Flowerbud News

Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC to arraign 2 top officials of Binance Ltd on Thursday

    EFCC to arraign 2 top officials of Binance Ltd on Thursday

    Flowerbudnews

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will, on Thursday, arraign Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, two top officials of Binance Holdings Ltd on five counts of money laundering charge.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reliably gathered on Tuesday that Binance, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, who escaped from lawful custody on March 22 and fled Nigeria, will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja.

    Although the crypto exchange firm, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla are listed as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively, Anjarwalla, who is described to be “at large” by the EFCC in the counts, is expected to be arraigned in absentia.

    In the charge dated and filed on March 28 by the anti-graft agency, the trio is being accused of money laundering to the tune of $35,400,000.

    Count one accused the defendants between January 2023 and January 2024 in Abuja of carrying on specialised business of other financial institution without valid licence.

    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 57(1) and (2) of the Banks and Other Financial, Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57(5) of the same Act.

    NAN had, on March 28, also reported that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will, on April 4, arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan and fleeing Anjarwalla, on allegations bordering on tax evasion.

    In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, the three defendants will equally be arraigned before Justice Nwite on four counts.

    NAN reports that though the FHC’s Easter vacation, which began on March 22, will come to an end on April 8, the Chief Judge of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, directed the transfer of Binance case file to Justice Nwite, even though he is not a vacation judge.

    The chief judge granted the fiat for the judge to handle the case during vacation being a matter that concerns dire national interest.

    In the charge dated and filed March 22 by the FIRS, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence on or about Feb. 1.

    Count one alleged that while involved in carrying and offering services to subscribers on their platform, known as Binance, failed to register with the FIRS, for the purpose of paying all relevant taxes administered by the service.

    The offences are said to be punishable under Sections 8 and 29 of the VAT Act of 1993 (as Amended), Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act, 2007 (as amended) and under provisions of Section 94 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended) respectively.

    The two cases were fixed for Thursday to allow for accelerated hearing.

    NAN had, on March 18, reported that Justice Nwite ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the EFCC with the comprehensive data or information of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

    The judge granted the interim order after ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.

    The interim order was granted to enable the anti-graft agency unravel the alleged money laundering and terrorism financing on Binance platform.

    The commission said it uncovered users who had been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which had caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

    The EFCC said that from the information afforded to its team of Investigators by Binance showed that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at 21.6 billion dollars .(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • Our Anti-Corruption Fight Will Spare No One- Olukoyede

    Our Anti-Corruption Fight Will Spare No One- Olukoyede

     

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has assured that EFCC anti-graft war under his leadership would remain broad-based, holistic and unsparing of anyone linked with any  economic and financial crimes.

    He gave the assurance in Abuja on Sunday,  at an Anti-Corruption Concert organized to create greater awareness and public involvement in the fight against internet crimes, Dele Oyewale EFCC Spokesman disclosed in a statement.

    Olukoyede pointed to the strides being made since he assumed office a couple of months ago and reaffirmed his commitment to an all-embracing, fully-integrated war against corrupt practices.

    ‘’We will not spare anyone.  We will not spare the mega thieves.  As we are doing the mega, we will also do those at the lower end.  In the last two months, we have arranged two former governors.  So, it is not true that we are only focused on internet fraudsters. Of course, internet fraud is bad enough but our focus is on every form of economic and financial crimes”,  he said.

    He cautioned youths against indulgence in internet-related offences,  pointing out that the consequences of being convicted for such crimes are grave.  “Youths need to know that being ex-convicts has career limitations.  Ex-convicts can’t run for public offices,  the stigma alone is even terrible.  So,  I urge you to avoid internet crimes by all means.  Your future is more important than any immediate gains from such crimes”, he said.

    Olukoyede says that the EFCC under his watch is deeply interested in giving youths a glorious and sustainable future and to this effect,  “ a Cyber Crime Research Centre is being planned in the New Academy of the EFCC.  The Centre will involve youths in in-depth research about the issue of cyber crime.  Their energies will be deployed towards profitable engagements”

    He further charged the youths to embrace hard work and diligence,  stressing that “ the path of success is the path of hard work and dignity.  There is dignity in labour.  Let’s come together. All of us must come together and agree that corruption is evil. Don’t’ leave the fight to EFCC alone”

    In his charge to the youths at the concert,  Minister of State for Youth Development,  Ayodele Olawande enjoined youths across the country to support the EFCC in its crusade against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.  “Nigeria is supposed to have progressed more than this. We will not allow corrupt people to destroy our future, that is why we need to come together and fight this evil in our society, that is why we need to continuously run this campaign because I am convinced that everyone of us have a part to play, without you, there is little or nothing EFCC can do.  Let’s show the world that Nigeria young people are determined to change the narrative”, he said (Flowerbudnews)

  • EFCC Arrests 74 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ogun

    EFCC Arrests 74 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ogun

     

    By Biola Lawal

    (Flowerbudnews): The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arrested seventy-four (74) suspected internet fraudsters in Ogun State.

    The alleged fraudsters were arrested at Government Residential Area, G.R.A, Shagamu,  in Ogun State following surveillance and intelligence  exposing their suspected internet-related  offences.

    Dele Oyewale,EFCC Spokesman said in a statement on Friday that the suspects were arrested on Thursday by operatives from the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Command.

    Items recovered from them include seven exotic cars, three laptops, 124 mobile phones, one PlayStation 3 game, two motorcycles and other incriminating documents.

    They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, the statement said. (Flowerbudnews)

     

  • EFCC Arrests Barber, 11 other Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Uyo

    EFCC Arrests Barber, 11 other Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Uyo

    By Biola Lawal

    Flowerbudnews:   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has arrested a barber, and  eleven suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    They were arrested following credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet-related offences, EFCC Spokesman, Dele Oyewale disclosed in a statement, a copy of which was made available to Flowerbudnews.

    Items recovered from them include sophisticated mobile phones, laptops and WiFi routers.

    The suspects will be charged to court as soon as  investigations are concluded (Flowerbudnews)

  • Breaking: EFCC Declares Angel Odumodu, other Wanted

    Breaking: EFCC Declares Angel Odumodu, other Wanted

     

    By. Biola Lawal

    Abuja ( Flowerbudnews): The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC) has declared the duo of Angel Odumodu and Emmanuel Wisdom Okoh wanted for alleged offences of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretenses.

    Odumodu, 36 and Okph,  37 allegedly committed the offences using their company – Vetifly Global Inc..

    Dele Oyewale, EFCC Spokesman disclosed in a public notice that the last known address of Odumodu was; Plot 6, ELM Street, Osbourne Foreshore Estate, Phase2, Ikoyi , Lagos.

    EFCC said that Okoh was also last sighted at the same address.

    The anti-graft Commission urged anyone with useful information about the duo to phone – 2348093322644 or contact the nearest EFCC, Police or any other security offices. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Confusion as EFCC names ex-Kogi governor in alleged corruption perpetrated before he assumed office

    Confusion as EFCC names ex-Kogi governor in alleged corruption perpetrated before he assumed office

     

     

    Flowerbudnews

    There was confusion on Thursday at a Federal High Court, Abuja, following amended charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Alli Bello and Daudu Suleiman, including the immediate-past Governor of Kogi.

    In the amended charge filed before Justice James Omotosho, the EFCC alleged that the suspects diverted about N100 billion belonging to the state government in September 2015, months before ex-Governor Yahaya Bello assumed office.

    Ex-Governor Bello was not a defendant in the original suit, and was not in court.

    When the matter was called for the defendants to be re-arraigned, counsel for the former governor, A.M. Aliyu, SAN, objected to reading of the amended charges to his client.

    His ground of objection was that the anti-graft agency had failed woefully to comply with Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

    The senior lawyer submitted that a copy of the amended charges was not served on them as required by the provisions of ACJA.

    But EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, asked the court to reject the arguments of the defendant, adding that the court had on its own endorsed the amendment.

    Justice Omotoso, in a shirt ruling, recalled that he had granted accelerated hearing in the matter and had also ordered that all forms of objections must be kept in abeyance till address stage.

    The judge then directed the court registrar to read the amended charges.

    After the 17-count charge was read to the defendants, Ali Bello, who is the current Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleman, denied the fraud allegations in the amended charges brought against them at the fresh arraignment.

    They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    In the first count, former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were accused of conspiring with each other in September 2015 and converted N80, 246, 470, 089 to their personal use.

    They were alleged to have run foul of Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 because they ought to have reasonably known that the money was a product of fraud and criminal breach of public trust.

    In other charges, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were alleged to have concealed several millions of naira with one Rabiu Musa Tafada, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator trading under Global Venture in Abuja.

    Aliyu, who appeared for Alli Bello, at this point, applied that one of the EFCC witnesses, Edward Fanada, be recalled for fresh cross-examination in view of the contents of the amended charges.

    The request was granted by Justice Omotoso due to no opposition from the EFCC lawyer.

    Meanwhile, the judge admitted Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman to a bail condition earlier granted in the previous charges.

    He adjourned the .after until March 20 and March 21 for trial continuation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • EFCC Arrests 45 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Lagos

    EFCC Arrests 45 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Lagos

     

    By Biola Lawal

    Flowerbudnews:  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arrested 45 suspected internet fraudsters in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

    They were arrested on Monday by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC following intelligence on the activities of an Organised Cybercrime Syndicate Network, OCSN, operating in that axis of the state.

    Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include exotic vehicles, sophisticated mobile devices, and laptops, a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC Spokesman disclosed.

    They will soon be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations. (Flowerbudnews)

  • $9.6bn P&ID Fraud: EFCC Files Additional  Evidence Against MICAD, Nolan

    $9.6bn P&ID Fraud: EFCC Files Additional  Evidence Against MICAD, Nolan

     

    Flowerbudnews:  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,has tendered more evidence against MICAD Project City Services Limited and James Nolan before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

    Micad Project City Services Limited and James Nolan are standing trial on a 20-count charge of obtaining by false pretense, non-compliance with the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and criminal conversion of proceeds of crime to the tune N151,394,328.00 (One Hundred and Fifty-one Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-four Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-eight Naira).

    This was disclosed in a statement by EFCC Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, a copy of which was made available to Flowerbudnews.

    At Monday’s court session,  Prosecution counsel, Bala Sanga informed the court that the EFCC has filed additional evidence before the court  on February 20, 2024  and defense counsel, Micheal Ajara confirmed  that they have been served the evidence.

    To this end, Sanga presented the third prosecution witness, PW3, Nnedimma Irene Eyisi, a lawyer.  She told the court how James Nolan informed her that he needed to renew himself as the Director of MICAD.

    “Sometimes in 2016, my principal informed me that a client will give me a form to file, a CAC document. Later that day,  I received a call from a client who introduced himself as James Nolan, he informed me he needed to renew himself as the Director of the company.  I asked him to give me details about the directors of the company and he did.  I informed him I will prepare a CAC Form 7, so that the required directors will sign”, she said.

    Narrating further,  she said, “a couple of weeks later, our Secretary informed me that I have some documents which contained CAC form 7 appointing James Nolan as the director, a consent letter accepting to be a director by James Nolan. On receiving these documents,  I proceeded to CAC and  after a couple of days,  I checked back and the application was approved. I made the necessary payment and submitted. I came back days later to collect the CTC of these documents. I packaged it and gave it out for dispatch, I call the client and informed him that the documents are ready”, she said.

     

    The witness further informed the court that she could recognize the document on sight, adding that it bears the name of James Nolan.

     

    Eyisi also said that she was invited by the EFCC in respect of the CAC form 7 and wrote a statement on August 31, 2021 which reflected her name. Sanga then applied to the court for the document to be admitted in evidence. The defense counsel did not object to the application.

    Justice Egwuatu admitted the document in evidence and marked it as Exhibit J.

    In the course of cross-examination, Eyisi confirmed that she dispatched the form for the company and the relevant directors  to sign adding that “CAC form 7 must return all signed and I submitted them all. All I know is that the documents were returned signed, by all directors and the new director.”

    The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to March 12, 2024 for continuation of hearing.

    At the last session on January 18, 2024,  second prosecution counsel, PW2, Hussain Babangida informed the court how directors of Micad City Services Ltd absconded with about N39,450,224.23(Thirty Nine million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Four Naira, Twenty Three kobo) owed as taxes to the Federal government using fake signatures (Flowerbudnews)

     

     

     

  • Maiduguri Court Jails MD for N99m Fraud

    Maiduguri Court Jails MD for N99m Fraud

    By Biola Lawal

    Flowerbudnews:   Alhaji Kyari Mohammed, managing director, Kyari and Sons Company Nigeria Limited,   has been sentenced to one year imprisonment for a N99.7 Million fraud.

    Mohammed was convicted and sentenced by Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on Wednesday, March 7, 2024, an EFCC statement by its Spokesman, Dele Oyewale has disclosed.

    Mohammed was first arraigned on June 21, 2021 by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on  two – charges  of conspiracy and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N99, 750,000.00 (Ninety Nine Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira)

    At the resumed hearing of the matter, Justice Fadawu recused  himself and returned the case file to Borno State Chief Judge for reassignment based on the objection raised by the defence counsel W. Y Maikyau.

    Thereafter, on Thursday, September 22, 2022, Kyari was arraigned before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on  two -count amended charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal misappropriation.

    Count one reads: ”That you Kyari Mohammed being a Managing Director of Kyari and Sons Company Nigeria Limited and alter ego of Kyari and Sons Company Nigeria Limited,  a company registered in Nigeria, sometimes March, 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did conspire among yourselves to obtained the gross sum of N99,750,000.00 (Ninety Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences and Punishable under the same Act.”

    The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges preferred against him by EFCC.

    Counsels for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed and S.O Saka , in the course of the trial, presented three witnesses and tendered documents as exhibits before the court.

    Counsel for the defendant W.Y Maikyau, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and sentence the defendant with an option of fine “as he is a first time offender”.

    Justice Kumaliya thereafter convicted and sentenced Mohammed to one year imprisonment with an option of N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only. The Judge further ordered the convict to pay the sum of N99, 750,000.00 (Ninety Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only to the petitioner or spend ten years in the Correctiional Centre.

    The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when a petitioner alleged that he fraudulently collected food items amounting to N99, 750,000.00 from him, under the guise of supplying  the items to a Non- Governmental Organization, NGO,  with a promise to pay for the items within forty-five days. Mohammed neither paid for the food items nor returned them to the supplier. (Flowerbudnews)