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Tag: Evidence

  • Alleged fraud: More troubles for Hushpuppi as FBI uncovers fresh evidence

    Alleged fraud: More troubles for Hushpuppi as FBI uncovers fresh evidence

    Suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi may face fresh charges in the United States after the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) unveiled how he allegedly laundered unemployment benefits of Americans.

    Abbas was arrested in Dubai last June and immediately flown to the US to face a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

    The Nigerian pleaded not guilty to the charges during his initial court appearance in Chicago in July.

    He has since been transferred to California with October 13 set for his trial.

    The FBI, in an affidavit filed on September 14, with the United States District Court, Central District of California, alleged that Hushpuppi using his email address, registered on a website whizzlog.com (“Whizzlog”) which is a marketplace for buying US Bank Logs to perpetrate fraud.

    The FBI said it found in Abbas’ email address “registration contamination from Whizz Log.”

    Also found therein were “numerous confirmations and receipts of bank logs he purchased.”

    One of the messages cited by the agency read “Your order was successful. You have purchased (the “Financial Institution”) bank log with a balance of $9,839.44. Purchase Price: $955. The bank log details are in your account. Login to your Whizz Log account to view.”

    He allegedly bought a “bank log with a balance of over S9,000 for as low as $900.”

    If convicted of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, Abbas would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

  • EFCC discovers new evidence against Naira Marley

    Justice I. Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has adjourned till May 13, 2020, ruling on the admissibility of “shocking evidence” against Azeez Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley.

    The court will also rule on continuation of Fashola’s trial for his alleged involvement in credit card fraud.

    Naira Marley is standing trial on an 11-count charge of conspiracy and credit card fraud, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    On Friday, prosecution witness 2 (PW2), Augustine Anosike, forensic expert with the EFCC, sought to tender in evidence a compact disc (CD) containing information, analysis and extractions from the defendant’s phone.

    At the previous sitting, Anosike told the court that the forensic analysis carried out on Naira Marley’s iPhone revealed what he called mind-boggling evidence against him which were extracted and transferred into a CD, alongside printed documents.

    Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo presented the documents before the court and urged the court to admit them in evidence.

    The defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), however opposed the admissibility of the documents on the grounds that the CD does not have the proper authentication required by law, and therefore improperly obtained, as contained in the Cyber Crime Prohibition and Prevention Act, 2015.

    Ojo also argued that there may have been interferences while the documents were being produced at the forensic lab of the EFCC. He finally submitted that the CD does not bear any name, title, department, but a signature which can’t be authenticated.

    He urged the court to dismiss the admissibility of the documents.

    But Oyedepo said that there was no contravention of Section 39 of Cyber Crime Prohibition and Prevention Act, 2015 as claimed by the defence counsel, as what was sought to be tendered is the forensic content of the defendant’s iPhone that was already admitted in evidence.

    He added that the extractions before the court are materially relevant to the charge.

  • Court admits evidence by video-link, first time in Nigeria

    Court admits evidence by video-link, first time in Nigeria

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s application to take its principal witness, one Kobis, who is abroad, via video-link.

    It was the first time that a Nigerian court will allow evidence to be given in such a technology-driven way.

    Justice Okon Abang, who gave the ruling, adjourned the matter till Nov. 5 for continuation of trial.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Abang had, on Tuesday, reserved ruling on the matter and adjourned till today.

    EFCC’s Counsel, Rotimi Jacob, SAN, had made the application before the court to allow the witness to testify via video link in the alleged N40 billion fraud case against former Governor of Adamawa, Murtala Nyako and others.

    The EFCC had arraigned the former governor and his son, Sen. Abdulaziz Nyako, along with others, over the allegation N40 billion fraud.

    They were arraigned on a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering allegedly perpetrated while Nyako was Adamawa governor.

    Others who were arraigned along with them were Zulkifik Abba and Abubakar Aliyu.

    Firms allegedly used to perpetrate the fraud which were joined as the 5th to the 9th defendants were Blue Opal Ltd, Pagoda Fortunes Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd.

    The defendants were present in court

  • Alleged N400m fraud: Metuh insists court must invite ex-president Jonathan to give evidence

    Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday insisted that the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice O.E. Abang should invite former President Goodluck Jonathan to give evidence in his ongoing trial.

    Metuh is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC alongside his company, Destra Investment on seven-count charges, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N400 million, which he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, in 2014 under Sambo Dasuki as national security adviser without justification.

    Metuh while on cross-examination today, said “The payment of N400 million was made by the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. This is because I made a presentation and he informed that he will make funds available for the prosecution of that national assignment and he even called me to tell me that the N400 million has been paid. I do not expect the President to be an agent of any individual or organ of his office, but I do know that he has a lot of aides that handle matters relating to different aspects.”

    Metuh reminded the court that he applied for Jonathan to be subpoenaed to give evidence concerning his claim that he was authorized by the ex-president but that the court ignored him, restating that the court should subpoenaed Jonathan to come and give evidence in the matter.

    He revealed during cross-examination, that Mike Ozekhome, the then lawyer to Jonathan told him that he needed to pay about N1.2 billion for Jonathan’s transportation and to guarantee his security, before he could come to the court.

    “I am just hearing for the first time that the former president denied knowing me and had no business with me. I am not in a position to confirm or deny about the opposition of his excellency to be a witness; I can only confirm that he insisted that I should pay N1.2 billion,” Metuh said.

    At this juncture the prosecution tendered the certified copies of the motion document filed by Ozekhome and tendered the motion filed on October 27, 2017 by him on behalf of the former President Jonathan, seeking to set aside the subpoena as well as the affidavit in support of the said motion and written address.

    The prosecution also tendered a counter-affidavit of the senior counsel, made on October 30, 2017 but filed on the November 1, 2017.

    Justice Abang adjourned the matter to Thursday, September, 26, 2019 for conclusion of arguments and admissibility of documents and for continuation of trial. It will also on the new adjournment date, consider the need to further adjourn the matter to September, 30, October 2,3, and 4, 2019, for continuation of trial.

  • EFCC presents additional evidence in trial of Sen. Nwoboshi

    EFCC presents additional evidence in trial of Sen. Nwoboshi

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, called its third witness in a Federal High Court Lagos, in the trial of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, facing money laundering charges.

    Nwoboshi, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, is the Senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly.

    EFCC had re-arraigned him on Oct. 5, 2018, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, along with Golden Touch Construction Projects Ltd, and Suiming Electricals for alleged N322 million money laundering.

    The senator, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The charge which was formerly before Justice Mohammed Idris, is now before Aneke, following the elevation of the former to the Court of Appeal.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Friday, Mr O. Falaye appeared for the prosecution, while Messrs G.A Mowa, C.K Mmarkwe, and I.O Aniakor appeared for the first to third defendants.

    Flaye informed the court that the prosecution had filed additional proof of evidence with respect to its witness, adding that he was ready to proceed.

    He then called the third prosecution witness, Mr Eyituoyo Mogbeyiterem, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc.

    Mogbeyiterem said he joined Zenith Bank in Sept. 2018, and his schedule of duty included liaising with law enforcement agencies, as well as appearing in court on behalf of the bank when necessary.

    He told the court that with respect to the current charge, he was appearing as a representative of the bank and had no personal Interest whatsoever.

    The witness testified that he knew the first and third defendants; and that the third defendant was a customer of Zenith Bank, who had a corporate account domiciled in Asaba Branch.

    “The first defendant was introduced to the bank, as the Managing Director of the third defendant, as per the account opening document,” he said.

    He told the court that he examined the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the account opening package of the third defendant, certified by one John Olorun Dare, also a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.

    He said that he also called for the originals of the document from the Asaba Branch, which he compared, and found to be the same.

    The witness told the court that the account was opened sometime in 2013.

    He told the court that the CTC and the statement of account in the bank’s database were same, adding that he assessed same from the head office, which had a central storage system.

    The witness also told the court that he had given statement to the EFCC in relation to the charge.

    The prosecution then sought to tender the document before the court but the defence counsel, raised objection on grounds that there was no sufficient evidence from the said document by the witness.

    He also objected that the document had no title, and that the signatory to the document was not the witness, and so, he could not answer to a document to which he was not its author.

    Besides, Mowa said that the letter submitted to the commission was not a certified true copy, adding that the witness was not also the author.

    On that ground, he urged the court to reject the document and mark same as tendered and rejected.

    Other defence counsel aligned themselves with the submission of Mowa.

    In response, the prosecutor urged the court to allow the witness tender the document as sufficient facts has been adduced.

    After listening to the respective counsel, Aneke adjourned the case till Oct. 4 and Nov.1 continuation of trial and ruling.

    Meanwhile, the court has also granted an application for release of the International passport of the defendant, for medical travel overseas.

    In the charge, the prosecution alleged that Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects, purchased a 12-storey property known as Guinea House on Marine Road in Apapa, Lagos for N805 million between May and June 2014.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that N322 million out of the N805 million was part of proceeds of “an unlawful act and fraud.”

    The EFCC alleged that the N322 million was transferred to the property’s vendor on the order of Suiming Electricals, which was accused of aiding Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects to commit money laundering on or about May 14, 2014.

    EFCC said that Nwaoboshi, with the proceeds, bought the 12-floor building from Delta State Government at N805 million in the name of Golden Touch Construction Projects.

    The commission said that the Senator had no visible legitimate business venture to generate the amount spent to purchase the said property.

    The alleged offence contravenes the provisions of sections 15(2) (d) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

  • Alleged N29bn fraud: Court admits more evidence against Nyako

    Alleged N29bn fraud: Court admits more evidence against Nyako

    The Federal High Court Abuja on Monday, has admitted in evidence, documents tendered by the prosecution, through the 20th prosecution witness, Mr Chris Odofin, in the N29 billion fraud trial filed against a former governor of Adamawa, Murtala Nyako.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nyako is being prosecuted alongside his sons, Sen. Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.

    Some of the documents admitted in evidence include a certified true copy of a document captured ‘Blue Opal Nigeria Limited and Blue Opal sales details.’

    The charge was preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

    Five companies, Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited, were equally charged before the court as the 5th to 9th defendants.

    The witness was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    Odofin told the court that in the course of investigating the case, Mohammed Maji-Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu were invited by the commission to give statements, but that they both died before the matter was charged to court.

    He also told the court that Mr. Kobis Ari-Thumnu, former Secretary to the State Government of Adamawa and Mahmud Nyako also made statements to the EFCC, but when the matter was charged to court, all efforts to reach them were futile.

    The defence counsel in court led by Mr. Ibrahim Isiaku (SAN) prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable them prepare to cross examine the witness.

    The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned the matter until April 10 for the defence to cross-examine Odofin.

     

  • Alleged misappropriation: Court admits more documents in evidence against Okupe

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday at the Federal High Court Abuja submitted more documents in evidence against Doyin Okupe, which were admitted by the court.

    Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, is being prosecuted by EFCC on a 59-count charge for allegedly receiving money from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and rendering no services.

    At the resumed trial, Mr. Hassan Saidu, the third prosecution witness who was led in evidence by Mr. Ibrahim Audu, submitted documents including account opening package for an account in Zenith Bank, a statement made by Okupe and other documents.

    Saidu told the court that following intelligence report regarding misappropriation by Okupe, he was invited to the EFCC office and interviewed.

    “We invited him in June 2016 to our office and interviewed him in respect of the payments he received from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) that was tagged “special services”.

    Okupe said the money he received; N50 million, N35 million, N15 million and subsequent N10 million severally was used to set up his office, pay staff salaries and pay for a programme on NTA called insight, Saidu told the court.

    ”When we asked him where the instructions that led to the payment of all the monies came from, he claimed that there was a request that was approved by the former president to the NSA to effect the payment. ”

    The witness, however, added that Okupe could not produce evidence of the said request.

    Saidu also told the court that upon further investigations, the agency could not link any disbursement to payment of staff salaries.

    He also said that the only receipt Okupe could produce when asked for receipts of all the things he claimed he used the money for was one of N120,000 paid to Infinity Security Services.

    The trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu adjourned the matter until April 1 for the defence team to cross examine the witness.

    Okupe was arraigned alongside two companies, Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd, over allegations of misappropriation of funds amounting to over N240 million received from the former NSA.

    The money is said to be part funds set aside during the Jonathan administration to purchase arms at the heat of the Boko Haram insurgency.

  • Presidential poll: We have exclusive evidences of APC rigging – PDP

    …as party insists on challenging Buhari’s victory at the court

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has said that nobody will stop the party from contesting the outcome of the February 23 Presidential Election in the court.

    Mr Secondus, while addressing a press conference on Friday in Abuja, said the party believed that justice would be done at the court.

    “We will go to court. Nobody will stop us from going to court and bring out all of the facts both the international observers and some people have not seen.

    “We will unearth them at the court and I believe that justice will be done at the court.

    “Because, if we continue to suppress injustice and go sentimental, the country will continue to pile on gun powder that will explode one day.

    “So much injustice has been done in this country and if we allow it and it continues to pile, nobody knows what will happen.

    “So, that’s why we decided as good citizens and law-abiding and people who believe in rule of law that we will go,” Mr Secondus said.

    Speaking on the recent meeting the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had with the National Peace Committee, Mr Secondus said there was no condition given to the party, as they were only invited to state their grievances.

    “There was no condition. Initially, we were not to talk with them because a decision had been taken to go to court, but because of the personalities involved, we said ok, let’s just talk.

    “There was no condition. There was no request of any condition.

    “We made it clear that unless the injustices are addressed, there is no room for peace. It is only when you address the injustice that you can now sit down for peace,” he said.

    Mr Secondus also spoke on the alleged militarisation of the elections particularly in the South South and South East.

    He said it was one of the strategies the ruling party used in denying PDP victory.

    He added the development was also responsible for alleged killing of innocent electorate and suppression of voters who were either scared out or chased away from polling units.

    He said even by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) own record voter turnout in last Saturday’s election fell to about 36 per cent from 44 per cent it was in 2015.

    “While the military was suppressing voters in PDP strong hold areas in the South, a different abracadabra was going on in some northern states particularly in Kano, Yobe, Borno and Zamfara States where numbers refuse to add up.

    “In Borno, Yobe and Zamfara States, confirmed report shows that there was non-compliance in the use of Smart card reader as approved by INEC rules”.

    He added that “The same applies to cancelled votes, in Nasarawa State over 115,000votes cancelled, Kogi 79,000 votes, Plateau 30,000 votes indicating that these high incidence of vote cancellation were designed to suppress the margin of victory in PDP strongholds.

    Mr Secondus urged PDP members and supporters across the country not to despair but to remain steadfast and focused.

    “Like our presidential candidate assured, we shall triumph at the end because democracy has come to stay in this country and is staying by the grace of God.

    “I also wish to reiterate to our security agencies particularly the Army that they are not at war with any section of her citizens and they must try to be professional in their duties by staying away from election matters as directed by the Supreme Court of the land”.

    Highlight of the press conference include one minute silence for Nigerians who lost their lives on the election day and in the course of celebrating the outcome.

     

  • Show evidence I am from Cameroon, Atiku tells Nnamdi Kanu

    Show evidence I am from Cameroon, Atiku tells Nnamdi Kanu

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has called on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to show evidence that he (Atiku) is from Cameroon.

    Recall that Kanu during a broadcast on Saturday, alleged that Atiku, a former Vice-president, is from Cameroon and not a Nigerian.

    “Do you know that Atiku Abubakar is from Cameroon? His area of Adamawa was in Cameroon,” Kanu said.

    However, Atiku in a statement by his media aide Ibe Paul challenged Kanu to show the proof that his principal is from the Central African nation.

    “You media should ask him to supply the proof. It is not the man that is being accused that you will ask,” the statement noted.

    “It is the person who made the allegations that you will ask to bring his proof of where he (Atiku) is from or where he is not from.”

    According to findings, up till 59 years ago, Atiku’s area of Adamawa was in Cameroon.

    Gada was the headquarters of British Cameroon and included Jada, Atiku’s birthplace.

    However, after a plebiscite, it decided to stay with Nigeria and became part of the Sardauna Province with the other part, joining Cameroon.

    In addition, Kanu reiterated his call on “Biafrans” not to vote during the 2019 election.

    “By voting, all you are doing is perpetuating the misery of our people,” he added.

    “To vote in the zoo means to endorse 1999 fraudulent constitution. By voting, all you are doing is perpetuating the misery of our people.”

    According to him, “Those pressuring me to call off the election boycott know what to do, sign that document I gave to you and I will call off the election boycott, you know what the document contains.”

  • Trump accuses Twitter of targeting Republicans, offers no evidence

    U.S. President Donald Trump accused Twitter on Thursday of restricting the visibility of prominent Republicans on its platform, and promised to investigate.

    Trump did not, however, provide any evidence to that effect.

    “Twitter ‘SHADOW BANNING’ prominent Republicans. Not good.

    “We will look into this discriminatory and illegal practice at once!” the Republican president wrote in a Twitter post.

    On Wednesday, Republican party Chairperson Ronna McDaniel also condemned the practice saying that “the notion that social media companies would suppress certain political points of view should concern every American.”