EFCC arrest man for $19,534 fraud

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, arrested a suspected fraudster, Elvis Yemaye for allegedly defrauding one A.J. Kuba, to the sum of $19,534 (Nineteen thousand, five hundred and thirty four US dollars) According to a statement released by the agency, Kuba alleged that Yemaye in collaboration with his cronies had swindled him of huge sum of money running to millions while threatening to release a recorded romance video belonging him to the public. The complainant noted that Yemaye started his blackmail when the he, the victim decided to back out from an earlier business of making him a beneficiary of his inheritance, a business he later found out to be a scam. Investigation into the matter revealed that, the suspect falsely represented himself to the unsuspecting Kuba as Chief Barrister Elvis Yemaye. He also parades himself as an official of both the EFCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN using various fictitious e-mails. It was also discovered that the suspect claimed to be one Tommy Rex Jr., whose picture he used to lure his victim to sending money to him under the pretext of making him a beneficiary of his inheritance. Yemaye will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded on him.

Defreeze my accounts in 14days - Patience Jonathan tells EFCC

Former First lady, Patience Jonathan, has issued a 14-day ultimatum starting from September 18th to the EFCC to defreeze the $15m found in the accounts of four companies she has links with or face legal action.

Patience Jonathan last week claimed ownership of the money found in the accounts and said they were meant for her medical bills as well as personal purchase.

 According to Vanguard, counsel to Patience Jonathan, First Law Associates, in a letter addressed to the acting chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu, asked the antigraft agency to defreeze the accounts and tender a public apology to her and that failing to do this, they will file an action at the African Commission on Human Rights at the Gambia demanding N5 billion in exemplary and punitive damages.” Part of the letter reads

“There is no established legal or political precedent for what the EFCC is currently doing to our client. How many former First Ladies in Nigeria have received the Patience Goodluck Jonathan Treatment (PGJT) to have warranted the EFCC to engage in the effrontery to freeze our client’s accounts and subject her to public opprobrium, ridicule and disgrace? This nonsense must stop forthwith. Our client is a respected senior citizen of international repute, a retired Permanent Secretary and the immediate past First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Our Client is a law-abiding citizen who has never or at all been the subject of any criminal and/or financial investigation, whether at home or abroad. Accordingly, she has not been found guilty of any criminal conduct throughout a sparkling public service career spanning over 35 years. During the 5 years our client served as First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between May, 2010 and May, 2015; she was the Initiator/Founder of the A. ARUERA WOMEN FOUNDATION as well as the WOMEN FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE; both of which Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) substantially contributed to the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the country. Our Client is the recipient of numerous local and international awards in recognition of her untiring commitment towards uplifting the living standard of women, children and the aged in Nigeria. Sir, it is against this sterling and meritorious background of our client that we most respectfully, write to draw your attention to the numerous breaches of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004 committed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in cause of the Commission’s illegal and unlawful investigation of our client for alleged money laundering. These investigations have reportedly led to the freeze of our client’s accounts and led to untold consequences to our client’s health and wellbeing. The EFCC must realize that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 is inferior in content and quality to both the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 2004.”

What I told EFCC about Diezani - Dauda Lawal

The Executive Director in charge of Public Sector at First Bank, MallamDaudaLawal, has revealed what he told the Economic and Financial Crime Commission when he was detained sometimes ago.

Lawal, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that he was actually questioned about his relationship with a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.Diezani Alison-Madueke.

He said it was true that his “name has featured prominently in the EFCC investigations of Mrs.Deziani Allison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan”.

Lawal also said he was “questioned by the EFCC over his alleged role or complicity in the alleged $25m acquisition of the Le Meridien Hotel in Port Harcourt.”
He, however, denied the allegation that the former minister channelled the funds for the purchase of the property through him.

Lawal said,

“This allegation is malicious and without substance in any material particular. It must be stated clearly that Lawal is completely oblivious of the ownership status of the said hotel neither is he directly or remotely aware of any transaction involving the former Minister on this hotel.”He said the allegation must have been fuelled by his close association with Allison-Madueke, which “is based purely on professional pursuits”.
He added,

“As the Executive Director in charge of Public sector of the bank, it is incumbent on him to build the necessary bridges to attract all the benefits the bank can muster from the financial operations of the public sector. 
“For the purpose of emphasis, MallamLawalDauda has never been a conduit for movement of illicit funds neither has he been involved in the purchase of any hotel either here or elsewhere. This much was told to the EFCC during his interrogation.”He added that,

“The former minister, given the influence she wielded within the government and operations in the oil sector was certainly an asset to any corporate Organisation, especially the banks. 
All the banks in Nigeria and abroad actively sought to have banking relationships with her because she sat atop a sector which is the prime revenue spinner for the country. It is to Mr.Lawal’s credit that the First Bank group participated actively in offering financial services to the oil industry under Madueke.

Former Ebonyi state Commissioner arrested over N83m bribery allegation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday August 15, arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi State, Engineer Benjamin Ogbonnaya Okah, for alleged abuse of office and collecting gratification to the tune of N83 million.

The arrest was sequel to a petition by the Ebonyi State government over the $12 million contract to a US based company Califco Group that had been abandoned since 2012, despite a mobilization of $10.8 million already paid by Ebonyi State Government into the accounts of the said company.

Investigation has revealed that both the Abuja and Ebonyi state addresses of the said company are fictitious. In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the former Commissioner allegedly collected gratification from the company in the sum of N83 million between July 30, 2012 and December 30, 2014, through his companies: Global Victory Allied Company and Mahco Mega Nigeria Limited.

Investigation in this matter continues.

Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, orders Police, ICPC, EFCC, others to forward list of high profile corruption cases

The Attorney -General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has ordered all agencies with prosecuting powers to compile pending high profile cases they are currently handling in various courts and forward to his office so they can be handled by the National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC).

Malami gave the directive during a meeting with heads of prosecuting agencies at his office in Abuja on Monday August 8th.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Salisu Isah, Malami said for a case to be tagged high profile, it must have overriding public interest elements and that he ultimately determines what case is tagged high profile.

“The quantum of value of a case and its sensitivity also influences whether a case is a high profile case or not,” he explained.

Malami at the meeting announced that members of the NPCC are mainly his aides as well as eight external members selected on the basis of experience and expertise.

He said no Heads of Agencies will be allowed to be part of the NPCC. Spokesperson for the NPCC, Comrade Othman Isah, who doubles as the Special Adviser to Malami, listed agencies present at the meeting to include the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Dogara, 3 others to appear before police investigative panel today

Barring any last minute change, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy Yusuff Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor will today appear before a Special investigative panel set up by the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, to probe the allegations of padding the 2016 budget leveled against them by sacked chairman of the House committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Sacked House of Reps committee chairman on Appropriation, Jibrin to meet ICPC, EFCC, Police and DSS officials today

Sacked chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, will today meet with security and anti-corruption agencies to personally provide insight on his petition against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers of the House.

According to a statement he shared on his Facebook wall this morning, himself and his lawyers will be at ICPC by 10am, DSS 12noon, EFCC 2pm and Police HQ 4pm. In the post, he wrote;

"The law will surely catch up with the corrupt Speaker Dogara and others" He added that he has included one name to his petition, Hon Abonta Abonta, the House of Representatives member who spoke after him on channels TV yesterday and denied corruption exists in the House. According to him, he has asked the anti graft agencies to investigate Abonta's office running cost and that Nigerians should wait for the shocking out-come.

Names of Former Governors whose corruption cases are to be reopened; Saraki included

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, last week sent a letter to the ICPC requesting for the case files of former governors that have been investigated for corruption.

According to media sources, some of the former governors whose corruption cases are to be reopened include Senate President Bukola Saraki who was a two term governor of Kwara state, Orji Uzo Kalu of Abia state, Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara state, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state, George Akume of Benue state, Saminu Turaki of Jigawa state, Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu state, Sule Lamido of Jigawa state, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo state, Boni Haruna of Adawa state, Peter Odili of Rivers state, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, James Ibori of Delta state, and others.

The letter by the attorney general states that the Federal government in its power will prosecute governors whose cases of corruption have long been investigated but have not being tried.

This will be the third case against Saraki as he is already standing trial for alleged false asset declaration while he was governor of Kwara state and also for alleged forgery of Senate standing rules.

Former Deputy Speaker House of Reps, Chibudom Nwuche, detained over N5.6bn alleged fraud

Former Speaker in the House of Representatives, Chibudum Nwuche, was yesterday detained by the EFCC for allegedly being involved in a N5.6 billion amnesty contract scam. Uwuche, who served as deputy speaker from 1999 to 2003, is alleged to have collected three contracts totaling N5.6 billion from the office of the former Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku who served during Jonathan's administration. EFCC sources say Nwuche, through his company, Foundation for Youth Development, had collected the money in the guise of sending some of the Niger Delta Militants to Malaysia for training which he allegedly never did. The former deputy speaker had gone to the antigraft agency's head office to honor their invitation but was not released after much questioning. He will be further questioned today July 26th.

Buhari will ban Dogara permanently from the villa if he knew about his corrupt acts - sacked appropriation committee chairman says

In a new statement he released yesterday July 25th, sacked chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, says President Buhari will ban the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and some house leaders permanently from the state house if he knew about their corrupt acts. He accused Dogara of diverting millions of Naira in the guise of paying for hotels and official residence. The statement reads in part; “Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his senior cabal namely Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Ogor have promoted corruption so badly in the house that if President Muhammadu Buhari, with his disdain for corruption and corrupt people, had the slightest idea, he would ban the QUARTET permanently from the villa before they eventually allow for proper and unbiased investigation by the house. Mr Speaker and Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun diverted millions of naira all in the name of paying for guest houses and official residence. The issue became so messy that the Deputy Speaker openly accused Hon Herma Hembe of shortchanging them of millions of naira in the deal to the shock of many Hon Members. Speaker Yakubu Dogara frequently abuses his office, amounting to conflict of interest by soliciting for inappropriate favours from agencies and multinational companies. He forced an agency to grant loans and a construction company blackmailed to do some work at his Asokoro ‘plot’. Speaker Yakubu Dogara has carefully designed a scheme to scam Hon Members through deduction from their salaries certain amount of money for a so called mortgage arrangement to build houses for members. He has been applying every underhand tactic to ensure Members agree to the deal. Speaker Yakubu Dogara has consistently refused members access to the financial dealings and internal budget of the House. He runs the financial management of the House like a cult, aided and abated by the Chairman House services Hon Babanlle Ila. It is no longer news that all over the House, Hon Members are aware of the monumental fraud perpetrated by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in this regard. We are even told that this is a child’s play compared to the mess and allegations of money laundering he left behind as Chairman house services in both the 6th and 7th Assembly. The EFCC should have something to start working with in respect to his tenure as Chairman House services if they properly dust their files”.

EFCC detains Abia state INEC resident officer alleged N20m cash gift from Dieziani

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday detained the Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sylvester Ezeani, for allegedly collecting N20 million cash gift from former Minister of Petroleum resources, Dieziani Alison Madueke. EFCC operatives believe the money was handed over to Ezeani while he was the resident Officer in Cross Rivers state to influence the outcome of the 2015 Presidential election in favour of PDP. Having failed to tell the EFCC operatives what the N20 million cash gift he received from Diezani was meant for, Ezeani was detained and will be further interrogated today July 20th.

EFCC conducting investigation by 'trial and error' - Fayose

Press statement from Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, Read below... Ekiti State Government has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has promoted its vendetta against opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Mohammadu Buhari, especially the State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose to the level that the anti-corruption agency was now carrying out investigations by trial and error. The government disclosed that “officials of the EFCC stormed a popular Guest House on Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja today to seal off the property believing that Governor Fayose owned the Guest House only for the EFCC officials to be confronted with the fact that operator of the Guest House leased the property from its owner for ten years.” In a statement signed by the Special Assistant the State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the government said it was only in Nigeria that anti-corruption agency will first arrest suspect first before looking for evidences to prosecute the suspect. The statement read; “Today, the EFCC demonstrated that it has been lying against Governor Fayose and other Nigerians all along by the failed attempt it made to seal off a property located on Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja that is being used as Guest House just because the governor used to lodge there. “It was at the point of sealing off the property that the owner of the Guest House told the EFCC officials that he only leased the property for ten years from its owner, a former Chief of Defence Staff, who was also a one-time Minister of Defence. “The EFCC operatives moved to the next building to the Guest House, which is the residence of the retired army general and they were told by the general’s wife that the building being used as Guest House as well the one next to it belonged to the general and not Governor Fayose. “It is shocking that in its desperate bid to nail Governor Fayose so as to satisfy their paymasters, EFCC is going about claiming that properties owned by other law abiding Nigerians are owned by the governor and the result of this investigation by trial and error by the EFCC is the embarrassment it faced at Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja when its operatives went there to seal off a property belonging to a retired army general thinking that it belonged to the governor. “That was the same way they told Nigerians that they discovered mansion in Asokoro, Abuja owned by the governor. Unknown to the EFCC, the mansion being referred to is a property rented by the Ekiti State Government and being used as Governor’s Lodge.” While insisting that whatever properties owned by Governor Fayose were acquired thorough legitimate means, the government said like every other Nigerians, the governor reserved the rights to own properties and can also receive money from people to fund his election.

Femi Fani-Kayode fulfils bail conditions

Read the statement from his media adviser below...

 Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has met all the conditions for his bail and the relevant documents have been duly filed and submitted at the Federal High Court in Lagos. We are now waiting for the EFCC to verify the documents after which he would be released. Despite the fact that he has been locked up for the last 62 days he remains confident, strong, healthy and in very high spirits. He misses his family very badly, especially his five month old son Aragon, and he looks forward to coming home to be with his family, friends and loved ones.  JUDE NDUKWE, Media Adviser to CHIEF FEMI FANI-KAYODE

Alleged Forgery: Saraki, Ekweremadu to be rearraigned today

Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu,and two others will be re-arraigned again today Monday July 11th at an Abuja High Court ‎today over their alleged involvement in the forgery of senate standing order during the senate election in June last year. They were first arraigned on June 27th and granted bail...

Senator Stella Oduah refutes report that N2.5bn was found in account owned by her housemaid

Read her press statement below... The attention of Senator Stella Oduah representing Anambra North Senatorial District has been drawn to another malicious and fictitious rumour by online tabloid Sahara Reporters that a non existent source in Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have discovered the sum of N2.5 Billion Naira in an account opened in the name of unnamed housemaid of Senator Stella Oduah. We will like to state unequivocally that this report is totally false, baseless and at best the imagination of the platform who is only set out to extort and blackmail leaders in its continuous attempt by their paymasters to break the rank of Senators of the 8th Assembly.  Over the past few months, the once respected online platform, Sahara Reporters has continued to surpass itself by continuously sinking to an all time low of posting uncorroborated reports to mislead Nigerians to promote the agenda of certain elements who's fight against corruption can only been seen on pages of newspaper and pockets of their media spinners while millions of Nigerians remain unemployed and hundreds of thousands of kids go to bed hungry day in day out.  The online platform claimed their sources in EFCC said a whopping 5.6 billion must have been stolen, then went further to contradict itself that the agency had determined it was 3.6 Billion then again reduced it to 2.5 billion in the same publication. The distinguish Senator laments the despicable low that Sahara Reporters has drawn the reputable profession of journalism too which unfortunately unsuspecting platforms will copy and paste on theirs without even lifting a pen to confirm the story. Senator further went to challenge if truly such account exists as claimed by the online platform and it is still operational and she not the so called housemaid have not been called in for questioning when the agency is freezing accounts and going after opposition governors who enjoy same level of immunity as the president.  Senator Stella Oduah who made a name for herself during her tenure as a minister instituting serious reforms in the aviation sector and in last one year as a Distinguish Senator has raised series of important Bills and Motions to help strengthen the Nigerian Economy and our institutions reiterated that at no time did she ask or try to meet with the EFCC Chairman  Senator Stella Oduah who is currently in her constituency thanked her supporters and well wishers who have reached out to vent their frustrations at the unethical behavior of the tabloid assured them that there is nothing to worry about, restating that no such accounts exist and challenged Sahara reporters to present details of their funding and how the platform is able to afford a property in choice area of Maitama in Abuja ‎The attention of Senator Stella Oduah who represents Anambra North Senatorial District has been draw to another malicious and fictitious rumour by online tabloid Sahara Reporters that a non-existent source in the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered the sum of N2.5 Billion in an account opened in the name of an unnamed housemaid of Senator Stella Oduah. We would like to state unequivocally that this report is totally false, baseless and at best the imagination of the platform who is only set out to extort and blackmail leaders in its continuous attempt by their paymasters to break the rank of Senators of the 8th Assembly.  Over the past few months, the once respected online platform, Sahara Reporters has continued to surpass itself by continuously sinking to an all time low of posting uncorroborated reports to mislead Nigerians to promote the agenda of certain elements who's fight against corruption can only been seen on pages of newspaper and pockets of their media spinners while millions of Nigerians remain unemployed and hundreds of thousands of kids go to bed hungry day in day out.
The online platform claimed their sources in the EFCC said a whopping N5.6 billion must have been stolen, then went further to contradict itself that the agency had determined it was N3.6 billion then again reduced it to N2.5 billion in the same publication. The distinguish Senator laments the despicable low that Sahara Reporters has drawn the reputable profession of journalism too which unfortunately unsuspecting platforms will copy and paste on theirs without even lifting a pen to confirm the story.

Recast: Senator further went to challenge if truly such an account exists as claimed by the online platform and it is still operational and she not the so called housemaid have not been called in for questioning when the agency is freezing accounts and going after opposition governors who enjoy same level of immunity as the president.  We also want to state that while the online platform, well known for its penchant lies and spurious allegations may have made another calculated attempt to taint the enviable record and achievements of the distinguished Senator who had made a mark in Oil/Gas and Agricultural businesses before joining politics, we therefore challenge Sahara Reporters to produce evidence of the imaginary account of the supposed housemaid to members of the public. Senator Stella Oduah who made a name for herself during her tenure as a minister instituting serious reforms in the aviation sector and in last one year as a Distinguish Senator has raised series of important Bills and Motions to help strengthen the Nigerian Economy and our institutions reiterated that at no time did she ask or try to meet with the EFCC Chairman  Senator Stella Oduah who is currently in her constituency thanked her supporters and well wishers who have reached out to vent their frustrations at the unethical behavior of the tabloid assured them that there is nothing to worry about, restating that no such account exist and challenged Sahara reporters to present details of their funding and how the platform is able to afford a property in choice area of Maitama in Abuja‎. Signed Francisca Onyeisi ( ugleglo@gmail.com)Head of a Communicationsoffice of Senate Stella Oduah

EFCC arrest former deputy governor of Osun state, Iyiola Omisore

Former Osun state deputy governor Senator Iyiola Omisore was declared wanted in May 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for receiving N700 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA. EFCC Operatives picked him up earlier this morning in Abuja and he is currently in their custody facing interrogation for his alleged role in the election funding fraud.

Former Ebonyi state governor, Martin Elechi turns down N29m car gift from his successor

Immediate past governor of Ebonyi state, Martin Elechi and his successor, Dave Umahi, are currently at loggerheads after the former governor rejected a N29 million car gift from the current governor. The state government had recently purchased four SUVs at N29 million each for 3 former governors of the state namely Sam Egwu, Ogbonnaya Onu and Martin Elechi and also former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim. According to a letter sent to the recipients, the car gift is in recognition of the contributions of the former leaders in the development of their state. However the immediate past governor of the state, Elechi returned his own car. In a letter he sent to the state governor, Elechi said he does not understand the rationale behind the gift. According to him, the same government that has approached EFCC to investigate him and two of his children over allegations of corruption, cannot be offering him a gift. “As if the bad verdict on projects is not enough, there is the saga of malicious and false petitions against me and two of my children to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)… This is courtesy of Your Excellency’s ingenuity with your team players,” he wrote. Umahi has however denied asking the EFCC to go after Elechi and his sons. Speaking during an agricultural summit organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abakaliki yesterday June 30th, Umahi said “This administration never wrote anything to EFCC. I speak to you in the name of God I serve. I told EFCC leave this man because of his age. If you find him wanting in terms of money, tell me I will be paying small small until I finish paying it. I said that in the name of he that brought us to leadership but not for his sons. His children will answer to whatever thing they committed” he said

Man sentenced to 7 years imprisonment over visa scam

The EFCC today secured the conviction of Idris Buhari pictured above, a resident of durimin iya quarters kano, who was arraigned before Justice J K Omotosho of Federal High Court 3 Kano, on one count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. Idris was arrested by EFCC operatives following a complaint brought against him by Abdullahi Salisu Muhammad of popular kwari market, Kano, alleging that he gave the convict, who is a school teacher the sum of #500,000.00 for the processing of Hajj ticket in April, 2012. He said the convict  told him that he is a registered travelling agent, but to his greatest surprise, was unable to provide the said Hajj ticket and diverted the funds to his personal use. All effort to recover the money from him or get the ticket as agreed proved abortive, as the convict claimed that the monies were lost to armed robbers. In the Judgement, Justice Omotosho convicted and sentenced the convict to seven years imprisonment. He however gave an option of #200,000.00 as fine, being that he restituted the victim the sum of #500,000.00 which is the amount involved

Alleged N4.9bn fraud: Court remands Femi Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Esther Usman in prison

The EFCC today June 28, 2016 arraigned Former Minister of Aviation and spokesperson of PDP presidential campaign in the 2015 Election, Femi Fani-Kayode, along with Nenadi Esther Usman, a former Minister of Finance and Director of Finance PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited before Justice M. Suleiman Hassan of the Federal High Court Lagos, on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law. The accused who were alleged to have illegally disbursed about N4.9 billion naira belonging to the Federal Government, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them. The Judge, Justice M. S. Hassan, however ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to July 1, 2016 for hearing of bail applications.

Two women docked for stealing dead man's N119.8m shares

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday June 27th, arraigned two women, Nneka Okechukwu, a former Head of Business development at Heritage Bank and Nkiru Celine Okoro, an ex-employee of C. N. Ukachukwu and Sons Ltd, at a Lagos High Court for allegedly stealing and selling a dead man’s shares worth N119, 798,253.61. The prosecutor, Miss Elizabeth Oyedotun, told the presiding judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, that the duo committed the offences in 2013 in Lagos. “Sometime in 2013, the defendants dishonestly converted to their own use N63,028,785.32 million and N20,000,000 million, being proceeds of the sale of shares of blue chip companies, property of Ukachukwu. In July 30, 2013, the defendants converted N33, 736,846 million to their own use being proceeds of sale of some units of shares of Nigerian Breweries (NB), property of the estate of the late Ukachukwu. Other shares from First Bank (N277, 000), UACN (140,789.59), United Bank for Africa (UBA) - N1, 453,657.75, Union Bank (N81, 186.04) and African Prudential Bank (N1, 079,988.91) were also allegedly converted by the duo". Okechukwu is alleged to have “forged the Heritage Capital Markets Limited letter dated December 16, 2013 captioned “Renegotiated outstanding” addressed to the Executor/Justice P. C. Onumajulu (retd).” while Okoro, on her part allegedly forged several C. N. Ukachukwu and Sons Ltd board resolutions purporting them to have been signed by the firm’s managing director, two directors and herself as company secretary. The suspects pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor urged the court to remand them in prison custody but the judge ruled that they should continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted them by EFCC. Ruling on the case comes up on Thursday June 30th.