The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on July 13, 2015 arrested one Mohammed Adamu (aka Mohammed Bala) for parading himself as a staff of the anti-graft agency.Adamu was picked up while extorting money from Alhaji Usman Gurama, the Executive Secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, under the guise of securing Hajj seat to Saudi Arabia for staff of the Gombe zone of the Commission. Investigations by the Commission revealed that the suspect had written a letter to the executive secretary of the pilgrims board, requesting for money to give to staff of EFCC for the pilgrimage to Mecca.…
Author: Kunle Edun
The alleged case of wrongful dismissal brought against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Juliet Ibekaku, a former assistant director, Legal and Prosecution, before Justice Babatunde A. Adejumo of the National Industrial Court, NIC, continued Tuesday, July 14, 2015 with the EFCC Secretary, Emmanuel Aremo, telling the court that Ibekaku consistently ignored invitations sent to her by the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, APDC.Ibekaku was dismissed along with Michael Nzekwe, a prosecutor in Legal and Prosecution Department for desertion which is a serious offence against discipline going by the provisions of Section 43(e) (i) of the EFCC Staff…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 arraigned Oladimeji Mohammed Edun, a former member, Kwara State House of Assembly, alongside his company, Zarab Ventures Limited, before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the High Court of Kwara State sitting in Ilorin on a 3-count charge bordering on criminal diversion of funds.Edun, allegedly secured a contract for his company, Zarab Ventures Limited, for drilling of 43 motorized boreholes across different locations in the State under the Millennium Development Goals – Conditional Grant Scheme, project to the tune of N82.5m (eighty-two million, five hundred thousand naira) between 2008 and…
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 13, 2015 fixed the trial of a former Head of Service, HoS, Stephen Oronsaye, and two others who were brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 24-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence for October 28, 29; November 3, 5 and December 2, 2015 respectively.Oronsaye, who is alleged to have been complicit in several contract awards during his tenure as HoS is being charged along with Osarenkhoe Afe. They are alleged to have committed the fraudulent transactions between 2010…
Justice E. Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, July 10, 2015 admitted former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba to bail in the sum of N350 million (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) each.Nyako was arraigned together with his co-accused on July 8, 2015 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29 billion (Twenty-Nine Billion Naira). The accused persons are alleged to have, at various…
The case involving a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice A. F. Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a fresh 50 count charge bordering on stealing and money laundering, came up for hearing on Thursday, July 9, 2015.Sylva is being charged alongside Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun, and Samuel Ogbuku. They allegedly used three companies – Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited for moving over N19.2 billion from Bayelsa State coffers between 2009 and 2012. Justice A.…
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, July 9, 2015 admitted former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, to bail.Ohakim was arraigned on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering. Moving the bail application today, Ohakim’s counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, adding that the charges are bailable. However, prosecuting counsel, Festus Keyamo, urged the court to refuse the application. After listening to both counsels, Justice Adeniyi admitted the accused person…
A former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, his two sons Aminu and Mustapha and one Aminu Wada Abubakar are to remain in prison till September 28, 2015. The quartet were remanded in prison custody this morning by Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano after they were docked on a 28-count charge of corruption and money laundering brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.They were arraigned alongside four companies where the Lamidos are believed to have interest. The companies are Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamiana Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminum Limited and…
Dennis Kasari, a prosecution witness in the trial of Helen Aninye, Chizobam Ben-Okafor and their company, Pon-Specialized Services Limited, on July 8, told a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Olasumbo Goodluck, how the defendants forged documents to fraudulently obtain subsidy from the Federal Government Petroleum Support Scheme. At the commencement of trial today, counsel to EFCC, Sir Steve Odiase led two witnesses in evidence. Kasari, the investigating officer and second prosecution witness, in his testimony told the court how, in the course of investigation the Commission obtained evidence that documents which the defendant used in claiming…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 arraigned two former state governors, Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, before the Federal High Court, Abuja on charges bordering on corruption, abuse of office and money laundering.Nyako and his son, Abdul-Aziz, a serving senator, were docked before Justice E. Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 37 count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering. The duo were charged alongside Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba. They are alleged to have at various times between 2011…
A witness in the ongoing trial of Tahir Abdullahi Garba, a chief accountant in the Pension Office of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation whose company, Charo Bureau De Change Limited was allegedly used to siphon stolen pension funds, Mohammed Goji today told Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja that, a number of fraudulent payments were made into the accused person’s account from the Pension Account.Led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Egwuagu Emmanuel, Goji told the court that, “our investigation revealed that, fraudulent payments emanating from the office of Head of…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 arraigned one Solomon Yakubu Ndam before Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a 13-count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N5,540,000( Five Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira).Nduma, a former employee of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, obtained the money from some unsuspecting persons, claiming that he would help them acquire some pieces of land being sold by the PHCN. Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Solomon Yakubu Ndam,…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 6, 2015 arraigned Ali Gambo Abdullahi, a staff of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Abuja, before Justice C. N Orji of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo on a 2-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office.Abdullahi’s arrest and subsequent arraignment followed a petition from one Rasheed O. Taiwo, who claimed that he paid a bribe of N1.8million to Mr. Danladi Umar, chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja through the accused. Taiwo alleged that, Umar who claimed to be presiding over a case in which he was…
At last, hearing in the case of Helen Aninye, Chizobam Ben-Okafor and their company, Pon-Specialized Services Limited, before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, will commence tomorrow, July 8, 2015.The duo alongside their company were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, May 31, 2013 on an 18-count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence to the tune of N1, 413,507,951.50 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Thirteen Million, Five Hundred and Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty One Naira and Fifty Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria under…
Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, July 2, 2015 adjourned to July 7, for ruling on the bail application of Yau Mohammed Gital, a former Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed and member of the Land Allocation Committee, FCT Administration; Shuaibu Yakubu, a former special assistant to the Chief of Staff; Jibril M. Tahir, Managing Director, Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited and Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited who are being prosecuted on a 10-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy and forgery to the tune of N192,000,000 (one hundred and ninety-two million naira)…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered and returned the sum of 10,000 Euros (Ten Thousand Euros) about Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), to F. Mercade, a French citizen, who was victim of internet love scam.The fund was wired to the victim through his account in France on the recommendation of the French Embassy in Nigeria. Roger Balima, French Police Liaison Officer who confirmed the receipt of the funds by the victim, thanked the EFCC “for the good job.” Mercade was duped by two internet fraudsters, Omodara Adedapo Oluseye and Adesuyi Ayodeji Adedapo after he was…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 arraigned Raymond Duke Haruna before Justice O.C Agbaza of Federal Capital Territory High Court Jabi on an 11-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N20,000,000.Haruna, was alleged to have collected N20,000,000 from Godwin Maduka as payment for a plot of land at an estate in Wuye District of Abuja belonging to Dove House Investment, which is run by him. He however, breached the agreement as he was unable to get Maduka the plot of land for which…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday July 1, 2015, arraigned the duo of Osaze Akhigbe and Ndekwu Jindu before Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain goods and money by false pretence.The defendants, Akhigbe and Jindu were arrested by the EFCC sometime in 2013 based on a petition from one Jolanta K, an American. Jolanta alleged that she met jindu, who introduced himself as a self-employed Caucasian pharmacist, online in June 2012. Impressed by his profile she “fell in love” with him, and both agreed…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today received with shock, the ruling of Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court Lagos, acquitting Mr. Femi Fani-kayode, a former minister of aviation, of the two count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the Commission.The Commission is making effort to obtain a Certified True Copy of the ruling, to enable it respond appropriately after careful review of the judgment. Media & Publicity1st July, 2015
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has rounded up two officials of the VIP Express Tourism Limited, a travel agency that is alleged to have swindled hundreds of Nigerians to the tune of N70million. The two officials, Banabas Magi, Accountant, and Owoseli Samuel, General Manager, were picked up on Monday, June 29, 2015 and are currently being detained by the Commission.Victims of the travel agency had on June 5, 2015, petitioned the EFCC. alleging that they’ve been defrauded by the company, which claimed to provide tourism services to Nigerians by providing holiday vacation accommodation to them at resorts in…