TheNewsGuru

Tag: EFCC

  • N23bn Diezani bribe: EFCC arraigns Jonathan’s ex-FCT minister, Akinjide, today

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will on Thursday (today) arraign a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, for allegedly receiving N650m from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 general election.

    The money was said to be part of the $115m (N23bn as of 2015) allegedly disbursed by Diezani, part of which was allegedly used in bribing some senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    The money was said to be part of kickbacks received from oil firms.

    The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said Akinjide, who was the Oyo State Coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, would be arraigned on 24 counts of Money Laundering before Justice Ayo Emmanuel of a Federal High Court, Ibadan.

    According to the charge sheet with Suit No: FHC/1B/26C/2017, the former minister, along with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Mr Yinka Taiwo, and others now at large, on or about March 27, 2015 within the jurisdiction of the court, did conspire among yourselves to directly ‘take possession of the sum of N650,000,000 which you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: money laundering, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

    She is also accused of violating sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    The EFCC said Akinjide and others conspired to make cash payments exceeding the amount authorised by law without going through any financial institution.

    The prosecution said they were liable to be punished under sections 15(3)(4) and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Akinjide first visited the EFCC in August last year where she was made to refund about N10m.

    The former minister was said to have applied for bail on the grounds that she needed to travel out of the country for medical attention.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Pategi, stood surety for her but was arrested when Akinjide refused to make herself available as promised.

     

  • Arms probe: EFCC invites Oduah, grills Minimah, detains ex-FCT minister, Akinjide

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday questioned the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd.), for about six hours.

    The anti-graft agency also detained a former Minister of State for FCT, Jumoke Akinjide, just as the anti-graft agency invited a former Minister of Aviation and current lawmaker representing Anambra-North senatorial district, Stella Oduah, for questioning.

    According to a report by The Punch, Minimah was invited to explain how $1,891,809,299.1bn allocated for arms procurement for the army during his tenure was spent.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Minimah and his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.), have been under investigation by the EFCC for over a year following a report issued by the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement.

    Also to face EFCC inquisition on the arms procurement are 16 retired and serving army officers, 12 serving and retired public officers and 24 Chief Executive Officers of companies involved in the procurement of equipment.

    All were either accounting officers or played key roles in the Nigerian Army procurement activities during the period under review.

    Others indicted include a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, and three former permanent secretaries in the Ministry of Defence – Mr. Bukar Goni Aji, Mr. Haruna Sanusi and E.O. Oyemomi.

    Also, the CEOs to be investigated include Col. Olu Bamgbose (retd.) of Bamverde Ltd.; Mr. Amity Sade of Dolyatec Comms Ltd. and DYI Global Services and Mr. Edward Churchill of Westgate Global Trust Ltd.

    It found that the Nigerian Army Contracts awarded by the Ministry of Defence for the period under review were often awarded without significant input from the end-user (Nigerian Army) and to vendors who lacked the necessary technical competence.

    The panel also fingered some relatives or children of Ihejirika identified as: Raymond Ihejirika, Nkechi Ihejirika, Ndubuisi Ihejirika, Orji Ihejirika, Kingsley Ihejirika and Naomi Onyeabor.

    The committee further established that between March 2011 and December 2013, the two companies exclusively procured various types of Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles worth over N2bn for the Nigerian Army without any competitive bidding.

    However, the Nigerian Army could not justify the exclusive selection of these vendors against other renowned distributors of same brands of vehicles procured.

    Meanwhile, the EFCC has invited Oduah for questioning for procuring two BMW vehicles while she was minister.

    Stella Oduah’s attempt to stop her arrest over the purchase of N225m armoured vehicles had suffered setback as a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed her application.

    The former minister for aviation, who is under investigation by the EFCC, had filed a suit against the EFCC, police and the Attorney General of the Federation asking the court to stop them from “inviting, arresting, investigating or prosecuting” her.

    Also, the EFCC said in a statement by Uwujaren on Tuesday that Akinjide was detained in the commission’s custody.

    The commission therefore withdrew the detention order against a member of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Pategi, who stood surety for her.

    Aliyu, a federal lawmaker representing Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency of Kwara State was on Friday remanded in EFCC custody by a Lagos State Magistrate Court, Igbosere for failing to produce the suspect when needed by investigators and her failure to appear before a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan for three proceedings.

    Akinjide, whom the EFCC accused of evading arraignment in the Federal High Court Ibadan, presided by Justice Ayo Emmanuel, is facing 24 counts of money laundering in Suit No.FHC/1B/26C/2017.

     

  • IT procurement: NITDA, EFCC forge alliance to curb corruption

    The National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) have forged alliance to strengthen the anti-corruption war especially on the procurement of Information Technology(IT) products and service among Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Nigerian government.

    The two agencies inked the alliance during a working visit to EFCC Headquarter in Abuja by the Director General of NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami with his management team.

    The alliance was announced yesterday in an official statement by NITDA’s Head of Corporate and External Relations, Hadiza Umar.

    According to the statement, Pantami said the alliance has become imperative in the face of the wanton corruption being perpetrated by MDAs especially in the procurement of IT products and services as most of the projects pass through less scrutiny during budget defense at the National Assembly since the expertise required to ascertain the needs and specifications of these IT requirements are lacking within the legislative chambers.

    NITDA is government’s IT clearinghouse but until now, its mandate to scrutinize IT procurements by MDAs has largely been ignored.

    “Many MDAs consider IT projects as conduit pipes to siphon public funds and I believe partnering with EFCC will bring sanity to the sector and by then the commission will be empowering NITDA in strengthening its regulatory function through which it will also be developing and promoting the local content in the IT sector,” the NITDA boss said.

    While suggesting the modus operandi of the partnership, DrPantami informed that the two organisations could form a working group which would also serve as a desk to deal with sharp practices in IT procurement, adding that, “EFCC may help in asking MDAs to produce procurement clearance issued by NITDA during their investigations.

    He said NITDA as IT regulatory body in the country, the Agency is responsible for subjecting IT product to value-for-money analysis, reduce projects duplication, justify the spending of public funds on IT projects and to advise MDAs on the alternative options of IT products and service with a view of reducing cost especially on sharing of software among themselves.

    Pantami who believed that the alliance would strengthen the existing relationship between the Agency and the Commission said “supporting NITDA would go a long way in blocking loopholes in IT procurements.”

    He commended the EFCC’s Acting chairman for his doggedness, fearlessness and outstanding performance which he has recorded in acting capacity saying the feat could take some people 20 years to achieve as substantive chairman of the commission.

    While assuring him of his prayers and goodwill, Dr Pantami stated that Nigeria needs people like Mr. Magu who are fearless and do not think of the consequences of their action to move forward as a nation

    In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu who expressed his delight over the visit said that EFCC as a commission “would be complying with NITDA’s request so as to bring some level of sanity to the procurement of IT products and services among MDAs in Nigeria.

    He described the partnership as timely especially now that the Commission is on the process of “completely digitalizing the operation of EFCC” adding that he now has place in NITDA to run to when he gets confuse on IT projects under investigations.

    Describing corruption as a threat to the unity of Nigeria, the EFCC boss maintained that the Commission cannot fight corruption alone without the consensus of all Nigerians, he pleaded to Nigerians not to be discouraged on the recent corruption case judgments delivered recently.

    Magu stated that the cause of agitations from different quarters in the country today is because of corruptions that has ravaged the nation. “Absolutely there is a political will to fight corruption and this is not in doubt. This is the time to save this country from the shackles of corruption,” he added

    The two organisations agreed to nominate three officials each to constitute the working group and the desk with the term of reference of verifying the IT products and services to be procured with public funds.

     

  • EFCC denies prosecuting Saraki, disowns Rotimi Jacobs

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said that it was not prosecuting the President of the Senate Bukola Saraki in the recently concluded false declaration of assets case.

    In a series of tweets on its Twitter handle @officialEFCC, the anti-corruption agency made it clear to Nigerians that it was not the prosecutor at the Code of Conduct Tribunal trial.

    The EFCC also disowned counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, saying that he is an independent anti-corruption lawyer to the state and could be counsel to any organisation.

    During the two-year-trial of Saraki, Rotimi Jacobs was always referred to as counsel for the EFCC, but the EFCC clarifies that he is not attached to the commission.

     

  • Saraki’s Trial: Legislator tasks EFCC on thorough investigation of cases

    A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Babajimi Benson (Lagos-APC), has urged anti-graft agencies in the country to apply more diligence in investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.

    In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, Benson said that there was need for anti-corruption agencies to be meticulous to avoid waste of public funds.

    The call stemmed from the failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to establish a case against President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, over alleged false declaration of assets.

    The lawmaker condemned media trials against accused persons, and advised the EFCC to always prepare its witnesses before proceeding on any prosecution.

    “People should not be tried on the pages of newspaper; a case is as good as its preparation.

    “You need to prepare, you need to speak to lawyers and you need to tutor your witnesses appropriately so that when they speak or are cross examined in the dock, their statements should be good enough to cause a conviction,’’ he said.

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja on Wednesday discharged and acquitted Saraki in the 18-count charge of false declaration of assets brought against him by the Federal Government in September, 2015.

    The tribunal held that the evidence brought against Saraki lacked verifiable value and was unreliable to hold the charges against the defendant.

    In his ruling, Chairman of the tribunal, Mr Danladi Umar, said that the prosecution, at the close of the case, failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

    Umar said that the four witnesses called by the prosecution gave contradictory evidence that were manifestly unreliable to convict the defendant or order him to enter his defence.

  • $48m fraud: EFCC declares Jonathan’s finance coordinator, Olejeme wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared wanted, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, the Deputy Chairman, Finance Committee of the 2015 Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    Olejeme, who was also Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund from 2009 to 2015, was accused of cornering about $48,485,127 from the NSITF.

    The accused and some directors in the company allegedly siphoned billions of naira, including funds meant for the payment of allowances of its staff as well as compensation to contributors.

    It was learnt that several directors and contractors were invited to explain their own side of the story, many of whom had since returned funds to the EFCC.

    An EFCC report, made available to newsmen alleged that the funds were said to have been traced to the accounts of some consultants and contractors, who were believed to be fronts for Olojeme and other directors in the NSITF.

    The anti-graft agency report said, “It was discovered that the NSITF accounts in First Bank of Nigeria and other banks have witnessed a total turnover of over N62,358,401,927 between 2012 and 2015 from the Employee Compensation Scheme contributions.

    “That out of the N62bn, the Federal Government contributed N13,600,000,000 while the sum of N48,758,401,927.80 was contributed by the private sector. That there were several payments to individuals and companies from the NSITF bank accounts for purported contracts or consultancy services.

    “That some individuals and companies that received these payments, in turn, transferred part of the monies directly to the NSITF officials while others transferred huge sums to bureau de change operators who changed them to dollars.”

    The report added that Olejeme sent her account officer at FBN to collect $48m from some NSITF contractors through a BDC operator.

    It stated, “That through this process, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, the then NSITF board chairman, has collected a total sum of $48,485,127 from Mr. Chuka Eze (her account officer at FBN), which cash he collected on her behalf being the dollar equivalent of monies paid to BDCs by NSITF contractors.

    “That she has refused to honour invitation and all efforts to get her to come and tell her own side of the story have proved abortive hence her arrest warrant has been obtained from court.

    “We ask for the EFCC chairman’s approval to declare the suspect wanted.”

    The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Olejeme had been declared wanted.

    He urged members of the public to offer information that could lead to her arrest.

    “Yes, she has been declared wanted. Members of the public are advised to give us information that would lead to her arrest,” he said.

  • Build maximum prison in Sambisa Forest for corrupt officials, Magu tells FG

    As an effective way of combating corruption in the land, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has called on the Federal Government to build a Maximum Prison in Sambisa Forest specifically for corrupt people who have been convicted by the courts.

    He said the reason for the appeal was to express clearly that corrupt practice will not be tolerated in the land.

    Magu said this when he received the Media team of National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG) on Monday in his office in Abuja.

    The EFCC noted that if approved, it will serve as a special prison unit for corrupt people, which will totally isolate them and cut them off from their comfort zones.

    He lamented that when kept in Lagos maximum Kirikiri prison, “they still go about their businesses as if nothing is amiss, using their communication gadgets, whereas, their actions have made Nigeria poorer than most Nations of the world. Maximum prison in Sambisa Forest specifically for corrupt people.‎”

    “EFCC is leaving nothing to chance, we will making sure we continue to have the toughest position in the nation in relation to reducing and eliminating corruption activities,” Magu added.

    Magu said the anti-graft agency was determined to banish corruption from the land.

  • $1.1bn Malabu Oil deal: FG taking steps to extradite Adoke, others

    The Federal Government is making all necessary arrangements to extradite to Nigeria, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to face charges of fraud.

    Mr Johnson Ojogbane, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the agency prosecuting Adoke, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The EFCC charged Adoke and two multinational oil companies to court on charges of alleged $1.1billion Malabu Oil scam.

    On the last adjourned date, the judge, Justice John Tsoho, fixed June 13, for arraignment of Adoke and the other co-defendants.

    Ojogbane, however, told newsmen that the matter could not proceed because the EFCC had been unable to get Adoke and other defendants.

    “The matter was adjourned until today for arraignment of the defendants, but up till now, we have not been able to secure the attendance of most of the defendants, because they are outside jurisdiction, that is they are outside the country.

    “The Federal Government is doing everything within its powers to bring them back to Nigeria so that they can face their trial.

    “The government will take steps, in collaboration with the international police to locate them and bring them back to Nigeria through extradition, which is a very cumbersome process, but it will be done,” Ojogbane said.

    He said the court adjourned the matter until Oct. 26 after the court’s vacation to enable the process of bringing Adoke and others back to Nigeria to be intensified.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the EFCC had in December 2016, charged nine suspects, including Adoke, over the purchase of OPL 245.

    Adoke was accused of illegally transferring more than $800 million purportedly meant for the purchase of the OPL 245 to Dan Etete, Malabu Oil.

    The Federal Government had also on March 2, filed fresh charges against Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited and Agip Nigeria Exploration Limited for alleged complicity in the Malabu $1.1 billion scandal.

    Adoke, Etete, Aliyu Abubakar, ENI Spa, Ralph Wetzels, Casula Roberto, Pujatti Stefeno, Burrafati Sebestiano and Malabu Oil and Gas were charged alongside the two multinational oil companies.

     

     

    NAN

  • Budget padding allegations: EFCC invites Jibrin

    The suspended former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Jibrin’s invitation is based on his allegations on budget padding against the leadership of the House and to answer questions concerning money looted through padding in the 2016 budget.

    The EFCC’s letter of invitation to Jibrin dated June 9 was signed by the acting Head of Extractive Industry Grid Section, Mr Michael Wetkas.

    It said: “The commission has commenced investigation into the petition of corrupt practices and abuses of office reported on 1st August, 2016, by Hammart and Co. (Tafida Chambers) on your behalf against Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Hon. Yussuf Lasun, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, Hon. Leonard Ogor and others.

    “In furtherance of the investigation and due to unfolding findings, it has become imperative to request that you attend another interview with the team.

    “Through Ibrahim Ahmed on 13th June 2017 at the 3rd floor Block A, No.5 Fomelu street, off Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, at 10 a.m. to clarify some issues to enable us conclude investigation”.

    Jibrin in a statement on Monday in Abuja confirmed receipt of the letter.

    He said: “Today, I received invitation from the EFCC for another interview to clarify some issues to enable the commission conclude investigation on my petition against some principal officers of the House on 2016 budget fraud, corruption and abuse of office.

    “This is a welcome development as it is coming at a time that many Nigerians have lost hope that the outcome of my petition will not see the light of the day.

    “I have severally maintained that I have full confidence in the EFCC under the Chairmanship of Ibrahim Magu.

    “I am also aware that the EFCC have been investigating the petition I submitted and far reaching discoveries were made.

    “It is also noteworthy that this invitation is coming at a time that some revelations were made last week.

    “The revelations with details of how the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, used his company where he is the signatory to the accounts to execute constituency project contracts completely against the laws of our land.

    “It is however worrisome that in his response, Ogor admitted the offence and even boosted that there is nothing wrong in what he did as quoted by the nation’s newspaper.

    “Let me state emphatically clear that any Member or Senator who used his company or companies with links to him to execute constituency project contracts, whether such contracts are executed or not has committed an offence.

    “Either way you look at it, he can be prosecuted on charges of corruption or abuse of office.

    “The case of Leo Ogor is same or even worst than that of Babachir Lawal yet the entire National Assembly has maintained an embarrassing silence.

    “Is my boss, Senate President and Chairman of National Assembly, Sen. Bukola Saraki aware of this?

    “In due course I will expose a lot of other issues in the 2017 budget that will shock Nigerians whether the authority decides to act on it or not.”

     

  • Why we raided Sun Newspaper – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why its officials invaded the office of The Sun Newspapers.

    The commission said the raid was part of routine efforts to ascertain the state of the assets of the publishing company, which is subject of subsisting interim forfeiture order.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that operatives of the EFCC, in the early hours of Monday invaded the headquarters of paper thereby disrupting normal activities and circulation of the papers.

    This was contained in a statement released by the agency’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday.

    He denied allegations that the EFCC raided the media company because the acting Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu, was fighting the newspaper over a March publication accusing him of corruption.

    “Operatives of the EFCC in the early hours of June 12, 2017, visited the head office of the Sun Newspaper in Lagos.

    “The visit, which lasted for less an hour, was part of routine efforts to ascertain the state of the assets of the publishing company which is subject of subsisting interim forfeiture order

    “Prior to the visit, the commission had written to the management of the company to account for its management of the assets for the period of the subsisting court order.

    “The commission still awaits the response of The SUN and will not be distracted by any attempt to whip up sentiments by alluding to an appeal which has been pending for ten years. The commission’s action is without prejudice to any appeal and only meant to verify the integrity of the assets,” the statement read in part.

    The EFCC denied allegations that it harassed and molested staff of the newspaper.

    The statement added: “Contrary to claims in a statement released to the media by the management of The SUN, no employee of the media outfit was molested or intimidated for the few minutes that operatives of the commission spent in the premises of the company.

    “The claim that ‘EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organisation of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram, and Niger Delta Militant stories,’ is strange and clearly the figment of the imagination of the Sun.

    “There was no reason to molest anybody as the commission has always related professionally with the publishing outfit. The attempt also to link the visit to the acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu’s, threat to sue the organisation over a libellous publication is also diversionary.

    “Magu is pursuing that option in his private capacity and his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, did write The SUN and his letter was widely published in the media on March 31, 2017.”