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Tag: EFCC

  • BREAKING: EFCC makes u-turn, cancels arrest warrant against Mercy Chinwo’s manager

    BREAKING: EFCC makes u-turn, cancels arrest warrant against Mercy Chinwo’s manager

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revoked the arrest warrant for the Founder, Eeze Conceptz Limited, Mr Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of a popular Nigerian gospel artist, Mercy Chinwo.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court granted a warrant of arrest brought by the anti-graft agency against Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

    The arrest warrant stemmed from a petition filed by Mercy Chinwo with the EFCC, where the singer accused her manager of withholding royalties from her digital platforms and events without proper disclosure.

    Chinwo further alleged that Onyedikachukwu had diverted $345,000 for her, prompting her to seek legal redress.

    In response, Onyedikachukwu, through his legal counsel, Maxwell Opara, noted that Mercy Chinwo’s allegations against the him were untrue and baseless

    Opara said Chinwo allegedly reneged on the record label and management contract with her label, Eeze Conceptz Limited, and presented falsehood to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against his client.

    The lawyer, who clarified that Onyedikachukwu was never Chinwo’s manager, said his client was her producer who, sometimes in 2017, scouted and discovered her singing talent, developed the talent as well as promoted and brought her to the limelight in the  gospel music industry.

    He also said that the allegation that the embattled producer diverted the singer’s $345,000 U.S. dollars in royalties was false.

  • Group urges EFCC to investigate ex-A/Ibom governor, Udom Emmanuel

    Group urges EFCC to investigate ex-A/Ibom governor, Udom Emmanuel

    Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Initiative (NACAT) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former governor of Akwa Ibom,  Udom Emmanuel, over alleged misappropriation of state funds.

    The group, which made the call in a petition to the EFCC against the former governor on Wednesday in Abuja, accused him of diverting over N1.5 trillion state funds.

    NAN reports that the petition was signed by its Executive Director, Investigation, Fejiro Tega; Operation Manager, Stanley Ugabe; and Michael Ekpo; with Victor Thompson for Akwa Ibomites.

    “As a leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, we will be failing in our duties and responsibilities if we turn a blind eye to the wanton corruption and embezzlement of public funds orchestrated by former Gov. Udom Emmanuel.

    “We have painstakingly investigated and audited many of the financial records of the state available to us and detailed our findings here as part of our petition.

    “The diversion of funds and primitive massive acquisition of properties by Udom and his family members, has left the residents and indigenes of the state wondering why the EFCC has not invited him for questioning and prosecution,” the group wrote.

    NACAT noted that, in spite of the over N3 trillion that came into the Akwa Ibom State coffers under the eight years tenure of Udom, a staggering sum of N700 billion could not be accounted for.

    “The former governor yet left a debt profile of over N500 billion and unpaid ongoing projects worth over N300 billion, with abandoned projects littered all over the state,” it stated.

    NACAT said that the former governor, through his cronies, allegedly awarded contracts to companies owned by his allies through which funds were siphoned from the state’s coffers.

    It alleged that Emmanuel diverted the state’s funds  through security votes, which were never given to the security agents that it was meant for.

    According to the group, over N4.5 billion was withdrawn and claimed to be given to security agencies in a space of six months, while over N10 billion was spent in 2018 alone, as security votes.

    The anti-corruption organisation accused the former governor of spending over N100 billion to build 31 industries that never saw the light of the day.

    “The 31 industries, which gulped over N100 billion have not been built till now beyond the four he did that died after their commissioning.

    “The only completed and standard projects he completed are his houses in Ikoyi, worth over N3 billion, as well as his new house undergoing construction that is built entirely with concrete and no blocks.

    “Greenwell Technologies Limited which was claimed to be a PPP actually had 100 per cent ownership by Akwa Ibom with N650 million paid by Udom in 2016 to kickstart the fertilizer company,” it further alleged.

    NACAT also claimed that the state government was  paying the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) N1.5 billion yearly, ostensibly for supply of raw materials.

    “Udom diverted all the billions made by the fertilizer company to a shell company in the U.S., named Greenwell Technologies LLC.

    “He claimed that they were to supply raw materials, whereas it was ONSA that supplied raw materials and were already paid for.

    “We also have cause to believe that Udom is a major shareholder of Globus Bank,” it further alleged.

    “Majority of the state government’s accounts are now with Globus Bank right from when it was floated under his tenure in Akwa Ibom State and till now, the group added.

    It also claimed that New Dawn Microfinance Bank in Uyo is owned by the former governor’s allies.

    NACAT also alleged that the former governor used people as fronts to perpetrate such, adding that the microfinance bank was a money laundering bank used to warehouse money for him.

    It said that the former governor also used his wife to buy a property worth 580,000 dollars in the U.S. located at 3939 Manor House, Drive, Charlotte, NC 28270.

    Speaking with newsmen earlier, Mr Light Shedrack, Director of Compliance NACAT,  said the group  decided to officially send a petition to the EFCC chairman and would be ready to stand as witness in due course if called upon.

    When contacted, the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the petition was submitted to the commission by the group on Wednesday.

    However, Mr Stephen Abia, the media aide to the former governor, dismissed the allegation, describing it as baseless.

    He said the petition was the handiwork of the enemies of the former governor, stressing that records were on ground to proof the achievements of his boss during his tenure.

    Abia, who emphasised that the allegation did not hold water, said his principal ruled the state with utmost transparency and observed due process in all his dealings as governor.

    According to him, most of the allegations were frivolous and unfounded.

    The media aide, while describing the petition as a “trash, which should not be reckoned with”, said those who wrote it had no good record, and were known for their notorious activities.

  • EFCC begins auction of 891 forfeited vehicles

    EFCC begins auction of 891 forfeited vehicles

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will conduct an electronic auction of 891 forfeited cars between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27.

    The commission announced this on its social media handle on Monday.

    It stated that the vehicles were forfeited in line with the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery & Management) Act, 2022.

    Some vehicles listed for auction include Lexus Panamera Porsche, Crosstour, Mercedes Benz, and Venza, among others.

    It listed locations of the vehicles to include Abuja, Benin, Sokoto, Uyo, Lagos, Kaduna, Ilorin, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Ibadan.

    ”Interested parties have been directed to the following websites: www.rihogo.com, https://biznjeg.ng, www.areogunresourcesniglid.com.ng” it stated.

  • NMA disowns alleged killer of EFCC, says he’s not our member

    NMA disowns alleged killer of EFCC, says he’s not our member

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State Chapter, has debunked reports identifying the suspect accused of killing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officer in Awka as a medical doctor.

    In a statement released by Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi, the State Secretary of the NMA, via X (formerly Twitter), on Monday, the association clarified that the suspect, Joshua Ikechukwu, is neither a licensed medical practitioner nor a member of the NMA.

    Ikechukwu allegedly killed an EFCC officer, Aminu Salisu, during an operation in the early hours of Friday, January 17, 2025, at Dr J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka.

    The EFCC said Ikechukwu was allegedly involved in “online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy.”

    An online publication was said to have reported that the suspect was a staff member of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital.

    Addressing these claims, the NMA expressed concern over the misuse of the title “medical doctor” by impostors.

    “The attention of the leadership of NMA Anambra State has been drawn to online and newspaper publications alleging that a medical doctor shot an EFCC officer in Awka,” the statement said.

    “In one of the publications, the suspect was described as a staff member of NAUTH. However, following our investigation, we wish to clarify that: Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is not a staff member of NAUTH, as confirmed by the hospital’s management.

    “He is not a member of the NMA Awka Zone, nor has any member identified him as a colleague. He is not a medical doctor (not even an academic doctor), though he deals in medical supplies and has been erroneously addressed as one.

    “The NMA Anambra State hereby notifies the media and EFCC that the said suspect is not a medical doctor. We demand an immediate retraction of all defamatory publications where he was referred to as such. We urge the media to conduct due diligence before publishing claims.”

  • They deserve it – Skales mocks EFCC over tragic death of officer killed by ‘Yahoo boy’

    They deserve it – Skales mocks EFCC over tragic death of officer killed by ‘Yahoo boy’

    Nigerian music producer and singer, Skales has reacted to the tragic death of an Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) officer, Aminu Sahabi Salisu, who was killed recently by a fraudster.

    TheNewsGuru previously reported the attack on some EFCC officials in Anambra State.

    Reacting to the news, Skales, via the microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter, recounted his traumatic  experience with the anti-graft agency,  revealing how they raided his home, armed with guns, causing damage to his family.

    According to him, out of fear, his mother dropped his 6-month-old daughter, and this left her lips severely damaged. He stated that he is still dealing with the trauma of that incident.

    He wrote: “It’s quite unfortunate that someone lost his life but they had it coming. Imagine the trauma I and my family still face till now.

    “I should be feeling bad but I actually don’t. They had it coming. Imagine that day I didn’t keep my cool they would have probably switched the story just like they tried to do and shot me or something. I will never forgive them. They had it coming.

    “Corrupt agency trying to fight corruption, lol. I will never forgive them. They deserve it”.

    “Well, when they came to my house, they didn’t ask, they didn’t knock, they just broke the door, and I’m not a fraudster. Plus, my whole family was there with me, including my newborn. Imagine being woken up with 4 AK47s and 3 Sledge glammers like a Gaddamm horror movie and all this because they saw luxurious cars in front of my house”.

    When a Twitter user tried defending the Commission, Skales wrote,

    “They are not good. They are evil people. That day, they were speaking to Hausa, saying, “They told them it’s an artiste house, but they don’t care.” Little did they know that I understand and speak Hausa. Also, when I replied in Hausa, they all shivered.

    I had to move my family to a hotel and I slept at @jaypizzlebeat house for 3 days. I am happy it happened to them for real”.

  • EFCC finally breaks silence on official killed by ‘Yahoo boy’

    EFCC finally breaks silence on official killed by ‘Yahoo boy’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday confirmed the killing of its officer, Aminu Sahabi Salisu, by a fraudster, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu in Anambra State.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the anti-graft agency via its verified social media handles also noted the wrong narratives circulated on social media regarding the death of Salisu, which the organization described as irresponsible, callous, inhuman and outrageous.

    According to a statement by Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, its operatives had gone to the house of some suspected fraudsters on legitimate duty when they were attacked.

    The organisation also narrated how its operative was killed, noting that one of the suspects, performed the act, after refusing to grant its officials, whom he sighted through a CCTV Camera entrance into his residence.

    The agency added that an altercation was ignited, which eventually resorted to shooting the officials, killing Salihu in the process.

    The statement vowed to bring Ikechukwu to justice.

    “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, expresses grief on the loss of one of its officers, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE II Aminu Sahabi Salisu who was killed in cold blood while on a legitimate duty on January 17, 2025 by a suspected internet fraudster, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu.

    “Additionally, the Commission views with great concern the irresponsible, callous, inhuman and outrageous narratives being circulated on social media on the whys and wherefores of the fatal accident. It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz.

    “More worrisome is the fact that some faceless commentators are pitching their tents with an alleged criminal who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty. There is no justification whatsoever to rationalise a murderous act. The milk of human kindness demands that a grieving family, Commission and nation should be spared the shenanigans of false narratives and conjectures on the death of the slain officer.

    “Salisu, alongside other investigators of the EFCC, were at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, to arrest some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of January 17. The operation was duly documented at the Anambra State Command Headquarters and Area Command of the Nigeria Police in line with operational protocols.

    “The operation was initially smooth sailing with 37 suspected internet fraudsters already arrested at a two-storey building housing Ikechukwu and other occupants of the house.

    “However, Ikechukwu, who sighted the investigators through a CCTV Camera mounted at his doorpost and who also confessed sighting them, declined to open his door for the investigators who politely demanded entrance to his apartment. Defying all the introduction and physical sighting of the investigators, he resorted to firing shots at them and killed Salisu in the process and wounded another officer detailed to conduct a search in his apartment.

    “Preliminary investigations showed that Ikechukwu was involved in coding and online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy. Two laptops, ipads, several recording devices were recovered from his apartment and his involvement in internet fraud is already established. Though currently in police custody owing to the murderous dimension of his case, the Commission will surely bring him to trial,” the statement read.

    Yahoo Boys And Girls Have Become Threats

    The EFCC further lamented that the criminal activities of internet fraudsters have become a threat to society and urged the public not to be deceived by their activities.

    The agency added that it won’t condone any form of attack on its operatives while offering condolences to the families of those already affected.

    “The EFCC also wishes to alert the public that the activities of internet fraudsters are becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security. Intelligence has shown that these criminals are carrying arms, involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings and other deadly acts. The public should not fold its arms or allow itself to be deceived that they are mere “Yahoo boys and girls.”

    “As for the EFCC, every subsequent attack on any of its officers will be met with the force of the law. The Commission will not fold its arms and allow any of its officers to be killed again in cold blood. As a law enforcement agency of repute, the EFCC is unrelenting in riding the nation of internet fraud and other acts of corruption.

    “While mourning the loss of its officer who paid the supreme price in the service of the nation, the Commission appreciates the invaluable support, condolences and prompt response of sister agencies and well-meaning individuals standing shoulder to shoulder with it at this trying time,” the statement concluded.

  • EFCC arrests 25 internet fraud suspects in Edo

    EFCC arrests 25 internet fraud suspects in Edo

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in a cybercrime training centre in Benin City, Edo.

    EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, made this known in a statement, on Friday, in Abuja.

    Oyewale said that the arrest of the suspects at their hideout on Thursday in Benin City, was triggered by credible intelligence.

    According to him, the apartment is being used as a ‘yahoo’ academy or training school for internet-related fraud and other fraudulent activities.

    ”Items recovered from the suspects include six exotic cars, laptops and phones. The suspects will be charged to court, as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

  • Court fixes date for arraignment of Otudeko, ex-First Bank MD

    Court fixes date for arraignment of Otudeko, ex-First Bank MD

    A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, fixed Jan. 20, for arraignment of Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, over alleged N12.3 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred a 13-count charge against Otudeko, and a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya.

    Also charged is a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

    The. charge is marked FHC/L/20C/2025

    The defendants were accused of allegedly looting N12.3 billion from First Bank.

    According to the EFCC, they committed the offence in tranches of N5.2 billion, N6.2 billion, N6.1 billion, N1.5 billion and N500 million, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos,

    The charge, filed on Thursday by EFCC prosecutor, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, further claimed that the defendants, made and forged documents to deceive the bank.

    They are to appear before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, to whom the case, has been assigned.

  • Alleged diversion of ₦1.3 bn: EFCC arrests five Katsina govt officials

    Alleged diversion of ₦1.3 bn: EFCC arrests five Katsina govt officials

    The Kano State Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has nabbed five officials of the Katsina Internal Revenue Service in connection with an alleged ₦1.3 billion fraud.

    The persons, identified as Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, were taken into custody last Saturday, January 11.

    The spokesperson of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Dele Oyewale, confirmed their arrest in Abuja on Monday, specifying that the total amount allegedly embezzled by the suspects is ₦1,294,337,676.53.

    According to Oyewale, the arrests were made following a petition by the Katsina state government, which accused the officials of conspiring to embezzle the funds.

    He noted that this amount was intended for the state government, coming from the World Health Organization (WHO), Doctors Without Borders and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).

    He explained, “Preliminary investigations by the committee have revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former director of collections of the board and the current permanent secretary of the board, authorized the opening of a bank account in the name of ‘BOIRS’ at Sterling Bank, where he reportedly appointed Sanusi Mohammed Yaro. , Director of Revenue Account and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro as the sole signatories of the account.

    “The account then became the primary channel through which all the money would be channeled to the main beneficiary NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned and controlled by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, a Deputy Director of Career Skills/Employee Welfare of the Council of Management.

    “Investigations further revealed that Nura Lawal and his company ‘NADIKKO’ became the main channels used to launder the stolen funds. These laundered funds could be traced to the various bank accounts of the suspects.”

    The EFCC spokesperson said the suspects had been detained at the Kano Zone Command of the commission, adding that they would be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations.

  • CARTOON OF THE DAY: EFCC has hit a goldmine

    CARTOON OF THE DAY: EFCC has hit a goldmine

    CARTOON OF THE DAY: EFCC has hit a goldmine