EFCC
Computer Operators Bag Jail Terms for Forgery in Bauchi
- Details
- Written by Rashida Abdullahi
Justices M. Sambo and M. Abubarka of the Bauchi State High Courts on January 31, 2022 separately sentenced the duo of Yahaya Ahmed Alfa and Abdullah Aliyu Faisal to one year and six months imprisonment respectively on one count charge each of forgery preferred against them by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The defendants were separately charged under Section 362 of the Penal Code law.
Both pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted accordingly. While, Yahaya bagged one year jail term with option of fine of N50, 000.00 Fifty (Fifty Thousand Naira), Faisal was sentenced to Six months imprisonment.
Their brush with the law started sometime in August 2021 when the commission obtained intelligence on their nefarious activities of forging Bauchi State Certificate of Occupancy (C of C ) , Executive Governor’s signature and other sensitive documents including examination results.
During investigation operatives, posing as potential customers, requested for their services and were promptly assured that their request would be met with evidence of similar forged documents.
They were subsequently arrested and confessed to the crime.
Media & Publicity
3 February, 2022
Man Who Targets UK Revenue and Customs Bags Six Months Jail Term For Theft, Impersonation In Lagos
- Details
- Written by Rashida Abdullahi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, January 31, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Amunikoro Oludare Olawale to six months imprisonment for identity theft and impersonation before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
P&ID Scam: Counsel’s Absence Stalls Grace Taiga’s Trial
- Details
- Written by Rashida Abdullahi
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, February 3, 2022, adjourned the trial of Grace Taiga, a former Director of Legal at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources till March 31, 2022 owing to absence of her lead counsel, Ola Olanipekun, SAN.
Taiga is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly collecting bribes to facilitate awards of contract in the infamous Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) scam.
At the resumed trial today, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed told the court that the matter was slated for continuation of trial, adding that the prosecution had a witness in court but was informed of the defence counsel’s absence.
B.N. Igbor, who held the brief of the lead defence counsel, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, asked for an adjournment.
“Learned counsel asked me to plead with this court to give us another date. The case file is with him, he communicated with the counsel for the prosecution and he suggested 21st or 28th subject to the convenience of the court,” she stated.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter till March 31, 2022, for continuation of trial.
Media & Publicity
3 February, 2022
Ex- Rector’s Son, Olaoye, Two Others Jailed for Cyber Fraud in Ilorin
- Details
- Written by Rashida Abdullahi
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, February 3, 2022 secured the conviction of a certain Olaoye Jamiu Olarewaju, son of a former Deputy Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, over offences bordering on cybercrime.
Olaoye was convicted alongside one Badmus Ridwan Moyosore, a native of Ibadan, Oyo State and one Abdulsalam Ibrahim from Malete in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, over similar offence by Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The trio of Olaoye, Badmus and Abdulsalam, who were prosecuted on separately by the anti-graft agency pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Rasheedat Alao called witnesses who are operatives of the Commission to review the facts of the cases.
According to the witness who testified against Olaoye, the defendant fraudulently defrauded one of his victims to the tune of $2,000 (Two Thousand United States Dollars), while the testimony against Badmus revealed that the defendant swindled his victim the sum of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars). In the same vein, the testimony against Abdulsalam was to the effect that he was involved in “sugar baby relationship scam” and that over N18million suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities passed through his account.
The extra-judicial statements of the defendants, fraudulent documents printed from their devices and items recovered from them at the point of arrest were tendered and admitted in evidence.
Alao, thereafter urged the court to convict the defendants as charged.
In her judgment, Justice Akinpelu held that the EFCC had established its cases against the defendants. Consequently, the court pronounced the defendants guilty.
The judge sentenced Olaoye to a term of six months imprisonment with N150, 000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as option of fine. The court also ordered that an iphone which he used to perpetrate the crime and the draft of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira), which he raised as restitution be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Similarly, Justice Akinpelu sentenced Badmus to six months imprisonment with N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) as option of fine. Two phones and a laptop used by the convict to perpetrate the crime were also forfeited to the Federal Government.
Similarly, Justice Akinpelu sentenced Abdulsalam to six months imprisonment with N150, 000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as option of fine. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of a Toyota Camry Car, two phones and a laptop used by the convict as instrumentality of the crime to the Federal Government
Media & Publicity
3 February, 2022
SCUML Charges Car Dealers on Due Diligence in Gombe
- Details
- Written by Rashida Abdullahi
The Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering ( SCUML) of the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , has tasked car dealers in Gombe to take issues of due diligence seriously as this could save them from avoidable consequences of regulatory breaches.
The charge was given on Tuesday February 1, 2022, by the Zonal Coordinator of SCUML in the Command, Junaidu Shehu while speaking on a one-day sensitisation lecture organised for Association of Motor Dealers, Gombe Branch at their corporate office along Dukku Road, Gombe.
“You cannot operate such capital intensive and risky business without ensuring proper due diligence and strict compliance with the Know-Your-Customer protocols,” he stated.
He pointed out the implication of conducting business with people they do not know, saying that it was both risky to the state and for business.
“If not for greed and indifference, you are not expected to conduct any business with someone you do not know”.
Junaidu explained, in detail to the dealers, the Money Laundering Act, 2011 (as amended), especially as it relates to accepting cash payment above the threshold to the tune of N5 million for individual and N10 million for body corporate.
While fielding questions from the participants, the SCUML coordinator further reiterated the importance of reporting their activities to both SCUML and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) according to extant laws.
The chairman of the Association, Alhaji A.A. Sadiq, commended SCUML for its consistency in sensitizing his members and assured of their willingness to comply with existing regulations.
More Articles ...
Page 342 of 1789