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Tag: fraud

  • Ighalo docked in Port Harcourt for fraud

    Ighalo docked in Port Harcourt for fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, today charged Patrick Ighalo with four counts of obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N1,750,000.00, about $5,000.

    The case is being heard by Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on

    One of the counts reads: “That you Patrick Ighalo and Raymond Otamere Ibie between 10th and 15th of April, 2015 at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court with intent to defraud did obtained the sum of One Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand (N1.750, 000) Naira only from Evelyn Obene under the false pretence that the sum was an investment in an oil business and which pretence you knew to be false and thereby commited an offence contrary to Section 1(1)( a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

    When the charge was read to Ighalo, he pleaded not guilty.

    In view of the plea of the defendant, the prosecution counsel, R.E. Alao prayed the court for a new date for trial while the defendant is remanded in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

    However, the defence counsel, T.J. Kurukurugbor asked the court to grant his client bail.

    Justice Omotosho granted the defendant bail in the sum of N3 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be a grade level 10 Officer and must deposit his passport photograph with the court.

    The case was adjourned till March 12, 2020 for trial.

    Patrick Ighalo ran into trouble following a petition by Mrs Evelyn Obene, who alleged that she met him and Raymond Otamere Ibie sometime in January 2015 in Calabar and that they convinced her to invest N1.750.000 in an Automotive Gas Oil business.

    The money was transferred to Ighalo’s Ecobank account number 2221007816. She also alleged that she gave Ighalo N950,000 cash for barge repairs and logistics; while another N270,000 was transferred to Mr Raymond Otamere Ibie’s Account.

    She claimed that after paying the monies, the suspects became evasive and all efforts to recover the funds proved futile.

  • Police arraign former party chairman, three others for forgery

    Police arraign former party chairman, three others for forgery

    Former National Chairman of the Action Alliance Party, Kenneth Udeze, and three others were re-arraigned by the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 11, on Tuesday for alleged forgery.

    The defendants, Kenneth Udeze (46), Ogunmodede Adeloye (57), Vernimbe James (42) and Adepoju Timothy Adetunji (49) are standing trial before a Magistrate Coirt in Osogbo on alleged forgery of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) documents.

    When the case mentioned in court, the prosecutor, Mr. James Famuyini, prayed the court for substitution and consolidation of the charge against the defendants.

    According to the charge sheet: “Sometimes in July 2018 in Osogbo, within the Osogbo Magisterial District, you did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit forgery/uttering/making false statements to public officers and thereby committed offence contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state,

    “That you Adepoju Timothy Adetunji on the 20th day of July, 2018 at the High Court of Justice, Osogbo, did make false statement that you were elected as the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance to the officers of the Osun State High Court and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 125(a) and (b) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state, 2002.

    “That you Ogunmodede Adeloye on the 23th day of July, 2018 at High Court of justice, Osogbo, did make false statement that you were elected as Governorship candidate of Action Alliance Party to the officers of Osun state high court and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 125(a) and (b) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state, 2002.

    “That you Kenneth Obidiche Udeze and Ogunmodede Adeloye, Vernimbe James, Adepoju Timothy Adetunji, on the same date and at the aforementioned area, did forged INEC document and seal and present same as genuine without lawful authority from the INEC during the gubernatorial primary election of Action Alliance in Osun and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 468 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11 law of Osun state, 2002.”

    The prosecutor further alleged that the defendants “did fraudulently utter INEC document and present same as original to INEC during the gubernatorial election and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 468 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state, 2002.”

    Taking their plea, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the five count amended charges.

    The defence counsel, Mr. W. O. Wemimo, urged the court to allow his clients to continue with the earlier bail granted them by the court, saying they have not jumped the bail granted them.

    In his ruling, the presiding judge, Magistrate Olugbenga Oladoke, ordered that the defendants should continue with their bail and adjourned the case till March 4 for hearing.

  • N30.2b Fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-gov Jang, others on amended charges

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday re-arraigned former Plateau State governor, Jonah David Jang, and a former cashier in the Office Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Yusuf Pam, before Justice C. L. Dabup of Plateau State High Court, Jos, on amended 17-count charge.

    The duo of Jang and Pam are being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of Plateau State funds to the tune of N30,236,024,219.88.

    Details later…

  • EFCC arrests ex-Kogi governor’s son for fraud

    EFCC arrests ex-Kogi governor’s son for fraud

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Muhammed Audu in Lagos.

    Mr Audu, a son of former Kogi governor Abubakar Audu, was taken into custody by operatives on February 18 after a probe of public sports funding showed he was allegedly linked to a multi-billion fraud at the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

    The alleged loot was in dollars and naira, officials said, estimating it to the tune of multi-billion naira. The precise amount would be disclosed in the coming days, operatives said.

    The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorised to disclose the arrest.

    Mr Audu, who has become a top politician in Kogi and contested for governor there last year, was accused of using his entertainment businesses, Mediterranean Hotels Limited and Mediterranean Sports, to divert the funds.

    Efforts have commenced to charge the suspect to court promptly, according to two officials familiar with the arrest.

    It was not immediately clear whether Mr Audu has contacted his lawyer following the arrest.

    More details later…

  • Alleged $500m bribe: Nigerian oil mogul Aliyu Abubakar faces trial in Italy

    Alleged $500m bribe: Nigerian oil mogul Aliyu Abubakar faces trial in Italy

    An Italian judge has ordered a Nigerian businessman, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar to stand trial for alleged international corruption relating to a Nigeria oil graft case involving Eni and Shell, a judicial source and his lawyer said on Wednesday.

    Milan prosecutors allege that Abubakar, a reclusive billionaire and chairman of AA Oil, played a central role in one of the oil industry’s biggest scandals in years, handing out more than $500 million in cash to powerful Nigerian government officials.

    The money is alleged to come out of the $1.3 billion licence fee paid by Eni and Shell for access to the OPL-245 offshore oilfield located in the southern Niger Delta.

    Abubakar’s Italian lawyer, Davide Pozzi, said his client, who lives in Nigeria, denies any wrongdoing in the case.

    “Mr Abubakar will clarify his position in the appropriate place,” he said.

    The famous house of Aliyu Abubakar in Abuja. he once said he bought the land for N1billion in 2005

    Italian prosecutors allege that Eni and Shell bought the oilfield in 2011 knowing that most of the purchase price would be siphoned off to middlemen and local politicians.

    Both firms and the managers accused in the Milan court case, including Eni’s current chief executive Claudio Descalzi, have denied any wrongdoing.

    Abubakar, an influential Nigerian businessman, was already under investigation but prosecutors were unable to locate him to serve the necessary deeds to put him on trial until he appeared in the case as a witness via a video linkup in February 2019.

    The start of his trial has been scheduled for May 14 before a Milan court, Pozzi said. However it is unclear whether he will actually appear.

    In the main part of the multi-strand case, prosecutors are due to begin summing up and setting out sentencing requests for Descalzi and other defendants beginning on March 25.

    *Reuters

  • Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Court rejects Fayose’s move to stop EFCC’s witness against him

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has rejected move by ex-Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, and a firm, Spotless Investment Ltd to stop a banker from testifying against him in his N2.2bn fraud trial.

    According to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, Fayose’s application lacked merit, saying that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could field one banker – Mr Johnson Abidakun, as its witness against the former governor.

    Abidakun will testify in place of a bullion van driver, Adewale Aladegbola, who testified when the case was before another judge.

    The EFCC, on January 16 alleged that Fayose secretly compromised the bullion van driver, hence, its decision to drop him and use Abidakun as a replacement.

    However, Fayose and Spotless Investment had, through his lawyers, Messrs Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN), filed an interlocutory summons in objection to the EFCC’s move to change witness.

    The defence counsel contended that allowing a change of witness was an abuse of court processes by the prosecution.

    But the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), maintained that the EFCC was at liberty to replace Aladegbola with Abidakun since the case was starting afresh before Justice Aneke, after it was transferred from Justice Mojisola Olatoregun (retd.), before whom Aladegbola testified.

    In a short ruling Monday, Justice Aneke upheld the prosecution’s application.

    The judge held, “This is a fresh trial, the parties are at liberty to call any witness that they desire in proof of their case. As a result, the defendants/applicants’ interlocutory summons is dismissed for lack of merit.”

    He adjourned till May 5 and 6 for continuation of trial.

  • N700m fraud: Judge threatens to revoke bail condition for Ize-Iyamu, others

    N700m fraud: Judge threatens to revoke bail condition for Ize-Iyamu, others

    A Judge in the Federal High in Benin City, Justice M G Umar, has threatened to revoke the bail condition granted to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih and three others if they were to play any antics to delay commencement of trial.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu and others were arraigned on an eight-count charge of conspiracy with themselves to commit money laundering to the tune of N700 million, an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended which is punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.

    The EFCC alleged that the defendants received the sum of N700 Million prior to the 2015 general elections, from former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Other defendants in the case are Former Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, a former member representing Esan South East and Esan North East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Tony Azigbemi, and one Efe Erimuoghae Anthony.

    Justice Umar had issued the threat after listening to arguments of defendants seeking a six months adjournment because of ill health of Mr. Efe Anthony.

    Mr Anthony had asked for the long till June for him to be able to stand for trial.

    He reminded the Court that they have always been present and drew attention to three consecutive times they were in court and the court did not sit.

    Lead Counsel to first defendant ,Mr Kingsley Obamojie , that of the Second defendant ,Professor Osas Izebhiuwa and that of the third and fourth defendants ,Mr Paschal Ogbome pleaded with the court to grant the application as the Anthony needed to be a bit healthy to appear in court for his defense.

    Ugbome urged the court to be fair to all parties and pointed out the whereas it was inevitable for humans to be indispensable , they had actually striven very hard to ensure that the hearing commenced in earnest .

    But the Prosecution Counsel, Mr L P Aso, said the defendants were unreasonable in their application for sixmonths adjournment.

    Aso argued that the language of the application attempted to frustrate the prosecution through unwarranted delay .

    Justice Umar who threatened to revoke the bail condition adjourned sitting to March 2nd for hearing and maintained that he would not tolerate any form of delay in the prosecution.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had said the accused were alleged to have made cash payment of N60,650,000 to one Henry Tenebe of Estako West Local Government Area and N61,647,000 to one Momoh Andrew Ojo of Akoko-Edo without going through a financial institution.

    In count five, six and seven, they were alleged to have made cash payment of N83,473,000, N125,993,000 and N105,000,000 to Deacon Ezekiel Egharevba, Thomas Aroko and Scott Osagiede without going through a financial institution.

  • N6.32b Fraud: Jang has case to answer – Court

    A former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang on Monday lost his bid to stop his corruption trial as Justice Daniel Longji of Plateau State High Court, Jos ruled that the ex- governor and a cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Yusuf Pam have a case to answer in the corruption charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to the tune of N6.32 billion.

    The court had on November 18, 2019 given the defence, 14 days to file its no case submission on the matter, and for the prosecution to respond within 10 days of service. Ruling on the no case submission was however deferred on December 23, 2019 due to a late service of the notice by the defence on the prosecution.

    But delivering his ruling today, December 31, 2019, Justice Longji stated that the defendants have a case to answer, particularly on the funds for Small and Medium Enterprises, given to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, and that of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) which were allegedly diverted by the defendants.

    The defendants are being prosecuted on a 17-count amended charge corruption and misappropriation of funds.

  • Alleged fraud: Wanted Nigerian arrested at Seattle Airport on way out of US

    Alleged fraud: Wanted Nigerian arrested at Seattle Airport on way out of US

    A Nigerian, Emmanuel Mong, caught trying to catch a flight home, is in the process of being extradited from Washington to Stamford in California, where he will face charges that he illegally intercepted a $30,000 wire transfer from Purdue Pharma.

    According to Port of Seattle Police, 24 year-old Mong of Savannah, Georgia, was trying to catch an Emirates Airlines flight to Nigeria on Dec. 16 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

    Seeing there was a felony warrant in his name, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers detained him until police arrived at Sea-Tac Airport.

    According to the report, Stamford police issued a warrant for Mong’s arrest in 2017, charging him with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree computer crime and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, with a court-ordered appearance bond of $250,000.

    Despite his protests that he has never lived in Georgia and claims that he is not the person wanted in the warrant, Mong is being extradited to Stamford.

    His Stamford criminal defense attorney, Allan Friedman, said Mong is eager to clear his name.

    “Mr. Mong is looking forward to coming to Stamford and having his day in court and presenting evidence of his innocence,” Friedman said. “We will resolve this matter in court.”

    A spokesperson from Purdue Pharma said they had no comment on the matter.

    According to Mong’s four-page arrest affidavit, Sean Coughlin, a Stamford police financial crimes investigator, said Purdue Pharma became the victim of what is known as a “man-in-the-email scam,” wherein a corporation, usually with business connections to Africa or Asia, have their email systems hacked by a computer virus or some other malware

  • Alleged $2.1bn fraud: Dasuki expresses readiness to resume trial

    Nigeria’s former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (rtd) released on bail on Tuesday, after four years of detention by the DSS, said he is now ready to resume his trial for corruption and money laundering.

    In an interview with the Hausa Service of VOA, Dasuki said he is ready to defend him over a $2.1billion money laundering charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “Of course, I stopped going to the court because I was granted bail but the government refused to release me and I said whenever the bail order is complied with I will appear before the court and defend myself. I am ready,” the former NSA said.

    Dasuki also said he is in good health.

    “Thank God I am in good health. I have no ailment at all,” said Dasuki who also refused to blame the federal government for his long detention. But he argued that there must be ‘fairness.’

    “There is nothing really to say to the government. Everything that happens to an individual is from God. It is only God’s will that will prevail. It is ignorance or lack of faith that pushes some to think that certain individuals are behind their predicaments.

    “Everything is ordained by God. Like you said, I was detained for four year and I am out today. Only God knows tomorrow. The only thing is that there must be fairness. Whoever goes to the Mosque on Friday must surely have heard the Imam always preach for fairness and honesty. There is a reason for that. Everyone should listen to it.”

    The former NSA was first arrested on December 1, 2015 by DSS and has been arraigned in various courts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on various charges related to corruption in the management of $2.1 billion funds meant for procurement of arms for soldiers fighting Boko Haram.

    Dasuki had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail by the various court.

    The cases have been stalled on account of his unwillingness to attend the courts, after the DSS flagrantly disobeyed the court.

    On November 13, 2018, the former NSA submitted a letter to the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed, that he will no longer make himself available for trial following the “brazen violation” of his constitutional right to liberty.

    But in a stunning move on Tuesday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami ordered the DSS to comply with the court order granting the former NSA bail.

    Freed with him is the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, who also had two bail orders flagrantly disobeyed by above-law DSS.