, urged the court to commence trial, when the convict later pleaded…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign one Jonathan Odu Isikwei for unlawful possession of 448 travellers Cheques. Isikwei 51, a native of Igbodo in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State, was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos by the Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during the outward clearance of passengers on a Belgium- bound flight. The case was transferred to the EFCC for further investigation. The 448 travellers’ Cheques recovered from Isikwei were discovered to purportedly belong to four banks in America, Europe and Canada. The Banks and the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday October 8, 2015 arraigned the duo of Adebola Adeseye Idowu and Isiah Kayode Ajisafe before Justice M.L Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court on 16 count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office, and contract inflation. The accused persons are alleged to have connived and used their positions as Executive Director and Chief Accountant, respectively, to defraud their former employer, National Horticultural Research Institute, NIHORT, of various sums of money amounting to N156 million. The money was allegedly stolen by siphoning staff arrears during the implementation of 15% increments on…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today October 7, 2015 arraigned Abubakar Ali Peters and his company Nadabo Energy Limited before Justice S.S Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on 21-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, diversion of Federal Government funds and forgery. The accused persons allegedly obtained the sum N761,628,993.84 from the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Petroleum Support Fund for the purpose of importing 16,808,064 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) but fraudulently imported only 7, 953,962 litres and diverted the rest of the product and its proceeds for personal use.…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, opposed bids by Mahmud Tukur and four other defendants, standing trial in a N1.5billion subsidy scam, to quash charges preferred against them. The other defendants are: Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao and their companies: Eterna Plc and Ax Energy. They are standing trial before Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, prayed the court not to entertain the submissions of the defence team led by Olaniran Obehe to quash the charges against the…
President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) has again stressed his determination and resolve to strengthen anti-graft agencies in Nigeria, with the view of ensuring that the war on corruption is fought to a conclusive end. He made the renewed assertion at the opening ceremony of the maiden training programme of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, which held at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja, on September 28, 2015. The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir David Lawal, noted that corruption will always fight back, thus necessitating the need to strengthen various anti-graft…
The absence of Abdullahi Alao’s counsel on Wednesday September 23rd, 2015, stalled trial in the matter of Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao and their companies: Eterna Plc; AxEnergy and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited answering to a 38- count charge of conspiracy, and obtaining N3,121,393,098 unearned subsidy fund by false pretence and forgery at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja. At the resumed hearing, Alao’s counsel, Mr. Aderemi Oguntoye was conspicuously absent in court, with no explanation as to his whereabouts. The presiding Judge, Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo expressed displeasure over Oguntoye’s absence, as he ordered that…
Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde has stressed the need for women to be agents of change by being actively involved in the war against corruption, with a view to building Nigeria of our dream. He made the call at the EFCC Zonal Anti-Corruption Sensitisation Workshop for Women Civil Society and Community-Based Groups on Monday, September 21, 2015 at G-Tower Hotels and Tourism Limited, Owerri, Imo State. The sensitisation workshop with the theme, ’’how women’s organisations can aid the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes’ seek to articulate a structured national response to gender and corruption.…
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on September 21, 2015 arraigned one Amadi Jude before Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court Calabar, Cross River State on a 12-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. Amadi who goes by different pseudo names – Richard Smith, Mike Anderson, Richard Darwin, Jackson Miller, and Morgan Abela, is alleged to have collected 4,544,000 naira from a Swedish national, and promised to marry her. Count one reads: “That you, Amadi Jude Junior (alias Richard smith, Mike Anderson, Richard Darwin, Jackson Miller, Morgan Abela) ‘m’, John Ikechukwu Efughi (at large), and Farouk…
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 arraigned three former bankers – Rita Emmanuel, Orjiri Martins and Monday Chibueze Ben, before Justice G. C. Aguma of the State High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N12,150,000. Emmanuel, a customer service manager and teller of a new generation bank, allegedly converted the sum of N6,075,000 belonging to some bank customers to personal use. The fraud was allegedly concealed by Martins and Ben. The trio, who were present in court, are alleged to have deliberately conspired…