The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,on April 7, 2014, arraigned duo of Mohammed Bello Abubakar and Abubakar Abdullahi Ahmed, Permanent Secretary and Deputy Director of Sokoto State Ministry of Education respectively before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Fed High Court, Sokoto. Abubakar and Ahmed were docked on a 43-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and money laundering.The suspects who are both civil servants are alleged to be living above their means as the extent of their assets is not supported by their legitimate sources of income. Abubakar is said to own 5 companies -Rose Gallery Nigeria Limited, Silver Spring…
Author: Kunle Edun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a traditional ruler, Cornelius Nwoga, Nze Obi IV, before Justice V. Agishi of Federal High Court, Enugu, Enugu State on an 8-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence. The accused is alleged to have conspired with a syndicate to defraud one Okey Marcel of the sum of N12, 435,500 by falsely presenting himself as a staff of Agip Oil Company and awarding a contract to construct five boreholes to Okey Marcel with the pretense that Agip Oil Company was awarding contracts for Aggah town, Egbema, Rivers State.Other members…
The trial of Sani Lulu Abdullahi, former chairman and three other Board members of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, continued on April 3, 2014, before Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Abdulllahi is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside Amanze Uchegbulam, Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Taiwo Ogunjobi for offences bordering on conspiracy and breach of due process which is in contravention of the Public Procurement Act.At the resumed hearing of the case, an operative of the EFCC, Adeniyi Adebayo, while being cross examined by Akin Olujimi, SAN, counsel to the 2nd and 3rd…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on April 1, 2014, arraigned one Oshi Joel Luke before Justice A. O Onovo of the Enugu State High Court, Nsukka, Enugu State, on a 10-count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 342 of the revised Criminal Code of Enugu State and punishable under section 353(g) of the same Act. The accused allegedly connived with three members of staff of his school, OBFO International Academy and collected the sum of forty six thousand naira (N46, 000.00) each from 580 candidates as registration fee for the West African Examination Council, WAEC May/June 2012 examination…
Justice T. U. Uzokwe of the Abia State High Court, Aba, has convicted and sentenced one Alozie David to 9 years imprisonment for issuance of dud cheque and obtaining money by false pretence. The convict was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an amended 2-court charge of issuance of dud cheque and obtaining money by false pretence. One of the count reads, “that you, Alozie David, male and Royal Nature Nigeria Limited, on or about the 31st day of August, 2009 at Aba, Abia State, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Abia State, did…
Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja will on May 2, 2014, rule on an application filed by a former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank), Mr. Erastus Akingbola and his associate, Mr Bayo Dada challenging the jurisdiction of the court on a 22-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining by false pretence, preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The ground for the application is the contention of the defendants that a state High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charge preferred against them. Counsels to Akingbola and…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday April 1, 2014, told an Ikeja High court how Emeka Chukwu sold an import permit granted to Ifeanyi Anosyke and his company, Anosyke Group of Company to Ngozi Ekeoma, owner of Dell Energy Limited. Anosyke Group of Companies, Ifeanyi Anosyke, Ngozi Ekeoma, Emeka Chukwu and Dell Energy Limited were dragged to court by the EFCC for alleged conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and forgery the sum of N1, 537,278,880.82( One Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Naira, Eighty-Two Kobo…
Ismaila Muhammed was today sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi and presided by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar. Ismaila had on March 6, 2014 pleaded guilty to all 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and currency counterfeiting when he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. One of the charge alleged that the convict conspired “with one Aminu Bauchi, now at large, to utter 59 pieces of counterfeit United States of American Dollar bills in $100 denomination and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 6 (2) (b) and…
Justice A. M Liman of the Federal High Court, Benin has convicted and sentenced one Larry Edomwonyi (alias Markus Erixson) to six years imprisonment. He bagged three years each on two of the six count charge of obtaining money by false pretence, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of his arrest. The convict was among the suspected internet fraudsters who were arrested by members of the operation Pulo Shield of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin in 2013 and handed over to the EFCC, for further…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Nasiru Yahaya before Justice Abdullahi Yusuf of the Katsina State High Court on a 9-count charge that borders on criminal breach of trust and forgery. The accused person was entrusted with 3, 600 (Three Thousand Six Hundred) bags of fertilizer worth N18, 000, 000 (Eighteen Million Naira) to be delivered to Ministry of Agriculture, Adamawa State, from Funtua Local Government in Katsina State but fraudulently converted same for personal benefit. In an attempt to cover the fraud, he allegedly presented fake waybills to the complainant, Alhaji Ibrahim Dogo. One of the…
Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of Kano State High Court on Monday March 31, 2014 convicted and sentenced former staff of Mainstreet Bank, Hadiza Mustafa to five years imprisonment. The convict who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC alongside Mahmud Sule on a 10-count charge that borders on forgery and theft of depositor’s fund, was convicted on 9 of the counts. Justice Aboki sentenced her to 12 months imprisonment on count 2 and six months imprisonment on counts 3 to 10. The convict is equally to a pay a fine of N120, 000. The sentences are to…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on March 31, 2014 arraigned one Felix Amadi before Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on one count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence. The accused allegedly collected the sum of Seventeen Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N17, 600,000.00) from Sir George Nwaeke through a phony land deal. According to the petitioner, he was approached sometime in July, 2012 by a family friend, Lucky Jessy (Land Agent) who claimed there was a land allegedly owned by Felix for sale. Sir and Lady George Nwaeke met with the…
In furtherance of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Western Australia Police, three operatives of the EFCC have arrived in Perth, Western Australia to assist its Police with major fraud investigations as well as compare notes on cases of mutual interest to both law enforcement organisations. Paul Okoli, Danladi Daniel and Abbah Sambo will be in Perth for two weeks, sharing experiences with their Australian counterparts. The trio would assist with on going and new fraud investigations affecting nationals of both countries and will also be hoping to improve their skills…
Justice Farouq Lawan of the Kano State High Court today, March 28, 2014, convicted and sentenced one Moses Kola Olayemi to three years imprisonment and a fine of N120, 000 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira Only) on three count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. The convict is said to have conspired with one Ahmed Rufai to deceive one Dr. Sa’id Danladi Abubakar into believing that they were online car sellers. The accused person had earlier pleaded not guilty to a five count charge. But when the case came up today, he pleaded guilty to an amended three…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, March 28, 2014 arraigned Amodemaja Adeboye Quadri before Justice A. A. Aderemi of Oyo State High Court, Ibadan on a 4-count charge bordering on personation, marriage scam, and obtaining money by false pretences. One of the charges read: “Adeboye Quadri Amodemaja (alias James John Smith) in 2012 within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of 70,878.00 Euros (Seventy Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy Eight Euros) from Laura Reffosco by falsely representing to her that you are in love with her and the money represented…
A Federal High Court sitting in Ado- Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Thursday, March 27, 2014, refused the request by the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Part in Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose to delay his trial to enable him concentrate in prosecuting his gubernatorial ambition. Fayose, a former governor of the state is standing trial for allegedly misappropriating state funds to the tune of N416million during his tenure. At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel to the former governor, Mr. Raji Ahmed, SAN. prayed the court to adjourn the matter till the first week in July to allow his…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today March 27, 2014 arraigned one Elvis Ezeani before Justice Valentine B. Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Wuse, Abuja on a 3-count charge which borders on obtaining money by false pretence. The accused had been at large since December 2006 when he jumped the administrative bail granted him by the EFCC, until he was re-arrested on the 14th of February, 2014. His accomplice, Joseph Morah, was successfully prosecuted by the Commission and convicted by the court for the same offence of obtaining the sum of N13, 500 million under false…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today said it has achieved some success in the prosecution of pension fraud cases. Briefing journalists in Abuja, the agency’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the Commission has called several witnesses in many of the cases under trial and succeeded in securing the final forfeiture of a property linked to Shuaibu Teidi, former director, Pension Accounts, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, who is facing a 22-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy to commit fraud and concealing the origin of stolen pension funds to…
Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja has adjourned to June 4, 2014 for ruling on whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the N1.4 billion oil subsidy case involving the duo of Helyn Aninye, Chizobam Aniebonam and their company, Pon-specialized Services Limited. The accused persons who are alleged to have fraudulently obtained the sum from the Federal government as subsidy for the importation of premium motor spirit, are challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.The ruling which was originally slated for today, March 25, has been moved to June 4.The accused persons…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 24, 2014 told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that an application filed by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, counsel to a former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, challenging the jurisdiction of the court, was premature and a ploy to delay his trial. Akingbola is facing trial, alongside Mr. Bayo Dada, on a 22-count charge bordering on allegedly stealing N47.1billion belonging to Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank).Counsel to the EFCC, E. Ukala, SAN, prayed the court to hold Akingbola’s application in abeyance till the end of trial. According…