Fraud / News

ICPC drags Professor to court over $40,000 bribery, inducement

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a professor over allegations of $40,000 bribery and inducement of officers of the Commission.

In a single charge brought before Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC accused the professor kester of issuing a cheque valued at the said amount to a staff of the Commission.

The cheque was part of the $50,000 and a house in Abuja, promised to the officer to compromise the investigation by retrieving the accused person’s devices, MacBook S/N CIML8BUGDTY3, MacBook S/N W80204J7ATN, and iPhone Pro11 which were in the custody of ICPC for investigative activities.

The commission, in a Charge No: CR/025/2022, informed the court of how the defendant induced one of its operatives to smuggle out a particular iPhone and a laptop and to replace them with a dummy that was to be provided by his personal assistant. The accused person’s action is contrary to Section 18 (b) and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. He was therefore admitted on bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum

The sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and one of them must have a landed property in Abuja.

The trial judge also ordered that the defendant’s international passport and other valid travel documents be submitted to the court before the next adjourned date otherwise his bail will be revoked.

The case has been adjourned to the 21st of June 2022 for the commencement of the hearing.…

Drugs / Foreign / News

Abba Kyari: FG begins US extradition process as Malami files case

Nigeria has approved the request by the United States for the extradition of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.

A grand jury, last April 29, filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the US District Court for Central District of California.

A Deputy Clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft. He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime.

On Wednesday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), filed an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition.

The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, was filed under the Extradition Act.

The AGF said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the US Embassy in Abuja.

It is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”.

Kyari and five other police officers are undergoing interrogation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over a cocaine deal.

Last week, a court endorsed further 14-day detention for the suspects.

In the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, the AGF stated that he was satisfied that provision is made by the laws of the US such that so long as Kyari has not had a reasonable opportunity of returning to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried for any offence committed before his surrender other than the extradition offence which can be proved by the fact on which his surrender is sought.

He added that he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.

The AGF also expressed satisfaction that the request for the surrender of Kyari was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest …

Business / Crime / Law / News

Two Bankers withdraw customer’s N47.4m with their own ATMs

A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Maryam Sabo has granted bail on stringent conditions to two bankers: Nuhu Demba and Mohammed Abdullahi Musa, who allegedly conspired and stole the sum of N47,452,055.45 from the account of one Mailafia Mohammed.

The case, being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes, was reported via a petition by the victim and complainant.

The petitioner alleged that on February 6, 2021, he was attacked in his house by armed men who took away his mobile phone.

Mohammed said on February 8, 2021, he reported the incident to the branch of his bank where he maintains a savings account and was advised to continue using his account as nothing would happen. He further alleged that on February 18, 2021, he went to withdraw money and was informed that there was no money in the account.

He subsequently requested for his account statement and discovered that N47,452,055.45 was fraudulently withdrawn from it through the use of Automated Teller Machine cards.

The EFCC said investigation revealed that Musa and Demba stole the said monies from the complainant’s account through ATM and Point of Sale withdrawals.

It said the defendants perpetrated the fraud by using their positions to obtain ATM cards without going through due process and without the knowledge of the account holder.

Upon arraignment on February 10, 2022, they pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned to February 14, 2022 for ruling on the bail application.

Justice Sabo granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N10 million each, out of which a cash sum of N5 million shall be deposited in the court’s registry.

They are also to provide one surety each with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court worth N15 million.

The matter has been adjourned till March 23, 2022 for the commencement of trial.…

Crime / Fraud / Law

EFCC arrests man for allegedly defrauding Chinese of N82.8m

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested one Abraham Adeniji for allegedly obtaining goods under false pretense and diversion of funds to the tune of N82,803,550.00.

The Nigerian was arrested following a petition received by the Commission from one Gao Shu Quin, a Chinese national.

The petitioner alleged that she met the suspect sometime in 2017, while doing her legitimate business.

Quin further alleged that the suspect deceived her into supplying him containers of textiles materials, believing he would remit the proceeds upon sale of same. However, Adeniji allegedly diverted the proceeds for personal use after sale. The suspect will soon be charged to court.as soon as the investigation is completed.…

Crime / News

Why we arrested ex-Abia Governor, son — EFCC

A former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, was on Thursday arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Spokesperson of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.

Uwujaren said the former governor, who had been on the commission’s watch list, was intercepted at the Nnamdi International Airport, Abuja on Thursday.

He said Orji was later taken to the commission’s headquarters for continuation of his interrogation. He said: “He is being quizzed alongside his son, Chinedu, the current Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, who turned himself in this afternoon upon learning of the arrest of his father.

“Orji and his sons, Chinedu and Ogbonna, are under investigation by EFCC for offences bordering on misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.

“The ex-governor is alleged to have collected N500 million monthly as security vote for eight years, as governor of Abia State between 2007 and 2015.

“Other issues relate to the alleged mismanagement of N2 billion ecological fund and conversion of Sure-P funds.”…

Crime / News

PSC sets up panel to study report on DCP Abba Kyari

The Police Service Commission has set up a panel to study the documents available to it on the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.

The Head of Press and Public Relations of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said this in a statement on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Kyari, the Head of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, was on July 31 suspended by the PSC following a recommendation by the IGP, Usman Baba.

The recommendation followed a bribery allegation brought against him by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI had alleged that the suspended DCP was paid a bribe by a serial internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to arrest one of his friends in a $1.1 million deal.

Ani said the PSC panel would examine the facts of the allegations as contained in the FBI indictment as well as the extant rules to keep abreast with the matter, pending the submission of the Police Investigative Panel report.

The panel, headed by Tijani Mohammed, the Director of Discipline in the commission, would gather and document relevant information on Kyari in view of it being a disciplinary matter, Ani said.

He added that the idea was to analyse the information gathered and make appropriate recommendation/s to the commission.

The PSC spokesman said the report of the panel would assist the commission take an informed decision after the submission of the Police Investigative Panel report.

He said the panel had already been inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Ismaila.…

Crime / Law / News

Abba Kyari’s probe: Police speak on reported submission of report

The Nigeria Police Force has said the probe into the alleged indictment of Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari by the Federal Investigation Bureau of the United States of America, being conducted by the NPF Special Investigation Panel, is still ongoing.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Commissioner of Police Frank Mba, spoke on the development in a statement.

Mba, in the statement on Tuesday, enjoined Nigerians to note that the panel has not submitted its report to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, as being wrongly reported in some news outlet and online platforms.

He added: “The Force hereby reassures the public that the outcome of investigations by the probe panel would be communicated accordingly upon conclusion of the investigations.”…

Crime / News

Hushpuppi Calls out DCP Abba Kyari in $1.1m wire fraud

Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, has accused super cop, Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, in a $1.1 million fraud involving a Qatari businessman.

Hushpuppi, according to the United States Department of Justice, levelled the accusation in court documents.

The scheme, in which six persons were indicted, was to defraud a Qatari school founder and then launder over $1 million in illicit proceeds.

Kyari, the Head of the Inspector General of Police Federal Intelligence Response Team, which had successfully investigated several criminal cases, was yet to respond to enquiries as at press time.

The development on the matter, published on the website of the US Department of Justice, reads:

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed this week alleges an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar – and the subsequent laundering of illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.

The three-count indictment returned on April 29 and unsealed Monday charges three U.S.-based defendants who were arrested last week – as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa – with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

The criminal complaint that initiated the prosecution in February was also unsealed Monday, revealing that Ramon Olorunwa Abbas – also known by his social media handle of “Ray Hushpuppi” – was initially charged in this case. Court documents ordered unsealed today show that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20. A version of Abbas’ plea agreement filed late Tuesday outlines his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses.

“The defendants allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off,” said Acting United …

Crime / Law / News

Naira Marley’s alleged internet fraud case adjourned for 3 months

The music star was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2019 for alleged internet fraud.

On Monday, July 12, 2021, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos adjourned till October 5 (85 days) to continue the alleged internet fraud trial.

At the resumption of proceedings, counsel to the EFCC, Bilkisu Buhari, informed the judge that the matter was slated for cross-examination of the second prosecution witness, Anosike.

She prayed the court to invite the witness for the continuation of the hearing.

However, the defense counsel Akinwale Kola-Taiwo, prayed the court for a short date for the continuation of trial on the grounds that “the matter is for mention today and not continuation as disclosed by the prosecution.”

Granting his prayer, Justice Oweibo adjourned the case till October 5, 6 and 7 for continuation of trial.

The long adjournment is in view of the court’s annual vacation, which begins on July 26 and ends on September 17 (53 days).

…
Crime / News

Alleged N7.1b fraud: Court fixes date for Uzor Kalu’s retrial

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday fixed July 2 for adoption of all processes filed by parties in a suit by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking to stop his retrial.

The court had in February granted Kalu leave to challenge the legality of the retrial.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, his counsel, Professor Awa Kalu, SAN, told the court that the respondents had served on him their counter affidavits.

Responding, counsel to the 1st respondent (EFCC), Oluwaleke Atolagbe, the second respondent, Mr George Ukaegbu, and the third respondent, Mr  K.C Nwufor, all admitted having filed and exchanged processes. In a short ruling, the judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said since all parties had “joined issues”, the court had taken over control of the case.

Ekwo adjourned the matter until July 2 for adoption.

Kalu, a serving senator representing Abia North, is seeking an order of the court prohibiting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from retrying him on the same alleged N7.1 billion money laundering charge against him.

He contended that having been tried once by the EFCC, convicted and sentenced in the same charge, FHC/ABJ/CR/56/ 2007, it would amount to double jeopardy for him to be subjected to a fresh trial on the same charge.

The former governor had also applied for an order prohibiting the EFCC from retrying, harassing and intimidating him with respect to the said charge or any other charge based on same facts as he needs not suffer double jeopardy.

Kalu was earlier found guilty and handed a 12-year jail term by the Lagos Division of the court.

The trial court convicted the former governor alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu, for alleged pilfering of N7.1 billion from the state treasury.

However, the Supreme Court, in its judgement on May 8 quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial of the defendants by the EFCC.

In a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel of Justices, the Supreme Court, nullified the entire …