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…
Author: Kunle Edun
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…
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…
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…