EFCC Archives | Page 4 of 7

Alleged N101.4bn fraud: Court orders service of hearing notice on Yahaya Bello

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, has directed that a hearing notice be served on Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, at his residence and on the court’s notice board. This follows his repeated failure to appear in court for arraignment on charges of fraud involving N101.4 billion. In a ruling on Thursday, November 14, 2024, Justice Anenih instructed that the hearing notice be pasted at Bello’s residence at No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, and displayed on the court’s notice board. The court issued this order as the public summons requiring Bello’s appearance is set to expire on November 17, 2024, allowing him a few remaining days to comply. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC requested an adjournment to allow Bello more time to respond to the public summons, which provides a 30-day period for his appearance. According to the counsel to the EFCC, Jamiu Agoro, the option of issuing a warrant of arrest is premature as the 30-day compliance period has not yet expired. Justice Anenih thereafter granted the EFCC’s request for an adjournment, setting November 27, 2024, as the new date for Bello to appear in court for arraignment. Recall that the court had previously issued a public summons on October 3, 2024, after Bello failed to attend prior hearings related to the new 16-count charges filed against him by the EFCC. The charges include allegations of fraud amounting to N101.4 billion.

Bobrisky: My godfather ‘ll remain anonymous forever

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

Controversial crossdresser, Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky, has vowed not to reveal the identity of his godfather. After denying that audio that was widely circulated was Artificial Intelligence generated, Bobrisky on Thursday, admitted that he has a godfather in a post on his Instagram page. According to the social media influencer said he won’t revealed the identity of his backer despite the curiosity of some certain persons. Bobrisky wrote; “The moment we sue them they were shocked that Bobrisky sue us? (Sic). “Who is that strong man behind her? “You will never know him. He will be anonymous forever. “I’m not even telling my own family about him, not to talk of one nonsense friends. (Sic). “I should you so that you can go to his page to insult him? Never.” about who is his backer but the It can be recalled that was accused of spending his jail term at private faculty as against the Correctional Center, Kirikiri, Lagos following his conviction by a Lagos Court a few months ago.

Alleged N3b Fraud: I exchanged Naira for Dollars for Yahaya Bello – BDC Operator

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and the third prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, affirmed before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja that funds were brought to him by agents of Kogi State Government for the payment of school fees of the daughters of former governor, Yahaya Bello.

EFCC seeks Yahaya Bello’s trial in absentia

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday October 30, 2024 asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of a former 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.

EFCC docks fake nurse for alleged N28.2m fraud

Our Reporters6 months ago6 months ago05 mins

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, a fake fertility nurse before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State. The defendant was arraigned on 45-count charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N28,278,600.00 (Twenty-eight Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-eight Thousand, Six Hundred Naira). Count 41 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,600,000.00) only from one Okenwa Joy Chiamaka, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”. Count 24 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,250,000.00) from one Amarachi Okpala, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts when they were read to her. In view of her pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Blessing N. Obasi prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility. However, defence counsel, G. C. Madubuegwu informed the court about a pending motion on notice for bail, dated October 4, 2024, and filed on the same date. “It is brought pursuant to Section 162 and 165 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ” he said. After moving the said application, he prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms. Obasi vehemently opposed the application for bail on the grounds that the allegation against the defendant was a weighty one, citing the mental health of the defendant’s victims. After listening to both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the matter to November 12, 2024, for ruling on the bail application. The defendant was thereafter remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility. David-Agwa’s criminal issues commenced on August 28, 2024, when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA handed her over to the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC for investigation and possible prosecution after discovering that the defendant paraded herself as a medical fertility Nurse, thereby defrauding unsuspecting victims. Investigation into the matter revealed that the defendant allegedly forged the certificate of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Certificate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka and used the same in parading herself as a Medical Fertility Nurse, specially trained to assist women in getting pregnant with ease. It was also discovered that the defendant successfully defrauded over 45 innocent women who fell for her false claims.

Nigeria Immigration confirms Bobrisky’s arrest

Our Reporters6 months ago6 months ago01 mins

The Nigeria Immigration Service has confirmed the arrest of Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, at the Seme border while he was attempting to leave the country. In a statement issued by DCI KT Udo Service Public Relations Officer. “In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) intercepted Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju otherwise known as Bobrisky at the Seme Border over an attempt to Exit the Country. “The Service wishes to inform the public that OKUNEYE IDRIS is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern. He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate Authorities for further action. “The Service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the Country’s Borders.”

EFCC, NAPTIP join forces against money laundering

Our Reporters6 months ago6 months ago05 mins

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has expressed the readiness of the Commission to work closely with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, in order to tackle the scourge of Money Laundering more fiercely. He gave this indication in Abuja when the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello Adamu, led the management team of the agency on a courtesy visit to Olukoyede at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. The EFCC’s boss explained that there was a strong linkage between human trafficking and money laundering and that all efforts should be made to confront and conquer the two crimes together. “There’s a very strong nexus between human trafficking and money laundering. Wherever human trafficking takes place, there will definitely be money laundering, so that makes it necessary for us to work together,” he said. While assuring NAPTIP of EFCC’s support, he pledged the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that the relationship is further strengthened for optimal outcomes, noting that NAPTIP plays a critical role in Nigeria’s economic development and good international image. “Even though there’s an existing relationship, the essence of enhanced collaboration is to strengthen it and take it to a higher level. So, we will always be willing to collaborate with you, especially in areas like joint investigation, public awareness, resource mobilization, and manpower development as you have requested. The mandate of your agency is critical to our economic development and in giving a good international reputation to our country. So we will always be willing to support and to collaborate with you,” he said. Earlier in her remark, Bello pointed out that “the key points for this visit today are to seek collaboration on joint investigation, cybercrime and online trafficking investigation because this kind of crime involves a lot of finances, intelligence sharing, and capacity building, public awareness, and resource mobilization. I need all the support that will make us succeed in this fight so as to curtail the menace of human trafficking and violence against persons to the barest minimum,” she said. She noted that NAPTIP has been working closely with the EFCC since its inception, adding that “because of that, we think it is very important to come and present ourselves again before the Executive Chairman, particularly regarding the fight against human trafficking.” She recalled that the landmark conviction her agency got in 2022, involving a transnational human trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and European countries was achieved through a robust collaboration with the EFCC, adding that “Previous joint efforts also yielded notable results, such as the 2021 rescue operation that liberated 500 human trafficking victims from Libya, Europe, and the Middle East, and the 2020 partnership that resulted in the arrest of several traffickers and the recovery of over N100 million illicit funds.”

Yahaya Bello hiding in Kogi’s government house kitchen -Dino Melaye

Our Reporters6 months ago6 months ago03 mins

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2023 Kogi State Governorship elections, Senator Dino Melaye has accused former Governor Yahaya Bello of hiding in the state’s government house kitchen to evade arrest by EFCC. An elated Senator, who was reacting to his legal victory after six years, made this revelation on his X handle on Tuesday. Melaye wrote; “After 6 years of legal battle with the Federal Government and IGP on 12 different frivolous cases, just to silence me and drown my voice. “The last of the 12 cases was decided yesterday and I won it just like the other 11 before it. I was humiliated and detained 436 days between 2017 and 2019. “Truth will always remain constant and for me it is a no retreat,no surrender situation. I will continue to speak the truth despite all odds. “In an unjust society, silence is crime. Truth have no volume. “I was humiliated and escaped 4 assassination attempts, to the glory of God, I am here today bouncing and making progress. “No amount of threat, arrest or humiliation will break Dino because if you speak the truth, you will die,if you lie you will die, it is better to speak the truth and die. “Bello, (Yahaya) who instigated these charges is a hunter, who has now become the hunted, hiding inside his successor’s agbada or taking cover in the coven and the oven of Government House kitchen, to escape arrest. “This is what it means to be law-abiding. When your innocence is questioned, be available to prove your innocence. “When you evade common invitation, resist arrest, or refuse to appear in court, you have pronounced yourself guilty! “Truly, the guilty is afraid. “Bello should do the right thing by showing up to explain how N110B moved from the state coffers to his pocket. That is the definition of good citizenship.”