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Tag: fraud

  • Alleged N1.4bn fraud: Second judge withdraws from NBA President’s case

    Alleged N1.4bn fraud: Second judge withdraws from NBA President’s case

    Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday withdrew from the trial of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presiden Paul Usoro (SAN), charged with N1.4billion fraud.

    Usoro was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Hassan later withdrew from the case.

    Others charged with Usoro are Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah; Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko and Margaret Ukpe, said to be at large.

    Also named in the charge is Governor Emmanuel Udom, “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution.”

    Usoro was to be re-arraigned before Justice Obiozor, but the judge recused himself for personal reasons.

    “For personal reasons, I hereby disqualify myself from handling the case.

    “I hereby return this file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge,” Justice Obiozor ruled.

    Prior to Usoro’s arraignment before Justice Hassan last December 18, his lead counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the judge of a December 17 letter to the Chief Judge seeking the transfer of the case to another judge for an undisclosed reason.

    Olanipekun said Usoro would want the case transferred to either Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, or Abuja.

    He said if the case would remain in Lagos, it should be transferred to “any other honourable judge apart from my noble Lord.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the defendants committed the offence on May 14, 2016.

    The commission alleged that Usoro conspired with others to commit the offence within the jurisdiction of the court.

    He was alleged to have conspired to convert N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State Government, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

    The prosecution said that the unlawful activity included criminal breach of trust which contravened sections 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

  • E-banking fraud: NCC wants better authentication processes for mobile apps

    As fraudsters continue to exploit the weaknesses of mobile apps, especially mobile banking apps, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said putting better authentication processes in place has become vital.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta stated this during a stakeholder’s forum on Financial Fraud Using Telecoms Platform the commission held on Tuesday.

    The event was organized as a response to the inundated public complaints on the unceasing cases of financial fraud via the use of telecom platforms and is poised at seeking initiatives aimed at creating greater awareness on the issue as well as creating ways of addressing these challenges.

    Danbatta, who delivered the welcome address, stated that the commission is poised for a robust infrastructure to support innovative technologies/services that will enhance the pursuit of excellence and development in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

    “However, the malevolent use of this technology has become a growing concern in the industry, especially in the area of financial fraud.

    “As mobile apps integration with online payment platforms and other financial resources have improved over the years, the proportion of legitimate trade conducted using mobile phones and other portable devices has also increased.

    “Little wonder then that mobile channels have been seized by cyber-criminals as a new avenue for fraud.

    “Mobile apps as a whole are now quite easy for hackers and cyber criminals to hijack, corrupt, making them tools for fraudsters to steal credentials, impersonate genuine account holders and gain illicit access to funds.

    “Phishing tactics and social engineering ploys such as SIM Swap are part and parcel of the online fraud mechanism regardless of whether the transactions are conducted via mobile phone, desktop browser or point of presence.

    “Fraudsters continuing to exploit these weaknesses, putting better authentication processes in place is vital,” he said.

    Danbatta assured that the commission was collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and other relevant agencies in the fight against e-banking fraud.

    He said, “Effective collaboration and private organisation is a tool to tackling the scourge that has besieged financial and telecoms sectors”.

    At the panel discussion, telecom operators, financial institutions and regulators discussed ways to collaborate and prevent financial fraud.

    The forum drew participants from several regulatory institutions, ministries, department, agencies, telecom companies, financial institutions, industry players, security agencies and members of the press amongst several others.

     

  • EFCC arraigns two Access Bank staff for defrauding Dasuki £100k

    Two employees of Access Bank Plc have been dragged before Justice Z.B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.

    The two suspects, Benjamin Soile, Okoro Junior, were accused of conspiring with others, Abubakar Mustapha and Abueleven Limited to defraud one Sa’adatu Dasuki of £100,000.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), which arraigned the accused persons, filed a two-count charge bordering of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of £100,000 against the defendants.

    The anti-graft agency, at the hearing on Thursday, said the suspects were apprehended upon receipt of the petition by Mr Dasuki, who alleged that in September 2018, Okoro and Soile, officials of Access Bank Plc, Kwato Road Branch, Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna, conspired with Mustapha to defraud her of £100,000.

    Mustapha allegedly introduced the bankers to her as bureaux de change operators, and convinced her to transfer the money from her Access Bank account to his own account in the same bank with an understanding that he will credit her account with the naira equivalent.

    However, the £100,000 was transferred to a Barclays Bank account of one Celestine Tagbo on the instruction of one Alhassan Habib both resident in London without the knowledge or consent of Dasuki.

    Thereafter, sensing that she had been duped, the victim demanded for a refund of the money, with Okoro crediting her account with the sum of N11,562,500 on September 12 and 13, 2018 but reversed the said transaction.

    “That you, Benjamin Olayinka Soile, officer of Access Bank, Okoro Agwu Junior, officer of Access Bank, Abubakar Siddiq Mustapha, ABUELEVEN Ltd a liability company and others at large sometime in September 2018 in Kaduna within the division of the Federal High Court with intent to defraud the sum of £100,000 from one Sa’adatu Dasuki under false pretence that you will give her the naira equivalent a pretence you knew is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Same Act,” one of the counts reads:.

    They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

    Prosecuting counsel, J. Saidi, urged the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.

    Counsel to the first defendant, P.I. Kalu, informed the court of his client’s bail application dated January 23, 2018.

    In his ruling, Justice Abubakar granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N500, 000 each and two sureties in like sum, who must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the Court. One of the sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 9.

    The case was thereafter adjourned to February 14, 2019 for hearing, and the defendants ordered to be remanded in prison pending the perfection of the bail conditions.

     

  • Alleged N7.2bn fraud: Court awaits fresh instructions to continue Kalu’s trial

    Alleged N7.2bn fraud: Court awaits fresh instructions to continue Kalu’s trial

    Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday said that the court would await further directives to proceed with the trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, facing charges of N7.2 billion fraud.

    Kalu, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress was alleged to have committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Kalu together with his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo, and a company, Slok Nigeria Ltd., for the alleged offences.

    On October 31, 2016, the EFCC preferred 34 charges, bordering on N3.2 billion fraud against the accused.

    The charges were, however, amended and increased to 39 counts.

    Kalu and the others had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Justice Idris, who has been sitting as a trial judge in the criminal charge against Kalu, has been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

    He had, however, been conducting the trial in the case, following a fiat, authorising him to continue with the trial.

    At the last adjourned date on November 12, 2018, Kalu was absent from trial, after being absent on a previous adjourned date of November 5, 2018.

    Although the defence counsel had informed the court that he was away for medical treatment in Germany, the court had revoked his bail and ordered that at the point of his entry into the country, he must submit himself and all relevant travelling documents to the EFCC, failing which he would be arrested.

    The court had then adjourned the case until January 23, for the continuation of the trial.

    On Wednesday, the Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), appearing for the prosecution, informed the court that in spite of its order, the accused had refused to submit himself or his travelling documents to the EFCC.

    He argued that such attitude constituted a clear disregard for the court, adding that in the circumstance, he would urge the court to give effect to the provisions of Section 352(4) of the ACJA and continue with the trial of the accused even in his absence.

    According to Jacobs, the court should order defence to call its witnesses, failing which the court is allowed by the provisions of the law, to close their case.

    Responding, Counsel for the accused, Mr. Awa Kalu (SAN), expressed his displeasure with the submissions of the prosecution, noting that such arguments as canvassed by Jacobs should be put in an affidavit for the defence to reply.

    The court, however, in its reaction, informed parties that although the case had been adjourned for the continuation of the trial, the fiat issued by the presiding judge of the appellate court expired at the end of November 2018.

    He said that on January 10, he had received fresh fiat in respect of some other matters before him, adding that the case in point was not mentioned.

    Idris said that for this reason, he had strong doubt if he should continue with proceedings, adding that it was important he acted with abundant caution.

    “I should not proceed further, otherwise, I will be acting without authority. So, in the circumstance, I am of the view that further proceedings shouldn’t go on until I receive further instructions,” he said.

    The court added that as soon as such notice was received, hearing notices would be served on counsel.

  • Ex-Super Eagles defender, Sodje, two brothers jailed for fraud

    Ex-Super Eagles defender, Sodje, two brothers jailed for fraud

    Former Super Eagles defender, Efe Sodje, alongside his brothers Stephen and Bright, were given prison sentences for fraud last year, it can now be reported.

    According to Sky Sports, the three brothers were found to have syphoned more than £60,000 (over N28m) given to the Sodje Sports Foundation, a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation found.

    They were jailed in September 2017.

    Efe Sodje, who was part of Nigeria’s squad to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, bagged 18 months sentence; Bright Sodje 21 months, and Stephen Sodje for 30 months – at the Central Criminal Court in relation to the fraud.

    A judge at the same court on Monday lifted reporting restrictions preventing publication of the result of that trial, following the completion of a number of linked legal proceedings.

    Efe Sodje played in the Football League between 1995 and 2015 and appeared for Nigeria in the 2000 African Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup, while Bright Sodje played professional rugby league and union in the 1980s and 1990s.

    Efe, Bright and Stephen Sodje set up SSF in 2009 with the stated aim of helping poor children in the Niger Delta.

    The report on Sky Sports indicates that the three brothers used their connections within professional football and business communities to secure support for their foundation and to give it an appearance of legitimacy.

    Between 2011 and 2014, they defrauded donors of at least £63,000. There is no record of what happened to any of the cash donations made at any of the events, meaning NCA officers were unable to put an exact figure on how much the Sodjes profited.

    NCA officers who investigated the SSF’s activities found donations usually ended up in personal bank accounts of family members.

    In many cases, it was reported that the Sodjes asked that donations be paid to their personal accounts. At least £34,000 was collected in this way.

    Events over the three years, including charity football matches, raised funds but nothing reached any underprivileged or sick children.

    NCA deputy director Chris Farrimond said: “Bright, Efe and Stephen Sodje promoted themselves as generous, community-minded, figures when they were knowingly defrauding people who thought they were helping deprived children in Nigeria.

    “NCA financial investigators built a detailed picture of the movement of money in and out of the foundation and showed beyond doubt that for most of the foundation’s existence there was no charitable purpose.”

    Former Premier League footballer Okeremute Samuel “Sam” Sodje was also charged with fraudulent trading in relation to the Sodje Sports Foundation but was cleared following the initial trial.

    In a separate trial, which concluded on January 14, he was also cleared of two charges of money laundering relating to a scam which saw companies in Columbia, Italy and India defrauded of thousands of pounds they thought was being sent to suppliers.

    The jury failed to reach a verdict on two other charges, which will now lay on file.

     

     

  • Alleged fraud: Atiku reacts to FG’s plan to quiz him on return from US visit

    Alleged fraud: Atiku reacts to FG’s plan to quiz him on return from US visit

    The Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Friday reacted to plans by the federal government to question him over his alleged role in the collapse of Platinum Habib Bank also known as BankPHB.

    Recall that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that the former Vice President has a case to answer over the collapse of the bank.

    However, Atiku in return mocked the government over its alleged failed bid to get the United States government to deny him visa.

    He also said that with or without a trip to the US, the PDP will dislodge the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress at next month’s election.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu said the federal government should bury its head in shame having failed to stop him from travelling to the US.

    He said it was shameful that the governing APC took it upon itself to call on the authorities of another country not to grant a private citizen entry visa, which ordinarily should not be its business.

    Mohammed had at the hint of the US granting Atiku visa last year, cautioned the Americans not to contemplate the gesture as it might give the impression that the foreign power is supportive of the opposition party’s candidate.

    But Atiku who arrived in the US on Thursday said the APC was jittery knowing that its government has failed, stressing that Buhari’s days as president of Nigeria were numbered, which explains why members of the ruling party have been running from pillar to post.

    Details later.

     

  • Alleged N1.4bn fraud: CJ grants NBA President’s request, transfers case to new judge

    The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, has granted the request by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro, for a change of judge in the N1.4bn fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    It was learnt on Monday that following Usoro’s letter to the CJ, his case has been withdrawn from Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos and re-assigned to Justice Chuka Obiozor of the same court.

    The EFCC had on December 18, 2018, arraigned Usoro on 10 counts before Justice Hassan, who admitted him to a N250m bail on the same day.

    Prior to the arraignment, Usoro, through his legal team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), had informed Justice Hassan of a December 17, 2018 letter, which he wrote to the Chief Judge seeking the transfer of his case to another judge for an undisclosed reason.

    Olanipekun said Usoro would want the case transferred to either Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, or Abuja or that if the case would remain in Lagos, it should be transferred to “any other honourable judge apart from my noble Lord.”

    Olanipekun described Usoro’s request as innocuous, arguing that he had a right to make the request.

    He urged Justice Hassan to wait for the decision of the CJ on Usoro’s request before proceeding with the case.

    However, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed Olanipekun, describing his request as a temporary stay of proceedings, which, he said, Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 had outlawed.

    “My Lord cannot act in anticipation of a yet-to-be-taken administrative decision of the Chief Judge to keep this matter in limbo,” Oyedepo argued.

    In his ruling, Justice Hassan agreed with Oyedepo and ordered that Usoro be arraigned.

    After pleading not guilty to the charges, Justice Hassan admitted the NBA President to bail and then adjourned till February 5, 2019 for trial.

    In the charges, the EFCC claimed that Usoro converted and laundered N1.4bn in connivance with the Governor of his state, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.

    Emmanuel was, however, not listed as a defendant in the charge, as the EFCC indicated that he is “currently constitutionally immune against criminal prosecution”.

    Also mentioned in the body of the charges were one Nsikan Nkan, described as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State; one Mfon Udomah, described as the Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State; one Uwemedimo Nwoko, described as the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; and Margaret Ukpe, all of whom were said to be at large.

    The EFCC claimed that Usoro in connivance with the others mentioned conspired among themselves to commit the offence sometime in 2015 “within the jurisdiction of this honourable court”.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.4bn allegedly converted and laundered by the defendants belonged to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

    Counsel for the EFCC, Oyedepo, who signed the charge sheet, said in the charge sheet the offence allegedly committed by the NBA President was contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

    He added that the SAN is liable to be punished under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

     

  • EFCC recovers over N1 billion from Internet fraudsters

    The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered a total sum of N1,674,891,899.00 from 33 convicted Internet fraudsters so far in 2018.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Zonal Head of the commission, Mr. Nnaghe Obono Itam, disclosed this on Thursday in a news conference in Port Harcourt, where he also disclosed the commission recently arrested ten suspected Internet fraudsters.

    He said the fraudsters were arrested in different locations and at different times across Port Harcourt, Warri and Asaba in a sting operation.

    According to the EFCC, the suspects are Alia Jamike Chinemerem, Ogbiugba Ifeany Henry, Uchanna Cyril, Samuel Obomovo, Israel Ogagaoghene, Israel Diaso, Aghariagbonse Destiny, Aretuemhen Frank, Paul Esibhakpen and Loius Idehen.

    “Investigations showed that the suspects were involved in love scam with many of them purporting to be officers of American Army.

    “Various scam mails where the suspects posed as officers of US Army were traced to them.

    “One of the suspects, Israel Diasco had successfully defrauded an Indian lady, Promilla Lama of huge amount of money still being verified.

    “Another, Chinemerem, (alias Good Thaddy) confessed to be a picker,” the commission stated.

    A picker is a fraudster that provides foreign accounts to other Internet fraudsters which they usually used to receive money from any unfortunate victim.

    A picker is allegedly paid 30% of the total amount received in any of such accounts, according to the arrested fraudsters.

    The Zonal Head of the commission also disclosed that the EFCC recovered $552,368. 55 and 5,225 Euros in the year from convicted fraudsters.

     

  • Alleged fraud: NBA President docked, gets bail

    Alleged fraud: NBA President docked, gets bail

    …Court rejects request to transfer case to Abuja

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the President of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA ), Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), at the Federal High Court, Lagos, for an alleged N1.4billion fraud.

    Usoro pleaded not guilty to a 10-count charge of fraudulent conversion of N1.4bn said to belong to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

    The NBA President’s arraignment followed Justice Muslim Hassan’s rejection of his application for the case to be transferred to Abuja.

    The case continues on February 5

    Details later…

     

  • Court sentences bank MD to 19 years imprisonment for N29m fraud

    Court sentences bank MD to 19 years imprisonment for N29m fraud

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a former acting Managing Director of Century Microfinance Bank Limited, Olise Robinson, to 19 years imprisonment for stealing N29 million from the bank.

    Justice Okon Abang convicted Robinson of five counts of stealing, signature forgery, uttering of documents and criminal breach of trust.

    According to the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, Robinson committed the offences while acting as the bank’s head between June 2008 and November 2009.

    Prosecution counsel Chukwu Agwu said the offences contravened Sections 390(6), 463 and 468 of the Criminal Code 2008 and were punishable under Section 467 of the same Act.

    Robinson pleaded not guilty.

    During the trial, Agwu called four witnesses and tendered several exhibits.

    The defendant testified for himself.

    Convicting Robinson yesterday, Justice Abang noted that the defendant failed to give evidence that he didn’t receive the amount and provided no evidence to show that he invested the money in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Treasure Bills.

    He said: “The prosecution has been able to sufficiently prove the essential ingredients of the allegations against the defendant.

    “Consequently, I find the defendant guilty of all the counts of the charge”.

    The convict’s counsel, Mr Oyelola Damilola, offered an allocutus on his client’s behalf, asking the court to tamper justice with mercy.

    “He is the only breadwinner of his young family. He is also a first time offender, with no previous criminal record. He has also been remorseful about his action,” Damilola told the judge.

    But Agwu opposed him.

    The prosecutor told the judge to disregard Damilola’s plea because “the convict never showed any sign of remorse while the trial lasted.”

    Agwu argued that “in sentencing the convict, the court must look at principles of sentencing whether it is a mitigating or aggravating factor.”

    He said the convict’s case “is constipated with aggravating factors,” which prevented Robinson from being entitled “to leniency or liberal conditions.”

    Following the submissions, Justice Abang discountenanced the defendant’s allocutus.

    The judge held: “This is a case that the convict is a hardened criminal that has no human sympathy. He was entrusted with investors’ monies. He inflicted pains on the investors who lodged their monies in his bank while he fraudulently moved the money to his account in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

    “He is an avenger of evil; he is a fraudulent and lawless person. He planted thorns; he is not expected to gather flowers. Drastic situations deserve drastic solutions.

    “The convict is hereby sentenced to seven years in count one, three years in count two, three years in count three, three years in count four and three years in count five.

    “The terms of the sentence are to run concurrently”.

    In the charge, Robinson was said to have converted the sum of N5 million which the bank reserved to buy CBN’s Treasury Bills.

    He was also said to have fraudulently withdrawn N100,000, for 15 months, which he claimed was security vote without any approval and which he was unable to account for.

    He was also accused of fraudulently diverting N9 million belonging to different investors of the bank to his private account with GTB and forging several documents to cover his tracks.