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Showing posts with label EFCC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EFCC. Show all posts

Whistle-blower: Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

Whistle-blower: Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

The whistleblowing policy of the Federal Government is paying off positively, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today stormed a residential building on the 7th floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located at 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where a humongous find of foreign currencies and naira notes to the tune of $43.4m, £27,800 and N23.2m was uncovered.

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi ApartmentThe operation followed a whistle blower's confidential alert received by the Commission's Lagos office this morning regarding some noticed suspicious movement of bags in and out of a particular apartment in the building. According to the source, the movers of the bags made believe that they were bringing in bags of clothes.

Another source who is conversant with the apartment of interest indicated that a woman usually appeared on a different occasion with Ghana Must Go bags.

"She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes but her skin didn't quite match her outward appearance, perhaps a disguise," the source said.

On getting to the building, operatives met the entrance door locked. Inquiries from the guards at the gate explained that nobody resides in the apartment, but some persons come in and out once in a while. In compliance with the magisterial order contained in the warrant, the EFCC used minimum force to gain entrance into the apartment.

Monies were found in two of the four bedroom apartment. A further probe of the wardrobe by operatives in one of the rooms was found to be warehousing three fireproof cabinets disguisedly hidden behind wooden panels of the wardrobe. Upon assessing the content of the cabinets, neatly arranged were US dollars, British pound sterlings, and some naira notes in sealed wrappers.

Preliminary findings indicate that the funds are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. Investigations are ongoing.

The facility is said to be owned by Osborne Towers Resident Association.

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

The whistleblowing policy of the Federal Government is paying off positively, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today stormed a residential building on the 7th floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located at 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where a humongous find of foreign currencies and naira notes to the tune of $43.4m, £27,800 and N23.2m was uncovered.

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi ApartmentThe operation followed a whistle blower's confidential alert received by the Commission's Lagos office this morning regarding some noticed suspicious movement of bags in and out of a particular apartment in the building. According to the source, the movers of the bags made believe that they were bringing in bags of clothes.

Another source who is conversant with the apartment of interest indicated that a woman usually appeared on a different occasion with Ghana Must Go bags.

"She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes but her skin didn't quite match her outward appearance, perhaps a disguise," the source said.

On getting to the building, operatives met the entrance door locked. Inquiries from the guards at the gate explained that nobody resides in the apartment, but some persons come in and out once in a while. In compliance with the magisterial order contained in the warrant, the EFCC used minimum force to gain entrance into the apartment.

Monies were found in two of the four bedroom apartment. A further probe of the wardrobe by operatives in one of the rooms was found to be warehousing three fireproof cabinets disguisedly hidden behind wooden panels of the wardrobe. Upon assessing the content of the cabinets, neatly arranged were US dollars, British pound sterlings, and some naira notes in sealed wrappers.

Preliminary findings indicate that the funds are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. Investigations are ongoing.

The facility is said to be owned by Osborne Towers Resident Association.

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

 Shock As EFCC Uncovers Another $43.4m, N23.2m, £27,800 In Ikoyi Apartment

UNBELIEVABLE: Fresh N30tr FOREX FRAUD Exposed, See List Of Banks Indicted

UNBELIEVABLE: Fresh N30tr FOREX FRAUD Exposed, See List Of Banks Indicted

Punch Newspaper - The Senate has begun an investigation into alleged foreign exchange racketeering by commercial banks and importers.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly alleged that Nigeria had lost over N30tn to the alleged forex diversion between 2006 and 2017.

The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, on Wednesday, met with commercial banks in the country, asking them to furnish it with evidence that forex, released by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the importers through the banks, was utilised as documented.

The panel, which provided documents of transactions within the years under review to representatives of the banks, asked the financial institutions to furnish it with the evidence of proper utilisation of the forex releases within three weeks.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said the Senate mandated the panel to “investigate and identify areas of revenue leakages in the entire import and export circle.”

He alleged that “all” banks in the country were suspected to have been responsible for the revenue loss.

The lawmaker added that the matter would be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and security agencies at a certain level of the probe.

“In the course of the investigation, issues that border on financial crimes will be sent to the EFCC; the ones that are internal security issues will be sent to the various agencies. Government is one, whether you are in the executive or the National Assembly,” he said.

Uzodinma stated that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, would also be invited by the committee.

Uzodinma said, “The committee started investigation and took time to enter into the import and export value share and we have been able to identify, supposedly, areas of leakages and malpractices ranging from unutilised, abandoned and partially utilised ‘Form M’; abandoned assessment of Customs duties and foreign exchange allocation manipulation.

“We have been able to also go into the database of the operating system of the Nigeria Customs Service, otherwise called ASYCUDA, and we identified Form M by Form M, import by import, vessel by vessel, liabilities of importers and commercial banks that have yet to be handled.

“We are talking about monies in a region of over N30tn and we have been able to give all this information to the commercial banks, who purchased the foreign exchange on behalf of the importers, to go home and come back with evidence of utilisation of the forex, failure which they will be compelled to refund those foreign currencies they bought from the Central Bank of Nigeria or interbank, supposedly to be used for imports.”

Uzodinma added, “What we are saying in essence is that the amount of foreign exchange the government is giving out to commercial banks and importers for the purpose of importation is not fully or not utilised as agreed.

“In essence, it is making foreign exchange scarce in the market; making the foreign exchange that the government is conceding to importers, not to be directed into activities of importation.

“We don’t see this as a healthy development because, in the process, so many companies are now ‘round tripping’, sending monies they don’t deserve out of this country without due process. This is what we are out to resolve.”

The Senator pointed out that after the conclusion of the probe by the panel, “I can tell you that the exchange rate will come down drastically. Only genuine importers will then enjoy government’s forex allocation.”

When asked if the banks were accomplices in the forex racketeering, Uzodinma responded, “There is no bank that is exempted; all the banks are involved – both the banks that are dead and the ones living.

“The ones that are no more operating were acquired by some banks. So, the activities of those that are no longer in operation, we have been able to tie them (activities) to those that acquired them (banks) as part of the liabilities.”

Uzodinma was also asked why the panel was focusing mainly on banks.

He said, “The foreign exchange utilisation manual prepared by the Central Bank of Nigeria as a regulation guiding import and export has entrusted with commercial banks this quantum of responsibilities because they purchase this money (forex) on behalf of the importers. Under the agency statute, once you are acting on behalf of somebody, the offence or the inaction of that person is your inaction.

When asked about the role, of the ministers and the Nigerian Shippers Council in the scam, Uzodinma said the panel met with shipping companies on Tuesday, where “the infractions caused by the shipping companies themselves” were identified.

He added that the council, as the regulatory body, had been notified and was billed to respond to the panel’s queries in two weeks.
Punch Newspaper - The Senate has begun an investigation into alleged foreign exchange racketeering by commercial banks and importers.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly alleged that Nigeria had lost over N30tn to the alleged forex diversion between 2006 and 2017.

The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, on Wednesday, met with commercial banks in the country, asking them to furnish it with evidence that forex, released by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the importers through the banks, was utilised as documented.

The panel, which provided documents of transactions within the years under review to representatives of the banks, asked the financial institutions to furnish it with the evidence of proper utilisation of the forex releases within three weeks.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said the Senate mandated the panel to “investigate and identify areas of revenue leakages in the entire import and export circle.”

He alleged that “all” banks in the country were suspected to have been responsible for the revenue loss.

The lawmaker added that the matter would be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and security agencies at a certain level of the probe.

“In the course of the investigation, issues that border on financial crimes will be sent to the EFCC; the ones that are internal security issues will be sent to the various agencies. Government is one, whether you are in the executive or the National Assembly,” he said.

Uzodinma stated that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, would also be invited by the committee.

Uzodinma said, “The committee started investigation and took time to enter into the import and export value share and we have been able to identify, supposedly, areas of leakages and malpractices ranging from unutilised, abandoned and partially utilised ‘Form M’; abandoned assessment of Customs duties and foreign exchange allocation manipulation.

“We have been able to also go into the database of the operating system of the Nigeria Customs Service, otherwise called ASYCUDA, and we identified Form M by Form M, import by import, vessel by vessel, liabilities of importers and commercial banks that have yet to be handled.

“We are talking about monies in a region of over N30tn and we have been able to give all this information to the commercial banks, who purchased the foreign exchange on behalf of the importers, to go home and come back with evidence of utilisation of the forex, failure which they will be compelled to refund those foreign currencies they bought from the Central Bank of Nigeria or interbank, supposedly to be used for imports.”

Uzodinma added, “What we are saying in essence is that the amount of foreign exchange the government is giving out to commercial banks and importers for the purpose of importation is not fully or not utilised as agreed.

“In essence, it is making foreign exchange scarce in the market; making the foreign exchange that the government is conceding to importers, not to be directed into activities of importation.

“We don’t see this as a healthy development because, in the process, so many companies are now ‘round tripping’, sending monies they don’t deserve out of this country without due process. This is what we are out to resolve.”

The Senator pointed out that after the conclusion of the probe by the panel, “I can tell you that the exchange rate will come down drastically. Only genuine importers will then enjoy government’s forex allocation.”

When asked if the banks were accomplices in the forex racketeering, Uzodinma responded, “There is no bank that is exempted; all the banks are involved – both the banks that are dead and the ones living.

“The ones that are no more operating were acquired by some banks. So, the activities of those that are no longer in operation, we have been able to tie them (activities) to those that acquired them (banks) as part of the liabilities.”

Uzodinma was also asked why the panel was focusing mainly on banks.

He said, “The foreign exchange utilisation manual prepared by the Central Bank of Nigeria as a regulation guiding import and export has entrusted with commercial banks this quantum of responsibilities because they purchase this money (forex) on behalf of the importers. Under the agency statute, once you are acting on behalf of somebody, the offence or the inaction of that person is your inaction.

When asked about the role, of the ministers and the Nigerian Shippers Council in the scam, Uzodinma said the panel met with shipping companies on Tuesday, where “the infractions caused by the shipping companies themselves” were identified.

He added that the council, as the regulatory body, had been notified and was billed to respond to the panel’s queries in two weeks.

Activist Drags C'River Water Board MD To EFCC Over $200m Fraud

Activist Drags C'River Water Board MD To EFCC Over $200m Fraud

Inyali Peter, Calabar

Dr. Godwin Igile
Cross born activist and a fierce critic of the Governor Ben Ayade's administration, Comrade Ifere Paul has dragged the Managing Director of the State Water Board Limited, Dr. Godwin Igile to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over alleged $200 million fraud.

In a letter dated April 6 and addressed to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ifere said the management of the water board loaned $200 million from the world bank for the purpose of enhancing the supply of clean and treated water but have failed to use the money for the purpose.

He noted that the investigation is necessary as the quality of water supplied in the state currently is below standard, unhygienic and has caused residents avoidable ailments.

The activist further alleged that apart from the alleged $200 million dollars, the MD also diverted N200 million which was meant for staff salaries and allowances to his personal account.

"It has become imperative that investigations be carried out by the EFCC into the activities of the Cross River State Water Board Limited on how the Board used the 200 Million Dollars loan granted to it by the World Bank.

"The money was sourced for by the Board for the upgrading of water board equipments in order to enhance the treatment, discharge, and the supply of water to Cross River State citizens. But at present, there is so much decay in the Cross River State Water Board Limited", he said. 

Ifere added that "Despite a two hundred million dollars’ loan, the supply of clean and safe drinking water in the State is a problem. The whole state has not had safe drinking water for the past three weeks. Even when water is supplied, the smell of the water is as poignant as a rotten egg. 

"We have had pink water, red water, yellow, brown, dark blue, and a mixture of orange and black water supplied to our homes as drinking water".

The activist said that, "apart from the sicknesses and shock suffered by residents, the board is also heartless to distribute exorbitant rates for residents to pay. 

"The EFCC would also investigate the 10 Million Dollars budgeted by the board for manpower training. Staff of the water board were not sent out for training until the expiration of the training timelines but the money has suddenly disappeared from the agency's accounts.

On the welfare of satff, he said that "Some of the unforetold hardship meted out to the residents is deliberately engineered by the over 600 casual staff hired by the managing director but have not been paid for over five to nine months now.

"According to verified information, the state government has released over 200 million naira to the water board to clear such outstanding bills but the managing director, diverted the money to his own personal accounts".
Inyali Peter, Calabar

Dr. Godwin Igile
Cross born activist and a fierce critic of the Governor Ben Ayade's administration, Comrade Ifere Paul has dragged the Managing Director of the State Water Board Limited, Dr. Godwin Igile to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over alleged $200 million fraud.

In a letter dated April 6 and addressed to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ifere said the management of the water board loaned $200 million from the world bank for the purpose of enhancing the supply of clean and treated water but have failed to use the money for the purpose.

He noted that the investigation is necessary as the quality of water supplied in the state currently is below standard, unhygienic and has caused residents avoidable ailments.

The activist further alleged that apart from the alleged $200 million dollars, the MD also diverted N200 million which was meant for staff salaries and allowances to his personal account.

"It has become imperative that investigations be carried out by the EFCC into the activities of the Cross River State Water Board Limited on how the Board used the 200 Million Dollars loan granted to it by the World Bank.

"The money was sourced for by the Board for the upgrading of water board equipments in order to enhance the treatment, discharge, and the supply of water to Cross River State citizens. But at present, there is so much decay in the Cross River State Water Board Limited", he said. 

Ifere added that "Despite a two hundred million dollars’ loan, the supply of clean and safe drinking water in the State is a problem. The whole state has not had safe drinking water for the past three weeks. Even when water is supplied, the smell of the water is as poignant as a rotten egg. 

"We have had pink water, red water, yellow, brown, dark blue, and a mixture of orange and black water supplied to our homes as drinking water".

The activist said that, "apart from the sicknesses and shock suffered by residents, the board is also heartless to distribute exorbitant rates for residents to pay. 

"The EFCC would also investigate the 10 Million Dollars budgeted by the board for manpower training. Staff of the water board were not sent out for training until the expiration of the training timelines but the money has suddenly disappeared from the agency's accounts.

On the welfare of satff, he said that "Some of the unforetold hardship meted out to the residents is deliberately engineered by the over 600 casual staff hired by the managing director but have not been paid for over five to nine months now.

"According to verified information, the state government has released over 200 million naira to the water board to clear such outstanding bills but the managing director, diverted the money to his own personal accounts".

BREAKING: EFCC Uncovers Another Hidden N4b Naira, Suspected Owner On The Run

BREAKING: EFCC Uncovers Another Hidden N4b Naira, Suspected Owner On The Run

BREAKING: EFCC Uncovers Another Hidden N4b Naira, Suspected Owner On The Run
A tip-off by a whistleblower on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 led to another discovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of a staggering sum of N4billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Investigations as to the owner of the funds revealed that the money belongs to a former deputy governorship candidate in Niger State.

The suspect uses the names of two companies– Katah Property & Investment Limited and Sadiq Air Travel Agency- in laundering the funds.


Each of the company has N2billion fixed in its deposit account domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank.

The suspected owner of the account and the account officer are currently on the run.

BREAKING: EFCC Uncovers Another Hidden N4b Naira, Suspected Owner On The Run
A tip-off by a whistleblower on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 led to another discovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of a staggering sum of N4billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Investigations as to the owner of the funds revealed that the money belongs to a former deputy governorship candidate in Niger State.

The suspect uses the names of two companies– Katah Property & Investment Limited and Sadiq Air Travel Agency- in laundering the funds.


Each of the company has N2billion fixed in its deposit account domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank.

The suspected owner of the account and the account officer are currently on the run.

Patience Jonathan Actually Withdrew Cash From Her Unblocked Account ...See Photo

Patience Jonathan Actually Withdrew Cash From Her Unblocked Account ...See Photo

Patience Jonathan Actually Withdrew Cash From Her Unblocked Account ...See Photo
Contrary to media report that Patience Jonathan was blocked from making withdrawal from her unfrozen account at the Skye Bank in Abuja, the former First Lady actually withdrew the sum of $100,000

According to NAN, Patience Jonathan yesterday waited for hours at a bank in Abuja until she was allowed to withdraw money from a domiciliary account.

A Lagos court blocked the account in December on the request of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the EFCC, on suspicion the money it holds - $5.9 million – was proceed of crime.

However, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun Thursday lifted the temporary forfeiture order as a result of which the former first lady showed up at the Skye Bank PLC, Maitama, Abuja where she operates the account.


She demanded to withdrawal “huge amount of money,” said a source who wouldn’t want to be named.

However, the source said she was told by the bank officials that such amount was not available at the branch.

The former first lady insisted on being paid or else she would not leave the bank, the source said.

Another source, however, said she stayed for too long in the bank because  she was confronted with fresh court documents demanding a stay of execution.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday said the EFCC had procured a stay-of-execution of the judgement and also simultaneously filed an appeal.

Unconfirmed reports said that she wanted to withdraw as much as $1 million on Friday, but was given $100,000 by the bank.

She returned at 10:00 a.m. yesterday and had a closed-door meeting with an Executive Director of the bank.

She finally left the bank at 4:05 p.m. but declined to speak to newsmen who sought to know why she was there.

One of her aides, who declined to disclose his name, told newsmen that “everything was okay”.

Speaking with Daily Trust, Mrs Jonathan’s solicitor, Charles Ogboli, declined to give details of the withdrawal but confirmed that the bank has fully complied with the order of the court. 

“We visited the bank as the order of court was given and the order of the court has been obeyed to the letter,” he said.

On why it took several hours to conclude the transaction, the lawyer said there was no hiccups whatsoever, describing it as “normal protocol of transaction.”

It was gathered that the former First Lady arrived the bank around 10 am in the morning in company of several aides and mobile security operatives. and departed at closing time by 4pm. 

Attempts by reporters to get Mrs Jonathan’s view, was frustrated by the security operatives, who smashed an expensive camera belonging to a Daily Trust photo journalist, Ikechukwu Ibeh.
Patience Jonathan Actually Withdrew Cash From Her Unblocked Account ...See Photo
Contrary to media report that Patience Jonathan was blocked from making withdrawal from her unfrozen account at the Skye Bank in Abuja, the former First Lady actually withdrew the sum of $100,000

According to NAN, Patience Jonathan yesterday waited for hours at a bank in Abuja until she was allowed to withdraw money from a domiciliary account.

A Lagos court blocked the account in December on the request of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the EFCC, on suspicion the money it holds - $5.9 million – was proceed of crime.

However, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun Thursday lifted the temporary forfeiture order as a result of which the former first lady showed up at the Skye Bank PLC, Maitama, Abuja where she operates the account.


She demanded to withdrawal “huge amount of money,” said a source who wouldn’t want to be named.

However, the source said she was told by the bank officials that such amount was not available at the branch.

The former first lady insisted on being paid or else she would not leave the bank, the source said.

Another source, however, said she stayed for too long in the bank because  she was confronted with fresh court documents demanding a stay of execution.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday said the EFCC had procured a stay-of-execution of the judgement and also simultaneously filed an appeal.

Unconfirmed reports said that she wanted to withdraw as much as $1 million on Friday, but was given $100,000 by the bank.

She returned at 10:00 a.m. yesterday and had a closed-door meeting with an Executive Director of the bank.

She finally left the bank at 4:05 p.m. but declined to speak to newsmen who sought to know why she was there.

One of her aides, who declined to disclose his name, told newsmen that “everything was okay”.

Speaking with Daily Trust, Mrs Jonathan’s solicitor, Charles Ogboli, declined to give details of the withdrawal but confirmed that the bank has fully complied with the order of the court. 

“We visited the bank as the order of court was given and the order of the court has been obeyed to the letter,” he said.

On why it took several hours to conclude the transaction, the lawyer said there was no hiccups whatsoever, describing it as “normal protocol of transaction.”

It was gathered that the former First Lady arrived the bank around 10 am in the morning in company of several aides and mobile security operatives. and departed at closing time by 4pm. 

Attempts by reporters to get Mrs Jonathan’s view, was frustrated by the security operatives, who smashed an expensive camera belonging to a Daily Trust photo journalist, Ikechukwu Ibeh.

Angry Buhari Queries Magu, Others As EFCC Officials Caught Trying To Sell C of O Seized From Ex-Gov. In Market, Others

Angry Buhari Queries Magu, Others As EFCC Officials Caught Trying To Sell C of O Seized From Ex-Gov. In Market, Others

Buhari and Magu
Following alleged attempt to sell some certificates of occupancy by some men of the Economic and Finacial Crime Commission, EFCC in a market, coupled with criticism of his government for failing in the anti-graft war, and relying on propaganda to give the impression that it was achieving results, President Muhammadu Buhari has queried the Ibrahim Magu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over recoveries of looted funds from Nigerians and organisations, Report according to Vanguard Newspaper suggests

President Buhari also queried the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Ministry of Finance, Department of State Services, DSS, among others.
Buhari asked the anti-graft agency to as a matter of urgency, provide a detailed submission on amount of monies recovered so far by the anti-graft agency in its anti- grant-war, since the present administration came on board in June, 2015.

The EFCC was also asked to submit a detailed inventory of assets seized, including vehicles, jewelries and other valuables, latest by Friday April 6, 2017, just as the directive by the President was said to have been sent to the Ministry and the agencies early last week.

Vanguard quoted sources as saying that the President also gave a similar directive to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta.

According to the source, like the EFCC, the heads of the agencies of government were asked to submit the details of recovered monies and assets in their possession by Friday.


The source added that President Buhari wants the inventory to present to those who criticize his government for failing in the anti-graft war, and relying on propaganda to give the impression that it was achieving results.

The source said, “Infact, in several yards across of the country where the EFCC keeps seized vehicles; Range Rovers, Jaguars, Prado jeeps, and expensive cars, we have heard reports of decay. The cars are allowed to rot, leading to massive waste.

“You will also recall that certificates of occupancy seized from the home of an ex-Governor were found in the market, where some EFCC officials were allegedly trying to sell them. The case is now with the police."

Also at the Senate hearing for his confirmation, Magu was not able to put a figure or an estimate to the amount of monies, local and foreign currency, he has recovered so far, or provide a value to property, cars and jewelleries that have been seized.”

The source said further that as at Friday,  only the CBN governor,  Godwin Emefiele, has complied with the directive and submitted his report to the President.

Buhari and Magu
Following alleged attempt to sell some certificates of occupancy by some men of the Economic and Finacial Crime Commission, EFCC in a market, coupled with criticism of his government for failing in the anti-graft war, and relying on propaganda to give the impression that it was achieving results, President Muhammadu Buhari has queried the Ibrahim Magu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over recoveries of looted funds from Nigerians and organisations, Report according to Vanguard Newspaper suggests

President Buhari also queried the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Ministry of Finance, Department of State Services, DSS, among others.
Buhari asked the anti-graft agency to as a matter of urgency, provide a detailed submission on amount of monies recovered so far by the anti-graft agency in its anti- grant-war, since the present administration came on board in June, 2015.

The EFCC was also asked to submit a detailed inventory of assets seized, including vehicles, jewelries and other valuables, latest by Friday April 6, 2017, just as the directive by the President was said to have been sent to the Ministry and the agencies early last week.

Vanguard quoted sources as saying that the President also gave a similar directive to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta.

According to the source, like the EFCC, the heads of the agencies of government were asked to submit the details of recovered monies and assets in their possession by Friday.


The source added that President Buhari wants the inventory to present to those who criticize his government for failing in the anti-graft war, and relying on propaganda to give the impression that it was achieving results.

The source said, “Infact, in several yards across of the country where the EFCC keeps seized vehicles; Range Rovers, Jaguars, Prado jeeps, and expensive cars, we have heard reports of decay. The cars are allowed to rot, leading to massive waste.

“You will also recall that certificates of occupancy seized from the home of an ex-Governor were found in the market, where some EFCC officials were allegedly trying to sell them. The case is now with the police."

Also at the Senate hearing for his confirmation, Magu was not able to put a figure or an estimate to the amount of monies, local and foreign currency, he has recovered so far, or provide a value to property, cars and jewelleries that have been seized.”

The source said further that as at Friday,  only the CBN governor,  Godwin Emefiele, has complied with the directive and submitted his report to the President.

BUSTED: N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC ...See Photos

BUSTED: N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC ...See Photos

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Office, in the evening of Friday, April 7, 2017 uncovered yet another large sum of suspected laundered money to the tune of N448,850,000 (Four hundred and forty-eight million, eight hundred and fifty thousand naira) in a shop at LEGICO Shopping Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The money stashed in several Ghana-Must-Go bags were in N500 and N1000 denominations, hidden in a shop awaiting conversion into foreign currency.

Acting on a tip-off by a concerned whistle-blower, operatives of the Commission swooped on the shopping complex and sought the identity of the owners of two shops, LS 64 and LS 67 which were under lock and key.

The shops had signage of Bureau de Change. Inquiries about the owner of shop 64 indicated that he had not been seen for a long time, as they claimed the shop had not been opened for businesses for close to two years.

Several calls were put to the owner of shop 67, but there was no response.


The attention of the plaza's chairman and some traders were drawn in order to force the shops open. There was no money found in shop 67, but in shop 64 heaps of Ghana-Must-Go bags were found loaded on the floor of the shop. When the bags were unzipped they were found to contain bundles of naira notes totaling N448,850,000.

Traders interviewed at the premises claimed they were not aware that such money was housed inside the shop, as the place hardly opens for business.

The Commission is investigating the matter in order to unravel the owner and source of the money.

See More Photos:

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Office, in the evening of Friday, April 7, 2017 uncovered yet another large sum of suspected laundered money to the tune of N448,850,000 (Four hundred and forty-eight million, eight hundred and fifty thousand naira) in a shop at LEGICO Shopping Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The money stashed in several Ghana-Must-Go bags were in N500 and N1000 denominations, hidden in a shop awaiting conversion into foreign currency.

Acting on a tip-off by a concerned whistle-blower, operatives of the Commission swooped on the shopping complex and sought the identity of the owners of two shops, LS 64 and LS 67 which were under lock and key.

The shops had signage of Bureau de Change. Inquiries about the owner of shop 64 indicated that he had not been seen for a long time, as they claimed the shop had not been opened for businesses for close to two years.

Several calls were put to the owner of shop 67, but there was no response.


The attention of the plaza's chairman and some traders were drawn in order to force the shops open. There was no money found in shop 67, but in shop 64 heaps of Ghana-Must-Go bags were found loaded on the floor of the shop. When the bags were unzipped they were found to contain bundles of naira notes totaling N448,850,000.

Traders interviewed at the premises claimed they were not aware that such money was housed inside the shop, as the place hardly opens for business.

The Commission is investigating the matter in order to unravel the owner and source of the money.

See More Photos:

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC

 N448M Raw Cash Stashed In Bags Discovered In Lagos Plaza By EFCC

EFCC Corruption Allegations: Why I Actually Resigned - Femi Falana Opens Up

EFCC Corruption Allegations: Why I Actually Resigned - Femi Falana Opens Up

Femi Falana
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), says he has resigned from the editorial board of ThisDay newspaper after the paper published a report he described as “a figment of the imagination of its writers.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained in a statement that he took his decision after the paper published “without any factual basis” on April 3 that he influenced the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the Chief of Staff to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Falana said, “As the tendentious publication could not be justified, I was compelled to resign my membership of the editorial board of the newspaper.


“In a desperate bid to blackmail me, the forces of corruption who are using the newspaper to fight back proceeded to allege that Mr. Olukoyede was a lawyer in my office and that I seconded him to the EFCC.

“It was also alleged that the EFCC had given me one of the properties forfeited to the Federal Government by ex-governor DSP Alamieyeseigha.”

He, however, said Olukoyede never worked in his law firm and that he only met him for the first time about two years ago.

“Having not known him or worked with him closely, I could not have recommended him for any position of responsibility either in the EFCC or in other public office,” Falana said.

He also rubbished the claim that the EFCC handed a property to him, saying, “The second allegation is equally a figment of the fecund imagination of the fictitious writers in ThisDay newspaper.”

According to the human rights lawyer, although the address of the property allegedly given to him by the EFCC is not stated, it is public knowledge that all the funds and other assets forfeited by the late governor were handed to the Bayelsa State government sometime in 2010 by the then management of the EFCC.

He added, “Based on my belief in public accountability, I have never said that the properties recovered by the EFCC should not be investigated.”

He called on members of the public to disregard the report “of the reactionary elements who are hell bent on diverting the attention of Nigerians from the mega looting of our commonwealth by a coterie of plutocrats.”
Femi Falana
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), says he has resigned from the editorial board of ThisDay newspaper after the paper published a report he described as “a figment of the imagination of its writers.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained in a statement that he took his decision after the paper published “without any factual basis” on April 3 that he influenced the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the Chief of Staff to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Falana said, “As the tendentious publication could not be justified, I was compelled to resign my membership of the editorial board of the newspaper.


“In a desperate bid to blackmail me, the forces of corruption who are using the newspaper to fight back proceeded to allege that Mr. Olukoyede was a lawyer in my office and that I seconded him to the EFCC.

“It was also alleged that the EFCC had given me one of the properties forfeited to the Federal Government by ex-governor DSP Alamieyeseigha.”

He, however, said Olukoyede never worked in his law firm and that he only met him for the first time about two years ago.

“Having not known him or worked with him closely, I could not have recommended him for any position of responsibility either in the EFCC or in other public office,” Falana said.

He also rubbished the claim that the EFCC handed a property to him, saying, “The second allegation is equally a figment of the fecund imagination of the fictitious writers in ThisDay newspaper.”

According to the human rights lawyer, although the address of the property allegedly given to him by the EFCC is not stated, it is public knowledge that all the funds and other assets forfeited by the late governor were handed to the Bayelsa State government sometime in 2010 by the then management of the EFCC.

He added, “Based on my belief in public accountability, I have never said that the properties recovered by the EFCC should not be investigated.”

He called on members of the public to disregard the report “of the reactionary elements who are hell bent on diverting the attention of Nigerians from the mega looting of our commonwealth by a coterie of plutocrats.”

UNBELIEVABLE: Ex-Naval Chief Forfeits N.18 Trillion Loot To FG

UNBELIEVABLE: Ex-Naval Chief Forfeits N.18 Trillion Loot To FG

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the forfeiture of N1.8 billion recovered from a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba.

Justice Muslim Hassan ruled on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) praying for a permanent forfeiture of the N1, 825,000,000 allegedly diverted fraudulently by the one-time air chief.

The anti-graft agency said the money was traced to the account of a company, Aquila Leasing Limited.

It said Admiral Ezeoba allegedly used the name of Chukwuka Onwuchekwa to open a fraudulent account while he (Ezeoba) was the one who “truly” laundered the money.


EFCC said the former Naval chief said in his statement that the account was opened with Onwuchekwa’s consent while he (Ezeoba) managed it.

It said: “The money is proceed of crime fraudulently diverted from the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Dele Joseph Ezeoba. Neither the signature used in opening the account nor the drivers’ licence used in opening the account is his.”

Justice Hassan held that the EFCC complied with Section 17 of the Advanced Fee fraud Act, as well as the EFCC Act, adding that the  fact that the money was unclaimed meant it was appropriate to make an order forfeiting it.

The Judge said: “Satisfied that such property is an unclaimed property, and also satisfying the provisions of the law, the court shall order the final forfeiture of the said property.

“In view of this, there is no other proof required to enable the court make an order of final forfeiture. This application is meritorious and hereby granted. An order is hereby made for final forfeiture of the total sum of N1.825 billion to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

According to the EFCC, in a “desperate bid” to further disguise and conceal the illicit source of the funds, Ezeoba entered into a memorandum of understanding to buy Aquila’s shares from Onwucheka, who is the firm’s managing director.

It said the shares was worth N2, 378,000,000, out of which N1.8 billion has been recovered in drafts in favour of the Federal Government.

EFCC said the sum “is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”

An EFCC operative, Adamu Usman, in a supporting affidavit, said he was part of a special task force assigned to investigate an intelligence report received against the respondents (Onwuchekwa and Aquila Leasing).

He said investigations showed that Ezeoba, in a bid to conceal the proceeds of crime, fraudulently opened an account using Onwuchekwa’s name as the account owner while he (Ezeoba) “was the one who truly laundered the money”.

“The same Dele Joseph Ezeoba has stated in his statement that he is in agreement with the first respondent that the sum of N2,378,000,000 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Out of the amount, the sum of N1,825,000,000 only has been recovered in drafts in favour of the Federal Government,” the commission said.

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the forfeiture of N1.8 billion recovered from a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba.

Justice Muslim Hassan ruled on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) praying for a permanent forfeiture of the N1, 825,000,000 allegedly diverted fraudulently by the one-time air chief.

The anti-graft agency said the money was traced to the account of a company, Aquila Leasing Limited.

It said Admiral Ezeoba allegedly used the name of Chukwuka Onwuchekwa to open a fraudulent account while he (Ezeoba) was the one who “truly” laundered the money.


EFCC said the former Naval chief said in his statement that the account was opened with Onwuchekwa’s consent while he (Ezeoba) managed it.

It said: “The money is proceed of crime fraudulently diverted from the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Dele Joseph Ezeoba. Neither the signature used in opening the account nor the drivers’ licence used in opening the account is his.”

Justice Hassan held that the EFCC complied with Section 17 of the Advanced Fee fraud Act, as well as the EFCC Act, adding that the  fact that the money was unclaimed meant it was appropriate to make an order forfeiting it.

The Judge said: “Satisfied that such property is an unclaimed property, and also satisfying the provisions of the law, the court shall order the final forfeiture of the said property.

“In view of this, there is no other proof required to enable the court make an order of final forfeiture. This application is meritorious and hereby granted. An order is hereby made for final forfeiture of the total sum of N1.825 billion to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

According to the EFCC, in a “desperate bid” to further disguise and conceal the illicit source of the funds, Ezeoba entered into a memorandum of understanding to buy Aquila’s shares from Onwucheka, who is the firm’s managing director.

It said the shares was worth N2, 378,000,000, out of which N1.8 billion has been recovered in drafts in favour of the Federal Government.

EFCC said the sum “is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”

An EFCC operative, Adamu Usman, in a supporting affidavit, said he was part of a special task force assigned to investigate an intelligence report received against the respondents (Onwuchekwa and Aquila Leasing).

He said investigations showed that Ezeoba, in a bid to conceal the proceeds of crime, fraudulently opened an account using Onwuchekwa’s name as the account owner while he (Ezeoba) “was the one who truly laundered the money”.

“The same Dele Joseph Ezeoba has stated in his statement that he is in agreement with the first respondent that the sum of N2,378,000,000 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Out of the amount, the sum of N1,825,000,000 only has been recovered in drafts in favour of the Federal Government,” the commission said.

BREAKING: Patience Jonathan Wins Suit Over $5.9m As Court Unfreezes Account

BREAKING: Patience Jonathan Wins Suit Over $5.9m As Court Unfreezes Account

Court Unfreezes Patience Jonathan's $5.9m Account
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to unfreeze the account of the wife of former President, Patience Jonathan.

One of the accounts which contained $5.9m was frozen when the court presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun in December 2016, had made the freezing order following an application for an interim injunction by the EFCC to that effect.

The EFCC had in an affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Mr. Abdulahi Tukur, told the judge that suspected proceeds of crime were retained in the accounts and urged the judge to urgently freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of its investigations.

Court Unfreezes Patience Jonathan's $5.9m Account
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to unfreeze the account of the wife of former President, Patience Jonathan.

One of the accounts which contained $5.9m was frozen when the court presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun in December 2016, had made the freezing order following an application for an interim injunction by the EFCC to that effect.

The EFCC had in an affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Mr. Abdulahi Tukur, told the judge that suspected proceeds of crime were retained in the accounts and urged the judge to urgently freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of its investigations.

N5b FRAUD: Babangida ARRESTED By EFCC In Niger

N5b FRAUD: Babangida ARRESTED By EFCC In Niger

babangida aliyu arrested by efcc
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the immediate past Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, over an alleged scam involving N5bn.

It was learnt that Aliyu, who served between 2007 and 2015, was arrested by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday after he was invited by the commission.

The suspect was, however, detained after interrogation, pending further investigation.

A source at the EFCC said, “We invited former Governor Aliyu to our office on Tuesday and he has been in our custody since then.


“He was invited following an investigation into a scam involving about N5bn.”

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Aliyu was in the custody of the commission but failed to give more details.

“The former governor was invited by the commission and he is still in our custody,” Uwujaren said.

It will be recalled that the current Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, as well as the members of the Niger State House of Assembly, had called for a probe of Aliyu’s administration which they described as fraudulent.

Bello said there were several questionable transactions the former administration must account for.

The discrepancies, according to him, were discovered by the financial management committee set up by his administration, lamenting that one of such discrepancies was discovered in the state and local government joint account where a massive fraud was allegedly perpetrated.

Bello said, “We instituted a financial management committee to look at all major financial transactions of the state and local governments from May 2007 to May 2015.  The committee has made substantial progress and the findings are quite revealing.

“A review of the operations of some of the major bank accounts of the state and the Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee over the last eight years revealed some despicable patterns such as huge cash withdrawals by government officials, private individuals and PDP officials and members.

“For example, an examination of only two bank accounts of Government House shows more than N70bn cash withdrawals by a few officials who must explain the purpose for which the withdrawals were made. The operation of the joint account was characterised by diversions and a misapplication of huge funds especially those paid for Ward Development Projects and 10km roads projects.

“For instance, out of the total sum of over N11bn paid to the accounts of Ward Development Projects, the relevant officials of the ministry of local government could not account for N2.86bn, while N613m was spent on ‘ghost’ vehicles and N675.50m was said to be lent to Ministry of Finance where the funds cannot be traced.”
babangida aliyu arrested by efcc
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the immediate past Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, over an alleged scam involving N5bn.

It was learnt that Aliyu, who served between 2007 and 2015, was arrested by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday after he was invited by the commission.

The suspect was, however, detained after interrogation, pending further investigation.

A source at the EFCC said, “We invited former Governor Aliyu to our office on Tuesday and he has been in our custody since then.


“He was invited following an investigation into a scam involving about N5bn.”

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Aliyu was in the custody of the commission but failed to give more details.

“The former governor was invited by the commission and he is still in our custody,” Uwujaren said.

It will be recalled that the current Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, as well as the members of the Niger State House of Assembly, had called for a probe of Aliyu’s administration which they described as fraudulent.

Bello said there were several questionable transactions the former administration must account for.

The discrepancies, according to him, were discovered by the financial management committee set up by his administration, lamenting that one of such discrepancies was discovered in the state and local government joint account where a massive fraud was allegedly perpetrated.

Bello said, “We instituted a financial management committee to look at all major financial transactions of the state and local governments from May 2007 to May 2015.  The committee has made substantial progress and the findings are quite revealing.

“A review of the operations of some of the major bank accounts of the state and the Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee over the last eight years revealed some despicable patterns such as huge cash withdrawals by government officials, private individuals and PDP officials and members.

“For example, an examination of only two bank accounts of Government House shows more than N70bn cash withdrawals by a few officials who must explain the purpose for which the withdrawals were made. The operation of the joint account was characterised by diversions and a misapplication of huge funds especially those paid for Ward Development Projects and 10km roads projects.

“For instance, out of the total sum of over N11bn paid to the accounts of Ward Development Projects, the relevant officials of the ministry of local government could not account for N2.86bn, while N613m was spent on ‘ghost’ vehicles and N675.50m was said to be lent to Ministry of Finance where the funds cannot be traced.”

I Made My $544,000 Selling Pure Water - Vero, The Police Pension Scam Suspect Tells EFCC

I Made My $544,000 Selling Pure Water - Vero, The Police Pension Scam Suspect Tells EFCC

Veronica Onyegbula,
Veronica Onyegbula, the fourth defendant in the ongoing N24 billion police pension scam trial, told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that she made $544,000 from sales of pure water, an FCT High Court heard.

An operative of the EFCC, Rukayya Ibrahim revealed this yesterday while giving evidence in the trial within trial requested by counsel to Onyegbula, Barrister Ernest Ikeji. 

The trial within trial was requested to prove to the court that Onyegbula made some of her statements in 2012 to the EFCC under duress.

Onyegbula was arraigned alongside Esai Dangabar; Ahmed Inuwa Wada; Atiku Abubakar Kigo; Sani Habila Zira; Uzoma Attang and Christian Madubuike on criminal charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust for their complicity in the scam at the police pension office.



Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Barrister Leke Atolagbe, Ibrahim told the court that all the statements made by Onyegbula were voluntarily made under a cordial interactive session. 

The trial within trial was adjourned by Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf to continue today at the instance of the prosecution counsel.
Veronica Onyegbula,
Veronica Onyegbula, the fourth defendant in the ongoing N24 billion police pension scam trial, told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that she made $544,000 from sales of pure water, an FCT High Court heard.

An operative of the EFCC, Rukayya Ibrahim revealed this yesterday while giving evidence in the trial within trial requested by counsel to Onyegbula, Barrister Ernest Ikeji. 

The trial within trial was requested to prove to the court that Onyegbula made some of her statements in 2012 to the EFCC under duress.

Onyegbula was arraigned alongside Esai Dangabar; Ahmed Inuwa Wada; Atiku Abubakar Kigo; Sani Habila Zira; Uzoma Attang and Christian Madubuike on criminal charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust for their complicity in the scam at the police pension office.



Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Barrister Leke Atolagbe, Ibrahim told the court that all the statements made by Onyegbula were voluntarily made under a cordial interactive session. 

The trial within trial was adjourned by Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf to continue today at the instance of the prosecution counsel.

MASSIVE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS: Tinubu FINGERED Behind Our ORDEALS - Senate Caucus Cries Out, Vows Show Down

MASSIVE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS: Tinubu FINGERED Behind Our ORDEALS - Senate Caucus Cries Out, Vows Show Down

saraki tinubu
ThisDay - The Senate caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of working in cahoots with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to destroy the senate by impugning  the integrity of members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

The PDP Senate caucus, which has indicated its readiness for a showdown with Tinubu, also alleged that the former governor of Lagos State was behind the series of media attacks against members of the caucus.

This was part of the outcome of their meeting in Abuja, convened by the leadership of the PDP caucus last weekend to review what they regarded as “onslaught” by the EFCC against members of the group.


At the meeting, members of the caucus were said to have come to a conclusion that the anti-corruption agency was acting in concert with Tinubu, who they alleged was bent on destroying some key elements in the National Assembly in order to clear the way for his 2019 ambition.

The former governor had recently said he would not rule out his presidential bid should President Muhammadu Buhari decide not to run.

A source at the caucus meeting said the senators noted the “constant bashing and campaign of calumny” launched against the Senate by a prominent national daily and a frontline television station, believed to be owned by the former governor,  as an example of the on-going underground war being waged against the Senate as an institution.

The senators at the meeting were also said to have cited the attack on the Senate leadership and other members in recent time by the same media outfits as examples of how, “it is obvious that Tinubu just wanted to destroy us.”

The source said the caucus also noted “the savage” attack on Sen. Peter Nwaboshi, because he moved a motion on the refusal of the executive to respect Senate resolutions, and drew a parallel between the recent travail of Sen. Dino Melaye and some of their other colleagues.”

While Nwaboshi was recently reported to have been under the investigation of the EFCC over contract allegedly awarded  to him in his home State, Delta, Melaye was accused of not being a Geography graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, though he has now been exonerated by a Senate panel.  Also recently, there were reports of a leaked EFCC letter to the President linking the Senate President to alleged diversion of London-Paris Club refund.

The PDP caucus meeting, THISDAY learnt, also reviewed a statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu,  believed to be a close ally of Tinubu, who recently at a meeting in Lagos allegedly threatened that the “Senators will see hell in the coming weeks as fresh attacks will be launched against their integrity”.

It is therefore the belief of the PDP Senators that supporters of the former governor are behind the planned protest against the Senate.

The protest being orchestrated by certain groups in Abuja and Lagos is scheduled to hold on Wednesday.

“We will expose them. They were not happy that Senators supported President Muhammadu Buhari, when he was away. They thought we will help them bring down the government because of their ambition.

“Now they are deploying the EFCC and their media against us. Ibrahim Magu is a creation of Tinubu and Oba Akiolu. They want to use him to protect themselves while also using him and the anti-graft agency as attack dogs against people, who are not in their camp.

“That is why when EFCC received petitions against the head of a federal revenue generation agency into whose personal account some money due to government was paid, the anti-graft agency refused to act. The head of the agency concerned had held similar position he is holding now in Lagos. It was the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) that is eventually pursuing the case now,” the PDP caucus member said.

Other revelations at the meeting include the allegation that the chief of staff of the acting EFCC boss was nominated by a popular lawyer who they described as the former governor’s alter ego and effectively the arrow-head of the Tinubu legal group.

Another source at the meeting hinted THISDAY that the lawmakers were bent on going public with their allegations soon and openly fight back by confronting the APC chieftain. PDP senators have equally fixed another meeting for next Tuesday, the source added.
saraki tinubu
ThisDay - The Senate caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of working in cahoots with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to destroy the senate by impugning  the integrity of members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

The PDP Senate caucus, which has indicated its readiness for a showdown with Tinubu, also alleged that the former governor of Lagos State was behind the series of media attacks against members of the caucus.

This was part of the outcome of their meeting in Abuja, convened by the leadership of the PDP caucus last weekend to review what they regarded as “onslaught” by the EFCC against members of the group.


At the meeting, members of the caucus were said to have come to a conclusion that the anti-corruption agency was acting in concert with Tinubu, who they alleged was bent on destroying some key elements in the National Assembly in order to clear the way for his 2019 ambition.

The former governor had recently said he would not rule out his presidential bid should President Muhammadu Buhari decide not to run.

A source at the caucus meeting said the senators noted the “constant bashing and campaign of calumny” launched against the Senate by a prominent national daily and a frontline television station, believed to be owned by the former governor,  as an example of the on-going underground war being waged against the Senate as an institution.

The senators at the meeting were also said to have cited the attack on the Senate leadership and other members in recent time by the same media outfits as examples of how, “it is obvious that Tinubu just wanted to destroy us.”

The source said the caucus also noted “the savage” attack on Sen. Peter Nwaboshi, because he moved a motion on the refusal of the executive to respect Senate resolutions, and drew a parallel between the recent travail of Sen. Dino Melaye and some of their other colleagues.”

While Nwaboshi was recently reported to have been under the investigation of the EFCC over contract allegedly awarded  to him in his home State, Delta, Melaye was accused of not being a Geography graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, though he has now been exonerated by a Senate panel.  Also recently, there were reports of a leaked EFCC letter to the President linking the Senate President to alleged diversion of London-Paris Club refund.

The PDP caucus meeting, THISDAY learnt, also reviewed a statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu,  believed to be a close ally of Tinubu, who recently at a meeting in Lagos allegedly threatened that the “Senators will see hell in the coming weeks as fresh attacks will be launched against their integrity”.

It is therefore the belief of the PDP Senators that supporters of the former governor are behind the planned protest against the Senate.

The protest being orchestrated by certain groups in Abuja and Lagos is scheduled to hold on Wednesday.

“We will expose them. They were not happy that Senators supported President Muhammadu Buhari, when he was away. They thought we will help them bring down the government because of their ambition.

“Now they are deploying the EFCC and their media against us. Ibrahim Magu is a creation of Tinubu and Oba Akiolu. They want to use him to protect themselves while also using him and the anti-graft agency as attack dogs against people, who are not in their camp.

“That is why when EFCC received petitions against the head of a federal revenue generation agency into whose personal account some money due to government was paid, the anti-graft agency refused to act. The head of the agency concerned had held similar position he is holding now in Lagos. It was the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) that is eventually pursuing the case now,” the PDP caucus member said.

Other revelations at the meeting include the allegation that the chief of staff of the acting EFCC boss was nominated by a popular lawyer who they described as the former governor’s alter ego and effectively the arrow-head of the Tinubu legal group.

Another source at the meeting hinted THISDAY that the lawmakers were bent on going public with their allegations soon and openly fight back by confronting the APC chieftain. PDP senators have equally fixed another meeting for next Tuesday, the source added.

MAGU's Fate: The So Many Legal Confusion; Buhari Confused Either, Seeking Legal Advice

MAGU's Fate: The So Many Legal Confusion; Buhari Confused Either, Seeking Legal Advice

Buhari and Magu
President Muhammadu Buhari has opted to seek legal opinions in deciding what to make of Mr. Ibrahim Magu, following the latest refusal of the Senate to confirm him as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The legal consultations will form an integral part of the planned peace talks between government’s mediation team headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and National Assembly leaders.

The Federal Executive Council constituted the team recently to interface with the NASS leadership with a view to resolving the differences between the two arms.


The Nation gathered yesterday that the Osinbajo-led team was yet to contact the National Assembly leaders.

Authoritative sources said yesterday that Buhari had called for advice on the import of Section 171 of 1999 Constitution which is the bone of contention on the fate of Magu.

The Section says:  (1) “Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall rest in the President.

(2) The offices to which this section applies are namely.

(a) Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

(b) Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

(c) Ambassador, High Commissioner or other principal Representative of Nigeria abroad.

(d) Permanent Secretary in any Ministry or Head of any Extra-Ministerial Department of the Government of the Federation howsoever designated; and



(e) any office on the personal staff of the President.

(3) An appointment to the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation shall not be made except from among the Permanent Secretaries or equivalent rank in the Civil Service of the Federation or of a State.

(4) An appointment to the office of Ambassador, High Commissioner, or other Representative of Nigeria abroad shall not have effect unless the appointment is confirmed by the Senate.

(5) In exercising his powers of appointment under this section, the President shall have regard to the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.

(6) Any appointment made pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (2) of this section shall be at the pleasure of the President and shall cease when the President ceases to hold office;

“Provided that where a person has been appointed from a public service of the Federation or a State, he shall be entitled to return to the public service of the Federation or of the State when the President ceases to hold office.”

Section 11 of the Interpretation Act says:   (1)   “Where an enactment confers a power to appoint a person either to an office or to exercise any functions, whether for a specified period or not, the power includes-

(a)  power to appoint a person by name or to appoint the holder from time to time of a particular office;

(b)  power to remove or suspend him;

(c)  power, exercisable in the manner and subject to the limitations and conditions (if any) applicable to the power to appoint,-

(i)   to reappoint or reinstate him,

(ii)   to appoint a person to act in his place, either generally or in regard to specified functions, during such time as is considered expedient by the authority in whom the power of appointment in question is vested.

(2)   ” A reference in an enactment to the holder of an office shall be construed as including a reference to a person for the time being appointed to act in his place, either as respects the functions of the office generally or the functions in regard to which he is appointed, as the case may be.”

Prof. Itse Sagay’s Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) believes that by virtue of Section 171, Magu can continue to act as Acting EFCC chairman.

The Department of State Security Service, some government officials and the Senate think otherwise.

The Senate on Wednesday stopped the consideration of the 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners who were nominated by Buhari to protest Buhari’s refusal to sack Magu after it rejected him for a second time.

A top level source said although  the President has stuck with Magu for now, those opposed to the EFCC acting chairman  are drawing attention to  Section 11 of the Interpretation Act in the constitution.

The source said: “The President is being painstaking in taking a decision on Magu.

“He has sought legal advice on the contentious Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 11 of the Interpretation Act.

“The legal advice might either strengthen his position on Magu or determine what action to take. It will also assist him to engage the National Assembly leadership on Magu’s fate.

“Buhari is aware of argument for and against the retention of Magu but he does not go by the spur of the moment because of posterity. He is aware of Magu’s impeccable contributions to anti-graft war. And on a personal note, he is with Magu.

“He runs a peculiar presidency based on adherence to the rule of law and not Executive fiat as the case was in the past.”

Another source said: “the President’s ultimate decision on Magu will have to take cognizance of the EFCC Establishment (2004) Act and the rejection of the officer by the Senate for the second time.

“Apart from the law, some government officials prefer a political solution to the controversy on Magu. We are hopeful that Osinbajo’s mediation team will be able to resolve this issue amicably.

“There is a dilemma before the President. He favours Magu for the job and he does not pretend about it. But he has to manage the anger of the Senate too.

“The battle over Magu is now in the realm of legal technicality, especially his continued stay in office in Acting capacity. This is why the President needs sound legal advice, not jaundiced type.”

The questions to be resolved are:

* Can the President re-nominate Magu for the third time?

* What becomes of Magu’s status in the light of his rejection for the EFCC job for the second time by the Senate?

* Should Magu remain in office in Acting capacity as EFCC chairman until Buhari takes a decision or as long as it takes Buhari to decide his fate?

*If Buhari does not re-nominate Magu for a third time, can he remain in Acting EFCC chairman till the end of Buhari’s tenure in 2019 in the light of the provision of Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution?

A principal officer in the National Assembly said: “We are awaiting communication from the Vice President before we constitute our team which will meet with the mediation committee from the Executive.

“Certainly, we are bound to disagree on issues in line with the principle of separation of powers but we are also expected to reach consensus for the betterment of the society at large.

“We have issues with the interpretation if Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution.”

Shortly after Magu’s last rejection, the Executive Secretary of PACAC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, had told our correspondent that Magu can continue to serve in acting capacity.

He said: “We believe that there is nothing inhibiting him from being in office as the Acting EFCC chairman. We are of the opinion that he should remain in office.

“If you look at Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution, the President is empowered to retain him as long as he wants in acting capacity. As long as the President remains in office, Magu can continue to act as EFCC chairman.”

Responding to a question, Owasanoye added: “If there is something new, we would have modified our position but the Senate acted on old report without considering the President’s points in the re-nomination letter.”

Buhari and Magu
President Muhammadu Buhari has opted to seek legal opinions in deciding what to make of Mr. Ibrahim Magu, following the latest refusal of the Senate to confirm him as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The legal consultations will form an integral part of the planned peace talks between government’s mediation team headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and National Assembly leaders.

The Federal Executive Council constituted the team recently to interface with the NASS leadership with a view to resolving the differences between the two arms.


The Nation gathered yesterday that the Osinbajo-led team was yet to contact the National Assembly leaders.

Authoritative sources said yesterday that Buhari had called for advice on the import of Section 171 of 1999 Constitution which is the bone of contention on the fate of Magu.

The Section says:  (1) “Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall rest in the President.

(2) The offices to which this section applies are namely.

(a) Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

(b) Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

(c) Ambassador, High Commissioner or other principal Representative of Nigeria abroad.

(d) Permanent Secretary in any Ministry or Head of any Extra-Ministerial Department of the Government of the Federation howsoever designated; and



(e) any office on the personal staff of the President.

(3) An appointment to the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation shall not be made except from among the Permanent Secretaries or equivalent rank in the Civil Service of the Federation or of a State.

(4) An appointment to the office of Ambassador, High Commissioner, or other Representative of Nigeria abroad shall not have effect unless the appointment is confirmed by the Senate.

(5) In exercising his powers of appointment under this section, the President shall have regard to the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.

(6) Any appointment made pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (2) of this section shall be at the pleasure of the President and shall cease when the President ceases to hold office;

“Provided that where a person has been appointed from a public service of the Federation or a State, he shall be entitled to return to the public service of the Federation or of the State when the President ceases to hold office.”

Section 11 of the Interpretation Act says:   (1)   “Where an enactment confers a power to appoint a person either to an office or to exercise any functions, whether for a specified period or not, the power includes-

(a)  power to appoint a person by name or to appoint the holder from time to time of a particular office;

(b)  power to remove or suspend him;

(c)  power, exercisable in the manner and subject to the limitations and conditions (if any) applicable to the power to appoint,-

(i)   to reappoint or reinstate him,

(ii)   to appoint a person to act in his place, either generally or in regard to specified functions, during such time as is considered expedient by the authority in whom the power of appointment in question is vested.

(2)   ” A reference in an enactment to the holder of an office shall be construed as including a reference to a person for the time being appointed to act in his place, either as respects the functions of the office generally or the functions in regard to which he is appointed, as the case may be.”

Prof. Itse Sagay’s Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) believes that by virtue of Section 171, Magu can continue to act as Acting EFCC chairman.

The Department of State Security Service, some government officials and the Senate think otherwise.

The Senate on Wednesday stopped the consideration of the 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners who were nominated by Buhari to protest Buhari’s refusal to sack Magu after it rejected him for a second time.

A top level source said although  the President has stuck with Magu for now, those opposed to the EFCC acting chairman  are drawing attention to  Section 11 of the Interpretation Act in the constitution.

The source said: “The President is being painstaking in taking a decision on Magu.

“He has sought legal advice on the contentious Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 11 of the Interpretation Act.

“The legal advice might either strengthen his position on Magu or determine what action to take. It will also assist him to engage the National Assembly leadership on Magu’s fate.

“Buhari is aware of argument for and against the retention of Magu but he does not go by the spur of the moment because of posterity. He is aware of Magu’s impeccable contributions to anti-graft war. And on a personal note, he is with Magu.

“He runs a peculiar presidency based on adherence to the rule of law and not Executive fiat as the case was in the past.”

Another source said: “the President’s ultimate decision on Magu will have to take cognizance of the EFCC Establishment (2004) Act and the rejection of the officer by the Senate for the second time.

“Apart from the law, some government officials prefer a political solution to the controversy on Magu. We are hopeful that Osinbajo’s mediation team will be able to resolve this issue amicably.

“There is a dilemma before the President. He favours Magu for the job and he does not pretend about it. But he has to manage the anger of the Senate too.

“The battle over Magu is now in the realm of legal technicality, especially his continued stay in office in Acting capacity. This is why the President needs sound legal advice, not jaundiced type.”

The questions to be resolved are:

* Can the President re-nominate Magu for the third time?

* What becomes of Magu’s status in the light of his rejection for the EFCC job for the second time by the Senate?

* Should Magu remain in office in Acting capacity as EFCC chairman until Buhari takes a decision or as long as it takes Buhari to decide his fate?

*If Buhari does not re-nominate Magu for a third time, can he remain in Acting EFCC chairman till the end of Buhari’s tenure in 2019 in the light of the provision of Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution?

A principal officer in the National Assembly said: “We are awaiting communication from the Vice President before we constitute our team which will meet with the mediation committee from the Executive.

“Certainly, we are bound to disagree on issues in line with the principle of separation of powers but we are also expected to reach consensus for the betterment of the society at large.

“We have issues with the interpretation if Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution.”

Shortly after Magu’s last rejection, the Executive Secretary of PACAC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, had told our correspondent that Magu can continue to serve in acting capacity.

He said: “We believe that there is nothing inhibiting him from being in office as the Acting EFCC chairman. We are of the opinion that he should remain in office.

“If you look at Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution, the President is empowered to retain him as long as he wants in acting capacity. As long as the President remains in office, Magu can continue to act as EFCC chairman.”

Responding to a question, Owasanoye added: “If there is something new, we would have modified our position but the Senate acted on old report without considering the President’s points in the re-nomination letter.”

Usman Jibrin vs EFCC: Court Admits Document From Nigerian Navy Detailing It Actually Owns The Contentious Safe House

Usman Jibrin vs EFCC: Court Admits Document From Nigerian Navy Detailing It Actually Owns The Contentious Safe House

An  FCT High Court on Tuesday admitted as evidence a letter from the Nigerian Navy to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claiming ownership of a property located at 2717 Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama district, Abuja, a property that is meant to be a safe house for the Nigerian Navy in line with international best practices. 

A safe house as gathered by our reporter is an apartment or a house designated for secret intelligence gathering or operations base.

The letter was tendered by Defence counsel of the former Chief of Naval Staff, Retired Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin as evidence in chief on the ongoing trial against him by the anti-graft body.

Usman Jibrin with 2 other retired senior officers were on May 25, 2016 arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy and purchase of a property valued at N600 million while in service. He was charged alongside retired Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia and retired Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu and Harbour Bay International Limited.


In the letter dated 7 January 2016, the Nigerian Navy informed the EFCC Ag Chairman, Ibrahim Magu that the property in question belongs to the Navy, corroborating the position of the 3 retired Admirals. Documents to support this claim were attached to the letter to the Chairman of the EFCC and admitted in evidence by the Court. A copy obtained by our reporter showed that the letter was signed by Rear Admiral GA Anyankpele for the Chief of Naval Staff, and received by the EFCC on 8 January 2016. The EFCC prosecution witness, Shehu Ala could not give any reason for not attaching the Navy documents to the Charge.

The court also admitted as evidence documents from Diamond bank.

During the proceeding, an EFCC witness Ms Margret Enena, the Manager of a branch of Diamond Bank in Abuja, told the court that the account of Naval Engineering was domiciled in her branch and submitted to the court.

Speaking during cross examination by counsel to the first defendant, Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), the Bank manager  said she was not in that branch of the bank when the account was opened. She stated that "I have not had any transaction with the first defendant", the former Chief of Naval Chief. "I am in the court because the court has ordered us to provide all documents relating to the account,’’ she said.

When cross examined by the second defendant`s counsel, Mr Olatunji Salawu, the witness told the court that Naval Engineering Services Ltd was a limited company .

According to her, she does not know the directors of the company nor witnessed the signing of the transfer of property.

The EFCC had alleged that retired Rear Admirals Mshelia and Ahmadu who are defendants who were signatories to the account of Naval Engineering Services Limited paid for a property.

EFCC also said the property located at Plot 2717 Cadastral Zone, AOC, Maitama, Abuja was handed over to Harbour Bay International instead of Naval Engineering Services which developed and funded the construction.

The letter by the Nigerian Navy that was tendered as evidence of no wrong doing by Usman Jibrin and the 2 other defendants however countered the claim of the antigraft agency as regards the ownership of the property.

A further investigation revealed that while the case is in court, the EFCC had given the disputed house to one Chief Atang who is already in occupation .

The Presiding Judge, Justice Sadiq Umar adjourned the case till May, 22, May 23, and May 24 for continuation of trial.

Document From Nigerian Navy Detailing It Actually Owns The Contentious Safe House
Document From Nigerian Navy Detailing It Actually Owns The Contentious Safe House
An  FCT High Court on Tuesday admitted as evidence a letter from the Nigerian Navy to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claiming ownership of a property located at 2717 Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama district, Abuja, a property that is meant to be a safe house for the Nigerian Navy in line with international best practices. 

A safe house as gathered by our reporter is an apartment or a house designated for secret intelligence gathering or operations base.

The letter was tendered by Defence counsel of the former Chief of Naval Staff, Retired Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin as evidence in chief on the ongoing trial against him by the anti-graft body.

Usman Jibrin with 2 other retired senior officers were on May 25, 2016 arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy and purchase of a property valued at N600 million while in service. He was charged alongside retired Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia and retired Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu and Harbour Bay International Limited.


In the letter dated 7 January 2016, the Nigerian Navy informed the EFCC Ag Chairman, Ibrahim Magu that the property in question belongs to the Navy, corroborating the position of the 3 retired Admirals. Documents to support this claim were attached to the letter to the Chairman of the EFCC and admitted in evidence by the Court. A copy obtained by our reporter showed that the letter was signed by Rear Admiral GA Anyankpele for the Chief of Naval Staff, and received by the EFCC on 8 January 2016. The EFCC prosecution witness, Shehu Ala could not give any reason for not attaching the Navy documents to the Charge.

The court also admitted as evidence documents from Diamond bank.

During the proceeding, an EFCC witness Ms Margret Enena, the Manager of a branch of Diamond Bank in Abuja, told the court that the account of Naval Engineering was domiciled in her branch and submitted to the court.

Speaking during cross examination by counsel to the first defendant, Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), the Bank manager  said she was not in that branch of the bank when the account was opened. She stated that "I have not had any transaction with the first defendant", the former Chief of Naval Chief. "I am in the court because the court has ordered us to provide all documents relating to the account,’’ she said.

When cross examined by the second defendant`s counsel, Mr Olatunji Salawu, the witness told the court that Naval Engineering Services Ltd was a limited company .

According to her, she does not know the directors of the company nor witnessed the signing of the transfer of property.

The EFCC had alleged that retired Rear Admirals Mshelia and Ahmadu who are defendants who were signatories to the account of Naval Engineering Services Limited paid for a property.

EFCC also said the property located at Plot 2717 Cadastral Zone, AOC, Maitama, Abuja was handed over to Harbour Bay International instead of Naval Engineering Services which developed and funded the construction.

The letter by the Nigerian Navy that was tendered as evidence of no wrong doing by Usman Jibrin and the 2 other defendants however countered the claim of the antigraft agency as regards the ownership of the property.

A further investigation revealed that while the case is in court, the EFCC had given the disputed house to one Chief Atang who is already in occupation .

The Presiding Judge, Justice Sadiq Umar adjourned the case till May, 22, May 23, and May 24 for continuation of trial.

Document From Nigerian Navy Detailing It Actually Owns The Contentious Safe House
Document From Nigerian Navy Detailing It Actually Owns The Contentious Safe House

...And Again, EFCC Goes After Another Senator Over N4b Contract Fraud, 20 Bank Accounts

...And Again, EFCC Goes After Another Senator Over N4b Contract Fraud, 20 Bank Accounts

Saraki and EFCC magu
The Nation - A senator is the subject of a massive probe for not executing N4 billion contracts awarded by the government of Delta State, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Sources told The Nation yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also looking into how the lawmaker operates 20 accounts in six banks with different signatories.

Besides, the senator allegedly used a company, to buy a 12-storey building in Apapa, Lagos, belonging to the Delta State Government for N805 million.


The Nation learnt that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) record showed that the senator  “did not declare all the companies and bank accounts he has despite being operational prior to the time he made the declaration”.

The senator’s investigation, a source said, followed a petition from  Delta State.

The petitioner alleged that the senator owns a firm which was awarded a N1,580,000,000 contract by the Direct Labour Agency to supply construction equipment.

Instead of following specifications, the petition said, the senator allegedly supplied used equipment, contrary to the Bill of Quantity which specified new ones.

Besides,  his firm was alleged to have  secured  over N2 billion contracts from nine local government areas in Delta worth over N2billion when it was yet to be registered under the Company and Allied Matters Act.

The firm was alleged to have  secured N474, 936,000 contract from the Waste Management Board  to supply bulldozers, payloaders and tipper lorries.

The, EFCC, however, found out that the equipment were used items contrary to contract specifications.

A source in the anti-graft commission said: “We have traced five companies to the senator.  We were able to detect that in the course of contract execution, his company  imported and supplied used equipment, contrary to the specifications in the bill of quantity.

“Our team has discovered that the senator’s personal and companies’ bank accounts were linked to a bank verification number (BVN) which has more than 20 accounts domiciled in six banks.

“But his relative is the sole signatory to the accounts.

“They also located  one foreign account identified with the senator in HSBC Bank in Marbile Arch London, United Kingdom”.

Responding to a question, the EFCC source added: “So far, the senator has questions to respond to bordering on false asset declaration, official corruption, procurement fraud, tax avoidance, false information, impersonation and embezzlement of public funds.

“We are almost concluding the investigation of the senator. We will soon invite him for interview.”
Saraki and EFCC magu
The Nation - A senator is the subject of a massive probe for not executing N4 billion contracts awarded by the government of Delta State, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Sources told The Nation yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also looking into how the lawmaker operates 20 accounts in six banks with different signatories.

Besides, the senator allegedly used a company, to buy a 12-storey building in Apapa, Lagos, belonging to the Delta State Government for N805 million.


The Nation learnt that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) record showed that the senator  “did not declare all the companies and bank accounts he has despite being operational prior to the time he made the declaration”.

The senator’s investigation, a source said, followed a petition from  Delta State.

The petitioner alleged that the senator owns a firm which was awarded a N1,580,000,000 contract by the Direct Labour Agency to supply construction equipment.

Instead of following specifications, the petition said, the senator allegedly supplied used equipment, contrary to the Bill of Quantity which specified new ones.

Besides,  his firm was alleged to have  secured  over N2 billion contracts from nine local government areas in Delta worth over N2billion when it was yet to be registered under the Company and Allied Matters Act.

The firm was alleged to have  secured N474, 936,000 contract from the Waste Management Board  to supply bulldozers, payloaders and tipper lorries.

The, EFCC, however, found out that the equipment were used items contrary to contract specifications.

A source in the anti-graft commission said: “We have traced five companies to the senator.  We were able to detect that in the course of contract execution, his company  imported and supplied used equipment, contrary to the specifications in the bill of quantity.

“Our team has discovered that the senator’s personal and companies’ bank accounts were linked to a bank verification number (BVN) which has more than 20 accounts domiciled in six banks.

“But his relative is the sole signatory to the accounts.

“They also located  one foreign account identified with the senator in HSBC Bank in Marbile Arch London, United Kingdom”.

Responding to a question, the EFCC source added: “So far, the senator has questions to respond to bordering on false asset declaration, official corruption, procurement fraud, tax avoidance, false information, impersonation and embezzlement of public funds.

“We are almost concluding the investigation of the senator. We will soon invite him for interview.”

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