The United Sates government will continue to support efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in tackling economic crimes and corruption in Nigeria. James Entwistle, new American Ambassador to Nigeria made the pledge in Abuja Monday February 3, 2014 when he paid a courtesy visit on the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde. The American envoy who observed that corruption remains a global challenge, pledge his country’s continued support to the EFCC. Even though he did not state the form the support will take, he said he was impressed with the programme of the Commission and that his country will support…
Author: Kunle Edun
More revelations emerged on Thursday January 30, 2014 at the on-going trial of Dayo Olagunju and six other executive officers of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education, IMEC being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The accused persons; Dayo Olagunju, Joshua Durodola Alao, Jubrin Rikichi Waguna, Sheu Abdullahi Adamu Khalid, Moses Oseni and Francis Awelewa are being prosecuted by the Commission on a 79-count charge bordering on contract splitting and breach of due process. At the resumed hearing of the case on…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 arraigned Aminu Ibrahim Gaya, a former Director with the Federal Capital Territory Administration before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja on a 15 count charge which borders on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and forgery. The accused pleaded not guilty to the 15-count charge when it was read to him. One of the counts reads: “That you, Aminu Ibrahim Gaya sometimes 2006, in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with intent to defraud obtained the sum…
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Ibrahim Lamorde has warned Chief Compliance Officers of banks in Nigeria to report suspicious transactions to avoid a situation where bank officials will be arrested in place of the criminals who carry out these transactions. He gave the charge Thursday January 30, 2014, while presenting a paper entitled, ‘AML/CFT Compliance By Banks: Contemporary Issues In Compliance and Enforcement’, at a meeting of the Committee of Chief Compliance officers of Banks in Nigeria which took place at Colonadese Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.He told the bankers that as Chief Compliance Officers, they…
Justice Babatunde O. Qaudri of the Federal High Court, Gombe, on January 29, 2014, convicted and sentenced Habila A. Mamman aka Luka Audu, 53, to 7 years imprisonment without an option of fine. Mamman, who specializes in using different identities to defraud his victims, is to serve his imprisonment with hard labour. Mamman was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on January 29, based on three separate petitions received from Alhaji Dauda Gombe, Obadiah Abba and Mrs. Vasty Yakubu against him. The accused is said to have obtained various sums of money from the complainants under false…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today arraigned a Jalingo, Taraba State-based businessman, Yusuf Isa Ahmed before Justice Filibus B. Andetur of the Taraba State High Court sitting in Jalingo on a 3 – count charge that borders on issuance of dud cheques contrary to Section 1(1)(a)(i) of Dishonoured Cheque (Offences ) CAP D11(Laws of the Federation) Act 2007. The accused was arrested following a petition by Osychris Industries Nigeria Limited alleging that Ahmed who is the sole proprietor of Yuij Consult in Jalingo failed to fulfil his obligations in a contract to sell 230 units of Frajend motorcycles valued…
Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court Kano, today January 29, 2014, convicted and sentenced one Abdulkadir Mohammed to nine years imprisonment with an option of N1, 200,000 (One Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only) fine for offences bordering on conspiracy and forgery. The convict was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 3-count charge for attempting to defraud a retired army General, Garba Ali of N14, 000, 000 (Fourteen million Naira in a land deal.The accused pleaded guilty to all the three counts and was immediately convicted by Justice Riman.On counts one and three,…
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja today warned counsel to desist from seeking frivolous adjournment on criminal matters, stating that criminal trial are serious matters and not to be treated lightly. Justice Kolawole said any counsel who is sick should provide a medical certificate as proof because the Chief Justice of Nigeria has ordered that cases of terrorism and corruption be dealt with expeditiously. He issued the warning when Phina Chidi, Franklin Okey Nwankwo and nine other persons accused of complicity in the N10 billion pension scam in the office of the Head of Civil Service of…
Bureau De Change operators across Nigeria have been charged to carry out their businesses within the ambit of the law and in line with international best practices or risk prosecution and loss of their operating licenses. The charge was given by the Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ibrahim Lamorde on Monday, February 27,2014 while delivering a keynote address at a one-day sensitization workshop organized for Bureau De Change Operators by the Commission through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) at the EFCC Academy, Karu,Abuja.Lamorde expressed displeasure with the role of the operators in the physical movement…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today January 23, 2014 arraigned one Mohammed Yusuf before Justice Farouq Lawal of the Kano State High Court on a two count charge which borders on issuance of dud cheque. The accused person who is the managing director/chief executive officer of Yusmed Oil and Gas is alleged to have converted the sum of N47, 601,000,000 out of the N118, 080, 000 given to him bythe complainant, one Bashir Aminu Sale of AMSALCO Industry Limited for the supply of automotive gas oil The accused person failed to make full supply of the product as…
Bello Godwin Onimisi, a 24 year-old Industrial Engineering student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and native of Igarra, Akoko Edo local government area of Edo State, who allegedly impersonated the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi and used his telephone line to demand payment from unsuspecting members of the public has been convicted. Justice Adebunkola Banjoko of the FCT High Court Gudu, Abuja today, January 22, convicted and sentenced Onimisi to three months imprisonment on a two count charge that borders on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence. He was also ordered to pay a…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Wednesday 22 January, 2014 arraigned the trio of Onoshride Usen, Babangida Bello and Nurah Mohammed before Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Benin on a 2-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in Petroleum product. When the charge was read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty. One of the charges read, “that you Onoshride Usen, Babangida Bello and Nurah Mohammed on or about the 22nd day of October, 2013 along Ahor Benin -Lagos expressway, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on Monday January 20, 2014 arraigned one Prince Okoro Usuanlele before Justice P.I Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Benin on a 7- count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence. The accused allegedly obtained the sum of thirteen million naira (N13,000,000) from a company, Asolyn Nigeria Limited through a phony land deal. He however pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Usuanlele and one Bobson Omoregie (still at large) allegedly presented a fake Certificate of Occupancy of a parcel of land situated at No.238 Upper Sakpoba Road, Ugbekun Quarters, Benin City …
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde has called for collaboration between the anti-graft agency and the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, to rid the capital market of incidence of money laundering, fraud and imposters. Lamorde made this call on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 when executive members of ASHON paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s head office, Abuja. Lamorde said he was concerned about how proceeds of crime were invested in the capital market and called on the association to be vigilant and notify the Commission of suspicious transactions, especially when…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has uncovered a sophisticated web of trickery involving a 34 year-old graduate of the Lagos State University, Anthony Ezechukwu who uses the names of spouses of prominent Nigerian political figures and others holding key offices to dupe unsuspecting members of the public. Ezechukwu allegedly cloned the facebook accounts of the wife of Lagos State governor, Abimbola Fashola; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; wife of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Aisha Bala Muhammed and the Director of the Abuja Geographical Information Systems, Jamilah Tangaza. Then, he…
Justice M. L. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court Enugu, Enugu State on Friday January 17, 2014 convicted and sentenced one Monday Agha who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a four count charge of obtaining money under false pretences to seven years imprisonment. Justice Shuaibu convicted the accused and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on counts one, three, and four without option of fine, but discharged on count two. The sentences are to run concurrently. Agha, a serial fraudster who is also facing trial on an 8-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested one Obinna Okoro at Owerri, Imo State over allegations of obtaining money under false pretence. He allegedly obtained Five Thousand Euros (€ 5,000, 00) from one Dr. Essien Edet about two years ago under the guise that he could help his daughter secure admission to study Medicine in Ukraine. Since then, all attempts to get Obinna to refund the money were unsuccessful.The suspect would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed. Media & Publicity17th January, 2014
Justice B. O Quadri of the Federal High Court, Gombe has sentenced one Muhammadu Chubado to 4 years imprisonment on a six count charge of conspiracy, forgery, and unlawful possession of counterfeit Nigeria currency notes. Chubado, a member of a syndicate involved in the printing and circulation of counterfeit Naira currencies in Yola, Adamawa state and environs, was first arrested in March 2009 by the Department of State Services and later handed over to the EFCC North East zonal office in Gombe for further investigation and prosecution. The accused person was first arraigned at the Federal High Court, Gombe in May…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today, January 16, 2014 arraigned a Bureau de Change operator, Auwal Ibrahim before Justice Farouq Lawal of the High Court of Kano State on 2-count charge that borders on issuance of dishonored cheques. The accused person is alleged to have converted part of the $100, 000 (one hundred thousand United States Dollars) given to him to sell by patrons to personal use.Sometime in August 2012, the accused allegedly received the sum $50,000 from a complainant with a promise to return N7, 900,000. After sale of the foreign currency, he only returned N3, 850, 000…
It was drama today, January 16, 2014 at the Federal High Court Lokoja, Kogi State as Justice I. E Ekwo granted bail to a former chairman of Adavi Local Government Council, Enesi Jimoh whom he had earlier convicted and sentenced to a six month imprisonment without option of fine for criminal misappropriation of public fund. Jimoh who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC was found guilty by Justice Ekwo on November 13, 2013 of converting N7 million belonging to the Council for personal use. He was arraigned by the EFCC alongside one Samuel Abiodun Ojo, a…