Tag Archives: Seizes

N1tn Abuja Land Scam: EFCC Seizes 12 Properties From Bala Mohammed, Son

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized at least 12 properties from a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsudeen Bala.

It was learnt on Tuesday that the seizures were part of investigations into a controversial land swap deal carried out by the minister to the tune of N1tn between 2010 and 2015.

“So far, we have seized about 12 properties from Bala Mohammed and his son, who he used in buying many properties. However, this is just a tip of the iceberg because we found out that there are still a lot of properties to be recovered’’, a source in the EFCC said on Tuesday.

“After investigations, we will arraign Bala (ex-minister) before an FCT High Court while his son will be arraigned before a Federal High Court anytime from now, the source added.”

Mohammed, who has been in EFCC custody for over six weeks, is alleged to have entered into some controversial land deals and allegedly gave some landed properties to his cronies for the construction of malls.

The source said, “We have evidence that the ex-minister diverted funds from Internally Generated Revenue. He also gave land arbitrarily to friends without following due process. Some of the land had even been allocated to other people but seized from them unjustly.”

Already, the commission has grilled a former Chairman of Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, who was also the Chairman of ASO Savings & Loans Plc over the purchase of the N7.5bn ASO Grove Estate at the Maitama area of Abuja by the bank through the ex-minister.

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NDLEA Seizes Over 2,000kg Of Cocaine, Cannabis In FCT

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The National Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command, seized over 2,000kg of cannabis sativa, cocaine and other illicit drugs in October. The NDLEA, FCT Commander, Mrs Chinyere Obijuru, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a media briefing.

She said that the seizures were made possible by the agency’s intensified fight against drug trafficking in and around the FCT.

“The NDLEA under the leadership of Col. Mustapha Abdallah (rtd) remains committed to its mandate of eradicating drug- related crimes in the nation,’’ she said.

Mr Peter Adegbe, the command’s Public Relations Officer, who took journalists on an inspection of the seized drugs, said that most of the drugs were seized at Abaji, FCT. He said that the agency seized 1,799kg of cannabis sativa concealed in a compartment of a truck on Oct. 27 at Abaji. Adegbe said that the truck, heading for Yola from Edo, was intercepted in the FCT through the vigilance and professionalism of NDLEA officers on duty.

He said that the NDLEA also arrested a suspect with 76.2g of cocaine worth over two million naira on Abaji while the suspect was trying to smuggle the substance into the FCT.

The spokesperson said the agency equally arrested two men each with 49kg of cannabis sativa on the same route while trying to smuggle the banned drug into the FCT. He said collaboration of NDLEA with other agencies had begun to yield fruits, with the Nigerian Army Brigade of Guards intercepting a Toyota Corolla Vehicle with 16 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 156.5kg on Oct. 31.

Adegbe added that the agency also seized cartons and bottles of cough syrups with codeine and tramadol during raids in FCT in October. He said that the agency would continue to carry out anti-narcotics offensive in a bid to rid the FCT of drug trafficking and barons.

He called on FCT residents to be vigilant and report any drug activity in their neighbourhood to the nearest NDLEA office.

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http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/ndlea-seizes-2000kg-cocaine-cannabis-fct/

EFCC Seizes Three Mansions Owned By Shema

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Detained former Katsina State Governor  Ibrahim Shema’s three mansions have been seized over his alleged involvement in a N74.6billion fraud. The houses remain seized until the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concludes its probe of the allegation.

Shema was subjected to another round of grilling yesterday by the commission.

Operatives of the anti-graft agency stormed Katsina on Monday following preliminary interaction with the ex-governor.

The detectives sealed off the ex-governor’s houses at 1 GRA Modoji Road, Barhim Estate, Madachi Road and Makera Estate, Kirni Road.

A source in the EFCC, who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorised to talk to the media, said: “Our investigative team on Monday grilled the ex-governor for some hours on more contracts executed during his tenure.

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EFCC seizes three mansions from Shema

Customs Seizes 25,000 Bags Of Rice

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The Nigeria Customs  Service (NCS)  has intensified its war against smugglers with the seizure of  over 25,000 bags of rice, it was learnt.

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, it was gathered, has over 11,000 bags of the seized rice in its store; while its Tin-Can Island counterpart, Apapa,  impounded about 14,000 bags of illegally imported rice from China.

The market value of the item, it was gathered, is between N450 million and N500 million based on the market price of between N18,000 and N20,000 per 50kg bag.

A senior official of the Customs, who asked not to be named, said that over 11,000 bags of rice at the FOU, Ikeja, were seized at various locations within its zone.

The seizure, it was gathered, is in line with the resolve of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali to checkmate smugglers at the ports and border stations.

Investigation around the Lagos ports and borders last week revealed that the Customs has moved against illegal importation of rice, illicit drugs, vegetable oil, textile, used clothes, confectionery, juices, used bags and other prohibited items.

It was gathered that the rate of smuggling of rice and some other goods from Benin Republic into the country through the borders, has reduced based on the directive from the CGC to all the Commands to increase foot patrol along bush paths, as well as raise the level of intelligence gathering by its officers.

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Customs seizes 25,000 bags of rice

EFCC Grills Obanikoro’s Daughter Over N800m Transaction, Seizes Her Passport

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday grilled Shalewa Obanikoro, the daughter of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, over a transaction of N800m she allegedly made.

Investigators told our correspondent that Shalewa was grilled at the Lagos office of the EFCC for several hours alongside her mother, Moroophat.

An impeccable source at the anti-graft agency said as part of investigations into the N4.7bn allegedly paid into the company account of Obanikoro’s sons – Babajide and Gbolahan – by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the commission started investigating some other members of the family.

The detective said, “Obanikoro’s wife came to our office on Friday morning as part of investigations into the N4.7bn paid into Sylvan McNamara, a company owned by her sons. During investigation, we stumbled on the account of an oil company. We then discovered that Obanikoro’s daughter was a signatory to the account of the oil company and that millions of naira was paid into the account at different times.

“We then invited the daughter and she came to meet us at the office. During investigations, we found out that the daughter gave a standing order to the bank that N800m should be moved into another account. We wondered why such a young girl would have access to such funds so we started quizzing her.

“This is a whole new dimension to the case and we will continue to investigate to find out if it is related to the arms probe or not.”

Obanikoro and his sons, who are citizens of the United States, have remained in the US for over a year.

However, the EFCC swiftly seized the US passport of Shalewa to prevent her from towing the path of her father and brothers.

The investigator said, “We were told that she was planning on travelling to the US soon so we swiftly seized her passport because she is vital to our investigation. However, we told her to be coming from home.”

Credit: Punch

EFCC Seizes N860m Mansion From Ex-Air Force Chief

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has sealed off a mansion allegedly belonging to a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar (retd).

Reports provides that the house located on 1853 Deng Xiano Ping Street, off Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro Extension, Abuja, had stickers bearing the EFCC logo pasted on the gate.

According to the EFCC, the house is worth about N860m.

The EFCC had alleged before an Abuja Federal High Court that, “while being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force, between March and April 2012, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court did the accused (Umar) use the United States dollars equivalent of the sum of N860,000,000 (Eight hundred and sixty million naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase for yourself a property lying and situate at plot 1853 Deng Xiano Ping Street, off Mahathir Mohammed street, Asokoro extension Abuja.”

The anti-graft agency had also alleged that Umar removed another N700m from the accounts of the NAF to purchase a property at 14, Vistula Close, off Panama Street, Maitama, Abuja, while N500m was removed from the accounts of the NAF to purchase a property comprising a four-bedroomed duplex at Road 3B, Street 2, Mabushi Ministers Hill, Abuja.

Credit: Punch

EFCC Seizes N5bn Houses Of Ex-NAF Chief, Amosu, Others

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized houses and other properties belonging to the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), and other senior military officers worth N5bn.

 senior EFCC official, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that the suspects and others were cooperating fully with the anti-graft agency.

The source in Abuja, said, “We have sealed a block of 12 luxury flats, located on Agodogba Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi, belonging to Adigun. It is worth over N1.7bn. The same Adigun also owns another block of luxury flats on Sinari Daranijo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. It is worth N1.8bn

“A parcel of land, located on Bourdillon Drive, Ikoyi, worth N908m, belonging to Adigun has also been seized by the EFCC operatives.”

The source added that six other properties had been traced to Adigun, including a set of four terrace houses on Agede Street, off Aminu Kano in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja.

Credit: Punch

NDLEA Arrests 286 Suspects In Niger Command, Seizes 1, 614.529kg Of Drugs

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The Niger State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 286 drug suspects and seized 1,614.529kg of various drugs.

The state commander of the Agency, Mr Iweajunwa Joseph stated this yesterday at a news conference that it is the number of suspects that were arrested in 2015 and the quantity of drugs seized within the same period.

He stated that the suspects arrested were made up of four females and all others are males and that the number of suspects arrested were on the increase because in 2014, only 168 suspects were arrested.

According to him, some of the drugs seized were cannabis sativas (Indian hemp), about 1,320.129kg, Diazepan tablets, 44.278kg, Tramadol tablets, 161.215kg, while cocaine was about 0.0014kg.

Mr Joseph stated that a total of 87 clients have been corrected and rehabilitated within the period adding that the NDLEA has mopped up about 8,400mls of cough syrup, codeine, the abuse of which is more prevalent among youths in the state.

“For the year 2016, the command is going to strengthen our efforts in introduction, prosecution, demand reduction especially public enlightenment and rehabilitation”, he stated.

Credit: Leadership

EFCC Seizes Diezani’s Associates’ Bullet-Proof Cars, Cash, Jewelry

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized bullet-proof vehicles, huge cash and jewelry from five prominent Nigerians fingered in the money laundering allegation against former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

EFCC and its British counterpart, National Crime Agency (NCA), are probing the suspects for allegedly conniving with Alison-Madueke to commit the crime, it was learnt yesterday.

The former minister was arrested in London on October 2 for alleged money laundering, bribery and corruption.

EFCC has restricted the movement of the ”high-profile” suspects to Nigeria, pending the conclusion of investigation.

Some of them may be extradited to the United Kingdom (UK), if the former minister is going to face trial.

Credit: NationOnline

NSCDC Seizes 42 Oil Tankers, Destroys 10 Illegal Refineries

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Thursday, said that it had seized 42 oil tankers used in diverting petroleum products to black marketers and destroyed 10 illegal refineries in the last two months

Its Commandant-General, Alhaji Abdulahi Gana, disclosed this to journalists in his country home, in Minna.

According to him, “on Friday last week we seized 42 oil tankers used in diverting petroleum products to the black market across the country.

Gana said that within the months under review the NSCDC destroyed three illegal refineries in Rivers State; within the week we destroyed five in Bayelsa and another two in Abia.

He explained that what the country was losing to oil thieves was more than the revenue accruing to the Federal Government from the oil sector.

The NSCDC boss said that the corps would continue to protect critical infrastructures and national assets as core mandate, towards development of the country.

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Chad Seizes Suspected Boko Haram Weapons Cache

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Chadian security forces, announced that they have seized a large weapon cache including guns, rockets and ammunition in a house in N’Djamena occupied by suspected members of the Boko Haram.

The officials said the weapons, buried under the courtyard of the house in the eastern neighbourhood of Guinebor, were destined for northern Nigeria.

One of the investigators, said on condition of anonymity, that they were part of the weapons that Baana Fanaye, Boko Haram’s logistics chief for northern Cameroon and Chad, was preparing to send to Nigeria.

He said the revelation came during an investigation after Mr. Fanaye was arrested in a raid by Chadian police in June.

State prosecutor, Alghassim Khamis, said the latest arms cache, discovered on Thursday, was found hidden in one of the houses raided on June 27.

He said Chadian authorities arrested 60 suspected militants on June 27 and dismantled their suicide attacks cells.

Mr. Khamis said two days later, five officers and six militants were killed during a raid on an arms cache.

Credit: NAN

Bauchi State Govt Seizes 22 Vehicles From Yuguda’s Wives

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As part of efforts to recover all its properties, the Bauchi State government has seized a total 22 vehicles in the possession of the wives of former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda.

The Chairman of the Transition Committee, Senator Mohammed Mohammed who spoke yesterday at the Government House in Bauchi  said that the recovery of the vehicles was in tandem with the mandate of the committee to recover all items confirmed to have been allocated against due and return them to the government.

He said:” we have so far, recovered a total of 22 cars from the wives of the former Governor, Isa Yuguda. We recovered 11 cars from his first wife, seven from the second wife and four from the third wife. We are yet to recover the remaining cars from his fourth wife who is currently out of the country.

“We will ensure that whoever is in possession of government properties will be forced to return them. We urge public servants and the general public, especially those involved in the disposal and allocation of the property in question to cooperate with the committee for the effective discharge of its assignment.”

Governor Mohammed Abubakar had vowed that he would employ all measures to trace funds and property allegedly looted during the tenure of the immediate past administration under Yuguda in the state.

 Credit: vanguardngr

JTF Seizes Vessel Carrying 1,500 Metric Tons Of Stolen Oil In Bayelsa

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The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, on Friday said it has impounded a vessel laden with 1,500 metric tons of illegally refined automotive gas oil.

The spokesperson of the JTF, Ado Isa, a lieutenant colonel, told reporters at the task force’s headquarters in Yenagoa on Friday that the vessel registered as MV Europort was seized at Foropa waterways in Bayelsa.

Mr. Ado said operatives of the JTF on patrol duties at about 2.30 a.m. on June 2 arrested the vessel in Forropa creeks in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa.

“The 2,000 metric tons capacity vessel was arrested by the JTF operatives patrol team following a tip off at about 02.30 hrs on 2 June, 2015,” Mr. Ado said.

“The vessel was discovered carrying 1,500 metric tons of illegally refined automotive gas oil. The suspects boarded a speed boat and sailed into the high sea on sighting the JTF troops.”

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