A Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Aliyu, has refused bail of Chimela Darlington, a suspected serial fraudster being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who parades himself as one of the contractors working on National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, in Taraba State, and duping unsuspecting victims of several millions of naira.Darlington, through his counsel, Tony Mozie, had after his arraignment on December 4, 2014 filed an application for bail pending the determination of the case as the offence was a bailable one. Mozie argued that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty…
Author: Kunle Edun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 arraigned a contractor, Mutairu Babatunde and two former staff of MTN : Victor Akintunde and Gani O. Mustapha and their companies Primavera Engineering and Construction Limited, and Mabo Dredging Limited before justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretense, forgery, and issuance of dud cheque.Akintunde and Mustapha, former executive members of MTN Employees Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MEMCOS), ran into trouble when they could not account for more than N1,000,000,000.00( One Billion Naira…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, December 11, 2014 presented two more witnesses before Justice Tukur M. Alu of Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna in the on-going trial of one Alhaji Musa Sulaiman, Managing Director, Alhaji Musa Suleiman General Enterprise, and his son, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Suleiman over an alleged issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N300m (three hundred million naira).At the resumed hearing of the case today, the second prosecution witness, PW2, Onu Monday Isa , marketing manager, Stallion Nigeria Limited, Kaduna Branch, told the court that the accused persons had approached his company…
Justice F. O Ohwo of Delta State High Court, Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, convicted and sentenced Pastor Glory Okeoghene Abrefera and Reverend Vincent Okpogu to seven (7) years imprisonment each for stealing depositors’ funds amounting to N32million ( Thirty- Two Million Naira only).The two clergymen were nabbed after deceiving unsuspecting members of the public into investing in Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited, a wonder bank, and defrauded them of their hard-earned money. While delivering judgment today, Justice Ohwo convicted the accused persons on all of the nine count charges preferred against them by the Economic and…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ,on Wednesday December 10, re-arraigned the trio of Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao and their companies Eterna Plc, Axenergy, and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited on 38-amended count charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and forgery.The accused persons allegedly colluded among themselves and obtained N3,121,393,098 (Three Billion, One Hundred and Twenty One Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, Ninety Eight Naira Only) from the Federal Government under the guise that the money was for the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). One of the charges read that: “You …
The trial of Esai Dangabar and six others who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for their complicity in the police pension scam continued on Wednesday, December 10, before Justice Husseini Bala Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.The accused: Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, Uzoma Cyril Attang and Christain Madubuke who were alleged to have defrauded the Police Pension Office to the tune of N24billion were arraigned on April 10, 2013 on a 20 count amended charge that bordering on…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 arraigned one Michael Ogun popularly known as Idris Suleiman, before Justice Olubukola A. Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Apo, Abuja, for offences bordering on forgery.The accused was alleged to have extorted money from members of the public on the pretence of offering them employment into the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other paramilitary agencies. He is also being investigated in a suspected case of money laundering. The accused pleaded not guilty to the 6-count charge preferred against him by the EFCC. Count one…
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, December 8, withdrew from two suits brought by a former Judge of the court, Gladys Olotu.Olotu had been under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged fraud and money laundering. The retired judge had, through her counsel, Mr. Okey Obikeze (SAN), on March 24, instituted the fundamental human rights suit to restrain the EFCC and other security and anti-corruption agencies from investigating her. Olotu was compulsorily retired by President Goodluck Jonathan, on February 25, over allegations of gross misconduct, following the recommendation of the National…
The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, has called for the support and cooperation of Nigerians in the fight against corruption, stating that “the job of fighting corruption should not be left only to statutory organisations”.He stated that the Commission had been deploying the social media platforms to reach the public, adding that the fight against corruption could not be fought only by traditional model of public enlightenment. He spoke on Tuesday, December 9, at this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day organised by Inter-Agency Task Team, IATT, at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja, with…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has unveiled an Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Preaching/Teaching Manual as part of its efforts to combat corruption in the country.The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who spoke at the book unveiling event, on Tuesday, December 9, at the main auditorium of the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja, reiterated the need to get religious bodies involved in the war against corruption. He said: “The Commission came to the unassailable conclusion that successfully combating economic and financial crimes, including corruption and money laundering, would take more than enforcement of laws. “It was obvious that…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday December 9, 2014 arraigned one Sylvester Enemali before Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for offences bordering on forgery.The accused is alleged to have in January 2014 forged the signature of one Opaluwa Mark in the attempt to withdraw One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira (N170,000.00) from Rockhill Security Guards Limited’s account. The accused pleaded not guilty to the two count charge preferred against him by the EFCC. Count one reads, “that you Sylvester Enemali on or about the 9th day of October, 2014 at…
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to the editorial comment entitled, EFCC’s Laughable Subsidy Theft Recovery, which appeared in The Punch Newspaper of Friday, November 28, 2014. The EFCC is dismayed by this editorial which is a horrible attempt to ridicule the Commission and denigrate its modest achievements in the investigation of the fraud in the oil subsidy scheme.The announcement of EFCC’s recovery of over N5billion oil subsidy scam money, contrary to The Punch’s opinion was not intended for applause. Law enforcement is not showbusiness, where actors openly play to the gallery to…
Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State toady December 5, 2014 convicted and sentenced one Emmanuel Sunday (alias Umoh Sunday Iyang, Iyang Samuel Chukwudi) to seven and half years imprisonment without an option of fine for obtaining money under false pretence.The convict was arraigned by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 19, 2014 on an 8-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. He pleaded not guilty to the count charge. After diligent prosecution, Justice Ajoku found him guilty on the 5-count amended charge and sentenced him to thirty months imprisonment each…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday December 5, 2014 presented another set of witnesses in the trial of a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Daniel is being prosecuted on a 38-count charge of stealing public funds, bribery, fraudulent conversion of public property and false declaration of assets to the tune of N211.3million At the last adjourned date Thursday December 4, 2014, prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had presented a witness, Mr AJibola kaka, who legal representative of one Mr Adeniyi Adenuga whose land was appropriated by the former governor. In his testimony, Kaka explained…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today December 4, 2014 arraigned the duo of Sunday Kogi and James Gideon before Justice A. Kafarati of the Federal High Court Maitama, Abuja on a three count charge bordering on currency counterfeiting.The accused persons are alleged to be members of a syndicate which specializes in counterfeiting foreign currencies and duping unsuspecting members of the public. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them. Count one of the charge reads: “That you Sunday Kogi and James Gideon on or about the 19th day of May, 2014…
Justice M.U. Garba of the Federal High Court, Bauchi, today, December 3, 2014 sentenced one Bello Muhammad to six years imprisonment for offences bordering on currency counterfeiting.Muhammad was arrested on December 25, 2013 in Gamawa town, Bauchi State for allegedly being in possession suspected counterfeit Nigerian currency notes (N1000 denomination) amounting to N471,000:00. He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in February, 2014 before Justice Garba on four count charge bordering in conspiracy, possession and dealing in counterfeit currency amounting to four hundred and seventy one thousand naira (N471,000:00). Delivering his judgment today, Justice Garba sentenced Muhammad…
Justice Rita-Ofili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi,Lagos has reserved ruling till January 26, 2015, on an application for a no case submission, filed by a former Director -General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Raymond Temisan Omatseye.The judge reserved the ruling based on the submissions of counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Godwin Obla, SAN, who, on Tuesday, told the court that Omatseye had been directly linked to the charges brought against him by the EFCC. “The accused person has been sufficiently and severally linked to the offences for which…
Justice A.O Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on December 2, 2014 adjourned the trial of former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu alongside a former Director General of the Directorate of Rural Development in his administration, Alfa Ibn Mustapha to January 28, 29 and 30, 2015 for continuation of trial.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting the former governor and his co-accused for offences bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to tune of N10,965,837,040 (Ten billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Forty…
Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Maitama Abuja, has adjourned ruling in the extradition proceedings brought against former managing director of Nigeria Security Minting and Printing Company, NSPMC. Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, to December 17, 2014.The court had on October 7 when Okoyomon was granted bail, fixed December 1, 2014, for ruling on the extradition request brought against the defendant by the office of Attorney General of the Federation, following a request by the UK government. However, when the case was mentioned today, Justice Chukwu told the court that the ruling was not ready due to the numerous cases he…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, today, Monday, December 1, 2014 flagged off the training of its Senior Cadets Course Six in-take at its Academy in Karu, Abuja.The six months course which entails rigorous physical exercises, course work and mental training will be conducted both within and outside the Academy. Declaring the course open, Secretary to the EFCC, Emmanuel Aremu charged the officers to imbibe the values of honesty, hard work and dedication to duty. In his welcome address, Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Ayo Olowonihi charged the cadets to always ask questions in order to avoid running foul…