Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, today December 1, 2014 dismissed an application filed by Timothy Anthony Anjide, the second accused person in the ongoing trial of Aliyu Akwe Doma, former governor of Narasawa State.Doma, Anjide and Dauda Egwe are being prosecuted on a 10 count-charge bordering on money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Anjide had approach the court, asking that the case be re- assigned, alleging bias against her lordship. At the resumed hearing today, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, who stood in for Charles Edosomwan, SAN, brought…
Author: Kunle Edun
To guard against the spate of internet scammers and criminals, the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) has advised the public to beware of swindlers that often use fake identities with offers of employment and counterfeit business opportunities in exchange for money and for other criminal activities.The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) hosted the monthly meeting at the weekend in Abuja which was well-attended by spokespersons of military, security, intelligence and response agencies. The forum urged the public to cooperate with the government in the fight against the increasing internet scams and online crimes by verifying all…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday, November 28, 2014, secured the conviction of a top prison officer as Justice J.J Majebi of the Kogi State High Court, Okene, convicted and sentenced Joseph Friday Idachaba, Deputy Controller of Prisons, to seven years imprisonment for offences bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.The convict is to pay the sum of N1, 403,114.09 (One Million, Four Hundred and Three Thousand, One Hundred and Fourteen Naira, Nine Kobo) in restitution to Nigeria Prison Service. Arraigned in 2012 on a three-count charge, the convict was found guilty on count three of the charge…
Justice A. Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, on Thursday 26 November, 2014 convicted and sentenced one Godfrey Obioha to a four-year jail term without an option of fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number: AG 601 ABA, to the Federal Government.The convict was found guilty on a two- count charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products without appropriate license, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, The journey to prison started for Godfrey in 2008, when he was arrested by the Nigerian Security and Civil…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today November 27, 2014 arraigned the Chairman of Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Usman Shehu Ibrahim, his deputy, Paul Yerima and Timothy Chindo, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the council, before Justice Tukur Mu’azu of the State High Court on a three count charge for offences bordering on Conspiracy and Criminal Breach of Trust.The accused persons are alleged to have in February, 2013 conspired to fraudulently misappropriate the Council’s share of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds amounting to N68, 000,000.00 (sixty eight million naira) which was meant…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday November 26, 2014 arraigned fifteen suspected oil thieves before Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State, for alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products.The accused persons are Henry Obioso, Messel Oruan, Obaila Zion, Precious Billy, Bassey Samuel, Anthony Archibong, Captain Olufemi Osagay, Erefoluwa Benjamin, Frank Eke, Emeka Jeremiah, Lucky Okpor, Effiong Aniekan, Karo Awosino, Omowumi Omonuwa, Ogonnoh Abiodu and Snow White Energy Limited. They pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. The accused persons were arrested between the months of September and October, 2014 by the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday November 26, 2014 arraigned a 77- year- old woman, Alhaja Mulikat Shonekan and two others: Martins Ogiogwa, 40 and Mujekanm Petroleum Nigeria Company Limited, before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on a 5-count – charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money under false pretence and issuance of dud cheque.They pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them. Counsel to 1st and 3rd accused persons, Bamidele Ogundele, tabled an application for bail, asking the court to grant them bail on the grounds of old…
The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde has reiterated the resolve of the Commission to partner with the civil society in the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country.Lamorde made the assertion on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at the EFCC Academy, Karu where the Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a network of civil societies across the country, which effectively marks a re-launch of its anti-corruption programme, formerly known as Anti-Corruption Revolution Campaign, ANCOR. While noting that ANCOR which was launched in December 2008 provided a platform for engagement of diverse citizen…
Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos High Court today refused the application for stay of proceedings filed by Walter Wagbatsama, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi and their Company, Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly defrauding the Nigerian Government to the tune of N1.9billion in unearned fuel subsidy.The accused persons had through their counsel, approached the court with an application seeking a stay of proceedings pending the Court of Appeal decision on their action challenging the ruling of the trial court, which had earlier rejected their no-case submission. Prosecuting counsel,…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 arraigned one Hassan Muhammed Bashar of Federal College of Education (Technical )Gusau, Zamfara State, and two others, Aliyu Muhammed and Murtala Abubakar before Justice Nasiru Umar Gumi of Zamfara State High Court , Gusau, on a 12-count charge that borders on conspiracy and forgery.The accused persons sometime in 2010, allegedly connived and forged land title and bank documents with which they claimed the sum of N4.2million paid to their victim, one Abubakar Maishanu, by a telecoms company as leasehold for a plot of land with No. B5239 located…
Justice A.M Bayero of the Kano State High Court on Friday, November 21, 2014 convicted and sentenced one Mohammed Lawal to Seven years imprisonment without an option of fine on a three count charge of obtaining the sum of Seven million, nine hundred and fifty thousand naira (N7, 950, 000.00) under false pretence.The convict was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, sometime in 2010 in Lagos following a petition by Alhaji Suleiman Baban Abu, a businessman.Lawal and his cohort, now at large, were said to have taken the victim to Lagos Wharf, where he was shown a…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned two suspected fraudsters, Gabriel Osereme Xavi (a.k.a. Collins Page) and Aikhaituamen Best Junior Cyril, before Justice E.F. Ikponmwen of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, on charges bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence. While Xavi was slammed with a 12-count charge, Aikhaituamen was docked on 6-count charge. The duo however pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to them on November 21, 2014. The accused persons are alleged to have fleeced a 49 year-old Belgian nurse, Goryczka Janina, whom they met on Facebook, of the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday November 19, 2014 arraigned one Tajudeen Yusuf, 35, before Justice A. L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Jos on a five count charge bordering on theft, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.Yusuf, a former Business Development Manager of Skye Bank, Jos Branch is alleged to have at different times received the sum of N200 million from one Alhaji Usman Tetengi, a customer of the bank for deposit in his account. Rather than pay the said amount into the customer account, the accused allegedly diverted the money for personal use…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today arraigned Ozulu Dominic and Ogbobe Michael before Justice D.V. Agishir of the Federal High Court Enugu on a 6-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.The accused persons allegedly sold a plot of land in Nsukka belonging to Professor Charles Okigbo to one Omeye Anthony, claiming that Okigbo had given the land as gift to Mr. Dominic Ozulu after serving as his caretaker for 17 years. Ozulu allegedly brought a deed of Assignment purportedly signed by Professor Okigbo as proof of transfer of the title of the land to…
A Federal High Court sitting in Duste Jigawa State presided over by Justice Salihu Yahuza has sentenced one Dania Ojo Jerome alias Ojo Peter Ekundayo to six months imprisonment for of fences bordering on advance fee fraud.The convict is alleged to be a member of a syndicate of fraudsters that defrauded one Abdulazeez Abdulrahman in an internet car sale scam. The victim was hoodwink by an auto sale advert placed by the scammers on the internet. He responded and was instructed to pay the sum of N100,000.00 ( One Hundred Thousand Naira only) into one of their numerous accounts domiciled…
Justice Salihu Yahuza of the Federal High Court Dutse, Jigawa State, today November 18, 2014 convicted and sentenced one Umar A Umar of TB and Leprosy Control Programme in Northern Nigeria to one year imprisonment on a one count charge for obtaining the sum of N2.1 million under false pretence.The convict obtained the sum from one Dr Tahir Dahiru with the pretence that he had 20 acres of land to sell to him. The charge reads, ” That you Umar A. Umar (Nakano) sometime in February 2013 in Jigawa within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court with intent to…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on November 17, 2014 arraigned one Tope Ajayi Samuel and his company, Sky TV Global Media Limited, before Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court Kano on a 3-count charge bordering on conspiracy and Intellectual theft.The accused was arrested on August 23, 2013 at Link 26, Bawo Road, Hausawa Quarters, Kano, for allegedly retransmitting signals of the pay TV, DSTV, without authorization. One of the charge reads, “That you, Tope Samuel Ajayi and Sky TV Global Media Limited on or about 23rd August, 2013 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of…
It has become necessary to alert the general public about the activities of fraudsters who have been impersonating officials of the Commission and extorting money from members of the public under various guises. Despite arrests and successful prosecution of some of them by the Commission, the syndicates have continued to mushroom and changing tactics as soon as their latest modus operandi are exposed.There have been of recent, a worrying upsurge in the number of fake invitation letters purported to have been issued by the EFCC, which the criminals are busy sending to unsuspecting members of the public, alleging high financial…
Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday, November 17th, 2014 told a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani- Kayode that he has a case to answer, on the charges of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.In a ruling delivered by on Monday, Justice Ajumogobia ordered Fani-Kayode to prepare his defense on counts 25 and 26 of the charges imputed to him. “The prosecution has made a prima facie case on count 25 and 26 and as a result, the accused should appear before the court and open…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today November 17, re-arraigned Chidi David Adabanya and 11 others before Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court Abuja on a 22-count charge bordering on money laundering.Adabanya a former employee of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, along with some officials of the Bayelsa State Government allegedly obtained the sum of N1.9billion through a phony consultancy contract in the SPDC Gbaran- Ubie project in Bayelsa State. The other accused persons are Forstech Technical Nigeria Limited, Gastroil Ventures Limited, Uzoma Ibe, Andrew Feyaikebena Ebakpa, Kwokwo Ebiki Bina, Benneth Ezekiel-Hart, Bolouwenimo Kwokwo, Presley Ebakpa, Bikyiis…