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…
Author: Kunle Edun
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…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on January 13, 2014 arraigned the trio of Vitalis Anopue, Chigbu Paul and Amalaha Augustine before Justice Onuoha A. k. Ogwe of the Abia State High Court sitting in Aba, on 15-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence. The accused persons were alleged to have obtained money from unsuspecting Nigerians under the pretext of soliciting for money for the defunct Anti-Corruption Revolution Campaign (ANCOR) programme of the EFCC. Count three of the charge reads, that “Vitalis Anopue and Chigbu Paul on or about the 12th day of September, 2012 within the…
The Secretary to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo has urged Nigerian youths to embrace positive values and shun all vices, especially corruption. He gave the advice Wednesday January 15, 2014 at the Commission’s headquarters, Abuja when he was presented with a distinguished role model award by members of the Akoko Youth Congress. Leader of the three-man AYC team, Comrade Aluko Rasheed said the honour for the EFCC scribe is in recognition of his selfless service and exemplary conduct. “Your good conduct and administrative style coupled with your numerous charitable works has fundamentally amazed our union. Your…
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde has cautioned public officers across the country against betrayal of trust reposed in them by the larger public. He gave the warning January 11, 2014 at a Retreat for Federal Permanent Secretaries in Lagos. According to him, public officers hold positions in trust for the people and betrayal of such trust “is the worst crime a public officer can commit against the people”. “Every public officer is charged with a specific duty, which feeds into the broader mandate of the public service. It is incumbent on…
Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Dije Abdu Aboki has convicted and sentenced one Bashir Ahmed Haruna to seven months imprisonment for criminal breach of trust and forgery. He is also to pay a fine of N200, 000.The convict and his accomplice, one Abdul Awwal Yahaya, were arraigned on November 18, 2013 for conspiring among themselves to obtain over N2, 000, 000 (Two Million Naira Only) from one Mohammed Awwal Ustaz by presenting themselves as agents of Future University in Cairo Egypt and offering to help secure admission for his children into the University. Upon arraignment, they pleaded…
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Lamorde says property acquisitions in Abuja has become avenues for money laundering by unscrupulous persons. He said evidence of the trend is the number of palatial but unoccupied houses that dot the Abuja landscape. The EFCC boss who was speaking during a courtesy visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed in Abuja on Thursday, January 9, stated that the Commission had uncovered money laundering schemes in the FCT in which the perpetrators disguise the proceeds of crime by investing in properties. He explained that those…
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde has called for an enhanced working relationship between the Commission and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA in order to curb land scam and other fraudulent practices in the FCT. Lamorde made the appeal Thursday January 9, 2014 during a courtesy visit to the minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed. According to the EFCC chairman, there was need for closer collaboration between the EFCC and FCTA as some unscrupulous people were laundering proceeds of crime through land and property acquisitions in the FCT. He noted that such…
The EFCC is constrained to clarify that, contrary to the sponsored, misguided reports in the media the Commission is NOT after the former Head of Service, Mr. Steve Oronsaye over his perceived support for the Financial Intelligence Agency bill, currently before the National Assembly.Let it be made manifestly clear that the EFCC is a responsible and responsive law enforcement agency and has no scores whatsoever to settle with Mr. Oronsaye or any other person for that matter. The Commission wishes to state that it is not the place of interested parties outside the EFCC to determine whether or when an…
Two alleged fraudsters being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly being in possession of fake United States Dollar bills have been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice E. S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Ali Saidu and Naru Sani were convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each of five count charge of criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of counterfeit US Dollars and forgery preferred against them by the anti- graft agency The said offences are in contravention of section 10 (6) of the (Miscellaneous Offence Decree No.20 of 1984) as…
Justice U. N Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt has dismissed the motion filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC by a former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Blessing Ukiri challenging the competence and authority of the EFCC to investigate and prosecute him. The court ruled that the accused has a case to answer and that the Commission should proceed to trial. Ukiri was arraigned by the Commission on the 15th October, 2012 on a 3-count charge bordering on money laundering.One of the charge reads, “that you Ukiri Emonena Blessing, (m), on or about…
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted one Suleiman Abdul for illegal dealing in Petroleum product. Justice U.N Agomoh convicted the accused and sentenced him to two years imprisonment on each of the two-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The court also ordered that the truck with registration number XA 179 MWA containing thirty three thousand (33,000) litres of petroleum product be forfeited to the Federal Government Suleiman was arrested on January 16, 2007 by the Anti-Vandalization Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, River State Command and subsequently…
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to reports in some Newspapers today, December17, 2013 purporting that the Commission is broke and has less than N2million in its coffers.The comment credited to the Secretary to the Commission, Mr Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo who led a delegation of the EFCC to the public hearing by the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes on the Bill to establish the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency, is gross misrepresentation of what transpired at the event. The mention of N2million by Aremo was not in respect of the total financial…