A finance manager with a Port Harcourt, Rivers State- based oil services company, Akintunde Ajao has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for allegedly diverting N52million in tax revenue due to the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue into the account of a private company owned by him. Ajao who is finance manager of Cetco Oilfield Services allegedly used his position to divert the tax deductions payable to the Rivers State Government coffers into a Diamond Bank account allegedly owned by one YPSL Nigeria limited of which he is the sole signatory. The fraudulent transfers were uncovered…
Author: Kunle Edun
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos and presided over by Justice Rita-Ofili Ajumogobia was today told that a former Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Raymond Temisan Omatseye, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges bordering on contract variation and bid rigging, violated provisions of the Public Procurement Act by awarding contracts above his approval limit. At the resumed hearing of the case today, prosecution witness and procurement officer with the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP Mr. Aliu E. Aliu, reviewed various documents already tendered by the prosecution as exhibit, and…
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, today dispelled all notions of interference in the work of the agency, asserting that the Commission works independently. Lamorde stated this when he received the Director, Sub-Sahara Africa Department of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Stibbe and the ambassador of the Netherlands to Nigeria, John Groffen in his office. Lamorde stated that the Commission does it work independently and without any interference citing the prosecution of those allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy scam as example. “We have enjoyed tremendous political goodwill. We changed the son…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today, February 5, 2014 told an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice S. E Aladedoyinbo how the trio of Emeka Ukor, Anthony Uzonwanne and Babayemi Bukola conspired and forged the signature of the Senate President, Senator David Mark, in an attempt to fraudulently withdraw the sum of N45 million from his bank account. The accused persons are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a seven count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgeryAt the resumed hearing of the case today, prosecution witness Benedict Agweye who was lead in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Shata…
An undergraduate of the University of Ibadan, 28-year- old Orowo Jesse Omokoh, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly obtaining Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.) from one Mrs. Jette Jacob, an Australian based in Johannesburg, South Africa, in what is known as romance scam. The suspect allegedly met the Aussie on a dating site and struck a sizzling romantic affair that necessitated him moving to Johannesburg in 2013 to link up with his lover.Omokoh allegedly arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa on February 4, 2013, to meet with Jacob who had been in Johannesburg since November 2012. Five days…
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…
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…