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Tag: fraud

  • INEC is a fraud- Paul Adefarasin

    INEC is a fraud- Paul Adefarasin

    Senior Pastor of the House on The Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin has described the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a fraud. The clergyman revealed this during a sermon in his church.

    The cleric noted the numbers obtained during census and elections in the country are all lies.

    Adefarasin also described Lord Lugard, who amalgamated the Northern and Southern regions, as a devil’s incarnate.

    He said: “You have got to go into politics and government deliberately.

    “By the way, if we don’t fix this Nigeria’s problem… by that I mean Independent National Electoral Commission… I am saying it plainly

    “Put me in trouble if you like, INEC is a fraud. Numbers in Nigeria as far as census is concerned, as far as election is concerned are a lie.

    “And if nobody will speak about it, the righteous will speak about it. Our righteousness is not of ourselves but it is of him and he will protect.

    “Where the numbers are not properly reflected in our voting, this is the only country in West Africa, when you move to the ocean through the desert and the numbers decrease or rather the only country in the world that you move a large number of water or little or no water and the numbers increase it was not Nigerians that started it.

    “It was the parents of Nigeria, who were not good parents. The man, Lord Lugard was a devil incarnate. What he did to this country, we have been suffering it since many years and it is time that we must tell the truth.

    “And those of you, who benefit from the system, when the judgement comes unless you extricate yourself in the righteousness of God that’s your own problem.

    “And if you are in the system, you should behave like Robin Hood, take from them and give it to the poor.

    “You should have less so that they can have more. I have that sword in my office.

    “The sword of Lord of Luxury, Robin Hood, why? Because part of my job is to make sure that the wealth of Nigeria is redistributed with an evenness.

    “How do I do it, it is no by giving the poor, rice, oil at election time. Give them an education. And education in today’s age does not have to be formal. We have tablets we can do research and development.”

     

  • Alleged $9.8m fraud: Court rejects EFCC’s plea to play video against ex-NNPC GMD

    Alleged $9.8m fraud: Court rejects EFCC’s plea to play video against ex-NNPC GMD

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, rejected the request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to play a video evidence in the ongoing trial of Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
    Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling, dismissed the application on the grounds that Yakubu was not the maker of the exhibits and as such, he could not be cross-examined based on those documents.
    Recall that Justice Mohammed had, on June 30, fixed today for ruling on the anti-corruption agency’s application.
    The agency’s lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, had sought an order of the court to play video documents which were tendered while taking the evidence of the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) on Oct. 17, 2018, and admitted in evidence by the court in cross examining Yakubu, who was in the witness box as the first defence witness (DW1).
    The court had marked the documents tendered as Exhibits “M,” “N” and “N1.”
    While Exhibits “M” and “N” were compact discs, Exhibit “N1” was a memory card.
    However, Counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji, SAN, opposed the EFCC’s application.
    Raji had argued that Yakubu was not a maker of the exhibits which in the eyes of law were documents.
    “This ought to have been done through the witness who produced the document (PW6) and who is the maker and who tendered exhibits in them,” he had said.
    The senior lawyer also argued that allowing such application would be going contrary to “the directives of the Court of Appeal as to what is to be done in the suit.”
    The EFCC lawyer also disagreed with Raji.
    Abdullah had enjoined the court to look at the provisions of the Evidence Act as to whether a counsel in a trial has a right to make use of exhibits already before the court at any stage of proceedings in determining an issue, particularly in cross examination.
    He submitted that an exhibit already before a court could be used to either establish a fact or dispel a fact at any stage of a proceeding.
    “It is a right that can be enjoyed by both prosecution and defence.
    “We urge my lord to so hold and answer this in affirmative,” he had said.
    The Judge, however, disagreed with the EFCC in his ruling.
    Justice Mohammed also deferred the agency’s fresh application to recall two prosecution witnesses (PWs) for a re-examination pending when Yakubu’s cross-examination is completed.
    Abdullah had applied for a recall of two of the agency’s PWs in the trial following the court’s rejection of his request to play the video evidence.
    But Raji opposed the prayer, arguing that since the EFCC had called all its witnesses and closed its case, “recalling those witnesses when the defendant had already opened his defence and he is in the witness box will only interrupt the proceeding.”
    He also argued that allowing the prayer would not be doing justice to the defendant who had been in the witness box for over a year.
    He urged the court to defer the anti-graft commission’s application until his client’s cross examination is completed.
    Ruling, the judge noted that Yakubu, who had been in the witness box as DW1 (first defence witness) since July 8, 2020, had already given his evidence before the court.
    Mohammed held that it would be unfair to keep the defendant in the witness box for over a year and grant such prayer when the cross examination was yet to be completed
    “Therefore, the application to recall two witnesses is defer until the DW1 cross examination is completed,” he ruled.
    Abdullah then applied for a short adjournment to enable him produce some documents which would be relevant in cross examining Yakubu.
    Raji described the application as “a deliberate attempt to prolong the proceeding for reason known to the prosecution.”
    He said in order to delay processing, the EFCC lawyer had been coming up with one application or another.
    “My lord, I want it to be on record because if a defence counsel does this, especially senior lawyers, the same song will be ‘oh, they don’t allow criminal trials to move.
    “My lord, a diligent prosecution would have come with everything,” he said.
    Raji, who said application for adjournment was lacking in merit, urged the court to refuse it.
    “It is against the spirit of justice and Administration of Criminal Justice Act),” he said.
    The judge said though the court was not inclined to granting the plea considering the time the exercise had taken, he adjourned the case until July 29 for continuation of the cross examination of Yakubu.
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the anti-graft agency had, in 2017, raided the residence of the ex-NNPC boss in Kaduna and found 9, 772, 800 dollars and 74, 000 pounds (9.7 million dollars and 74, 000 pounds) in a safe.
    Yakubu was, however, arraigned on March 16, 2017 on six counts but the trial court struck out counts five and six.
    The Court of Appeal also ordered the former GMD to defend only count three and four which bordered on failure to make full disclosure of assets, receiving cash without going through financial institution.
  • Businessman Andrew Warri arraigned for allegedly defrauding GTBank N125m

    Businessman Andrew Warri arraigned for allegedly defrauding GTBank N125m

    The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday arraigned Andrew Warri before Justice Sherifah Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

    He was arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques.

    Warri was arraigned alongside two companies: A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited and Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited.

    One of the counts reads: “Andrew Warri, A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited, sometime in May 2012 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N125,000,000 from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc under the guise that the proceeds of the Rural Health Care and Referral contract with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be domiciled in your account with Guaranty Trust Bank, the said pretense you knew, or ought to have known is false.”

    Another count reads: “Andrew Warri, Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited, on or about 28th October 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, issued a Zenith Bank cheque for the sum of N10,000,000 payable to A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited, in favour of Guaranty Trust Bank, which upon presentation for payment was dishonoured on the grounds that no sufficient funds were standing to your credit.”

    He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

    Thereafter, prosecuting counsel, Franklin Ofoma, prayed the Court for a date for commencement of trial, as the prosecution was ready to prove its case against the defendants.

    Nelson Imoh, counsel for Warri, informed the Court that the bail application for his client was before the Court.

    Ofoma, however, vehemently opposed the application for bail in his oral argument.

    He argued that the defendant was a flight risk, as he had resisted when operatives of the EFCC went to his office to effect his arrest.

    “His arrest was aborted and the EFCC had to watch list the defendant with the DSS, Immigrations, Customs and other local and international law enforcement agencies, just to ensure his attendance,” he said.

    According to Ofoma, the defendant was about to take off to the United States, but in the process, he was informed that he could not travel as he was on a watch list.

    Thereafter, Justice Solebo ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional facility pending release on bail and adjourned the case till July 1, 2021.

  • Ex-BankPHB MD, CFO jailed 10 years; to refund N25.7bn to FG

    Ex-BankPHB MD, CFO jailed 10 years; to refund N25.7bn to FG

    A Lagos High Court sitting in the Ikeja area has sentenced former managing director of defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche to over 6 years in prison.

    In a judgment that lasted over 10 hours, Justice Lateefat Okunnu convicted Atuche alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

    The two were convicted on at least 6 of a 27-count amended charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and stealing brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    While Atuche who was found guilty on counts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 23 of the charge would serve a 6-year term for each count, Anyanwu will serve a 4-year jail term for counts 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 22 and 24 of the amended charge.

    They are to serve their jail term consecutively. This sentence is coming after a trial that lasted over 12 years.

    In delivering her sentence, Justice Okunnu held that the EFCC successfully proved its case against the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The judge rejected claims by the defendants suggesting that they were merely professionally negligent.

    She specifically held that Atuche and Anyanwu abused their powers, ignored established rules and regulations thereby putting the bank and depositors’ funds in danger.

    The court also came to the conclusion that the convicts corruptly took advantage of their positions to confer on themselves undue financial benefits without regard to the health of the bank.

    “The convict stole from the bank and depositors and because of their action, taxpayers money was used to bail out the bank”.

    Justice Okunnu held that she had considered the plea of the convicts, but there must be consequences for wrongdoing, adding that sentences are not just for punishment but also for deterrence.

    She also ruled that the defendant should make restitution of the amount stolen from the bank. They are to pay back the sum of N25.7billion to the Federal government to replace the funds stolen from the public to bail out the bank.

    According to the Judge, they are to serve their jail terms at the Kirikiri maximum correctional facility in Lagos.

    Justice Okunnu however, cleared Atuche’s wife on the charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    According to the judge, the EFCC failed to link her to the crime and insisted that suspicion no matter how strong can not take the place of fact.

    The judge held that it was not proven that she was aware of the source of the funds she received into her account from her husband and she had no powers to take any decision to influence the transaction.

    The EFCC had alleged that between November 2007 and April 2008, the accused persons stole about N25.7bn belonging to the bank.

    The anti-graft agency had also claimed that of the total N25.7bn, they stole about N14.7bn by fraudulently describing it as a loan to some companies and subsequently converted the said sum to personal use.

    The Commission had listed the companies as Future View Securities, Extra Oil Limited, Resolution Trust and Investment Limited, and Tradjek Nigeria Ltd.

    The EFCC also alleged that another N11bn stolen by the defendants was used to purchase about 984,375,000 units of Bank PHB shares for themselves.

    According to the commission, the sum used for purchasing the shares was described as a loan to some companies including, Guesstrade Services, Sentron Trading, Montrax Investico, Claremount Management Ltd., Trenton Trade, and others.

    In proof of its case against the accused persons, the EFCC called 12 witnesses who gave oral evidence. It also subpoenaed 6 others to present some documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

  • Gov. Abiodun reacts over aide’s involvement in unemployment benefits fraud

    Gov. Abiodun reacts over aide’s involvement in unemployment benefits fraud

    Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has reacted by suspending his aide, Abidemi Rufai over his involvement in unemployment benefits fraud in the United States.

    This was contained in a statement by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Dapo Abiodun

    “The Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has received the very disturbing news of the arrest of one of his political appointees, Mr Abidemi Rufai, in New York over alleged unemployment benefits fraud in the United States.

    “In view of the gravity of these allegations, the Governor has ordered the immediate suspension of the accused appointee.

    “The Governor wishes to restate his commitment to an open, transparent, accountable and morally upright Administration and will not condone any act bordering on criminality by anyone,” the statement reads.

    Rufai was arrested Friday evening at JFK Airport in New York on a criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud for his scheme to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

    Rufai, aka Sandy Tang, 42, of Lekki, Nigeria, made his initial appearance Saturday May 15, 2021 in New York. He is scheduled for a detention hearing Wednesday.

    “Since the first fraud reports to our office in April 2020, we have worked diligently with a federal law enforcement team to track down the criminals who stole funds designated for pandemic relief,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “This is the first, but will not be the last, significant arrest in our ongoing investigation of ESD fraud.”

    The criminal complaint alleges that Rufai used the stolen identities of more than 100 Washington residents to file fraudulent claims with ESD for pandemic-related unemployment benefits. Rufai also filed fraudulent unemployment claims with Hawaii, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, and Pennsylvania. Rufai used variations of a single e-mail address in a manner intended to evade automatic detection by fraud systems. By using this practice, Rufai made it appear that each claim was connected with a different email account.

    Rufai caused the fraud proceeds to be paid out to online payment accounts such as ‘Green Dot’ accounts, or wired to bank accounts controlled by “money mules.” Some of the proceeds were then mailed to the Jamaica, New York address of Rufai’s relative. Law enforcement determined more than $288,000 was deposited into an American bank account controlled by Rufai between March and August 2020.

    “Greed is a powerful motivator. Unfortunately, the greed alleged to this defendant affects all taxpayers,” said Donald Voiret, Special Agent in Charge FBI Seattle. “The FBI and our partners will not stand idly by while individuals attempt to defraud programs meant to assist American workers and families suffering the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

    Wire fraud is punishable by up to thirty years in prison when it relates to benefits paid in connection with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). The fraud on ESD is being investigated cooperatively by the FBI, DOL-OIG, Social Security Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. The Washington Employment Security Department is cooperating in the investigation.

    The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson, Cindy Chang, and Benjamin Diggs of the Western District of Washington, and Trial Attorney Jane Lee of DOJ’s Cyber Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).

  • EFCC arrests 33 suspected Internet fraudsters in Abeokuta

    EFCC arrests 33 suspected Internet fraudsters in Abeokuta

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office, has arrested 33 suspected Internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, Ogun.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan.

    Uwujaren stated that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of EFCC on Tuesday at Adigbe, Oloke, Ibara Housing Estate Extension, and Idi Ori areas of Abeokuta.

    He said that the arrest, followed actionable intelligence earlier received on their alleged criminal activities of the suspects.

    Uwujaren said that items recovered from the suspects include: 18 cars, mobile phones, laptops, and several other incriminating documents.

    He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

  • Police arrest suspected ATM fraudster in Enugu

    Police arrest suspected ATM fraudster in Enugu

    The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested a suspect for allegedly engaging in an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card fraud in some banks in Enugu metropolis.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said this in a statement on Saturday.

    Ndukwe said that the command also recovered a tricycle used by the suspect and his cohorts for their operations.

    He said that the feat was achieved by operatives attached to the New Haven Police Division within the metropolis on April 16 at about 9a.m.

    According to him, police operatives arrested one Chukwudi Chukwu, 25, at an ATM point along Chime Avenue, Enugu.

    “His arrest led to the recovery of a yellow-coloured Bajaj tricycle with registration number: ENU 677 WW, used by the suspect and his gang for operation and nine ATM cards of different banks.

    “The suspect, whose arrest was due to a swift response to a distress call and his rescue from an angry mob by police operatives, is alleged to have fraudulently swapped a victim’s UBA ATM card.

    “This the suspect did after offering to assist process his victim’s transaction on another bank’s ATM, with the intention of defrauding her.

    “He confessed to the crime as well as being a member of the syndicate that specialised in unsuspectingly swapping ATM cards of their victims at banks’ ATMs with non-functional cards.

    “This manipulative move they use to fraudulently obtain funds from their victims accounts,’’ the police spokesman said.

    He said that there had been discrete investigation to arrest other members of the syndicate, including the suspect’s accomplices who escaped on the said date of the arrest.

    “To this end, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, has applauded the peace-loving residents for their assistance in the fight against criminals and their activities.

    “He, however, pleads with all and sundry to quickly submit arrested criminals to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, rather than indulge in mob actions that are tantamount to jungle justice.”

  • Real reason why we arrested Instagram celebrity, Pankeeroy – EFCC

    Real reason why we arrested Instagram celebrity, Pankeeroy – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opened up on the real reason why Instagram celebrity, Nwagbo Oliver Chidera, popularly known as Pankeeroy was arrested.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Pankeeroy was arrested on Wednesday along with 34 others for alleged involvement in computer-related fraud.

    Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the EFCC whisked him and the others away from their hideout in James Court, Lekki, Lagos State.

    The Commission explained that their arrest followed verified intelligence received by the Commission about their alleged criminal activities.

    EFCC stated that Pankeeroy claimed to have gone into Bitcoin scam, presenting himself as a vendor, who redeems Bitcoin vouchers, after he suffered depression.

    “Until his arrest, Chidera, who claimed to have gone into Bitcoin scam after he suffered depression, had been presenting himself as a vendor who redeems bitcoin vouchers using the bitcoincoretrading.com to defraud his unsuspecting victims,” the EFCC stated.

    TNG reports Pankeeroy, with over 500 thousand followers on Instagram was arrested in Lagos State along with 34 others for alleged involvement in computer-related fraud.

    EFCC gave the names of the other suspects arrested along with Pankeeroy as: Chinedu Omesu Christian, Gafar Kunle Adedamola, Chuka AnieboRichard, Dibo Ayomide Samson, Rotimi Segun Damilola, Habeeb Banire Damilola, Afolabi Bolutife Michael, and Adekanbi Elijah Adeola.

    Others are: Emeka Christian Egwuatu, Adeyemi Adedamola Olumide, Awokoya Moyosore lyaniwura, Efunnuga Dmilola Samuel, Samson Makinde Egwuatu, Gbemileke Jide Simeon,Omoyemi Fashola Owolabi, and Farouk Ibiwoye Olatunde.

    “They were arrested on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at their hideout in James Court, Lekki, Lagos, following verified intelligence received by the Commission about their alleged criminal activities,” the EFCC stated.

    Meanwhile, investigations have revealed that one of the suspects, Christian, allegedly defrauded an aged Asian-American lady of over $475, 000 (Four Hundred and Seventy -Five Thousand US Dollars).

    In his statement to the Commission, Christian confessed to have been posing as one Dave Federick, a 58-year-old United States national on a mission in Syria, in order to lure his unsuspecting victims and defraud them of their hard-earned money.

    Upon his arrest, a Mercedes Benz AMG GLE model worth N36,000,000 (Thirty-six Million Naira) was recovered from him.

    Investigations also revealed that the suspect has N22,300,000.00 (Twenty- two Million, Three Hundred Naira) worth of Bitcoin in his blocked chain account.

    Items recovered from the suspects include exotic cars, iPhones, laptop computers, Android devices and Macbook devices.

    “The suspects will soon be charged to court,” EFCC stated.

  • BREAKING: EFCC arrests popular Instagram celebrity, Pankeeroy along with 34 others

    BREAKING: EFCC arrests popular Instagram celebrity, Pankeeroy along with 34 others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested popular Instagram celebrity, Nwagbo Oliver Chidera, popularly known as Pankeeroy.

    Pankeeroy, with over 500 thousand followers on Instagram was arrested in Lagos State along with 34 others for alleged involvement in computer-related fraud.

    EFCC made this known on Thursday, saying the popular Instagram celebrity was arrested by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the Commission.

    EFCC gave the names of the other suspects arrested along with Pankeeroy as: Chinedu Omesu Christian, Gafar Kunle Adedamola, Chuka AnieboRichard, Dibo Ayomide Samson, Rotimi Segun Damilola, Habeeb Banire Damilola, Afolabi Bolutife Michael, and Adekanbi Elijah Adeola.

    Others are: Emeka Christian Egwuatu, Adeyemi Adedamola Olumide, Awokoya Moyosore lyaniwura, Efunnuga Dmilola Samuel, Samson Makinde Egwuatu, Gbemileke Jide Simeon,Omoyemi Fashola Owolabi, and Farouk Ibiwoye Olatunde.

    “They were arrested on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at their hideout in James Court, Lekki, Lagos, following verified intelligence received by the Commission about their alleged criminal activities,” the EFCC stated.

  • US embassy warns Nigerians against fraudulent visa report

    US embassy warns Nigerians against fraudulent visa report

    The United States Mission to Nigeria has warned Nigerians against a fraudulent visa report being disseminated on social media.

    The fraudulent visa press release had said that the US was issuing a new type of work visa to Nigerians.

    But the US Mission on Friday in a visa fraud alert urged Nigerians to disregard information stating that a new work visa has been created.

    The statement read, “The U.S. Mission to Nigeria is drawing the general public’s attention to a fake “press release” claiming to offer a new type of work visa to Nigerians.

    “Scammers and fraudsters circulate this phoney information that the new work visa applies to Nigerian citizens aged 40-55.

    The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate in Lagos is warning Nigerians not to fall victims to the scam. It is the same old scam, but in fresh packaging – don’t become a victim!

    “If you have questions about whether visa information is legitimate, please refer only to official sources: travel.state.gov, ng.usembassy.gov/visas, and www.ustraveldocs.com/ng.”