Civil Servant Dies in EFCC’s Custody After Six Hours

Susanne, the widow of the Chief Protocol Officer of the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Desmond Nunugwo, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of killing her husband and labelling him a criminal.

She explained that six hours after Desmond was taken into custody, he was pronounced dead.

She told PUNCH Metro that she had been calling her husband’s phone repeatedly but it was switched off as she did not know he was in EFCC’s custody in Wuse 2, Abuja. Susanne said,

“Around 3pm on June 9, my husband had gone to pick up our son from school and they both returned home. He later went out. Around 6pm, I called his line and it rang once. I tried his number several times later, but it was off.

$60m scam: INTERPOL, EFCC arrest Nigerian fraudster in Port Harcourt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in conjunction with the International Criminal Police Organisation have arrested a Nigerian fraudster for an alleged $60m (N18.9bn) scam.

According to a statement by the EFCC and INTERPOL, the suspect identified only as Mike, heads an international criminal network which is behind thousands of online scams including the hacking of emails.

The 40-year-old Nigerian is believed to be behind scams totalling more than $60m involving hundreds of victims worldwide. In one case, a target was conned into paying out $15.4m.

Jibrin submits petition against Dogara to EFCC, ICPC

A former Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has submitted a petition against the Speaker of the House of Representatives and some principal officers of the House to anti-graft agencies in the country.

Jibrin, who accused Dogara of corruption and budget padding – a claim the speaker denied, said it was now up to the anti-graft agencies to do their job.
He disclosed this via his official Twitter account.

EFCC Files 17 Count Charge Against Ex Minister Fani-Koyode

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a 17-count charge against a former Aviation Minister and Spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode over an alleged 1.5 billion Naira fraud.

A former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, a firm – Joint Trust Dimensions Limited – one Danjuman Yusuf and another Olubode Oke, (said to be at large) were also charged alongside Mr Fani-Kayode. The defendants are expected to be arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos as soon as the case is assigned to a judge.

A copy of the charge showed that while Mr Fani-Kayode was named in all 17 counts, the former Finance Minister was only named in the first four counts of the charge.

EFCC Uncovers How $40m Was Transferred to Former President Jonathan’s Cousin’s Account

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced the source of the $40million paid to Roberts Azibaola, who is former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, to a bank in London.

The cash was wired through Citibank N. A. Canada Square Canary in Wharf London E 145 LB into the account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited of Azibaola.About $6million of the money was paid to a bureau de change in Abuja,the Nation reports..

Azibaola, who was yet to make any refund, has been relocated from Lagos to Abuja in preparation for his trial.

Charges have been filed against the ex-President’s cousin at a Federal High Court in Abuja. No date has been fixed for his arraignment.

#PanamaPapers: EFCC, Interpol To Go after Saraki, Mark, Others

The Federal Government has opened a file on all Nigerians whose names have been mentioned in the Panama Papers as operating offshore accounts in notorious tax havens. Some of the individuals listed in the papers so far are the current Senate President, Bukola Saraki; and his predecessor, David Mark.

Others listed include Africa’s richest man, Mr. Aliko Dangote; his cousin, Saayu Dantata, and a former Minister of Defence, Lt.Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) It was learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had been gathering reports from local and international media as well as the responses being given by those named.

EFCC Traces N3bn Transfers to Fani-Kayode, Falae, Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced N3.145bn transferred to the private accounts of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation.

According to detectives at the EFCC, the money emanated from the account of the Central Bank of Nigeria and was transferred to the account of a company, Joint Dimensions Limited, and then sent to various accounts.

Authorities of the anti-graft commission said out of the money, the Director of Publicity of the organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, received N840m.

According to the documents sighted by a Punch correspondent, the money was deposited into Fani-Kayode’s Zenith bank account, Maitama Branch with number 1004735721 on February 19, 2015.

EFCC Arraigns Man For Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today March 7, arraigned one Bolaji Quadri (aka Philip Coffert) before honorable Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court on a 6-count charge of forgery and obtaining money under false pretence.

The defendant allegedly duped one Raedeena Collins of the sum of $1000 by falsely claiming to be on Phillips Coffert. At the point of his arrest, several fraudulent documents were found in his possession including forged cashier’s cheque from international banks in both United States and United Kingdom.

EFCC Declares Pretty Girl Wanted For Conspiracy & Forgery

EFCC this morning took to their Facebook page to declare this very pretty lady named Elfreda Sekibo wanted for conspiracy and forgery. See what they wrote after the cut...

EFCC Arrests Prisons Accountant For Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a popular Abuja socialite who is also a top official of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr (Mrs) Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte. 

The suspect, a Grade Level 14 Officer with the Federal Ministry of Finance seconded to the Nigerian Prison Service as Head, Capital Accounts, was picked up Tuesday May 6 by operatives of the anti graft agency. And for several hours, she was grilled by investigators over allegations bordering on corruption, abuse of office and money laundering.

EFCC officials said they received tip-off regarding the  suspect’s lifestyle  which was inconsistent with her position as a public servant on a monthly salary of N121, 460 ($751).

Laide Bakare’s Boutique Allegedly Sealed by EFCC

Laide Bakare‘s boutique has been sealed by the EFCC. The Nollywood actress, famously known for playing Yoruba movies isn’t having the best of times.

For a couple of weeks now, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Laide’s husband Alhaji Mutairu Atanda Orilowo “WANTED” for alleged complicity in a case of criminal conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

According to Vanguard, the actress’ husband allegedly conspired with a few past executive of MTN’s  Employees Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MEMCOS) to defraud members of the Society through his company, a sum of N 2.5 billion.

Lawyer Nabbed with Cash Bribe for EFCC Operatives

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a legal practitioner, Barrister Ayodele Owoka, 47, over allegations of bribery.

He was arrested on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the Commission’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos as he attempted to bribe a team of operatives investigating a case of contract inflation, abuse of office, stealing, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State.

Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed that he offered the operatives N1.2 Million which was allegedly given to him by the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. O. A. Omotosho, to bribe the team to soft pedal on their investigations.

EFCC Visits Nigeria Stock Exchange. This Doesn't Guarantee A Fraud-Free Market

From Vanguard: Except we want to keep deceiving ourselves that is when we will say there is no fraud going on in the market, but whether we have the capacity to fight it is a question I may not be able to answer now. Not even with the presence of EFCC in the market can one be too sure that a new dawn has come to the market. Come to think of this, has EFCC been able to successfully combat corruption in other sectors of the economy where it has presence?

 For instance, if we must be sincere to ourselves, how many people in politics, oil and gas and in the other sectors of the economy where people are looting billions of public fund, has EFCC been able to bring to book? How can you then tell me that an agency such as EFCC, which is often used as political tool to fight opposition, will make a positive impact in the capital market?

13 Grounds For EFCC To Prosecute Stella Oduah – Femi Falana

Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 13 grounds to prosecute the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, and “her agents” for gross misconduct in the purchase of two armoured cars at N255m.

In a November 2, 2013, letter to the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, Falana also gave the commission up till November 8 to make available to him the investigation report on the matter.

Relying on the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Dogogo v EFCC (2013), the lawyer threatened to sue the EFCC if it failed to carry out its “statutory duty”.

Ex-Naval Officer, Lawyer Arrested For N540m Bank Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a retired naval captain, Okorie Ogbonnaya, for allegedly defrauding Oceanic Bank Plc (now Ecobank Plc) of over N540m.

The commission also arrested Ogbonnaya’s lawyer, Emmanuel Mbajuwon, for conspiring with his client to perpetrate the fraud.

EFCC Head of Operations, Iliyasu Kwarbai, said that the 51-year-old Ogbonnaya committed the alleged  fraud under the pretext of importing bags of rice from Thailand for Cooperative Federation of Imo State. He said Ogbonnaya took a loan of N196m from the bank and also caused the bank to lose $2.4m after the bank had issued him a letter of credit to a foreign bank.

Undergraduates, Bureau De Change Operators Arrested For Stealing N2bn From Bank

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two young men who claimed to be undergraduates of the University of Jos, Isaiah Friday and Azzaior Samuel, for an alleged N2.05bn fraud. Two bureau de change operators, Salihu Mahmoud and Dan Ibrahim, were also arrested in connection with the alleged crime.

The suspects were also accused of being members of a syndicate that specialised in breaking into the computer data base of financial institutions to carry out dry posting of funds. The Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects were arrested in Lagos and Jos.

Naija Drama: Waziri to Obasanjo: Respect Your Age or I’ll Expose You

Culled from Punch: Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, on Wednesday described as “blatant falsehood,” the claim by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that she was recommended for the EFCC job by convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

Expressing surprise that a man who has been twice a Nigerian  leader would “descend so low to peddle falsehood,” Waziri warned Obasanjo to respect his age or else she would  “open up on him.”

“I will like to warn that those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones and as such Obasanjo should not allow me open up on him. Respectable elder statesmen act and speak with decorum”, she said in a statement personally signed by her.

Nigerian Jailed For $11m Fraud In The US

Nigerian, Emmanuel Ehkator, has been sentenced by a District Court Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania in the United States to three years in prison for $11m fraud. Ehkator, who was also investigated by the EFCC for criminal conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, was ordered by the court to pay $11,092,028 “in restitution” to his victims. Ehkator’s property in Canada and the “contents of several bank accounts” in Nigeria were also declared forfeited by Justice Yvette Kane.

A statement by the EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had in August 2010, arrested 42–year-old Ehkator in Nigeria. He was subsequently extradited to the US a year after following his plea of guilt. The statement said the prosecutor, Assistant US Attorney, Christy H. Fawcett, told the court that Ehkator was part of an “attorney collection scam” in which he would contact US and Canadian law firms by email.

Ehkator’s involvement in the scheme was said to have made him responsible for losses of “more than $7m and up to $20m.”

Man Caught With 30 ATM Cards, Signed Cheques

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested one Kingsley Mudi over alleged ATM fraud. It was learnt that Mudi was caught red-handed on August 2, 2013 at Fidelity Bank ATM on Airport Road, Warri, Delta State.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said 30 ATM cards of different banks were also found on him. Uwujaren said, “As of the time of the arrest, Mudi had already withdrawn N550,000, which were found in his possession.  Eight signed UBA cheques belonging to different persons were also found on him.”

EFCC said Mudi, who claimed to be a Disc Jockey and an operator of a barbing saloon, “has volunteered useful information.

He added, “He will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

EFCC Arrest Man Who Used Fake Bank Alert To Steal N5 Million

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a suspected fraudster, Wale Olaide, aka Wale Dollar, for using a fake bank credit alert to defraud a bureau de change operator, Abdulhamid Abubakar, of N5m.

EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect, who was an expert in defrauding unsuspecting victims through fraudulent bank credit alerts, contacted Abubakar’s younger brother, Hashim, also a bureau de change operator based in Lome, Togo, that he wanted to purchase N5m equivalent in CFA.

He said, “Olaide requested for his (Hashim) Nigerian bank account to enable him to pay in the naira equivalent. Hashim asked Abubakar to send his First Bank account details to Olaide.