Lifestyle

Convicted internet fraudster Victor Odeh is 19, not 7 years old – EFCC

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dismissed reports that a recently convicted internet fraudster, Victor Oche Odeh, is seven years old.

EFCC explained that Odeh was convicted by Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on July 21, 2023.

However, the anti-graft agency on Monday sais its attention has been drawn to “false narratives being bandied about in some section of the social media that the convict is seven years old”.

The anti-graft agency insisted that the convict is 19.

The Commission explained that Odeh was among five undergraduates convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each, after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charge bordering on internet fraud.

The EFCC, in a post on its official X handle on Monday, named others convicted alongside Odeh to include Chidebere Stanley Opara (a.k.a. Avail Hollywood), Manasseh Sefa Ephraim (a.k.a. Felicia_dannyyels), Chukwukere Obinna Paul (a.k.a. Shaun Lee) and Enyogu Etim Ekpo (a.k.a. Henry Wilson, Jasdav7).

“In a Press Release of the EFCC, dated July 11, 2023, the ages of all the convicts, including Odeh’s, were not stated. For the purpose of clarity, Odeh is 19 years old.

“All the false narratives being bandied about in some section of the social media that he is seven years old should be ignored. The EFCC did not “parade” the convict, and is not a court of law that rightfully convicted him,” parts of the statement read.

Lifestyle

EFCC arrests twins, 26 others for Internet fraud in Calabar

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has arrested two identical twins, Takwan Potential and Takwan Peter, and 26 others for alleged internet fraud in Uyo Zonal Command, Cross River state.

The antigraft agency revealed this in a post on its Twitter page on Thursday, June 8.

The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, following a credible intelligence linking them with suspected internet-related fraud.

The other 26 suspects include Takwan Emmanuel, Kelvin Onedu, Evans Edwin, David Osuji, Osang Tony, Confidence Oblech, Uche Chinedu, Gabriel Kanong, Ojong Victor, Ephraim Ikechukwu and Shedrack Mfon.

Others are Godswill Omini, Walter Opha, Godswill Iti, Moses Sha, Prince Uba, Anyi Bassey, David Disi, Peter Silas, Christian Uche, Chidindu Oforji, Kelvin Anyanwu, Anthony Ojone, Samuel Disi, Gideon Joseph and Ezekiel Francis.

Preliminary investigations showed that some of the suspects specialized in love scams, and others engaged in fraudulent impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

Items recovered from them include several mobile phones, laptops, five cars and a wifi device. Suspects will soon be charged in court.

Lifestyle

Court stops EFCC, ICPC and DSS from detaining former Governor Yari

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, the Department of State Services and other security agencies have been restrained by a federal high court sitting in Abuja from detaining a former governor of Zamfara State and Senator-elect, Abdul’aziz Yari, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Justice Donatus Okorowo gave the order in a ruling he delivered on an ex-parte motion on Monday, June 5.

The respondents (EFCC, ICPC and DSS) were directed by the Judge to show cause in the next adjourned date on why the prayers sought on the motion ex-parte should not be granted.

Okorowo said;

“The respondents were, however, restrained from detaining the applicant until the return date for the order to show cause.”

The judge adjourned the matter to June 8 for the respondents to show cause.

Lifestyle

EFCC nabs 33 alleged internet fraudsters in Lagos

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it arrested Owoseni Gabriel, who posed as a woman to evade arrest, and 32 other suspected internet fraudsters.”

Gabriel was arrested alongside Salaudeen Hammed, Akinsanya Olamilekan, Olamofe Joshua, Akindele Saheed, Damilare Micheal, Patoki Ayomiku, Olakunle Ismail, Babalola Ayomide, Afolabi Olaibola and Abiodun Olayinka,” a statement by the EFCC said.

Others are Samson Jeremiah, Kolawole Afeez, Owoseni Gabriel, Makinde Oluwasegun, Daniel Seun, Adefolahan Israel, Olusegun Emmanuel, Olawore Micheal, Hammed Raheem, Micheal Tunde.

The suspects include Francis Chibundu, Jesse Oluwatobiloba, Adenekan Ayotunde, Qudus Adeyi, Sulaimon Oladimeji, Kayode Sunday, Daniel Owosine, and Boluwatife Gbolahan Samuel Ogunyemi, Adebayo Olarewaju, Abdul-Fatai Olawale and Hassan Ayofe.

According to the statement, the suspected fraudsters were arrested on May 2, at the Iyana Ipaja axis of Lagos, following credible intelligence from the EFCC on the activities of some young boys involved in computer-related fraud.

During the sting operation, Gabriel, particularly, wore a female dress and a wig to evade arrest.

Items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Camry 2005 model, a Toyota Camry 2009 model, mobile phones and laptop computers,” the EFCC statement explained.

“The suspects will be charged to court after investigations have been concluded.”

World News

EFCC nabs ‘Obago’ for defrauding U.S. citizen of $268,000

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it arrested a suspected internet fraudster, Precious Ojo, aka ‘Obago’, in Oghara, Delta.

EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren confirmed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, Ojo, 26, was arrested following a petition received from a United States of America citizen on his fraudulent activities.”

The petitioner had alleged that the suspect impersonated one Raymond Bush, who works in the US Treasury, to defraud her of $268,000. The suspect was arrested in his hotel in Oghara,” said EFCC.

“He confessed to building the luxury hotel with his proceeds of the said crime.”

The anti-graft agency added,

“Other items recovered from him included a Mercedes Benz car with personalised plate number and mobile phones. The suspect will be arraigned soon.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Fire guts EFCC office in Enugu

No Comments

A building belonging to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Enugu has been gutted by fire.

EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren who confirmed this in a statement issued on Friday afternoon, May 5, said one of the buildings within the Zonal Command was consumed by the inferno. No life was lost during the incident.

Uwajuren said;

“The incident which occurred at about 12.30 am Friday, was triggered by a surge in public power supply.

“The ensuing inferno was later put out through the combined efforts of the Enugu State and Federal Fire Service.”

Lifestyle, Politics

EFCC chairman Bawa warns Nigerian students against internet fraud

No Comments

EFCC on Thursday in Abuja charged students of tertiary institutions to steer clear of internet fraud to accelerate national development.

EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren quoted the anti-graft chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa as giving the charge at the inauguration of the Zero Tolerance Club at Baze University, Abuja.

Mr Bawa warned that the penalties against internet fraud were stiff and urged students to avoid all temptations that might lead them to join fraudsters.

“Every variant of internet fraud such as romance scam, business email compromise, hacking, impersonation, Forex scam and others are corrupt practices, and you must not engage in them,” he warned.

“As undergraduates, you are expected to channel your creative energies into useful engagements and not into dishonest and dubious means of cheating others of their resources.”

EFCC’s public affairs director, Osita Nwajah, stressed the importance of joining the club and encouraged the students to acquaint themselves with the ‘Operational Manual for Integrity and Zero Tolerance Clubs’, which he presented to the school as a guide for the club’s activities.

Another EFCC official, Aisha Mohammed, heading the enlightenment and reorientation unit, told the students that the essence of the club was to teach virtues of integrity, honesty, discipline, tolerance and patriotism in them.

The university’s registrar, Ibrahim Mohammed, emphasised the essence of being upright and charged the students to avoid crimes and criminality at all costs.

“There is nothing more important than integrity. Integrity may not give you money today, but it is going to put you on the path to success. Money always comes,” stated the registrar.”

He added;

“It may not come in your early life, but if you work hard with integrity and are steadfast, you will succeed; you will make money than you ever believed in your life. You will be able to afford all the things you want and walk with your head high up as an important and respected member of society without engaging in fraud.”

Politics

EFCC arrest six for vote buying in Rivers

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said its operatives arrested six people suspected of vote trading and other electoral offences during the March 18, 2023 elections in Rivers State.

The suspects were arrested at different locations by the Port Harcourt zonal command of the EFCC.

The Head, Public Affairs of the Command, Mrs Akpos Mezeh-Ekisowei disclosed this while speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Mezeh-Ekisowei stated that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as Investigations were concluded.

According to her, the arrests were made following the intelligence and alertness of its operatives on the ground during the elections.

According to her,” Because the EFCC is on the ground to make sure that we stop those who want to sell and buy votes.

“We had to send our officers into the field to apprehend such persons. Some arrests were made in Port Harcourt. A total of six persons were arrested.

“The EFCC really worked very hard during the 2023 presidential and governorship elections.”

Mrs Mezeh-Ekisowei further said politicians had devised other means of vote buying at the polling units during the poll due to the scarcity of cash.

“There were lots of complaints that some people were selling votes, some people were buying votes.

“We received about one hundred calls and because the EFCC is on the ground to make sure that it stops those who want to sell and buy votes, even with the issue of lack of physical cash.

“There were other means that these people buy votes. You know one of the means is that they write down their names and telephone numbers.

“It was alleged that these persons have promised to send money to them,” the command spokesperson stated.

Politics

EFCC deploy officers to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to monitor the polls

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has deployed its officers to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, to monitor the polls on Saturday, Feb. 25. 

The anti-graft agency said the deployment is part of efforts to ensure the integrity of the Presidential and National Assembly elections. 

EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, charged the operatives to be conscious of the interest of the nation and to exhibit a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of duties. 

Bawa said being on a national assignment, he expects them to act accordingly in line with the commission’s values of professionalism, integrity and courage. 

The chairman noted that they have a responsibility to “ensure that the election is devoid of financial malpractices, especially inducement of voters”. 

The EFCC also released incidents reporting hotlines for the 36 states and Abuja, urging citizens to report vote buying, selling, or other evidence of financial malpractices. 

Members of the public can also report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye.

Business

EFCC, CBN officials in Zenith, UBA, Access, Keystone, First Bank over naira scarcity

No Comments

Officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday visited banks in Gombe to ensure proper circulation of the new naira notes.

The CBN team was led by Yusuf Philip-Yila, the director at the Development Finance Department, CBN Directorate Headquarters.

Mr Philip-Yila said the monitoring exercise was to enforce compliance with the new CBN guidelines towards ensuring that cash released to banks was made available to the public.

He stated that the exercise was also part of efforts to guard against violation of CBN guidelines, as well as address challenges militating against cash circulation in the state.

The CBN director noted that the visit was also to caution banks against any attempt to sabotage the circulation of the new notes in Gombe and added that during the visit, some challenges observed, especially with cash dispensing through automated teller machines (ATMs) were addressed.

He said the managements of the concerned banks were engaged to improve the circulation of the new banknotes through ATMs, stressing that more new banknotes had been made available to commercial banks, to improve the ease of doing business, and make new banknotes more available to residents.

“We are enforcing the directive of the Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who has directed banks to commence paying customers, new naira notes over the counter, subject to a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000,” he said.

The CBN official said the exercise would reduce queues at ATMs in Gombe.

The combined team of the CBN and EFCC visited Polaris, Keystone, Zenith, Unity, Heritage, First Bank, Access, UBA and Union banks.

Lifestyle, Politics

I was erroneously arrested by EFCC – Doyin Okupe says as he’s released

No Comments

The immediate-past Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, has said that his rearrest by the Department of State Service on the request of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, was an ”error.” Okupe was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport this morning, Jan. 12.

Speaking on Twitter following his release, he explained that his passport had long been withheld by the Federal High Court Abuja even before finding him guilty of violating sections of the Money Laundering Act that attracted two and a half years imprisonment.

He added that senior officers of the EFCC in Lagos and Abuja have apologised for the error in his arrest.

Politics

Agbakoba Tackles EFCC Over N20bn Bailout

No Comments

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has tackled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over what he described as an unwarranted media trial of the Kogi State government as regards the fresh case against a nephew of the Governor Yahaya Bello and the previous N20 billion bail-out controversy.

Agbakoba gave this position at a press conference on “The Rule of Law in Nigeria Today,” held in Lagos on Sunday, noting that the anti-corruption agency was turning itself into a one-man Robin Hood riot gang, which must not be allowed.

According to him, how a state spends its money should not be the business of the anti-graft agency, but that of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Agbakoba, while accusing the EFCC of impunity, queried that assuming it was the commission’s business to inquire how the state spends its money, would it still be its lawful business to investigate it?

“The EFCC for example plays a very strong role in the anti-corruption strategy of Nigeria but they are also one of the institutions most guilty of breaking the rule of law,” he said.

This was just as Agbakoba quickly recalled that the Supreme Court recently said in one of its judgments that the EFCC could not be a jack of all trades and should, therefore, concentrate on what the law empowers them to do under Section 46 of their Act.

“Like the current trending case where the EFCC arrested some people in Kogi State on allegations of money laundering, I believe that case should not be the business of the EFCC, at all. Is it their business how Kogi spends their money? Even if it is their business, is it their lawful business to make that enquiry?

“The Supreme Court has recently said in one of its judgments that the EFCC cannot be a jack of all trades and that they should concentrate on what the law empowers them to do under Section 46 of their Act.

“It is not the duty of the EFCC to be chasing the Kogi State government and threatening to storm the State House to seize documents or harass the Accountant-General of the state.

“What the EFCC is currently doing is turning itself into a one-man Robin Hood riot gang. That must not be allowed and that is the impunity that I refer to.

“My advice to the EFCC is that whatever they want to do, they should remember that there is a law that created them and they must also remember that Section 46 of the EFCC Act had stated and narrowed down their functions and in a case where they want to expand their functions, they must go to the National Assembly to do so.

Business

EFCC launches manhunt for Kano APC senatorial candidate who was arraigned for alleged $1.3m fraud

No Comments

A manhunt has been launched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for Abdulsalam Zaura, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kano central senatorial district, who was arraigned over alleged fraud. Zaura was first arraigned in 2018, on five-count charge bordering on fraud before a federal high court in Kano.

He is accused of defrauding a Kuwaiti national by obtaining the sum of $1,320,000 under the pretext that he is in the business of building properties in Dubai, Kuwait, and other Arab countries.

Though a federal high court ruled that the politician is not guilty and further discharged him on all counts, the EFCC approached a court of appeal which ordered a fresh trial.

In a previous sitting, the trial judge had ordered the EFCC to produce Zaura who has missed several court sittings.

Addressing journalists at a federal high court in Kano on Monday, December 5, Ahmad Rogha, counsel to EFCC, said they would ensure Zaura is in court at the next sitting.

Rogha said;

“We are looking for Zaura and he will be arrested as soon as we find him.

“Ordinarily, he was supposed to be in our custody and the court has affirmed that. But I can assure you, he would be arrested and brought to court on the next adjourned date — 30th January, 2023.”

Ibrahim Waru, counsel to the defendant, however, insisted that the EFCC does not possess any legal authority to arrest his client.

He added that it was not necessary for his client to be in court on Monday since the court did not sit.

Lifestyle

Instagram Restores EFCC’s Account

No Comments

The account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been restored by Instagram after it was deactivated for over two weeks.

This was made known via the commission’s Twitter handle on Monday.

Business, World News

Naira redesign targets looted funds – EFCC boss, Abdulrasheed Bawa

No Comments

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the decision to redesign the naira is aimed at returning hidden public funds.

The antigraft agency boss made this known in his recent interview with Deutsche Welle DW Hausa Service.

According to him, the Federal government wants people who hid the funds to deposit them in bank accounts. The EFCC chair insisted that there was no political motive behind the idea.

According to him, President Buhari had evaluated and accepted the advice put forward by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the redesign of the naira.

“These public funds were embezzled and we want them to return them; we have not told anyone not to bring this money out.

What the government said was to deposit the money into bank accounts, or else sanctions may follow.The redesigning of the naira in law is expected to be done after every eight years; Nigeria has 20 years without redesigning, almost 80% of the naira is not in the bank and the CBN is in the hands of people; so how can the government succeed? How can a country get 25% of foreign exchange which is a benefit from its currency in 10 days?

There is no political motive behind this; some people siphoned and hid public funds and that is why we want them to bring them out.

We are also calling on Nigerians and even non-Nigerians that all channels are accessible; if anyone knows someone who hid suspicious money, they should alert us and we will investigate it; when we investigate the money and get it, the whistleblower also gets 5 per cent.”he said

Lifestyle, Politics

You can’t prosecute me for fraud – Ondo Speaker tells EFCC

No Comments

Following his arraignment over alleged misappropriation of N2.4m belonging to the state assembly, Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun, has told the state High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission cannot prosecute him for alleged corrupt practices.

Oloyeloogun is facing trial alongside another lawmaker, Mr Bankole Felemu-Gudu, and a staffer of the Assembly, Mr Olusegun Kayode.

The speaker is accused of signing off the money for a seminar which the lawmaker and the civil servant were supposed to attend but allegedly did not.

Kicking against his prosecution, Oloyeloogun’s lawyer, Mr Femi Emodamori told the court that his client can’t be tried for fraud by the EFCC as the state already had its own Public Complaint Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission Law passed into law and signed by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in January this year.

Emodamori noted that the charge against his clients was that they committed financial crimes involving the finances and assets of the state, and since the state had its own version of the law, the EFCC should leave the prosecution of the case.

Counsel for the EFCC, Mr Fredrick Dibang, objected to this, saying the court had jurisdiction because the law enacted by the state assembly was contrary to the acts of the National Assembly that established the EFCC.

Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye fixed the hearing for the objection and counter-objection to November 25, 2022, after listening to the arguments.

Lifestyle

EFCC raids Abuja suburb, arrests 49 suspected fraudsters

No Comments

Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 49 internet fraud suspects.

The suspects within the 19 and 32 years age bracket, were arrested in a sting in various homes at Navy Estate, Cajaah-Orozo, a suburb of Abuja, following credible intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.

Among items seized from them include over fifty mobile phones of different brands, fifteen laptops and a Lexus ES330 salon.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded.

Business

BDC operators arrested as EFCC raids Kano forex market

No Comments

A raid carried out by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at Wapa forex market in Kano, has led to the arrest of at least 8 Bureau de Change (BDC) operators. Daily Trust reported that operatives of the Kano command of the anti-graft agency stormed the forex market on Tuesday evening with about eight vehicles and heavily armed personnel.

Speaking to the publication, one of the marketers said before the operatives of the EFCC arrived the market late Tuesday, some of his colleagues had partially closed their shops after hearing that some of their colleagues were arrested in Abuja.

Following the partial shutdown, many of them quickly shut down and ran out of the market when the operatives stormed the market. Many of them have also decided to stay off the market for a while until things normalize, as this is not the first time EFCC was raiding the market.

The marketer said;

“Every time they raid this market, the price of dollar will go up. For instance, today (Wednesday) a dollar is N845 as against N835 it was being sold yesterday (Tuesday) before the EFCC raided us.

“In fact, last week we were selling it at N750 but before the end of the week, it went up to N780. Problem is that it is because the government is not releasing dollars. The hike is not our fault. We buy expensive, so we have to sell it in a way to make a little profit.”

A senior staff of the anti-graft agency who confirmed the raid, said it was conducted as part of the agency’s efforts to support the federal government to arrest the recent hike of forex.

He also said that they’ve been closely observing the roles of the BDC operators in the unfortunate hike and that money launderers have been using the BDC to obtain forex on black market to avoid losing their ill-gotten funds in Naira to the newly announced redesign of Naira notes.

The senior staff added that eight suspects were arrested for forex racketeering and engaging into forex without legitimate license.

The suspects are now cooling off in the Kano command where investigation is currently ongoing after which the necessary action would be taken.

Lifestyle

EFCC arrests two suspected currency counterfeiters with fake $270,000 in Abuja

No Comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested two suspected currency counterfeiters in Abuja.

A statement issued by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren on Friday, October 21, 2022, identified the suspects as Johnson Olumoyegun and Tanko Abubakar.

He said the suspects were arrested on Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7, 2022 in Kubwa and Area 3 Axis of Abuja, with fake $270,000 (Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars).

In addition, Olumoyegun impersonated an officer of the Commission, using a fake EFCC ID card with the name Solomon David.

He also carried an ECOWAS Passport with the name, Isa Bello. The two suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

1 2 3 … 5
Close Menu
Exit mobile version

Privacy Policy