EFCC Arraigns American For $2.3m Visa Scam

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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

#PanamaPapers: EFCC Vows To Probe Named Nigerians

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has promised to investigate government officials and prominent Nigerians who are named as having secret foreign accounts or foreign firms that allow them to escape paying tax as contained in PanamaPapers.

The Director of Information at the EFCC, Mr. Osita Nwaja, gave the assurance while addressing protesters, who had stormed the Abuja head office of the anti-graft agency to demand the probe of all Nigerians accused of operating offshore accounts in notorious tax havens.

Nwaja said, “These papers (Panama Papers) did not emanate from Nigeria but they touch the lives of the people of Nigeria and corruption as well as money laundering has gone beyond national borders as we are seeing from these papers.

“The EFCC is not just a Nigerian organization. The work that we do goes beyond national borders. So, this request will be looked into along with other requests by other well-meaning Nigerians along the already charted course of Mr. President, which is zero tolerance for corruption, zero tolerance for impunity, zero tolerance for the abuse of public office and continued subjugation of the Nigerian people.”

The leak of the Panama Papers details how political leaders and the super rich conduct business behind a veil of secrecy.

Credit: Punch

Ijaw Youths Warn EFCC Against Alleged Plan To Arrest Jonathan

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

As the four-day burial programme for the late former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, ended yesterday with a thanksgiving service in Ammasoma, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) cautioned against an alleged plot by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the anti-graft agency to shelve any such plan to persecute the former president, insisting that such a move would spell doom for the country and the government.

At a press conference to mark the end of the burial programme , the IYC President, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, said almost everybody that had close relationship with the former president had been arrested by the EFCC.

The IYC president particularly condemned the recent arrest and detention of Jonathan’s cousin, Mr. Robert Azibola , a contractor over an alleged $40million financial fraud.

Eradiri said Ijaw youths would not allow Azibola, Jonathan or any rising Ijaw leader to be persecuted by the EFCC the way the Federal Government dealt with the late Alamieyeseigha.

He said: “They have arrested almost all our people. Azibola was arrested by the EFCC and we are calling on the EFCC to stop persecuting him further and charge him to court if there are issues.
“They detained him for a long time forcing him to make statements to indict former President Jonathan. Azibola was a businessman, contractor and has the right like every Nigerian to get contracts. Why will the Niger Delta case be a different one?”

He added: “We noticed that the same way they persecuted Alamieyeseigha has continued. After Goodluck Jonathan, our people who contributed in that administration are being persecuted by this government.

“The recent one is the ploy to arrest Goodluck Jonathan which is unfolding everyday. This must stop. President Goodluck Jonathan is the most performing president that Nigeria has ever had. We are proud of him. Everyday there is a calculated attempt to whittle down the achievements of President Jonathan. We call on Nigerians to mount pressure on the government to focus on leading Nigeria aright rather than looking for ways to bring down the achievements of Jonathan.
“Buhari should please focus on governance rather than persecution of people who have added value. We are not happy about it and today we use Alamieyeseigha’s death as a point of contact. The world has seen that from Alamieyeseigha it has trickled down to all the Niger Delta people.”

Credit: ngrguardian

NNPC’s MD Not Arrested By EFCC

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Contrary to reports, the Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Retail, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue was not arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A youth group, Young Professional Alliance for Change which denied reports of her arrest said Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue was only invited by the EFCC to clarify certain operational issues which she promptly did and was allowed to return home on the same day.
The group in a statement by its General Secretary, Mr. Chukwudi Ifediora, described reports of the NNPC’s top executive as a campaign of calumny by some detractors who were envious of the giant strides and achievements of Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue while she presided over the affairs of the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC).
It said some mischief makers were uncomfortable with the strides recorded by Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue in the NNPC from her days as the General Manager, Board Matters and Management Committee Department (BMMC) in the Corporate Secretariat and Legal Division (CSLD) to the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company, (PPMC) which she headed before her latest promotion.
‘’ Without doubt, Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue is one of the shining light of the NNPC and she was very conscious of her duties and discharged them creditably. In fact, she was appointed the Managing Director of PPMC based on her pedigree in NNPC.
” The truth of the matter is that, she was invited and she naturally honored the invitation since she had nothing to hide. Moreover, she is one of the proponents of change in NNPC and her style of administration is still being spoken of in glowing terms in PPMC till tomorrow, ’’ the group stated.

Credit: Nation

EFCC Nabs Ex-Fire Service Chief Over Employment Scam

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested Dada Olatunji, former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Fire Service, for offences bordering on employment scam.

This is contained in a statement issued by Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja on Thursday.

The statement said Olatunji’s arrest followed a petition by two applicants – Robert Mathew and Theresa Abah.

They alleged that one Christopher Adaje, of the Nyanya office of the service, informed them in Dec. 2014 that they were recruiting and promised to facilitate their employment.

He said he would do this before April 2015 if they could part with N350, 000 each.

“Matthew and Abah who were desperate to get employment but could not afford the said sum, resorted to soliciting for help from their friends and relations.

“Eventually, Matthew was able to source his from a friend while Abah took a loan of N225, 000 from her friend.

“They raised N575, 000 and paid it into an account number supplied by Adaje in one of the old generation banks’’, the statement said.

It added that Adaje could not deliver on his promise months later, a situation that prompted the applicants to visit his office where they discovered it was a fraud.

The statement added that on arrest, Adaje confessed that he was fronting for Olatunji whom he claimed the money was given to.

The statement said the suspects would be charged to court soon.

(NAN)

Dasuki Refused To Be Brought To Court – EFCC’s Lawyer

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told Justice Baba Yusuf of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday that the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), refused to be brought to court for his trial.

The EFCC is prosecuting Dasuki and his co-accused ? a former Director of Finance and Administration in the NSA office, Shuaibu Salisu? and a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Babakusa ? on 19 counts of diversion of? N32bn meant for arms procurement.

Two companies – Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited – belonging to Babakusa are also being accused.

Justice Yusuf had on February 8 fixed Wednesday for trial to begin after dismissing the application by Dasuki, seeking an order prohibiting the EFCC from further prosecuting him on account of his continued detention.

However, on Wednesday, Dasuki, who ?had remained in the custody of the Department of State Services since December 29, 2015, was not produced in court.

His two lead counsel, Messrs Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Ahmed Raji (SAN), were also absent from court.

But lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, informed the judge that Dasuki refused to be brought to court because the senior lawyers defending him would not be present in court on Wednesday.

“The first defendant said he would not be in court unless he is abducted because his lead counsel, J.B Daudu and Ahmed Raji, were not going to be in court,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs said Daudu had informed him of an application for stay of the proceedings of the trial which was filed before the Court of Appeal on behalf of the former NSA.

He maintained that the law never stopped an accused person in detention from facing trial.

He also alleged that Dasuki’s lawyers had deliberately refused to visit their client in the DSS’ custody so that they could continue to use the excuse of lack of access to hom (Dasuki) as an excuse to frustrate the case.

Jacobs said, “When a defendant is in custody, the counsel should be allowed access to the defendant.

“I asked the DSS whether the lawyers ever made attempt to see him, they said they never did. It is a deliberate plant to frustrate the trial.”

Counsel who represented Dasuki in court on Wednesday, Mr. Wale Balogun, however debunked the allegation that his client refused to be brought to court.

He said, “Concerning the allegation, the defence lawyer is not aware of it. The defendant is not in court. He has not been produced. It is the requirment of the law that he should be here. The proecution has not applied for the accused to be excused form court.

“The DSS official should have deposed to an affidavit? to that effect.”

The other defence lawyers, including Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), said the matter could not proceed due to Dasuki’s absence.

Justice Yusuf adjourned the case till April 6.

Another ?judge of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, Justice Peter Affen, before whom, Dasuki and others are being prosecuted for alleged diversion of N19bn arms fund had fixed ?April 20 and 22 for trial.

Justice Affend had fixed the date for trial after dismissing another application by Dasuki to stop his trial on account of his continued detention.

Dasuki’s co-accused with respect to the case includes a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.

The other co-accused are, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, the ex-governor’s son, Sagir Attahiru, and a firm, Dalhatu Investment.

Meanwhile Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja had also fixed April 4 for ruling on similar application filed by Dasuki to stop his trial on four counts of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.

Credit : Punch

EFCC Arraigns Fake NNPC Staff

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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 Traces N3bn Transfers To Falae, Fani-Kayode, Others

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced N3.145bn transferred to the private accounts of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation.

According to detectives at the EFCC, the money emanated from the account of the Central Bank of Nigeria and was transferred to the account of a company, Joint Dimensions Limited, and then sent to various accounts.

Authorities of the anti-graft commission said out of the money, the Director of Publicity of the organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, received N840m.

According to the documents sighted by our correspondent, the money was deposited into Fani-Kayode’s Zenith bank account, Maitama Branch with number 1004735721 on February 19, 2015.

The detectives said a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, received N100m through a company, Marreco Limited, where he is chairman. The fund was credited into the company’s United Bank for Africa Plc account number 1000627022 on March 25, 2014.

According to the documents, N320m was also paid into the bank account of the Goodluck Support Group, an association which played a major role in Jonathan’s campaign.

A former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, and a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, according to the documents, got N350m in two tranches. The first tranche of N150m was paid into their joint account with Zenith bank on January 13, 2015. The second tranche of N200m was credited into their account with Diamond bank.

A source at the anti-graft agency who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorised to speak said, “The money was paid by the Central Bank of Nigeria into the account of the Ministry of External Affairs Library, from where it was moved into the account of Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited.

“It was from the Joint Dimension’s account with Zenith bank that the money was shared to various individuals and organisations for purposes that are not stated.

“Fani-Kayode was the chief beneficiary of the disbursement as he allegedly received a whooping N840m, paid in three tranches into his Zenith bank, Maitama branch account with number 1004735721.

“The first tranche of payment involving N350m hit the account on February 19, 2015. Another N250m was also paid into the account on February19, 2015 while N240m was similarly credited to the account a month later; precisely, March 19, 2015.

“The balance in this account as of December 31, 2015 was N189, 402.72.”

The detectives added that the Director of Finance of the campaign organisation, Nenadi Usman, also got N36.9m through her Zenith bank account with number 1000158311 on 7, Kachia Road, Kaduna.

Presidential Campaign Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan in Anambra State, Chief Okey Ezenwa, who is also the brother-in-law to a former Rivers State Governor, Chief Peter Odili, also got N100m, according to the source.

He added, “But as things stand, the fact that most of the payments were made in the weeks preceding the last presidential elections leaves very little to the imagination. Yet, one knotty question that confronts the investigators is the unknown figure behind Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited and the account where the money was warehoused before being wired to sundry beneficiaries. The shadowy figure could help unravel the mystery shrouding the payments, once the veil is lifted.”

However, Fani-Kayode told our correspondent on the telephone that he never received money from the CBN.

Rather, he said the monies that were spent were received from Usman who was the director of finance of the campaign organisation.

The former Minister of Aviation said he never spent government funds but was told by Usman that the monies were sourced from private donations.

He said, “I served as the director of publicity and I was told to set up an account for the directorate, which I did. I never received money from the CBN but like all the other directors, we received money from the director of finance.

“I was assured that the monies were not public funds but were sourced from private individuals. I never knowingly spent government money all through. The monies were spent specifically on the campaigns. The accounts were audited and we were commended by the President.”

All attempts to get Usman proved abortive as her phone indicated that it was switched off.

Similarly, the phone number of Falae indicated that it was switched off when our correspondent attempted to reach him for comment.

However, the former SGF had said he received money to campaign for Jonathan through a former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih

When contacted on the telephone, Udenwa told our correspondent that he never received any money as he did not even operate a Zenith bank account.

“I don’t operate a Zenith bank account, so, I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said.

Court Reserves Judgment In Trial Of Ex-NIMASA Boss

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, reserved its judgment in the trial of Raymond Omatseye, a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

EFCC operatives Omatseye is facing trial over alleged bid rigging and N1.5billion contract scam filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2010. The accused pleaded not guilty to the 27-count charge and had been granted bail on self recognition.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia reserved judgment in the trial after lawyers to the prosecution, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) and the defence, Mr Edoka Onyeke adopted their final addresses.

The judge said that the date for judgment would be communicated to parties. Onyeke, had in his address urged the court to discountenance the arguments of prosecution and dismiss the charge against his client.

He argued that the prosecution had not been able to proof its case beyond reasonable doubt. Onyeke said that out of the 27-count-charge against the accused, 25 dealt strictly with the issue of approval of contract above the threshold while the remaining two were on bid rigging.

He noted that the prosecution did not proof that exhibit PD 16, which it relied on in dealing with the issue of threshold, got to NIMASA at the time the contracts were awarded. On the issue of bid rigging, Onyeke argued that by the provision of sections 58 (10) (a) of the Public Procurement Act, the offence of bid rigging cannot be committed by a single individual.

He argued that throughout the length of trial, the prosecution failed to call any witness to proof the alleged collusion of the accused to commit bid rigging. Onyeke urged the court to discharge and acquit his Client.

Obla, on the other hand, urged the court to hold that the case of the prosecution was “as clear as daylight, and has been proven beyond reasonable doubt”. On the issue of failure of prosecution to lead evidence as to conspiracy to commit bid rigging, Obla submitted that the facts of the case spoke volumes.

Credit : Vanguard

N3.9bn NAF Loot: EFCC’s Fresh Proof Of Evidence Stalls Badeh’s Trial

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The trial of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, was on Monday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja, following the inclusion of additional proof-of-evidence by the prosecution.

Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecutor, had filed additional proof to beef up evidence against Badeh.

Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), who replaced Mr Samuel Zibiri (SAN), as the defence counsel, however, filed an application seeking an adjournment to study the case file.

Olujimi also said the defence team needed time to study the additional evidence filed by the prosecution.

But the prosecuting counsel opposed the application, leaving the Judge, Justice Okon Abang with no option than to rule on it.

Delivering the ruling, Abang held that the right of defence was a personal right of the applicant that could not be denied.

He said the applicant had the option of defending himself personally or to enlist a private counsel to act on his behalf.

“The applicant has since March 7 when he was arraigned been represented by a counsel, so he cannot in the attempt to hire another counsel halt the trial.

“Today is reserved for commencement of trial and the court will not allow any flimsy motion to stop that.

“However, on the issue of late service of the addition proof of evidence filed by the prosecution, the applicant may have a point there and so the application has succeeded in parts,’’ Abang.

The judge then held that “in the circumstance, the application succeeds in parts to enable counsel to the applicant study the new proof of evidence before the commencement of trial.’’

“The matter is hereby adjourned till March 16 for day-to-day trial,’’ Abang said.

Badeh is standing trial for alleged misappropriation of N3.9 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force while serving as the Chief of Air Staff.

Credit: NAN

EFCC Arrests Oronsaye For Fraud, To Be Charged Afresh

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wednesday night, took into custody a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Steve Oronsaye., over allegation of corruption and obtaining money by false pretence.

Oronsaye who is already being prosecuted by the EFCC on 24 counts of money laundering before a Federal High Court, Abuja, is alleged to have abused his position as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force and obtained the sum of N240million from the Central Bank of Nigeria under the guise of assistance to the Committee without the knowledge of other committee members and proceeded to convert the said sum to his personal use.

A top source in the EFCC disclosed that the former top bureaucrat who had been on administrative bail over other financial crimes being probed by the agency, was re-arrested at about 4.30 pm on Tuesday.

Credit : Vanguard

EFCC Searches Badeh’s House, Recovers $1m Cash

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered $1m cash from one of the houses belonging to the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh(retd.).

It was learnt that the money was recovered after detectives searched a mansion located at 6, Ogun River Street, Maitama, Abuja.

A detective at the EFCC, who did not want his name in print, said, “We have seized several properties belonging to Badeh. A few days ago, we returned to the mansion located at 6, Ogun River Street, Maitama.

“In the presence of several witnesses, including neighbours, we searched the house and recovered $1m in cash. The money has been lodged as evidence.”

The property, which is said to be worth over N1.1bn, is one of the five properties seized from the ex-defence chief.

Some of the properties were said to have been purchased, renovated and furnished for a son of the former CDS, Alex Badeh (Jnr.).

Badeh also allegedly bought a commercial plot of land at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja for N650m.

They were said to have paid N878m for the construction of a shopping mall at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja, and another sum of N304m to complete the construction.

The anti-graft agency also accused them of paying N260m to purchase a duplex at No. 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, for Badeh’s son.

The sum of N60m was said to have been paid for the renovation of the property and another N90m to furnish the property.

The retired Air Force officer also allegedly paid N330m to one Honourable Bature to purchase a duplex at No. 14 Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

They were also accused of paying N240m to Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu to buy a semi-detached duplex at No. 8A Embu Street, by Sigma Apartment, Wuse II, Abuja.

They also allegedly renovated a private property at No. 2, Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, Abuja, with N62m.

In the charges, signed by EFCC’s Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution Department, Aliyu Yusuf, the anti-graft agency alleged that Badeh removed the sum of N3.9bn from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

But Badeh had, last week, denied ownership of the properties seized by the anti-graft agency.

Badeh, who has remained in the EFCC custody since February 8, has been charged along with a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He is set to appear in court on Monday (today).

Credit: Punch

Fraud In NBC: EFCC Recovers N10b, Set To Prosecute Ex-DG Mba, Three Others

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered NN10,061,172,600 from the National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) being alleged inflation of collateral funds meant for Digital Set-Top -Boxes.

The commission is set to prosecute a former Director-General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba and three others.

Also to face trial is the NBC’s Director of Finance, Mr. Patrick Areh, who received a curious transfer of N390million and another N20million cash gift from the contract sum.

Others are the Managing Director, Technology Advisor, Mr. Basil Udotai, and the Managing Director of In-View Technology Limited and D-Vine Partners Limited, Mr. Babatunji Amure.

According to EFCC’s investigation, NBC under Mba defied the Federal Government’s directive of August 7, 2015 on Treasury Single Account (TSA) to divert N15,038,400,000, out of N34,114,500,000 received from MTN for Spectrum Band Width, to finance the contract for the Digital Set-Top -Boxes.

Out of the diverted N15,038,400,000 as collateral security to Zenith Bank Plc, EFCC investigators discovered that only N4,977,227,400 was needed.

The commission said “only eight (8) out of the 12 companies opened letter of credit amounting to N3,739,727,400.00 while the sum of N1,237,400,000 was for the Digital Access Fees making a total of N4,977,227,400.”

The EFCC said after a reconciliation meeting with the Ministry of Information and Zenith Bank Plc, it was “agreed that N10,061,172,600 was in excess and should be recovered by the EFCC.”

Mba and others will face trial for non-compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on TSA, abuse of the Procurement Law, and award of contracts beyond the N50million spending limit of the DG of NBC.

Credit: Nation

EFCC Boss Solicits Support Of Journalists In Fight Against Corruption

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Mr Ibrahim Magu, the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has solicited the support of journalists in the fight against corruption in the country.

He made the request when he visited the Correspondent Chapel at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano on Thursday.

He said the Commission found it necessary to seek for the support and cooperation of journalists in order to ensure the success of the crusade.

He added that “what we are doing is for Nigeria and not for our personal interest, hence our decision as stakeholders to seek for your support.

“We appreciate your support but we want you to give us more support by educating people, especially at the grassroots on the ills of corruption.”

According to him, the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to the fight against corruption in the country.

“We now have the appropriate political will to fight corruption. We can only blame ourselves if we fail to perform,” Magu said.

He, however, urged journalists to monitor the activities of the EFCC with a view to providing useful suggestions on how to correct its mistakes
and shortcomings.

He said “I always welcome useful criticisms, so I want you to monitor us and to constructively criticise and analyse how we operate.”

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ Kano State Council and Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel, Malam Aduljalal Haruna and Mr Edwin Olufu, expressed the readiness of journalists in the state to support the Commission to achieve the desired objective.

(NAN)

Car Gift Allegation: Justice Will Prevail – Secondus

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

PDP Deputy National Chairman Uche Secondus, has expressed optimism that he would get justice in the ongoing investigation into allegation of receiving cars as gift from his friend.

Secondus made the statement in Abuja on Thursday while addressing newsmen on his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It will be recalled that Secondus was invited by the EFCC on Feb. 23 to clarify issues related to ongoing investigation by the commission.

Secondus said that he was confronted with allegation of receiving some cars from Mr Jide Omokore who had been his friend for more than 20 years.

“I admitted to them that Mr Jide Omokore has given me car gifts on several occasions in the last 10 years for my personal use.

“I want to state categorically that what I received from my friend, Jide Omokore were cars and buses supplied by a well-known car company, Skymit Motors apparently from credit facility Omokore has with the company.

“I don’t have any knowledge of the so-called transaction the investigators are alleging he had with the NNPC,’’ he said.

The PDP chieftain expressed dismay that the facts of the matter under investigation had been grossly misrepresented in the media.

He said that he was granted bail under stringent conditions after eight days in detention.

“Since the EFCC did not establish any case against me, I find my needless detention a clear case of witch-hunt and pure political persecution.

“My immediate concern is the denial of my fundamental human rights, excessive physical incarceration and the orchestrated negative media campaign completely skewed against those being investigated.

“Nevertheless, I hereby restate my confidence in the rule of law and the relevant institutions for the resolution of this matter on its merit in the interest of justice,’’ he said.

(NAN)

EFCC Alleges Another SAN Gave Judge N750,000

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Joseph Nwobike, paid N750,000 into the account of Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged yesterday.

The allegation is contained in a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to a further and better affidavit filed by Rickey Tarfa (SAN).

Justice Mohammed Idris yesterday ruled that Tarfa could adduce new evidence through the further affidavit deposed to by a lawyer, Mohammed Awwal Yunusa.

In the further and better affidavit, the lawyer said the bank account, which EFCC said Tarfa used to bribe Justice Yunusa, belongs to him, and not to Justice Yunusa as EFCC alleged in its counter-affidavit to Tarfa’s suit.

The lawyer said Tarfa gave him N225,000 on January 7, 2014 to help finance his masters in Law degree.

But EFCC has alleged that Tarfa was not the only SAN to pay money to Justice Yunusa’s account.

An EFCC operative, Moses Awolusi, said there were new revelations about judges being allegedly induced through “a network of senior lawyers”.

“Investigation has also shown that as part of this chain of fraud, Mr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) also transferred the sum of N300,000 to Hon. Justice H.A Nganjiwa.

“Investigations further revealed that Hon Justice M.N Yunusa as part of this scheme of fraud also received the sum of N750,000 from Mr. Joseph Nwobike SAN and Co,” the EFCC investigator said.

Credit: Nation

‘Badeh Took NAF’s N3.9bn In 12 Months’ –EFCC

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 10 counts of money laundering against the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), accusing him of removing a total sum of N3.9bn from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force between January and December, 2013.

Badeh, who has remained in EFCC custody since February 8, is charged along with a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The relationship between Badeh and the company is not disclosed in the charges.

Badeh, who is also a former Chief of Air Staff, will likely be arraigned along with the company on Thursday (today).

Another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice James Tsoho, had on Monday fixed March 4 (Friday) for ruling on Badeh’s bail application.

The anti-graft agency in the charges, numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/46, 2016, accused Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited of spending the total sum of N3,974,362,732.94, on acquisition, construction, renovation, furnishing of various properties, including a shopping mall in many choice areas of Abuja.

Some of the properties were said to have been purchased, renovated and furnished for a son of the former CDS, Alex Badeh (Jnr.).

The properties allegedly include a mansion at No. 6, Ogun River Street, off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which the defendants were said to have purchased with N1.1bn.

The accused also allegedly bought a commercial plot of land at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja, for N650m.

Dasuki’s Ex-aide Challenges Detention By EFCC, Army

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Colonel Nicholas Ashinze, a former Special Assistant to ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) and the Army over his continued incarceration.

Ashinze, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), is challenging his detention for about 12 weeks without any charge preferred against him.

The suit filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also has the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as respondent.

Ashinze is praying the court to order EFCC and the Army to release forthwith, his personal effects, documents and properties which were illegally, wrongfully and unlawfully seized from him without any warrant, during his arrest and continued detention since December 23, last year.

Alternatively, he urged the court to issue an order granting him bail on self recognisance or in the most liberal terms as well as an order directing the respondents to tender a public apology and pay him adequate compensation for the blatant violation of his fundamental rights without following due process.

Ashinze also wants the court to restrain the anti-graft agency and the Nigerian Army from further inviting, arresting or detaining him in their custody in relation to same frivolous allegations, which he knows nothing about.

Credit: NATION

Why EFCC Arrested PDP’s Uche Secondus

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The immediate past acting chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, arrested Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, illegally received 23 luxury vehicles valued at N310 million from controversial businessman, Jide Omokore.

A source at the Economic nd Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said the vehicles included a Mercedes G63 and a Range Rover Autobiography.

“His (Mr. Secondus) name popped up while we were investigating Jide Omokore who lifted crude oil repeatedly through his Atlantic Energy but failed to remit the money to the government,” said the source.

Nigerian government insiders had said two weeks ago that Mr. Omokore had been compelled ?to release $14 million crude oil royalty his company, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, failed to remit to the federal treasury.

Mr. Secondus was picked up by the anti-graft operatives on Tuesday after investigators suspected he had served as a conduit for laundering Mr. Omokore’s funds.

“Mr. Omokore distributed money and gifts to politicians and investigators are suspicious that actually those money and vehicles might have passed through him (Mr. Secondus) to other politicians,” the source said.

Credit: PremiumTimes

President Jonathan’s ADC Sues EFCC, Demands N100m Damages

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An Aide de Camp (ADC) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ojogbane Adegbe, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court to challenge his alleged detention.

Mr. Adegbe, a colonel, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, his counsel, Ogwu Onoja, (SAN) is claiming N100 million damages for his detention which violated his fundamental rights.

Mr. Onoja urged the court to declare that his client’s arrest and continued detention by EFCC since February 11 was unconstitutional and violated his right to personal liberty guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

He urged the court to make an order directing the EFCC to immediately release the applicant from unlawful detention.

Mr. Onoja argued that the arrest and detention of Mr. Adegbe by the EFCC violated his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

The applicant’s counsel contended that EFCC’s action violated Articles 5,6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The case has been fixed for Feb. 26 for hearing.

Credit: NAN

EFCC To Dock Moro On 11-Count Charge

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has finalized plans to arraign the former minister of interior Abba Moro on 11 count charges, Daily Trust gathered yesterday.
According to EFCC sources Moro ?may be docked bordering on obtaining by false pretence, procurement fraud and money laundering.

It was gathered that Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, F. O Alayebami, Mahmood Ahmadu(At large) and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd allegedly defrauding a total of 676, 675,000 Nigerian applicants to the tune of N676,675,000 representing N1000 per applicant through e-payment for their online recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Immigration Service on March 17, 2013.

The suspects are alleged to have contravened the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 in the contract awards by not following the necessary procedure laid down by the government.

The award of the contract to Drexel Tech Nig Ltd was said to have had no prior advertisement, no needs assessment and a procurement plan and was not carried out before award of the contract.

According to sources ?the contract was awarded through selective tendering procedure by invitation of four firms without seeking approval of Bureau for Public Procurement contrary to sections 40, 42 and 43 of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under section 58 of the same act.

Credit: DailyTrust

EFCC To Arraign NAMA Chiefs In Lagos This Week

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Indications emerged yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would any time this week arraign the arrested and detained officials of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA. A source close to the agency confided in our correspondent that the officials, who are still being held at EFCC’s custody in Abuja, would be brought to Lagos to face justice. Those in EFCC custody include Managing Director of the agency, Engr. Abdulsalami Abubakar; director of finance and accounts, Mrs. Clara Aliche; general manager (Finance), Segun Nurudeen Agbolade; acting general manager (Procurement), Muyiwa Adegorite; acting general manager (ICT), Akinribido Bolaniran; acting general manager (Electromagnetic Services), Atiku Abubakar; and Felicia Agubata (project manager). The officials are held over allegations of financial impropriety amounting to about N5 billion.

It was gathered that the anti-graft agency would in a matter of weeks, visit the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, over alleged corrupt practices. Those arrested were made to explain how Abdulsalam and his predecessor, both singlehandedly signed off payments of over N3 billion on ‘questionable contracts’ between 2013 and 2015. Documents obtained by our correspondent revealed that the bulk of the payments were for clearing of containers and customs duties, which amounted to N2,101,689, 304.14 within the period under review. Most of the clearing/ customs duties payment were said to be non-transparent, as the agency had never really undertaken any “major importation that warrants payments in tens of millions of naira at different times as claimed by the management.”

Credit: NationalMirror

EFCC Arrests Ex-Minister, Abba Moro, Others Over 2014 Immigration Recruitment Scam

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arrested a former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, over the Nigerian Immigration recruitment scam in which no fewer than 20 job seekers died.

Also arrested by the anti-graft agency were former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Anaesthesia Nwaobia, and a deputy director who allegedly facilitated the scam.

A source at the commission, who cannot be named because she is not authorised to speak on the matter, said the three suspects were picked up in the evening.

“They were brought into the commission’s headquarters today and will be arraigned on a 12-count charge in the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday,” the source said.

Some of the charges against Mr. Moro and his colleagues include obtaining by false pretence, procurement offences, corrupt practices and money laundering.

At least nine job seekers died on March 15, 2014 at the Abuja National Stadium while scrambling to secure seats for a recruitment test into the Nigerian Immigration Service.
?
The stampede ensued after the over 200,000 job seekers scrambled through a poorly organized barricade at the stadium.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, four applicants died from the stampede while 12 others sustained injuries and were rushed to Rivers government-owned Braithwaite Memorial Hospital.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Dasukigate: Metuh Wants Jonathan As Witness

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Staff Reporter

NATIONAL Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has told a Federal High Court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cannot prosecute him without interrogating former President Goodluck Jonathan regarding the source of the N400 million alleged to be part of arms purchase funds.

Metuh, who has filed a no case submission asking the court to discharge him from the seven- count money laundering charge preferred against him and his company, Destra Investment Limited, said the Prosecution Witness (PW5) evidence that presentation for which money was paid was made to Jonathan makes the investigation of his role as well as his evidence vital and indeed crucial without
which no prima facie case can conceivably be said to have been made out. Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) led Metuh’s defence team.

“Dr. Jonathan, to whom the presentation was made for which the payment was made, is therefore a material and indispensible person in order for a prima facie case to be present. Where the prosecution failed to call such a vital witness, a strong presumption will arise that the evidence, if called, would be unfavourable to the prosecution.

Metuh argued that the EFCC has not established a prima facie case against him in line with Sections 302 and 357 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 since the prosecution has not made such case against him and his company.

“In any case, the “mens rea’ of the defendants to the effect that former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) committed a criminal offence cannot be inferred, but must be established by a competent evidence which must come from the prosecution.

It is the case of Metuh that no evidence was laid out by the prosecution that N400 million was the proceed of alleged criminal conduct committed by Dasuki, adding that if anything, all the documents presented by the prosecution in the case only point out that the former NSA complied with due process and the contrary has not been pronounced by the court of competent jurisdiction.

“In this case, by the evidence of PW3 who works in the Office of the National Security Adviser [ONSA], the NSA is answerable to the then President Goodluck Jonathan only,” he said.

Metuh said Section 15 [2] [d] of the ACJA requires the proof that the money must be proceed of an unlawful act.

“In this case, it has not been established that the defendants knew that the ONSA engaged in any unlawful acts, adding that an unlawful act must be an act which is not authorised or approved and which has been found to be illegal.

“There was no evidence that the defendants were involved in any forged documents to create a contract where none was in fact, in existence. “Pw8, the investigator was emphatic that he found no relationship of any kind between the defendants and Col. Sambo Dasuki.”

Meanwhile, Metuh took a fresh plea of not guilty in the amended charge against him and his earlier bail was restored by the court.

The fresh charge has nothing substantial as it did not alter the earlier one, but was just to correct some legal wordings contained in the previous charge sheet.

Justice Abang Okon, had granted Metuh leave to file his written no case submission after Ikpeazu moved an oral application that was not opposed by the prosecution counsel.

The judge ruled that the defence counsel is in control of his brief and at liberty to take any decision or action that was in the best interest of his client.

In granting the leave, Justice Okon directed counsel to file written addresses for and against the no case submission. While Metuh was directed to file his process yesterday, the prosecution counsel upon receipt of service, was directed to reply within three days to enable the defence counsel to reply on point of law within 24 hours.

Further hearing was adjourned to February 25 for adoption of written addresses.

Source: The Sun

EFCC Amends Charges Against Olisa Metuh

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought an amendment charge against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, one week after closing its case.

According to the Prosecuting Counsel, Mister Sylvester Tahir, the new charges will have no material effect on the earlier charges brought against Mr Metuh.

He says it’s an opportunity to effectively prosecute the case and asked the court to compel him to take his plea afresh.

Counsel to Mr. Metuh, Onyechi Ikpeazu did not object to the new charges and when it was time to take his plea, Mr. Metuh pleaded not guilty and also entered a no case submission.

The case has been adjourned to the February 25, 2016 to allow Mr. Metuh defend his no case submission through a written address which will be adopted on that day.

Credit: ChannelsTv

We Are Still Looking For Tompolo, IG Of Police Says

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, says the Nigeria Police Force is still searching for former Niger Delta Militant Leader, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo who has been declared wanted by the EFCC over a N45.9b fraud in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday February 17th, Arase said the Police commissioners in Delta, Rivers, Edo and others have been issued the warrant for his arrest

“We are still looking for Tompolo. The commissioners of police in Delta, Rivers and all those areas have been given the warrant for the arrest so that they could carry out the arrest. The EFCC has declared him wanted and you know the court has issued a warrant of arrest. So, it is the duty

EFCC Arrests Diezani’s Husband

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An anti-graft agency in Nigeria has arrested Rear Admiral Alison Madueke, the husband of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Rear Admiral Madueke was arrested on Wednesday morning in Abuja by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A source at the EFCC confirmed the arrest of the husband of the former Minister, saying he was quizzed for several hours for allegedly laundering over $600,000 through his personal accounts.

Although he has been released on administrative bail, the EFCC said he would return on Wednesday for more questioning.

Last year, Mrs Alison-Madueke was invited for questioning by the metropolitan police to answer questions bordering on alleged money laundering.

She had left Nigeria after the current administration took over power in May 2015.

Rear Admiral Madueke’s arrest is the latest in the series of arrests that have been made by the anti-graft agency since the anti-corruption war heightened after the current administration took over office.

Credit: ChannelsTv

How Ex-PDP Chairman, Son, Squandered N300 Million Arms Money- EFCC

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the office of the National Security Adviser, paid N300 million to a former national chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru, to fund election campaign.

Roukayya Ibrahim, a forensic specialist with the commission, made the statement while testifying before Justice John Tsoho on Tuesday.

Ms. Ibrahim said the outcome of a forensic analysis on financial transactions in the Sterling Bank account used indicated that the money was not payment for contract executed.

She said the office of the National Security Adviser headed by retired Col. Sambo Dasuki authorised the payment.

“The bank account that was used belonged to Abbah Bello, son of the third defendant (Haliru Bello),’’ Ibrahim said.

She added: “Between October and November 2014, a special Task Force was created to investigate Defence and arms contract.

“Allegation of financial misappropriation in the office of the NSA has been reported at the commission.

“After the Task Force was constituted, we studied intelligence reports and commenced investigation.

“During the course of the investigation, we invited relevant government agencies and banks to discuss with them.

“Specifically, we spoke with senior staff from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Central Bank of Nigeria.

“One of the discoveries was a letter from the Ministry of Finance to the CBN requesting the release of N100 billion on March 2, 2015.

“The money was actually meant for disbursement to agencies of government with the office of the NSA getting N30 billion out of the fund, supposedly to be used for security issues.

“On March 3, 2015, the Accountant-General of the Federation sent a memo to the Ministry of Finance in respect of the N30 billion.

“And on March 5, the Accountant-General of the Federation sent another memo to the CBN requesting urgent release of the N30 billion which was eventually paid into the NSA office account on March 11.

“On March 17, the N300 million was transferred from the N30 billion into the Sterling Bank account operated by BAM Project and Properties Ltd owned by Abba Bello.

“When Abba was arrested and interrogated, he denied knowledge of the transaction that ran through his bank account.

“Then his father, Haliru Bello, was away in abroad, but the story changed when we spoke with him on telephone.

“During the course of the investigation, we got to know that Bashir Yuguda, former minister of State for Finance, was used to actualise the transaction.’’

“During forensic analysis, we discovered that on March 18, disbursement of about N137 million was made to Kumugumu Ltd, on the same day, another N178 million was sent to North pole Ltd from the N300 million’’.

“On March 28, Abba transferred the sum of N163 million to Hijra Textiles Ltd on the instruction of his father, Haliru Bello.

“Abba who is the sole owner of BAM Project and Properties Ltd whose bank account is being used, withdrew the sum of N20 million in two tranches of N10 million each.

“Then on May 28, Abba made another transfer of N50 million into another of his personal savings account.’’

Ms. Ibrahim said Abba had specifically confessed to the commission that BAM Project and Properties Ltd did not execute any contract for the office of the National Security Adviser.

The duo are standing trial for alleged unlawful collection of part of the funds meant for arms purchase for the military.

The judge adjourned the matter till Feb 23.

Credit: NAN

Alleged N2.1bn Fraud: EFCC Re-Arraigns Dokpesi

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

?The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today, re-arraigned the Chairman emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, ?High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Dokpesi ?who was initially docked before the court on December 9, 2015, is facing a six-count criminal charge. He was alleged to have ?received about N2.1billion from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, for Peoples Democratic Party’s ?presidential media campaign.

According to the charge which was signed by the Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution at the EFCC, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, the fund was released to the accused person by the erstwhile NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, rtd, ?between October 2014 and March 19, 2015.

The funds were allegedly transferred from an account the ?office of NSA operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN?, to a FirstBank? of Nigeria Plc? account owned by DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited The prosecution maintained that the transaction was in breach of ?section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and punishable under section 58 (6) and 7 of the same Act, as well as under section 17 (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004. EFCC equally joined Dokpesi’s firm, DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd, owners of African Independent Television, AIT, and Raypower FM, as the 2nd defendant in the suit.

Credit: vanguardngr

EFCC Boss Slams ‘Corrupt’ Lawyers, Journalists

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Mr Ibrahim Magu, the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday accused “corrupt’’ senior lawyers and journalists of trying to frustrate the war on corruption.

Magu made the accusation when a coalition of civil society groups (CSOs) staged a solidarity protest to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

He alleged that senior lawyers file frivolous applications in court to delay justice after receiving stolen money as payments to represent corrupt individuals on trial.

He said: “One of the big challenges we have in the effective prosecution of the war on corruption are very senior lawyers in this country.

“Nigeria has been very kind to these lawyers. They went to good schools here when the country was good; many of them on government scholarship.

“But these same lawyers receive stolen money in payment for legal services to represent corrupt people who have stolen from the mouths of our children.

“They represent wicked people who have stolen money meant to build hospitals, buy drugs and equip our soldiers to fight Boko Haram.

“Corrupt people run to these same lawyers, give them part of the stolen money and mobilise them to fight us, to delay us in court and deny Nigerians justice.

“The other day, 34 Senior Advocates of Nigeria fought against only one small EFCC lawyer in court and he defeated all of them,’’ he added.

The EFCC boss also said that corrupt individuals were hiring journalists to abuse the commission and accuse it of not following the rule of law in the anti-corruption war.

He stated that no agency operates within the ambit of the law like the EFCC, adding that the commission does not take any action, including arrest, without consulting the law.

“That is why we are winning and defeating them every day. We want Nigerians to continue to support the commission and the general war on corruption.

“We are recovering stolen money, in billions of Naira and returning them to government’s coffers to be used to build hospitals, send our children to school, create employment and defend our country.

“We have no other country than Nigeria. This war is the war of the people,’’ he stated.

Magu emphasised that the days of impunity were over in the country, adding that the commission was being guided by no other rule than the rule of law.

(NAN)

NSC Office Paid N300m To PDP Chairman To Fund Election Campaign – EFCC

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The EFCC told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the office of the National Security Adviser, paid N300 million to former National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru to fund election campaign.

Mrs Roukayya Ibrahim, forensic expert with the Commission made the statement while testifying before Justice John Tsoho on Tuesday.

Ibrahim said the outcome of forensic analysis on financial transactions in the Sterling Bank account used indicated that the money was not payment for contract executed.

She said that the office of the National Security Adviser headed by retired Col. Sambo Dasuki authorised the payment.

“The bank account that was used belonged to Abbah Bello, son of the third defendant (Haliru Bello),’’ Ibrahim said.

She added: “between October and November 2014, a special Task Force was created to investigate Defence and arms contract. Allegation of financial misappropriation in the office of the NSA has been reported at the commission.

After the Task Force was constituted, we studied intelligent reports and commenced investigation.

During the course of the investigation, we invited relevant government agencies and banks to discuss with them.

Specifically, we spoke with senior staff from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Central Bank of Nigeria.

One of the discoveries was a letter from the Ministry of Finance to the CBN requesting the release of N100 billion on March 2, 2015.

The money was actually meant for disbursement to agencies of government with the office of the NSA getting N30 billion out of the fund tagged to be used for security issues.

On March 3, 2015, the Accountant-General of the Federation sent a memo to the Ministry of Finance in respect of the N30 billion.

And on March 5, the Accountant-General of the Federation sent another memo to the CBN requesting urgent release of the N30 billion which was eventually paid into the NSA office account on March 11.

On March 17, the N300 million was transferred from the N30 billion into the Sterling Bank account operated by BAM Project and Properties Ltd owned by Abba Bello.

When Abba was arrested and interrogated, he denied knowledge of the transaction that ran through his bank account.

“Then his father, Haliru Bello was away in abroad, but the story changed when we spoke with him on telephone.

“During the course of the investigation, we got to know that Bashir Yuguda, former minister of State for Finance was used to actualise the transaction.’’

“During forensic analysis, we discovered that on March 18, disbursement of about N137 million was made to Kumugumu Ltd, on the same day, another N178 million was sent to North pole Ltd from the N300 million’’.

“On March 28, Abba transferred the sum of N163 million to Hijra Textiles Ltd on the instruction of his father, Haliru Bello.

“Abba who is the sole owner of BAM Project and Properties Ltd whose bank account is been used withdrew the sum of N20 million in two tranches of N10 million each.

“Then on May 28, Abba made another transfer of N50 million into another of his personal savings account.’’

Ibrahim said Abba had specifically confessed to the commission that BAM Project and Properties Ltd did not execute any contract for the office of the National Security Adviser.

The duo are standing trial for alleged unlawful collection of part of the funds meant for arms purchase for the military.

The judge adjourned the matter till Feb 23 for continuation.

(NAN)

I’m Not Ready For Trial – Dasuki

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, today told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he was not ready for his trial to be continued. Speaking at the hearing of the money laundering charges filed against him by the Department of State Security DSS today February 16th, speaking through his Counsel, Joseph Dauda, Dasuki said he will not be available for the trial until the Federal government obey the court orders that granted him bail last year.

Dasuki was re-arrested by the DSS on fresh charges of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms after he had fulfilled bail conditions for separate charges filed against him by EFCC.

Counsel to Dasuki, Joseph Dauda, while presenting his argument to the judge, said “We cannot be ready for trial until the defendant enjoys his constitutional rights.

We apply that we should be given time to prepare the defence. The conduct of the prosecution has not enabled him to enjoy his constitutional rights. The worst is that for about seven weeks we do not know where he is. Any of us here who proceeds to defend an accused person in this circumstance may lose his license of practice.”he said

The judge adjourned the hearing to March 3rd.

EFCC Declares This Girl Wanted For Conspiracy & Forgery

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

EFCC this morning took to their Facebook page to declare this very pretty lady named Elfreda Sekibo wanted for conspiracy and forgery. See what they wrote below…

EFCC May Go After Ex-First Lady- Report

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The wife of a former president may soon be invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explain her role in the sourcing and disbursement of huge funds spent by the Presidency in the last two weeks before the general elections.
The fund, estimated at over a trillion naira, was routed and disbursed through the Amnesty Office to some notable politicians in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Investigators of the disbursement noticed that the release of about 40 per cent of the funds was authorized by the former First Lady.
Also under investigation by operatives of the anti-graft agency, is the source of the funds, which has not been established due to the Amnesty office’s boss departure from the country.
According to sources, the failure of the former head of the presidential Amnesty Programme to return to the country has slowed down investigations of how the funds were sourced, “because he allegedly disbursed the bulk of the money, which was not part of the funds allocated to his office.”
It was gathered that the suspected Amnesty boss who will face 14 petitions written to the EFCC against him, left the country soon after preliminary investigations into the sourcing and disbursement of funds for the elections.
“Ordinarily, he should have been here to defend himself against the petitions, but he has refused to show up. It is highly suspected that he is not in any hospital. It was all a dummy be sold to Nigerians. He left this country as soon as he sensed the EFCC may invite him to explain his role in the funds disbursement”, a source said.
Already, some of his aides, including personal assistants and driver, have been interrogated on the matter. The investigating team would also want to ascertain his interest in an airline that operates in South Africa with about 12 aircraft.
EFCC’s spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujare, could not be reached for comments on the matter before Press time.
However, a source who did not want his name in print, said efforts were being made to get him back to the country for interrogation.
In the past few months, the present administration has increased the tempo of its hunt for public funds suspected to have either been looted from government coffers, especially during the immediate past administration.
Already, many serving and retired military officers, including former service chiefs as well as top politicians have been interrogated by the anti-graft agency.
Government sources have since disclosed that some of those involved have returned part of their loots in a bid to escape prosecution and public ridicule. Similarly, many push buildings belonging to some of those under investigation have been sealed in many parts of the country.

Credit: Sun

EFCC Summons More NAMA Officials Over Alleged N5b Fraud

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has summoned three more staffers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to appear before it in Abuja today in furtherance of the investigation it launched into the finances and expenditures of the aviation agency.

The newly summoned members of staff are the agency’s Director of Finance, Mrs. Clara Aliche, the ICT General Manager, Mr. Ajiribido Bolarinwa, and the Project Manager, Mrs. Felicia Agaubata.

A source within NAMA, who confirmed this to The Guardian in Lagos yesterday, explained that the EFCC issued the fresh summon after examining some of the vouchers and other related documents it took from NAMA during its unscheduled visit to the agency last Friday. The anti-graft agency had, during the visit, demanded the Director of Finance, Aliche, who was not around, and left an invitation order for her to appear before it in Abuja.

This latest invitation, though could not be confirmed by NAMA’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Olajumoke Aduke Adetona when The Guardian asked her to react to the information, was not denied by her when she said “ I don’t have information, I can’t confirm (about what is going on in the EFCC), I was not even around when the EFCC came last week.”

Credit: Guardian

EFCC Arraigns Man Over N57.7m Fraud

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, February 11, arraigned one Robert Daniel Onyeani before Justice E. N. Anyadike of the Federal High Court of Umuahia, Abia State on a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N57, 704,000.00 (Fifty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Four Thousand Naira).

Onyeani, Chief Executive of Imagine Roco Limited, sometime in November, 2013, allegedly presented himself to the complainant as a member of a seven-man Presidential Committee on Import
Duties Concession and Waiver of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and investment, Abuja.
The 53-year-old accused person also allegedly demanded the sum of N178, 000,000 (one hundred and seventy-eight million naira) from the complainant, promising that he could procure import duties waiver/concession certificate for importation of stock fish.

However, the accused person, after collecting the sum of N57,704,000.000 (fifty-seven million, seven hundred and four thousand naira) from the complainant, became elusive.
When the petitioner requested for refund, the accused person was said to have issued some cheques, which were not honoured due to insufficient fund in his account.

One of the counts reads:

‘‘That you, Robert Daniel Onyeani, CEO of Imagine Roco Ltd, on or about the 26th day of November, 2013 at Aba within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria obtained the sum of N20,000,000.00 (twenty million naira) from one Chinemeya Iheaku of G.N. Iheaku & Co. Ltd under the false pretence that you can procure a certificate of concession/waiver on the importation of stockfish/fish head, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’’

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him. In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Joshua Saidu, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused person in prison custody. The defence counsel, O. Emole, however, moved an application for bail on behalf of his client.

Consequently, Justice Anyadike adjourned the matter to February 16 for hearing on the bail application and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.

EFCC Arrests Amosu’s wife,Recovers $1m From Soak Away Pit

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Today.ng reports that Mrs. Lara Amosu was arrested last week in Abuja by EFCC operatives, adding that she has been in the anti-graft custody in Lagos since last week.

A source disclosed that Lara’s lawyer has been making attempts to secure her release but had not gotten any positive result.

She was arrested after the sum of N3 billion was traced to her bank accounts. The money is believed to be part of the sum her husband is being probed for.

The source further hinted that some properties belonging to the former CAS were also held in trust for him by Lara and her children.

There were earlier reports that the anti-graft watch dog discovered a whooping sum of N17.5 billion in the accounts of wives of three airforce chiefs. The monies were reportedly disseminated in various banks accounts.

A source acquainted with the ongoing arms probe disclosed that N13 billion was traced to the bank accounts of the wife of a retired Air Vice Marshal, who held strategic position in the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), adding that N1.5 billion was discovered in the account of another serving senior officer. These officers handled the finance, budget and accounts of NAF.

The source said: “Shortly after Amosu was picked up in Abuja, his wife, Lara, was subsequently arrested. Investigations conducted showed that some of the monies the former Chief of Air Staff made through some contracts and procurements in NAF were traced to his wife’s accounts.

“About N3 billion was traced to the wife’s accounts while some assets acquired by the former service chief was in her name and some others in her company’s name.

“So, Lara is an accessory to a crime. The proceeds with her are from the arms funds. As we prosecute her husband, she must also be held accountable.”

It was gathered that the anti-graft agency pulled out the sum of $1 million cash from Amosu’s residence in Badagary, Lagos. The foreign currency was discovered when operatives carried out a search on the house.

The source said: “In continuation of the investigation into the arms probe, the EFCC operatives took Amosu to his residence in Badagry. After a thorough search of the residence, a fresh small ‘soakaway’ pit was discovered in the compound. The operatives suspected foul play, which informed the breaking of the ‘soakaway’. Surprisingly, $1 million was found in it. The money was subsequently confiscated.”

The EFCC arrested Amosu, Adigun, and Air Commodore O. Gbadebo two weeks ago over their involvement in the $2.1 billion arms scandal.

It was gathered that the EFCC flew the indicted officers were to Lagos in an airforce aircraft. They were allegedly discreetly kept in a hotel. The EFCC mobilized the indicted officers to assets traced to them and suspected to have been acquired with monies gotten from the arms deal. The anti-graft agency had sealed off some of the said properties.

Army Asks EFCC To Investigate 12 Officers

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has forwarded the names of 12 officers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.

A statement by a spokesman for the Army, Colonel Sani Usman, said three serving and one retired Major Generals, three Brigadier Generals, four Colonels and one Lieutenant Colonel were in the list.

The Army stated that at the end of the Commission’s investigations those found culpable would be tried by a military Court Martial.

No reason was given for the submission of the officers’ names to the anti-graft agency, but the agency has of late heightened the fight against corruption, taking top government officials of the past administration to court for money laundering and other related charges.

Credit: ChannelsTv

EFCC Declares Tompolo Wanted

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday declared a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, wanted.

The anti-graft agency in an advertorial signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said it declared Tompolo wanted following two bench warrants issued against him by a Federal High Court in Lagos, where he has been charged with N45.9bn fraud.

In the said advertorial which carried a photograph of Tompolo, the EFCC described him as a 47-year-old, dark-complexioned man from Okerenkoko, Gbaramotu Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The wanted Tompolo, whose address was given as No. 1, Chief Agbanu Street, DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State, is said to speak both Izon and English languages.

The public announcement issued by Uwujaren read in part, “The general public is hereby notified that Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a. Tompolo), whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in relation to the offence of conspiracy, illegal diversion of the sum of N34,000,000,000.00 and N11,900,000,000.00 belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.”

Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos issued a bench warrant against Tompolo on January 14 after he shunned a summons dated January 12 issued on him by the judge to appear in connection with the fraud charges filed against him and nine others by the EFCC.

Credit: Punch

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

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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

Colonel Adegbe, ADC To Ex-President Jonathan Arrested – Report

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian authorities have arrested Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, a former Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to former President Goodluck Jonathan over an issue we are yet to ascertain as at press time.

A usually credible source familiar with the development informed THEWILL of the arrest Wednesday.

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has opened a wide investigation into how billions of dollars in state funds were allegedly siphoned by officials of the last administration.

Calls to Colonel S.K. Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, on Wednesday night were unanswered. But the spokesman later responded to THEWILL SMS, texting, “I have no idea” to our question on the arrest of the senior officer.

Also, calls to EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren were neither acknowledged nor returned before this update.

Source: The Will

Abba Dabo Debunks Rumours Of Being Arrested By The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Abba Dabo, has debunked the rumours saying he was never arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission regarding the ongoing probe of $2.1 arms deal. Dabo who is a long standing Nigerian journalist and publisher admitted refunding the N25 million he got from Destra, a firm linked to the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, for media campaigns.

He said he had to urgently give back the money to the EFCC once he realised that the money given to him was from the office of the former NSA and meant for arms purchase. He said he had no clue of the source of the money given to him until the media started linking it to the NSA, who is standing trial for paying out over $2 million arms cash for other purposes.

EFCC Seeks NBA’s Collaboration In Fight Against Corruption

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Mr Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called on members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to join hands with the Commission in the fight against corruption.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Wilson Uwujaren ,EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity.

It said that Magu made the call when the national executive of the NBA paid him a courtesy visit.

Magu said that some members of the association had given it a bad name as a result of their unprofessional conducts.
He said that some lawyers were aiding some individuals and corporate bodies to perpetrate economic and financial crimes.

“Society is not served when prominent members of the Bar not only take clearly tainted briefs, but even facilitate the commission of crimes by knowingly supplying the technical know-how and later helping in the dispersal of the proceeds of crime.

There are lawyers within the fold of the NBA who ought not to be among your noble ranks. Those people are not fit to be called barristers; rather, they are vandals of the temple of justice’’, the statement said.
He, however, said that to effectively fight the war against corruption, the input of lawyers was needed.

“Law enforcement, just as the judiciary, encompassing the Bar and the Bench, is a critical link in the justice delivery system of any society. I dare say that even when opinions and tactics differ, the interest of the two blocs cannot but converge on the overriding interest of the people.’’

According to the statement, he noted that no other anti-graft agency had beaten the record of the EFCC in the areas of prosecutions and convictions.

Describing ordinary Nigerians as the victims of fraud, diversion of funds and embezzlement, he urged the Bar to share in the vision of the present administration to eradicate corruption.

According to the statement, the NBA President, Mr Augustin Alegeh (SAN), stressed the need for EFCC and the NBA to synergise in the fight against corruption.

Alegeh said that the Bar’s anti-corruption Commission had developed a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) template for lawyers to address the issue of members accepting questionable briefs.

(NAN)

‘EFCC Is investigating Diezani Alison-Madueke, Kola Aluko’ – Magu

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, says the former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke and her associate Kola Aluko, are all on the investigating radar of the commission.

Magu said this while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes to defend the agency’s 2016 budget. He told the committee that the agency will soon move into the petroleum sector.

A member of the committee, Rasaq Atunwa, while speaking to newsmen after Magu’s presentation,
said

“I said the EFCC has recovered a lot of money for Nigeria and he (Magu) mentioned that in that regard, more sectors of the economy are likely to come under investigative activities. I said ‘will it include the petroleum sector’? He said, ‘yes’. And I said ‘would it include investigating the following people – Diezani Alison-Madueke, Okonjo-Iweala and a particular oil magnate’, and he said ‘yes’; those people are already under their investigative radar.”he said

Alison-Madueke, was last year arrested by the National Crime Agency in the UK over allegations of money laundering and fraud.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Reacts To Alleged Investigation By EFCC

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has reacted to reports that she’s allegedly being investigated by the EFCC for embezzlement, calling media headlines misleading and untrue. Her statement below..

We want to clarify that some of the media reports alleging that the EFCC is investigating former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, are misleading and untrue. This is clear from eye witness accounts of the Budget 2016 presentation by the EFCC at the House of Representatives and gaps in the reported stories.

The headlines are a misrepresentation of what the EFCC Chairman actually said during the event. While the headlines claimed that the EFCC Chairman, in response to a question by an APC, member Hon Razak Atunwa, stated that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is under investigation, the actual words quoted in the same reports told a very different story.

His words: “Very soon we will go into the petroleum industry. Such investigation requires that we have to build capacity, we have to bring in experts to enable us tackle what we are doing properly and the investigation must be conducted properly. We have internal lawyers and external lawyers. We have to pay insurance…”

The words said to have been spoken by the EFCC Chairman cannot support the lurid headlines that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is under investigation by the EFCC. The Nigerian media plays an important role in our democracy and we urge them to be fair, balanced and factual in their reports.

Paul C Nwabuikwu Media Adviser to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

EFCC Detains Badeh, Gets Order To Hold Amosu

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), in connection with his alleged role in the $2.1bn arms purchase scam.

Badeh, who was clad in a brown kaftan and a black cap, arrived at the EFCC office around 10am on Monday.

The former defence chief had visited the commission on Thursday last week but was asked to report to the agency’s office on Monday.

Badeh, who was accompanied by three unidentified men, was escorted into the Idiagbon House headquarters of the EFCC by armed operatives.

He was subsequently interrogated by detectives for several hours.

As of 10pm, Badeh was still in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

An EFCC operative, said, “Badeh arrived at our office at 10am and as of 10pm, he is still with us.”

It was gathered that the commission had assembled two teams of EFCC operatives, who began the interrogation of the former chief of defence staff at about 10.30am on Monday.

It was learnt that he was asked to account for contracts awarded by the Nigeria Air Force when he was the chief of defence staff.

According to reports, contracts totalling $930,500,690.00 were by the military awarded under the leadership of Badeh.

The money is said to be part of the $2.1bn, which was under the control of the Office of the National Security Adviser, then under the headship of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Badeh is also said to be answering questions on the non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence with provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

Credit: Punch

EFCC Commences Probe On Oil Sector, Allison-Madueke

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started an investigation into the petroleum sector and the role of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke.

The Acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu who revealed the probe of Allison-Madueke and Okonjo-Iweala spoke at the 2016 budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes yesterday .

He said: “We are investigating the former ministers, Diezani Allison-Madueke and Okonjo-Iweala, as well as the petroleum sector”, in response to a question by one of the committee members.

Earlier, Magu had sought the support of the committee to get a budget of N11.4billion for the EFCC in 2016. Some of the areas where the budget will be needed, according to him, include the completion of the EFCC headquarters complex under construction, training and re-training of staff, recruitment and training of additional 750 staff in 2016, as well as in the area of investigation activities. Earlier, chairman of the House committee, Kayode Oladele had assured EFCC of its support.

Credit: Guardian

Okonjo-Iweala Under Probe For €3.6m Vehicles Deal

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

EFCC to quiz ex-Service Chiefs in new phase of arms cash investigation

Another round of investigations into the $2.1billion arms deals is to begin tomorrow, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sources said yesterday.

Top on the agenda is how the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Administration bought €3,654,121million vehicles for the Republic of Niger in October 2013 and April 2014. The cash was withdrawn from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) account in two installments of €1, 401,869 and €2,252,252.25. The commission is also seeking to verify whether or not the vehicles were bought and
under diplomatic or bilateral security cooperation. The EFCC is to find out from the Republic of Niger if there was such assistance from Nigeria.

The agency plans to quiz some more public figures, including former Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, some former Service Chiefs and serving military officers in connection with the $2.1billion arms deals.

Some suspects may be taken into custody, it was learnt.

The EFCC,it was gathered, is through with the first phase of the probe, which led to the arraignment of ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and 10 others. The interrogation of the likes of Dasuki and the others now facing trial or about to be arraigned seems to have convinced the agency of the need to dig deeper than originally planned.

A top source said: “We are beginning the second phase of the ongoing investigation of the $2.1b arms deals on Monday. From the preliminary findings, the scandal is mind-boggling.

“We are going to question more high-profile serving and former public officers, including a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the release of some funds.

“We want the ex-Minister to shed more light on how about $322million was disbursed to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).

“Some serving and former military chiefs will have to respond to issues which we have already isolated for clarification.”

The source said investigators had already obtained the list of military equipment which were bought and the inventory by the Armed Forces.

“This explains why some serving and former military chiefs will need to come and assist our investigators,”he said.

“Some of the companies which supplied these equipment have been contacted too.”

On the purchase of security vehicles for Niger Republic,the EFCC is said to have established that the money was withdrawn from the ONSA account in two installments of €1, 401,869 and €2,252,252.25,

The commission is keen to confirm whether or not the vehicles were bought and under what diplomatic or bilateral security cooperation. It was gathered that it will require finding out from the Republic of Niger if there was such assistance from Nigeria. The initial cash of €1, 401,869 was drawn from the Central Bank in an October 2013 through ONSA memo ACCT/87/VOL.1/384. The second tranche of €2,252,252.25 was got from the CBN in an April 1, 2014 via a memo ACCT/87/VOL.1/60

The first memo to the CBN Governor, “Transfer of foreign exchange”, said: “You are please requested to transfer the sum of €1, 401,869.00 only in favour of SEI Societe d’equipments Internanaux-Niamey-Niger BP 11737 as payment for the supply of security vehicles to Republic of Niger. The wire transfer details are as follows: Banque: SONIBANK (Republique du Niger-Niamey). Compete N025111123981/22. Code Banque:80064. Code Guichrt: 01001.

“The amount should be charged to National Security Adviser Account no. 0020172241019 with the Central Bank of Nigeris Abuja and all charges thereto.

“Please accept the assurances of the National Security Adviser.”

Magu, earlier in the day told the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes that Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and one of her associates, Mr, Kola Aluko, are being investigated.

He also told the committee, why defending the EFCC’s 2016 Budget, that the agency should be supported to hire additional 750 employees in different cadres.

Magu also sought the backing of the committee to consider and approve “additional N500,000 million to assist in our operational activities as more sectors of the economy may likely come under investigative activities during the year.”

Magu said the agency’s estimate is made up ofN11, 422, 991, 540.00 for capital, and N2,999,245,761.00 as the overhead component of the recurrent. He requested that “the National Assembly should graciously support a planned recruitment of additional 750 employees of different cadres in 2016.”

A second memo said: “You are please requested to transfer the sum of €2, 252, 252.25 only in favour of SEI Societe d’equipments Internanaux-Niamey-Niger BP 11737 as payment for the supply of security vehicles to Republic of Niger. The wire transfer details are as follows: Banque: SONIBANK (Republique du Niger-Niamey). Compete N025111123981/22. Code Banque: 80064. Code Guichrt: 01001.

“The amount should be charged to National Security Adviser Account no. 0020172241019 with the Central Bank of Nigeria,Abuja and all charges thereto.

“Please accept the assurances of the National Security Adviser.”

The EFCC has intensified its collaboration with the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom, with the ongoing probe of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on October 2 arrested Mrs. Alison-Madueke and four others.

The identities of the remaining four suspects are yet to be unveiled.

But all the suspects are being investigated for alleged bribery and money laundering.

The EFCC source, who is actively involved in the ongoing investigation, said: “We have been collaborating with NCA on Diezani’s case, which has reached an appreciable level.

“We have the details of others arrested with Diezani but we will not disclose until the matter gets to a convenient bend.

“So far, we have been comparing notes with NCA on a faster note in terms of tracking a few transactions and documents. There is no hiding place for the ex-Minister and her alleged accomplices.

“By the time the trial begins, the NCA and EFCC would have established a solid case against the ex-Minister and other suspects.”

Source: The Nation

Rotimi Amaechi Replies Nyesom Wike Over $150m Allegation

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Read the press statement below..

Sadly, on Sunday, February 7, 2016, Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State in furtherance of his administration’s one-point agenda, yet again, continued his grossly irresponsible, repugnant and contemptuous, albeit, feckless mission of denigrating and disparaging the person and office of the immediate past governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who is now the minister of transportation.

The ‘story-story’ this time is about another phantom $150,000,000(One Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars) that Amaechi purportedly stole from Rivers State government coffers and siphoned to his party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) within eighteen days, from December 1 to 18 of 2014. Sadly again, Wike picked a church, a sacred temple of God to tell his new imaginary tale, another bogus, fallacious concoction.

This new scurrilous fabrication by Governor Wike is in sync with the one-point agenda of the Wike administration, which is to throw as much mud as possible at former governor Amaechi, hoping that some may at least stick. All sorts of spurious stories about alleged corruption and stealing of state funds against the Amaechi administration, have been bandied in the media with no attempt to substantiate or prove these distorted false claims that completely makes nonsense of common sense.

Even, when Amaechi challenged the Wike administration and its agents to use any constitutionally available legal process or procedure to prove their jaundice, deceitful allegations against him and his administration, they have rather elected to do their own corruption probe, trial and conviction in the media; and now, even inside our solemn places of worship (churches). How callous! Why would a government be so determined to desecrate and destroy every institution, all in the name of playing politics?

It continues to baffle us, like most right-thinking Nigerians that Governor Wike will stand in a church- a solemn place of worship- and carelessly, brusquely tell such a profound lie. He condescendingly descended to falsely and indecorously shout corruption against Amaechi, without providing a single shred of evidence to back his claims. How pathetic!

Pray, Governor Wike, who collected the $150million on behalf of APC? From which State Government account(s) was the $150million taken from? How was the $150million taken and given to APC? Was it by wired transfer from Rivers State government account(s) to APC account(s)? So many questions, if Wike had attempted to answer, would have made nonsense of his supercilious allegations.

Rivers people and Nigerians are indeed sick and tired of this old worn-out trick of Governor Wike to hoodwink and distract Rivers people from the real issues. Making a new spurious allegation of corruption against Amaechi every day, will not make Rivers people forget that most of the beautiful, working institutions built by the Amaechi administration are now been allowed to rot away in spite of the billions of naira that had accrued to the State and the billions of naira borrowed by Wike. Rivers people want to know why weeds and grasses have taken over the beautiful schools built by Amaechi? Why the standard working health facilities Amaechi built and left behind are now looking desolate and abandoned? Rivers people are concerned and worried that crime and criminals are back and have taken over. No quantum of mudslinging and attempt to disparage the inspiring legacies of the Amaechi years in Rivers State would distract Rivers people from these issues.

Dasukigate: Nduka Obaigbena Refunds N350 Million

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, may have refunded N350m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from the N670 million he collected from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. A top operative of the commission told the Punch newspaper on Wednesday that Obaigbena refunded the money on Tuesday. The operative said he still has an outstanding of N200 million which he is expected to return next week. After being implicated in the arms procurement scandal, Obaigbena voluntarily gave himself over to the EFCC on January 29, 2016 he was released 24 hours later after signing an undertaking to refund the money within 14 days. The 14-day period of grace will expire next Tuesday.

“The Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, has returned N350m out of the N670m he received from the ONSA,” the source in the anti-graft agency told one of our correspondents on Wednesday. “The Publisher is expected to return the rest N200m next week. You know that he signed an undertaking to return the money before they released him. That undertaking expires on Tuesday next week.’’ Obaigbena had admitted receiving N670m from the ONSA in a response to the EFCC last month. He explained that N120m of the money was given to the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria as compensation for losses incurred during the military clampdown on newspaper houses in 2015. Several media houses, which received the compensation, have returned the money.

Source: The Punch

EFCC Chairman Meets UAE Envoy Over Money Laundering

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Following President Buhari’s Mutual Legal Assistance agreement with the United Arab Emirate on the repatriation of stolen funds and extradition of indicted officials, the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, met with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahmud Muhammad Al- Mahmud today in Abuja.

Magu called for the strengthening of the existing relationship between Nigeria and United Arab Emirate, UAE, with a view to effectively tackle corruption within the African continent.

“The fight against graft requires the collaborative support of all and sundry, most especially the international community for it to be won”, he said.

According to the EFCC boss, the present administration in the country is poised to recover the nation’s commonwealth looted and laundered in foreign countries by corrupt elements. He said the Commission has intelligence that the UAE is considered a safe haven by corrupt politically exposed persons in Nigeria.

A-Mahmud pledged the support of his country to Nigeria’s anti-graft war.

“No counrtry can be an island on its own without the support of others.” the UAE Ambassador said.

EFCC Arraigns Fake Gombe Governor

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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

$2.1bn Arms Deal: EFCC Invites Former Chief Of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh (retd.), is set to honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday (today).

A source close to the ex-CDS said he received the invitation from the Anti-graft agency on Monday, Punch reports.

He explained that upon receiving the invitation, Badeh instructed his close aides to make arrangements for him to honour the invitation on Wednesday (today).

Badeh is expected to appear before the anti-graft agency to shed light on the issue of arms procurement for the armed forces under his watch.

The EFCC is investigating a controversial $2.1bn arms procurement deal which has become a scandal involving several high profile serving, retired military officers and politicians.

The source said:

“The ex-CDS received the (EFCC) invitation yesterday (Monday) and he told us to prepare for him to appear before the commission tomorrow (Wednesday) morning in line with their request.

“He has kept a low profile since this thing started and he is ready to explain himself when he gets there.

“I believe he has nothing to hide, he worked with a team and will explain what he knows about what happened under his watch.

“It is a pity he has been subjected to a media trial before this opportunity to clear his name.”

Ex-NAF Chief, Amosu, Turns Down EFCC’s Offer To Return Funds

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

There were indications on Tuesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s interrogation of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), had reached a dead end.

It was learnt that the commission had asked Amosu and others, who are still being detained over the $2.1bn arms deal, to refund some money or contract sums traced to them.

It was gathered that the EFCC’s operatives met a brick wall when the former NAF chief refused to make any commitment to return any money or contract sums, which had been allegedly traced to him.

The former Chief of Air Staff was being interrogated in connection with 10 contracts awarded by the Nigeria Air Force between 2014 and 2015, totalling $930.5m.

As part of moves to recover the funds, the commission was making the signing of an undertaking to refund money as a precondition for granting the suspects administrative bail.

A source, who did not state the amount the former chief of air staff had been asked to pay, said, “As part of efforts to recover funds looted from the NSA office, suspects are being asked to write an undertaking that they will return the money before granting them administrative bail.

Read more: Punch

Olisah Metuh’s Torn Statement Linked Jonathan To N400m – EFCC

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Details have emerged about what the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, allegedly wrote in the torn statement which he made under caution while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on January 5.

The statements of the operatives who were said to have witnessed the incident and the “incidence record book” which gives details of the occurrence were part of the documents filed along with the charges of destruction of evidence preferred against him by the EFCC before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The court papers obtained by our correspondent on Sunday indicate that five operatives of the
commission witnessed the incident which was said to have happened on January 5, 2016, the day the PDP spokesperson was arrested.

Metuh allegedly tore his statement on January 5, 2016 while being investigated for an alleged fraudulent receipt of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser and money laundering allegation involving a separate sum of $2m.

The court documents indicate that the pieces of the torn statement have been kept with the commission’s exhibit keeper.

The entry number 049 in the incident duty log which was recorded at 4.30pm by an EFCC detective, Junaid Sa’id, on January 5, 2016, reads, “Destruction OF Written Statement: I have booked the incident of tearing into pieces of statement by Mr. Olisa Metuh, who was given his statement to endorse after volunteering his statement and he decided to tear into pieces the third page of his four-page statement.

“The torn statement has however been registered with the Exhibit Keeper. Entry made by Det. Junaid Sa’id.”

The document gives the timeline and details of how Metuh’s arrest was effected at about 10.55am in his residence at Prince and Princess Estate in Gudu, Abuja, on January 5, up till when he allegedly tore part of the statement at about.4.25pm on the same day.

It also indicates that Metuh had stated in the part of the torn statement that the account in which the N400m was paid was requested for by former President Goodluck Jonathan, for payments to be made to settle some debts owed by the PDP.

It reads in part, “12.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa began to volunteer his statement under words of caution.

“15.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa concluded his statement which was of four pages. I passed the statements to the team leader, CSP Ibrahim Musa, to read over and endorse accordingly but in the process of reading and after endorsing pages one and two, he swiftly tore into pieces page three of his statement which read that former President Jonathan had asked him to make available, account details owed by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the debts owed him personally and some media houses.

“He further stated that he gave the account details of Destra Investments Ltd. to the President and thereafter he received the payment of N400m into his company’s accounts which he used for specific assignments given to him by the President of which he was not willing to disclose for what purpose.

“I thereafter refused to give him page four of his statement for endorsement because I did not want him to tear it as well. This incidence (sic) happened in the presence of the following officers: Mr. Ibrahim Musa, Mr. Wetkas Michael, Mr. Bello Umar, Ms. Ibrahim, who were all carrying out their various assignments.

“16.30 hours: The torn page of the statement which is in pieces was registered with the exhibit keeper and the incident recorded in the incidence record book of the commission.”

Source: The Punch

EFCC Seizes PDP Chairman, Mua’zu’s Mansion In Abuja

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Abuja home of former national Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu has been reportedly taken over by heavily armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja.

According to an eye witness, the anti-graft agency got to the former PDP’s Chairman’s house in Abuja when one of his wives just left the mansion.

The house was ransacked by the EFCC officials. One of Mu-azu’s wives was said to have fled the house.

The ex-PDP chair is allegedly one of those indicted in the $2.1 billion arms procurement fund mismanaged by former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The case is getting hot and Nigerians are in for a swell time seeing this drama unfold daily.

Obanikoro Responds To EFCC Probe Of Sons Over Alleged N4.8billion Fraudulent Payment

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The immediate past Minister of State, Foreign Affairs Musiliu Obanikoro has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to sincerely publish the names of the directors and signatories to the Sylvan McNamara Limited account that allegedly received N4.8billion from the office of the National Security Adviser.

In a statement circulated on his behalf by his media aide, Jonathan Eze, Mr. Obanikoro said the EFCC should provide details of the real signatories to the account “as at when the said money was paid instead of demonising and deceiving Nigerians with vague, contrived and distorted information”.

“Obanikoro is appalled by the public political persecution embarked upon by these agencies noting that there is nowhere in the world where investigations are being conducted using the pages of the newspapers,” the statement said.

The former minister also “queried the wisdom and logic of bandying figures and associating same with his sons who are thorough bred professionals in their own rights reminding them that the court of law is and remains the judicial institution for trying cases and not whipping sentiments in order to give the dog a bad name and hang it.”

Saying he served the nation in various capacities with enviable and untainted records of public service, Mr. Obanikoro urged the EFCC to be straight and above board in its investigations and avoid speculations and conjectures that are infringing on the fundamental human rights of his sons.

The statement reads in parts, “Associating my sons to the Sylvan McNamara account that allegedly received funds from the office of the embattled National security Adviser is highly preposterous and unthinkable.

“I am particularly amazed by the fact that trials and investigations are being done using the media unconventionally just to satisfy the cravings of political entities who are desperate to rub my hard earned reputation in the mud.

“I am using this medium to challenge … the EFCC to publish in good conscience the signatories and the names of the directors of the said company and to restate that I shall conclusively pursue this injustice and infringements to a logical end.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Why EFCC Arrested Own Operative

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrahman Mohammed Biu, a deputy detective superintendent, has been arrested for offences bordering on extortion, influence peddling and impersonation, the commission said in a statement Friday.

The officer was arrested on Monday following intelligence report alleging that he extorted $150,000 from some military officers on the pretext that he would help give them a soft landing in the ongoing investigation into the arms deal scandal.

Upon his arrest, a search was executed on his residence in Abuja where the following items were recovered: $20,000 cash, N500, 000 cash, two police uniforms bearing his name with the ranks of Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Police warrant card No: 27/2014 with the rank of DSP allegedly obtained from Kano Constabulary office, documents relating to military arms investigation and account information of several senior military officers.

A search of his car parked in the premises yielded the following items: unbranded pistol with a magazine and ten live ammunitions.

This was disclosed by a statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s spokesperson.

EFCC said Mr. Biu’s modus operandi includes dropping the names of ranking officers of the commission, claiming he was acting on their behalf. A paper containing seven of such names was recovered in his house.

The suspect has made useful statement, while investigation continues.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Ibori Replies Attorney-General: “There Is No Ibori Loot Anywhere”

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Read the press statement below…

Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s Media Office was shocked to read in the newspapers of Wednesday January 27, 2016, that the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said the Federal Government was priming itself to recover the sum of 6.9m British Pounds Sterling described as “Ibori loot”.

In a press statement, Mr. Tony Eluemunr, Ibori’s Media Assistant said ‘’there is no Ibori loot anywhere in the world.

Such money, whether in British pounds, American dollars or the Nigerian Naira just does not exist. This is because the Ibori London trial is not yet over. It is an incontrovertible fact that the confiscation hearing has not started at all, and remains months away into the future. This makes it disappointing that a high official of State such as the Attorney-General may have been misled into believing that an Ibori loot not only exists anywhere, but he even put a figure (6.9 million pounds) to it.

Mr. Eluemunor continued: “With all due respect to the Minister and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, it is curious that such a misleading statement could have come less than a week that dozens of well-respected foreign media organisations including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), The Times of London, The Guardian of London, and a host of Nigerian news outlets reported that the case against Ibori and his associates have become shaky as some operatives of the London Metropolitan Police have been accused of bribery and corruption in the course of their investigations. Thus at the Thursday January 21, 2016 hearing the prosecution was forced to withdraw its case against one of Ibori’s counsels, Mr. Bradesh Gohil. It had charged Gohil of leaking fabricated documents to media organisations and Members of (British) Parliament, but Gohil turned the case against the Police, accusing it of misleading the court with tainted evidence from corrupt operatives and of withholding key documents which could have proved police corruption.

The New Indian Express of Monday 25 January 2016 ventured further than the Times to report that Gohil, who was freed from jail last year, may now challenge his previous conviction, just as Ibori or any of his associates already convicted may also decide to do.

In representations to the judge, Stephen Kamlish, Gohil’s defence team leader accused the Crown Prosecution Service of “positively misleading the court and the parties as part of their deliberate cover-up of discloseable material”.

In response, the Judge said, “The crown has offered no evidence for one or both of the following reasons. One, that the allegations of corruption made by Mr Gohil are true, and not false. The second is that the crown has suppressed material both in this court and in other proceedings, including the trial of Ibori”. Then he said in words that must be sweet music to Ibori’s ears; “The crown offering no evidence can only mean the crown is not prepared themselves to explain their decision, either for the abuse of the court in bad faith or for the police corruption. In those circumstances, it is our duty to our client to raise these matters and this brings into question the safety of these (past) convictions.” This means all the past convictions could be challenged afresh.

The New Indian Express continued; “A Met police intelligence report seen by the paper suggests an RISC employee telephoned a police officer working on the Ibori investigation in 2007 and allegedly told him his inquiries were “on the right track”. Separate documents shown to Gohil’s defence team are said to reveal the existence of 19 cash deposits into the same officer’s bank account. The Crown Prosecution had allegedly denied the existence of the documents”. However, it is on record that in the run up to the hearings, Ms Wass was directly accused by Gohil’s representative, Mr. Stephen Kamlish, of lying to the Court of Appeal and also lying to His Honour at the Southwark Court and disobeying his order for the Crown to disclose evidence in their possession which include the bank statements of Detective Constable John McDonald to the Defence before the start of the trial.

Eluemunor said that he assumed that the Minister may have been misquoted and so did not issue a rebuttal immediately. It was only when he failed to retract the statement after 24 hours that he decided to give Nigerians (including the Minister) the true perspective about the Ibori London trial and state categorically that the so called “Ibori Loot” Mr. Abubakar Malami saw as a “low hanging fruit ripe for plucking” must have been a terrible mirage. This has done nothing though to affect in any way the high regards Chief Ibori and his Media Office have for President Muhammadu Buhari, his administration and Ministers, including the Justice Minister, Mr. Abubakar Malami. Chief Ibori wishes them well in their stated bid to leave Nigeria better than they found it.

Signed: Tony Eluemunor

Media Assistant to Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

EFCC Arraigns Two Oil Dealers for Petroleum Equalisation Fraud

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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

EFCC Detains Ex-Chief Of Air Staff Over N29billion Arms Deal

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested and detained the immediate past Chief of Air Force, Adesola Amosu.

Mr. Amosu, an air vice marshal, who was retired last year, alongside other military chiefs, is allegedly being detained over allegation of corruption in arms procurement during his tenure. An official of the EFCC confirmed the development.

The official said Mr. Amosu was arrested on Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari had recently directed the EFCC to investigate the former air chief and other serving and retired military officers over alleged misconduct established against them.

Among those to be investigated include the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, former Chief of Defence Staff, Marshal Alex Badeh and another former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar.

Mr. Dasuki is currently facing charges over alleged $2.1 billion arms procurement deal.

Credit: PremiumTimes

EFCC Quizzes Jonathan’s Ally Over Alleged Multibillion Dollar Deals

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday evening questioned Jide Omokore, an ally of former president, Goodluck Jonathan, and Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited.

It gathered the arrest was in connection with a series of multi-billion dollar petrol import and crude export deals.

Multiple security sources said that Mr Omokore, who was later released on Wednesday evening, made revealing statements.

Operatives said he was expected to return with some required documents.

Atlantic Energy Limited was one of the companies that allegedly received multibillion dollar worth of public assets without due process by the Jonathan administration in 2011.

The company, which was created less than a year earlier and had not produced a droplet of oil, was awarded controlling stakes in two lucrative oil blocks – OML 30 and 34 – for just over $50 million each.

The deal, which was signed by the immediate past minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave Atlantic Energy Limited a controlling 55 percent stake in the oil block.

Credit: PremiumTimes

EFCC Seals Borno House Of Assembly Over Allegations Of Corruption

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Report coming out of Borno has it that the Borno State House of Assembly has been invaded by operatives of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Residents of Shehuri ward where the House of Assembly is located told reporters that legislators abandoned the floor of the house when security operatives allegedly to be men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC came to arrest some of the members.

According to them, some of the legislators escaped on foot while others were quick to sneak out before the security operative sealed off the Assembly over alleged corruption.

There was no legislator to speak to as at press time, even as rumour has it that the EFCC has succeeded in arresting some politicians in the state.

However, situation around the Borno Assembly is said to be tensed .

Details shortly…

Source – Daily Post

Metuh’s Firm Among 78 Paid For Doing Nothing – NSA’s Office

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An official of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Bali Ndam, on Tuesday narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja the processes leading to the charges of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of the sum of N400m from the ONSA in November 2014, preferred against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Ndam, a Legal Adviser at the ONSA, who appeared before Justice Okon Abang as the third prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday, said the incumbent NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, sent a petition dated November 28, 2015 to the commission over “payment of contracts without award”.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, the witness said “a list of companies and individuals about 78 in number” was attached to the NSA’s petition to the EFCC.

He said he could “vividly remember” that Metuh’s firm, Destra Investments Limited, with whom the PDP spokesperson is standing trial, was among the 78 beneficiaries of the allegedly ?fraudulent payment.

But an attempt by the prosecution to tender the petition and other documents, including the electronic mandate issued by the ONSA to the Controller of the Abuja branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments in favour of the 78 beneficiaries, was opposed by the defence counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

The judge is currently writing his bench ruling on the objection raised by the defence against the admisibility of the documents.

Metuh, who has a pending application for variation of the conditions of bail granted him by the court was also produced in court on handcuffs by prison officials on Tuesday.

The court has fixed tomorrow, Wednesday for the hearing of the application for variation of the bail terms, which his lawyer said he had laboured unsuccessfully to meet.

The EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on seven counts of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, and used the funds for the PDP’s campaign activities.

The prosecution alleged that the N400m from which Metuh was said to have given about N21m to a former Chairman, Board of Trustee of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

The prosecution, led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opened its case on Monday by calling two witnesses – an employee of a financial services firm, Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, Nneka Ararume, and a bureau de change operator, Sie Iyenome.

While Ararume testified on how she received a $2m cash from Metuh at his home in Abuja on December 2, 2014, Iyenome narrated to the court his role in converting the sum $1m part of the total sum of $2m

EFCC Seals Off Property Of Dasuki, Serving General

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Investigations into the alleged diversion of the $2.1billion arms fund has taken a new dimension as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed Kaduna at the weekend, evicting occupants and sealing off property believed to have belonged to the lead suspect and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and his alleged accomplices.

The property include an hotel complex in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Rabah Road, Malali and a housing estate at Sani Sami Road, within the same GRA. It was also learnt that one of the property, a mighty residential duplex located at 5C, Sultan Close, is said to belong to a former Commander of Operation Lafia Dole, a Major-General.

When the property was visited yesterday, red paint marked: “EFCC, Keep off, under EFCC investigation”, was written all over the building.

When the EFCC operatives stormed the house on Sunday evening, there was a birthday party going on there, but everyone was asked to vacate the premises immediately after which it was sealed off.

Eyewitnesses said the operatives went away with the General’s wife. However, the military officer’s whereabouts were unknown as at Press time.

In addition, a multi-million naira shopping mall, allegedly belonging to the General’s wife, was equally confiscated by the anti-graft agency, with the same inscription on it. But neighbours living close to the property argued that the mouth-watering edifice belongs to the General’s brother and not his wife as alleged.

Similarly, another property, a shopping mall along Sultan Road, which is said to belong to the General’s friend, an ambassador, was equally confiscated.

Credit: Sun

Why We Can’t Hand Over Tompolo To JTF, EFCC —Ijaw Elders, Youths

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

IJAW elders in Delta State, yesterday, said it was impracticable for them to hand over the former General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to security agencies because they neither have the power to do so nor know his (Tompolo) whereabouts currently.

They also said that they do not have any information that Tompolo was involved in the three-day bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in the state, while many see the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s case against him as a form of persecution.

The Federal Government, last weekend, asked Ijaw communities to hand over suspects involved in the bombing, alleged to be hiding in their areas, to security agencies, while the Joint Task Force, JTF, had earlier threatened to hold community leaders responsible for further acts of pipeline vandalism in their communities.

Chairman, Ijaw (Izon) Okosu –Otu (Ijaw Council of Elders), Delta State, Chief Bare Etolor, said, “It is unfair for the Federal Government to ask Ijaw communities to handover suspects that carried out the bombing because we do not know them. In addition, I do not see how anybody expects us to handover Tompolo to security agencies because we do not have the power to do that, except they want to humiliate us.”

Another Ijaw leader in Gbaramatu Kkingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekame, who re-echoed Etolor’s position, said it was impossible for them to handover Tompolo to the government.

Some Niger Delta and Ijaw youth groups, including the Niger Delta Security Watch Organszation of Nigeria, NWSON and Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, threw their weight behind the elders, saying that the understanding of many Ijaw people was that the government was persecuting Tompolo because he refused to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, Executive Director of Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, CENTREP, Warri, Delta State, Mr. Oghenjabor Ikimi, said there was nothing wrong in the residents of the affected areas and ex-militants giving useful information to security agencies to unmask the culprits.

EFCC To Arraign Ohakim, Lamido Tomorrow, As Metuh’s Trial Continues Today

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Staff Reporter

267

An interesting week may be in the offing as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continues several pending high-profile cases, starting with Olisa Metuh’s appearance at the Federal High Court 10 in Abuja today.

The case by Justice O.E. Abang was last heard on Tuesday January 19 when he was granted N400 million bail, which he is yet to meet, was on allegation that the spokesman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) received N400 million from former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The said amount was alleged to be part of the $2.1 billion arms procurement fund under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former governors of Imo and Jigawa states, Ikedi Ohakim and Sule Lamido respectively are expected to appear in court on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday January 26, 27 and 28 for further hearing on their corruption cases with the EFCC.

While Ohakim would appear at Federal High Court 6 before Justice Ademola Adeniyi on Tuesday and Wednesday January 26 and 27, Sule Lamido will appear before the same judge on Wednesday and Thursday January 27 and 28.

Ohakim was arrested for N270 million fraud allegedly committed while he was governor of Imo state.
The said amount was reported to have been used to acquire a property in Abuja.

Ohakim, according to an EFCC witness, has paid the sum in hard currency of $2.29 million to acquire a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

He was admitted to bail by Justice Ademola on Thursday, July 9, 2015 after his arraignment on three count charge of money laundering by the EFCC.

Sule Lamido, alongside his sons, Aminu and Mustapha with Aminu Wada Abubakar and Batholomew Darlington Agoha, are standing trial before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 27-count amended charge bordering on corruption and money laundering.

He had allegedly received N1.3 billion as kickback from a contractor, Dantata and Sawoe Construction company.

The companies arraigned along with them were Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited and Speeds International Limited, through which they allegedly carried out the fraud. Lamido and his co-accused had been arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Kano State, on July 9, 2015 for allegedly misappropriating funds belonging to Jigawa State.

Their case was later transferred to the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Other personalities billed to face the courts in February are former Head of Service, Stephen Oronsaye, former governor of Zamfara state, Ahmed Yerima former governor of Nasarawa state, Akwe Doma, former Benue governor Gabriel Suswam, media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi, a suspect in the police pension probe, Essai Dangaba, and former Defence Minister, Haliru Mohammed.

Credit : Today.ng

Fresh N22.7bn Charges: EFCC Lines Up 25 Witnesses Against Tompolo, Others

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed fresh 22 charges against an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and 12 others.

The charges, which were filed on Friday at a Federal High Court in Lagos, bordered on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of N22,765,900,000.

The fresh charges were filed eight days after Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered the arrest of Tompolo for his failure to appear on January 14, 2016 to take his plea on a separate 40 counts of alleged N34bn fraud earlier filed against him and nine others by the EFCC.

In the fresh charges, which had yet to be assigned to any judge, the EFCC listed 25 witnesses that
will testify against Tompolo and his 12 co-suspects when the trial begins.

Among the witnesses are seven EFCC investigators, officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, officials of the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

Also to testify against the suspects are officials of four commercial banks including Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc.

Those to be arraigned alongside Tompolo in the fresh 22 counts is a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, whose four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – who are still at large, were alleged to have aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

The other suspects are Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa and Pondi Kestin.

Also joined as defendants in the charges are seven companies – Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Ltd, Wabod Global Resources Ltd, Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.

The suspects were said to have fraudulently converted various sums, running into over N22.7bn, stolen from NIMASA, to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

They were also accused of defrauding the Federal Government by making false representations, which they knew to be untrue, in order to obtain money from the government.

The offences are said to be contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3)of the same Act.

The charge sheet, signed by Festus Keyamo, also indicated that the suspects violated various sections of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 including its sections 15(3) and 18(a) and were liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The suspects were also said to be liable to punishment under Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

In count two, the EFCC alleged that the suspects “between the December 2, 2014 and April 10, 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud, induced the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you, the aggregate sum of N11, 900,000,000.00 by falsely pretending to the Federal Government of Nigeria that all that land and its appurtenances lying, being and situate at the Mieka Dive Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, to be acquired by NIMASA for the temporary Campus of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area, is free from any encumbrances, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3)of the same Act.”

Akpobolokemi is scheduled to appear on Friday before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos, where he was first arraigned on December 3, 2015 alongside nine others on 30 counts of stealing and money laundering to the tune of N3.4bn.

His trial before Justice Buba, where he was arraigned along with five others on December 4, 2015 on 22 counts of alleged N2.6bn fraud, commenced last week with the EFCC calling three witnesses.

The case was adjourned till February 2, 2016.

Akpobolokemi is also scheduled to appear before Justice Buba on February 8, 2016 alongside nine others, including Tompolo, who was ordered to be arrested and produced in court on the hearing date.

Source: Punch

Assign More Judges To Fraud Cases, Magu Tells CJ

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, paid a visit to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, on Wednesday, urging her to designate more judges to EFCC cases.

In order to expedite hearings in EFCC cases, Magu also pleaded with the CJ to consider the possibility of putting magistrates sitting in the Igbosere division of the court in charge of remand orders for suspects being investigated by the anti-graft commission.

Magu was quoted to have made this appeal on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Lagos State Judiciary Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Grace Alo, which was made available to newsmen.

The EFCC boss, however, commended the Lagos State judiciary for its commitment to eradication of crimes in the society, noting that the EFCC had secured no fewer than 103 convictions at the Lagos State High Court.

“As of 2015, we have had 103 convictions; it shows the commitment and zeal towards the fight against corruption. For such a judiciary we must thank the Chief Judge and her team for a job well done,” Magu said.

The statement quoted the Chief Judge as restating the judiciary under her watch to eradication of corruption, adding that her team was equal to the task.

She, however, urged the EFCC to embrace the option of plea bargain, especially in financial crimes cases, noting that doing so would aid loot recovery and shorten trial time.

Credit : Punch

Tobi Tosin Olaboyede: Anti Corruption War And The Rule Of Law

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Whereas, the most expectations on Buhari administration has being hardihood to counter corruption becoming rooted in the pith of Nigeria politicians and the large.

Over the years, notably the GEJ’s administrative interval, anti corruption war could be noted as drifting to the brink, so much to devastate Nigerian’s supposed treasure as well as the country’s future. Wealths were stupendously accrued via the oil sector which had experienced a boom over the period, of which reality had being a sharp contrast in the lives of average Nigerians. It could be figured beyond the shadow of doubt, that the self-inflicted defeat of the GEJ’s administration is its negligence to fight corruption, coupled freedom given to political executions (by those corresponding officeholders). While capital budget were being apportioned to sectors without implementation’ follow-up, Federal transactions were equally left unaccountable and or/ inscrutable. However, down to having being left in the patch of reckless abandon and copious impunity, in a developing Nation of a supposedly diligent superintendency.

Whereas, Nigerians and the large would linger on the Nation’s quandaries, but furthermore, doubt the country’s status as Africa largest economy. Infrastructures were sloping downward, of course, while crumbling sectors could not be expertly managed. Amenities were being left to regress… in which its thirsty countrymen were literally wallowing in the dark. Youth unemployment, Boko Haram insurgency among others had being daily articles about Nigeria and per the lives of Nigerians. No thanks to the exploit of base administrative ruling; jagged policy by incompetent makers, and especially corruption.

This, citizens prudently but necessarily, during the last poll, decided a choice / opportunity to tackle the blighted root which had been stunting the (country) growth: corruption. Buhari was found the right man at that particular time, owing to that experience of his, reputation and or/ track record, to re-lay an incorruptible example and bring sanity to leadership’ orientation stroke citizen’s values.

His anti-corruption physiognomy has stirred the kaput anti graft agency into initial momentum. The Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has been in the news once again, from treads of its sweep on those economy looters (of notably the just-last regime). The PMB would equally recede shields from current co-administrators, from the prying eagle-eye of the anti crime agencies. Just perhaps, era of impunity could be over.

Whereas, Democratic ruling would be bound-bearing on those polity of the administration, including its fight against corruption. This ruling has been used to stir leaders into confiding order per their various discharges, and rightly, this equally is necessary to bring structure and ethics to country sector’s operations, citizen’s right protection among other (by those leaders). However too, this would be, as it’s being exploited by those advocate of corruption and impunity, to loot as many and run away with their crime on especially economy.

My opinion in this note is ambiguous, and can not assert an end to the analogy of fight against corruption and that defense it faces from the rule of law.

Over the months of Buhari’s new job, corrupt (former) political office holders had been landing in EFCC’s net, while the one(s) who poses threat to State’ security or unity, are being bursted by Security Service (SSS). Varying legal theorem have been trailing these actions which have been attracting disdainful scrutiny on the prime mover.

These suspects, as so they claim, would solicit legal process, perhaps impunity’ cover, in which a certain ruling of the constitution will somewhat protect. Pundits and some member of the public would justify these legal stances and challenge the Aso Rock’ authority for breach of such. While also, the Human right observer and or/ activists would equally follow the suit.

The rather controverting opinions which had trailed the much talked-about dasukigate and nnamdi kanu’ case and more, underlie how Democratic ruling (and or the so-called rule of law) could frustrate the PMB’ battle on corruption and indiscipline. Yea, legal support for a former Defense Chief (and his co-beneficiaries) who were guilty of gross crime against security &/ economy, is one of those factors that could distress any anti corruption fight. While also, human right solicitation for anyone who stimulates a cracking war (on Nigeria) could be equal to condoning a certain level of indiscipline (in the land). A generally opinionated political play against a leading lawmaker, aside protracting of CCT’s final judgement is ignoramus, but frustration to any counter graft intent of Buhari. The counter citation of law against the presidency by a militant political activist is a threat to Nigeria’ security, against ransom-asking kidnappers as well as oil-pipe vandals.

Perhaps, for a debuting statement to be categorically stated against corruption and or/ indiscipline, (more than) couple of executive politicians must be tried and indicted (in the land) for a start. It is unambiguous that parties to the former administrator are some guilty kleptomaniacs, but failure of the current Nigeria Nation to brace up a cold shoulder against these agents, would derail hope for the country’s baptism (especially at leadership level).

Perhaps, the country would forever lament about its rather self-inflicted predicaments, if it justifies the rule…’s defense for leadership corruption and or/ citizen’s indiscipline.

——————
Tobi Tosin Olaboyede, socio-political commentator.
email: tobitosin@informantblog.com
Twitter: @tobytosyn

Olisa Metuh Slammed With Fresh Charges As EFCC Returns Him To Court

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to slam fresh charges on the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, less than 48 hours after the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted him bail over a seven-count charge of corruption.

The EFCC drove the embattled politician into the premises of the FCT High Court on Thursday morning, preparatory to slamming fresh charges on him.

Like on Tuesday, Mr. Metuh was in handcuffs when he was brought into the court.

The handcuffs were later removed as he waited to be taken before a judge.

Details of the new charges are unclear at this time, but the anti-graft commission had on January 12 accused Mr. Metuh of shredding a confessional statement he made to its operatives, indicating it would charge him separately for attempting to destroy a major evidence in the case against him.

“The tearing of statement is tantamount to willful destruction of government property and it is a serious offence,” the official had told this newspaper at the time. “Also the fact that he obstructed operatives from performing their job is also a criminal offence. We will explore the possibility of filling a separate charge against him at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.”

In the original case, Mr. Metuh is facing a seven-count charge of corruption.

He is accused of receiving N400 million from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. The amount is part of the allegedly diverted sum of $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms.

Credit: PremiumTimes

2.1B Arms Deal: Mu’azu, Dikko, Jonathan’s Aide May Be Declared Wanted

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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As EFCC intensifies its investigations into the alleged stealing of $2.1 billion arms fund, former Chairman of PDP Adamu Muazu, former Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service Abdullahi Dikko Inde and four others may soon be declared wanted as they have all reportedly declined to honor invitations by the EFCC to answer questions in connection with the fraud.

According to The Nation, the others are former PDP Kebbi State governorship candidate Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki, a former top official in the Office of National Security Adviser, Col. Bello Fadile, former Special Assistant to eformer President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Waripamowei Dudafa and a former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr.Abdulrasheed Maina.

Investigations by EFCC have shown that they all have questions to answer as they are alleged to have diverted the arms fund for the prosecution of the campaign for the re-election of Jonathan last year. EFCC sources gave a breakdown of what each of them allegedly collected from Dasuki’s office
The breakdown is as follows:
Muazu—(N500million cash allegedly from the Office of the National Security Adviser);
Yaki(N200million from ONSA);
Fadile(N100million from ONSA);
Dudafa( being investigated for N10billion given to the delegates to the PDP’s nomination convention);
Maina—alleged N20billion pension fraud
Dikko—N3.5billion incurred on internet project
“Security agencies have given these former public officers enough time but they have not turned up to clear some disbursements and expenditures traced to them. The committee is not saying that they are guilty but it is imperative for them to appear before the team handling these issues. They have up to one week to honor the invitation of the panel or else they will be declared wanted by the appropriate security agencies.”the source said
Another source said“Some of the accused persons on trial admitted disbursing arms cash to a few of these former public officers. For instance, Dasuki, in his statement, said he handed over N10 billion to Dudafa for disbursement to delegates to PDP Nomination Convention. A former Minister of Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, who is standing trial, said Yakin benefited to the tune of N200million from some funds. Most of these people are holed up abroad. Let them come home. Once they are declared wanted by security agencies, it will be easier to extradite them home.”.

Adams Oshiomhole Justifies The Handcuffing Of Olisa Metuh To Court

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole says handcuffing embattled National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh to court by prison officials yesterday January 19th, was in order. He said this while speaking at the council members of the Edo state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalist NUJ yesterday January 20th

“I want to appeal to the media to join President Buhari in fighting the anti-corruption war because if we don’t, and we allow these people to harass the president to silence, all of us are in trouble. I saw some headlines querying why should Metuh be in handcuffs.
If people who steal he-goats, dried grass cutters are in handcuffs; I have been to the police station several times and I see young men who rob not more than N500,000 naira in handcuffs, they are paraded and made to seat on the floor. Why should certain set of criminals be treated as if they are not suspected criminals and serious crimes at that? When you all reported lavishly how under the former president, the former defense chief set up a military tribunal to try soldiers who ran away from battle field and they were condemned to death, it was only Femi Falana who was consistent in fighting their case. Those are Nigerians who were to be killed for running away because they couldn’t confront a Boko Haram that was well armed while they were asked to go and fight with their bare hands and we were told that weapons, ammunitions and everything had been provided. When Borno Governor said, ‘look, our Armed Forces are fighting with bare hands’, he was told to shut up. Now it is clear from current revelations that the money that would have been used to arm these young men who joined the army with pride and who on a good day have the courage to fight not only at home but abroad, but because they didn’t have arms, they ran away. They were sentenced to death. Thanks to Buhari, some have been commuted now to various terms of imprisonment which I applaud and I think even that one should further be reviewed, they should summit their uniform but remain free people. Now, those who shared that money, this is not the usual security money, this is special appropriation to fight Boko Haram, $2.1 billion, people just shared it, everybody was using their son, co-opting young children into this while other people’s children were sentenced to death. And anybody who partakes in that and they put him in handcuffs, they say, why should he be in handcuff because he is an elite and the media will report it without also showing us pictures of some Nigerians whose fathers are not known, but are not less Nigerian than any of us, who are always not only in handcuffs but are put on the floor in various police stations and paraded even before they are charged to court and we all look at them and turn to the next pictures, it doesn’t attract a commentary. Why should some criminals just be celebrated even when we all can feel the amount of damage, the consequences of their rascality on our collective wellbeing. I think the media should support the President. This is not President Buhari’s fight, and you know he had reminded us that if we don’t kill corruption, it will kill us. Now corruption is fighting back”he said.

$2.1bn Arms Probe: Colonel Opens Lid On Illicit Deals By Top Officers

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Indications emerged last night that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has received some lead on how some of the indicted top serving and retired military officers looted the nation through fraudulent arms contract and direct diversion of funds meant for arms procurement.

Findings have revealed that the arrest and detention of a serving Colonel in the Nigerian Army in relation to the diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase in the Office of the National Security Adviser, exposed the illicit deals undertaken by the indicted officers.

Findings also showed that the Colonel, who hails from Delta State and served as a Personal Assistant to the embattled ex-NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, has been telling the anti-graft operatives all that he knows about the arms deals and those who masterminded the looting of the nation’s resources in the name of arms purchase.

It was on the strength of the revelations by the detained military officer and others, that the EFCC, last week, wrote to the Defence Headquarters to release the affected officers and their retired counterparts, for immediate questioning.

Indicted officers already on our radar —EFCC

A top EFCC official, who spoke with Vanguard last night, confirmed that some of the indicted men were already under their radar.

The officer, who declined to give details of what they were doing about the indicted officers, said that EFCC would take immediate steps to carry out the Presidential directive arising from the indictment of the military officers by a panel, which looked into the arms deals.

The official said: “We intend to carry out the Presidential directive in accordance with our extant rules. Don’t forget that before the directive came, we had already moved to fish out some in the military top brass whose names came up in the course of investigation into the $2.1 arms deals.

“We also have a serving military officer, who has been telling us some of the things that took place in the name of arms purchase in the ONSA. All these will certainly advance our work.”

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, ordered the EFCC to prosecute many top military officers and companies indicted by a Presidential panel that probed the procurement of arms for the country between 2007 and 2015.

Those to be investigated

Among those mentioned in the panel report as having cases to answer were the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd); former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (retd), and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu (retd).

The others are Major-General E.R. Chioba (retd), Air Vice Marshal I.A. Balogun (retd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Tsakr (retd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Idowu (retd), Air Vice Marshal A.M. Mamu, Air Vice Marshal, O.T. Oguntoyinbo, Air Vice Marshal T. Omenyi, Air Vice Marshal J.B. Adigun, Air Vice Marshal R.A. Ojuawo, and Air Vice Marshal J.A. Kayode-Beckley.

Others are: Air Commodore Sa Yushau (retd), Air Commodore A.O. Ogunjobi, Air Commodore G.M.D. Gwani, Air Commodore S.O. Makinde, Air Commodore A.Y. Lassa, Colonel N. Ashinze, and Lt. Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Also to be investigated are: Himma Aboubakar, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Messrs Syrius Technologies and Sky Experts Nig Ltd, among others.

According to the statement, the procurement processes were arbitrarily carried out and characterized by irregularities and fraud, while in many cases, the items procured failed to meet their required purposes, especially the counter insurgency operations in the north east.

Credit : Vanguard

Tompolo Explains Why He Has Refused To Honor All Court Invitations

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Former Niger Delta militancy leader, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo has explained why he has refused to honor court invitations over the corruption cases leveled against him by the EFCC. In an open letter to President Buhari which he sent out through his media aide, Paul Bebenimbo, yesterday January 18th, Tompolo said;

“The truth of the matter is that I do not know anything about the N34 billion Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is talking about. First, it was N13 billion issue, now it is N34 billion. I am not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said N34 billion case, so I do not know where this one is coming from. I know that God in His infinite mercy will see me through in this critical moment.”?the letter read

He accused former governor of Bayelsa ?state, Timipre Sylva, of working against him.

“I wish to inform you that it has come to my knowledge that the leader of your party and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa and a few young men from Warri South West council of Delta State, who joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the 2015 presidential election, are bent on linking me to the renewed vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta, whereas they are the ones carrying out the act to smear my name. They are doing this in connivance with the EFCC lawyer. The leader of your party in Bayelsa State approached me shortly after my meeting with you in Abuja that I should accompany him to meet you and plead for him to be appointed special adviser (SA) and chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which I refused to do because of his antecedents, as an unreliable and trustworthy person. It was thereafter he forced his way into the governorship election of the state, which almost tore the state apart with violence, beginning with the party primary in which he demonstrated a high level of desperation as was recounted by the Chairman of the committee and Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. As for members of the party from my local government area, Warri South-West, they have been involved in illegal bunkering and oil theft activities over the years, which I have been fighting against because of my love for country. They know me as a no-nonsense person. There is this one from Gbaramatu kingdom with me that has sworn to kill me because I refused to manipulate the ascension to our traditional stool in his favour when he was not even qualified for it. And so, he looks for any opportunity to deal with me.’’the letter read.

See Names Of Army Officers, Companies Buhari Ordered EFCC To Probe Over Arms Procurements

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The fight against corruption may have entered a new level as the President has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to further investigate alleged misconduct established against some retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army.

According to a statement by the President’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, this directive by President Muhammadu Buhari follows the recommendation of the committee established to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the armed forces and defence sector from 2007 to 2015.

The officers indicted are former Chief of Defence Staff, Retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh; Former Chief of Air Staff, Retired Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, and former Chief of Air Staff, Retired Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu.

The others are Major General E.R. Chioba (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal I.A. Balogun (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Tsakr (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Idowu (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal A.M. Mamu, Air Vice Marshal, O.T. Oguntoyinbo, Air Vice Marshal T. Omenyi, Air Vice Marshal J.B. Adigun, Air Vice Marshal R.A. Ojuawo, and Air Vice Marshal J.A. Kayode-Beckley.

Others are; Air Commodore Sa Yushau (Rtd), Air Commodore A.O. Ogunjobi, Air Commodore G.M.D. Gwani, Air Commodore S.O. Makinde, Air Commodore A.Y. Lassa, Colonel N. Ashinze, and Lt. Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Rtd).

Also to be investigated are the roles of the officers and some companies and their directors in what the statement describes as fundamental breaches associated with the procurement by the offices of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Air Force.

They include: Himma Aboubakar, Aeronautical Engineering And Technical Services Limited, Messrs Syrius Technologies and Sky Experts Nig Ltd, among others.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Another Building Reportedly Owned By Former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, Sealed Off By EFCC

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Building pictured above is said to be owned by former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh and has been sealed off by the EFCC.

EFCC Files 7-Count Charge Against Olisa Metuh

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says it has filed a seven count charge of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering against the National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr Olisa Metuh.

Mr Metuh, according to the charges, transferred the sum of $1 million dollars through his agent, Nneka Nicole Ararume, to one Sie iyenome of Capital Field Investment committing an offense contrary to Section One of the Money Laundering Act.

He is also accused of receiving the sum of N400 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, without a contract contrary to the Money Laundering Act.

Mr Metuh, is also accused of converting the said money to funds for political activities of the People’s Democratic Party. .

Listed as witnesses in the suit are five commercial banks, a representative in the Office of the National Security Adviser, three investment houses and eight individuals.

The EFCC has however not indicated when the PDP spokesman will be arraigned.

The EFCC also said it has a valid court order to detain Mr Metuh over alleged corruption related crime.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Lawyer Withdraws Suit Seeking Metuh’s Release From EFCC’s Custody

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Lagos-based lawyer, has announced the withdrawal of a suit he instituted against the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) seeking the release of the national publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, from the custody of the Commission.

Adegboruwa, on Monday, filed the suit before the Federal High Court, Lagos, alleging that Metuh’s fundamental rights have been violated.

Metuh was arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 5, 2016, in his house in Abuja and he has been kept in custody ever since, without access to his family, lawyers or doctors.

In the suit filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Adegboruwa contended that under Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, the EFCC had exceeded the maximum time allowed by law for detention of a citizen, without trial in any court.

Credit: Guardian

Why EFCC Sealed Ex-Chief Of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh’s House

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commssion has sealed the residence ex-Defence chiefs Alex Badeh’s house in Wuse zone II. House number 19 on Kumasi Cresent was sealed off Wednesday afternoon by operatives of the comm?ission.

The action of the EFCC is said to be part of the ongoing investigations into the arms purchase scam in the office of former NSA Sambo Dasuki.

Credit: dailytrust

EFCC To Arraign Olisa Metuh Thursday

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to arraign the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh, after more than one week of being detained in their custody.

Reports gathered on Wednesday that Metuh, who was picked up at his Abuja residence on January 5, will be arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Court 10, Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja.

The PDP spokesman was said to have been arrested and under investigation by the EFCC for allegedly collecting about N400m from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), from the money alleged to be part of the $2.1 billion arms procurement fund.

Credit: ThisDay

$2.1bn Arms Deal Scandal: Why We Have Not Arrested Jonathan – EFCC

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu says the agency is yet to arrest former President Goodluck Jonathan because no document has been traced to Jonathan giving any approval for the disbursement of the money for any purpose other than arms purchase.

Speaking at a meeting he had with online publishers in Lagos yesterday January 11th, Magu said all those that have been arrested and questioned in connection with the arms deal scandal were people who disbursed or collected money for reasons other than the purchase of arms and ammunition. “All approvals by former president Jonathan did not mention that it was for political purposes” he said.

APC’ll Not Apologise To Anyone Over Anti-Corruption War – Odigie-Oyegun

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said despite the criticism of partisanship trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war, the party owes no one any apology.

Origin-Oyegun spoke with State House correspondents on Monday evening after a meeting the party’s National Working Committee members held with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He was reacting to allegations that the ongoing anti-corruption war is aimed at further decimating the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The APC chairman however said the party’s position was that the rots in the country must be cleansed irrespective of whose ox is gored.

He however said his party was not interested in a one-party state, saying the nation needs a constructive opposition.

He said, “The APC is not in any way apologetic. We promised change and there is a lot of rot in the system. This must be cleansed and whoever and whatever ox is being gored, where ever the tree is going to fall, so, let it be.

“We must get used to the fact that in the process of cleansing this nation, there is going to be a lot of bullet to bite.

“The APC has not been in office at national level in the last 10 to 16 years. So, the issue of whether somebody is PDP or not PDP does not arise. We have a nation to cleanse. The president has committed himself to that and we should support it whatever way it comes. We are not being apologetic about that at all.

“It has nothing to do with witch-hunting. It just happened that the dramatist personel of the period all happened to be on one side of the political divide. We have absolutely no intention to pressurise any group or any nation towards a one-party state. It is not in our interest so to do because we need a vibrant opposition.

“We need an opposition that will contribute constructively to national discourse, that will make us sit up and deliver to the people what we promised. But the task is enormous and if anybody is ready to help to discharge these responsibilities, he is most welcomed.”

Odigie-Oyegun added that the party regretted the bloodshed that characterised the just-concluded governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Why EFCC Arrested NBC Director-General, Emeka Mba

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Emeka Mba, the Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission over an alleged N15 billion fraud.

Mr. Mba was arrested on Monday morning in Abuja and taken to the EFCC’s headquarters where he is currently being interrogated.

Those familiar with the investigation say the EFCC had been investigating the NBC in the past one month.

Last week, some detectives stormed the headquarters of the NBC, ransacking computers and files in the Finance and Account unit.

During the operation, some key Accounts staff where taken away. Sources said the arrested officials made confessional statements to the EFCC implicating Mr. Mba and some top officials of the NBC.

When contacted, the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was on an official assignment in Lagos and had not been briefed.

But a top official of the anti-graft agency said: “Yes, he (Mr. Mba) is with us. We are investigating massive diversion of public funds and we’re making progress. Mba definitely has questions to answer.

Credit: Sun

Read Why EFCC Released APC’s Jafaru Isa, Still Detain PDP’s Olisa Metuh

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied claims it was on a witchhunt of leaders of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party after its continued detention of Olisa Metuh and release of Jafaru Isa, an All Progressives Congress chieftain.

Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, told journalists Monday that while Mr. Isa had begun the process of refunding the money in his possession, Mr. Metuh had refused to do same.

?”From the records, Metuh got over N400 million, he has not said anything because we need the public money to be returned so that it’s going to be used for public good,” Mr. Magu said during a meeting with online media publishers in Lagos.

“Also Jafaru Isa, what Dasuki gave him was N170 million. He also agreed…of course he has collected that money, he was with us for 4-5 days and then he made a deposit of N100 million and entered an undertaking to bring the rest. That does not mean we will not prosecute him.”

“But this other Metuh, instead of going for a refund, he has admitted he collected money…. so instead of… he still has the money because the money is too much. Instead of returning the money, he preferred to go on strike.”?

Mr. Isa, a former military governor of Kaduna State, was arrested last Wednesday by EFCC operatives for allegedly receiving N170 million from the embattled National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Metuh, the Spokesperson of the PDP, has been in EFCC custody since January 5?.

The EFCC boss insisted the Commission is not selective in its anti-corruption war?, noting that only people involved in “some certain action or inaction of corruption” are being invited for questioning.

“Nobody who is not corrupt, who is not involved, is with us,” he said.

“In all the cases, we conduct preliminary investigation. We work hard. If it is company you used, we unveil the profile of the company to see who owns the company. If it’s money, we make sure we follow the money, in your account.

“So it is not true that we just go and carry people and dump them?. Sometimes you have to give chance to the person accused to say his own side of the story. And in the process the man will disclose a lot of things that you may not know. So it is very necessary for you to follow up on the information received from the person arrested, to strengthen whatever you have.

“We don’t keep people for more than 10-15 days. In fact, in most cases, we obtain relevant court orders. In all cases, if you see we keep somebody, there must be a supporting court order.

“If you are not corrupt, we will not have any cause to invite you. So we only invite corrupt people, no selective.”

Mr. Magu also said he had begun an internal cleansing of the EFCC to weed out corrupt operatives from the anti-graft war.

“I don’t want to disclose what the Commission is doing but I’m telling you I will not work with anybody who is corrupt because there is no moral justification to come and make noise?, and chase corrupt people when you are yourself corrupt.

“We do not have sufficient personnel – lawyers, detectives the way we want. But the little we have we try to make use of whatever we can lay our hands on.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Armsgate: Return The Money You Collected Or Face Trial – EFCC To Falae, Dokpesi, Odili, Bafarawa, Others

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned all those involved in the alleged sharing of the $2.1bn cash meant for the procurement of arms for the military fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East to return their part of the loot or be ready to face trial.

The EFCC decided on refund of cash after retrieving some of the memoranda which the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), wrote to then President Goodluck Jonathan requesting for funds, The Nation reports.

Some of the beneficiaries of the cash include former governors Peter Odili (N100m); Rashidi Ladoja(N100m), Attahiru Bafarawa(N100m), Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi (N100m), and Jim Nwobodo(N500m), Chief Tony Anenih(N260m); ex-PDP National Chairman Ahmadu Ali(N100m); Chief Bode George (N100m/ $30,000), Yerima Abdullahi (N100m); Chief Olu Falae (N100m); Tanko Yakassai (N63m); Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki(N200m);

Others include, Raymond Dokpesi, Iyorchia Ayu’s company(N345m); BAM Properties (N300m); Dalhatu Investment Limited(N1.5bn); ex-PDP National Chairman Mohammed Bello Haliru, Abba Mohammed, Sagir Attahiru, serving and former members of the House of Representatives(over N600 million); former Chairman of the House of Representatives on Security and Intelligence, Bello Matawalle (N300m); ACACIA Holdings (N600m); Bashir Yuguda (N1,950,000) and many companies.

Speaking with the newspaper, a source from the EFCC explained that based on the vetting, the commission is insisting that all those implicated so far must refund the “illegal disbursement” of cash or face trial.

The source said, “We have conducted a thorough investigation and we have retrieved some of the memos sent to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan by the former National Security Adviser; none of them indicated that the cash should be for political purposes.

“There was never a memo for cash advance for political matters like campaign or election.

“We have also traced some of these funds directly to the accounts of these bigwigs or their proxy companies.

“Having gone far, we are asking them to return these funds or else, we will go after them any moment from now. I think they should respect themselves and make urgent refund.

“In the alternative, we will arrest them and arraign them in court to defend such strange allocations.

“We will retrieve every kobo given out from ONSA. It is insufficient to say somebody gave me this money. Once we trace undeserved public funds into your account or phony and proxy companies, we will ask for refund.”

On reports that former Military Administrator of Kaduna State and a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa(rtd) refunded some amount of money, the source added: “He admitted collecting money from ONSA and he has refunded 60 per cent of the sum credited to him. I think it should be about N100 million.

“Isa is the only person who has so far refunded money among the political figures who collected funds from ONSA. We have granted him bail to allow him time to source for the balance.”

Throwing more light on the continued detention of the PDP spokesman, Metuh, the source said: “So far, Metuh has admitted the transfer of N400 million by ONSA into a company in which he has substantial interest.

“It is left to him to justify why he deserved such benefit from arms cash. We are still questioning him on other remittances into the company’s account. We are also demanding how he will refund the cash.

“Contrary to the noise outside, we did our homework very well. Anybody we bring to the EFCC this time around, we used to make sure that we have established a case against him.

“So, we don’t invite or arrest on frivolous basis. We do thorough investigation this time around.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged its members involved in sharing the slush funds from the Office of the former National Security Adviser to return what they collected, stressing that it did not ask any of its members to collect money on its behalf during the last general elections.

This was disclosed by the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo, in Abuja

According to Jalo, no one has claimed that the money received from from the embattled former National Security Adviser was on behalf of the party.

He said, “When people say that this party benefited from the money meant for arms, I laugh. This is because we didn’t as a party get a dime from the former NSA.

“The party therefore has nothing to do with anyone who has collected money from the former NSA. Anyone, who has collected money from him, should return it. They are on their own.

“They will face trial without the party’s coming to their rescue. PDP is a clean party that has not taken money meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition or from the Federal Government.

“All those who collected money from Dasuki used their personal companies to do so. We didn’t send them.”

The PDP deputy spokesman dared the government to further investigate the matter and come out with findings showing that the party used public funds to finance its operations.

Credit : Daily Post

PDP Demands Release Of Metuh By EFCC

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has decried the continued detention of its spokesman, Olisah Metuh by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This is contained in a statement signed by the PDP National Legal Adviser, Mr Victor Kwon in Abuja on Sunday.

The statement decried the release of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), retired Brig.-Gen. Jafaru Isa, eight hours after he was arrested by the EFCC.

The statement said these developments were unjustifiable.

“Such action had vindicated PDP’s position that the Federal Government was not fighting corruption but on a clamp-down mission on PDP leaders.’’

It stated that Metuh, arrested without invitation by the anti-graft agency, had remained incarcerated since Tuesday while Isa was quickly released ‘after the EFCC boss’ meeting at the Presidential villa.

“The action of EFCC in freeing Isa and still detaining Metuh is condemnable, as the two of them were being investigated over same allegation of receiving funds from the office of the National Security Adviser.

“This clearly shows that the APC government is not fighting corruption but using the much hyped crusade as a cover to persecute PDP leaders and decimate the opposition, a project the EFCC has clearly yielded itself as a willing tool.

“What happened to the illegal holding charge upon which it has detained the PDP spokesman beyond the limit stipulated by Section 35 (5a) of the Constitution and in violation of his guaranteed personal liberty under the law?

“While we reiterate our support for any effort aimed at eradicating corruption, we stand our ground in demanding that the fight must be holistic, credible, and within the limits provided by the laws irrespective of political affiliations.’’

The PDP, therefore, restated its demand that the EFCC immediately release its spokesman, Metuh or charge him to court if they have any case against him.

“His continued detention without being charged to court is only indicative of the fact that the commission has not been able convince itself of enough evidence of guilt and is now lending itself as a willing instrument of persecution against Metuh.’’

(NAN)

Why EFCC Arrested Lawal Jafaru Isa

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has quizzed All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Lawal Jafaru Isa.
Brig. General Jafaru Isa (retired) was a former military administrator of Kaduna State and a known associate of President Muhammadu Buhari.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest of Jafaru Isa in a sting operation Wednesday night at his residence in Abuja.
Uwujaren did not give reason why the former military governor was arrested.
Isa contested as the governorship candidate of the defunct Buhari party CPC in Kano State in 2011. He was also one of the 19 members of the Buhari Transition Committee led by Ahmed Joda.
A source said that Isa was arrested because he had failed to honour an invitation to report to the head office of the anti-graft agency.
The source said the agency wanted him to explain the circumstances in which he allegedly collected about N100 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
It was gathered that Jafaru Isa is being questioned about whether he was involved in the arms procurement scam in the office of the NSA.
Another source last night said Dasuki gave N135m to Jafaru Isa in 2013 to buy a house for him in Kano.
The source who told our correspondent on phone said the money was given to Jafaru Isa in piecemeal ranging from N30m to N20m.
“You know Jafaru Isa and Dasuki have been together since their days at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. So, when Dasuki wanted to buy a house in Kano, he approached Isa.
“Isa got a house for him and he was sending the money piecemeal to him through his account. The transaction was not possible because of the way Dasuki was sending the money,” he said.
“It was while they were investigating the Arms scam that they saw the transaction. But frankly speaking, it has no connection with it. It happened between 2013 and 2014,” he said.
He said the former Governor of Kaduna State has since been released on bail by the EFCC.
Dasuki himself is on trial in three different courts over alleged fraud in the disbursement of $2.1 billion arms money.
The money is meant for the purchase of military weapons for the counter insurgency war in the north-east.
The federal government had accused Dasuki of extra budgetary spending of about N643 billion from the arms fund.
The EFCC had traced part of the money to the bank accounts of associates of the former NSA and their companies. Some of them have already been put on trial.

Credit: DailyTrust

‘Release Or Charge Our Son To Court’ – Metuh Family Release Statement

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Read their statement below…

The Metuh family – the Obi-Ezeani-Nnewi- has noted with grave concern the continued incarceration of their Diokpa and spokesperson of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olisa Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) since his arrest Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Whereas the charges for which Chief Metuh is being detained for over 48 hours now have not been formally made known to the family and the general public, we have noted some sensational publications in a section of the media claiming that our son collected the sum of N1.4 billion from the arms deal cash and has been collecting N4 million monthly as from the Office of the former National Security Adviser.

We have confronted our son with this allegations and he assured us that they are completely false.

However, he acknowledged that in the course of his duties as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the then leader of the party and President of the country directed him to carry out some urgent national assignment relating to his office, which the former President duly funded and which he duly carried out to the satisfaction of the former President.

The family therefore views the publications bandying the figure of N1.4 billion and alleged collection of N4 million stipend from the Office of the NSA as deliberate blackmail aimed at inflaming public sentiments against our son.

Our biggest concern for now is the health and safety of our son, who even before his arrest has alerted the nation about various threats to his life, a stance that is not unconnected to his position as the spokesperson of the opposition. Our position is more so as he has refused to eat following fears of intentions to poison him in detention.

In view of the above therefore, we DEMAND that the EFCC immediately release our son, Chief Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) from detention or charge him to court.

Signed:

Chief Gilbert Metuh,

for and on behalf of

The Obi-Ezeani- Nnewi

EFCC Grills Buhari’s Associate Over Alleged Dasuki’s $5m Gift

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Brig.-Gen. Jafaru Isah (retd.), in connection with the ongoing investigation into the $2.1bn arms procurement scam.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest and detention of the former military governor to one of our correspondents in Abuja on the telephone on Thursday.

Isah, a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, was the governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change in Kano State in 2011.

CPC was founded by Buhari to actualise his bid for the Presidency in the 2011 general elections.

The party asked a son of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Mohammed, to step down for Isah in the party’s governorship contest.

Isah is the first chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress to be arrested by the EFCC since the Buhari administration started investigation into the $2.1bn arms procurement funds under the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

He was a member of the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee, constituted by Buhari to coordinate the handing over notes by the immediate past administration before the President was inaugurated on May 29, 2015.

The retired general is also believed to be close to a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Confirming the arrest of Isah, the EFCC spokesman said, “It is true that the man is with us. That is the much I can tell you.”

The EFCC spokesman did not give details of the arrest.

It was, however, gathered that Isah was picked up by operatives of the commission in Abuja on Wednesday night and detained overnight to respond to issues linking him to the $2.1bn arms purchase fund.

It was learnt that the former MILAD’s arrest might not be unconnected with a “$5m gift” he allegedly received from the former NSA.

A top EFCC source, who confided in The PUNCH, said Isah was invited last week, but failed to honour the invitation of the anti-graft agency.

The source added that the commission had begun quizzing the former military administrator on the possibility that the money might have been given to him by Dasuki from the $2.1bn arms fund.

The source added that nothing had been established, saying Isah’s arrest was to “listen to his own side of the story.”

The source added, “He was invited last week, but he did not honour the EFCC’s invitation. He is being quizzed over the $5m he was alleged to have received from the former NSA. The former military administrator was arrested because he did not honour the invitation of the commission.”

The Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, had said, during a meeting with online media managers on Wednesday, that more influential Nigerians would soon be arrested.

Magu had debunked the insinuations that the arrests made so far in the ongoing campaign against corruption were selective, targeting the Peoples Democratic Party leaders and leaving their counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress.

$2.1bn Arms Scandal: EFCC To Arrest, Prosecute Bureau De Change Operators

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Mr Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to arrest and prosecute Bureau De Change operators involved in the ongoing 2.1-billion-dollar arms deal probe.

In a statement in Abuja, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said Magu stated this when a delegation of Bureau De Change operators visited his office .
“Information reaching me through my operatives during investigations necessitated the need to talk to you.

“Some of your operators are fond of carrying huge amounts of money out of the country, since they can no longer withdraw more than 300 dollars using the ATM.

“There are fraudulent involvements of Bureau De Change operators in the arms deal scandal,” the statement quoted Magu as saying.

The statement said that reports available to the commission showed that some of the operators withdrew as much as N500 million in two, three, four tranches in this arms deal scam.

“I am greatly disturbed and I think there will be need for proper documentation of your activities.

“This will enable your group to checkmate anyone who is involved in any fraudulent activity,” the statement added.

Credit: Leadership

Arms Scandal: EFCC Arrests APC Chieftain, Jafaru Isa

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday night, arrested a former military Governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Brig-Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa (reted).

Isa is the first chieftain of the APC arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of the sweeping probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.

The erstwhile Military Administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996, during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano State, is a close friend of the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (reted).

Isa was arrested at his Abuja residence located at Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro.

Isa’s house was said to have been invaded by operatives of the EFCC around 9pm, and then whisked him away a few minutes later.

The retired brigadier general, was invited last week to appear before the commission on yesterday to clear the air on “some questionable receipts” from the former NSA.

Investigators believe the retired soldier received over N100million from Mr. Dasuki.

It was gathered that rather than honoring the invitation, sources said, Gen. Isa wrote a letter to the EFCC through his lawyer, seeking a postponement of his appearance date on the grounds of death of a relative.

Apparently dissatisfied with his excuse, the EFCC however arrested him to clarify the “questionable receipts”.

Details later…

Credit : Vanguard

EFCC’ll Arrest More Influential Nigerians Soon — Magu

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday, said that more influential Nigerians would soon be arrested to face prosecution as the EFCC under him has reinvigorated the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Magu, who made the disclosure during a forum with online and broadcast media managers, in Abuja, said since his appointment as acting chairman of the EFCC, he had undertaken the re-ordering of the agency’s priorities for effective implementation of its mandate.

According to him, “The effect of this, which is obvious for all to see, is the investigation, arrest and prosecution of some of the most powerful forces in Nigeria, who have questions to answer on their stewardship whilst in office.

“A former National Security Adviser, former ministers, former governors, serving and retired military men, a media mogul and several others, are among those we have called to answer critical questions concerning the management of our commonwealth.

“As we speak, many more influential Nigerians are on the radar of the EFCC and, in the coming weeks, they would have their days in court and Nigerians will be kept fully abreast of the results of our investigations.”

The EFCC boss said in carrying out the mandate of the commission, he has been guided by the “fear of God, national interest and the rule of law”.

Mr. Magu said apart from bringing corrupt public officers to justice, the EFCC under his leadership is determined, in line with the stance of the current administration under President Muhammadu Buhari to send “unmistakable message” to everyone, that no Nigerian shall be regarded as above the law or treated as sacred cow as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.

The EFCC chairman, however, said the commission cannot succeed in carrying out its mandate without the support of the media.

He said the EFCC already has the support of all relevant bodies and organizations.

He said he held a meeting with the president on Wednesday, and that the message from Mr. Buhari was nothing but total support for the agency.

“By far more inspirational is the political will of Mr. President to fight corruption. This unbending will, which some now call body language has given the needed traction to the anti-graft campaign,” he said.

Mr. Magu said Mr. Buhari’s resolve to fight corruption in Nigeria was underlined by his comments during his maiden media chat last Wednesday where he swore not to spare anyone found to be corrupt.

Mr. Magu quoted the president as saying, “I don’t …tolerate corruption. When I was Head of State, I didn’t put anybody above the law. At this time, I assure you, I will not put anybody above the law… If anyone is caught, I will not only sack (him or her) but will ensure that the case is taken to court”.

He added that the president’s resolve is complemented by that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed, who, during the last All Nigerian Judges’ Conference, declared unwavering support for the war on corruption.
He added that at that same judges conference, Mr. Buhari expressed the concern of the Nigerian people for the undue delays experienced in the trial of corruption suspects.

The judiciary, he said, has responded with some practical steps in the form of the designation of selected courts to try EFCC cases and some practice directions.

“We believe that when holistically and effectively put into practice, the measures would drastically cut the time corruption cases spend in court before Nigerians know whether the accused is guilty as charged or innocent of the crime.

“As a Commission, the EFCC is very determined to put into productive effect, the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA), 2015. This law, which has been rightly labeled a legal “revolution,” by none other than Professor Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption, could not have come at a better time than now, when Nigerians are yearning for justice.

“On the part of the EFCC, I can assure you that the effect of our even more penetrating investigations and commitment to rid Nigeria of all forms of corruption and economic and financial crimes can –and will continue to be– seen from the cases we take to court for trial,” he said.

No political witch hunt
Mr. Magu also responded to comments from participants at the forum that a lot of Nigerians have a feeling that the ongoing war against corruption appears targeted at members of the opposition.

He said by his orientation, he has nothing to with politics and is therefore, not doing the bidding of a political party.
“Such accusations have come up a lot, but, we work with petitions before us, in fact, I am eager and waiting for something from the other side, but nothing has come so far,” he said.

Mr. Magu also said he had never been a fan of plea bargaining, adding however that he works within the laws of the land.
The managing editor of PREMIUM TIMES, Musikilu Mojeed, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, Malachy Agbo, said the group is fully committed to the ongoing fight against corruption and pledged the support of members to the EFCC.

He also asked Mr. Magu to consider partnering with the group in training journalists.

Credit : Vanguard

Tell EFCC To Leave Tompolo Alone, Ex-militants Beg Buhari

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Former Niger Delta militants, weekend, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to leave ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, alone and follow the rule of law in its dealings with him. The erstwhile agitators, who met under the auspices of the Transformed Niger Delta Ex-militants Forum, asserted that some persons, who were envious of Tompolo, wrote a petition against him to the EFCC, but advised that the commission in the discharge of its duties should respect the rule of law.

In a communiqué signed by its national president, Meshach Bebenimibo and others, they said, “We appeal to the President as a matter of urgency to instruct the EFCC to follow due process within 1999 Constitution as amended.” At the meeting held in Warri were Prince Bebenimibo, Bayelsa , Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Ondo coordinators of the group, Peter Ayeebide, Austin Peremobowei, Korebor Minama, Anthony Youbai, Oluwah Michael and Oloye Tamarayende.

They said: “We want EFCC to leave Tompolo alone because the petitioners are acting out of jealousy to indict and incarcerate him, that is why they are lying to the whole world that Tompolo sold the land for the building of Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko.”

According to the communiqué, “The petitioners know the truth and the truth is that Tompolo only sold the International Diving Institute buildings at Kurutie community and the place was sand filled before he built the school. Among the structures are lecture halls, multipurpose pavilion, administrative block, vice- chancellor’s lodge and hostels for male and female students.”

“The previous government brought valuers and did all necessary legal things and collected VAT money before paying him about 90 per cent as agreed.

“We also urge EFCC to have a rethink and defreeze Mieka and GlobalWest accounts.” The group, however, commended President Buhari for his interest in the region, particularly the inclusion of fund for the Amnesty programme in the 2016 Budget presented to the National Assembly, saying, “We really appreciate your kind gesture.”

Credit: Vanguard

It Is Risky To Grant Yuguda, Bafarawa, Dasuki Bail – EFCC Counsel Tells Court

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) counsel to the EFCC, told an FCT High Court on Wednesday that considering the gravity of the charges against Yuguda, Dasuki, Salisu and other defendants, it was risky to grant them bail.

Yuguda, former Minister of state for Finance is standing trial alongside Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) former National Security Adviser (NSA) and Shuaibu Salisu, former Director of Finance in the office of the NSA.

Also named as defendants in the case were former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir Attahiru and their company Dalhatu Investment Limited.

They were arraigned by the EFCC on a 22-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds amounting to N19.5 billion.

At the resumed hearing of the bail application filed by the defendant lawyers, Jacobs, told the court that going by nature of the charges against them and the proof of evidence, it would be risky to grant them bail.

“If they were granted bail, they may not be available to stand trial because the count in the charge attracts 10 years in prison.

“The tendency for the accused to jump bail is high,” he said.

Jacobs argued that at the time the defendants answered EFCC`s invitation, they were not aware of the gravity of the offences against them.

“My lord, granting them bail will send a wrong signal to the public; it is even a risk to release them because many soldiers had died.

“Their families feel the pains as a result of the actions of the accused persons because N19.5 billion that was meant to buy arms for soldiers to fight insurgency was diverted, ‘’ he added.

Jacobs prayed the court to reject all the submissions canvassed by the defence lawyers as they were not fit enough to stand as cogent reason to warrant bail.

He therefore urged the court to refuse the bail application in the interest of justice.

In his argument, counsel to Yuguda, Mr Peter Akpe (SAN), said that the offences which his client was standing trial for were bailable.

He said that his client was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and he did not jump bail.

He therefore urged the court to grant his client bail on most liberal terms.

In his submission, counsel to Dasuki, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), said it was discretionary power of a judge to grant bail either on self recognition or in the most liberal terms.

He said that the fact that the prosecution had further investigation to carry out should not deny his client bail.

He therefore urged the court to grant Dasuki bail in self recognition as it was the case in the Federal High Court, Abuja where he was granted bail on self recognition.

On their part, counsel to Bafarawa, his son Sagir and their company Dalhatu Investment Ltd and Salisu unanimously urged the court to admit their clients bail on liberal terms.

(NAN)

“I Never Gave Dasuki N40billion Donation” – Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Staff Reporter

All these accusations and counter-accusations is beginning to get worrisome. Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II has denied claims that he gave the office of the embattled former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki N40 billion while he served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He denied the claims in an interview with The Cable…

“This is completely untrue. In the first place, I understand the laws of money laundering. And it is a criminal offence. The central bank is the chief regulator charged with ensuring we put an end to money laundering. This is partly why we started our cashless Nigeria project and why I started the BVN project. I would never authorize that amount of cash
to be moved to the office of the NSA or to anyone even if it was in their account.
I do not know where they are getting these strange stories. I was removed from the CBN in February 2014, and to the best of my knowledge, the EFCC is probing disbursements allegedly made made in late 2014 and early 2015 before the general elections, if indeed they happened. I find it difficult to believe that this could happen in the CBN that I know but we have to wait and see what the investigations come out with. Certainly whoever is linking me to this did not even bother to look at the dates of the alleged transactions. I know nothing about them, period. We never gave cash to anybody. If we did we disclosed it in published accounts under CSR. Our interventions, be this to educational institutions or security services, took the form of clearly identified projects or specified procurement, done through well laid-down procedures, including competitive bidding, award of contracts, and collection of no-objection certificate from the due process office. We did not give cash to anybody. The total amount disbursed by the CBN on capital projects in my five years was N55 billion. And this included contracts for CBN branches and our CSR interventions mainly in the universities and secondary schools. How can anyone suggest that we gave N40 billion to NSA?” he said

We’ll Block Leakages In Revenue Agencies – Buhari

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said his administration would introduce more policies to further ease the process of doing business in Nigeria.

He said the new policies would focus on increasing efficiency and transparency in government operations and the blocking of leakages from revenue generating agencies.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President spoke after a presentation made to him on, ‘Enhancing Nigeria’s Trade and Economic Competitiveness,’ at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement read in part, “The President said that the new policies will be focused on increasing efficiency and transparency in government operations and the blocking of leakages from revenue generating agencies.

“President Buhari said that his administration was fully committed to closing all the loopholes in the revenue generating agencies, increasing their efficiency in trade facilitation and ensuring transparency in all government businesses so as to attract greater foreign direct investments into the country.

“The President added that the Nigeria Customs Service, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies will be encouraged to adopt some of the positive ideas contained in the presentation for implementation next year.”

I Didn’t Collect N100m From Yuguda — Bode George

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Staff Reporter

FORMER Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Demcoratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has denied collecting N100 million from former Minister of Finance (State), Mr Bashir Yuguda, saying it is another blatant falsehood, stripped of any iota of truth.

George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, described the claim as “mischievous and deliberately fraudulent.”

The PDP leader, in a statement said: “My attention has been drawn to another mischievous and deliberately fraudulent claim that I collected N100 million from Bashir Yuguda, the former Minister of State for Finance. This is another blatant falsehood, stripped of any iota of truth. This is yet again a depraved continuation of lynch mob journalism orchestrated by an online newspaper.”

In an effort to set the records straight, he said: “The salient fact is that very early this year, long before the election period, the party set up Contact and Mobilization Commttee for each zone to reconcile various factions and ensure a firm unity of purpose within the zones before the election. I was elected as the Chairman for the South-West zone.

“The committee which was made up of 18 senior members of the party with distinguished history of honour and exemplary leadership, met at least 10 times in my office in Lagos. These people travelled all the way from every corner of the South-West, with three members representing each state. All of them are very much alive to testify to my assertions. Sometime in the middle of these deliberations, Yuguda came to me and said the party was reimbursing the 18 elders of the committee for their transportation, accommodation and feeding allowance for the work that was done.

“The committee later submitted the report of its deliberations to the party and then wound up. For all these efforts Yuguda gave the committee only $30,000. That was less than N6 million at that time. Yuguda can never claim that he gave the Committee N100 million. That is the figment of the imagination of rascally scribblers purporting to be journalists. Again, facts are sacred.”

Thisday Publisher Writes EFCC Explaining About Funds He Received From Dasuki

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, Nduka Obaigbena has written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explain the N550 million and N130 million payments he received from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the tenure of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Obaigbena explained that the N550 million paid to ThisDay was compensation from the Federal Government as a result of the deadly attack by Boko Haram on its facilities in the Spring of 2012. He estimated the damage done to be worth over N2.5 billion.

Obaigbena is currently in the United States and has promised to honour the EFCC request upon his
return.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER

The Executive Chairman,
The Economic & Financial Crimes C omission,
5, Fomella Street,
Wuse 11, Abuja,
Nigeria.

Attention: OLAOLU ADEGBITE, MFR. RE: LETTER OF INVITATION.

Please refer to your letter of invitation dated 8th November 2015, which was received in our Abuja Office on the 8th of December 2015.

I am currently in the United States of America on my way back to Nigeria to honour your invitation, but I feel it necessary to make the following statements prior to my arrival in Nigeria:

1. We have never received any suspicious funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser. ALL funds received from the Office of the National Security Adviser were PAYMENTS for COMPENSATION to MITIGATE the following:

1.1. N150,000,000 + N150,000,000 and N250,000,000 respectively received in August, November and February 2014 as compensation to mitigate the dastardly Boko Haram twin bombings of the THISDAY NEWSPAPERS offices in Abuja and Kaduna on Thursday April 26, 2012, during which 4 innocent Nigerian lives were lost, our buildings destroyed and we lost full colour Goss printing towers and three (3) pre-press Computer-To-Plate and anxiliary equipments and other (in)valuable property valued at over N2.5 BILLION. This is aside from daily costs to pay 3rd party printers of over N1 Billion having lost our printing facility to terrorist due to inadequate protection by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The bombing of THISDAY offices followed the Abuja United Nations Building bombing for which the Federal Government has so far spent N3 Billion for reconstruction and much more earmarked for furnishing;

1.2. N100,000,000 and N20,000,000 received in March 2015 for The Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and 12 newspapers who demanded compensation for the brutal and unlawful seizure of newspapers and stoppage of circulation by armed soldiers in Abuja and several cities. As President of the NPAN, it was my duty to lead media leaders to hold discussions with President Goodluck Jonathan to avert a class action lawsuit against the Armed Forces and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

2. On both occasions, President Jonathan said he did not wish to lay precedence and in our case, he specifically said there were many victims of Boko Haram. I had to confront President Jonathan on the issue when I learnt of approvals for the reconstruction of the Abuja United Nations Building, since we were the second major organisation to be attacked by Boko Haram after the UN attack. He therefore directed me to meet the National Security Adviser who processed the 3 payments in question. Please find attached a copy of our letter to President Jonathan as well as correspondence with the then NSA on the Newspapers’ payment. I will be making my way to Nigeria to meet with you should you require further information.

Thank you.

Nduka Obaigbena
Chairman & Editor-in-Chief,
THISDAY NEWSPAPERS GROUP.

EFCC Invites Tompolo

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given former Niger Delta militant leader, Mr Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo one week to appear before the Commission on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos or risk being declared wanted.

In a letter from the EFCC, the Commission says it is investigating Tompolo for unclear dealings involving the sale of parcels of land worth about 13 billion naira to the federal government under the last administration.

He is expected to appear at the EFCC training room on Thursday, December 17.

A similar invitation was extended to Tompolo in November by the Head of Operations at the EFCC, Iliasu Kwabai but he failed to appear and no correspondence was received from him.

Credit: ChannelsTV

EFCC Vows To Recover All Stolen Public Funds

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to recover all public funds siphoned under the guise of arms procurement by prominent Nigerians now in its custody.

The commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who gave this hint at events to mark this year’s international anti-corruption day in Abuja, said his men were working hard to recover the stolen funds, even as he disclosed that substantial amount of money had been recovered from fraudsters.

“I can assure you that the commission is on top of that investigation. We will spare no effort to ensure that we recover every kobo of public funds that have been stolen in the guise of arms procurement and the culprits brought to justice,” he said.

Magu, who declared at a seminar organized by the Inter-Agency Task Team, a common platform for anticorruption and accountability in the country, disclosed that the commission had secured 78 convictions from 280 cases filed in court this year, while 1,881 cases were investigated.

Besides, he said several interim and final forfeiture orders were given by courts even as funds were being recovered.

Credit: DailyTimes

Dasuki Opposes FG’s Application To Revoke Bail

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has filed a notice of preliminary objection opposing applications by the Federal Government for the revocation of the bail granted him by a Federal High Court in Abuja after his arraignment for four counts of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms on September 1, 2015.

Dasuki’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), also informed Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Tuesday that he filed on behalf of his client another notice of preliminary objection against an application by the Federal Government seeking to halt the execution of the order granted the ex-NSA on November 3, permitting him to travel abroad on health grounds.

Dasuki, whose presence in court had been dispensed with pending the hearing of pending interlocutory applications, was absent from the Tuesday’s proceedings.

Prosecuting counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyi (SAN), informed the court that he was just served on Tuesday morning the defendant’s notice of preliminary objection to the Federal Government’s application for stay of execution of order permitting Dasuki to travel abroad.

He asked for an adjournment to enable him to respond to the notice of preliminary objection.

With consent of Dasuki’s lawyer, Justice Ademola adjourned hearing of the applications till January 20, 2016.

Justice Ademola had granted bail to Dasuki on self recognition and seizure of his passport on September 1.

How Suswam Diverted N3.1Billion- EFCC

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given a detailed account of how former Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswam and his Finance Commissioner, Mr. Omadachi Okolobia allegedly diverted over 3.1 billion naira belonging to Benue State government.

At the resumed trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja, a detective with the EFCC, Mr. Junaidu Sa’id, told the court that investigation by his team revealed that ex-Governor Suswam instructed that shares owned by the Benue State Government in the Benue Investment and Property Company be sold off for the sum of N10 billion.

Upon the order, the witness said that Elixir Investment Partners was appointed as stockbrokers to carry out the sales of the shares, during which over N9 billion was realized.

Elixir Investment Partners, the witness said, was thereafter instructed to pay the N9 billion into three different bank accounts of the State Ministry of Finance.

He said N5 billion was paid into the account of Benue State Ministry of Finance by Elixir Investment Partners, while a total sum of N3.1 billion was paid into Fanffash Resources account.

The witness said that the owner of Fanfash Resources, Abubakar Umar, was invited by the EFCC, who confirmed that he received N3.1 billion in his company account and converted same to dollar equivalent, amounting to $15.8 million and that he delivered same in cash to former Governor Suswam at his Maitama Residence in Abuja.

He told the court that the Finance Commissioner confirmed issuing directives for the payments to be made to Fanffash Resources and Benue State Ministry of Finance.

The court adjourned till January 18 and 19, 2016 for cross examination of the witness and continuation of hearing.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Arms Purchase Scam: Investigators Trace N650m To Thisday Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The team of investigators at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) looking into how the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) shared funds meant for fighting Boko Haram has detected another line of payment made to companies linked with Thisday publisher and owner of Arise TV, Nduka Obaigbena.

Nduka Obaigbena of ThisDay and Arise TV Ventures Africa

The investigators said Obaigbena received at least N650million from Dasuki for questionable transactions.

They also said that Obaigbena, who is also the Chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors Association
Of Nigeria, has dropped out of sight since the discovery and all attempts at reaching him have failed, EFCC sources said.

Today, SaharaReporters reached Mr. Obaigbena, who said he was in New York. He said that prior to his trip to New York, he had been at meetings in London, and will return to Nigeria when he is through with his visit to New York.

He admitted that his newspaper company received a letter from the EFCC and that a response had been sent to explain what they know about the case involving Raymond Dokpesi’s Daar Communications. Dokpesi was arrested last week, but he and his family have offered conflicting accounts about why he received billions of Naira from Dasuki.

Obaigbena told SaharaReporters he did not receive any monies from the former NSA, a point strongly disputed by EFCC investigators.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Money Laundering: Ex-Gov Sule Lamido’s Son, Aminu Loses Appeal

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna on Monday, December 7 dismissed the appeal of Aminu Sule Lamido, the 34 year old son of former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, against the decision of the Federal High Court, Kano which found him guilty of the charge of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Aminu Sule Lamido was arrested on the 11th of December 2012 by operatives of the EFCC, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on his way to Egypt for failure to declare the sum of $40,000 in the Customs Currency Declaration Form after initially declaring the statutory $10,000 to the Nigeria Custom Service.

Aminu, a 2010 graduate of Mass a Communication from the Bayero University Kano, was subsequently arraigned on February 4, 2013, on one count charge of false declaration of foreign currency.

The charge reads: “That you, Aminu Sule Lamido, on or about 11th day of December, 2012 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash, the sum of $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars only) from Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt, falsely declare to the Nigeria Customs Service the sum of $10,000 (Ten Thousand dollars only) instead of the said sum of $50,000(fifty thousand dollars only) as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011”.

Aminu was tried and consequently convicted on July 12, 2015 by a Federal High Court sitting in Kano and ordered to forfeit 25 percent of the undeclared sum. Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court, Aminu filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, praying the Appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

The Appellate court in its judgment delivered by Justice H.A.O Abiru upheld the decision of the lower court and resolved all issues raised against the appellant.

$2b Arms Deal: EFCC Confronts Dasuki, Dokpesi and Co. With Evidence Of Transactions

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The special team raised by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the disbursement of $2.2 billion arms contract deal in the office of the former National Security Adviser, yesterday, confronted the major suspects with evidence of their illicit transactions.

The 27-member task force, which has Ibrahim Magu as a member, spent most part of the day to grill the suspects and asked them to speak up on any aspect of the transactions where their names or those who allegedly fronted for them, appeared.

The extended questioning of the high profile suspects, our correspondent learned, was to prepare the
ground for their arraignment this week.

However, Vanguard could not obtain a specific date of the week when the suspects are likely to be docked and the specific charges to be pressed against them.

It was gathered that the commission had outsmarted the key suspects by first securing a court order to detain them beyond the stipulated 48-hour threshold, thereby making it more difficult for their lawyers to secure their early release.

A top source said most of the suspects, who had earlier attempted to deny their involvement in the arms deal, were dumbfounded when confronted with concrete evidence of all the transactions they had made in the office of the ex-NSA.

“Many of the suspects, who were claiming ignorance of collecting huge sums of money from the office of the ex-NSA, were tongue tied when we brought them to face each other. I think they will soon appear in court to tell the world why they went to the ONSA to sign and collect huge sums of public money that was not meant for the purposes they were given,” an EFCC source said.

Dokpesi Disagrees with Earlier Statement

Apparently to clear the name of their patriarch, the family of Daar Communications owner, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, on Saturday, disagreed with an earlier statement the company released claiming that it got the $2.1 billion from the office of the ex-NSA for media and publicity work for the 2015 election.

In the latest statement released, weekend, the family turned around to say that the $2.1 billion was personally approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan for a holding company owned by Dokpesi following a private presentation by the owner to Jonathan.

The family also said that contrary to claims that the money was collected in respect of promoting the People’s Democratic Party’s campaign to win the 2015 polls, it was actually meant to showcase the under reported achievements of President Jonathan’s government.

Vanguard learned last night that the EFCC was making efforts to charge the suspects to court so as to free its holding facilities for more suspects who are to be taken up for massive looting of public funds in the last dispensation.

The cells of the anti-graft agency in Abuja are said to be almost overwhelmed with suspects arrested and detained in connection with the arms deals, for which the Presidency has vowed to press to a logical conclusion to prove to Nigerians that many top Nigerians looted the public treasury under the guise of buying arms and ammunition to fight terrorism.

Source: Vanguard

EFCC Arraigns Man For N12m Fraud

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Press statement from EFCC:

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 arraigned one Ibrahim Isah before Justice M.A Nasir of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja on a 3-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and forgery. Ibrahim allegedly defrauded one Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN) by offering to assist him in the payment of fees and processing of Certificate of Occupancy in respect of Mighty Star Academy.

The defendant was allegedly entrusted with the total sum of N12,102,824.00 (twelve million, one hundred and two thousand, eight hundred and twenty four naira) to process the document with the assurance that it will be ready in three months. The accused person took the money and has been keeping the victim’s hope hanging for over three and a half years.

The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him. In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Msuur Denga asked the court to fix a date for trial to commence.

Responding, the defence counsel, Princley Uchechukwu, through an oral application, urged the court to admit the accused to bail adding that, he would not do anything to frustrate his trial. Justice Nasir adjourned the case January 25, 2016 for commencement of trial and ordered the defence to file a formal bail application.

The accused is to be remanded in prison custody pending the time his bail application is considered. Media & Publicity.

EFCC Secures Court Order To Keep Dokpesi

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, failed to free the Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, after meeting his bail conditions.

One of the conditions was for the media mogul to surrender his travel documents to the EFCC and produce two directors in the Federal Civil Service as sureties, a condition he met earlier today, according to his lawyers.

His lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, said they were shocked to be told that the agency had secured a holding warrant from a magistrate’s court to keep his client in detention after perfecting his bail conditions.

“We got the two sureties today (yesterday) and we were ready to meet all the bail conditions before the EFCC told us they were able to get a holding charge warrant from a magistrate.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said a magistrate has no powers to issue a holding charge warrant.
He also said neither Chief Dokpesi nor himself had been made aware of any charges yet.

“We are yet to know the charges levelled against Chief Dokpesi and he himself has told me that no charges were preferred against him,” he said.

Apart from Daar Communications boss, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, there were many other key suspects detained in EFCC cells in connection with the $2billion arms deal.

It was learnt that while some of the suspects such as Shuaibu Salihu, who was Director of Finance in the office of the National Security Adviser and 19 others had been in detention for over a week, Dokpesi, Bafarawa and Yuguda joined the suspects only this week.

By law, they are expected to be released or charged to court within 48 hours.

Mindful of the position of the law, a top source in the commission told Vanguard last night that the agency might approach a court to seek an order to further detain the high profile suspects.

“The aim is to give them time to speak out on why they received huge public funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, and what such curious payments were meant for, especially as the recipients are not security men or security contractors,” a source said.

Credit : Vanguard

Dasuki Transferred To EFCC Headquarters

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday moved the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki to the Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Dasuki who was picked up by the operatives of DSS will be interrogated by the EFCC for his role in the $2.1 billion arms contract scandal.
Meanwhile the Federal High Court in Abuja will sit Thursday December 3, 2015 for the hearing of the motion filed by the Federal Government seeking to revoke the bail granted Dasuki.
At the last resumed hearing of the suit, lawyer to the federal government, Mr. Mohammed Diri, told the court that a notice of appeal has been lodged at the Court of Appeal challenging the judgment of the court granting bail to the former National Security Adviser.
Sambo Dasuki, who had pleaded not guilty to previous charges of alleged illegal possession of firearms and money-laundering preferred against him by DSS had earlier been granted bail by a Federal High Court to enable him seek medical attention.

EFCC Pressures SSS To Handover Sambo Dasuki For Questioning

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is putting pressure on the State Security Service to hand over former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to it for interrogation over the ongoing investigation into arms procurement contracts during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Mr. Dasuki was arrested by the SSS on Tuesday after about a month-long siege on his residence in Abuja.

The agency thereafter took him to its headquarters where he has been in detention since then.

The senior lawyer heading the former NSA’s legal team, Joseph Daudu, on Tuesday said that he was aware the EFCC applied to Justice Adeniyi Ademola to revoke the bail his court granted Mr. Dasuki.

He also said he was aware the application was pending before the court.

But a source at the EFCC told this newspaper that the anti-graft agency was working hard on getting the SSS to release Mr. Dasuki to it for questioning.

“We are working on that angle, whether he would be handed over today or not is what I cannot say with certainty for now,” the source said.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Dokpesi’s Lawyer Speaks On EFCC Probe, N2.1bn Arms Money Scandal

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Mike Ozekhome, the lawyer to Raymond Dokpesi, founder of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, has said he was not aware his client received money from the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Ozekhome also said reports that Mr. Dokpesi was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, over the alleged payment, were not correct because Mr. Dokpesi went on his own to the anti-graft agency after receiving a call from its chairman.

“I am not aware the chief collected any money,” he said, referring to Mr. Dokpesi.

“The chief called me earlier in the afternoon to say he received a call from the chairman of the EFCC wanting to see him and I sent one of my lawyers to accompany him. He was not arrested by any group of operatives,” he said.

Mr. Ozekhome said prior to Tuesday’s invitation of Mr. Dokpesi, there was no formal communication from the EFCC to him.

“What I know is that the EFCC wrote to Daar Holdings asking for a list of directors and whether it has done any business or contract with the office of the NSA in the past and how much was involved.

“We wrote them a reply to say Daar did not do any contract with the office of the NSA and we are ready to give them all the information they need,” he said.

The EFCC has arrested a number of individuals indicted by a presidential investigations committee into arms procurement by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Credit: PremiumTimes

EFCC Probes Special Forces’ Training In Belarus, Others

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Staff Reporter

It was gathered that the current probe of the EFCC focused not only on the amount of money spent on the procurement of arms for the military but also on personnel training outside the country.

A security source said on Monday that the EFCC Task Force was probing the training of Special Forces in some Eastern European countries.

It was learnt that the operatives were probing how funds, earmarked for the training of 750 Special Forces in Belarus and other Eastern European countries, were spent.

The security operatives, who were trained specifically to raise an elite force against the Boko Haram menace, were drawn from the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

The Special Forces, who went for the training in September 2014, arrived in the country in December, 2014 and were immediately deployed in the operational areas of the North-East in March, 2015.

It was gathered that the select security personnel were trained in counter- terrorism, counter-insurgency, handling of rocket propelled grenades, machine guns and other weapons.

The source said one of the officials of the ONSA under the former NSA, was among some personnel of the office being interrogated in relation to the ongoing probe into arms procurement under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was learnt that the EFCC Task Force sent out letters to the affected personnel and commenced arresting them penultimate week.

The source said some of the suspects had been in detention of the EFCC for nine days.

Credit: Punch

Why EFCC Arrested Yuguda, Bafarawa, Ex-PDP Chairman’s Sons, Others Over $2billion Arms Deal

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at about 4pm Monday and was still being questioned as at 9PM alongside other suspects over the controversial arms procurement scandal surrounding former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki

Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation said the former minister allegedly received suspicious payments from the office of Mr. Dasuki, who is being investigated over a $2billion arms deal.

Mr. Yuguda allegedly received N1.5billion from the former NSA’s office through an unnamed company, for unstated purpose.

He also alleged received N1.275billion from Stallion Group during the campaign for the last general election.

Another N775million was also allegedly paid to him from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for unstated purpose.

All the monies were paid to him between Dec 2014 and May, 2015, our sources said.

Also in custody over the same matter are the sons of Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State and Haliru Bello Mohamed, former minister of defence and ex-national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Sagir Bafarawa, allegedly acting as front for his father, received N4.6billion from the NSA’s office.

Attahiru Bafarawa had recently escaped arrest but the EFCC says the former governor remains on its radar.

The ex-PDP chairman’s son, Abbah Mohammed, on his part got N600milion in the name of Bam Properties Limited.

Also in the custody of the anti-graft agency is Shuaibu Salisu, a former director of finance and administration in the former NSA’s office.

Mr. Salisu, a staff of the National Intelligence Agency, was a joint signatory with Mr. Dasuki to the NSA’s office account and EFCC operatives are accusing him of “supervising some dubious payments”.

Credit: PremiumTimes

EFCC Arrests Former Minister, Others Over Alleged $2billion Arms Deal

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, and a number of top officials from the office of the National Security Adviser over the controversial arms procurement scandal surrounding former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

Multiple sources at the EFCC said Mr. Yuguda was arrested Monday afternoon and was currently being quizzed by detectives.

Our sources said a huge amount of money; “running into billions” was allegedly traced to the former minister from funds meant for arms procurement.

“The funds were directly transferred to him from the NSA office and he has been unable to explain the rationale for the transfer,” a source said.

“The transfers were made to his account between December 2014 and May 2015.”

Also arrested over the same matter, according to our sources, are some senior officials at the NSA office, including the director of finance.

“The suspects are being grilled by crack detectives and may not be allowed to go home soon,” one source said.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was yet to be briefed on the arrests.

“I’m aware that our detectives are looking into the case but I’m not sure who and who has been taken in,” Mr. Uwujaren said on telephone.

He promised to revert as soon details become available.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Ogundana Michael Rotimi: On The Trial of Sambo Dasuki?

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Before Sambo Dasuki travels abroad for his radiotherapy, before he decides not to come back home for health reasons, before he grants “The Boss”, Dele Momodu an exclusive interview from his home abroad on the many allegations against him, before he sorts public sympathy through his health condition, before Nigeria forgets about all his atrocities, let me remind Nigerians about his activities as the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan.

For those that don`t know him, Sambo Mohammed Dasuki, is from a royal family in Sokoto. He is the son of the former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Dasuki, who was deposed by the military regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha. Sambo Dasuki, as he is popularly called is a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army and the former National Security Adviser (NSA). He was appointed NSA by the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012, following the removal of General Owoye Andrew Azazi. Dasuki was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13, 2015.

For a clear record, Sambo Dasuki was the National Security Adviser from June 22, 2012 through July 13, 2015. That means he was the NSA for 3 years 21 days.

There were no doubts that terrorist activities increased sporadically under the watch of Sambo Dasuki, when he was the NSA. Moreover, under him, terrorists became more powerful and sophisticated while the Nigerian Army was in shortage of personnel and arms. Also, under his watch, insurgents did the impossible, the least anyone could have thought just a small group could achieve- they claimed several Nigerian territories and hoisted their flags on them.

Regrettable, every attempt by the military to fight back the insurgents were to no avail because they had no weapons to confront them. The fact is, a lot of terrorists activities under the watch of Dasuki, could have been averted if our military had got the right hardware.

Ironically, under the same period while the insurgence increases and Boko Haram were waxing stronger, our security budgets also increased but with little or no significant impacts against the terrorists.

How could we have budgeted so much on security hardware and logistics within the same period of increased terrorism and there were no impacts of such against the insurgents?

How could we have allegedly spent so much on arms procurement but the men on the forefront of the war were complaining of lack of arms and even bullets?

The point is, under the leadership of Sambo Dasuki as NSA, the security of the country grew from bad to worse and terrorism spontaneously increased with little political will to combat it.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered for the arrest of, Rtd. Col Sambo Dasuki, and all other persons indicted in the interim report of the 13- man investigative committee earlier inaugurated by the president to look into arms procurement by the Nigerian military for the purpose of fighting the Boko Haran insurgency ravaging the North-Eastern Nigeria.

The Federal Government had in August, through the office of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno, set up the committee headed by Rtd. AVM J.O.N. Ode, to unravel the arms scam.

The committee found out some shady deals in arms procurement during the watch of Dasuki which calls for prosecution. However, I hope this prosecution will not go the way many others had gone.

Had funds siphoned through arms procurement been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.

Had funds siphoned through arms procurement been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, the ridicule Nigeria had faced in the international community would have also been averted.

The arrest and prosecution of Dasuki and others involved in the deals is as important as the arms procurement itself as it will in one way or the other bring closure to those that have lost the lives of their loved ones and/or properties to the insurgence that has rampaged the country due to the wickedness and greed of some.

Such greed and wickedness that was responsible for the kidnapping of about 276 schoolgirls from their school hostel in Chibok community, Borno State where they sort for education. More than 50 escaped. Abubaka Shekau announced his intention of selling them into slavery. And up till today, the girls are still missing. It was under the tutelage of Dasuki.

September 29, 2013, gunmen approached a dormitory at the College of Agriculture Gujba in Yobe state and open fire on sleeping students. It was under the watch of Dasuki.

It was still that greed by those few behind the arms scam that made it possible for Boko Haram to attack Baga community, in Borno State, seizing it and the multinational joint task force military base. As the militants advanced the army fled. Some residents managed to escape to Chad. The Baga massacre was one of the Nigerian Army’s biggest defeats in terms of loss of equipment and civilian casualties. All these happened while Dasuki watched.

On February 25, 2014, fifty-nine boys were killed at the Federal Government College of Buni Yadi in Yobe State, Nigeria, while the students were sleeping. They threw explosives into dorm rooms as they sprayed the rooms with gunfire. The twenty-four buildings of the school were likewise burnt down as a result of the attack. This also could have been avoided had Dasuki arms procurement were genuine.

The blood of the innocent victims of multiple bomb blasts in Nigerian, that were lost because they were not protected, the blood of our gallant soldiers that have fallen to the Boko Haram insurgency because they were not given the right weapon to go to war, demand for justice.

Hence, Sambo Dasuki and others must have their days in court; it is the least that could be done. The Boko Haram insurgency have caused the lives of over 15 thousands innocent people, had left million displayed from their homes, have left the economics of the region chattered and have made some, disabled, hopeless and hapless.

So before Dasuki finally gets a chance to travel abroad for radiotherapy, Nigerians demand justice, the victims demand closure. The trial of Sambo Dasuki must not be halted.

God Bless Nigeria

Ogundana Michael Rotimi is a Nigerian Biochemist, Socio-economic & Political Commentator and Public Speaker. He tweets @MickeySunny.

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Fraud Suspect Dies In EFCC’s Custody

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Tragedy has hit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after a suspect in its custody, suddenly developed chest pains, and died.

Arowofela Olufemi, who was being investigated by the commission following allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that he fraudulently converted over N100 million dividend warrants to himself, died in a military hospital, where he was rushed to by officials of the EFCC.

A statement made available to Vanguard yesterday indicated that Olufemi had complained of chest pains early in the day and was rushed to an unnamed military hospital in Lagos, where he gave up the ghost before doctors could attend to him.

The EFCC statement was signed by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who said the cause of the suspect’s death was unknown as at the time of going to the press.

Uwujaren said: “The cause of the sudden death is yet to be ascertained even as the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The family of the deceased has already been notified of the incident while the matter has been reported to the Onikan Division of the Nigeria Police.”

It will be recalled that the late Olufemi was arrested following a complaint by the SEC, alleging that he was involved in fraudulent conversion of dividend warrants of over N100 million.

Following the report by SEC, operatives of EFCC arrested him at the premises of a bank while attempting to cash alleged stolen dividend warrants.

After his arrest and detention, he was offered administrative bail but could not produce a surety to perfect his bail thereby leading to extended incarceration.

ICPC Uncovers Over N23bn Pension Funds ‘Lost’ In 40 Bank Accounts

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has uncovered over N23billion pension funds ‘lost’ in 40 bank accounts in the country.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta who made the disclosure yesterday, at the maiden town hall meeting of the ICPC in Makurdi, the Benue capital, said the Commission consolidated the accounts into four and was also able to recovered N496million in accrued interests on one of the accounts.

“With the intervention of ICPC the sum of N34.5 billion has been remitted to 97, 842 employees’ RSAs’’.Represented by Member of the ICPC, Alhaji Isa Salami, he said “the Commission discovered that the National Pension Commission, PENCOM, was not remitting deductions from employees’ salaries to their respective Retirement Savings Accounts, RSAs, owing to inaccurate information.

Nta further revealed that while conducting systems review of personnel cost expenditure profile across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, over a period of four years, ICPC compelled the return of over N6 billion unspent balances into government treasury.

The ICPC Chairman urged Nigerians to “support the renewed onslaught against the monster called corruption because it is by so doing that we can drive down the menace and eventually eliminate it from our country.”

In his speech, Govenor Samuel Ortom who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Benson Abounu, urged all political office holders in the country to strive to ensure that they never became guests of the ICPC after office.

Ortom regretted that the state was facing the most difficult times due to corruption and the squander of the state resources by the past government.

In their separate speeches, the Tor Tiv, Chief Alfred Torkuka and Ochi Idoma, Elias Obekpa pledged the support of the traditional rulers in the state in the fight against corruption in the country. uncovers over N23billion pension funds ‘lost’ in 40 bank accounts

Dasuki Lied, Shunned Arms Probe Panel’s Invitation – Presidency

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Presidency has faulted the claim by the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), that he was not invited by the presidential committee, probing the purchase and supply of arms during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A source in the Presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday, said that the Federal Government was in possession of evidence to show that Dasuki was duly invited to clear his name.

He said the Department of State Services, DSS, duly invited the ex-NSA, who in turn refused to honour the invitation.

The source close to the presidency said that a summons served on Dasuki was duly acknowledged by his lawyer.

The source said:

“He was invited by the DSS and he refused to honour the invitation despite that his lawyer acknowledged the document.

“Instead for Dasuki to honour the invitation, he remained indoors and was whipping up sentiment.

“If he is taken to any court without his statement, the case will automatically be thrown out.”

He said at the appropriate time, Nigerians would know more about the allegations against the ex-NSA.

Source: Punch

NBTE Partners EFCC, ICPC To stem Corruption In Polytechnics

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has partnered with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences (ICPC) to eradicate corruption in the country’s Polytechnics.

The Executive Secretary, NBTE, Dr Masa’udu Kazaure, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Kaduna during an interactive session with the EFCC on Anti-Corruption for Principals and Trade Unions in Polytechnics and Specialised institutions.

“NBTE has partnered with EFCC and the ICPC to ensure that the fight against corruption is firmly rooted in polytechnics.

“Through such partnerships, the board, EFCC and ICPC have conducted compliance monitoring activities of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTU) in Polytechnics.

“We have also organised interactive session for different categories of staff in NBTE and polytechnics, facilitated workshops on entrenching integrity in academics and procurement processes in polytechnics.

“All these efforts are geared toward ensuring that loopholes for corruption in our institutions are plugged so that together, we can build a better polytechnic system that we can all be proud of,’’ he said.

He urged government officials to lead by example if the fight against corruption would be effectively tackled.

Kazaure explained that the number of petitions to the EFCC and ICPC in the past two years which bordered on academic and financial corruption from the polytechnics were alarming.

He said the petitions generated negative impact on the sector and had been a cause of concern for the board and the Federal Ministry of Education.

“This interactive session is aimed at sensitising the principal officers and union members of the activities of the EFFCC and ICPC and how to avoid being a victim of financial crimes and other similar offences.

“Such fora provided very useful information that will ensure probity and accountability in both academics and administration of the institutions as well as reduce petitions emanating from the institutions.

“This sensitisation would not have come at a better time than now when the country has an administration that is intolerant to corruption,’’ he added.

Also, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, represented by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Osita Nwajah, pointed out that the partnership was already yielding the desired result.

Magu said that NBTE and all institutions under its purview were becoming more aware of issues relating to corruption and had been cooperating to reduce its prevalence in the system.

“However, I must sound a note of warning that acts of fraud, corruption and other forms of economic and financial crimes, whether committed by individuals or group will not be overlooked by the EFCC.

“The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on anyone caught in line with the determined anti-corruption war of the present administration. EFCC will get you anywhere, anytime,’’ he said.

In his remark, the ICPC’s North-West Zonal Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Adigun, commended NBTE for taking a firm stand against corruption.

Adigun urged government officials and Nigerians to join the anti-corruption crusade to rescue the country from collapse due to corrupt activities.

(NAN)

Money Laundering: EFCC Received Over Five Petitions Against Ohakim – Witness

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A prosecution witness has told Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, received over five petitions against former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, who was arraigned on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering.

Ohakim is alleged to have made a cash payment of $2, 290,000.00 (two million, two hundred and ninety thousand dollars), for a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

While answering a question by the defence counsel, Awa Kalu, SAN, prosecution witness, Ishaya Dauda, said the Commission received over five petitions against the accused person.

Dauda, a Senior Detective Superintendent, SDS, with the EFCC, also told the court that some of the petitions against the accused person were received from the following sources: Alliance of Redemption and Destiny Organization; Aggrieved Imo State Citizens; Citizens for Imo Economic Security and 27 people (who are all signatories to a petition) from each of the 27 local governments in the state.

When asked by the defence counsel if he made any effort to confirm whether or not the groups were registered, Dauda said there was no need to do that.

Dauda further told the court, while answering a question by the defence counsel, that all the petitions were investigated.

However, when the defence counsel asked for copies of the petitions in court, the prosecution witness told the court that the petitions were in the Commission’s files.

“My Lord, it is important we see the petitions because the liberty and freedom and of our client is at stake. Besides, we need to see the petitions so that we can cross-examine the witness thoroughly,” said the defence counsel.

However, the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, raised an objection to the request, saying that the defence counsel had failed to do the proper thing as required by law.

According to Keyamo, “My Lord, in a criminal charge, you cannot ask a witness to present copies of petitions in court. It is wrong to harass or ambush a witness to present copies of petitions against an accused person in court. If you really needed them, you should have applied for them or told me. If you want them and you tell me, I will bring them.”

The defence counsel then prayed the court to ask the prosecution witness to give him copies of the petitions.

Responding, Keyamo told the court that he would give copies of the petitions to the defence counsel within 24 hours.

In his ruling, Justice Ademola said the prosecution was right in his submission, adding that, “If you( the defence counsel) needed them, as you do need them, you would have asked the prosecution to give them to you.”

The case was adjourned to December 7, 2015 for continuation of trial.

Credit : PM News