Money Laundering: Court Convicts Businessman

EFCC Press Release

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today May 24, 2016, successfully secured the conviction of one Agumandu Christopher Nnamdi, before Justice F.N Yunusa of the Federal High Court Enugu, Enugu on one count charge bordering on Money Laundering.

 The convict was arrested by a team of Presidential Trans-border Task force of the Nigeria Customs Service on the 5^th September, 2015 at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu for falsely declaring the sum of $9,500.00(Nine Thousand, Five Hundred United State Dollars) out of the total sum of $51,000.00 (Fifty One Thousand United State Dollars) on his way to China on an alleged business trip, an offence contrary to the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous) Act, Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2012.

He was subsequently handed over to the Commission for prosecution. The count reads:

“That you Agunmandu Christopher Nnamdi on the 5^th of September, 2015 at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Enugu Judicial Division  while transporting in cash the sum of $51,000(Fifty One Thousand US dollars)only from Nigeria to China, falsely declared to the Nigerian Customs Service the sum of $9,500(Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars)only, instead of the sum of $51,000(Fifty One Thousand US dollars) as required under section 12 of the Foreign Exchange(Monitoring and Miscellaneous) Act, Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act,2011 as amended by Section 2 of the Money Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2012”.

The prosecuting counsel R.E Ajobiewe told the Court that the accused person has entered a plea bargain agreement in line with Section 272 of the Administration of Criminal Act and applied that the Court adopt the plea bargain agreement.

The lead defense counsel, A.O.K  Agbawo however prayed the Court to tamper justice with mercy adding that the accused is a hardworking young man and the said money was legitimately earned. He further applied that the accused person’s passport and the said money be returned to him.

The Court however found the accused person guilty, dismissed the application of the defense counsel and ordered that the undeclared sum of money totaling $41,000USD be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

24^th May, 2016

 

Arms Deal: How I Received N108m from Badeh - Witness

EFCC Press Release

At the resumed trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh, on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 the fourth prosecution witness, PW4, Mustapha Yerima gave Justice Okon E. Abang of the Federal High Court  Abuja a blow-by-blow account of how he was paid the sum of N108million through Badeh’s company, Vetivo Nigeria Limited.

Yerima whose testimony started yesterday stated that, the process of the payment came through a third party.

According to Yerima,” the payment that came through a third party is as a result of the meeting between myself, Air Comodore Yushau (a retired Air Commodore and former director of finance and account) and Badeh. This was prior to my meeting with Air Commodore Yushau and Barrister Timothy Muje.  At the meeting, Yushau introduced Timothy to me as the lawyer to Air Chief Marshall Badeh since he (Yushau) was retiring. He said I should transfer all the necessary documents to the lawyer (Timothy).’’

He stated that, “Yushau came to the said meeting with prepared Deed of Assignment and Power of Attorney with his company’s name and another document transfering the title from Ryte Builders to Edile Construction Company. He was given a copy to sign and he did. He said he handed over to Timothy, the original Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, and the Deed of Assignment.”

After the tranfer of the documents, Yerima claimed that he recieved the sum of N108 million.

’’I recieved an alert from one Vetivo Nigerian  Limited. I called Badeh and he confirmed that Vetivo Nigeria Limited was his and he instructed that the money be paid into my company’s account”, Yerima revealed.

He further narrated how Badeh out of fear changed his mind from the property that he earlier wanted to acquire for the construction of his shopping mall at Aminu Kano Crescent and opted for the one located at the Wuse 2 District of Abuja.

According to Yerima, when the transactions were no longer clear to him, and he was denied access to the Power of Attorney he had earlier given to Badeh and his men, he became agitated and decided to tell the EFCC all that he knew about Badeh and the property he acquired which costs about N1.8billion including the land.

’’I was confronted with some chilling evidences, so many documents like the copies of drawings, list of quantity survey, statement of accounts and so many other documents related to the account including e-mail correspondences.  At that point, I had nothing to say, but to tell the EFCC exactly the way things happened”, Yerima said.

The PW4, also narrated how the Nigerian Airforce Conference Centre was constructed.

He said,”the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre was constucted in the name of Edile Construction Company. The company operates separate accounts and all paymets for the construction of the Conference Centre go to the company’s account in UBA, Keystone and StanbicIBTC bank.”

He added that, all payments made to Ryte Builders in respect of the mall were made to Ryte’s Builders account with Zenith bank.

At this point, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN told the court that he discovered just yesterday that the witness made additional statement which he had served on the first and second defense counsels.

Badeh’s counsel, Akin Olujimi, SAN, said, ”for me to be able to cross examine the witness, I will have to digest this additional proof to see how it affects our understanding of the prosecution.”

Counsel to the second defendant, S. T. Ologunorisa, SAN, also aligned himself with Olujimi’s position.

Consequently, Justice Abang adjourned to June 14, 15 and 16, 2016 for further hearing.

Badeh, while being the CDS, among other things allegedly abused his office between January and December, 2013. He allegedly used dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, One Hundred Million Naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase properties in choice areas of Abuja.

 

The offence is in contravention of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

24^th May, 2016

 

Courage, emotions as Airtel-sponsored The Voice Nigeria enters episode 6

In what is already turning out to be one of the most exciting competitions on African television, viewers were once again treated to a spectacular blend of entertainment and display of talent as aspiring singers thrilled coaches and fans alike in episode six of The Voice Nigeria, proudly sponsored by Airtel Nigeria.

The last episode saw TeamTubaba win over the silky voiced Obed Ogbonna and the petite songstress Precious. TeamWaje continued her impressive streak as she won over male vocalists Promise and Uche Michael, while TeamPatoranking scored with Benjamin and TeamTimi successfully wooed Kofo.

Highlights of the show included the performance by visually impaired Adim, who inspired a rousing applause from the audience for his courage, and opera singer Amanda who could not garner support from the coaches despite a sterling performance.

At the end of the episode, the teams were neck deep in competition with Teamwaje leading the pack with 11 talents. TeamTubaba, TeamPatoranking and TeamTimi each have 10 talents in what is turning out to be one of the most exciting competitions on African television.

If you missed Sunday’s episode of The Voice Nigeria you can still catch all the highlights from the show on Wednesday at 8.30pm and 7pm on Galaxy TV and ONtv respectively. You can also download The Voice Nigeria app on the Apple and Android app stores and get updated on backstage photos, news and highlights from Africa’s biggest show.

EFCC Arrests Fake Operative

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday May 17, 2016 arrested one Elisha Ankuma for allegedly impersonating as a staff of EFCC and obtaining by false pretence.

 

Ankuma’s arrest followed a complaint by one Dr. Audu Shekaro, a childhood friend of the suspect and a staff of National Veterinary Research Institute, Jos, Plateau State that the suspect sometime in November 2015 called to inform him that the EFCC was auctioning vehicles worth N400,000 (four hundred thousand naira).

 

The complainant said Elisha told him to get in touch with one Aminu Bala for the purchase of a Honda car “End of Discussion,” purportedly being one of the cars to be auctioned by the Commission.

 

According to Shekaro, a sum of N300, 000 (three hundred thousand naira) was paid to Ankuma on November 23, 2015 and

 the balance of N100,000 (hundred thousand naira) later paid into the suspect’s account in one of the new generation banks.

 

After months of waiting, the complainant became agitated and decided to petition the EFCC.

 

The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

18^th May, 2016

EFCC Arraigns Businessman for N15m Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on Wednesday May 18, 2016, arraigned one Paul Nonso Obinwunne and his company Paul Nomex Allied Limited ), before Justice A. O. Okuma of Anambra State High Court.

on a three count charge bordering on Obtaining Money by False Pretence to the tune of N15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Naira. When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty on all counts preferred against him by the EFCC necessitating the prosecuting counsel S.M.H. Ibekwute to pray the court to remand the accused and fix a trial date.

However, defence counsel A. C Obisi applied for bail on the grounds that the accused had been on administrative bail granted by the Commission and that the alleged offence is bailable.

Thereafter, Justice Okuma granted the accused bail in the sum of N4, 500,000 (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) with one surety in like sum. The surety the court insists must be a civil servant above grade level 14 and a resident within the state.

In addition, the surety must present letter of identification from his head of department, two recent passport photographs, as well as his national identity card or driver’s license and must depose to an affidavit of means.

 

One of the charge reads:

That you, Paul Nonso Obinwunne And Paul Nomex Allied Ltd, in May 2013, in Onitsha in Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, under false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,500,000.00) from Jude Anyado, for the sale of Shop E 1811 situate at Electronics International Shopping Complex/Electronics Dealers Association Market, along Onitsha -Enugu Expressway, Onitsha, when you falsely represented to him that you had property to pass in the shop, a pretence which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 ( 1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable Under Section 1 ( 3) of the same Act”.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

18^th May, 2016

Arms Deal: Witness Reveals How Ex-PDP Chairman, Haliru Bello Was Paid N300m

EFCC Press Release

 

A witness in the ongoing trial of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Haliru Bello, Yazidu Ibrahim, a Staff Officer, Accounts, Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA , has told the Federal High Court, Abuja, how he was instructed to pay the sum of N300 million to a company, BAM Projects and Properties Limited, owned by Bello.

 

Bello alongside his son, Bello Abba Mohammed, and their company, Bam Project and Properties Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly receiving the sum of N300 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). 

 

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, Ibrahim told Justice A. R. Mohammed that he received a written instruction on a piece of paper to prepare a payment mandate for BAM in the sum of N300m.

 

Led in evidence by Adebisi Adeniyi who stood in for Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Ibrahim further stated that the piece of paper had the account name, account number, amount and reason for payment (Payment for Safe Houses).

 

According to him, there were two signatories on the payment mandate: Muhammed Sambo Dazuki, a former National Security Adviser, and S.A. Salisu, Director, Finance and Administration.

 

 ‘‘After they have signed the paper, I would also sign before taking it to the bank (Central Bank of Nigeria),’’ he said.

Prior to giving this revelation, he had told the court that there were procedures of making payments, which included presentation of documents, approval of the documents and instructions from the Director of Finance, among others.

 

He stated: ‘‘Documents to be presented included are: contract documents, contract agreements, signature of the contractor and voucher.

 

‘‘After the documents had been presented, I would prepare the payment mandate ,which would be passed to the NSA and DFA for signing before taking it to the bank for payment.

 

During cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Solomon Umoh, SAN, the witness told the court that he did not know if there was any contract between the defendants and Office of the National Security Adviser, adding that he was not in the position to know why payments were made.

 

‘‘No documents for payments were made available apart from the piece of paper sent to him,’’ he added.

 

The case has been adjourned to June 1, 2016 for further cross- examination of the witness by counsels to the second and third defendants.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

18^th May, 2016

 

 

Armsgate: Metuh Was Paid N400m - Okupe

EFCC Press Release

Doyin Okupe, the erstwhile Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 appeared as the third defence witness (DW3) for Olisa Metuh, the embattled national spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who is standing trial over his alleged role in the infamous $2.1 billion arms deal involving the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Metuh is being prosecuted alongside his company, Destra Investment Limited on a 7-count charge before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,

He is accused of allegedly receiving N400million (four hundred million naira) from former NSA, Col. Dasuki (retd).

At an earlier sitting on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, the defence had presented Colex Ifeanyi Odenigbo, a consultant with Q-time Nigeria Limited, who had told the court that, there was a remittance of N450million from the Office of the NSA to Destra Nig Limited; the source of which he said was not made known to him.

At the resumed sitting today, Okupe while being led in evidence by Metuh’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, narrated how he was part of the meeting in which Metuh made a presentation on what could be done to launder the image of the then president and that of the PDP.

“After the meeting, the president said he will make a directive for Metuh to be mobilised with funds to carry out the project. The next day, Metuh called me to tell me that his account had been credited with N400m”, Okupe said.

Under cross examination by counsel to EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, Okupe, admitted that, government institutions and agencies are not part of the organs of the party.

When shown one of the exhibits (e-payment mandate) from the Office of the NSA, detailing the transfer of the sum N400m to Destra Investment Limited, Okupe claimed he does not understand the document neither does he know what it is all about.

Thereafter, Ikpeazu sought for an adjournment on the grounds that Metuh has a health challenge.

Consequently, Justice Abang adjourned to May 19, 2016 for continuation of defence.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

18^th May, 2016

 

 

IGNORE FRAUDULENT MAILS FROM SCAMMERS, EFCC URGES PUBLIC

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has urged members of the public to ignore any message allegedly coming from the Commission, claiming that their banks had sent a report of fraudulent transaction on their account.

This warning is coming on the heels of several calls and e-mail from members of the public across the country that the Commission sent mails to them requesting for their bank details and report of other fraudulent transactions.

One of such mails forwarded to the EFCC by a recipient reads in part:

“Dear Sir/Madam,

Your bank has sent in a report of fraudulent transaction on your bank account. This link Scanned_Document.pdf shows a list of suspicious transactions. You are to peruse and report to the address in the invitation letter on the link. Please, note that failure to do this, we will begin the process of closing all your accounts using your BVN. Failure to report will be dealt with seriously. Click on View Download V”.

It is important to state that the said mail, and others in similar fashion, did not emanate from the EFCC.  It is not the Commission’s modus operandi to request members of the public to send report of fraudulent transaction on their bank account.

The public are advised to report mails or calls from suspected scammers to the EFCC via the following: info@efccnigeria.org. The Commission could also be reached through these hotlines: 09-9044571, 09-9044572, 09-9044573, or via our Facebook platform: www.facebook.com/officialefcc.

 

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

16^th May, 2016

 

EFCC Re-Arraigns Oronsaye, Five Others for N2bn Fraud

EFCC Press Release

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on May 18, 2016 re-arraigned a former Head of Service, HoS, to the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye, before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court, Abuja on an amended 35-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.

In the amended charge dated November 2, 2015, Oronsaye is being charged along with Osarenkhoe Afe, Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limitd, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.

Oronsaye and Afe, who is the managing director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, were present in court. However, the other defendants were absent.

Prosecuting counsel, Leke Atolagbe, while citing Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, said, “We urge your lordship to enter a plea of not guilty for the defendants who are not represented in court, in order that the trial can proceed.”

Counsel to Oronsaye, Joe Agbi, SAN, raised no objections to the application of the prosecution, neither did Oluwole Aladedoye, counsel to Afe and Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited.

The trial judge, while acceding to the application of the prosecution, ruled that: “In the absence of the fourth, fifth and sixth defendants, Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 shall be applied to each of them, except if it is later shown that they were not served with the amended charges, in the interest of justice.”

Count one of the charges reads: “That you Stephen Oronsaye, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina (now at large) Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited on or about 2nd July, 2010 in Abuja, collaborated in disguising genuine nature of the sum of N161,472,000 derived from an illegal act to wit: conducting procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act on the contract extension of biometric enrolment purportedly awarded to Innovative Solutions Limited by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation without following due process and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.” 

Another count reads: “That you Stephen Oronsaye and Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina (now at large) between April and May 2010 in Abuja, collaborated in disguising genuine nature  an aggregate sum of N131,038,425 derived from an illegal act to wit; conducting procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act on the contract of biometric enrolment purportedly awarded to Moshfad Enterprises by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation without following due process and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges as they were read to them.

Following their plea, Atolagbe asked the court for a date for commencement of trial. He also notified the court that the prosecution had 22 witnesses it intended to present in court.

The defence counsels expressed readiness for the commencement of the trial. They further applied that Justice Kolawole allow their clients to continue with the earlier bail granted them on July 21, 2015.

The prosecution did not raise any objections to the oral application.

In view of the fact that there was no objection to the application, the trial judge acceded to the request and further adjourned to June 9, 2016 for “commencement of judicial trial”.

It would be recalled that Oronsaye first appeared before Justice Kolawole on July 13, 2015, where he was confronted with a 25-count charge, to which along with his co-defendants they pleaded not guilty. The trial judge had fixed February 16, 2016 for them to enter their plea for the amended charges.

The case file, was however, afterwards transferred to Justice J. T. Tsoho of a Federal High Court, Abuja. Presiding over the case for the first time on February 16, 2016, he adjourned to March 1, 2016 for them to take their plea on the amended charges. On the set day, however, rather than begin the proceedings, he simply said: “It has been realized that the case came to me in error, and I’ve been instructed that it should be returned to Justice Kolawole who started it; he should continue where he stopped. I wish you the best of luck.”

Making clarification on the return of the file to him, Justice Kolawole explained that: “the Chief Judge wanted to redistribute cases to new judges transferred to the Federal High Court, in order to decongest the court, but this case file of Oronsaye was taken in error to Justice Tsoho. This explanation becomes necessary so the public will not be wondering why such back and forth movement.”

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

18^th May, 2016

 

Armsgate: How I Acquired Properties for Badeh in Choice Areas- Witness

EFCC Press Release

A witness, Hussein A. Umar on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja how he assisted former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh in the purchase of two properties in choice areas of Abuja.

Umar, a private legal practitioner who testified as PW3 while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that he assisted Badeh and the erstwhile director of finance and accounts at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau in the purchase of two properties situated at No 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, and No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja for the sums of N1.1billion and N360million respectively.

According to him, “sometime in 2012, Yushau called me to his house to tell me that his boss (Badeh) was interested in acquiring a befitting retirement home in Maitama. He asked me to source for the befitting accommodation which I did. When I got the property at 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube street, Maitama, we went for inspection and two days after, he (Badeh) met me at the said site at 8:30pm in a Toyota Tundra which Yushau drove.

“This was the first time I had ever met Badeh. He said I should go on with the process of legal searches on the property. After the search, Yushau and Badeh visited the property again, but this time with a lady who was introduced to me as the wife of Badeh; his son named Kam and his daughter, slim and smallish (in frame). They carried out joint inspections and they all were happy with the property. Yushau then gave me the go-ahead to negotiate with the owner of the property.

“The owner and I negotiated and agreed on an amount, N1.1billion. I reported back to Yushau, who said he would get through to his boss.”

The PW3 further stated that, within a week necessary arrangements were made for the payment and Yushau called to tell him that the money was ready in US dollars.

“I collected $6.2million USD from Yushau.  I gave it to Bureau de Change Operatives who transferred the Naira equivalent of N1.1billion to the account provided by the owner of the property. We concluded, and Yushau gave me the name to be used in preparing the deeds - Iyalikam Ventures”, Umar stated.

Umar further added that Badeh, through Yushau, in appreciation of what he did offered him $100,000 USD, the equivalent of N15m.

Regarding the purchase of No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, PW3, Umar also gave details of how the purchase was made.

According to him, "sometime in 2013, Yushau called to tell me that he wanted me to meet one Honourable Bature. He said there was a property that they had already negotiated, and that he wanted me to see Bature, get the details of the property and prepare the deeds of transfer and other documentation as he (Yushau) was travelling. I was given the name- Iyalikam as the purchaser.

“He left the sum of $2million with me; the equivalent of N360million and he instructed that I pay Honourable Bature as soon as the documents were signed, which I did.

“At the time when Yushau was retiring, I met the attorney of the first defendant (Badeh), Barrister Timothy at Yushau's house, in the presence of one Engineer Mustapha. Yushau said his boss had instructed that I hand over all the documents in my possession of No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent. I handed all the documents which had been signed by
Honourable Bature (that still needed to be countersigned by the purchaser, Iyalikam), as well as the keys to the properties over to Barrister Timothy.

“I didn't see or hear from Barrister Timothy until February/March this year when he requested to see me urgently. He said that an ongoing investigation involved Badeh and that he wanted to know if I could claim 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube street, Maitama as my own since the transaction had not been perfected at Abuja Geographical Information System, AGIS. I told him that it was impossible. He dropped the phone and since then I have not heard from him.”

Umar further told the court that, Alex (jnr) also called him sometime between February/March, 2016, pleaded with him to assist in claiming the Ogun River property; a request he said was turned down.

After cross examination by counsel to the first defendant, Akin Olujimi, SAN, Justice Abang adjourned the matter to Thursday May 19, 2016 for further cross examination and continuation of  trial.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

18^th May, 2016