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Tag: EFCC

NDLEA Nabs Notorious Drug Kingpin, Seizes Large Quantities of Narcotics in Nationwide Crackdown

Fola Badmus04 mins

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against drug trafficking, leading to the arrest of a 60-year-old cartel leader, Okpara Chigozie, who had evaded capture since 2019. The agency also intercepted international consignments concealed in food items, raided hotels distributing “party drugs,” and seized significant quantities of narcotics across multiple states. In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that Chigozie was arrested at his hideout on Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, Ojo, Lagos, following the interception of a white Toyota Sienna carrying his illicit cargo on Sunday, July 13, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. “Okpara, who has been on the NDLEA wanted list since 2019, was arrested after 7.6kg of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine were discovered hidden in compartments of a space bus,” Babafemi said. The vehicle’s driver, Achebe Nnamdi (51), was also arrested, while a follow-up operation at Chigozie’s residence yielded an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine. Major Busts at Lagos Airport At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, NDLEA operatives working with aviation security intercepted 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from a passenger, Omoregie Uyiosa, heading to Italy on Wednesday, July 16. On Thursday, July 17, another attempt to smuggle 1.7kg of cannabis (skunk) disguised in packs of Golden Morn cereal to Pakistan was foiled, leading to the arrest of Chioba Robert Uchenna. Raids and Arrests Across States This sweeping crackdown highlights the NDLEA’s aggressive push to dismantle major drug networks and intercept both domestic and international trafficking routes.

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Court Jails Five Chinese for Cyberterrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos

Fola Badmus03 mins

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of five Chinese for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos The suspects are: Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng and Lu Yi Liang. They are among the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024 in Lagos during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted by EFCC operatives. They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. One of the charges reads: “That you, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You) sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourabe Court, wilfully caused to be accessed computer system for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024]”. They initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them. However, during Tuesday’s sitting, they all changed their “not guilty plea” to “guilty.” In view of this, the prosecution counsel, U.S Kyari, prayed the court to convict them as charged. All the defendants were sentenced to one year imprisonment, with a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira). The judge also ordered that upon completion of their sentences, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, should ensure that they are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.

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EFCC Submits Video to Prove Oyo-Ita Gave Confessional Statement Voluntarily

EFCC Submits Video to Prove Oyo-Ita Gave Confessional Statement Voluntarily

Fola Badmus01 mins

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented video evidence in court to support its claim that former Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, voluntarily wrote her confessional statement during a 2019 interrogation. The footage, submitted on June 30, 2025, during a trial-within-trial before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was introduced by EFCC’s lead witness, Chief Superintendent Hamma Adama Bello. He said the video counters allegations that the statement was extracted under duress. Oyo-Ita is standing trial alongside aides Ugbong Effiok and Garba Umar, and six companies, over alleged diversion of ₦3 billion through fictitious contracts and financial misconduct. The trial resumes on October 14 and 16 to determine the admissibility of the statement.

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Lagos Court Jails Eight Filipinos for Cyber-terrorism, Internet Fraud

Fola Badmus03 mins

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, convicted and sentenced eight Filipinos to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. The convicts are: Beverlyn Casino, Mae Eribal, Mary Grace Dela Cruz, Jamal Polea, Tricia Castro, Rai Camara, Cherry De Leon and Danica Jarapan. They were arraigned on Tuesday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on separate charges of possession of fraudulent documents. One of the counts reads: “That you, Beverlyn Casino sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organized to seriously destabilize and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.” They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them. In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, N.K. Ukoha, prayed the court to convict the defendants as charged. Justice Owoeye convicted and sentenced the defendants to one year imprisonment each, with a fine of N1,000,000.00( One Million Naira). The Judge also ordered the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days upon completion of their sentences. The devices recovered from the defendants were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. They are among the 792 suspects rounded up in December 2024 in Victoria Island, Lagos. They were charged to court and jailed.

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EFCC Arraigns Benin City Socialite for Naira Abuse

Fola Badmus64 mins

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, May 26, 2025 arraigned Kelly Okungbowa a.k.a Ebo Stone, a Benin City-based socialite before Justice C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City on a two-count charge of Naira abuse and mutilation. Okungbowa is alleged to have on two different occasions while dancing with women in recreational centres in Benin City, sprayed a total of N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) and trampled on them in the process. Count one of his charge reads: “That you Kelly Okungbowa (m) sometime in November 2024 at Uyi Grand Marquee Event Centre, Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing with “Mummy Shallipopi,” tampered with the total sum of N200,000 (two hundred thousand Naira) notes of N500 (five hundred Naira) denomination, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.” Count two reads: “That you Kelly Okungbowa (m) on or about the 9th day of March 2025 at a Lounge/Bar owned by you, located at lhama Road, Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing with some young ladies, tampered with the total sum of N100,000 (one hundred thousand Naira) notes of N200 (two hundred Naira) denomination, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.” He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him, following which prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo prayed the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel, C. B. Ogiegbaen informed the court of a pending bail application for the defendant which has been served on the prosecution. The court at this point stood down the case and when the matter came up again at about 4pm, the judge informed the parties that the day was far spent and adjourned the matter till Tuesday, May 27, 2025 and released the defendant to his lawyer upon undertaking in writing to produce him in court on the adjourned date for the consideration of his bail application.

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EFCC Arrests 49 Suspected Internet Fraudsters, Recovers Loaded Pistol

Fola Badmus21 mins

Officers of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 49 suspected internet fraudsters in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. They were arrested between Saturday, May 24, 2025 and Sunday, May 25, 2025, following actionable intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities. The operations targeted multiple hideouts across the city with an unlicenced loaded pistol recovered from one of the suspects, who claimed during preliminary interrogation that he was a former cult member. Other items recovered from the suspects include high-end smartphones, laptop computers and two luxury vehicles. They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigations.

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Alleged N5.7bn Fraud: EFCC Presents First Witness Against Ex-Access Bank Staff, Others In Lagos

Fola Badmus05 mins

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, presented its first prosecution witness, PW1, Abdulmajeed Agboola, a staff of Access Bank Plc, in the alleged N5,726,994, 110.23( Five Billion, Seven Hundred and Twenty Six Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, One Hundred and Ten Naira, Twenty three kobo) fraud involving a former employee of the bank, Olajide Ogunmoroti, , Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje before Justice O.O.Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. The defendants are being prosecuted on an amended 10-count charge bordering on stealing, retention of proceeds of crime, money laundering , obtaining credit by false pretence and unauthorized access to computer materials. One of the charges reads: “ That you, Olajide Ogunmoroti, Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje, sometime in 2023, with a dishonest intent, stole and converted for your own use the sum of N2,253,827,379.23, being property of Access Bank Plc., thereby committed an offence of Stealing, contrary to Sections 280 and punishable under section 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.” Another charge reads: “ That you, “Olajide Ogunmoroti, Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje, sometime in 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with a dishonest intent, stole and converted for your own use the sum of N3,473,166,731.00 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy- Three Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty One Naira) Property of Access Bank PIc., thereby committed an offence of Stealing, contrary to Sections 280 and punishable under section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.” Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid L. Tukur, the witness told the court that the first defendant, Ogunmoroti , was the ICT representative of the Abakaliki branch of the bank. He told the court that there was a glitch in the bank’s server, which was traced to the Abakaliki branch during investigations. According to him, “There was a fraudulent overdraft limit maintained on our customers’ accounts, which enabled them to make withdrawals from the unfunded accounts. We observed those suspicious overdraft limits maintained on customers’ accounts, which allowed them to access funds and transferred to accounts maintained in both Access Bank and other banks. We identified customers whose accounts benefitted from the suspicious overdraft maintenance with total exposure of over N5bn.” Giving further evidence, the witness said when the CCTV footage was checked, it was discovered that everything had been wiped out. “During investigations, everything was pointing at the first defendant. He admitted that he used a private laptop in connection with the bank’s server through which they gained access to the bank’s data,” he further told the court. He, however, told the court that the use of personal laptops wasn’t allowed in the bank’s policy. The prosecution counsel, thereafter, sought to tender in evidence the petitions from the bank. There was no objection by the defence counsel and the document was admitted by the court. Justice Fadipe adjourned the case till May 20, 2025 for the continuation of trial.

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EFCC Arrests Ex-Government Contractor for Alleged N30b Fraud in Kaduna

Fola Badmus06 mins

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested one Bashir Bello Ibrahim, a former Kaduna State government contractor and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Formal Act Legacy Limited for alleged multiple fraud to the tune of N30 billion. Though his contract with the state government had been terminated, no less than 251 complaints received by the Commission against the suspect pointed to the allegation that Ibrahim is parading himself to unsuspecting victims as consultant for the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State as well as that of the United Charity Foundation, UCF, FICCORD with affiliation to Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs Office. It is also alleged that he informed his victims that he had a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Kaduna State government for the purpose of sourcing intervention grants from global donor agencies for the funding of LGA projects in the state and supporting the actualization of SDGs within the state. While investigations revealed that the suspect is not a consultant to UCF, his 2020 MoU with Kaduna State government was terminated by the state government in October 2023 as a result of default on the terms of the MoU by the suspect. However, despite the termination of the MoU, the suspect intentionally engaged in unauthorised award of fictitious contracts to the tune of approximately N30 billion (Thirty Billion Naira) by convincing his contractor victims to supply items meant for construction of hospitals, motorised boreholes, hospital beds and mattresses, drugs and vaccines which he would allegedly receive on behalf of the Kaduna State government, sold some and diverted their proceeds to his personal use. From investigations, it was further discovered that when he took delivery of the supplies, he would warehouse them, kept the LGAs in the dark about their delivery and furthermore, failed to pay he contractors the value of what they supplied. It is also alleged that the suspect was selling contract award papers using proxies with whom he shared the proceeds. These fraudulent acts coupled with his unilateral alteration of the nature of the contracts and their terms, allegedly led to the termination of the MoU he had with the state government in 2023. Items recovered from him include Toyota Hilux pick up vans, ambulances, buses, dispatch motorcycles, caches of drugs and vaccines for children, stacks of hospital beds and mattresses and heavy duty generators. Found in his office store are large quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, infusions, ointments/creams; medical consumables that include hand gloves, syringes, and mucus extractor. The Commission is collaborating with NAFDAC and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health in the evaluation of the cache of medicines found in his storage facilities as well as in carrying out qualitative analysis on them. Following the inspections, Umar Ahmad Suleiman, Investigation and Enforcement Officer, Federal Tax Force, NAFDAC said some of the drug manufacturers registered with NAFDAC and that while some of the medicines are still within shelf life, some have expired with some being outright counterfeits and their manufacturers, unregistered with NAFDAC. Corroborating the position of the NAFDAC official, Abubakar Isa Balarabe, a pharmacist and Team Leader, Ministry of Health Kaduna State observed that some of the medicines have expired, noting also that the warehouse where the medicines were stored fell below standard. “The storage is not fit for any medicine because of the way and manner it was kept,” he said. The suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

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