Tag: EFCC

Alleged N80.2 Fraud: EFCC Serves Yahaya Bello his Charges

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello was on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 served his charges through his counsel,
Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN)
after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja ruled that the defendant should be served through his counsel, especially as he failed to appear before the court, yet again.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting
Yahaya Bello alongside his Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470,089.88k (Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eighty Kobo).

At Tuesday’s sitting, Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN) prayed the court to quash the arrest warrant granted the
Commission against Bello, arguing that Tuesday’s substituted service to the defendant through his counsel Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN) has invalidated the arrest warrant.

“The court is expected to do justice at all times. A warrant of arrest cannot be hanging on Bello’s neck when we are in this court. It appears to us that the defendant will not get justice because the court granted a warrant of arrest before service,” he said.

However, prosecution counsel, Kemi Piniero (SAN) in response, urged the court to decline hearing on any motion from Bello’s legal team until the defendant is physically present in court for his arraignment.

“The stage we are in now is to determine the whereabouts of the defendant. He cannot be in his house while the trial proceeds without him coming here to take his plea. My Lord, this is a criminal matter not a civil matter, he must come and take his plea. It is a matter of over N80 billion. All these applications by the defendant are to prevent his arraignment and frustrate the commencement of trial,” he said.

After hearing both counsels, Justice Nwite adjourned ruling on the defence’s
application, seeking a revocation of the arrest warrant on Bello till May 10, 2024.

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Court Adjourns Hearing on Binance Executive’s Bail Application

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 adjourned hearing on the bail application of Binance Holdings Limited and its executive, Tigran Gambaryan till May 17, 2024.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Gambaryan alongside Binance Holdings Ltd and Nadeem Anjarwalla, (currently at large) on five-count charges bordering on alleged tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering to tune of $34,400,000 (Thirty-Four Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

The court had on Thursday, April 18, 2024 adjourned trial till Tuesday for prosecution counsel, Mr Ekele Eheanacho to respond to a bail application filed by the defence counsel, Mark Mordi (SAN).

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Mordi argued that the court had the power to grant bail to the defendant and impose conditions to ensure his presence in court.

“My lord, we have an application filed on April 4, 2024, supported by a 17-paragraph affidavit. We rely on all depositions found in the affidavit. There are four reasons why my lord should grant us bail. Pursuant to Section 157 and 52 of ACJA, my Lord has the power to grant bail. It is not a capital offence or felony,” Mordi said.

However, Eheanacho opposed the bail application, stating that the defendant is a flight risk. “The defendant attempted to obtain a new passport, which he claimed was stolen, and this was a suspicious act given the proximity to his colleague’s escape from custody. We cannot risk granting him bail, especially since he is not attached to any community in Nigeria,” he said.

Arguing further, Iheanacho stated that “the fact that the passport of the defendant is with the complainant does not guarantee that he will remain in Nigeria, because the defendant is not only an American citizen but also an Armenian citizen by birth. We are urging the honourable court to refuse the application and instead remand him in EFCC custody to ensure his safety and prevent potential flight risk.”

In response to this, Mordi argued that the defendant posed no flight risk and that the prosecution was not certain that the defendant has an Armenian passport, adding that “Moreover, there is no Armenian Embassy in Nigeria that issues or prints passports.”

After listening to the submissions, the court adjourned the matter till May 17, 2024, for ruling on the bail application.

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Alleged N8.5bn Fraud: You Have Case To Answer, Lagos Court Tells NIMASA Staff, Ex-JTF Commander

Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, April 22, 2024, told a former Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe ( rtd.), and a staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Kime Engonzu, that they have a case to answer in the alleged N8.5bn money laundering case brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Atewe and Engonzu are standing trial on a 22-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N8, 537,586,798.58, which also involves a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and Josephine Otuaga, also a staff of NIMASA.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu, and Josphine Otuaga, sometime in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N8,537,586,798.58 property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thereby prompting the commencement of their trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called several witnesses and subsequently closed its case against the defendants.

However, the defendants, rather than open their defence, filed a no-case-submission.

Akpobolokemi had, in a no-case submission, filed by his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, prayed the court for an acquittal without having him present a defence.

Ruling on the no-case submission on Monday, Justice Faji discharged and acquitted Akpobolokemi and Otuaga, the fourth defendant. He however, ruled that Atewe, the second defendant, and Engonzu, the third defendant, should open their defence in counts 12 to 22 of the charge.

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EFCC Denies Disobeying Court Order on Yahaya Bello

Against the backdrop of arguments and counter-arguments on whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has disobeyed a court order concerning the botched arrest of former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Adoza Bello, the Commission has denied disobeying any court order in this regard.

In a Press Statement signed by the EFCC’s Acting Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Commission clearly pointed out that though Bello sought refuge in a fundamental rights enforcement action through an order granted by Justice Isa Jamil Abdulallahi of the Kogi State High Court, the order did not vitiate or nullify an order made by the Federal High Court for the arrest of the former governor for the purpose of his arraignment.

“The enrolled Order of the Kogi State High Court only granted an order to enforce Bello’s right to personal liberty and freedom of movement, it didn’t preclude the Federal High Court ‘to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination”, he said.

He further stressed that, “The Order made by the Federal High Court for the arrest of Mr. Yahaya Bello for the purpose of his arraignment is not in conflict with the Order of the Kogi State High Court. The case before the Federal High Court is a criminal charge which is different from the fundamental rights enforcement action that is the subject of an appeal”.

Uwujaren pointed out that the EFCC had a shining track record in the prosecution of politically exposed persons and would continue to exercise its mandate in the overall interest of the nation. He admonished Bello to turn himself in and answer to the charges preferred against him by the Commission.

He called on all patriotic Nigerians to lend their voices in support of the Commission stressing that “the EFCC will not relent in its quest to wrestle corruption to the ground”.

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EFCC Arrests Six Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Kaduna

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday,April 21, 2024 arrested six suspected internet fraudsters in Kaduna State.

The alleged fraudsters were arrested at Bafra Hotel, Alkali Road, Kaduna, following actionable intelligence about their suspected involvement in internet-related offences.

Items recovered from them include six mobile phones and incriminating documents.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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Court Jails 20 Internet Fraudsters in Benin City

The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday and Thursday April 17 &18, 2024 secured the conviction and sentence of 20 internet fraudsters before Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
The convicts are: Blessing Daniel, Kingsley Okoroafor, Amos Ohwofa, Eromosele Victory, Oba Nicholas Destiny, Lucky Osaro, Edema Emmanuel John, Obazee Precious, Akinyemi Seun, Ufumwen Victor, Enoch Ehigiator, Adurotimi Olakunle Justin, Oserei Clinton and Oserei Abraham.

Others are Obazee Gabriel, Richard Godfrey Obazee, Ricard Israel, Paul O. Endurance, Destiny Ajimi and Ejiwe Blessing Julius

They were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents upon arraignment by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

The charge against Ajimi reads:
That you Destiny Ajimi (M) on or about 4th April, 2024 in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 read together with 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The charge against Julius reads: “That you Ejiwe Blessing Julius(M) on or about 4th April, 2024 in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 read together with 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them in court, prompting the prosecution counsel, F. A. Jirbo. I.K Agwai and K.Y. Bello, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Ikponmwonba on April 17, sentenced the trio of Ohwofa, Daniel and Julius to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each while Akinyemi Seun bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000. Justice Ituseli convicted the trio of Eromosele Victory, Obi Nicholas Destiny and Lucky Osaro to two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each while Kingsley Okarafor, Destiny Ajimi and Edema Emmanuel John bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.

On Thursday April 18, Justice Ikponmwonba convicted 10 of the defendants – Precious, Victor, Ehigiator, Justin, Clinton, Abraham, Gabriel, Obazee, Israel and Endurance to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each.

The judges ordered the convicts to forfeit their phones, laptops, balances in their various bank accounts and three vehicles – Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and a Toyota Camry being instruments and proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria. All the convicts are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The convicts’ road to the prison began following their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission based on actionable intelligence regarding their involvement in computer- related fraud.

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EFCC Grills 11 Suspected Oil Thieves in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of 11 suspected oil thieves and one vessel, MT SAISNIL II, handed over to the Commission by the Nigerian Navy, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos.

The suspects are: Jimoh Olusola, Akinrodoye Tobias, Idolor Ogun, Blessed Udoh Michael, Fineface Zorte, Victor Ime Edem, Shofela Bode, Adejokun Taiye Emmanuel, Golden A. Javan, Yekini Lukman, and Ajayi Oluwole.

The vessel and the crew were intercepted and arrested on February 7, 2024 by officers of the Nigerian Navy for allegedly involving in illegal oil bunkering and Automatic Identification system (AIS) infractions at Abo Oilfield, Ogogoro Community, Ondo State.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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Internet Fraud Academy Proprietor Bags 10 Years Jail Term in Uyo

The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of the proprietor of Uyo Cybercrime Training Centre, Ikemesit Edet ((a.k.a Hustle Kingdom HK).

He was jailed on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 after pleading guilty to two-count charges bordering on impersonation, love scam, hacking/editing of social media accounts and private criminal tutoring, upon his arraignment by the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC.

Count one reads: That you IKEMESIT EDET IK sometime in January, 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, being the occupier and a person concerned with the management of the premises situates and lying at No. 57 D-Line, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, did knowingly permit the use of the entire aforesaid premises as a CYBERCRIME ACADEMY, also known as Hustle Kingdom (HK) where you recruited ten (10) young Nigerians between ages 16-25 and taught them cybercrime techniques for perpetrating cyber crimes to wit: hacking, impersonation, and obtaining money by false pretence (Advance Fee Fraud) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 3 of the same Act.

Count two reads: That you IKEMESIT EDET IK between May 2020 and December 2023 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did take possession total sum of Fifteen Million Naira Only (-N=15,000,000.00) which you knew forms proceed of an unlawful act to wit: Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)\d) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

Edet pleaded guilty to both charges preferred against him by the Commission, prompting prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly. He also prayed that the court ordered the forfeiture of all exhibits recovered from him at the point of arrest. However, defence counsel Francis Ezike prayed the court to be lenient in sentencing the defendant.

After listening to both counsels, Justice Ojukwu convicted Edet and sentenced him to five years jail term on each count, with an option of fine of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) on each count.

The court also ordered that all recovered exhibits from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The exhibits include: 13 laptops, a gold- coloured Toyota Corolla, a Lexus Jeep RX 300 and about 3,080.25 square metres of land located at Ibiaku Obio Ndobo Village, Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Edet’s journey to the Correctional Centre commenced on January 22, 2024, when investigators from the EFCC’s office in Uyo acted on intelligence and arrested 10 suspects at his Cybercrimes Training Centre at D-Line Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo. All the suspects have been charged to court and convicted.

In a related development, the same court convicted and sentenced one Michael Melvin Onyekachi (alias ‘Raisa Pedroso’) for being in possession of fraudulent documents.

He pleaded ‘guilty’ to the one- count charge preferred against him, and was immediately convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of fine of N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira).

The lone-count charge reads: That you Michael Melvin Oyedikachi sometime in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulently presented yourself as Raise Pedroso on Facebook social media platform with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(I) of the Cyber crimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b(iv) of the same Act.

He bagged his imprisonment when he was arrested for internet-related fraud. He was charged to court and convicted.

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EFCC RADIO: OUR MANDATE

Join the Head, Cybercrimes Section,EFCC Headquarters, ACE II Nura Buhari as he dissects issues relating to the Mandate of the Commission. Time is 9.05am on Monday, 22nd April, 2024 and a repeat on Friday, 26th April, 2024. Platform is EFCC Radio 97.3fm.
Please call in to ask questions & make contributions on the right path in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

#OurMandate #TowardsABetterNigeria #EFCCNigeria