EFCC

EFCC rearraigns Mompha on fresh money laundering charges

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) rearraigns Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha on charges boardering on money laundering. He has been rearraigned in a Lagos Special Offences Court sitting at Ikeja, Lagos.

The commission made this known through a post on their verified Facebook account on Wednesday, 12-1-2022.

The post reads: “Operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, have re-arrested a suspected internet fraud star, Ismaila Mustapha for laundering funds obtained through unlawful activities of alleged proceeds of crime”

The statement also noted that Mompha was arrested on Monday, January, 10, 2022.

The Commission added that: “The suspect is currently standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited on an amended twenty two-count charge boardering on cyber fraud and money laundering to the tune of N32.9bn (Thirty-two Billion Nine Hundred Thousand Naira brought against him by the EFCC”

The Instagram celebrity was first arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja on October, 19, 2019. And since his first arrest has been in and out of the courtrooms.

EFCC re-arrests ex-minister Fani-Kayode

By Muhammad Sabiu

Merely a week after his reported arrest, a former minister of aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Reports have indicated that the former minister was arrested at the Ikoyi Federal High Court in Lagos.

Mr Shehu Shuaibu, an investigator working for the anti-graft agency, said the ex-minister was apprehended over forgery of documents.

EFCC denies taking selfie with Cubana

By Ishaka Mohammed

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied claims that its staff took a selfie with a billionaire socialite and businessman,  Obinna Iyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana.

 

This is in reaction to a picture trending online with the caption, “EFCC Crew poses for quick photograph with billionaire socialite and businessman Obi Cubana”.

 

In a statement released on Friday, November 5, 2021, by the commission’s head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the anti-corruption agency considered the news of the photograph as fake.

 

“…at no time during his ongoing investigation, period in custody or release did Obi Cubana pose for photographs with EFCC staff,” part of the statement reads.

 

Proving the fakery of the alleged selfie, the agency quoted a popular security analyst, Uncle Deji, who traced the picture to October 2021, as against the claim that it was taken in the first week of November of the same year.

 

“This post is deliberately misleading, this picture was taken 7th October 2021 during a book launch of Colonel Chukwu Obasi at Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja in which Obi Cubana attended as a guest,” the post reads.

 

The commission held and interrogated Obi Cubana between Monday 1st of November, 2021 and Thursday of the same week.

Rumour of my arrest is false and baseless – Kwankwaso

By Uzair Adam Imam

The former governor of Kano State, Engr. Rabu Musa Kwankwaso, has described the rumour of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as false and baseless, contrary to media reports.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Coordinator of Kwankwaso Media Center, Malam Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

The statement said that Kwankwaso personally visited the commission’s office to clear his name over some allegations made against him.

The former governor, according to the statement, has described the petition as politically motivated.

The statement reads in part: “The rumour of my arrest is false and baseless. As a law-abiding and respected citizen, I personally visited the commission on Saturday in order to clear my name and exactly that’s what happened.

“I met with them, the officials of EFCC, and told them that I came to clear my name over a petition written since 2015 against me. I provided answers to all the questions raised by the officials,” the statement quoted the former governor.

EFCC officers storm KASUPDA office, arrest DG

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmed

It has been reported that the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have stormed the headquarters of Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA) and whisked away the Director-General, Malam Ismail Umaru Dikko.

KASUPDA has for long earned the reputation as the most feared agency in Kaduna from the records of its properties demolition across the state.

Dikko, KASUPDA boss, was a Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, before becoming the agency’s head in 2019.

The DG was reported to be in a meeting with his staff when officials of the EFCC took over the office premises a few minutes after 10 am.

Some eyewitnesses said there was a commotion during the arrest.

Some sources say that two EFCC officials in suits, with two police officers holding rifles, accompanied the KASUPDA boss into the EFCC, black Hilux Toyota vehicle.

 The DG has been taken to the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC.

Bawa has now recovered—EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has clarified that its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who received medical attention is now “hale and hearty.”

This is coming after he had nearly slumped when delivering a speech during an event at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The anti-graft agency made the clarification in a short statement it posted on its Facebook page.

“The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa is hale and hearty. This clarification became necessary following an incident today September 16, 2021, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he was giving a goodwill message to the National Identity Day celebration, felt unwell and had to return to his seat.

“He has since received medical attention and is due back at his desk,” the statement read.

EFCC boss collapses while delivering speech in Abuja

By Muhammad Sabiu

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, collapsed while delivering a speech during a programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Mr Bawa was said to have suddenly stopped talking when giving a goodwill message and was later held by the Minister of Communications and other individuals.

He later fell and was hurriedly rushed to the hospital.

As of the time of filing this report, no details have been provided as to why the anti-graft agency’s boss collapsed.

Internet fraud: EFCC arrests 33 suspects in Calabar

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of the Uyo Zonal Command has apprehended no fewer than 33 suspects, alleged to have been involved in Internet fraud, in different places in Calabar, Cross River State.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the anti-graft agency via its official Facebook account.

According to the commission, “The suspects aged between 22-35 years are Modey Terrence Akong, Detoo Bem Daniel, Godson Topbie, Moses Valentine Nkpung, Idang Confidence, Chinagorom Edward, Enwereuzo Chidiebere, Obioma ThankGod, Richard Reinhard, Clinton Christopher, Raymond Samuel, Etim Paul, Okechukwu Caleb and Joseph Akobo.

“Others are Morayo Jerry, Ogar Jemyford, Emmanuel Chika, Okpubeku Prosper, Onedo Caleb, Enajemo Oghenekaro, Great Asume, Ebuka Uzokwe, Obikwelu Ugochukwu, Oloko Pius Monshe, Gideon Ani, Effiong Akaninyene, Agoh Oscar, Agu Favour, Abang Godswill, Amalam Micheal, Luka Kaben, Ifeanyi Enwereuzo and Achilonu Moses.”

Not only the arrests were made, but the commission also recovered mobile phones and computers in the course of their raid on the locations the suspected fraudsters were nabbed.

“At the point of arrest, several laptops and mobile phones were recovered from the suspects. Also recovered from them are three Lexus saloon cars with registration numbers: LAGOS AKD 56 FQ, ABUJA KUJ 79 BM and IMO UMG 956 KU; a Toyota Camry and a Honda Accord with registration numbers LAGOS -APP 368FY and OYO-BDJ 476AQ respectively,” the commission stated

It also added that “The arrested suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”

EFCC arrests ex-Nasarawa governor Al-Makura, wife

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A serving senator and former governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, and his wife have been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Reports have indicated that the ex-governor is being grilled at the EFFC’s headquarters in Abuja over allegations of corruption and breach of trust he is alleged to have enmeshed in during his tenure as the governor of Nasarawa State from 2011 to 2019.

When contacted by Premium Times online newspaper to comment on the development, Wilson Uwujaren, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, said he was not updated on the matter.

Also, Danjuma Joseph, the former governor’s spokesman, said he was not aware of the said arrest. He said, “His Excellency left Lafia (Nasarawa State capital) for Abuja this morning. I am not aware of such arrest.”

The EFFC has not released any details concerning the arrest of the ex-governor and his wife. Still, sources in the know of the matter have indicated that it is related to“suspicion of involvement in dirty money flow.”