Timipre Sylva: Court defers ruling

EFCC Press Release

The case involving a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice A. Y Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing from the coffers of the state to the tune of N19.2bn while being the governor between 2007 and 2011, could not go on as expected, on Tuesday, April 28, 2015.

 

The matter was initially adjourned to today for ruling on an application filed by the third accused, Gbenga Balogun, through his counsel Israel Olorundare, SAN, praying the court to first determine the legal standing of the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, to handle the matter, and also to determine his motion challenging the competence of the 42-count charge.

 

However, Justice Mohammed sent in words through one of his assistants that ruling was not yet ready and asked counsel to agree on a date. Consequently, the case was adjourned to May 14, 2015 for ruling on the third accused motion, having confirmed the date to be convenient for the court.

 

Sylva along with his co-accused, Francis Okokwo, Gbenga Balogun, and Samuel Ogbuku, were alleged to have used three companies - Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited to fraudulently siphon money from the Bayelsa State coffers between 2009 and 2012, under false pretence of using the withdrawn money to augment salaries of the state government workers.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

28^th April, 2015

EFCC Arraigns Travel Agent for N3.5m Fraud

EFCC Press Release

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a travel agent, Safiyanu Umar, at the Kano State High Court on a four count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

Umar had defrauded Salisu Bkeke along with eight others to the tune of N3, 050,000 in the guise of helping them obtain visa, air ticket, transportation and accommodation in Saudi Arabia for the 2013 lesser Hajj.

Efforts of the victim to either secure the documents or get a refund of his money were futile, as the suspect became incommunicado.

One of the charges read: “That you Alhaji Safiyanu Mohammed, sometime in June 2013, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kano State, with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself that you are operating a Travel Agency capable of obtaining visa and other travel documents, and obtained the sum N700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) through your account No. 1020105938 domiciled at a new generation bank from Hajiya Hadiza Mu’azu purporting to secure a visa for travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act..”

The accused however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Justice Auta adjourned the matter till May 21, 2015 for trial, and ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

28^th April, 2015

NDLEA arrests Kenyan dancer,others

PRESS RELEASE

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a female dancer at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with narcotics concealed in school bags. The suspect, Odhiambo Susan Samira Johnson, 42-year-old from Kenya was found in possession of four blue parcels of white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine weighing 5.345kg. Two Nigerian auto parts dealers based in Uganda, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, 41, and Ndubuisi Offormadu Innocent, 49, were equally caught importing 6.250kg of cocaine and 1.490kg of heroin into the country. The seized drugs weighed 13.085kg comprising 11.595kg of cocaine and 1.490kg of heroin.    

NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspects were apprehended while trying to smuggle drugs into the country. “We are investigating three suspected drug traffickers for importing narcotics into the country. They include a Kenyan, Odhiambo Susan Samira Johnson who imported 5.345kg of cocaine from Bujumbura, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, for importing 6.250kg of cocaine from Uganda and Ndubuisi Offormadu Innocent who imported 1.490kg of heroin also from Uganda. In all, a total of 13.085kg of narcotics was recovered from them” Hamza stated.

Susan who was born in Mombasa travelled with Kenya international passport with number A1536020. She departed Bujumbura in Burundi en-route Nairobi to Lagos on a Kenyan Airways flight. During routine screening, she was found with four parcels of cocaine concealed in school bags. According to Susan, “I am a professional dancer in Kenya. I was given the school bags in Bujumbura by a friend to deliver in Nigeria. When I got to the airport in Lagos, they searched my luggage and found the drugs”.

Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu who hails from Anambra State boarded Ethiopian airline flight from Kampala en-route Addis Ababa to Lagos. “I have lived in Uganda for two years. I am married with two children. I came to Nigeria to attend my brother’s marriage ceremony. While I was preparing to leave Uganda, my friend gave me a bag to take to his brother who lives in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the drug was detected” Ntoruka stated.

The third suspect who is also an auto parts dealer said that he is a victim of circumstance. In his words, “I went to a friend in Uganda to lend me some money but he gave me the option of drug trafficking. I decided to give it a trial for the very first time and it turned out this way. I was promised 3,000 dollars but am very sad now because I am missing my wife and four children. I have lived in Uganda for 18 years”. Ndubuisi hails from Abia State.

Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade in his remarks noted that the NDLEA was making significant progress in drug control. “In spite of the new tactics adopted by drug barons, the NDLEA is still intercepting drugs. Ordinarily, Uganda and Kenya are not known to be source countries for cocaine and heroin but the suspects were unable to evade arrest. This is due to the diligence of officers. All the cases are being investigated and I urge members of the public to report suspected drug traffickers to the nearest NDLEA office” Giade stated.

Meanwhile, the suspects will be charged to court soon.

 

Ofoyeju Mitchell

Head, Public Affairs

08034088136

Man arraigned for N6m land fraud

EFCC Press Release

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, April 27, 2015 arraigned Sa’idu Gado before Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High Court, on a three-count charge bordering on criminal conversion of land, obtaining by false pretence and forgery.

The victim of his nefarious act, Mustapha Musa had petitioned the EFCC alleging that Gado sold a plot of land to him in Darmanawa, Tarauni Local Government Area of the state at the cost of N6million, with claim that the title documents were certified by the Kano State Emirate Council.

In lieu of the full cash payment, Musa gave Gado  plots of land valued at N5,500,000 and cash sum of N500,000.

Musa later discovered that he had been duped, as the land was already being developed by someone else. “When I approached the person, he claimed that he is the rightful owner of the land and showed me a letter of grant from Kano State Ministry of Lands,” he said.

Upon verification,   it was discovered that the land title document given to Musa by the suspect, was non-existent.

Though the accused later offered Musa seven plots of land in various locations in the state, all turned out to be non-existent as the title documents he presented were forged.

When the charges were read to the accused person he pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution counsel, Musa Isah, thus urged the court to fix a date for trial in view of the accused person’s plea.

Justice Auta adjourned the case till May 21, 2015 for trial and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody. 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

28^th April, 2015

Ex- NDDC Commissioner Jailed three years for stealing transformers

EFCC Press Release

A former Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State on the board of the intervention agency, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Godwin Moffat Eyo was today convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment by an Akwa Ibom State High court for stealing 56 transformers meant for oil producing communities in the state.

The convict who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 56-count charge that borders on stealing and conversion of 56 electricity transformers released to him by NDDC for distribution to communities in Akwa Ibom state, was found guilty on 37 of those counts by Justice Idongesit Ntem B. Isua and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of the counts. He was however discharged and acquitted on 19 counts. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The convict was said to have applied for 90 (Ninety) electricity transformers and 4 generators from NDDC for Akwa Ibom State sometime in February, 2006. Approval was given for 70 (Seventy) transformers but he diverted same to his house in Eket on the pretext that there was no space to accommodate the newly issued 70 units of transformers at the NDDC office in Uyo. He thereafter sent only 14 Units to NDDC office in Uyo while he withheld 56 units which he could not account for till date.

The 56 transformers are valued at Two Hundred and Twenty million, One hundred and Seventy Six thousand, Three hundred and Twenty Naira (N220, 176, 320).

One of the count reads, “That you Pastor Godwin Moffat Eyo being a former Akwa Ibom State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on or about 14^th April, 2006 at Uyo in the Uyo Judicial Division did fraudulently steal a 300 KVA/33/0.415 Transformer Serial No. 1712496 valued at Four Million, Eighteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty  Naira (N4,018,560.00), property of NDDC and thereby committed an offence of stealing contrary to Section 399 and punishable under Section 404 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38, Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000”.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

27^th April, 2015

EFCC arraigns man for N7.2m fraud

EFCC Press Release

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on April 23, 2015 arraigned one Ernest Jor before Justice Valentine Ashi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo, Abuja on a two-count charge of fraud.

Count two of the charge reads:

“That you, Ernest Jor, sometime in 2007 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being entrusted with the sum of N6,000,000.00 (Six Million Naira Only) by MTN Nigeria Communication, for payment of lease running through August 2007 to July 2017, in respect of plot No. E17A, District Centre Layout, Kubwa District, with Certificate of Occupancy No:MTZ/LA/NG/766, belonging to Alhaji Abdulrauf Yusuf, did dishonestly convert same to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law”.

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

Upon his plea, counsel to EFCC, C. C Ndubeze urged the court to fix a date for trial to commence.

However, counsel to the accused, Chinwe Obiakor prayed the court to grant the accused bail. Relying on Section 341 sub section 2 of the Criminal Code, Obiakor assured that his client would not do anything to frustrate his trial if admitted to bail.

Justice Ashi granted the accused person bail in the sum of N5m (five million naira) and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be residents within the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja .

The case has been adjourned to May 20, 2015 for hearing.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

23^rd April, 2015

 

$8.4m Scam: yes! Court Registrar collected money from Bamaiyi in Prison- Prison Controller

An Assistant Controller of Prison , Mallam Abdulahi Garba, who is a prosecution witness  in the on-going trial of a Lagos court registrar, Mrs Rosulu Idowu Oluronke, has told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, that Oluronke actually came to the prison to collect money from General Ishaya Bamaiyi. 

As trial resumed today, Garuba while being led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Seidu Atteh, related how he met the defendant: “On October 23, 2004, Madam Ronke Rosulu came to visit Fred Ajudua. She was introduced to me by one Kehinde, who later introduced her as a Registrar of the High Court in Lagos. She sat with Fred Ajudua and General Bamayi, they had a meeting together that lasted for about 15 minutes

“On November 20, 2004, she came to the prison again with one Jonathan, one of the aides of Ajudua.  Later, General Bamayi came into the visiting room with a “Ghana Must Go” bag, red in colour, I asked him about the content of the bag and he said it contained money. I asked how much? He said $330,000, they are 33 bundles and each bundle contained $10,000.

“I asked the General what the money was meant for, and he explained that it was meant for the settlement of his lawyer's fees.  I said since it was his lawyer fees, I could not comment.  They counted the money in my presence, thereafter, they put it in the “Ghana must go bag” and Madam Ronke and Jonathan carried the bag containing the money away, each holding one handle of the bag as they left.  Ajudua saw them off to the gate”.

According to the witness, “On November 23, 2004, Madam Ronke came to visit  Ajudua for the third time; this time, she came with her daughter. She met with Ajudua and Bamayi; I was also there together with Kehinde".   Garba further explained that money is not kept in prison, that the money was brought in that day through the gate.

He made it clear  that Ajudua  and Ade Bendel did not any have record of visitors. Rather,  it was only special inmates like General Bamayi and four others that enjoyed such privilege. He also said that he identified the defendant at EFCC office in 2013, though he had not seen her for 9 years. “I identified her in an identification parade conducted by the EFCC", he said.

Justice Lawal Akapo adjourned the matter to May, 11, 12 and 13, 2015 for continuation of trial.

It will be recalled that Ajudua and the defendant, were initially arranged by EFCC before Justice Ipaye, but the second defendant who is a public servant requested for separation of the charges and expedited trial.
 General Bamaiyi had earlier told the court, that Ajudua used Ms. Oluronke, who was then Justice Joseph Oyewole’s registrar, in defrauding him of $330,000.

 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

23^rd April, 2015

 

Judge’s absence stalls arraignment of N2bn land scam suspects

EFCC Press Release

The planned arraignment of one Julius Ola Peters and four others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Ishaq Bello of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on charges of conspiracy, forgery and fraud was again frustrated on Thursday, April 23, 2015 due to the judge’s absence.

It was the third time the arraignment would failed to hold.

 Peters and other suspects: Emeka Iloegbunam, Ijeoma David Alanza, Dinijocs Nigeria Limited, Jonathan Wallang and Swift and Hay Limited allegedly conspired and fraudulently used forged document  to defraud the NLNG Staff Co-operative Investment and Credit Society to the tune of N2,070, 000,000.00 (two billion and seventy million naira) on the pretext of buying a parcel of land situated at Plot No.1, Idu-Sabo District, Cadastral Zone D04, Abuja

 After three failed attempts by the anti graft agency to have suspects docked, the prosecution became agitated today, when again, the arraignment could not hold as the judge was absent in court, and no reason was given for his absence.

 Meanwhile, both the prosecution and the defence counsel met and tentatively agreed on May 26, 2015 for possible arraignment of the suspects having confirmed the date to be convenient for the court.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

23^rd April, 2015

NDLEA arrests indian hemp exporter

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 40-year-old patent medicine dealer for attempting to export cannabis inside foodstuff to China. The suspect, Ubaka Dennis Chidozie is being investigated in connection with the unlawful exportation of 3.964kg of cannabis to China. The first consignment containing 1.830kg of cannabis was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while another bag of foodstuff containing 2.134kg of cannabis belonging to him was also detected at Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that Ubaka Dennis Chidozie is a serial offender. “The suspect specializes in concealing cannabis in foodstuff for innocent travellers. Luck ran against him when the parcel he sent through the Lagos airport was intercepted.  While we were investigating this case, he attempted sending another shipment of cannabis at the Enugu airport where he was apprehended. Ubaka is cooperating with the team of narcotic investigators” Hamza stated.

The suspect told investigators that he was recently introduced into cannabis trafficking by friends. “I am a patent medicine dealer. I have two wives and six children. I started exporting foodstuff to China to augment the earnings from my patent medicine shop. My friend recently introduced me to cannabis smuggling to China. I used to hide little quantities of cannabis inside foodstuff which I give to agents to send to China. I deliberately did not inform them that there is cannabis in the bag with the hope that since the quantity is small, it will not be detected by the authority. I am new in the business and I am begging for mercy because of my wives and children” Ubaka stated. He is a JSS 3 graduate of Government Technical College Onitsha. He hails from Anambra State.

Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade assured members of the public that the Agency will bring traffickers to book. In his words, “the NDLEA has an effective drug detecting mechanism at all the airports. We shall continue to increase our capacity and send drug barons out of the criminal transaction in drugs. Let me assure you that no drug dealer shall go unpunished. We are working hard to address the problem of drug production, trafficking and abuse”.

Meanwhile, the suspect will be charged to court soon.

Ofoyeju Mitchell

Head, Public Affairs

08034088136

EFCC arrests suspected fraudster for N81m scam

EFCC Press Release

A suspected fraudster, Julian Ndubue

ze Ezeji is currently cooling his heels in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, following his arrest for allegedly swindling one Onyeka Okoye of the sum of  N81,250,000 (Eighty One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) in a phony oil transaction.

 

Ezeji, 62,   native of Ibeme, Isiala-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State fraudulently presented himself as a petroleum dealer and approached Okoye to supply his company, Initial Energy Nigeria Limited, petroleum products to the tune of N81,250,000 (Eighty One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) with a promise to remit the money into the complainant’s company account. He however failed to honour the promise since  April, 2014  nor make a refund. 

The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

22^nd April, 2015

Sweet Sensation Babe bags 266 years Jail term for N8m scam

EFCC Press Release

 

A female staff of a popular eatery, Oluremi Olayinka was today convicted and sentenced to 266 years imprisonment  by Justice A.A Akinyemi of  Ogun State High Court,  Abeokuta, for stealing N8million belonging to her employer. The offence  is contrary to sections 390(6)(7)(8), 467 and 468 respectively of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State.

The court found the convict guilty on all the 34 count charges. She was sentenced to seven years on each of 30 counts and 14 years on the remaining four charges. The sentences are to run concurrently. Additionally, Justice Akinyemi ordered her to return the money she stole in restitution to her victim.

 Olayinka was arraigned before Justice Akinyemi on May 13,  2014 following a petition, alleging that she  stole the sum of N8,000,000( Eight Million Naira ), which she received on behalf of her employer. When the convict was confronted with the allegation, she admitted the crime only for her to dramatically pleaded not guilty upon arraignment.

In the course of trial,  the EFCC  presented four witnesses and tendered sixteen exhibits to prove the case against the convict.

 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

22^nd April, 2015

N24bn Pension Scam: EFCC To Split Charges

EFCC Press Release

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 sought the leave of the court to split the charges of conspiracy and theft of Police Pension Funds to the tune of N24bn (twenty four billion naira) brought against Esai Dangabar and six others before Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja in order to ensure expeditious trial of the accused persons.

At the resumed hearing of the case today, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, noted with concern, the delay currently being experienced in prosecuting the case which he said, had been on since 2012.

According to him,  the case had been dragging due to large number of lawyers representing the accused persons in the matter.

Rotimi, who told the court that, he had the mandate of his client to request for the splitting of the charge said, “this matter has been on since 2012, and my Lord, the accused persons here are seven with separate counsel. We notice that because of the sheer number and representation of counsel, which must all be heard, the pace of this case has slowed down. We believe this matter can be heard by having separate trials of some of the accused. I humbly apply that my Lord allows at least three separate trials”

But Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, counsel to the first accused,  objected stating, “the case is for continuation of trial, and we expect that the application come by way of writing so that we can confront every ground for the application”.

His argument was adopted by the other counsel.

Justice Baba Yusuf ordered the prosecution to formally file a motion for the splitting of the charge and adjourned to June 23, 2015 for hearing on the application.

It would be recalled that Dangabar alongside other accused persons: Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira were first arraigned before Justice Mohammed Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Gudu, Abuja on a 16 count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust on March 29, 2012 and granted bail on April 3, 2012.

On November 12, 2012 the court dismissed the applications brought by four of the six accused persons challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case as well as the charges against them for lacking in merit.

One of the accused John Yakubu Yusuf was convicted after he opted to plead guilty.

Consequently, the prosecution filed new charges.

The six accused persons, along with  Uzoma Cyril Attang, a former chief accountant in the Police Pension office who had been elusive, took fresh pleas on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, before Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on April 10, 2013.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

22^nd April, 2015

 

 

How Nigerians richest 419 kingpin defrauded Army general Bamaiyi of $8.4m

EFCC Press Release

A former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, has told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, that Fred Ajudua,  who is standing trial for duping the former Army boss of the sum of $8.4Million ( Eight Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), actually used a Lagos court registrar, Ms. Rosulu Idowu Oluronke, to obtain the sum of $330,000 from him.

The money, according to Bamaiyi was meant as part payment of professional fees supposedly charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his trial for attempted murder of the late publisher of The Guardian, Alex Ibru and two others.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Seidu Atteh, Bamaiyi told the court presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, that he met Ajudua and Alumile Adedeji, a.k.a. Ade Bendel, at Kirikiri maximum prison, where he was remanded. According to him, Oluronke, who was then Justice Joseph Oyewole’s registrar, visited him three times at Kirikiri maximum prison in respect of the payment for Chief Babalola’s professional fees.

He narrated to the court that: “On November 23, 1999, I was in cell 5 (first floor) at Kirikiri maximum prison. Later Ajudua and Ade Bendel were brought into the block. I and Ajudua (sic) were together in my cell, so we became friends. Ajudua told me that he is a lawyer and had studied my case, and found out it was purely political. Ajudua told me that he was interested in the case and had sent his wife to see the Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Ade Alabi (retired) and the state Attorney General, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, over the matter. I was told that the Chief Judge was the one in contact with Chief Babalola,”

According to the retired army general, Ajudua later told him that based on the advice of the Chief Judge and the  Attorney General, there was need for the case to be handled by Chief Babalola who would facilitate his release from prison custody. He said: “I was told that Chief Babalola charged $18million as professional fees and that the money was to be paid through Justice Oyewole. Ajudua told me that Justice Oyewole was going to send his registrar (Oluronke)).

“On October 23, 2004 (1st visit), Oluronke, came with Ajudua and confirmed to me that she was sent by Justice Oyewole. She came with Ajudua to the visiting room, alongside a prison officer, Abdullahi Garuba, an Assistant Controller of Prison On November 6, 2004 at 10 am, Oluronke, came again with Ajudua, alongside ACP Garuba. This time she came with her daughter whom she said was from the University. The defendant assured me that any money released through Justice Oyewole would get to Chief Babalola.

“Before Oluronke’s third visit on November 20, 2004, a friend of mine had arranged $330,000 for me. The money was brought in a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag to the prison. I showed Ajudua the money and he said he will assign one Jonathan to assist us in counting the money. The money was counted in the presence of Oluronke, the prison officer (ACP Garuba).”  Bamaiyi maintained that after counting the money, Oluronke carried the bag and Ajudua saw them off to the gate.

“That evening, Ajudua told me that the defendant (Oluronke) called and confirmed delivering the said money to Justice Oyewole and same had been taken to Chief Babalola. I never met her again until December 19, 2013 at the Lagos office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).When I did not hear from Chief Babalola after a while, by this time Ajudua had travelled to India, I suspected that something was wrong.”

He said he later reported the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. It was on the strength of the investigation by the EFCC that Ajudua and Oluronke were arrested and arraigned in court.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

22^nd April, 2015

 

EFCC Arraigns Hacker For N68bn Theft

EFCC Press Release

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, April 20, 2015 arraigned one Stephen Omaidu before Justice M. A Nasir of Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja on a two count charge bordering on theft to the tune of N68, 028, 000, 000.00 (sixty eight billion and twenty eight million naira).

 

Omaidu, in connivance with Alhaji K. B Kabiru, Godswill Oyegwa, Ben and Oliver (all at large) allegedly hacked into the server of a second generation bank and transferred the sum of sixty eight billion, and twenty eight million naira into different accounts for personal gains. 

The offence is punishable under section 287 of the Penal Code Act.

Following his “not guilty” plea, counsel to EFCC, S. A Ugwuebgulam asked the court to fix a date for trial to commence.

 

However, defence counsel, Gabriel O. Sanifu urged the court to admit the accused to bail pending trial saying, the offence is bailable. 

 

Ugwuebgulam objected to the application on the ground that the accused had failed to honour the administrative bail terms earlier granted him by the Commission and could do same if not remanded by the court.

 

Justice Nasir ordered the accused to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC and adjourned the case to April 28, 2015 for ruling on the bail application.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

21^st April, 2015