Tag: EFCC

Alleged $35m fraud: EFCC detains NCDMB boss, Wabote

Aminu Imam
EFCC detains Wabote

…Confiscates traveling documents The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, seized the traveling passport and detained a former Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB), Timber Kesiye Wabote, for alleged $35 million Brass Project fraud. This is the second time in two weeks, that Wabote has been detained. His residence in Abuja was also reportedly  searched by operatives of the commission. A source within the EFCC said: “Wabote appeared before the Commission for further questioning, and we decided to detain him in view of the evidence…

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S’Court dismisses States govs. suit challenging constitutionality of EFCC, ICPC, NFIU Acts 

Aminu Imam
S'Court dismisses

The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed the suit instituted by 16 States of the federation against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and two others. The other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, (NFIU). A 7-member Justices, in a unanimous judgment, held that the suit was unmeritorious. In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for…

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Persistent Grid Collapse: EFCC probes contracts awarded in power sector

Aminu Imam
EFCC probes contracts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it has initiated probe into contracts awarded in the power sector while attributing Nigeria’s unreliable electricity supply and persistent grid collapses to corruption within the sector. Chairman of the agency, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this during the visit of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. According to Olukoyede, EFCC investigations revealed that contractors awarded projects to supply electrical equipment frequently resorted to substandard materials. He identified this as the primary reason for the…

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Kano Citizens petition EFCC to investigate US-owned Arewa24 TV over alleged financial crimes

Aminu Imam

The Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative (KCCI) has officially petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Arewa24 TV, a US-owned TV channel operating in Nigeria, on allegations of severe economic and financial misconduct. In a statement issued yesterday, signed by KCCI spokesperson, Sayeedi Umar Ahmed, KCCI accused the television network of engaging in tax evasion, capital flight, money-laundering, and other sharp practices that reportedly violate Nigerian laws. According to the petition, KCCI claims that Arewa24 TV has been conducting its media and advertising business in Nigeria illegally, thereby…

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Alleged N1.3tr diversion: EFCC arrests Delta ex-Gov. Okowa

Aminu Imam
EFCC arrests Okowa

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, over alleged diversion of N1.3trillion State funds. Okowa was arrested yesterday for the alleged diversion of the funds, said to be part of the 13% Derivation Funds earmarked for oil-producing States. Sources at the Commission said that the former governor was being investigated for alleged diversion of funds to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba in Delta State. EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed Okowa’s arrest to newsmen yesterday night. Officials said that…

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EFCC seeks Yahaya Bello’s trial ‘in absentia’

Aminu Imam
EFCC seeks Yahaya Bello

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), yesterday asked Justice Emeka Nwite, of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.  The EFCC, through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, (SAN), also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello. Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the…

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Supreme Court reserves judgement in Govs’ suit seeking to scrap EFCC 

Aminu Imam
S'Court reserves judgement in EFCC

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has reserved judgement in a suit filed by 16 state governments challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others. According reports, a 7-member panel of justices presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, yestetday reserved the matter after the lawyers in the matter argued their applications. The suit, which was originally filed by the Kogi State Government through its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had other states seeking to join as co-plaintiffs. The States that joined in the suit,…

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Falana faults Agbakoba’s claim on EFCC’s legal status

Aminu Imam
Falana faults Agbakoba

Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has written to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to oppose the view expressed by the ex-president of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), regarding the legal status of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. In a letter dated 17 October 2024, Falana disagreed with Agbakoba’s assertion that the EFCC is an “unlawful organisation”. The letter read: “Our attention has been drawn to separate letters addressed to…

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Alleged N27bn Fraud: EFCC arrests former Taraba Gov. Darius Ishaku

Aminu Imam
AIT IMAGES 43

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the immediate-past governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku. The former Governor was arrested at his Abuja residence in the early hours of Friday, over alleged N27 billion fraud. Spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development. It was gathered that Ishaku was detained after he could not provide satisfactory explanations for financial impropriety under his watch as Taraba State governor. Meanwhile, a source within the EFCC said the anti-graft agency has filed at least 6-count charges bothering on criminal breach…

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EFCC Money laundering allegation: Ex-Kogi Gov. Yahaya Bello begs Tinubu to intervene

Aminu Imam

The Media Office of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the confrontation between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), and the ex-governor. In an issued statement signed by Ohiare Michael, the media office condemned the EFCC’s conduct, labelling its recent releases and actions as biased The office called on President Tinubu to intervene in the matter, urging him to ensure that the fight against corruption remains impartial. According to Michael, the anti-graft agency’s approach to the bid to arrest the…

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