EFCC

By MMuhammad Sabiu

Rochas Okorocha, who is now in the custody of the anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, was denied bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Okorocha’s counsel, Ola Olanipekun, was instead directed to notify the anti-graft agency by Justice Inyang Ekwo.

According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), Mr Olanipekun requested the court to give Mr Okorocha bail on liberal terms awaiting the hearing and resolution of an application on notice filed on May 25.

The ex-parte motion was filed on May 26 and was dated.

However, Justice Ekwo ruled that, because the case would be heard on Monday, it would be pointless to issue a bail order for the member.

The senior lawyer reportedly intimated that he had filed a motion on notice to have his client released on bail.

The judge, who set a hearing date of May 30 for the motions, told the counsel to notify the EFCC.

Following the EFCC’s allegation that it had been unable to serve Mr Okorocha despite multiple attempts, Mr Ekwo gave the anti-corruption commission May 30 as the last time the matter would be deferred, according to NAN.

After two adjournments for his arraignment, the court threatened to dismiss the case if the EFCC failed to present the senator on the next postponed date.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Federal Government has suspended the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris, over the allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for laundering over N80 billion.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement signed Wednesday, May 18th, 2022.

The statement read in part, “following your recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective 18th May 2022.

“This is to allow proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406.”

The Daily Reality reported that Idris was arrested by the EFCC over N80billion fraud Monday, May 16th 2022.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Ahmed Idris, Nigeria’s Accountant-General, has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and misappropriation of state monies.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Mr Idris was apprehended in Kano by men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday evening and is being taken to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for questioning.

According to sources who spoke with news reporters, the EFCC has been looking into a case of at least N80 billion in public funds being diverted through fake contracts.

According to investigators, the firms utilized to launder the monies were linked to family members and acquaintances of the accountant-general.

Mr. Idris, who was appointed by President Buhari on June 25, 2015, was said to have been avoiding honouring a series of invitations from the anti-graft agency.

The source was quoted as saying, “We kept inviting him but he kept dodging us. We were left with no choice than [sic] to keep him under watch and arrest him.”

However, the spokesperson for the EFCC did not comment on the matter as he could not be reached.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a quiet probe into the finances of the country’s 18 political parties and presidential candidates.

This came after applicants vying for various political posts in the parties paid exorbitant fees for expressions of interest and nomination papers.

As a result, in a letter, with reference number CB.3383/EFCC/HOPS/HQ/VOL.1/28, titled, ‘Investigation activities’,  the anti-corruption organization has requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission provide it with the bank accounts and other financial information of political parties.

It also demanded that the managing directors of Access Bank and Polaris Bank disclose information on the 14 accounts held by the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, and another group suspected of being linked to the opposition party.

The ruling APC sold presidential forms for N100 million, while the main opposition party sold them for N40 million. In addition, APC governorship candidates paid N50 million, while those declaring for the Senate, House of Representatives, and state legislatures paid N20 million, N10 million, and N2 million, respectively, for their nomination and declaration of interest forms.

The PDP, on the other hand, sold gubernatorial forms for N21 million, Senate forms for N3.5 million, House of Representatives forms for N2.5 million, and state Houses of Assembly forms for N600,000.

While the minor parties paid lower rates for their forms, many Nigerians were outraged by the hefty nomination fees required by the two leading parties, which Transparency International described as a kind of money laundering.

Last week, on Channels Television’s Politics Today, EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa hinted that the agency will monitor campaign finances, particularly the authenticity of monies used to acquire nomination forms ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Ibrahim Nasidi Saal

Operatives of the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, have commenced an investigation of 13 suspected oil thieves handed over to it by the Nigerian Navy.

The suspects were handed over Wednesday, May 4, 2022, by the Nigerian Naval Ship, NNS Pathfinder, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for allegedly dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licences.

The suspects are Goodnews Wilfred, Gabriel Awadis, Monday Anja, Sylvanus Benson, Timothy Rufus, Appolos Awajis, Tombari Lede, Ebirene Ebirene, Friday Aaron, Ataije Ebirene, Ibrahiim Attah, Shuaibu Magaji and Odeon Emmanuel.

By Ibrahim Nasidi Saal

Justice M.N. Mayana of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Abuja, has convicted and sentenced Daniel Prosper Nwabueze to one-year imprisonment for a romance scam.

Nwabueze was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on impersonation. That is contrary to Section 320(b) of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation (Abuja), 1990 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Laws.

Nwabueze pleaded guilty to the charge.

Based on his plea, prosecution counsel, Joyce Audu, prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly. However, defence counsel: Anoture Akpofure and Rachel Ogbebor pleaded that the court temper justice with mercy “as the accused is a first-time offender and has shown remorse”.

By  Ibrahim Nasidi Saal

The Joint Border Patrol Team, comprising Nigerian security operatives, on Thursday, April 28, 2022, handed over the duo of Ismail Ajibade and John Adewumi, a Beninoise, arrested with $285,000 (Two Hundred and Eighty-five Thousand Dollars) and CFA 18, 925,000 (Eighteen Million Nine Hundred and Twenty-five CFA) to the EFCC, for further investigation and possible prosecution. 

The suspects were arrested on April 15, 2022, by officers of the JBPT whilst on a routine patrol along the Ilashe/Ihambo axis of Ogun State. 

While handing over the suspects, A. Adamu, who led the team, said Ajibade, who is a driver, received the foreign currencies from one Taiwo Hassan in Ogun State.

Adamu added that Ajibade was on his way to convey the same to Adewumi, who had been directed to deliver the monies to one Oladimeji in the Benin Republic when they were intercepted. 

By Muhammad Sabiu

The founding pastor of Praying City Church in Owerri, Imo State’s capital, Kelechi Vitalis Anozie, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The suspect, who was said to have been nabbed on March 10, 2022, is on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s watch list in the United States (FBI).

Anozie was apprehended after intelligence linked him to criminal conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, according to EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren.

Valentine Iro, Ekene Ekechukwu (alias Ogedi Power), Bright Azubuike (alias Bright Bauer Azubuike), and Ifeanyi Junior are alleged to have collaborated with Anozie.

By Ahmed Deedat Zakaria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The MoU aims at a partnership that combats financial crimes. 

The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrashid Bawa, received the Director-General of NYSC, Major-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, February 21, where the MoU was signed. 

Addressing the audience at the event, Mr Bawa said the document is important as it will guide the two agencies on what is expected of them.

“We are delighted to have you. NYSC has been part of us from the beginning, as we have always had the opportunity of welcoming corps members to help us in one area or another where we have gaps in our staff, even though the sensitivity of what we do requires trained officers, but they are actually helping us a lot,” he said.

Bawa also commended the role of corps members in the fight against corruption.

“Corps members are agents of enlightenment. I want to assure you that our collaboration will address fraudulent acts, and I assure you that we will continue to sensitize members of the public on the dangers of corruption,” he said.

On the other hand, Ibrahim asked for the support of EFCC in arresting online scammers attempting to defraud unsuspecting Corps Members and the public. 

“All of us have to fight corruption for the sake of our country, and I can assure you that the NYSC will play its part as enshrined in the MoU,” he said.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigns a female lawyer for money laundering.

The lawyer, identified as Anumati Stella Ojojevwe, was arraigned before Hon. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Warri on Monday.
The EFCC disclosed this on their verified Facebook account.

According to the EFCC, ” Ojevwe was arraigned on a 14-count charge of money laundering. The defendant is alleged to have received the sum of 105, 000, 000 ( One Hundred and Five Million) from SA-FX Global Investment.”