The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo at the Muritala Muhammad Airport, Lagos State.
Our correspondent gathered that Oluomo was arrested over allegations bordering on financial crimes.
A staff member at the assembly who pleaded anonymity said the speaker was picked up this morning at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by operatives following a tip-off.
The source said Oluomo was undergoing further grilling in the custody of the agency.
He was said to have been on the wanted list of the commission following his failure to honour the EFCC invitation several times.
He and some others were accused of forging signatures and financial documents of the assembly.
An attempt to get confirmation from the EFCC failed as the spokesperson for Lagos zonal office, Ayo Oyewole, refused to answer the calls.
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, July 14, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of the duo of Ogunlana Charles Tolulope and Amoo Emmanuel Abiodun on a separate one-count charge before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, and Justice Bayo Taiwo of the State High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The convicts were arrested by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC sometime in the year 2021 for cyber-fraud-related activities in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The charge against Ogunlana reads: “That you, Ogunlana Charles Tolulope ‘M’ (aka Brandon Oliver) on or about the 8th of September, 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate one BRANDON OLIVER a male citizen of the United States of America via your Google Hangouts [email protected] and [email protected] with intent to gain monetary advantage for yourself, the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b)(i) and punishable under Section 22 (3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”
The charge against Amoo reads: “That you, Amoo Emmanuel Abiodun on or about 29th October 2021, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, impersonated Clifford Smith, a white man from the United States of America and thereby committed an offence of Impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
They pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.
Consequently, Justice Agomoh convicted and sentenced Ogunlana to one-year imprisonment and ordered him to restitute the sum of N1,600,000.00 (One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) domiciled in his bank account to his victim and forfeit one Camry car to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Similarly, Justice Taiwo convicted and sentenced Amoo to six months of community service and ordered that the convict pay the sum of $1,300USD (One Thousand Three Hundred United States of America Dollars) in restitution and forfeit one iPhone 11 mobile phone to the Federal Government.
In a related development, the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC arraigned one Sotunde Bashir Abiola before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, on one count charge bordering on fraudulent impersonation.
The charge reads: “That you, Sotunde Bashir Abiola ‘M’ sometimes in March 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud aided and abetted one Ashefon Daniel Kayode who fraudulently impersonated one Robbin Stephen with intent to gain advantage for himself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b)(iv) of the same Act.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to him before the court.
Justice Agomoh ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Agodi Correctional Facility and adjourned till November 2, 2022, for the commencement of trial.
Justice Mojisola Dada of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced a retiree from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, Charles Aiyeyi, to one year imprisonment.
Charles Aiyeyi was convicted for charges bordering on conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and making false statement to a public officer with intent to pervert the course of justice.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned the convict alongside with Friday Itsede, on a two-count charge for their involvement in the stalling of the trial of Chief Executive Officer of Omo-Jay Nigeria Limited, Jerome Itepu.
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges and EFCC commenced trial.
In the course of the trial, the prosecution witness, Callistus Egwuonwu, testified that sometime in 2015, the EFCC received a petition against some persons which included Jerome Itepu.
He told the court that in the course of investigation, Itepu was in 2018 invited for interrogation, which he honoured and he made statement, following which he was granted administrative bail.
In fulfilling the bail condition, the suspected fraudster provided the two defendants who stood as sureties for him. Aiyeyi had produced a letter of introduction from the Office of the Auditor General in which he was introduced as a staff of the Office. The second defendant told investigators that the suspect was a “blood relation” and that he could produce him anytime. They both signed a bond of N18 million each.
Thereafter, the suspect was released to the defendants, but he jumped bail, became incommunicado, while the defendants failed, despite promises and assurances, to produce him.
Subsequently, the EFCC arrested the defendants and charged them in court for perverting the course of justice. Though charges had been drawn against the suspected fraudster, he could not be arraigned in court as he remained in hiding and the defendants failed to produce him.
It was later discovered that at the time the first defendant introduced himself to the EFCC as a staff of the Office of the Auditor General, when he had in fact at the time retired from active service.
In the course of the trial, the defendants also filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the Court.
Delivering judgment, Justice Dada discharged and acquitted the second defendant holding that as argued by the defence, Exhibit P3 which was the bail condition, required only one surety, a level 14 civil servant, which in the instance was Aiyeyi.
The Judge thereafter held that the prosecution successfully proved the charges against the first defendant and so sentenced him to one year in prison; following the allocutus, however, he was given an option of fine of one million naira, (N1m).
One of the counts reads: “Charles Aiyeyi, Friday Itsede and Jerome Itepu (at large) on or about 21st December, 2018 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to pervert the course of justice by giving Mr. Callistus Egwuonwu, a staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, employed in the public service with the intention of causing Jerome Itepu to be released on bail pursuant to which he absconded.”
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of a 24-year-old student of Computer Science at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Adebowale Babatunde Ismail, to seven months imprisonment before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State for the offence of criminal impersonation.
The offence is contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the same Act.
The defendant fraudulently represented himself as Annabel Torrens to one John Dauherty through an email address: [email protected] in order to take advantage of his victim.
Upon his arraignment, he pleaded “guilty” to the one-count charge.
In view of the guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict and sentence Adebowale as charged.
Justice Agomoh, after listening to both parties convicted and sentenced the defendant to seven months imprisonment.
He also ordered that the convict pay the sum of one million, four hundred thousand Naira in restitution and forfeit one Toyota Rav 4 SUV and an iPhone 11pro mobile phone to the Federal Government.
The crime rate in the country remains worrisome, moreover, the concern is heightened by the growing involvement of youths and teenagers.
Early this month, two teens in Bayelsa State were caught while allegedly attempting to use a 14-year-old girl for money rituals.
This no doubt is an indication of the worsening fall in moral values in the society, which has seriously eroded and the youths are now infecting the teens with untoward behaviour.
To underscore the enormity of the situation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC last year pointed out that seventy per cent of Nigerian youths could end up being ex-convicts in the nearest future.
Two residents of Ibadan attributed the growing involvement of youths and teenagers in evil acts to the failure of the family unit and misplaced values.
Three youths also bared their minds on the spread of crime among their peers and teenagers.
According to them, increased occurrences of crime among teens is caused by lack of education, broken homes and poor upbringing.
A sociologist, Mr Sunday Akindimi, highlighted why the situation might persist if concrete steps were not taken to address it.
“Poverty, low self-esteem and neglect are also causes of teens involving themselves in crime.”
Mr Akindimi added that it was essential that society go back to the basics to stem the tide of this dangerous and evil trend.
Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope, for allegedly obtaining money to the tune of N24, 955, 000. 00 (Twenty Four Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Naira) by false pretence.
The 42-year-old Ibadan socialite was arrested following a series of petitions in which the suspect who claims to be a registered dealer with soft drinks manufacturers in Ibadan, Oyo state promised to supply products to complaints but failed after collecting money from them.
In one of the petitions, Ajayi promised to supply a truckload of carbonated soft drinks worth N17, 375,000 (Seventeen Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Naira Only) from Ibadan to Mabera Trading Company and Altine Musa in Sokoto but failed to do so.
In the same vein, she also allegedly promised to supply soft drinks worth N7, 580,000 (Seven Million Five Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) to one Bashiru Musa, a businessman based in Sokoto and Ibadan but never did.
The suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured thirteen convictions before different Justices of the Federal and State High Courts in Ibadan and Osogbo, the capital cities of Oyo and Osun States.
The convicts are Abiodun Babatunde Sowunmi, Adeyemi Babatunde Hammed, Abeeb Abiola Badmus, Adebayo Akorede Saheed, Ganiyu Qudus Olawale and Omolade Ayemidotun Moses.
Others are Taofeeq Toheeb Atanda, Oyekanmi Qudus Oyewale, Alabi Ifeoluwa Olamide, B.T.D Multi global Limited, Adewuyi Adetoun, Owolabi Toheeb Tolulope and Taiwo Shedrack Akpoyen.
The convicts were prosecuted on separate charges.
Justice Uche Agomoh of Federal High Court, Ibadan, found Sowunmi, Olawale, Omolade and Badmus guilty of the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(1) Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b) of the same Act.
While Sowunmi and Olawale were sentenced to ten months imprisonment each, Omolade and Badmus bagged nine and six months imprisonment each.
Similarly, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, convicted Alabi, Atanda, Oyekanmi, Adeyemi and Adebayo on separate charges of obtaining property by false pretence contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The judge sentenced Alabi to a term of three months of community service, while Atanda, Adeyemi, Adebayo and Oyekanmi bagged two months of community service each.
In the same vein, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of Federal High Court sitting in Oshogbo found B.T.D Multiglobal Limited guilty of counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 preferred against them by the EFCC.
Trouble started sometime in December 2017 when the Commission received a petition alleging B.T.D Multiglobal Limited and Adewumi fraudulent misappropriated 1billion naira, received from about 8,000 investors.
The court, while ordering the revocation of the certificate of incorporation of the company, ordered that the Corporate Affairs Commission should windup the company.
According to the judge, “the proceeds therefrom as well as the sum of 32million naira recovered in the course of the investigation should be used to pay the investors”.
The judge also found Adewuyi, who claimed to be 20 years old and a student of the Federal University of Technology; Akure as at the time the offence was committed guilty of counts 1 and 2 and imposed a prison term of three years on each of the two counts, to run concurrently.
In the same token, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel sentenced Akpoyen to ten months imprisonment over fraudulent impersonation, while ordering a prison term of six years on Owolabi for impersonation and possession of documents.
The convicts are to restitute their various victims and forfeit the items recovered from them to the Federal Government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command, on November 15, 2021, secured the conviction of seven internet fraudsters before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Ogun State.
The convicts are Williams Ikechukwu Williams, Aizoba Opeyemi Stephen, Damilare Godwin Asore, Basit Oladeji Bamidele, Babajide Oluwapelumi Bolaji, Abayomi Stephen Aderohunmu and Oladokun Tobi Oladimeji.
They were all convicted after pleading guilty to one count separate charge of fraudulently impersonating some foreigners, contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
Justice Agomoh sentenced Asore to ten months imprisonment; Oladokun and Babajide were jailed nine months each; Aderohunmu seven months; Williams and Aizoba bagged five months each, while Basit received one-month prison term.
In addition to the jail terms, Oladokun was ordered to restitute his victim, Darlene Miller, the sums of $2,350USD (Two Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars) and N565, 369.97(Five Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty-nine Naira Ninety-seven kobo) domiciled in his bank account.
Aderohunmu was ordered by the court to pay the sums of $700USD (Seven Hundred United States Dollars), N350, 058:52 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Fifty-eight Naira Fifty-two Kobo) domiciled in his Wema Bank account and N4, 860:54 (Four Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Naira, Fifty-four Kobo) domiciled in his Polaris Bank account as restitution to his victim, Davida Henderson.
Aizoba was ordered to restitute his victim, Jahneda Thea, the sum of $1,000USD (One Thousand United States Dollars).
Williams and Basit were ordered to return the sums of $1,600USD (One Thousand Six Hundred United States Dollars) and $880USD (Eight Hundred and Eighty United States Dollars) as restitution to their victims through the Federal Government.
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Thursday slumped at a programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Mr. Bawa was speaking on the importance of digital identification in commemoration of the National Identity Day when he suddenly became emotional, attributing his demeanour to the death of a staff of the commission.
He didn’t give details of the identity of the staff but said he couldn’t continue his speech.
Mr. Bawa walked off the stage, sat in his chair and began to slump.
Thereafter, the EFCC boss was immediately rushed out of the hall accompanied by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Isa Panatami.
Oyo State House of Assembly, OYHA, has described as false, an online news story stating that the Assembly’s account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Chairman, Oyo State House of Assembly committee on Information, Mr. Qozeem Olayanju described the story as a rumor while speaking with Radio Nigeria correspondent in a telephone interview.
Mr. Olayanju said neither the Assembly’s account nor any lawmaker’s account were frozen by the EFCC in the ongoing investigation into alleged Official Car Scam against the state legislative arm.
Mr Olayanju emphasized that the report is not only misleading, but also discrediting the principles and values of the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly.
“The assembly has been running all its legislative duties in line with the laid down procedures We hold plenaries, perform oversight functions to the best of our ability ,and ultimately doing our best for the entire Oyo State. Where do will get fund to run the day to day activities if the Account of the Assembly had been frozen?
Mr. Olayanju expressed worry over the spread of fake news especially on the social and online news media describing the development as unfortunate.
A report recently surfaced on some online news media indicating that the account of the Oyo State House of Assembly has been frozen by the EFCC, which according to the news, has halted the monthly running costs of the lawmakers.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested 34 suspected internet fraudsters, also known as Yahoo Yahoo Boys.
They were apprehended in separate operations in Ibadan, Oyo State and Lagos.
Twenty four of the suspects, most of whom claimed to be undergraduates, were rounded up on Thursday April 1, 2021 at their hideout in Apete area of Ibadan, Oyo State by operatives from the Ibadan zonal office of the commission.
The early morning raid followed actionable intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet-related crimes.
The arrest led to the recovery of valuable items, including four exotic cars, mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards and several incriminating documents.
The remaining ten suspects were arrested by Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office on March 30, 2021 at Horizon II Estate, Meadow Hall Way, Lekki, Lagos following credible information on their alleged criminal activities.
The suspects were allegedly involved in romance scam, unemployment benefits scam, identity theft, and purchase of malicious tools to compromise corporate email accounts and intercept email messages.
Items recovered from the suspects include mobile phones and laptop computers.
The suspects have volunteered statements to the commission and would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has closed case in the N500m laundering trial of former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.
The agency closed its case after presenting 2nd witness to testify against the Speaker and his former Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, on 54 counts amended charge
Ikuforiji and Atoyebi are facing amended 54 counts bordering on alleged diversion and laundering of N338m belonging to the Lagos State House of Assembly.
They were re-arraigned before Justice Liman December last year, five years after they were earlier discharged of the offences by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the same court in 2014.
Upon their re-arraignment before Justice Liman, they pleaded not guilty.
At today’s proceedings, the witness, Adewale Olatunji, identified the former speaker and his personal assistant in the dock.
He recalled receiving two letters from the EFCC, the first concerned the agency’s intention to investigate the Speaker’s financial dealings and the second was an invitation to him to appear before the Commission in relation to the investigation.
“When they came, I directed staff of house to cooperate with them and give them what they required,” Olatunji said, adding that he later honoured the invitation at the EFCC’s Abuja headquarters.
The witness confirmed that he was aware that the EFCC officials demanded for and were given documents.
“The documents were majorly cash registers,” he said.
Upon being shown one of the documents – which were in the courts possession as exhibits – the witness Identified same as a certified true copy of a cash register forwarded to EFCC by the HoA.
After the testimony, Ikuforiji’s counsel, Mr Dele Adesina, SAN, asked for a short date to either open defence or file a no-case submission.
Subsequently, Justice Mohammed Liman granted his prayer and fixed March 24 for Ikuforiji to open his defence in the alleged money laundering charges preferred against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ibadan zonal office, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 secured the conviction of Opeyemi Olasumbo Folarin and Ogunseye Ajibola Olamilekan before Justice Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Ibadan for Fraudulent Impersonation.
Folarin, who claims to be a 27-year-old Higher National Diploma student of The Ibadan Polytechnic and Ogunseye, who claims to be a student of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta were both found guilty of separate amended lone count of impersonation, an offence contrary to section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act.
Both pleaded guilty to the charges, Justice Ajoku sentenced Folarin and Dike to six months and seven months custodial sentence respectively.
The judge also ordered that Folarin forfeits his Orange colour Iphone XR to the Federal Government of Nigeria, while Oguseye was ordered to restitute the sum of $700USD (seven Hundred United States of American Dollars) to his victim as well as forfeit his silver Iphone 6 Phone, one Apple series 6 watch, one Apple MacBook, one PlayStati on 4 Game pad, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, secured the conviction of one Oluwatobi Damilola Aina before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The 26-year-old who claimed to be a fashion enthusiast, was arrested on September 29, 2020, when the Commission got wind of his fraudulent activities and consequently charged to court on one-count charge bordering on impersonation.
The charge reads, “Oluwatobi Damilola Aina, sometimes between the month of January and October 2020 at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as a female known as Namita Cooling”.
Aina pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view his plea, he was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison.
The court also ordered him to restitute items recovered from him to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ibadan Zonal Office has arrested eight men suspected to be internet fraudsters in Osogbo, Osun State.
The suspects Akinrinmade Adepoju Sunday and his brother Akinrinmade Adeniyi were arrested in their room and parlor apartment in Osogbo.
Others were arrested during an early morning raid on their hideout at Ayegbami area of the ancient town.
Operatives of the EFCC had for days kept surveillance on activities around the spots following intelligence alleging illegal use of the internet for criminal acts.
Items recovered from the suspects included two cars, laptops and phones.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office has arrested eleven suspected internet fraudsters in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital.
Acting on intelligence, operatives of the commission swooped on their hideouts in the Osun State capital where they picked all the eleven.
The commission impounded twelve cars which included three Toyota Highlander SUVs, one Mercedes Benz GLK 350 SUV, One Acura SUV, two Honda Crosstour, two Toyota Venza and three other Toyota brands.
Also seized from the suspects were phones, laptops and other devices.
In a telephone interview with newsmen, EFCC spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects were in custody of the commission for interrogation.
Mr Uwujaren added that they would be charged to court for trial.
Upon their arrest, the suspects, who were all young claimed to be students, artisans, farmers and businessmen.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dragged one Ajari Oghenekewe before a Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State for presenting self’s fake death certificate to escape justice.
The commission’s prosecutor, Mr Muritala Usman, told the court that the defendant on February 17, 2020, with intention to deceive the EFCC, presented a false death certificate to the commission to escape justice, having been under investigation for fraud.
He was also said to have presented the fake death certificate through one Iyekute Felix to the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal office, an offence contrary to section 39(2)(a) and punishable under section 39(2)(b) of the criminal law.
Oghenekewe was also alleged to have forged a Mikano International Limited Identity Card with the name of one Emefiele Smart and presented it to the staff of Fidelity Bank, Ile-Ife with intention to falsely obtain money from the bank.
The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M 17 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Meanwhile, Oghenekewe pleaded not guilty to the three-count charges bothering on fraud, forgery and cybercrime preferred against him by the EFCC.
His Counsel, Mr M. O. Benson, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, promising that he would stand his trial.
Justice Emmanuel Ayoola declined the oral application directing the counsel to file a formal bail application and ordered that the defendant should be allowed to continue with the EFCC’s bail condition.
He adjourned the matter to November 18, 2029 for ruling on bail application.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office on Wednesday, arraigned the trio of Adegoke Johnson Adebayo, Ayodele Elijah Olubunmi Sunday and Adelowo Waheed Adewole, before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan for Eighty-Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand loan fraud.
The suspects, who are staff of Osun State Environmental Protection Commission, and president, secretary and treasurer of the Commission’s staff cooperative society, respectively, allegedly diverted the sum, obtained as loan for the cooperative members.
The EFCC preferred a 10-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office, stealing, forgery, altering, and obtaining money under false pretence against them.
One of the charge read: That you, Adegoke Johnson Adebayo (President), Ayodele Elijah Olubunmi Sunday(Secretary) and Adelowo Waheed Adewole (Treasurer) and Gbenga Joseph Zacheus now at large sometime in the year 2014, at Yemetu, Ibadan, within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this honourable court, obtained the sum of Eighty Three Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira only from First Bank of Nigeria Limited by falsely pretending that it is a loan, strictly for members and staff of the Osun State Environmental Protection Commission (Osogbo) Staff Co-operative Investment and Credit Society Limited which representations you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence.”
They pleaded not guilty to the charges, upon which prosecution counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, applied for a trial date and an order for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional facility, while defence counsel, A. T. Adeleye, informed the court of a joint bail application of her clients which she said, has been served on the prosecution.
The judge adjourned the case till October 14, 2020 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Service.
Trouble started for the defendants following a First Bank of Nigeria PLC petition to the EFCC, alleging that the trio sometime in 2014 approached the bank for a loan facility to the tune of Eighty Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand on behalf of members of the society, but discovered a foul play as the loan beneficiaries began making the repayment in amounts that fell far below the agreed monthly installment.
In the course of investigations, the EFCC discovered that the defendants cooked up the list of the loan beneficiaries and other documents they presented to the bank for the processing of the loan.
Justice Mojisola Dada of a Special Offences Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a businessman, Alh. Gbadamosi Sikiru Olarenwaju to two years imprisonment over stealing of N9m.
The judge handed down the verdict after the convict pleaded guilty to one count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.
Also, the court noted in his judgement that upon completion of serving term, the convict should enter into a bond with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to be of good behaviour and never to be involved in economic and financial crimes, illegitimate or criminal act within and outside the shores of the country.
Justice Dada who noted that the imprisonment shall run from the date of his formal arraignment in 2019, however, grant the convict an option of fine of one million naira.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned the convict on an amended charges of a count information of stealing.
According to the anti graft agency, the convict on the 19th of November, 2010 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the court with a dishonest intent stole the sum of nine million naira from one John Stevens.
The anti graft agency said that the offence was contrary to Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap C17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
Justice Dada further ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s property situated at No. 9 Lawal Mohammed Street, Alimosho Local Government Area of the state as payment in the sum of eight million naira as the final restitution to the nominal complainant.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the acquittal of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Mr Aziboala Roberts and his wife.
Delivering judgement on the appeal filed by the EFCC, Justice Stephen Adah held that the appeal was lacking in merit.
The judge therefore upheld the judgment of the lower court.
Reacting to the verdict, counsel to the respondent, Mr. Kanayo Okafor lauded the appellate court for its sound reasoning.
Counsel to the appellant, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, said the EFCC would study the judgment and take the next step.
The EFCC had in April 2016, charged Mr. Roberts, his company One Plus Holding Ltd, and his wife, Stella, with a nine-count charge of money laundering after they allegedly received the sum of 40 million U.S Dollars from a former National Security Adviser, Retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, for the supply of security kits.
But while ruling on a no case submission filed by the defence counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, in March 2018, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba discharged and acquitted Azibaola on counts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the charges, but ordered him to enter defence in respect of counts 2 and 3.
Justice Ibrahim Watilat of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State has sentenced one Festus Gbenga Ajayi, to one-year imprisonment for internet fraud.
The convict was prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one-count charge of criminal impersonation, having been arrested on October, 2019 in a raid conducted on his hideout in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Investigations conducted by the Commission linked him to series of internet-related frauds which formed the ground for his initial arraignment on eight-count charges, bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence before the charges were amended to lone-count, to which he pleaded guilty.
Apart from the jail term which takes effect from the day of conviction, the judge ordered that the convict forfeits his uncompleted one-storey building, located in Ado-Ekiti, a Toyota Corolla car, one gold-colour iPhone, among other proceeds of and tools of crime to the Federal Government.
He had earlier refunded N1,400,000 (One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) to the government, through the EFCC.
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr Ibrahim Magu has been released from detention.
He was suspended and led in the custody of the Force Criminal and Intelligence Department FCID of the Nigeria police.
Mr. Magu spent ten days in custody after he was arrested on the 6th of July amidst allegations of corruption.
He appeared before Justice Ayo Salami- led presidential investigative panel sitting in the AsoRock villa in Abuja. Magu’s lawyer, Toyin Ojaomo confined his release.
Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr. Oyewale Dele didn’t answer several of our phone calls.
Details of his release are still not known as at the time of filling in this report.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo says he will not be distracted by campaigns of calumny against his person.
He stated this in a Press Release by the Senior Special Assistant to the on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.
Text of the Press Statement
Vp Osinbajo will not be Distracted by Campaigns of Lies, Calumny
The attention of the Office of the Vice President has been drawn to a series of tweets and online publications by PointBlank News and Newsreel.com.ng today 8th July 2020, credited to the same person, one Jackson Ude.
In essence, Ude’s story is that “embattled former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly embezzled over N39 billion and gave Vice President Yemi Osinabjo (sic) N4 billion, after the VP gave instructions to him to release some of the recovered loots…” The same Jackson Ude has also been circulating a video on YouTube with a female commentator, peddling the same lies.
With all emphasis at our disposal, let it be firmly stated that these are totally false and baseless fabrications purporting to reflect goings-on at the Probe Panel investigating Mr. Ibrahim Magu. They are indeed completely absurd in every respect.
Sadly, such mindless, vicious and reckless publications have now become the preferred tool of unscrupulous and reprobate elements in our society who are procured with monetary inducement to peddle blatant falsehood, tarnish the image of upright public officials and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will of course not be distracted by these obvious campaigns of lies and calumny. The online publications, being criminally defamatory in nature, have been referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and necessary action.
A Federal High Court in Abeokuta has sentenced sixteen internet fraudsters also known as yahoo boys to different jail terms.
A statement by the spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewole made available to newsmen in Abeokuta explained that Justice Mohammed Abubakar who presided over the court convicted the sixteen accused finding them guilty of criminal impersonation and possession of documents containing false pretenses.
The statement listed the names of the convicted as Ajibola Ibikunle, Victor Solomon Osahun, Adeniyi and Afeez Adebayo.
Other convicted included Enitan Babajide Ganiu, Ashore Gbogbo Ayo, Sobayo Oladapo, Odebode Abiola Jamiu and Dairo Emmanuel Olajide.
The list also includes Stephen Mathew, Hussain Abdulkabir, Ayanniyi Quadri Ayansegun, Ajibike Kehinde Segun, Ibironke Tomiwa Emmanuel,
Agboola Olanrewanju Shakiru, Abdulrauf Adam Opeyemi and Akinlabi Royal Ebube completed the list of the sixteen jailed yahoo boys.
Mr. Oyewole said the convicts were all in their mid-twenties and pleaded guilty to one-count charge of impersonation separately filed against them by the EFCC.
According to him, the Prosecution counsels, Mr. Bashir Shamsuddeen, and Mr. Abdulrasheed Suleiman prayed the court to convict them accordingly.
The breakdown of the jail terms showed that Odebode would be in jail for two months while Ajibola, Osahun, Adebayo, Enitan, Ashore, Matthew, Ajibike and Akinlabi were sentenced to three months jail each, while Ayanniyi, Sobayo, Ibironke and Abdulrauf would spend four months in jail.
Abdulkabir and Dairo were also handed six months jail term each, while Agboola was sentenced to eleven months imprisonment.
The statement noted that the court ruled that the convicts would all forfeit items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria while they must also restitute sundry sums to their respective victims.
The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a Permanent Secretary in the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Rasaq Kolawole, for allegedly defrauding one Ibikunle Alonge of N4,400.000 (Four Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira).
Kolawole was arraigned before Justice Aderonke Aderemi of the Oyo State High Court on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, on one-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
The offence is against Section 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The victim of his alleged crime had written a petition to the EFCC in which he accused the top public servant of fraudulently collecting the sum from him as part payment for a piece of land situated at Alabata Olosoko area of Moniya, Ibadan.
He further alleged that it was after making the payment that he got to know that the land actually belonged to one Mrs. Ali (now deceased ), adding that all efforts to get a refund thereafter was unsuccessful.
The one- count charge read: “That you, Alhaji Kolawole Rasaq on or about the 2nd of October, 2018, at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4,400,000 (Four Million and Four Hundred Thousand Naira only) from one Alonge Ibikunle through Pastor Adeyemi Fabayo by falsely pretending that it was part payment of the cost price of eleven and half plots of land situated, lying and being at Alabata Olokoso area, via Moniya area, Ibadan which you purported to have sold to him.
Kolawole pleaded not-guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, prayed the court for a date for the commencement of trial.
Justice Aderemi admitted the defendant to bail on self- recognizance and adjourned the matter to June 24 and 25, 2020 for trial.
