TheNewsGuru

Tag: Azuka Ogugua

  • Entrepreneur arrested for selling new Naira notes via social media

    Entrepreneur arrested for selling new Naira notes via social media

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has arrested a “serial entrepreneur” for allegedly offering the redesigned Naira notes for sale via social media.

    Spokesperson for the commission, Mrs Azuka Ogugua disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday and stated that the female serial entrepreneur, who operates with the Twitter handle @SimisolaGold, was arrested as a result of intelligence received by ICPC’s operatives.

    Mrs Ogugua said the suspect allegedly seized the opportunity of the scarcity of the new naira notes to openly market the new notes.

    “It is believed she is in collusion with key elements in the financial services sector diverting the newly released notes away from banking halls and payment channels into a “ black market, ” she said.

    Ogugua added that the woman, a social media “serial entrepreneur” deals in skincare, sales of fuel, facilitation of foreign travels through visa acquisitions, and other businesses.

    According to her, the suspect is currently in ICPC detention and is helping the anti graft agency with its findings on the criminal trading of the naira and the attendant scarcity and negative economic outcomes being caused by the action.

    She further explained that the arrest was in furtherance of the collaboration between CBN, ICPC and EFCC in implementing the new cashless policy and Naira redesign.

  • Why we are detaining D’Banj – ICPC

    Why we are detaining D’Banj – ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the detention of Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as  D’Banj over an ongoing investigation into the diversion of N-Power programme funds.

    Mrs Azuka Ogugua, the Commission’s spokesperson said this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Ogugua said that the investigation followed numerous petitions on the diversion of N-Power funds running into billions of naira.

    She said many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly stipends in spite of payment by the Federal Government.

    “About 10 persons have been invited by the ICPC over the last few months in connection with the N-Power fraud, and have been granted administrative bail after their detention.

    “Several invitations to Oyebanjo to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured.

    “Oyebanjo turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, December 6,  2022, and is currently assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations by the petitioners.

    “The investigation will be all-encompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled.

    “This press release has become necessary to set the record straight in view of the reports awash in the media,” she said.

    According to her, the investigation is ongoing and the commission prefers not to preempt its outcome in order to avoid a media trial.

    The N-Power is a scheme established by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 8, 2016, to empower unemployed graduates.

  • ICPC speaks on raiding Lt. General Tukur Buratai’s house

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has denied  reports that the commission raided a property  belonging to former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.

    ICPC spokesperson Mrs Azuka Ogugua, made this disclosure via a statement signed and released by her on Friday afternoon.

    Her statement reads in part “The attention of the commission has been drawn to some inaccurate and concocted reports in the media about the seizure of multibillion-naira cash, dollars, Rolex watches stockpiled in an Abuja property.

    “The commission wishes to state that ICPC operatives raided a property in Wuse II of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on June 16, in suspicion of money laundering.

    “Facts available for the time being indicates that the property is owned by owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor.

    “The commission recovered money and other items from the property viz. N175,706,500; 220,965 dollars; G-Wagon; 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes Benz cars; customized mobile phones; several designer wrist watches, including three Rolexes, and some property documents.

    “The commission arrested the Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr Kabiru Sallau and investigation is ongoing.

    “The commission is yet to conclude its investigation and prefers not to preempt its outcome and also avoid the frenzy of a media trial, ” the ICPC said.