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Tag: EFCC

  • Yakubu sues EFCC, wants immediate release of $9.8m, £74,000 seized from him

    Yakubu sues EFCC, wants immediate release of $9.8m, £74,000 seized from him

     

    A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, seeking the immediate release of the $9.8million and £74,000‎ recovered from him last week .

    Yakubu instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Kano requesting it to set aside the order of forfeiture granted to the Federal Government last week by the court.

    He said the court had no jurisdiction to grant the order.

    The suit was filed by Yakubu’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN).

    Raji argued that the court lacks the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    He said the crime was committed in Abuja, which is outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court in Kano.

    In the motion on notice with suit number FHC/ICN/CS/24/2017, Raji argued that by Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, an offence shall be tried only by a court exercising jurisdiction in the area or place where the offence was committed.

    In his submission, Raji maintained that: “No aspect of the perceived offence in respect of which the Order of 13th February, 2017 was made, was committed within the Kano judicial division of this Honourable Court.

    “By Section 28 of the EFCC Act, only the commission, i.e. the EFCC has the vires to seek an Order for the interim forfeiture of property under the Act.

    “The power of this Honourable Court to make interim forfeiture Order(s) pursuant to Sections 28 & 29 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 (hereinafter “EFCC Act”) is applicable ONLY to alleged offences charged under the EFCC Act and not to offences cognizable under any other law.

    “The ex-parte Order of this Honourable Court dated 13th February, 2017, was made in respect of alleged offences under the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act (hereinafter “ICPC Act”) and not the EFCC Act as prescribed by Section 28 and 29 thereof.

    “The conditions precedent to the grant of an interim forfeiture Order under Sections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act were not complied with by the Applicant before the Order was made.

    “In the instant case, no charge was brought against the Respondent/Applicant before the provisions of Section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act were activated to grant the ex-parte Order of 13th February, 2017.”

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that a Federal High Court sitting in Kano presided over by Justice Zainab B. Abubakar last Tuesday ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $9,772,00 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars ) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) recovered from Yakubu to the Federal Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Federal Government has however said the recovered loots from both the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alinson-Maduekwe and the former NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu will be invested on its social intervention programmes.

  • Alleged N108bn scam: EFCC seizes ex-gov Akpabio wife’s school

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has seized a school allegedly belonging to Unoma Akpabio, wife of former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

    TheNewsGuru.com repoprts that the seizure was part of investigations into the former governor who has been accused of alleged N108bn fraud during his tenure from 2007 to 2015.

    The school, St. John Paul II School, in Shelter Afrique, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had been marked “under investigation by EFCC.”

    According to a report by The Punch, the EFCC resorted to marking the school instead of shutting it so that innocent parents and students who had paid school fees would not be adversely affected.

    The school, it was learnt, had been under the watchful eyes of the EFCC considering the enormous amount said to have been sunk into its construction.

    The school, it was learnt, had been under the watchful eyes of the EFCC considering the enormous amount said to have been sunk into its construction.

    Although normal academic activities were still ongoing in the school as of Wednesday, one of our correspondents who called at the school observed that a police van was stationed outside the gate.

    A senior employee of the school, who refused to disclose his identity, only asked one of our correspondents to observe the ambience around the school.

    He added that he was not capable to comment on any development relating to the EFCC and the school’s proprietor.

    According to him, the school is serene with normal academic activities taking place.

    Confirming the seizure, a senior operative at the commission said: “I understand our operatives were recently in Akwa Ibom and did mark a school as ‘under investigation.’”

     

     

  • N5.1 bn fraud: witness claims he was starved in EFCC’s custody

    N5.1 bn fraud: witness claims he was starved in EFCC’s custody

    An accused, Joseph Iwejuo, on Monday, told a Federal High Court in Lagos, that he was starved for two days while in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) detention.

    Iwejuo is charged alongside a former aide to ex- president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampa-Owei Dudafa, on a 23- count charge of N5.1 billion fraud.

    He made the claim during his examination-in-chief by his lawyer, Sunday Abumere, in a trial-within-trial, ordered by the court to determine whether or not his statements to the commission were voluntarily obtained.

    Recounting his ordeal, he said: “I was a banker before this whole thing started but I got suspended because of the ongoing case.

    “I was invited to my bank’s head office on May 10, 2016, for an onward movement to the EFCC’s office to be interrogated on an issue.

    “On arrival at the place, I was taken to one Orji Chukwuma, who told me that I need to help them on this issue and that they want me to be a witness against the first accused (Dudafa).

    “Two other officers of the EFCC said the same thing to me.

    “I was later given a paper to write my statement but it was withheld because I was told that was not what they wanted me to write.

    “During this period, I did not eat anything for two days; When I wanted to go and eat, Orji told me I could not go because there was no officer that will follow me to the canteen.

    “My phone was later taken away from me and I was guided on what to write. I was told i won’t be detained if I co-operated with them,” he said.

    Iwejuo testified that he wrote more than 11 statements at the EFCC’s office.

    Dudafa, who earlier, in his concluding evidence, in the trial-within-trial, insisted that he wrote his statements under duress.

    Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned to Feb. 21.

    Some of the companies allegedly used by the duo in committing the offences include; Seagate Property Development; Investment Ltd, and Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd.

    Others include: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd; Rotate Interlink Services Ltd; Ibejige Services Ltd; DE Jakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Ltd and Ebiwise Resources.

    NAN

  • Buhari’s health: Great nations don’t wish their leaders dead – Ex-EFCC boss, Waziri

    Buhari’s health: Great nations don’t wish their leaders dead – Ex-EFCC boss, Waziri

    A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, has called on Nigerians to desist from politicizing the medical trip of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    She said, instead of making crude statement about the President’s health, they should learn the habit of praying and encouraging him.

    According to her, the current economic problem in the country should not lead to some citizens wishing their leaders dead.

    Waziri in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, enjoined Nigerians to learn how to wish their President well rather than making ill statement about them.

    “Speaking positively about our leaders and country will no doubt have a positive impact on our collective image around the world.

    “Agreed, there is much suffering in the land, but this should not change us from being the good people that we have always been, by wishing our leaders dead.

    “Let us have a rethink. We can’t afford to cut our noses to spite our faces. We must not lose our humanity even in the face of hardship and recession, because it is our collective effort to build this nation”, the ex-EFCC chairman emphasised.

    She added, “The world over, great nations; whether the US, UK, China, Germany or France and more, they don’t talk ill of their leaders, instead, they encourage them and build them as exemplary national figures. As wife of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Turkey in 2004-2008, I arrived at Atatürk Airport Istanbul, my escort informed me proudly that the airport is named after the father of modern Turkey.

    “Downtown Istanbul main street was also adorned with portraits of the man, Atatürk. This, to me, is one clear way to encourage and build our national figures and leaders. Let the good ones serve as good examples of good leadership and the bad ones as such.”

     

  • Don’t grant Fani-Kayode’s request to transfer case to Abuja, EFCC appeals judge

    Don’t grant Fani-Kayode’s request to transfer case to Abuja, EFCC appeals judge

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has called on Justice Muslim of the Federal High Court in Lagos to reject the application by former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chief Femi Fani-Kayode seeking the transfer of his trial from Lagos to Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the EFCC is prosecuting Fani-Kayode for an alleged fraud of N4.9bn.

    Standing trial alongside Fani-Kayode on 17 counts are a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, an ex-Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr. Yusuf Danjuma, and a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.

    Fani-Kayode had, in an application filed through his lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), pleaded for the transfer of his trial to Abuja for convenience and on the grounds that the cause of action leading to the charges took place in Abuja.

    Besides, the former minister also said he did not have confidence in Justice Hassan who is presiding over the case.

    According to a report by The Punch, Fani-Kayode said he was afraid that he would not get justice before Justice Hassan, because the judge was a lawyer for the EFCC until recently when he was appointed as a judge of the Federal High Court.

    Fani-Kayode recalled that it was Justice Hassan, then a senior counsel for the EFCC,who drafted, filed and signed a charge marked, FHC/L/523c/2008, leading to his trial for alleged N100m money laundering before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    However, opposing Fani-Kayode’s application, the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit, begged Justice Hassan not to grant the request to transfer the case to Abuja.

    The anti-graft commission said contrary to Fani-Kayode’s claim, part of the criminal activities alleged against him took place in Lagos.

    It added that the witnesses it intended to call in the case live in Lagos.

    “The various accounts used as an intermediate step in the scheme of the alleged fraud/offences are domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc which has its operational headquarters in Lagos,” counsel for the EFCC, Idris Mohammed, said in the counter-affidavit.

    The EFCC also contended that it was too late for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case to Abuja because trial had already started and one witness had already been called.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the judge is however yet to make any pronouncement on the issue.

  • EFCC locates Diezani’s $37m Lagos mansion

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has located a $37.5m luxury high-rise building on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, allegedly belonging to the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com yesterday published that the commission also discovered $9.3m and £74,000 belonging to a former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu. The money was allegedly kept in a bungalow situated in the slums of Kaduna.

    EFCC said on Friday that Yakubu reported to the commission’s zonal office in Kano and made the statement claiming the money was gift from unnamed persons.

    The two discoveries were made as part of investigations into a string of fraudulent activities in the NNPC, which cost the nation over $20bn at a time the oil price stood at about $100 per barrel on the average

    According to impeccable sources within the EFCC, the building allegedly belonging to Diezani was purchased between 2011 and 2012. It is situated in the same estate where Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, resides.

    A source at the EFCC said, “The aggressive drive by the EFCC to recover all hidden assets of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is under investigation for corruption and money laundering, produced another breakthrough this week with the discovery of a property acquired through shell companies by the former minister at upscale Banana Island in Lagos.

    “The property is a 15-storey edifice comprising 18 flats and six penthouses.

    “The property was acquired by the former minister between 2011 and 2012 at a total cost of $37.5m from the developers, YF Construction Development and Real Estate.

    The property was allegedly acquired in the name of a shell company, Rusimpex Limited under the control of certain Mr. Afamefuna Nwokedi of Stillwaters law firm, in Lagos.”

    Last year, the commission seized an $18m mansion in the Asokoro area of Abuja allegedly belonging to the ex-minister.

    She has, however, denied all the allegations levelled against her.

    Meanwhile, the commission has recovered $9.7m and £74,000 from a former GMD of the NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu.

    Ironically, Yakubu, who served as the head of the corporation between 2012 and 2014, is the key witness of the EFCC against the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, Jide Omokore, who is standing trial for an alleged $1.6bn fraud.

    The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that the money was found in a safe hidden in a slum in Kaduna State.

    The statement read in part, “A special operation conducted by operatives of the EFCC on February 3, 2017 on a building belonging to a former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Andrew Yakubu, in Kaduna yielded the recovery of a staggering sum of $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000 in cash.

    “The huge cash was hidden in a fire-proof safe. The surprise raid of the facility was sequel to an intelligence which the commission received about suspected proceeds of crime believed to be hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna.

    “On arrival at the house, the caretaker of the house, one Bitrus Yakubu, a younger brother to Andrew Yakubu, disclosed that both the house and the safe where the money was found belong to his brother, Andrew Yakubu.

    “When the safe was opened it was discovered that it contained the sum of $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000.

    “On February 8, 2017, Andrew Yakubu reported to the commission’s Zonal office in Kano and made statement wherein he admitted ownership of the recovered money, claiming it was gift from unnamed persons. He is currently assisting the investigation.”

  • EFCC raids home of former NNPC GMD, recovers $9.2m

    EFCC raids home of former NNPC GMD, recovers $9.2m

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday said it raided and found a whopping sum of $9.2m and additional 750,000 pounds in the private residence of the former General Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, in Kaduna.

    This was revealed by the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu when he appeared before a committee of the House of Representatives to present an appraisal of the Commission’s 2016 budget performance and also defend the 2017 budget..

    According to the Magu, the huge money, which is in excess of N3 billion by official exchange rate, was the largest ever recovered by the agency in recent weeks.

    Magu also disclosed to the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes that N1.25 billion was recovered from a public servant, all in the last two weeks.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Yakubu, who served as GMD between 2012 and 2014 is already facing trial for money laundering. He was charged by the EFCC in June 2016.

    Magu further revealed that the commission recovered N102.91 billion, 8.30 million dollars, GBP 29,155, 12,475 pounds, 117,004 Canadian dollars as proceeds of crime between January and December, 2016.

    Other monies recovered during the period, he said, were 806.50 Dirham, 5,000 Francs and 2,000 Rupees.

    “Out of the 37 accounts frozen/forfeited, six banks are yet to provide relevant information on the amount accrued into the suspected accounts within the period under review,’’ he said.

    The document revealed that the commission secured 135 convictions, out of which 46 were from Lagos zone, 30 from Abuja zone, 22 from Port Harcourt zone, 19 from Kano zone, 15 from Enugu zone and three from Gombe zone during the period.

    Magu acknowledged the support of the committee towards fast-tracking completing of EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

    He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Finance had listed the payment of N1.8 billion out of N2.9 billion meant for completion of the headquarters.

    He, however, added that the commission had resuscitated its offices in Kaduna, Ibadan, Benin and Maiduguri as part of efforts to boost its operations across the country.

    Magu urged the legislature to support the fight against graft, saying “corruption is fighting back”.

    On recruitment, he said that the commission only recruited 331 cadets on equal quota basis across the country except Lagos, Ekiti, Bayelsa and Rivers with lower numbers.

    In a breakdown of the 2016 budget of the commission, Magu told the committee that total budgetary approval was N18.89 billion, but that N14.74 billion representing 78.04 per cent was released.

    He explained that N7.62 billion was for personnel cost, overhead was N2.75 billion while capital expenditure was N8.49 billion for the year.

    Magu added that 91.1 per cent component of the released funds had so far been utilised.

  • Court fixes Feb. 21 for ruling on ex-gov Shema, EFCC case

    Justice Ibrahim Bako of the Katsina High Court, has fixed Feb. 21, for ruling on whether the court has jurisdiction to try the suit filed by the EFCC against former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Shema was arraigned by the EFCC before the court for alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure.

    Shema was arraigned together with a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Sani Makana, a former ALGON Chairman, Lawal Dankaba and former permanent secretary, Lawal Safana.

    The defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, has earlier filed a motion in the last sitting challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try his client.

    During Tuesday’s proceedings, he raised same issues, saying that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the case because the charge was filed by a Federal Government agency.

    “It is a serious constitutional problem for a federal government agency to take over the state in prosecution of criminal cases,’’ he contended, and prayed the court to strike out the case for want of competence.

    Daudu also filed another application seeking the court to restrain the EFCC from further arresting of his client.

    However, the prosecution counsel, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, argued that the EFCC has right to try the case before the court.

    He said that EFCC was a coordinating agency saddled with responsibility of investigation, enforcement and prosecution of matters relating to alleged financial crimes.

    The Judge adjourned the case to Feb. 21, for ruling on the issue of jurisdiction raised by the defence.

    However, there was a mild drama took place at the court premises when EFCC operatives attempted to re-arrest Shema, claiming that his administrative bail had lapsed, but his lawyers come to his defence.

     

    NAN

  • N8.5bn fraud: Again, EFCC re-arraigns Atewe, ex-NIMASA DG, others

    N8.5bn fraud: Again, EFCC re-arraigns Atewe, ex-NIMASA DG, others

    For the third time, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has re-arraigned a former Commander of the military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe (retd.), for an alleged fraud of N8.5bn.

    The EFCC also re-arraigned a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and two others – Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga.

    They were all re-arraigned before Justice A.O. Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    According to the The Punch, the defendants were re-arraigned on 22 counts.

    Atewe, Akpobolokemi, Engonzu and Otuaga had earlier been arraigned twice before Justice Saliu Saidu.

    They were first arraigned on June 3, 2016 on 11 counts.

    Six months after, the EFCC amended the charge sheet by increasing the counts from 11 to 22 and then re-arraigned the defendants on December ‎5, 2016 before Justice Saidu.

    Their Friday re-arraignment before Justice Faji, being the third time, followed the transfer of Justice Saidu from Lagos to the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court.

    The defendants were accused of defrauding NIMASA of N8.5bn between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.

    The EFCC alleged that they used six companies to divert the money from the coffers of NIMASA.

    The six companies were listed as: Jagan Ltd; Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.

    The offence is said to be contrary to the provisions of Section 18(a) of Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    The offence is also said to have contravened the provisions of Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C. 38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 22 charges just as they had earlier done.

    Justice Faji permitted them to continue on the bail earlier granted them by Justice Saidu, following applications to that effect by the defence counsel.

    The judge adjourned till February 13 and 17, 2017 for trial to start afresh.

  • $2.1bn arms probe: Court admits EFCC document in evidence against Dasuki

    An FCT High Court, on Wednesday admitted in evidence document tended by EFCC in the allegation of diversion of $2.1bn arms funds made against Retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, NSA to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned on a 19-count charge.

    He is being tried alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director.

    Two firms, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital limited are also being tried.

    The trial judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, admitted in evidence some documents, which the first prosecution witness, Mr Michael Adariku sought to tender through the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

    Baba-Yusuf overruled submissions by all the defence counsel and admitted the documents, and adjourned the matter till March 16 for continuation of hearing.

    Earlier, Mr Michael Adariku, an official of EFCC and first prosecution witness, told the court that on September 2015, he received a report on Dasuki, alleging abuse of his office and Money Laundering.

    He said letters were sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regarding the account of NSA domiciled with CBN, adding that on Sept. 22, the apex bank responded.

    He said the analysis showed movement of funds to various companies, which included Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital limited in UBA, ECO and First Banks.

    “N600 million and N650 million were paid into Acacia accounts with UBA and ECO bank respectively, while N750 million was in Reliance and First Bank.

    “We wrote to these banks to furnish us with the account statements and responses were received from them.

    “When we analysed the responses, we found out that the funds were from the office of NSA account domiciled in CBN.

    “From the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), we also got a response, which was analysed and found out that the 3rd defendant, Aminu Kusa was the principal shareholder of the companies.

    “We invited him and others to our office and confronted them with those responses and they volunteered statements,’’ he said.

    The prosecuting counsel had sought to tender the documents, but that was objected by the defence counsel.

    The defence counsel specifically objected to the admissibility of the documents from CAC, and account statements from UBA, ECO and First Banks.

    Their argument was that the documents were not duly certified and did not comply with the Provisions of Sections 104 and 84 of the Evidence Act.

    The prosecuting counsel had argued that the laws guiding the operations of banking allowed those documents to be admitted.

    At the resumed hearing earlier, Mr Ahmed Raji, Daski’s counsel had informed the court that he had application for consolidation of the two cases.

    “In regard to the situation in the two matters, we are filing a motion for consolidation of the two set of charges.

    “And with all due sense of responsibility, we urge your lordship to consider this application, which we believe will help in the effective management’’.

    He said that they waited till now to allow for the re-arraignment, which held on Tuesday.

    “Now the coast is cleared, other defence counsel aligned’’.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Mr Solomon Umoh (SAN), counsel to the 3rd defendant, said that because it was in line with history as a matter of fact, the whole exercise was to ensure that the two cases were properly managed.

    Jacobs urged the court to recall the antecedent “that brought us to this stage of transfer and consolidation’’.

    “We agreed to transfer the two matters to one court and handle them separately, that was our understanding.

    “But now, they are coming out with this application, this is 2015 case and we have not commenced trial.

    “For us to progress, let us continue with what we have agreed.’’

    He reminded the court that justice was not only for the defendants.

    Jacobs said that the case should be allowed to start, alleging that there was a mind-set not to allow the case to go on.

    Raji informed the court that this motion had been there, but only needed to be fine tuned.

    He said the application was previously filed on May 31, praying for the consolidation and transfer and was already pending and have not be cleared.

    Umoh, said that the reaction from Rotimi was that of fear that the case would drag.

    He wished for a measure of progress on the matter if there could be a way to look at it , including the three lawyers.