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Tag: EFCC

  • Alleged cybercrime: 109 foreigners admitted to N1bn bail

    Alleged cybercrime: 109 foreigners admitted to N1bn bail

    A Federal High Court in Abuja  on Friday, admitted at least 109 foreigners, charged over allegations bordering on cybercrime, to a N1 billion bail with fiver suites.

    Justice Ekerete Akpan, who granted them bail, directed that the five sureties must have a landed property worth N200, 000 million each.

    Justice Akpan directed that the sureties must deposit the original and verified documents of their landed property with the deputy registrar of the court.

    The judge, who also directed the sureties to deposit their international passports, ordered the defendants to be remanded in Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State pending the perfection of their bail terms.

    He adjourned the matter until Feb. 27, 2025 for trial.

    The foreigners, who are said to be citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar, were recently arrested by the police.

    They were apprehended in their residence at Plot 1906, Cadestral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they were said to be engaging in cybercrime by allegedly promoting “a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”

    In a six-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024 filed in the name of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, the foreigners were charged with cybercrime, money laundering and unlawfully residing in Nigeria.

    In one of the counts, they were alleged to have aided, abetted, conspired among themselves “to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime.”

    They were said to have commited the offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).

    They were also alleged to have accessed a computer, network and input with the intention that such inauthentic data will be considered or acted upon as If they were authentic or genuine.”

    The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”

    Again, they were alleged to have  removed “from Nigeria proceeds generated from operating a fraudulent and unregistered gambling platforms.

    “These platforms are  9f.com, c2.top, 8pg.top and you thereby commit money laundering, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

    The defendants were also accused of entering “the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days duration and failed to leave the Nigerian territory at the expiration of the said permit.

    The offence is contrary to Section 4 (2) and punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 2015.”

  • How I collected $400,000 on behalf of Emefiele – Witness

    How I collected $400,000 on behalf of Emefiele – Witness

    The seventh prosecution witness, Mr John Adetola, in the ongoing trial of ex-governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, narrated how he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of the ex-governor.

    Adetola, who was the former personal assistant to Emefiele, made the revelation on Thursday while giving evidence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

    Emefiele is standing trial for alleged abuse of office and  $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud, while in office.

    He is being prosecuted  by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.

    Omoile, on his part, is facing three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

    At the resumed hearing, Adetola, through his counsel, Mr  Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told  the court that he managed office correspondences and visitors of the governor  in Lagos.

    He said his duty gave him direct access to Emefiele.

    Adetola said sometime in February 2023, he received an invite from EFCC and was interviewed on his relationship with Emefiele.

    He said, “I made a voluntary statement at EFCC office.

    “In 2018, Mr Eric Odoh, the personal assistant to the governor in Abuja, sent  a message to me that I should go and meet Mr John Ayoh, the former director of ICT department to collect $400,000  and give it to the governor.

    “I went to Mr Ayoh’s house in Lekki and he gave me the envelope.

    “I came back to the office and gave the envelope to the governor.”

    Adetola further told the court that he informed EFCC about the money during his interrogation.

    The witness, also confirmed that he communicated with Emefiele through telephone, email, office line and verbal communication whenever he was around.

    He also confirmed to the court that he knew one George and Okanta who were Emefiele’s younger brothers and the governor’s wife, Margaret, by virtue of his relationship with his boss.

    Adetola also confirmed to the court that Omoile (his co-defendant) lived in Emefiele’s house in Lagos.

    The witness also identified bundles of documents which were official communication between him and the ex-governor.

    He also identified documents showing his communication with Ayoh (former director of ICT department) and Odoh (personal assistant to the governor in Abuja).

    The prosecution sought to tender the bundles of documents for identification purpose.

    Emefiele’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) did not object.

    But Omoile’s counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), objected and argued that the documents had no basis in law.

    According to Kotoye, a document not tendered as an exhibit, should not be tendered at all.

    Oyedepo, in his response, argued  that the documents were relevant and would prove essential ingredients of the offences.

    “The documents are for the purpose of identification,” he said.

    Justice Rahman Oshodi, admitted the bundles of documents for identification purpose, after considering  the parties submissions.

    Oshodi adjourned the case until Dec. 10 for cross-examination of the witness.

  • Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello to remain in EFCC custody as courtroom drama leaves Judge frustrated

    Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello to remain in EFCC custody as courtroom drama leaves Judge frustrated

    The immediate-past Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, and his co-defendants on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The former governor, who is the 1st defendant, denied the allegations before Justice Maryann Anenih of Abuja High Court as the court registrar reeled out the counts.

    After taking their plea, the defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, moved an application for the bail.

    But the EFCC Lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the bail plea, saying the application expired in October.

    Making clarifications, the defendant’s counsel said that the only relevant application before the court was the motion for bail in respect of the 1st defendant (Bello), which was filed on Nov. 22.

    Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.

    “Exhibit A, which is the public summons is very vital and the appearance of the defendant in court today, shows he has respect for the law,” he said.

    The EFCC had earlier moved for trial to commence immediately and was ready to call its first witness.

    But Daudu argued that they were served with the charge at 11 pm on Nov. 26 and that he would need time to prepare his client.

    On the bail application, the senior lawyer submitted that a defendant, in line with the law, is innocent until proven guilty.

    “It is within his rights to enjoy his liberty while preparing for trial.

    “The prosecution’s objection is based on the fact that he is facing charges at the Federal High Court and has refused to appear to take his plea.

    “The court should not use issues from another court to determine issues before the FCT High Court,” he said.

    Pointing out some paragraphs in the counter affidavit, he said the prosecution raised issues that had to do with a matter at the Federal High Court.

    “When the jurisdiction of the court is challenged, the defendant needs not to appear until the issues arising from the jurisdiction are resolved,” he said.

    Pinheiro, however, disagreed with Daudu.

    He argued that his preliminary objection was anchored on three grounds – competence of the application; factual content of the application; and application of judicial principles and guidance.

    Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had earlier been admitted to administrative bail by the EFCC.

    Yahaya Bello controls supporters as Judge frowns at courtroom drama 

    Former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, billed to be arraigned at the FCT High Court, on Wednesday, took over crowd control of the courtroom when Justice Maryann Anenih walked out.

    Justice Anenih, who came in to take the plea of the former governor and his co-defendants, rose abruptly and announced not to come back until there is sanity in the courtroom.

    Shortly after the judge left the courtroom, Bello who sat in the front of the court room stood up and moved to the surging crowd.

    He immediately directed his followers and sympathisers to vacate their seats and leave the courtroom.

    His actions doused the tension without resistance, as the followers left the courtroom one after the other.

    To ensure sanity in the courtroom, the former governor sat at the entrance to the courtroom and ensured that none of his followers disobeyed the order of the court,

    Meanwhile, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN is leading the Federal Government legal team for the arraignment while Joseph Dauda, SAN, leads the legal team of the former governor in the 16-count charges.

    Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello to remain in EFCC custody

    An Abuja High Court, on Wednesday  fixed Dec. 10 for ruling in the bail application filed by former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello of Kogi and two others.

    Justice Maryann Anenih fixed the date after counsel for the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the defence, Joseph Daudu, SAN, presented their arguments for and against the bail application..

    The former governor and the co-defendants; Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Bello, who is the 1st defendant, denied the allegations levelled against him when the counts were read by the court registrar.

    After taking their plea, the defendants’ counsel moved an application for bail.

    But Pinheiro opposed the application, arguing that it had expired in October.

    Responding, Daudu clarified that the only relevant application before the court was the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant, which was filed on Nov. 22.

    Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.

    “Exhibit A, which is the public summons is very vital and the appearance of the defendant in court today, shows he has respect for the law,” he said.

    Pinheiro had moved for trial to commence immediately and was ready to call its first witness.

    Daudu argued that he served with the charge at 11 pm on Nov. 26 and that he would need time to prepare his client.

    On the bail application, he submitted that a defendant, in line with the law, is innocent until proven guilty.

    “It is within his rights to enjoy his liberty while preparing for trial.

    “The prosecution’s objection is based on the fact that he is facing charges at the Federal High Court and has refused to appear to take his plea.

    “The court should not use issues from another court to determine issues before the FCT High Court,” he said.

    Pointing out some paragraphs in the counter affidavit, he said the prosecution raised issues that had to do with a matter at the Federal High Court.

    “When the jurisdiction of the court is challenged, the defendant need not to appear until the issues arising from the jurisdiction are resolved,” he said.

    Pinheiro disagreed with Daudu’s submission.

    He held that his preliminary objection was anchored on three grounds – competence of the application; factual content of the application and application of judicial principles and guidance.

    Justice Anenih thereafter rose for a short recess.

    After the recess, Pinheiro also opposed the bail application for the 2nd defendant, saying since he was still a government official serving as the Director-General, Kogi State Government House, there was the likelihood of him committing the same offence.

    But the defendant’s counsel argued that the use of “may” in the prosecution’s counter affidavit did not show where the 2nd defendant allegedly committed another offence after being granted bail.

    He insisted that the counter affidavit lacked merit as it did not show that the defendant was a habitual offender.

    He urged the court to grant the application for bail.

    Justice Anenih consequently adjourned ruling in the bail application until Dec.10 and directed that the three defendants should remain in EFCC custody.

    Oricha and Hudu had earlier been admitted to administrative bail by the anti-graft agency.

  • EFCC’s invitation stimulates Okowa’s political consciousness

    EFCC’s invitation stimulates Okowa’s political consciousness

    The immediate past governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, said the recent invitation to him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rather than weaken him, stimulated his political consciousness.

    He disclosed this while playing host to kinsmen and members of Owa-Alero Development Union, who paid him a solidarity visit at his residence in Asaba.

    The former governor thanked his people for the visit and
    said that there was no cause for alarm about the EFCC invitation by the EFCC.

    He said that he had been strengthened by the number of persons and groups that had been visiting to identify with him, and assured that truth would prevail.

    “The frivolous allegation against me has, indeed, reawakened my political consciousness as different groups have been visiting me since l returned from honouring EFCC’s invitation.

    “It is of God, not me, because God knows why He allowed what happened to happen. What the enemy thought was for evil, God has turned it around.

    “When l look retrospectively at the situation of Delta State in 2015 when l assumed office as Governor and compare it to the situation in 2023 when l handed over, l give God the glory.

    “We may not have done the same thing everywhere, but l know that there was nowhere in the state that we didn’t touch.

    “If l look at how Asaba and Okpanam were in 2015 and how they now look, l will give God the glory. With what we have done with the storm water drainage in Asaba, today, Asaba is now like a special place.

    “Apart from Asaba, we did a lot in many communities in the riverine areas and other parts of the state,” he said.

    Okowa recalled that when he assumed office as governor, “we were number four in oil production and by the end of 2018, we climbed to number one, and we are still number one till today, because of the peace process we adopted.

    “This development didn’t just happen like that; it was because of the fact that the people saw hope in what we were doing.

    “So, people will talk, but in our conscience, we know we have done well, and we put out the communication about the audited accounts of the state government every year. The summary of the record is there in the public domain

    “Nobody has been able to contradict the statement we put out because it is simple and it is from the audited accounts. It is just foolishness that people will go and peddle rumour.

    “However, we anticipated this because it is politics. The EFCC people could not see any fictitious contract when they came for investigation. We were very meticulous because we came to work for our Deltans.”

    While lauding the Owa-Alero people for being able to organise themselves in a peaceful manner, Okowa appealed to them to continue to work together to sustain the peace and unity in the community in particular and the state at large.

    Earlier, the leader of Owa-Alero Development Union, Mr Chris Eboh, had told the former governor that they were in his house for a solidarity visit over his ill-conceived invitation by the EFCC, assuring him that they were solidly behind him.

    “We are quite convinced that you have done nothing wrong in the course of your stewardship as the governor of the state that warrants your invitation by the EFCC.

    “We are not perturbed at all about the EFCC’s invitation which you honourably honoured because we know that you performed excellently while serving as governor of the state,” he said.

  • Court dumps suit to prevent EFCC from accosting, probing Sanwo-Olu after tenure

    Court dumps suit to prevent EFCC from accosting, probing Sanwo-Olu after tenure

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu once he completes his tenure in office.

    The case, which had garnered attention earlier this year, was struck out by the court on October 31, following a motion filed by Sanwo-Olu’s legal representative to discontinue the suit.

    The presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled to dismiss the case after Gbenga Femi Akande, counsel to Governor Sanwo-Olu, moved the application to discontinue the proceedings. Notably, the case was dismissed several weeks earlier, but it was only on Tuesday that Hadiza Afegbua, the EFCC’s legal representative, discovered that the case had already been struck out. She had arrived at the court expecting to have the matter heard, only to find out about the ruling.

    The enrolled order, dated October 31, indicated that only Akande, Sanwo-Olu’s counsel, was present in court during the hearing that led to the suit’s dismissal. This legal action had been filed by Darlington Ozurumba on behalf of Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is set to complete his second term as governor of Lagos State by May 29, 2027.

    The lawsuit arose from concerns that the EFCC had plans to arrest and prosecute Governor Sanwo-Olu after he leaves office. In the legal filing, the applicant argued that any attempt to arrest Sanwo-Olu would be unconstitutional and violate his fundamental rights, particularly his personal liberty and freedom of movement, as guaranteed under Sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of Nigeria’s Constitution. The suit sought to obtain an injunction preventing the EFCC from engaging in any actions such as harassment, intimidation, arrest, detention, or prosecution related to the governor’s tenure in office.

    The Lagos State Government, however, publicly distanced itself from the legal action. According to Lawal Pedro, the state’s Attorney-General, Governor Sanwo-Olu had not authorized anyone to file the case against the EFCC. Pedro expressed the state’s intention to investigate how the lawsuit was filed without the governor’s knowledge.

    He also stated that neither the governor nor any of his aides were under investigation by the EFCC, and there was no indication that the governor faced any threat of arrest by the anti-corruption agency.

    In a response to the lawsuit, the EFCC filed a counter-affidavit through Ufuoma Ezire, a litigation secretary in the agency’s legal and prosecution department. In this affidavit, the EFCC clarified that the agency had never initiated an investigation into Governor Sanwo-Olu or his staff, nor had it issued any threats of arrest or detention. The commission further dismissed the suit as speculative and characterized the legal claim as a “mere conjecture,” lacking factual basis.

    This ruling has effectively brought an end to the legal challenge, with the court confirming that there was no legal basis for restraining the EFCC from carrying out its statutory duties in relation to Sanwo-Olu after the completion of his tenure. The outcome underscores the legal processes surrounding investigations into public officials and the potential limitations of preemptively seeking judicial intervention in matters involving law enforcement agencies like the EFCC.

  • BREAKING! EFCC finally arrests ex-Gov of Kogi Yahaya Bello

    BREAKING! EFCC finally arrests ex-Gov of Kogi Yahaya Bello

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has finally arrested former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

    He was arrested shortly after surrending to the anti-graft agency on Tuesday afternoon.

    He is being grilled over alleged misappropriation of funds.

    Bello went to the office with his lawyers on Tuesday morning, following the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed states’ case on the constitutionality of the anti-graft agency.

    The former governor drove himself in a black Hilux to the EFCC office with his lawyers.

    At the last hearing on November 14, the EFCC had sought for adjournment till November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello, saying that the 30 days window was still running for the summons earlier issued.

    Details shortly…

  • EFCC amends charge against Binance Holdings Ltd

    EFCC amends charge against Binance Holdings Ltd

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, amended the alleged $35.4 million money laundering charge filed against Binance Holdings Limited.

    EFCC’s Lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the agency’s resolve to amend the alleged $35.4 million mone charge following the discharge of Tigran Gambaryan, the 2nd defendant, in the charge.

    Iheanacho said the amendment was also in compliance with the earlier court order to make the court documents more tidier.

    The application was not opposed by lawyer who appeared for Binance, Okiemute Okwakwa.

    Iheanacho, who applied that the amended charge be ready to the defendant in line with Section  478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, prayed the court to enter a non-guilty plea for the defendant.

    After the amended six-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/138/2024 was read and a non-guilty plea entered for Binance, the judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, 2025 for continuation of trial.

    NAN recalls that on Friday, counsel who appeared for Binance, Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, had argued that the EFCC ought to have amended the charge to make the court documents tidy.

    Although Iheanacho disagreed with him, Justice Nwite aligned with Fagbohunlu’s submission, directing the anti-graft agency’s lawyer to do the needful.

    NAN observes that in the amended charge dated and filed on Nov. 25, the cryptocurrency firm is the sole defendant.

    In count one, Binance, Nadeem Anjarwalla (now at large) and other persons at large, between January 2023 and January 2024 in Abuja, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to carry on specialised business of other financial institutions without valid licence.

    The offence is contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code Act.

    In count three, Binance, Anjarwalla (now at large) between January 2022 and January 2024 in Abuja were alleged to have engaged in business of other financial institutions (other than insurance, stock broking and pension fund management) without valid licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 58(5) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.

    Count four accused the defendant and others (now at large) of using their virtual asset services platform to unlawfully negotiate foreign exchange rates in Nigeria, even though they were not an authorised dealer in Nigeria’s Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market.

    The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 29(1) (c) of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

    COUNT 5

    That you BINANCE HOLDINGS LTD (“A.K.A BINANCE”), NADEEM ANJARWALLA (now at large) and other persons at large between January, 2023 and January, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to conceal the origin of the proceeds of your unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

    In count six, the cryptocurrency firm, Anjarwalla (now at large) between January 2023 and December 2023 in Abuja were alleged to have concealed the origin of a cumulative sum of $35. 4 million ($35, 400, 000) generated as revenue by the company in Nigeria

    The funds were said to constitute proceeds of unlawful activity, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(3) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

    NAN reports that Justice Nwite had, on Oct. 23, ordered the release of Gambaryan, the detained Binance executive, from Kuje Correctional Centre.

    The judge gave the order after the EFCC’s counsel, R. U. Adagba, informed the court of the decision of the Federal Government to withdraw the charge against Gambaryan.

  • Woman behind army, efcc, police employment scam nabbed

    Woman behind army, efcc, police employment scam nabbed

    A female suspect, Halima Yakubu has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate on suspicion of employment fraud.

    Yakubu’s arrest comes after credible intelligence linked her to defrauding job seekers by promising job placements in the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and the EFCC.

    Amongst the seized items that were on her while she was being detained in Unguwan Kanawa, Kaduna State, is a forged EFCC letterhead and several curriculum vitae  of job seekers.

    The commission said she would be made to face the law as soon as the investigation into the incident is completed.

  • Ex-Minister Diezani moves to rescue assets seized by EFCC

    Ex-Minister Diezani moves to rescue assets seized by EFCC

    Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Thursday, sought to amend her suit challenging the order obtained by the EFCC for final forfeiture of her seized assets.

    Alison-Madueke, through her lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, told Justice Inyang of a Federal High Court in Abuja upon resumed hearing in the suit. When the matter was called, no counsel appeared for the EFCC.

    Justice Ekwo then asked Iyinbor if he had received processes from the anti-graft agency and he responded in the affirmative.

    “Yes, my lord. We received a counter affidavit to our originating process and we have filed a further affidavit in response,” Iyinbor responded.

    The lawyer, however, informed the court that they had filed a motion to amend their processes and that the commission had been duly served.

    The judge consequently adjourned the matter until February 17, 2025, to hear the motion to amend their originating process.

    Recall the ex-minister had, through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, sued the anti-graft agency as sole respondent.

    Alison-Madueke, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, sought an order extending the time to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct a public sale of her property.

    In the motion dated and filed on Jan. 6, 2023 by her lawyer, the former minister sought five orders from the court.

    The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.”

    She said she was not given a fair hearing in all the proceedings leading to the orders.

    “The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said.

    She argued that she was neither served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in any of the charges nor any other summons regarding the criminal charges pending against her before the court.

    She further argued that the courts were misled into making several final forfeiture orders against her assets through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

    “The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts.

    ”This  honourable court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

    “The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.

    “The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture,” she said, among other grounds given.

    But the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Rufai Zaki, a detective with the commission, urged the court to dismiss her application.

    Mr Zaki, a member of the team that investigated a case of criminal conspiracy, official corruption and money laundering against the ex-minister and some other persons involved in the case, said the investigation had clearly shown that she was involved in some acts of criminality.

    He said Mr s Alison-Madueke was therefore charged before the court in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.

    “We hereby rely on the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 dated 14 November 2018 filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The EFCC operative said most of the depositions in Mrs Alison-Madueke’s suit were untrue.

    He said contrary to her deposition in the affidavit filed in support of the suit, most of the cases which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property “were action in rem, same was heard at various times and determined by this honourable court.”

    He said the courts ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to show cause why the said property should not be forfeited to the federal government before final orders were made.

    Mr Zaki argued that one Nnamdi Awa Kalu represented the ex-minister in reaction to one of the forfeiture applications.

    “We humbly rely on the judgment of Hon. Justice I.LN. Oweibo dated 10th September, 2019 shown in Exhibit C of the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The officer said contrary to her, the final forfeiture of the assets, which were subject to the present application, was ordered by the court in 2017 and that this was not set aside or upturned on appeal.

    According to him, the properties have been disposed of through due process of law.

    The anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all the assets seized for being proceeds of crime as ordered by courts to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The auctioning exercise, conducted on the seized assets believed to include Alison-Madueke’s property, started on Jan. 9, 2023.

    The suspended chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had revealed that $153 million and over 80 property had been recovered from the ex-minister.

    She was alleged to have escaped to the United Kingdom and remained there after her exit from public office as the petroleum minister, an office she held between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The asset-related suit is different from the one she also filed to seek N100 billion as compensation for a series of EFCC’s alleged libellous publications against her.

  • EFCC dismisses two staff

    EFCC dismisses two staff

    The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, on Monday, said two of the agency’s staff members were, recently, dismissed over allegation of corruption.

    Olukoyede disclosed this during the opening of the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja.

    The 5-day event is titled: “Optimising the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria: How to Navigate Emerging and Systemic Challenges of Insecurity and Economic Hardship.”

    The EFCC chairman, who said the two officials were dismissed two week ago, said besides dismissal, erring workers would also be prosecuted henceforth.

    “So many other reforms are going on; the issue of our staff and all of that. Just two weeks ago, I have cause to dismiss two staff. You can’t be fighting corruption and your hands are dirty.

    “He who comes to equity, your hands must also be cleaned. And I say I will not only be dismissing them, I will also be prosecuting them because that is what we prosecute others for.

    “So you will see that; we are preparing the case files of some of the people we have dismissed. If an EFCC staff will not be able to stand publicly with his two hands up and challenge the entire public; whose goat have I collected? Whose bottle of water have I taken illegitimately?

    “And I have said this to Nigerians; who has ever given me one kobo in the course of my work, come out and say it. I stand to be challenged.

    “I can’t be easily influenced by things like that. That’s why we must make up our minds to work together to do the right thing. Any staff that is corrupt, I will show you the way out.

    “Again, there are some people who may want to be overzealous. Out of 12, you must have Judas. I can’t stand here and say all is perfect. As many as you see, report them to us and we will do justice,” he said.

    Olukoyede said even he was once subjected to investigation for two years as EFCC secretary.

    “I am not just sitting there as chairman of EFCC. I have been on the other side. I have been subjected to investigation myself for two years. So I know what it means to subject people to investigations.

    “My major objective is to use the instrumentality of this mandate to stimulate the economy and to also follow the rule of law,” he said.

    He said integrity is needed to survive, even as legal practitioners.

    “Integrity is not about law, it is not about your advocacy ability to write beautiful briefs. No. It is about law and morality. Your conscience must tell you to do the right thing. That is what integrity is all about.

    “Finally, ethics, value and standard of legal practice must also be reviewed. These are essential to me because the job of EFCC is to ensure that corruption does not find space in our national life,” he said.

    Olukoyede said he welcomed constructive criticism of the agency.

    “I have never been averse to that. But let us do it in a responsible way. What do we benefit from running down our institutions?” he asked.

    According to him, if you notice EFCC is doing anything wrong, come to us.

    “We will sit down and I will explain some reformed agenda we are carrying out. Upon my resumption of office, we have put some reformed agenda in place.

    “We have reviewed our arrest and detention policy. I have had cause to investigate a whole ministry; minister, directors and all of that without detaining anybody over night.

    “And I got all the information I needed and the matter is going on fine without detaining a single soul. But that does not preclude that if there is the need to detain, we do not detain. We have also had cause to equip all our interrogation rooms in compliance with judgment of court.

    “Also, I need to let you know that the era of a 100-count charge, 150-count charge, 85-count charge is gone forever in EFCC,” he said.

    Olukoyede said he had given a standing directive that no prosecution should be more than a 15-count charge.

    “If your case is water tight…, that is why I will never rush to court until I am sure of my proof of evidence. I vet case files myself, particularly high-profile cases and the lawyer must give me a draft of the charge.

    “We will look at it together, compared with my proof of evidence, sleep over it before I give my go-ahead. If we are losing a case, it shouldn’t be on grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.

    “If there are other technical issues, fine. But I will be sure that I have done my job and it’s done in such a way that I can defend long after I leave office,” he said.

    Mr Joseph Daudu, the Coordinator of the Rule of Law Development Foundation, said the Criminal Law Review Conference commenced 6 years ago as one of the flagship events of the foundation.

    He said it was essentially to provide an annual forum for the review of all developments, particularly novel developments in the field of crime apprehension, crime prosecution, crime adjudication and the important activities of the post adjudicatory processes and institutions of the criminal justice system.