The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has tasked the media to continue to support its efforts at fighting Economic and Financial Crimes in Nigeria. Ibrahim Lamorde, Executive Chairman of the Commission gave the charge May 12 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while welcoming participants to a workshop on “Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes’’, organized by the agency for journalists reporting its activities in the six states of the South-South region. The EFCC boss who spoke through Osita Nwajah, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, acknowledged the contributions of the media to the fight against corruption but noted there was room…
Author: Kunle Edun
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos was on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 told that a prosecution witness in the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode was hostile and should be pronounced so by the court. Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Festus Keyamo, told the court that, the witness, Mr. Ojo Agbor was hostile to him and gave contradictory testimony in court. At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, Keyamo presented Agbor before the court as a prosecution witness. Initially, Agbor told the EFCC that, Fani-Kayode, at various…
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny Naval base, Port Harcourt on Tuesday May 12, 2014 handed over 11 suspected oil thieves and a metal barge (Henry 2) loaded with about 230 metric tons of substance suspected to be crude oil to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and prosecution. The suspects were arrested at the Bonny water ways on April 22, 2014. They include: Daniel Ojokparoghene, Henry Mangibo, John Atobere, Ben Lawson, God’s Strength Samson and Jacob Abagidi. Others are: Tamunoi Yawuna Genesis, David Ben, Frank James, Gabriel Lucky and Danlami AwutaThe Commanding Officer,…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on Tuesday May 13, 2014 arraigned Daniel Solomon and Adams Paul before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court Kaduna on 6-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, counterfeiting, conspiracy and cheating. The accused persons are alleged to have hoodwinked one Boniface Chukwu into parting with various sums of money amounting to N12.5 million under the pretense of doubling the said money. One of the charge reads, “that you Daniel Solomon, Adamu Admas Paul (AKA Paul Waje) and Sani (now at large) between 1st January, 2010 to 23rd May, 2012 in…
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU has received special commendation for its commitment to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.The commendation was the highpoint of deliberations at the 21 plenary session of the Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering, GIABA, in Niamey, Niger Republic, where Nigeria was rated first among 16 member states for the FIU’s compliance with the FATF 40 + 9 Recommendations using the Mutual Evaluation Reports, MERs, and Follow-up Reports sent to the FATF. This accolade contradicts publication in section of the media alleging that the NFIU had been frozen out of the comity…
A Federal High Court sitting in Yenegoa, Balyesa State has convicted three Indian nationals, Sailesh Kumar Singh, (the Captain of the vessel), Chadrashekar Sharma and Ajay Bhatiya, owner of the vessel MT Akshay, (still at large) to fifteen years imprisonment for offenses that borders on oil theft. The convicts were among twelve suspected oil thieves, including eight other Indians, one Ghanaian and a Nigerian arrested aboard MT Akshay by men of the Joint Task Force, Central Naval Command, Yenegoa sometimes November, 2012 and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and prosecution. They were arraigned…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the duo of Nnanna Kalu, 26 and Ukaegbu Arisa Oti, 27, before Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court Umuahia, Abia State on a 28-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery. The two are alleged to be part of a five-man syndicate that defrauded one Michael J. Firm (a South African) of the sum of $60,000 (sixty thousand dollars) under the pretense of registering his company with NAFDAC. The company was to supply the Federal Ministry of Defence with pre-cooked meals in sachets. One of the…
Justice Muhammad Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Bauchi today convicted an sentenced Ahmad Adamu, a 25-year-old native doctor from Tilden Fulani, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State to 12 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a two count charge of obtaining by false pretence brought against him by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission. Adamu allegedly defrauding a hospital worker and resident of Tilden Fulani, Hajia Akilatu Ahmad of a total sum of N500,000 under the pretext that he had mystical powers to make her richSometime in April 2013, Ahmad was said to have called Akilatu…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has faulted the claim by Mr. Godwin Adeolu Dania, former Private Secretary to ex- governor of Edomite State, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion that he was not aware that the former governor took loans or guaranteed some loans for Gava Corporation. At the resumed hearing of the N25b theft charge preferred against the younger brother to the former governor, Michael Igbinedion and six others by the EFCC at the Federal High Court, Benin on May 8, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, retrieved and re-examined some documents already before the court, to establish that, Dania actually…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on May 5, 2014 arraigned one Enekwechi Raymond Onyimba before the Chief Judge of Enugu State High Court, Justice I. A Uwazulike on a 2- count charge of criminal diversion of fund and obtaining money by false pretence. Onyimba is alleged to have sold a property located at plot 622, Trans-Ekulu, New GRA, Enugu to Enyinnaya Igwe but fraudulently withheld the certificate of occupancy (C of O) to the property valued at thirty million naira and used the said C of O as collateral to secure a loan for his company, Ojaz Nigeria…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday May 5, 2014, arraigned one Lebechi Chinedu, before Justice B.O Quadri of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on a 2-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. The accused allegedly collected N10, 500, 000 (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Samuel Johnson in a phony contract deal. The alleged sum was a contract fee for the construction of a block of six classrooms at Etche Local Government Council of Rivers State.According to Samuel, the accused posing as Supervisor for Works in the council claimed he could facilitate…
A former Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke and eleven other suspects implicated in a N5.6Billion pension fraud, were today re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of Oyo State High Court, Ibadan on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust. The other persons who were re- arraigned alongside Adeleke are Muili Hakeem Aderemi, former executive secretary, Oyo State Pension Board; Adeduntan Johnson; Oguntayo Banjo, former internal auditor, Oyo State Pension Board, and Kareem Rasheed. Others are: Muili Adedamola; Adesina Jimoh Ayoade, former cashier, Oyo State Pension Board; Adebiyi…
Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on Friday, May 2nd, 2014, told a former managing director of defunct Intercontinental Bank, now Access Bank, Mr. Erastus Akingbola and his associate, Mr Bayo Dada, that they have a case to answer. He therefore dismissed two separate applications filed by the defendants, seeking to quash the N47.1 billion theft charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for lack of merit. In his ruling, Justice Akapo said the duo were charged with stealing, obtaining money by false pretences and receiving stolen property ,which clearly distinguished their…
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, on Tuesday April 29, 2014 charged employees of both public and private institutions to take up the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes in order to make Nigeria a better society. He made the charge at a one -day sensitization workshop on Anti- corruption organized by the Anti- corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in conjunction with the EFCC.In his address, Lamorde who was represented by Bolaji Salami, Director, Organisational Support, said the sensitization programme became imperative to assist…
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, today postponed the re-arraignment of a former Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke and 11 others implicated in a N5.6Billion pension scam. Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte postponed the re-arraignment till May 2, 2014 following the sudden collapse of one of the defendants, Mr. Oguntayo Banjo, who allegedly had an asthmatic attack when the court was about taking their pleas. They were to be re-arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust. The twelve defendants were originally arraigned on November 7, 2013 before Justice Bolaji Yusuf, who…
Five persons have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegation of fraudulent transfer of a total of N5, 550,000.00(Five Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from an account in Skye Bank. The suspects, Ademola Okunlola, 36; Tajudeen Oluwanisola, 41; Kolawole Adams, 52; Temitope Pedro, 27; Bayo Olowoyo, 39 and Otunba Biodun Adebanjo, 56, were picked up in different locations in Lagos by operatives of the anti- graft agency for allegedly effecting the fraudulent transfer of N5, 550,000.00 from the account of one Ajani Kareem Musibau domiciled in Skye Bank Plc.The fraudulent transfers took place…
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde today, April 28, declared that Local government in Nigeria cannot achieve its aim of bringing development to the grassroots if the problem of systemic corruption was not curbed. Lamorde who was represented by Bolaji Salami, Director, Organisational Support, stated this at the opening ceremony of the EFCC/ALGON Training on Anti-Corruption, Fiscal Responsibility and Effective Leadership for principal officers of Local Government Councils in Nigeria. According to him, “the problem of corruption and lack of fiscal transparency perhaps remain one of the hydra-headed factors that accounts for the inefficiency…
Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday, April 28, 2014, dismissed an application asking the court to vacate the warrant issued against an oil marketer, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo. Ogunbambo is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Habila Theck and their company, Fargo Energy Limited. over an alleged N979.6 million fuel subsidy fraud.In his ruling, the judge held that the application was misconceived as there was no exceptional circumstances warranting the court to vacate the bench warrant. “This is a part-heard criminal proceedings in which trials have been adjourned several times…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on April 23, 2014, arraigned one Tajo Sani Yunusu and his company, Sani Brothers Oil and Gas Limited, before Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of Kano State High Court on a 2-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque. The accused allegedly collected 125, 000 litres of diesel valued at N20, 000, 000 (Twenty Million Naira from the complainant, one Amanallahi Ahmad Mohammed, and gave him three Zenith Bank Plc cheques for the sum. However two of the cheques were dishonoured on presentation at the bank due to lack of fund standing to the…
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, has charged management and staff of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to take up the gauntlet in the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country as the Commission cannot do it alone. Lamorde who was represented by Osita Nwajah, deputy director, Public Affairs, stated this on April 23, 2014 at the anti-corruption sensitization programme organized by the Commission for staff of NDE in Abuja. “The essence of this programme is to take the anti-graft campaign to the workplace, and encourage workers to have a buy-in, as the…