Omoyele Sowore: Nyesom Wike must be held accountable under U.S. law if he follows Tinubu to the UN General Assembly in New York

Tinubu/Wike

The human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has said the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike must be held accountable under U.S. law if he follows Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the UN General Assembly in New York.

According to Sowore, if Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS follows Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Nations General Assembly, he must be arrested to face Florida’s money laundering charges as well as federal indictments for money laundering and asset trafficking.

His money laundering schemes would fall under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, a program of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) designed to combat corruption by foreign public officials, recover the proceeds of foreign bribery and theft laundered into or through the United States, and return stolen assets to the citizens of the countries from which they were taken.


Wike’s Florida mansions, hidden under his wife’s Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and children’s names, are textbook examples of laundering proceeds of crime. These properties should be seized, and Wike himself should face indictment under both Florida’s anti-money laundering statutes and U.S. federal law.


Earlier, Omoyele Sowore had accused the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike, of threatening an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official during a by-election in 2016.

Sowore made the claim in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he shared an old audio recording said to capture Wike making the threats.

He described Wike as “a killer, drunkard, and land thief,” and alleged that the minister bribed INEC officials to rig the election in his favor. He also said Wike threatened to kill those officials if they refused.

Sowore further alleged that Wike recently threatened to assassinate him on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. According to him, “Wike has killed many people, stolen a lot, and escaped justice for too long.”

EFCC Arraigns Man for Non-declaration of £8,020, $704 at Airport

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, arraigned one Agudosi  Christopher Okechukwu for alleged non- declaration of the sums of £8,020 (Eight Thousand and Twenty Pounds Sterling)  and $704 ( Seven Hundred and Four United States Dollars)  before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The defendant was arrested in December 2024 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for non-declaration to the tune of £8020 and $704 and was subsequently  handed over to the EFCC for further investigations.

Consequently, he was arraigned on Tuesday on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The  count reads: “That you , Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu, on the 10th day of December, 2024 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court , failed to make a declaration of the sum of £8,020  (Eight Thousand and Twenty Pounds Sterling) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The defendant pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.  

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie called on Abubakar Magaji, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

Magaji told the court that the NCS handed over the defendant to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos for further investigation after he was arrested with the sum of £8020 and $704.

He further told the court that “ His statement was recorded under caution.  He stated that he was arrested at the MMIA Airport with a total sum of £15,020 , and $704. He also stated that he declared £7000 and forgot to declare the sums of  £8020 and $704  on him”

“ He said he did not  make the declaration because he claimed to have suffered a loss and was going to bring back the corpse of his brother . 

He submitted the death certificate of his brother, his brother’s pictures and other documents”.

Thereafter, Magaji  identified the defendant’s statement, the handing-over note from the NCS , the arresting officer’s statement as well as the sum of £8020, and  $704 to the EFCC.

The prosecution counsel then sought to tender, in evidence, all the documents. 

Justice Bogoro admitted and marked them as exhibits P1-P11.

The Judge adjourned the case till May 2, 2025 for judgment and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre.

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged Possession of Counterfeit $4,350 in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, arraigned one Moshood Mustapha Olanrewaju on a four-count charge bordering on alleged currency counterfeiting before Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Olanrewaju is facing trial for alleged possession of 98 pieces of $50 USD, totaling $4,350 USD

One of the counts reads: “That you, Moshood Mustapha Olanrewaju (Male), adult, sometime in January, 2025, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession 21 pieces of counterfeit $50 USD (Fifty United States Dollars) bank note,  totaling $1,050 (One Thousand and Fifty United States Dollars), with  serial numbers MB61754676C, MB61754979C, MB61754988C, MB61754449C, MB61753319C, MB61753235C, MB61753885C, MB61754732C, MB61754432C, MB61754435C, MB61753868C, MB61753216C, MB61753103C, MB61753126C, MB61753124C, MB61754037C, MB61753352C, MB61753866C, MB641753346C, MB61753352C and MB61753363C, knowing the same to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 5 (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Cap C35, Laws of the Federation Of Nigeria, 2024.”

Another count reads: “That you, Moshood Mustapha Olanrewaju (Male), adult, sometime in January, 2025 in Lagos State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession 26 pieces of counterfeit $50 USD (Fifty United States Dollars) bank note totaling $1,300 (One Thousand Three Hundred United States Dollars), with  serial numbers MB61753344C, MB61753471C, MB61753133C, MB61753302C, MB61753228C, MB61753812C, MB61754665C, MB61 753138C, MB61753851C, MB61753272C, MB61753782C, MB61753115C, MB61753470C, MB61753888C, MB61753898C, MB61754441C, MB61753833C, MB61753872C, MB61754437C, MB61753367C and MB61754675C knowing the same to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 5 (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Cap C35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024.”

The defendant, however, pleaded  not guilty to the charges when they were read to them

In view of his plea,  prosecution counsel, Zeenat Atiku, asked for a trial date and also urged the court to remand him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS. pending the commencement of trial.

The defence counsel, in his response, asked the court for a short date to enable him file a bail application on behalf of his client

Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter till June 9, 2025 for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the  Correctional Service.

Source: EFCC

MONEY LAUNDERING: Court Jails Man One Month for Non-declaration of $40,000 at Airport in Lagos

Justice A.O.Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 4, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Igboezue Emeka to one month imprisonment for money laundering.

The convict was arrested on February  12, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for false currency declaration to the tune of $40,000( Forty Thousand United States of America Dollars).

The NCS had, on the same day, handed him over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos for further investigations and prosecution.

Consequently, he was arraigned on Friday on one-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The charge reads: “That you, IGBOEZUE EMEKA, on or about the 12th day of February, 2025, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $40,000.00 USD (Forty Thousand United States Dollars) to the Nigerian Customs Service and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering Act, No. 14 of 2022 and punishable under Section 3 (5) of the same Act.”

He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his guilty plea,  prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, called on Michael Olayemi, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

Olayemi told the court about the events that led to the investigation of the defendant, saying “ At 1.20p.m. on February 12, 2025, we got an intelligence report from the Nigerian Customs Service that it intercepted the defendant with the monetary exhibit of the sum of $40,000. 

“Upon this, I detailed one of my team leads whom I supervise, Lanre Michael, to go and pick the individual and the exhibit from the Nigeria Customs at Murtala Mohammed Airport”, he said. 

Continuing, he said: “At about 4pm, he reported with the defendant, the monetary exhibit and the defendant’s international passport. The defendant was in possession of two phones with which he called his lawyer and relatives.

“In the presence of his relatives, he volunteered his statement under words of caution, where he admitted that he was travelling via Qatar Air to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. 

“He also stated that he was accosted by Customs Officers, where he was asked if he had any currency on him to declare, to which he said "No ". 

In his further evidence, Olaremi told the court that “The statement warranted me to invite the personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogar Sadin John. 

“John, in his statement, said that when he accosted Igboezue, he claimed that he had no money. He, however, said he was skeptical. 

“Upon searching him, he found the money hidden in one of his shoes in his hand luggage.”

He added that the monetary exhibit was registered with the exhibit keeper , while the suspect was served with an administrative bail.

Omewa, thereafter, sought to tender the defendant’s statement and the monetary exhibit recovered from him. 

The Judge admitted the documents and marked them as exhibits. 

Justice Owoeye thereafter found Igboezue guilty and sentenced him to one month imprisonment, with effect from the date of his arrest on February 12, 2025.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged Money Laundering: EFCC Arraigns Sierra Leonean for Non-declaration of $90,000 At Airport

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The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, has arraigned a Sierra Leonean, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, for non-declaration of the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars) before Justice D.I.Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. 

The defendant was arrested on March 3, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for non-declaration of the sum of $90,000( Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars). 

Upon his arrest, the Agency had, on Friday, March 5, 2025, handed him over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos for further investigations.

Consequently, he was arraigned on Thursday, April 3, 2025 on a one-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering. 

The count reads: “That you, ALHAJI AHMED SHAW, on the 3rd day of March, 2025 in Lagos , within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, keja, Lagos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. 

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, asked for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at a Correctional Centre.

Justice Dipeolu adjourned till April 15, 2025 for commencement of trial and also ordered the remand of the defendant at a Correctional Centre.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged N1.9bn Fraud: Court Fixes May 15 for Trial of Works Ministry Director, Surveyor

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja on Thursday, April 3, 2025  fixed May 15, 2025 for the trial of former Deputy Director, Highways, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Ojo Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Muhammed of the Department of Highways and Planning.

They duo is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a three-count charge, bordering on diversion and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N1,936,961,649.00 (One billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-six Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-one Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-nine Naira ).

The fund was earmarked for the acquisition of titles for  federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, which the defendants allegedly converted to their personal use.

At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to the first and second defendant, J.K. Kolawole and A.S.U. Garba, respectively reminded the court of pending applications of their clients and requested that the court admitted them to bail on liberal terms pending the determination of the case. In his objection, prosecution counsel, M.K Hussein drew the attention of the court to a counter-affidavit signed by Njoku Ekelechi, an investigator with the EFCC, accompanied with a written address, dated April 2, 2025 and urged the court to discontenance the bail application or impose bail terms and conditions that will ensure that the defendants appear in court for their trial.

Justice Onwuegbuzie admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N800, 000,000 (Eight Hundred Million Naira) with two sureties in like sum, who must be civil servants that are resident in Abuja. The sureties must write an undertaking to produce the defendants in court as and when due. In addition, the defendants must submit their passports to the court which will be verified by the prosecution.

The first defendant, Olowoniyan, who is standing another trial in the same court for an alleged N420million fraud was also admitted to another bail by the court in the sum of N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million) with a surety in like sum, who must be a civil servant, resident in Abuja. The surety, the court held must write an undertaking to produce the defendant in court as and when due. In addition, the defendant must submit his passport with the court registrar.

Both matters were adjourned till May 15, 2025 for trial.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged $9.6b P&ID Scam : EFCC Tenders more Evidence against Kore Holdings

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC  on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 tendered additional evidence against Kore Holdings Limited before Justice J. O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja.

The Commission is prosecuting the company alongside Muhammed Kuchazi (now deceased) in connection with the Process & Industrial Development, P&ID fraud portfolio on amended four-count charges that border on non-compliance with Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment requirements, money laundering and other illegal acts.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Umar Umar, while being led in his testimony by prosecution counsel, Bala Sangha, advanced eleven documents which were tendered in evidence in court. They include, a letter of request to Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, letter of request to Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, extra-judicial statements of Kuchazi which he voluntarily made to the EFCC, statements of other directors of the company: Mustapha Kuchazi, Bello Kuchazi, Belkisu Kuchazi, Aisha Kuchazi and statement of PW1, Temitope Erinomo.

 

The witness, while disclosing that Kore Holdings Limited was not a liquidated entity but was active and did businesses in Nigeria, submitted that “The status of Kore Holdings Limited through our investigation and interaction with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC and First Bank of Nigeria Limited revealed that there was no evidence to show that it was liquidated or closed up because the documents showed that the company is active. 

“Kore Holding Limited and Muhammed Kuchazi continually facilitated meetings between Rilwanu Lukman, the then Minister of Petroleum and the Process and Industrial Developments, P&ID for a fee of three per cent of the net profit of P&ID project which led Kuchazi to testify against the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the High Court of England and Wales in the matter of Nigeria Vs P&ID in the first quarter of 2023 in which judgment was delivered in favour of Nigeria,” he said.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till September 24, 2025 for continuation of trial.

Source: EFCC 

Alleged 33.8bn Fraud: Mamman’s Case for Trial within Trial

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 adjourned the trial of  former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman to April 7,10, 14 and May 2, 2025 for trial within trial.

The court while delivering ruling on the objection by defence counsel, Femi Atte, SAN alleging that the confessional statement made by Mamman at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on February 20, 2024 was not voluntarily made, held that the issue of involuntary statement and other grounds of objections raised by the defence counsel can only be resolved by conducting a trial within trial to ascertain their veracity.

“Consequently I thereby order for trial within trial to determine the voluntariness or otherwise of this case,” he said.

Mamman is being prosecuted by the EFCC in relation to the Mambilla Power Project on a 12-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).

Abubakar, an investigator with the EFCC and the Seventeenth Prosecution Witness, PW17, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN,  disclosed that sometime in 2023, his team received intelligence that money meant for Mambilla Power Project was being diverted to private use for which they swung into action.

“A lot of investigation activities were carried out with commercial banks, Central Bank of Nigeria and Corporate Affairs Commission, which revealed that there were more than 10 companies’ accounts used that were linked with bureau de change operators like Breathable Investment, Fullest Utility Concepts, Golden Bond Nigeria Ltd, among others”

 “While analyzing the account statements, it was revealed that over N26 billion had left the Ministry of Power through bureau de change operators’ accounts on the instructions of the defendant and his cohorts. Upon the findings,  we proceeded to invite the defendant. He reported and volunteered his statements in the presence of his lawyer of choice before me, alongside my team members who took his statements,” he said.

He confirmed that all the statements of the defendant were taken voluntarily in the presence of his counsel on February 20, May 10, 11, 12, 15, 17 and August 3 and 9, 2024.

The prosecution counsel tendered the statement of the defendant in evidence but was opposed by the defence counsel, alleging that the statement of the defendant on February 20, 2024 was not voluntarily made as the defendant,  he said, was threatened and forced to write his statement against his will.

Earlier in the proceedings, the 15th Prosecution Witness, PW15, Okoafor Chinyere Nnenna, a staffer of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Deputy Manager, Domestic Payment, in charge of managing government accounts,  in her testimony,  disclosed that her unit got a letter from EFCC to furnish it with information on the account of Ministry of Power  and the response, she said,  was submitted to the Commission on April 3, 2024,duly signed by her director. 

“We generated the report from our system with the cover letter of CBN and attached letter of account statements which we submitted to them. All payments come with a physical mandate and follow the same process,” she said.

The16th Prosecution Witness, PW16, Veronica Asmau Sampam, a First Bank compliance coordinator for the North, also disclosed that the bank received a letter from the EFCC in October 2024 informing them of investigation activities regarding the account of Idris Musbahu.   She said the bank furnished the Commission with the statements of account, account opening information and other information as generated from its data.

Source: EFCC 

Binance Executive loses Fundamental Suit against EFCC

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 dismissed the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the Africa Regional Manager of Binance Holdings Limited, Nadeem Anjarwalla (at large), against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the National Security Adviser.

Justice Ekwo, in a short ruling, dismissed the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.

At the last court’s session, March 28, 2024, Anjarwalla’s counsel, Tonye Krukrubo (SAN), had sought leave of the court to withdraw his appearance in the matter and the application was granted.

He said the matter was adjourned till Wednesday, June 19, 2024 for mention but no lawyer appeared for the applicant.

The Binance Executive and his colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, had filed separate human rights enforcement suits against the EFCC and NSA, seeking an order to release them from detention.

The two crypto-exchange executives, in the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24, sued the ONSA and EFCC as first and second respondents.

Kukrubo, whose appearance on Wednesday was solely for Gambaryan, moved a motion seeking to amend his client-originating process, a request the EFCC lawyer, Olarewanju Adeola, opposed.

Justice Ekwo, however, granted Krukrubo’s request to amend his application.

He held that parties, by law, were entitled to amend their processes before judgment.

The court, however, fined Gambaryan the sum of N50, 000 to be paid to the EFCC for joining issues in the matter.

Justice Ekwo held that the fine must be paid before the next adjourned date of July 9.

Both Anjarwalla and Gambaryan, in their separate fundamental rights enforcement applications, sought a declaration that their detention and the seizure of their international travel passport contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

They claimed the act amounted to a violation of their fundamental rights to personal liberty as guaranteed by the constitution, among others.

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan are both United States citizens working for Binance, a crypto exchange platform.

The duo were arraigned on a 5-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering to the tune of $34,400,000 (Thirty-Four Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

When they were first arrested, they were kept in the custody of the NSA, however, Anjarwalla absconded from lawful custody on March 22, 2024, to Kenya.

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Charges Casino, Gaming Operators on Compliance With AML/ CFT Regulations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has charged operators in both the casino and gaming sectors in the country to comply with  Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) laws in their operations.

This call was made in Lagos on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at a workshop tagged “Promoting Implementation of Customer Due Diligence and Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS) Requirements in Casinos and Gaming Sector" organized by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a Department in the EFCC.

Speaking at the occasion, Michael T. Wetkas,  acting Lagos Zonal Director of the EFCC,  who declared the workshop open, said: “ We acknowledge and appreciate your significant contributions to the nation's economic growth.  However, we urge you to ensure that your operations align with the provisions of the law”.

Wetkas, who was represented by Richard  Adejumo, Head, Foreign Exchange Malpractices Section, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Command, added that “Our goal is to support Nigeria's efforts to exit the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) list. A key area of focus is enhancing Know Your Customer (KYC) practices, which will help prevent Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) from using your platforms for money laundering and embezzlement."

Earlier, Pascal Samu, acting Deputy Director, SCUML, EFCC Headquarters, said: “This event must be seen as part of the continued partnership between SCUML and  stakeholders in the gaming industry towards the development of an effective, sustainable and mutually beneficial AML/CFT supervision of the sector in Nigeria.”

He further explained that as industry operators, they must continue to promote the adoption of measures, such as customers’ due diligence, detection and filing of suspicious transaction reports, implementation of targeted financial sanction and beneficial ownership verification, among others.

According to him, “This will strengthen your compliance and build a common formidable response against terrorist financiers and other criminal elements seeking to abuse the sector.”

He also stated that the workshop, in addition to building individual operator’s capacity, would also enable a cross-fertilization of ideas and experience-sharing across the industry.”

In his remarks,  Bashiru Are, Executive Director of Lagos State Lotteries Board, LSLB, urged the participants to take the issue of compliance seriously.

In her presentation titled “Overview of Typology Studies( Corruption and Money Laundering)”,  Ibinabo Mary Amachree, Head, SCUML Lagos, exposed  participants to the  various methods, patterns, and techniques that criminals use in exploiting casinos operators and how to avoid falling prey to them.

She also encouraged participants to support the EFCC in its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

Folashade Oluwasanya, a senior Compliance Officer with SCUML, Lagos, delivered a lecture on “ Implementing Targeted Financial  Sanctions in the Casino Sector”, while  Sylvester Akpan, also an officer in SCUML, Lagos, spoke on “ The Importance  of Know Your Customers,KYC,/ Customer Due Diligence”.

 

Source: EFCC 

Ex— governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to face Anti–corruption agencies for Abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering

The House Committee recommends further probe of El-Rufai for abuse of office, money laundering.

The ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai has submitted its report to the House.

Presenting the report during plenary on Wednesday, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, said that most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained, while in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.

Receiving the report, the Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said that a total of N423 billion was siphoned by the El-Rufai’s administration while leaving the state with huge liabilities.

The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai, some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds and money laundering as well as plaguing Kaduna State into heavy debt.

The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under the El-Rufai’s administration, as well as the chairman of the state universal basic education board.

It also recommended thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

The committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly was tasked with the assignment of examining loans, grants and projects implementation from 2015 to 2023 during which El-Rufai served as governor of the state.

Alleged N4.6bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Fani-Kayode Others’ Trial Till Feb. 24

Justice Daniel Osaigor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, adjourned till February 24, 2022 further hearing in the alleged N4.6bn fraud involving a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and others.

Fani-Kayode is standing trial alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Yusuf Danjuma, and a company, Join-Trust Dimensions Nigeria Ltd. on a 17-count charge bordering money laundering to the tune of N4.6billion.

EFCC Calls for Concerted Action Against Pension Fraud

Bawa

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 called for a concerted action by all stakeholders in ensuring an efficient, effective and fraud-free pension system in Nigeria.

The EFCC chairman stated this in his opening address at the commencement of a two-day National Summit tagged, Eradication of Pension Fraud in Nigeria, at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.

According to him, the EFCC as the coordinating agency for the enforcement of all economic and financial crimes laws, is conversant with the rot in the pension sector. “We have investigated and documented hundreds of billions of Naira lost to fraud in the pension industry. 

However, beyond the money, is also the unquantifiable loss of dignity in the retiree who has to grovel and beg (and even die in some instances) in order to access his contributions. It is the shame of a nation that those who have contributed their most productive years to us in various capacities have to go through hell to live in retirement.

EFCC Cautions Banks Against Forex Malpractices

The Commander of the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, ACE I Nwanneka Nwokike has warned bank officials against providing foreign exchange to customers who have no intention of travelling outside Nigeria.

Nwokike who gave the warning on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 when he met with Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in the zone, said indications have emerged that some bank customers present fake travel documents including false flight bookings, to obtain foreign exchange.

According to him, the EFCC under the leadership of Abdulrasheed Bawa, has vowed to clamp down on Forex offenders, be they bank Officials or customers. "Always report Bank officials who collude with criminal elements to collect foreign exchange. There are very strong indications that it is happening, … go back and sensitize your staff, to ensure that they always do the right thing because 'doing the right thing' has become the new normal; therefore proper verification of documents presented by customers for Forex must be done. Again, the Commission will not entertain excuses, and will no longer look away when Banks fail to do their due diligence," Nwokike said.


While responding to the issue of customers who book foreign flights and cancel after collecting foreign exchange from banks, the Deputy Zonal Commander ACE II Hamidu S. Bawa instructed the Compliance Officers to report such customers to the Commission. "When you observe such offenders, report them to the Commission and provide their BVN along, because after now, the liability will be on you and I'm sure you don't want that to happen," he said.


The Zonal Commander further asked for a better working relationship that will ensure quick response by banks to letters from the Commission.

By EFCC

EFCC Hosts Bank Auditors, Urges Transparency in Banking Sector

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa today, August 24, 2021 affirmed the Commission’s willingness to partner with the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria, ACAEBIN, in tackling financial crimes and related challenges in the banking sector. “EFCC welcomes your suggestion of robust partnership. We cannot do this job alone. We need information, and for all Nigerians to be on board, to rid our country of corruption.”

He spoke when members of the ACAEBIN, led by the Chairman, Yinka Tiamiyu paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission`s headquarters, Abuja.

Bawa implored the bank auditors to take issues of transparency in banking operations seriously, adding that starting from September 1, 2021 it will no longer be business as usual as the Commission will hold banks liable where there are established cases of institutional complicity in fraud in the sector.

“I will like to urge you to know your customers, know the kind of businesses they do before opening an account for them because some customers will open an account within a space of two months a huge sum of money is found in the account, so there is need for you to try and query these information including their linked accounts,” Bawa said.

Tiamiyu in his remarks, said they were in the Commission to seek improved partnership between banks and the EFCC in tacking economic and financial crimes. He reiterated the commitment of banks as lead actors in the nation’s financial system to sanitizing the system, noting that it was not in the interest of the organizations to incubate or suppress financial malfeasance.

Amplifying this point, Uduak Udoh, Vice Chairman of the Association said, “Some customers are conniving with bank staff to loot funds. We want you to look into that area, not only the banks as we are ready to give you all the cooperation you need; we want you to trust bank auditors with information sharing because we cannot support fraudulent staff as they are a threat to the organization.”

They used the opportunity of the visit to highlight issues of concern to them and their organizations, including fast-tracking the consideration of petitions from banks by the EFCC.

Anti-graft War: EFCC Commander Charges NGO on Whistleblowing

The Kano Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mualledi Farouq Dogondaji today August 10, 2021, charged members of a non-governmental organization, War Against Injustice, to be whistleblowers.

He gave the charge when he received officials of the NGO in his office.

Dogondaji called on the group to partner with the Commission in the fight against corruption, which he described as the bane of Nigeria’s progress.

Dogondaji also expressed his delight in seeing a group of youth striving for the success and development of Nigeria. “Seeing a group of young people leading the charge against injustice in Nigeria, all hope is not lost for the progress of this country, “he said.

He urged the group to work with the EFCC towards the prevention of corruption by educating their immediate communities on the menace. “Our doors are always open, feel free to come to us with any information and we assure you that we will take it and investigate,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director of the group, Comrade Umar Ibrahim Umar informed the Zonal Commander that his NGO was established to fight social injustice and corruption in general, adding that they have been carrying out sensitization campaigns against corruption in local communities.

Umar disclosed that his NGO is currently monitoring constituency projects across the states and will provide the Commission with credible intelligence on any wrongdoing or suspicious activity uncovered in the course of the exercise.

He observed that anti-graft agencies alone cannot fight corruption that they need to partner with NGOs which reason he has come to extend a hand of friendship and support to the EFCC.

“Government anti-corruption agencies alone cannot fight corruption, these patriotic youth before you are ready to partner with your organization because it is everyone’s business to fight corruption in Nigeria”, he said.

By: EFCC