Alhaja Banker Nabbed For Stealing N12M

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) on Wednesday October 23, 2013 arraigned
a banker, Yagana Ibrahim Bukar before Justice
Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court Kano on 10-
count charge bordering on money laundering and
theft. The accused is said to have abused her position as
account officer at Sky Bank Plc and stole N12, 626,
250 of depositors’fund. She allegedly perpetrated
the scam by posting the sum into three Sky Bank
accounts owned by her family members- Hajja
Fanna, her sister; Grema Ibrahim Bukar, her brother and her child, Ummu Kulthum. In order to conceal the illicit origin of the cash, the
accused allegedly used part of the money to open
a provision store in the Kawo area of Kano
Metropolis. One of many charges read; “that you Yagana
Ibrahim Bukar on or around 15th August 2011 in
Kano within the jurisdiction of the Federal High
Court converted the sum N1, 166, 920 (One Million
One Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand Nine
Hundred and Twenty Naira Only) derived directly from participation in theft by depositing the said
amount to the Sky Bank account of Hajja Fanna
with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the
resources and thereby committed an offence
punishable under section 15(1)(a)(ii) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. In view of the plea of the accused, the prosecution
counsel, Nasiru Salele told the court to proceed
with the trial, adding that his witnesses were
prepared to testify. However the defense counsel, Ma’aruf Yakasai
pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail. Justice Riman adjourned the case to October 25,
2013 for ruling on bail application and fixed
Monday October 28, 2013 for continuation of
hearing.

Drug War: UK Donates Forensic Equipment to EFCC

The efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat financial crimes in the country received a boost Thursday, when the United Kingdom, through its Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), donated sophisticated forensic information technology equipment to the commission. The initial assistance of the UK government in the provision of modern equipment to the commission had enabled it to commence full digital forensic analytical work and with the latest donation, the forensic analytical capacity of the commission would be further enhanced. The spokesperson of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwijaren, who made this known in Abuja, said the equipment were formally handed over at the commission’s headquarters by the Team Leader, Governance and Social Development, UK Department for International Development (DFID), Mr. Oliver Blake, to the new Secretary of the commission, Mr. Adegboyega Aremo. Speaking before the presentation, Blake highlighted the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment in combating criminal activities, noting that the equipment would improve the commission’s forensic capabilities.

Failed bank: EFCC grills Saraki

For hours yesterday, former Kwara State
Governor Bukola Saraki was a guest of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC). He was grilled by the anti-graft agency over the
failure of family-owned Societe Generale Bank
of Nigeria (SGBN). SGBN is believed to have transformed to
Heritage Bank, which began operation a few
months ago. Saraki now represents Kwara Central in the
Senate. Investigation revealed that EFCC invited Saraki
following six petitions by some aggrieved
groups. About eight cases were said to have arisen
from the said petitions, some of which were
rated as politically motivated. This is the third time Saraki would be
investigated by EFCC. He was probed in 2004, 2010 and last year by
the EFCC and the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of
the police. Saraki reportedly arrived at the commission
about 10am and left at 6p.m. A highly- placed source in the EFCC, who spoke
in confidence, said: “Our job is to simply ask
the former governor to respond to all
allegations, no matter how frivolous. “If there is no prima facie case against him, we
will set the ex-governor free. We invited the
governor before the Sallah break and he has
decided to honour our summons”. Responding to a question, the source added: “It
is too early to go into the merits or demerits of
the allegations against the former governor.” EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Mr. Wilson
Uwujaren confirmed that Saraki interacted with
an EFCC team on sundry issues.

Two Fuel Subsidy Fraud Suspects Declared Wanted By The EFCC

Two oil subsidy suspects, Seun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck, have been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The two men are the Managing Director and General Manager, Operations, of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, one of the numerous firms implicated in the 2011 multi-million naira subsidy scam.

The two men who had been standing trial for the alleged scam of close to N1 billion jumped bail, forcing the EFCC to raise the alarm about their whereabouts.

In a statement signed by the commission’s spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC said the two men were wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining the sum of N976, 653,110.28 from the Petroleum Support Fund by false pretence, following their disappearance into thin air after being granted bail by a Lagos High Court, and that all efforts to trace them had failed.

“Light complexioned Ogunbambo speaks English and Yoruba, while Theck is fluent in English and Hausa.

“Ogunbambo’s last known address is 2 Olamiyuyan Crescent, Ikoyi, Lagos, while Theck’s is 89, Buck Field, Yaba, Lagos,” the commission said.

The two had last May claimed that their statements were obtained under duress and asked the court to quash all allegations made against them, as the EFCC violated their fundamental rights in the course of interrogation.

The renowned lawyer representing them, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), filed an application praying the court to quash some charges of fuel subsidy fraud instituted against Mr. Seun Ogunbambo.

In his application filed before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, Agbokoba argued that the EFCC had violated his client’s right to Miranda rights.

According to him, by Miranda rights, a person arrested or detained, is entitled to have legal representation immediately on arrest and before making any statement, but Agbakoba said his client was denied such.