The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Olakunle Oluomo has returned to his office after his travail in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.
The speaker was received at the Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta House of Assembly complex by the state lawmakers as well as the staff and other stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, the Chairman, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Ogun Assembly Chapter Mr Ayotunde Ojediran, expressed optimism that the leadership of the 9th legislature would not be deterred in the course of adding value to the process of good governance.
Mr Ojediran who expressed joy that both the Speaker and the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Deji Adeyemo, were back at their duty posts renewed the association’s confidence in their leadership.
The PASAN chairman promised that the association would continue to work and support the lawmakers towards ensuring the success of the 9th legislature.
The Speaker was recently arrested and arraigned alongside the Clerk of the Assembly by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for offences bordering on financial crimes.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and stealing against the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, and three others.
The charge was filed by the EFFC’s Lagos Head of Legal Monitoring Unit, Rotimi Oyedepo, at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State on September 1, 2022.
Count 1 of the charge read, “That you Oluomo Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Amoke (now at large) sometimes in 2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this court conspired amongst yourselves to use the total sum of N2.475bn which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly. You thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
The commission said it intends to call at least 10 witnesses to testify and tender documents and exhibits.
The witnesses include Adamu Yusuf, Otitoju Kolawale, Yazid Bawa, Anyanwu Bright, Adekunbi Mojibola, Munkaila Huzaifa, and Idowu Olarenwaju.
Others are representatives of Ashkash Nigeria limited, representatives of Obasanjo Holdings Limited (managers of NNPC Mega Station) and representatives of Gateway Bank limited.
A source at the EFCC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed to our correspondent that the commission would follow up on the case with an application in Abeokuta for the case to be heard this week at the Federal High Court in Lagos by a vacation judge.
The EFCC had earlier released Oluomo on bail, and he is expected to return to the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency today alongside other officials of the Ogun State House of Assembly, including the clerk and accountant for questioning.
Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested Adepoju Olawale Sunday, owner of “De Rock Club”, Ring Road, Ibadan and 21 other suspected internet fraudsters, in an intelligence-driven operation.
This is contained in a statement by the commission’s head of media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren.
The 21 other suspected internet fraudsters, including a couple: Aladenusi Adegboyeyega Ayodeji and Aladenusi Omowunmi Sadat( a.k.a Bonnie and Clyde) are: Ajuwon Omobola Ibrahim, Ogunniyi Atilade Stephen, Bolaji Olawale Quadri, Olajire Usthman Olamilekan, Ojo Faruq Kolapo, Kajero Babatunde Sodiq, Kareem Taiwo Abiodun, Bolaji Bolarinwa Toheeb, Banjo Micheal Toyin and Clement Clemson Adeseye.
Sunday, 36, a graduate of Industrial Chemistry of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, also runs Helpline Foundation, Special Service Global Trust (S.S.G) Limited, all in Ibadan. He was arrested with a 2020 Range Rover HSE Sports Utility Vehicle.
The suspects were arrested after a series of surveillance and intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.
Items recovered from them include five cars, laptop computers, mobile phones, and incriminating documents containing false presences.
They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, is to be arraigned in Lagos on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged financial crimes, an impeccable source within the anti-graft agency confirmed to our correspondent Saturday night.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the agency was leaving no stone unturned in its bid to arraign the Chief lawmaker, adding that some political actors had been making efforts to stall the arraignment.
He said, “We’re leaving no stone unturned concerning this Oluomo’s matter. He will be arraigned in court in Lagos State on Monday or later in the week, as we’re currently preparing charges against him.
“We’re arraigning him in Lagos because it’s a jurisdictional matter. Some highly placed personalities are doing everything to frustrate his arraignment, but he’s expected to go explain or defend himself in court on Monday.”
The Speaker was arrested by officials of the EFCC at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Thursday morning and secretly flown to Abuja, and was still in the custody of the anti-graft agency, Saturday night.
He was said to have been on the wanted list of the commission following his failure to honour the EFCC’s invitation several times.
Oluomo and others (yet to be named) were accused of forging signatures and financial documents belonging to the state Assembly.
The EFCC National and South-West spokespersons, Mr Wilson Uwujaren and Mr Dele Oyewale, did not respond to their calls nor responded to WhatsApp and text messages from our correspondent, Saturday night.
A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing the ruling All Progressives Congress, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, however, confirmed the situation.
He said, “The information you got is correct. Our speaker was arrested by officials of the EFCC earlier this morning. From what I gathered, he was alleged to have been involved in misappropriation and embezzlement of funds.”
It was further gathered that the absence of the Speaker prevented the House from observing its last Thursday sitting.
Deputy Speaker, Akeem Balogun, who is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of conducting the businesses of the Assembly, also could not convene the sitting of the House.
On Thursday, staff members of the Assembly complex were seen gathering in groups and discussing in a hushed tone.
The Speaker’s refusal to honour the EFCC’s invitation was said to be premised on the existing litigation instituted by the Assembly earlier in January this year at the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, against the agency.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Yussuf Adejojo, said the Speaker’s arrest might have prevented the lawmakers from observing its sitting.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has flown the arrested Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for questioning.
As reliably gathered, the embattled lawmaker is currently onboard an Abuja-bound aircraft over alleged misappropriation and embezzlement of funds
An impeccable source within the anti-graft agency confirmed the development to our correspondent on Thursday.
The EFCC arrested the Ogun Speaker at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in the early hours of Thursday at about 09:00 am.
The source added that Oluomo had earlier failed to honour official invites by the anti-graft commission.
The EFCC National and South-West spokespersons, Mr Wilson Uwujaren and Mr Dele Oyewale, did not take their calls nor responded to WhatsApp and text messages from our correspondent on Thursday.
A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing the ruling All Progressives Congress, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, however, confirmed the situation.
He said, “The information you got is correct. Our speaker was arrested by operatives of the EFCC earlier this morning. From what I gathered, he was alleged to have been involved in misappropriation and embezzlement of funds.”
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentencing of the Director of Logistics of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Chapter, Adeyemi Israel Abiodun to one-year imprisonment for internet-related fraud.
He is among 40 persons convicted on separate one-count charges before four judges of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.
Their offences bordered on impersonation, obtaining money under false pretence, obtaining property by false pretence and forgery contrary to Sections 419, 467, 484, 516 and 508 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The other convicts are Yekeen Azeez Ishola, Okeniyi Samuel Akiniyi, Theophilus Ademola Bukola, Salami Mohammed Adetayo, Pelumi Ajayi Temiloluwa, Lawal Abdullateef Olalekan, Okusanwo Mayowa Daniel, Oluwole Oluwasegun Ayomide, Adedotun Omodele Yusuf, Monday Nnaemeka Samuel, Idowu Adeshina, Olowe Nifemi Ayomide, Adubu Olamiotan Sunday, Kehinde Olatunji Kehinde, Oguntuase Tope Francis, Elijah Isaac Wisdom, Ogbanaya Chukwu Chukwu, Adekola Adekunle, Odebode Temiloluwa Kehinde, Joseph Odunayo Clement, Andrew Adekunle Masika, Usman Mubarak Damilare, Isiaka Olumide Hammed, Uawu Osita Henry, Kareem Afeez Alabi and Ogunyemi Ayobami Samuel.
Others include Mimiola Victor Olamide, Adeeko Kolade Emmanuel, Egberongbe Adedayo Quam, Oyelaran Olayiwola Jeremiah, Hammed Rilwan Ishola, Adefowora Omotayo David, Adedeji Ibrahim Olamilekan, Emmanuel Timileyin Akinbowale, Michael Damola Olanrewaju, Ayanyemi Olaide Samuel, Boye Timilehin Emmanuel, Timileyin Ajibola Idowu and Azeez Tolulope Ayoade.
Abiodun was arraigned before Justice Iyabo Yerima while thirty-nine others were prosecuted before Justices Bayo Taiwo, Akintola Ladiran and Olusola Adetujoye between August 15, 2022, and August 23, 2022.
The one-count charge against Abiodun reads: “That you, Adeyemi Israel Abiodun and Odaise Precious Abiola (aka Prezzy) (at large) on or about 30th March 2022 at Ibadan, within the Ibadan Judicial Division did conspire to forge various the United States of America Banks Cheques and purport same to be genuine and thereby committed the offence of conspiracy to commit forgery contrary to Section 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Abiodun and the others pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them by the EFCC.
In view of their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, Modupe Akinkoye, Oyelakin Oyediran, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Chidi Okoli, Abdulrasheed Suleiman, Mabas Mabur and Samsuddeen Bashir reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered confessional statements and documents recovered from the convicts as exhibits and urged the courts to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.
Consequently, Abiodun, Daniel and Ayomide were convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment each without the “option of fine”, while Akiniyi bagged three months jailed terms and six months community service.
Other defendants were convicted and sentenced to six months of community service each.
Furthermore, the court ordered Abiodun to pay the sum of $1,000USD (One Thousand United States Dollars) in restitution and forfeit a white Mercedes Benz CLA-250 with a customized NANS plate number worth N16million, a gold neck chain and one ice neck chain worth N3.6million, bitcoin worth $58, 854.88USD, one Apple Mac Book Pro 2020 Model and an iPhone 12 Pro Max to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Other convicts were ordered to restitute their victims and forfeit all items recovered from them.
It will be recalled, that Abiodun, a 200-level student of Economics and Development Studies of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State was arrested on March 30, 2022, alongside seventy-nine (79) others in a sting operation by the operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC at Sango area of Ibadan, Oyo State for alleged internet fraud.
Investigations revealed that, between July 2021 and March 2022, Abiodun benefited N195, 274, 331.00 (One Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-One Naira) as cumulative heist from cyber-fraud involving forgery of over 25 US banks cheques.
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, August 11, 2022 secured the conviction of five cybercriminals before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan on separate one count charge of impersonation, contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The convicts are Ojekale Samuel Ayodimeji, Azeez Toheeb Oluwatemilorun, Ayomide Michael Eniola, Adetona Oladimeji Abdulazeez and Shonola Gafar Opeyemi.
The charge against the latter reads: “That you, Shonola Gafar Opeyemi ‘M’ on or about the 16th of June 2022 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did falsely represent yourself to be Lewa David which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The charge against Ojekale reads: “That you, Ojekale Samuel Ayodimeji on or about the 16th day of June, 2022 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud one Kristin J. Smith falsely represented yourself as Jenifer Wills, a white lady from the United States of America, which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The charge against Oluwatemilorun reads, “That you, Azeez Toheeb Oluwatemilorun on or about 30th March, 2022, at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, gained an advantage for yourself when you impersonated and represented yourself to be a white American female by the name of Kim Hairby Yvonne from the United States of America and other pretences you knew to be false and thereby committed the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The charge preferred against Eniola reads: “That you, Ayomide Michael Eniola ‘M’ sometime in May, 2022 at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did falsely represent yourself to be a female who goes by the name Debra Rene Click, from Florida, United States of America and other false representations, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed the offence personation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The charge against Adetona reads: “That you, Adetona Oladimeji Abdulazeez ‘M’ on or about the 16th of June, 2022 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did falsely represent yourself to be Dora Maccarty, which representation you knew to be false, thereby committed the 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, the prosecution counsel, Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleiman, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.
Justice Yerima thereafter, convicted and sentenced Ayodimeji, Oluwatemilorun, Eniola and Opeyemi to six months community service each while Abdulazeez bagged three months community service.
Also, the convicts were ordered to restitute their victims and forfeit all the items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, has convicted and sentenced seven internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
The convicts: Ogunyemi Olajide Temitope, Olamilekan Fafiolu Quadri, Olamilekan Paul Akinyemi, Ayegbusi Ayokunle, Taiwo Azeez Dolapo, Adeogun Usman Oluwatobiloba and Oyewumi Michael Oluwapelumi, were jailed on August 8 & 9, 2022.
They were convicted after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charge, upon their arraignment by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsels, Oluwatoyin Owodunni and Mabars Mabur prayed the court to convict and sentence them as charged.
Justice Taiwo thereafter convicted and sentenced Temitope, Quadri, Akinyemi and Ayokunle to six months of community service each and further ordered that “any of the convicts who failed to report at any point in time to their designated places assigned for the six months community service, shall be sentenced to three years imprisonment at the end of the community service”.
Furthermore, the judge convicted and sentenced Oluwatobiloba to six months imprisonment but Dolapo and Oluwapelumi to six months of community service each.
Also, the court ordered Temitope to pay the sum of $4,600USD (Four Thousand, Six Hundred United States Dollars) in restitution, Akinyemi $3,000USD (Three Thousand United States Dollars) and Quadri $1,000 (One Thousand United States Dollars).
Other convicts were also ordered to restitute their victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC for internet-related offences. They were charged to court and convicted.
Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 arrested twenty-nine (29) internet fraud suspects in a sting operation at Omi-Adio area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The suspects are Abdullahi Kehinde Tawab, Ayomide Alase Abiodun, Hassan Larla Olamilekan, Makinde Adebowale Saheed, Tofunmi Oyebade Segun, Rotimi Gbadamosi Ayomide, Igbamidun Joshua Olamiposi, Gbadamosi Samson Tobiloba, Qodir Ayoola Babalola, Frank Obi Ogechukwu, Olawale Abowaba Joshua, Dauda Kareem Oladayo, Hammed Dauda Akanji, Yusuf Akorede Abiodun and Haruna Adedoyin Kayode.
Others include Yusuf Lawale Raji, Adejare Ayuba Olamide, Owolabi Gbadamosi Moses, Victor Salami Gbenga, Abdullahi Teslim Taiwo, Oluwaseun Abowaba Samuel, Alase Ayodele Philip, Oduola Kunmi Ireola, Ajayi Olumide Olamilekan, Opeyemi Samuel Enitan, Yusuf Ayobami Qudus, Atanda Jamiu Olamide, Ibrahim Bashit Alade and Ilori Peter Oladapo.
Items recovered from them include mobile phones, laptops, two motor-bikes, one i-watch, video games and jewelry.
They will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded.
An Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, on Thursday, granted bail to the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
This is coming barely a week after the court remanded the former AGF in prison. The court had last week Friday ordered that Idris and his co-defendants be kept in Kuje Correctional facility pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The remand order followed the arraignment of the former AGF by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The other defendants were Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Ltd.
The defendants are being prosecuted on a 14-count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109, 485,572,691.9.
But in n his judgement on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi, adopted all the terms and conditions of the administrative bail the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission earlier gave the ex-AGF and his two co-defendants.
“In line with the due process and supremacy of the law, the Defendants are still entitled to bail, irrespective of the enormity of the allegations against them.
https://644dd13958122293b86bcfc9dc1bff6b.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html “The EFCC did not in any of its processes, stated that the defendants misbehaved while on administrative bail”, Ajayi ruled.
Ajayi also ordered that the defendants shall not leave the Federal Capital Territory without permission of the court.
Justice Ajayi threatened to revoke the bail of any of them who fail to appear for trial.
The court also stated that the defendants shall sign an undertaken that they will abide by the bail conditions by the EFCC.
Justice Ajayi added that the defendants should not have and shall not procure alternate passports until the case is expensed, having deposited their original passports to the commission.
The ruling was given by the Judge on grounds that the allegations against the defendants are yet to be proven.
The trial began immediately after the ruling on bail.
An FCT High Court on Friday ordered that the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and three others be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility over alleged N109.5 billion fraud.
Other defendants are Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on a 14-count charge of alleged misappropriation of N109.5 billion.
Justice O. Adeyemi Ajayi gave the order after the submission of all counsel in the matter.
She ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje correctional centre pending bail applications.
She adjourned until July 27 for hearing in the bail applications.
Earlier, Counsel to Idris, Chris Uche SAN prayed the court to allow the defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC.
Uche added that the EFCC has the defendant’s international passport, and as such they should be allowed to come back on Monday to take their bail application.
He urged the court to permit the defendants to come back on Monday and not remand them at any correctional facility.
However, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN said the administrative bail ended once the charge was filed.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has presented more evidence against singer Azeez Fashola known better as Naira Marley, at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
This is as the court also dismissed the defendant’s objection to the forensic evidence earlier presented by the witness.
The trial of the singer continued on Friday before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, the prosecuting witness, Dein Whyte, an operative of the EFCC continued the presentation of evidence against the singer.
Naira Marley is standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on credit card fraud brought against him by the EFCC.
A statement by the anti-graft agency read, “At the last sitting on June 9, 2022, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo SAN, had objected to the witness’s opinion on the forensic evidence linking the defendant to credit card fraud.
“He had argued that only the court could make pronouncements on the defendant’s culpability, not an investigator”.
“At the resumed trial today, Justice Oweibo delivered a short ruling in which he dismissed the defence’s objection;
“It is the duty of the law enforcement agency or police, to charge a person to court to investigate if the defendant committed the crime or not. The investigator must be able to link the defendant to the commission of the crime.
“The prosecutor must have made up his mind as to the involvement of the defendant before bringing the case to court. I do not agree that the prosecution has declared the defendant guilty,” the judge ruled.
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.
An Election Monitoring Group, YIAGA Africa, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to arrest anyone attempting to buy or sell votes during Osun governorship election.
The Executive Director of the group, Mr Samson Itodo, made the call during a press conference in Osogbo.
Mr Itodo said that political parties, candidates, and their supporters must refrain from vote-buying and the related practice of compromising the ballot’s secrecy and value of the vote.
He said, “Yiaga Africa calls for better coordination with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in making arrests of political party leaders, agents and anyone attempting to buy or sell votes before the election and on election day.
“Security agencies should deploy monitoring mechanisms to checkmate and curtail personnel excesses on Election Day”, he said.
Mr Itodo noted that with a different political and security terrain, the Osun election would test the resolve of election stakeholders, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to conduct credible, transparent and peaceful election.
He appealed to INEC’s permanent and ad hoc staff, all security agents, political party candidates and their supporters, as well as all electorate to work together to ensure that the election is credible and peaceful.
“While INEC has expressed confidence in the state of its preparedness, YIAGA Africa urges the commission not to overestimate its capacity nor underestimate potential challenges that could undermine the election.
“The voters in Osun and Yiaga Africa expect that INEC and security agencies will deliver credible, peaceful and conclusive elections bereft of challenges of election logistics, technological failures, inconsistent application of electoral laws and guidelines, electoral violence and vote-buying”, he said.
The Programme Manager of the group, Ms Cynthia Mbala, also said that vote buying reduces the quality of leadership and by extension affected citizen’s participation.
“Vote buying in no small way reduces the quality of leadership and, by extension, affects citizens’ participation in the electoral process due to little or no dividends of democracy
“Thus, the social contract between citizens and government is becoming transactional rather than a relationship based on trust, accountability, and demand for good governance”, he said.
Also in his remarks, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, YIAGA board member, said the increasing activities of political thugs and cultists in the state were no doubt capable of threatening the safety of personnel, materials, and citizens on election day.
Nwagwu urged all registered voters to come out en mass to vote for the candidate of their choice.
The absence of social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha popularly known as Mompha, on Thursday has again stalled his alleged 6 billion naira money laundering trial before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, charged Mustapha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd with eight counts bordering on money laundering, conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.
Justice Dada had on June 22 issued a bench warrant for Mustapha’s arrest following his absence in court.
She also revoked the bail that was granted to the defendant.
EFCC accused the defendant on June 10 for flouting the court’s order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.
During Thursday court sitting, the EFCC counsel, Samuel Daji, told the court that the commission was still in the process of re-arresting the defendant.
The defence counsel, Kolawole Salami, also prayed the court for an extension of time to bring back the defendant to court.
However, Justice Dada adjourned the case until September 21, 2022 for further report.
Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo has convicted and sentenced a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji, to 235years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering.
Olatunji was arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial.
EFCC‘s counsel, Nwandu Ukoha opened the case on November 7, 2019 and subsequently tendered thirty-five(35) exhibits through four prosecution witnesses, which were all admitted in evidence against the defendant. He closed the case on January 29, 2021 for the defence to open its defence.
Both the prosecution and defence counsel adopted their written addresses in October 2021, before the court adjourned for judgment.
Delivering judgment on Monday, June 27, 2022, Justice Okeke convicted Olatunji on all the 45- counts preferred against him by the EFCC. Justice Okeke said that, “the evidence of the prosecution witnesses are consistent and the prosecution established the guilt of the defendant in the case of money laundering as it relates to count one to five of the charges. The prosecution also established the guilt of the defendant in the offence of cybercrime as it relates to count six to forty five of the charges. The prosecution, on the totality of evidence before this court, proved the charges against the defendant.”
The judge sentenced Olatunji to seven (7) years imprisonment on counts one to five, and five (5) years imprisonment on counts six to forty-five.
The sentence, shall, however, run concurrently with effect from the date of arrest.
The court also ordered that the money in the convict’s account be forfeited to Norwegian citizens through the EFCC.
Also, his properties: House No. 6, located on Road 2 West-end Estate, Ikota, Lekki, Lagos State and House No. 10, Donatus Odum Street, Ikate, Lagos State are to be sold by the EFCC and the proceeds restituted to the Norwegian victims.
Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted and sentenced two co-defendants in a suit filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, against suspended DCP Abba Kyari over an alleged drug deal for two years in prison.
Delivering judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite held that having admitted to have committed the offence preferred against them in counts 5, 6 and 7 by the NDLEA, the co-defendants, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, were hereby convicted accordingly.
Justice Nwite thereafter sentenced them to 2 years imprisonment on each of counts 5, 6 and 7, terms would run concurrently and commence from the day the defendants were arrested by the NDLEA.
The two defendants were the two alleged drug traffickers arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the Nigerian police and handed over to the NDLEA.
They had pleaded guilty to five, six and seven counts preferred against them by the anti-narcotic agency.
The Cybercrime Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, submitted reports of forensic investigations led by Whyte Dein to corroborate their case against singer Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley, charged with credit card fraud before the Ikoyi Federal High Court.
Dein, the Chief Detective Officer of the Section told the court that his team’s investigations revealed that the defendant was involved in credit card fraud.
The artiste faced 11 charges bordering on alleged credit card fraud contrary to Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the Cyber Crimes Act.
It was gathered that the singer committed these offenses between November 26 and December 11, 2018, and May 10, 2018. He was arraigned on May 20, 2019, but was granted bail.
At the resumed trial on Thursday, Dein, led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that they discovered conversations on the defendant’s iPhone with one Raze who asked for a credit card details.
He said, “One of our findings from the forensic report shows the exchange of chat messages with several persons when the defendant sent credit card details, including card numbers and expiration dates. Visa card details were one of those sent by the defendant to a certain person known on his contact list as Raze. This message sent Visa Card details to Raze, after which Raze replied that the card was not valid.”
“We were able to establish through investigation the previous messages he sent with a wrong card that was indeed not valid. We then repeated the same process a second time which was now valid.”
Dein also explained that the singer used a multi-lingual browser to access illegal networks.
He said: “The defendant used malicious tools to disguise the identity and location of the user of the laptop when connected to the internet along with the presence of the Top Browser which acted as a single gateway to the dark net. This gave us a reasonable ground to suspect that the defendant had been engaging in fraudulent card activities. And this was established through a reply to our request to Visa Western Union Card.”
“The types of sites most commonly associated with the dark web are marketplaces where illicit goods such as narcotics, firearms, and stolen credit card numbers are bought and sold. The darkest corners are used to hire hitmen, engage in human trafficking, and exchange child pornography.”
Another forensics expert, Buru Buhari on October 3, 2019 during the proceedings, told the court that his investigations revealed stolen card details issued by European, American, and Latin American banks from the singer’s laptop.
Dein concluded by saying the investigations pointed out the defendant’s involvement in cyber fraud. However, the defense counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, objected and said only the court could conclude.
The case was adjourned till July 13 for ruling on the points raised, and July 15 for the continuation of the trial.
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 secured the conviction of the trio of Oluwaseyi Timileyin Agunbiade, Akande Hammed Oluwagbenga and Oguntoke Oluwadamilare Aremu before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, on one count charge each for offences which bordered on impersonation, contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. The charge against Agunbiade reads: “That you, Oluwaseyi Timileyin Agunbiade, sometime in July, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself did impersonate one Sabrina Mills, the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.” The charge against Akande reads. “That you, Akande Hammed Oluwagbenga sometime in July, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself did impersonate one Mark Anthony, the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”
The charge against Oguntoke reads: “That you, Oguntoke Oluwadamilare Aremu, sometimes in 2020 at Ilaro within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonated the name Williams Johnson an American citizen with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.” The defendants pleaded ‘guilty’ to their respective charges. Following their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Mabas Mabur, reviewed the facts of the cases and tendered their statements as well as the indicting documents printed from recovered devices, which were admitted in evidence.
Justice Agomoh, consequently convicted and sentenced Oguntoke to one year imprisonment, Agunbiade six months imprisonment, while Akande bagged five months jail term. Furthermore, the court ordered Oguntoke to restitute the sum of $600USD (Six Hundred United States Dollars), and forfeit one iPhone 11 mobile phone, one Itel phone and one Apple MacBook Laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Also, Agunbiade was ordered to restitute the sum of $100USD (One Hundred United States Dollars) and the balance of N1,011,916.01 (One Million and Eleven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Naira, one kobo), domiciled in his Guaranty Trust bank account to his victim and forfeit one iPhone 11 Pro Max to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Akande is to restitute the sums of $2,300USD (Two Thousand, Three Hundred United States Dollars) and N10, 104.53 (Ten Thousand, One Hundred and Four Naira, Fifty Three Kobo) domiciled in his Sterling bank account to his victim, and forfeit one iPhone 6 Plus mobile phone, one Infinix X5 phone, one iPhone12 Pro Max, a Smile Router and one unregistered Lexus 330 car to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Embattled former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, finally regains his freedom from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after meeting his bail conditions.
Okorocha arrived Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, where the presidential screening of the All Progressives Congress was ongoing at about 09:35 pm, Tuesday, and completed the presidential screening of the All Progressives Congress.
There had been doubts that the Senator would be present for the screening after he was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission last week Tuesday.
However, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail on Tuesday morning in the sum of N500 million and a surety in like sum.
After his screening, he thanked his supporters for standing by him and insisted that Nigeria needs a detribalised leader like him to pilot the affairs of the nation.
On his EFCC case, he promised to address the media in the coming days.
The APC is expected to hold a convention for the election of its presidential candidate between June 6 to 8.
To win the primary contest, Mr Okorocha is up against the likes of former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, former Lagos State Governor, Ahmed Tinubu and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Some personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have stormed the Abuja residence of the former Imo State Governor and All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Rochas Okorocha.
Details of their mission were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, but one of the former governor’s aides confirmed this to our correspondent.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, promised to find out what was going on when he was contacted for comment.
Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs Patricia Etteh, detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on suspicious and shady financial involvement with Phil Jin Projects Limited, has been released by the Commission.
She was released on Friday, May 20, 2022 upon fulfilling bail conditions offered her by investigators working on her matter.
According to a statement issued by the Commission on Saturday morning, Mrs Etteh is to report periodically to assist further investigations.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 16, 2022 arrested serving Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80 billion, Eighty Billion Naira, only.
The Commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.
The funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.
Mr Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that there would be no place to hide for looters of Oyo State’s funds.
The governor, who was speaking on a radio programme in Ibadan said that his administration was determined to retrieve every kobo of the state’s resources stolen by some members of the immediate past administration.
Governor Makinde noted that his administration has been able to bring about a turnaround in the infrastructure of the state and other key sectors because it blocked loopholes and wastages in resources.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that his government is on the track of some chieftains of a political party in the state, who used a certain company to siphon between N12 and N15 Billion of Oyo State’s money.
He added that the government would go after them and retrieve the looted funds for the people of Oyo State.
He maintained that his administration took the bold step of plugging every hole through which the state’s funds could be siphoned, adding: “Without blocking loopholes, we could not have been where we are today.”
He further stated: “First, we did verification for the workers and ghost workers, ghost pensioners were removed from the payroll. They were there before we came in but we decided that, as an administration, we would not spend our time on chasing shadows.”
He said: “Let me give you an example – when I came in, I looked at how some monies were spent and I believed it was Paris Club refund they moved, which was about N7 Billion to N8 Billion to OYSROMA. “This is an agency that operates normally on a budget of about N40 Million to N45 Million every month but this money came in around November 2017, and in early 2018, they started spending the money.
“When we came in, we discovered they finished spending the money within one year on nothing. They stole the money and I know those behind the stealing and I am also after them right now.
“There is a company called Chinese Global. They said they are Chinese people but we know the people behind it. The company has been shut down as we speak.
“I asked the General Manager in charge of OYSROMA and said, look, your budget is N44 Million every month and, in a year, it is less than N500 Million. Did you employ new people? He said no. Did you give out contracts? He said no. But how were you able to spend about N7 Billion in eleven months without employing new people?
“But he said the company supplied asphalt. And I said if the company did, was the asphalt used to repair roads without employing new people and giving out contracts? He said the money was moved from OYSROMA to Chinese Global and two other companies without any supply from the companies.
“As a result of that, I wrote to EFCC and reported the matter about what we are facing here. “Chinese Global is also the company they awarded the Bembo-Apata road contract to, and the same company got the Ido-Eruwa project. But I said to them, ‘guys, you have Oyo State money with you. Go ahead and use the money to finish up the roads and they promised to do it.
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Ogunleye Olawale Sylvester to six months community service before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the State High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State for internet fraud. The convict who is a second year student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, was amongst those suspects arrested by officers of the Nigerian Army and handed over the EFCC for prosecution. The convict pleaded guilty to one count charge. The count reads: “That you Ogunleye Olawale Sylvester on or about 11th November 2021, at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, impersonate David Miguel a white man from United States of America.” Upon his plea, the prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi reviewed the facts of the case and tendered indicting documents as evidence. He thereafter urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged. Consequently, Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Ogunleye to six months community service and ordered that he restitute the sum of $550USD (Five Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars), and forfeit one Tecno Spark 3 mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media & Publicity 12 April, 2022
