The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, on Monday February 24, 2014, arraigned one Paul Onwughalu before Justice S.S. Ogunsanya of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on one count charge bordering on failure to conduct due diligence in financial transactions. Onwughalu, a former employee of Union bank, allegedly failed to conduct due diligence in a mega scam that rocked the bank on 10 January, 2013 when some fraudsters hacked into its data base and pulled out hundreds of millions of naira.The accused allegedly failed to conduct due diligence on Dan Kawu Bureau De Change’s account domiciled in Union Bank, …
Author: Kunle Edun
The trial of former Director, Pension Accounts, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Sani Shuaibu Teidi and one Omoefe Eric Uduesegbe has been put on hold as Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, today, 21 February, 2014 adjourned the case sine die just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed an application for final forfeiture of Brifina Hotel, one of the properties linked to Teidi. The adjournment followed an application by Teidi seeking the transfer of his case.Dr. Teidi is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC…
The head, Enlightenment and Re-orientation Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Aisha Larai Musa has called on the youths to shun corruption and join in the fight against economic and financial crimes as a way of creating a better future for themselves. She said corruption remains the bane of the country’s development and challenged the youth to take up the gauntlet in the fight against the malaise. Musa who was represented by Zainab Bello Tifi made this call during a sensitisation visit to Government Secondary School, Kuje, Abuja. Musa charged the students to be law abiding citizens…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today, February 21, 2014 arraigned one Sa’idu Abdullahi Fanyabo before Justice Dije Aboki of the Kano State High Court on 2-count charge that borders on cheating and issuance of dud cheque. The accused person is alleged to have subcontracted the painting work of theCollege of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Kano at the cost of N7, 350, 000(Seven Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira ). He paid thesubcontractor N2, 450, 000 (Two Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira )as mobilization fee with a promise to pay the balance of N4, 900,…
Four gunmen on Thursday,February 20, 2014 abducted an alleged serial fraudster and suspect in two cases being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The suspect, Princewill Arinze Nwobodo (alias Aboki J. Brown) was abducted bythe gunmen within the precincts of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere where hewas to be arraigned before Justice Aishat Opesanwo on a 4-count chargebordering on obtaining $ 92,000(Ninety-Two Thousand United States Dollar) underfalse pretence. The arraignment was deferred to March 27, 2014 as the court didnot sit.Nwobodo had previously been arraigned in two separate courts in Lagoson fraud related charges. He was docked…
A former operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Femi Michael Ajibade was today, February 19, 2014 arraigned before Justice Olasumbo Olarenwaju Goodluck of the FCT High Court, Abuja on a 2-count charge which borders on forgery. Ajibade who is being prosecuted by his former employer was alleged to have forged a Bachelor of Science degree certificate of the University of Ilorin with which he secured employment into the Commission. The forgery was uncovered in the course of the verification of the qualifications and personal data of staff, a standard procedure in the regularisation of the employment of…
Justice Maureen Adaobi Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state Thursday February 18, 2014 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr. Paul Ajah, former Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State. Ajah who was formally arraigned on May 6, 2013 is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for abuse of office and money laundering. On June 12, 2013 when the matter last came up for hearing, the accused informed the court the he had filed a motion seeking to quash the charges preferred against himHowever, prosecuting counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu urged…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today, February 18, 2014 arraigned a police officer, Dodo Chilla Bulus, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, before Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on a 2-count charge bordering on oil theft and pipeline vandalism. The accused person and fourteen others who are currently being prosecuted by the Commission before the same court are alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to break crude oil pipeline and siphon product. The others are Joseph Amaechi, Israel Friday, Ubadia Francis, Abayomi Adebisi, Abdullahi Idris, Samuel Job, Onah Peter Ode, Sabo TashaHassan, Abdullahi Moh’d,…
Justice Filibus Adertu of the Taraba State High Court, Jalingo on February 14, convicted and handed a 14 years jail term to Suleiman Aliyu, a chieftain of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP but with the option of paying N300, 000 in restitution to the victim. Aliyu who is the PRP Vice Chairman in Taraba State was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a two count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust in violation of Sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code.His arraignment was sequel to a petition by the National Chairman of Peoples Redemption…
A Lagos High court sitting in Igbosere, presided over by Justice Adebisi Akinlade on Monday February 17, 2014 sentenced Jamiu Seun Odunayo, a former banker, to One Hundred and Fifteen Years (115) imprisonment with no option of fine over an offence which borders on fraud, stealing, and obtaining money by false pretence. The convict was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on 39-count amended charge for fraudulently obtaining money by false pretences, stealing and suppression of funds to the tune of Eight Million Eight Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Naira, (N8, 829,650) belonging…
Justice Adebisi Akinlade of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere on Monday, February 17, 2014 ordered Oluwaseun Ogunbambo who is standing trial in a case of forgery and obtaining N610million by false pretence to present himself for trial on April 23 and 24, 2014 or risk a bench warrant. Ogunbambo who was not in court at the last adjourned date, was again absent on Monday on the pretext that he was medically unfit. While addressing the court, R.A Oluyede, counsel to the defendant said: “My lord, i am sorry to tell the court that my client is not in…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 17, 2014 arraigned Chief Adekunle Ominikun Sobowale before Justice Kudirat Abike Jose of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, on a 5-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. The defendant allegedly defrauded one Mr Daniel Obiajuju Nwakanma Ekwevi of the sum of N10, 600,000.00 (Ten Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) when he fraudulently sold to him, three acres of land located at Alahun village, off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos. According to Ekwevi, after he had paid for the property, he discovered that a new sign post had been mounted…
Justice P.I Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Benin on Friday, 14 February, 2014 convicted and sentenced five oil thieves to a total of twenty seven years imprisonment. The convicts: Papa Ogbodu, Christian Ewofobe, Felix Idehen, Akole Kelvin and Endurance Idemudia got different jail terms without an option of fine. The convicts were arraigned on November 8, 2012 by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products. After diligent prosecution, they were found guilty of the charges and convicted accordingly. One of the charge reads, “that you Papa Ogbodu, Christian…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, February 13, 2014, presented two more witnesses before Justice Gladys Olotu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in the ongoing trial of the twelve persons for conspiracy and fraud in the Shell Gbaran-Ubie oil and Gas integrated Project in Bayelsa State The accused are Chidi David Adabanya and Benneth Ezekiel-Hart, both ex-staff of Shell; Andrew Feyaikebena Ebakpa, Kwokwo Ebiki Bina, Bolouwenimo Kwokwo and Presley Ebakpa, ( all officials of Bayelsa state). The others are companies belonging to the accused persons – Forstech Technical Nigeria Limited, Gastroil Ventures Limited, Bikyiis…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today 14th February, 2014 arraigned one Aminu Ibrahim Yaro before Justice Mohammed Tukur Mu’azu of Kaduna State High Court on a 2-count charge that borders on criminal conspiracy and stealing. The accused person who is a director of AYT Petroleum Limited is alleged to have converted the sum of N8, 000, 000 (Eight Million Naira ) he obtained under the pretext that he would lease a filling station located on Nnamdi Azikwe Way by Mando Roundabout, Kaduna to Royal Arms Petroleum Limited. The complainant alleged that sometime in March 2012 the accused person approached…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday February 14, 2014 presented its records of convictions in economic and financial crimes cases for 2013 to the media. Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity, said though the Commission was delighted that it secured 117 convictions in 2014, it is optimistic that the conviction figures will be more in 2014 especially with the new practice directive by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the expeditious handling of corruption cases. “In 2013, the Commission charged a total of 533 cases to court and recorded 117 convictions. “This convictions figure represents an improvement over…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, February 13, 2014 arraigned one Ngozi Ibeka before Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Wuse, Abuja on a 14-count charge bordering on fraud and breach of trust. Ibeka, Managing Director of Em-Lette Nigeria Limited is alleged to have received several supplies of rice from Stallion Nigeria Limited and issued 14 different cheques in payment. The cheques were dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds in her account.Count one of the charge reads, “That you Mrs. Ngozi Ibeka while being the Managing Director of Em-Lette Nigeria Limited,…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today, February 13, 2014 arraigned Anthony Ezechukwu, a 34 year-old graduate of International Relations and Management before Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 4-count charge bordering on fraud and personation. Ezechukwu, an alleged internet fraudster, specializes in cloning facebook accounts of high profile persons with the intention of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public. Among those he allegedly cloned their accounts are Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance, Dame Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos State governor, Hajia Aisha Bala Mohammed, wife of Senator Bala Mohammed, minister of…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today February 11, 2014 arraigned one Inuwa Mohammed Ahmed, an accountant with a local government council in Bauchi State before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Bauchi on a two count charge of fraud. Ahmed was arrested following a petition by the children of late Hajia Marke Waziri who was a staffof the local government council. In the petition, Yusuf Dakale, son-in-law to the deceased, alleged that Inuwa Ahmed literally stole from the dead by collecting the salary of their mother after her death in May 2009. Thecouncil accountant allegedly…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 arraigned one Yusuf Kehinde Bakare before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere on a 75-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretence. Kehinde Bakare is alleged to have received the sum of N1,472,285,294 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Two Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Four Naira) to advertise four (4) products namely: Gino Tomato Paste; Pomo Tomato Paste; Jago MilkPowder and. Jago D’ Lite Milk Powder on both radio and TV outlets across the…