Tag Archives: Arraigns
EFCC Arraigns Driver For Duping Briton 182,064.99 Pounds
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a driver, Chinwoke Onyedinazu before Justice M. A. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for duping a Briton, Paul H., the sum of One Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Sixty Four Pounds, Ninety Nine Shillings (182, 064.99).
He was docked on a nine- count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence. Onyedinazu was a former driver of Mr. Paul while he was residing in Nigeria. In 2014, Onyedinazu reportedly proposed a fish farming business to the Briton and the latter accepted the proposal.
He later relocated to his country but kept faith with the business idea of his former driver and transferred the sum of 182,064.99 Pounds (equivalent of N60,000,000 at that time) to Onyedinazu.
However, the driver never pursued the business proposed to Henderson but diverted the money into his own use. Count one of the charge read: ‘’that you Chinweoke Onyedinazu on or about 21st day of October, 2014 in Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud deceitfully obtained the sum of Ninety-Five thousand Pounds (95,000:00) from Mr. Paul H. a British citizen, whom you obtained his money under false pretence that you were offered a contract of supply of fish to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a pretext which you knew to be false and you fraudulently made it, with the intent that he may believe it, and he believed it and acted upon it as genuine, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable by Section 1 (3) of the same law”.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him. In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, C. A. Okoli, asked for a date for the commencement of the trial and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
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EFCC Arraigns Edo Deputy Governor’s Brother For Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned Joseph Odubu and his company, Even Handed Services Limited in a Federal High Court, Benin.
A statement by Mr Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman made this known in a statement to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
Uwujaren Odubu was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering forgery, uttering and obtaining money by false presence to the tune of N9, 36 million.
The EFCC´s spokesman said Odubu, a brother to the Deputy Governor of Edo, Mr Pius Odubu, is also the Managing Director of Even Handed Services Limited.
He said the accused used forged documents to obtain a loan facility of N9,36 million on Sept. 5, 2014, from a first generation bank to facilitate the supply of chairs and desks in Edo State.
He added that Odubu also with intent to defraud and to facilitate fraud, forged a document which he claimed was received by Edo State Oil and Gas Producing-Areas Development Commission.
Uwujaren said the offence contravened section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition Act, 2007 and punishable under section 1(2) of the same Act.
Odubu pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecuting counsel, C. A. Okoli, applied for the date of commencement of trial and that the accused be remanded in prison.
Odubu’ counsel, Osama Idehen, applied his client’s bail and the court refused it, remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the case till Nov. 22.
Credit: NAN
EFCC Arraigns Ex-Ministers, Fani-Kayode, Nenadi-Usman For Allegedly Laundering N4.9 billion
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, accusing him and three others of laundering N4.9 billion.
A planned arraignment of Mr. Fani-Kayode was stalled last Tuesday by the absence of the trial judge.
Judge Sule Hassan’s absence was said to be due to an “official function”.
Mr. Fani-Kayode, who served as director of media and publicity during the campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, use, and payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion.
Others charged alongside the former minister are Nenadi Usman, former finance minister; Danjuma Yusuf; and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.
According to the EFCC’s charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.
In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they “reasonably ought to have known” formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.
Credit: PremiumTimes
EFCC Arraigns Senior Air Force Officer For Allegedly Receiving N40 Million, Landrover Bribe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned, AVM Rufus Ojuawo, in an FCT High Court, Apo, for collecting N40 million gift and a Range Rover sports car from Hima Abubakar.
Mr. Ojuawo, a former Director of Operations, Nigerian Air Force, was arraigned before Justice Mahawiya Idris on a two-count charge.
The charge says Mr. Ojuawo while in office in March, 2015, accepted a gift in the aggregate sum of N40 million from Abubakar of Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nig. Ltd.
It stated that the defendant also received a Range Rover Sports Supercharged car valued at N29, 250, 000 from Mr. Abubakar, who was a contractor with the Nigerian Airforce through Coscharis Motors Ltd.
The offence contravenes Section 17(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
EFCC counsel Francis Jirbo applied for a date to open his case, and urged the court to remand Mr. Ojuawo in prison custody.
But Defence counsel, Ralph Ojabo, opposed the application, saying that he had an application for bail dated June 3 pending in the court.
Credit: PremiumTimes
N47.7bn NIMASA Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Tompolo, Seven Others In Absentia
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) monday arraigned the former Niger Delta militant, Government Oweize Ekemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, in absentia before a Federal High Court in Lagos on a 22-count charge bordering on fraud, conversation of money and forgery.
Also arraigned in absentia were siblings of the immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, who was also arraigned before the court.
The Akpolobokemi’s siblings were: Igo Akpolobokemi, Julius Akpolobokemi, Stephen Akpolobokemi, Victor Akpolobokemi, Norbert Akpolobokemi, Emmanuel Ebizimo Akpolobokemi, and Clement Akpolobokemi.
While those arraigned alongside the former NIMASA Director-General were: Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga and Rita Uruakpa.
Also docked with Akpolobokemi are seven limited liability companies which include Mieka Dive Training Institute LTD/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Limited, Wabod Global Resources Limited, Boloboere Properties Estate Limited, Gokaid Marine and Oil and Gas Limited, Muhaabix Global Service Limited and Watershed Associated Resources.
The EFCC in charge number FHC/L/C/31c/2016, alleged that the accused persons had in sometime 2014, within the jurisdiction of the court with an intend to defraud, conspired among themselves and obtained the total sum of N47,683,464,822 from the federal government.
The accused persons also alleged to have between May 6, 2014, and December 2, 2014, forged and uttered a Certificate of Customary Rights of Occupancy of the old Bendel State of Nigeria, and purportedly issued same to NIMASA, claiming that it was issued by Warri South Local Government Council, Delta State, to the prejudice of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
They were also alleged to have received sum of N11,900,000,000 from the federal government, by falsely pretending that all the land and its appurtenances lying and situated at Mieka Diva Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South council area Delta State, be acquired by the NIMASA, for the temporary campus of Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South, council area is from encumbrance.
The offences, according to EFCC prosecutors, Mr. Festus Keyamo and Rotimi Oyedepo, are contrary to sections 8, 1(b) of Advance Fee Fraud, 18 (a), 15 (1) of money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act, 2012, and punishable under section 1 (3), 15(3) of the same Act, and 1(2)(c) Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the federation 2004.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Their lawyers, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Mr. inaji E. U. and Mr. Oyesoji Oyeleke, urged the court to admit them to bail in liberal term. Nwobike and Inaji, particularly, pleaded with the court to allow their clients, Akpolobokemi and Kime Engozu, to continue with the bail terms granted them in other criminal charges they have before the court.
Ruling on the bail application, the presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, while conceding to the request of Nwobike and Inaji, however admitted bail to Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa in the sum of N50 million with one surety each. The surety, according to Justice Buba, must show evidence of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, and sworn to affidavit of means, while the two accused persons be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned till May 30 and 31 for trial.
Credit: Thisday
EFCC Arraigns American For $2.3m Visa Scam
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned an American businessman, Marco Ramirez, alongside his companies — Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC — on eight counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences to the tune of $2.3m.
Ramirez was arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama on Monday, according to a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.
According to the complainants, Prince Ejikeme Mgbemena and Frank Egbon, the suspect allegedly promised them that he would invest the money under the Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5).
The complainants further alleged that the suspect promised to provide American Green Card for members of their families below 18 years.
The charges read in part, “That you Marco Anthonio Ramirez, being the Manager of Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA NOW LLC and you EAGLE Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC on or about May 21, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained through an account titled Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP domiciled at Wells Fargo Bank USA the sum of $55,000 from one Ejikeme Mgbemena under the pretext of investing for him under the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Regional Center Program with pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’’
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Credit: Punch
EFCC Arraigns Fake NNPC Staff
Monday arraigned Raymond Odika on a six-count charge of criminal conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
He was arraigned before Justice Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court, Enugu.
Mr. Odika allegedly connived with Solomon Chidi Onyia (still at large) to defraud Malachy Olife and Peter Sunday N624,000 under the pretext that they were staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Mr. Odika pleaded not guilty to all counts of the charge preferred against him.
In view of his plea, the EFCC counsel, I.I. Mbachie urged the court to remand the accused person in prison and fix a date for the bail hearing and continuation of trial.
But before adjourning to March 23, 2016, Justice Oghoghorie admitted the accused person to bail on the grounds that he had been on administrative bail granted him by the EFCC.
Credit: PremiumTimes
EFCC Arraigns Fake Gombe Governor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Sabo Sani Labaran before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High Court sitting in Gombe, on a 2-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N242,000.00( Two Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand Naira).
The offence is contrary to Section 1 sub-section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 sub-section 3 of the same Act.
The accused person, who is a member of an Internet syndicate had, sometime in October 2015, allegedly obtained the sum of N242, 000.00 from one Alhaji Hussaini Mai- Magani, promising that he would award him a contract for the supply of some hospital equipment.
However, the suspect, whose Facebook profile bears the picture of the Gombe State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, allegedly diverted the money for personal use.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Ahmad Y. Muntaqa, asked the court for a trial date.
The defence counsel, Rahimat I. Talle, prayed the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.
Consequently, Justice Jauro adjourned to February 8, 2016 for hearing on the bail application and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.
Credit: Guardian
EFCC Arraigns Two Oil Dealers for Petroleum Equalisation Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, January 28, 2016 arraigned the duo of Aku Ben Aku and Philips James Aliku alongside their company, Al-Aminu Oil and Gas Limited, before Justice Sulaiman Aliyu Tukur of the High Court of Kaduna State, Kaduna on a five -count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N14, 602, 600.00 (Fourteen Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand, Six Hundred Naira).
The offence is contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable Under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The first accused person, Aku, while being in the employ of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Board, allegedly registered a private company, Al-Aminu Oil and Gas, where he is a director.
Aku, allegedly conspired with the second accused person, Aliku, who is also a director in the company, and obtained the sum of N14, 602, 600.00 (Fourteen Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand, Six Hundred Naira) from the Federal Government on the pretence that the money was for the loading and selling of petroleum products by the filling station purportedly located on Madikiya Road, Kafancha, Kaduna State.
Count one of the charge reads: ‘‘That you Aku Ben ‘M’, Philips James Aliku ‘M’, whilst being Directors of Al-Aminu Oil and Gas Limited on about the 11th day of February, 2014 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kaduna State did, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N14, 602, 600.00( Fourteen Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand and Six Hundred Naira) from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Petroleum Equalisation Fund( Management) Board under the pretence that the said sum represented the loading and selling of petroleum products in the non-existent filling station, claimed to be located along Madikiya Road, Kafancha, Kaduna State. The said sum paid through Zenith Bank Plc. account No. 1013733208, which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’’
Another count reads: ‘‘That you Aku Ben Aku ‘M’, Phillips James Aliku ‘M’, whilst being Directors of Aminu Oil and Gas Limited, on or about the 11th day of February, 2014 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kaduna State did, with intent to defraud and in order to facilitate obtaining the sum of 14, 602, 600.00 (Fourteen Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand and Six Hundred Naira)) by false pretence from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Petroleum Equalisation Fund ( Management) Board knowingly and fraudulently used as genuine a forged document titled ‘‘The Department of Petroleum Resources’’ Receipt No. DPR/ No.0452666, dated 15th October, 2014 made in favour of Al-Aminu Oil and Gas Limited by presenting the document to the Petroleum Equalisation Fund( Management) Board, purporting the document to have been issued by Department of Petroleum Resources( DPR) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria( Abuja)1990?.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Steve Odiase , asked the court for a trial date.
In response, the defence counsel, F. C. Ikpe, told the court that there was a pending application for bail and prayed the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.
The prosecution counsel did not oppose the bail application.
Credit: Leadership
Lagos High Court Arraigns TB Joshua, Others Today
The trustees of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, will today be arraigned before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over the collapse of a six-storey building in the church on September 12, 2014, which led to the death of 116 persons.
Senior Pastor of the church, Prophet T. B. Joshua is one of the trustees.
The trustees will be arraigned before Justice Lawal Akapo alongside the engineers that constructed the collapsed building.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Bola Akingbade, confirmed the scheduled arraignment.
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos had dismissed the fundamental human rights enforcement suits filed by the engineers who constructed the collapsed six-storey building to stop their planned trial.
The engineers— Mr. Oladele Ogundeji and Mr. Akinbela Fatiregun—had filed two separate suits before Justice Buba seeking an order restraining the police from inviting, arresting or prosecuting them over the victims’ death.
Credit: Vanguard
EFCC Arraigns Former Benue Governor Suswam
The arraignment of the former Benue State Governor, Mr Gabriel Suswam, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering and corruption charges has commenced at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He was escorted into the court premises by officials of the anti-graft agency.
He is being arraigned before Justice A. R. Mohammed over a 9-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of 3.1 billion Naira.
Mr Suswam and his former Finance Commissioner, Mr Omodachi Okolobia, were alleged to have diverted the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
The offence is punishable under Section 15, Subsection 3 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act as amended in 2012.
Credit: ChannelsTV
New Terrorist Group In Kaduna, Police Arraigns 120 Suspected Members
Kaduna State Police Command yesterday arraigned 120 suspected members of a new terrorists group known as Sara- Suka before a Kaduna court.
The suspects who were taken to court in large number, were later assigned to various magistrate courts by the Chief Magistrate court One, Awaulu Musa Aliyu, for the continuation of the case. However the suspects were taken back to police custody.
It would be recalled that, Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, had earlier declared war on miscreants who have been terrorising the state for long adding that any resident who commits murder or engages in any criminal act under any guise shall face the full wrath of the law without delay.
Speaking with journalists over the arraignment, Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, Deputy Supritendant of Police,DSP Zubairu Abubakar, disclosed that 120 suspected criminals and terrorists’ gangs were charged before the court for criminal activities adding that there is no hiding place for miscreants in the state.
He said, “We arrested 120 suspected criminals with some acts of terrorism, armed robbery and rape.
Some suspected to be members of terrorist gang known as Sara-Suka.We arrested some of them on the spot while committing the crime,while others were arrested based on complaints from the public”
Zubairu,warned criminals to repent now before it will be late for them stressing that security forces will continue to manhunt criminal elements in the state.
Credit: leadership
Love Gone Sour: Police Arraigns Man For Deceitfully Promising GF Marriage
The Police on Tuesday arraigned a hotel attendant, Danladi Sule, 31, in a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, for allegedly deceiving his girl friend that he would marry her.
The prosecutor, Insp. Joseph Ahua told the court that Rabiat Tijani, a girl friend to the accused, reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba on July 1. Ahua said that sometimes in 2005, the accused approached the complainant for marriage, to which she consented.
He alleged that the accused deceived the complainant to come and live with him as a wife. “ They have been living together since 2005, the accused impregnated her, of which she had two children for him,’’ the prosecutor alleged.
He said that the accused abandoned the complainant and the children in the village, came to Mararaba and married another woman. The prosecutor alleged that the accused is currently living with the woman at Kabayi Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
He said that the offence of deceitful marriage and cruelty to children committed by the accused contravened sections 238 and 383 of the Penal Code.
Section 383 prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders. Sule, however, denied committing the offence. The accused counsel, Mr Prince Nwagbokwu, prayed the court to grant his client bail, stressing that he will not jump bail.
Ahua objected to the bail application made by the accused counsel.
The Presiding Judge, Vincent Gwehemba rejected the objection of the prosecutor, adding that the accused has a pending case of divorce in the same court. “Mr Nwagbokwu find out from the two parties what really happened, see if there will be a way to sort out things before the next adjourned date,” Gwehemba said.
He granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till July 14 for further hearing.
NDLEA Arraigns Drug Baron, Two Others In Court
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday arraigned a drug baron, Ikejiaku Sylvester Chukwunwe, before a Federal High Court in Awka.
Chukwunwe, who was described as the most wanted drug trafficker in Anambra, was arraigned on 13 count charges. Also dragged to court by the agency were Oluchi Nduaguba and John Atuenyi.
However, the trio pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them by the prosecutor.
Chukwunwe was charged for conspiracy to form and operate a drug trafficking organisation to process and export Methamphetamine; a drug similar to cocaine and heroine by using couriers and cargoes.
He was charged for unlawfully engaging in the organisation, management and financing of a drug trafficking organisation by the production and exportation of methamphetamine.
He was also charged to have conspired to convert the proceeds of illicit traffic in narcotic and psychotropic substances into legitimate enterprises between 2010 and 2015.
Prosecuting counsel Lambert Nor said the offences contravened Section 18(a) of Money Laundering Act, 2011, and punishable under Section 15(1) and (2).
Accordingly, he was charged for converting the proceeds directly from the illicit traffic in narcotic substances into real property and physical assets in different locations in Lagos and Anambra.
The other accused persons; Oluchukwu Nduaguba and John Atuenyi, were charged differently on six count charges on the same matter.
The defence counsels, Chief Benson Ndakara and Emmanuel Okenyi, made applications for their bail, but the prosecuting counsel opposed it.
After hearing from both the defence and prosecuting counsels, Justice Isa Gafai adjourned the ruling for their bail application to July 1.
Gafai, however, adjourned the case to November 3 and November 4 for hearing.
Credit: NAN
Police Arraigns 5 Over Election Misconduct
Five suspects, who were arrested for allegedly loitering around INEC office in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State at an odd hour, were on Monday arraigned by the police.
The defendants appeared before Magistrate E.O. Ogunkanmi of an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court. They are Abolore Akinola (37), Oluwasegun Ashamu (26), Moshood Akinsanmi (41), Moshood Omiwole (42) and Ademola Bello (35). They are facing a three-count charge on conspiracy, unlawful possession of a cutlass and charm, and a breach of the peace.
The prosecutor, Felicia Adesulu, said that the defendants were found loitering around the INEC office in Alimosho Local Government Area at about 10 pm, and they could not provide a reasonable reason for their presence. Adesulu also said that the defendants were also accused of being in unlawful possession of a knife, a dagger and charms.
He said their alleged offences contravened the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The magistrate granted them bail for N50,000 with two sureties in like sum each and adjourned till April 28 for mention.